The City Times
Including: Boreham, Broomfield, Danbury, Great Baddow, Maldon, South Woodham Ferrers, The Walthams and Writtle
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Issue Number 67 April 18th - May 16th 2019
MONDAYS Millennium Community Centre, Recreation Ground, Baddow Road, Great Baddow CM2 9RL 9:00am, 11:00am,1:00pm, 5:00pm & 7:00pm Lucy 07801 433626
WEDNESDAYS Writtle Community Association, Longmeads House, 12-14 Redwood Drive, Writtle CM1 3LY 3:00pm, 5:00pm and 7:00pm Jennifer 07792 516866
THURSDAY North Springfield Baptist Church, Havengore, off Pump Lane, Springfield CM1 6JP 5:30pm and 7:30pm Victoria 07823 441198
Springfield Bees Preschool, Perryfields School, Lawn Lane, CM1 7PP 5:00pm and 7:00pm Angie 07814 992628
Life Church, Hall Street, off Moulsham Street, Chelmsford CM2 0HG 5:30pm and 7:30pm Angie 07814 992628
Newlands Spring Community Hall, Dickens Place, Chelmsford CM1 4UU 5:30pm and 7:30pm Jennifer 07792 516866
Boreham Village Hall, Main Road, Boreham CM3 3JD 5:30pm and 7:30pm Marie 07988 426728
Moulsham High School, Brian Close, Chelmsford CM2 9ES 5:30pm and 7:30pm Marie 07988 426728
Springfield Park Baptist Church, Springfield Park Road, Springfield CM2 6EB 5.30pm and 7:30pm Elise 07979 816486
FRIDAY The Church Of Ascension, Maltese Road, Chelmsford CM1 2PB 9:15am and 11:15am Samantha 01245 266442
Hatfield Peverel Infant School, Church Road, Hatfield Peverel CM3 2RP 5:30pm and 7:30pm Marie 07988 426728 TUESDAYS Broomfield Village Hall, 158 Main Road (behind Angel Pub), Broomfield CM1 7AH 3:00pm, 5:00pm and 7:00pm Victoria 07823 441198 Millennium Community Centre, Recreation Ground, Baddow Road, Great Baddow CM2 9RL 3:30pm, 5:30pm & 7:30pm Samantha 01245 266442 WEDNESDAYS Church Of St Augustine Of Canterbury, St Augustines Way, Springfield CM1 6GQ 9:30am and 11:30am Emma 07887 692906
St Michael's Church of England, Junior School, Barnard Road, Galleywood CM2 8RR 7:30pm Lena 07939 675034 NEW CONSULTANT 24th April THURSDAY Millennium Community Centre, Recreation Ground, Baddow Road, 9RL Great Baddow CM2 9R 9:30am Samantha 01245 266442　
Fit n Fab Studio, Village Square (Near Asda), Chelmer Village CM2 6RF 5.30pm Emma 07887 692906 NEW GROUP 26th APRIL SATURDAY Springfield Park Baptist Church, Springfield Park Road, Springfield CM2 6EB 8:30am and 10:30am Emma 07887 692906
Almost Two Thirds of Brits Struggle to Use Home Appliances A recent survey by appliancesdirect.co.uk has found that 61% of Brits ‘can’t work all of their home appliances’, with a quarter saying they don’t know the difference between the oven and the grill, and 21% saying they don’t know how to work the temperature switch on their fridge. The survey, which questioned 1,015 UK adults, also found that 27% don’t know how to use more than one setting on their washing machine. Less than 10% said they use the instruction manual to figure out how appliances work, while 39% turn to the Internet for advice. A previous survey by Centrica Hive found that ‘millions’ of Brits are ‘baffled by the number of buttons, symbols and switches’ on their appliances, with eight in 10 admitting to a ‘trial and error’ approach when it comes to using them. With this in mind, Regal Kitchens have launched an exciting new tier to their customer journey. Regal Care has been designed to help give customers one-to-one tuition on their new Neff appliances. Regal send their home economist, armed with groceries, to cook a 3-course meal in the customer’s brand new kitchen to give them a hands-on experience and show them what their new appliances are capable of. This ensures the customers gets the full benefit of their upgraded appliances, as well as Regal keeping to their promise: ’Where client is king…’ Regal Kitchens’ showroom in Navigation Road has many working Neff appliances, working Insinkerator kettle taps and 15 kitchen displays, featuring timeless, elegant and cutting edge design. The showroom in Chelmsford is open 10am - 4pm 7 days per week. www.regalkitchens.co.uk (T&Cs apply)
CT Welcome Hello readers,
Welcome to the April/May edition. There are lots of bank holidays over the next month to look forward to. So please remember to check our What’s On pages for things to do! Please also remember to tell our advertisers that you saw them in this magazine. Enjoy your month! Regards Nick & Paul
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Disclaimer: It’s Your Media Ltd publish The City Times. The opinion expressed in each article is the opinion of its author and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of It’s Your Media Ltd. No part may be reproduced without the prior written permission of It’s Your Media Ltd. Registered offices: 15 Hayes Close, Chelmsford. Reg No 9154871. Printed by Printwize.
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CT Fashion - Spring into Summer with the Latest Fashion Trends Hell’s bells, it’s actually nearly summer! Like, the sun has been making an appearance and we’ve been able to actually (maybe) share our legs with the world, as well as perhaps a shoulder or two (ooh-er!) The most daring of us may have even been able to stow away our great coats into hibernation. Anybody else recently put away the fur and the teddy and brought out the light blazer and the leather jacket? Oh I do hope so, as it’s definitely starting to look a lot like summer. With 2019 spring/summer comes a whole new wardrobe of fashion choices to dip in and out of should we see fit. There are some new takes on old styles, completely random, slightly garish offerings and some trends that, frankly, I wouldn’t let my grandma wear... so, at the risk of us all walking around like Marge Simpson, I have taken it upon myself to select the best of spring/summer 2019 fashion trends. First up, it’s all about that beige, no trouble... Not for the palest of us, perhaps, but beige is set to be all over the high street this spring/ summer. I’m talking trench coats, skirts and shoes. Anything that might look remotely decent in beige you will find on the high street. You’re probably better going with the usual staples rather than going out and buying all the beige though, as this trend is relatively niche. My suggestions would be a nice pair of flats or a pleated midi skirt that you can team with a cami for evenings, or a T-shirt and trainers in the day. Little bow peep your way about the town with this season’s accessorise trend: the bow... Glam up a simple ponytail with a statement bow like the polka dot ones I’ve spotted in Urban Outfitters for £5, or if you’re more of a headband kinda gal, there are some attractive packs of these with bows in various prints for £3.99 in H&M. If you’re more of a bow clothes wearer, you could go for a pussybow shirt, which are always very classic and compliment a pair of skinnies for the perfect ‘jeans and nice top’ combo. Let’s do the time warp again... and again... and again... Anybody else feel like the eighties have been doing the fashion rounds for the best part of the last five years? We’ve had puffed shoulders, metallics, big hair, shoulder pads and cycle shorts to name but a few - and they’re all set to stay for this season. My favourite takeaway from this trend has to be the high legged eighties-inspired swimwear that you can now see in shops as we get that first whiff of summer holidays. I’ve spied some fabulous one-pieces with waist belts that old school (and maybe even current school) Madonna would die for, in bright animal and fluorescent paisley prints down at River Island at around £30 a suit. If you’re feeling really brave and have the stomach (literally) for it, cycle shorts and a blazer is the way to rock this season’s ‘80s trend. Worn with chunky trainers and a slogan T or barely there heels and a statement clutch bag for a girls’ night out, they’re versatile enough for most occasions. The best cycle shorts I’ve seen are in New Look, but size up as they’re snug.
this spring/summer. What was once a neon jumper in winter has now evolved into a neon blouse, or a neon mini-dress. Dependent on how brave you are again, you might team a neon blouse with high waisted jeans and some killer heels for a night out, or if you’re going all out out, go for a clashing neon dress. Best picks I’ve found are in New Look and on Pretty Little Thing for blouses, and for dresses, look no further than ASOS or River Island. If you think neon might be for you but you’re not too sure, perhaps a cute boxy T is more your thing there are some in H&M for under a tenner. A little dress in the prairie style is all the rage this spring/summer too... Now typically, I am not sure of these, as they can be a little ageing and unflattering, but if you’re a dress fan these might be for you. Think floaty, perhaps floral and definitely oversized with room to float and dance and sing like you are, in fact, living on a prairie. You might toughen yours up with biker boots and a leather jacket, or maybe you fancy the comfort of oversized trainers - the choice is yours. I’d recommend a waist belt to bring in the float if you fancy a more streamlined look. The best places on the high street for these kind of dresses would be either New Look, H&M and Miss Selfridge. Having said that, I’ve seen some fabulous dipped hem and tiered hem dresses in Zara ranging from £30-50, with some very cute prints. Give it to me lacey... Embroidery, embellishment and lace are still very much on the shelves this spring/summer in a big way. Think lace tops, embroidered cardigans and light tassels or craftwork on bags, jackets and skirts. These kind of pieces are perfect festival wear and effortlessly chic for daytime drinks to dinner. If you have an event like a festival or party coming up and you want to rock a boho style, look no further. You might pair some shorts with an embellished body (I’ve seen some great styles in Topshop) and denim jacket or a pretty lace top (there’s some available in Zara for less than £15 in black, red and cream) and denim skirt or jeans. The final trend I think that you’d benefit from taking on board would be the utility fashion that’s stomping up and down the high street. I’ve already mentioned biker boots, and if you haven’t got some, I’d say there’s still time for you to jump to it as they can be worn with bare legs and dresses throughout spring. The boiler suit trend is still here and you can now buy in either play or jumpsuit lengths. Khaki, black and grey styles are perfect for spring as they’re light and versatile put with sandals, trainers or heels. Best picks of these would be Topshop (they’ve got a tie dye print if you fancy that kinda thing!) or Warehouse have some fantastic culotte cuts too in various colours. Rebecca Forde is a writer with a penchant for fashion, great literature and drinking a lot of coffee. You can contact her by emailing rebeccaforde@hotmail.co.uk. All Images: ©River Island
All of the brights in here, baby... Neon is still on the high street for Page 4
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Chelmsford Library News It may only be April but it isn’t too early to find out how to become a Summer Reading Challenge volunteer. This year’s theme is called Space Chase and has been inspired by the 50th anniversary of the moon landings. The challenge endeavours to be just as fun filled as previous years.
There will be a specially designed activity for children aged 0-3 years. For children aged between 3-12 years there will be the challenge of reading six books throughout the summer holidays; on completion the readers will receive a certificate and medal. Space themed stickers will be given as part of the challenge. If you are aged 14 years and over, Essex Libraries needs you! We are looking for volunteers to help the children through their challenge of reading their six books and listening to what the children thought about what they have read. Volunteers will then hand out stickers and rewards. It’s fun and great for CVS. For more details on volunteering, please visit our website at www. essex.gov.uk/libraries. Creation Station is an award winning arts and crafts class held at Chelmsford Library on Wednesday mornings at 9.45am. It is aimed at children between 15 months and 5 years. For further information contact Mark on 07561 337 317. In our newly refurbished Children’s Library we have an Interactive Sensory Floor. This has been a great success, with moving images constantly changing on the floor which the children love. The times for these sessions are: Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays between 3.30pm 4.30pm.
Tuesdays and Thursdays between 11.45am - 1pm. Saturdays between 1 - 4pm School holidays between 10am - 3pm. We have found that children interact with each other, make new friends and enjoy our wide range of books which are available in the same area whilst using the Sensory Floor. Follow on Facebook: www.facebook.com/essexlibraries
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Music and Ramblings - by Nick Garner
Chelmsford Arts & Cultural Festival A brief update on the progress we are making. We have now appointed a Festival Director in Tony Morrison, who has resigned as a trustee to be able to take on this role. He will help with fundraising and in the delivery of the festival and getting all the paperwork in place. This is a paid role and Tony will raise his salary through fundraising. We have also enlisted the help of another professional fundraiser who is going help us for free, which is great news. This now gives us more space to sort out the events and logistics to move forward as we plan to put on a spectacular festival from the 19th to 28th June 2020.
Ramblings and Music On Sunday 31st March at Chelmsford City FC we held a charity memorial event for our late good friend Mike Lightfoot, raising monies in his memory for The British Heart Foundation and the Basildon Hospital cardiac unit. We had twenty acts play over ten hours and had about 150 people turn up to watch and support the event which was an outstanding success, raising just over £1,700 on the day. We also had a new guitar that was purchased and donated for all the performers to sign. This has been auctioned on eBay and I am pleased to say it has raised £151.
called Traffic Jam and then changed to Status Quo. John left back in the early ‘80s and his own band play the songs that he played on - not just the hits, which made it a far more special show which the audience loved. Opening the night was Trevor Gentry with his band Stony Road, this was the best I have seen them; they were outstanding. Trevor was also part of John’s band in the past and again recently until they were able to find a replacement to play the role of Francis Rossi. We will have both bands back again, as they were both so good.
On Saturday 6th April at the UB we had Felix Rabin, a young Frenchman of 24 who lives in Switzerland. Felix brought along his Italian rhythm section as well as a trumpet and saxophone player. The soundcheck let us all know that this was not going to be your normal Saturday night pub band, these guys were on another level and left everyone with their mouths open. The standard of playing was amazing. They were so tight and had a great groove. Funky, soulful, rocky, bluesy and with a bit of jazz fusion as well thrown in for good measure. They sold a fair few CDs as well - including one to me. They were so good that I have invited them back on Friday 18th October to open for seventies legends, Kokomo at the football club, as they deserve to be on the bigger stage. The Panic Awards has also recently occured, and we would like to congratulate all the winners as well as those who did not win and to thank Andy Poole and his team for all their hard work and for raising money for charity (which this year was Helping Hands,= who help the homeless - a very good cause we think). There is lots coming up over the next month, as we have Easter and the first May bank holiday. Way too much going on to mention it all, but as ever the UB has some amazing stuff going on, including on 26th April the Tupenny Bunters who are Dave and Fi Dulake, who also run the Railway pub in Southend and are very special indeed. On the Saturday Jimmy C from Canada will be playing, then on the Sunday Isabel & Cameron - she amazed us all with the voice of an angel the other week at a storytelling night. A great young folk artist. On the next bank holiday The UB and Black Frog have the pre-album launch show for Dangerous Daydream, who are Roy Mette and Mandie Graham of Rough ‘n’ Ready with a full band and a great new album; if you like Tom Petty you will love this. Then Keepin’ Soulful has a great all dayer for you to enjoy spinning the discs of all your favourite music. There is lots more gpoing on, including Albert Lee on his 75th birthday tour playing at Chelmsford City FC on Thursday 16th May. Tickets are selling fast, so if you want to come along don’t hang around.
Mike was a lover of all types of music and we did our best to include as many genres as we could. We had rock, prog rock, Americana, folk, blues, classical, hillbilly, trance and a touch of jazz fusion, with musicians coming from far and wide wanting to celebrate Mike’s life. We even had musicians come all the way from Germany. It would not be fair to name any one act as everyone was so good and all did it for the same reason - we all loved Mike. I must thank all of the crew for the stage, the door and the club who all worked for free for this on a very long but hugely successful day. Back at the Football Club, on the Friday 5th April we had John Coghlan’s Quo and Stony Road play. A well supported show that delivered a great night of music. John was, for those who do not know, the original drummer in Quo for over twenty years. In fact, he was also in The Spectre; the trio line-up before Quo. They met Rick Parfitt at Butlins Minehead in 1967 who then joined John Coghlan, Alan Lancaster and Francis Rossi where they were briefly
As ever, please do try to come out and support the great live scene that we have in Essex because if you do not, we may lose it. For more information on all of the above and more, see the links below and go to our What’s On pages to see what else in happening in your area. Check on the Internet too see what’s on locally - Facebook is always good as is Twitter as well as your local papers and community boards. Please check out the links below and please ‘like’ our pages on social media and help us by inviting your friends to ‘like’ our pages as well. Chelmsford Arts and Cultural Festival: hello@chelmsfordfestival.org www.chelmsfordfestival.org Online festival programme: www.issuu.com/chelmsfordfestival www.facebook.com/chelmsfordfestival Twitter: @chelmsfordaacf www.bluesinthecity.co.uk www.facebook.com/bluesinthecitychelmsford Twitter: @BluesintheCity1 www.itsyourmusic.co.uk www.facebook.com/itsyourmusic Twitter: @itsyourmusic
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CT Gardening - by Tom Cole I can’t believe how quickly this year is going! At Writtle University College we’re two thirds through the academic year for our further education students, and as a result we’re talking through career options and progression to other programmes aiming to make sure our students have the right tools to excel in the future. At the same time, the majority of our students are working well on a variety of projects and meeting industry leaders at various premises to increase their employability skills. Projects like the new Geoff Hamilton Foundation sponsored the kitchen garden. Full time students have raised an area to the ground and are currently hard-landscaping the site, marking out and surveying, designing, erecting fences, constructing pathways, installing beds and building new cold frames. Things are progressing well and a wealth of hands-on practical skills are being put into practice at the same time More recently, students on their final year have visited Cambridge University Botanic Garden for a behind-the-scenes tour of their propagation facilities and learning about the use of biological control in the greenhouses. Sandie, an education officer, gave us all an invaluable tour of all of the key propagation areas including the alpine section. The site was spotless... I wouldn’t have expected anything less! We finished the tour by looking at the plant collections across the 42 acres, enjoying the many magnolias still in bloom, the winter border, dry garden and just taking in the sheer scale of the large number of trees on site. I can’t recommend enough how supertastic the gardens are - you’ve just got to go and see for yourself. You’ll be amazed.
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Plant onions, earth up potatoes and sow tender crops. Keep on top of weed growth; hoe the borders once a week. For perennial weeds such as dandelions, get rid of them permanently using a weedkiller containing glyphosate - chopping the top off this plant only makes it stronger. Start mowing lawns with the blades set at their highest setting, gradually lowering as the season progresses. Trim lawn edges with long-handled shears or grass trimmers. Bare or thin patches of grass can be thickened up by raking over the surface and then resowing. Lastly, give the lawn a feed. If it contains weeds or moss, treat these at the same time with a weed, feed and moss killer treatment. Protect early flowering fruit by covering with cloches or horticultural fleece. Prune figs by removing any branches that spoil the shape, are crossing or damaged, along with any suckers appearing from the ground. If needed, cut back one or two branches that have become too long and bare to a 5cm (2in) stub to stimulate new growth from the base of the branch. Check out this link for further information: www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=106.
Jobs for This Month • Harvest earlier sown salads such as loose-leaf lettuce, rocket, mizuna and mustard.
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Lastly, if you want to further your knowledge and understanding of these or other gardening jobs, please do consider getting in touch with Writtle University College. We run a comprehensive range of part time day release programmes. If you’ve got more time, we also offer full time Level 2 & 3 programmes plus many apprenticeship pathways. And new for this September we’re offering Garden Design and Construction programmes. We’ve got courses on garden design, construction (erecting fences, paving and brickwork), general garden tasks such as pruning, propagation, container gardening, successful care of lawns and growing fruit and veg. For the professional, we have a whole load of competence certificates covering arboriculture, pesticide application and the use of various machinery and equipment. Check out our website at www.writtle.ac.uk for further information, or pop along to our College Information Event on Saturday 27th April between 10 and 1pm. Happy gardening! For any gardening tips please contact Tom Cole, Horticultural Lecturer, Writtle College, Chelmsford, CM1 3RR by post (including a SAE) or by email at tom.cole@writtle.ac.uk.
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Writtle Open Gardens - Sunday 9th June 2019 The biannual Writtle Gardens Open Day is all set for another successful event on Sunday 9th June. At our last open day in 2017 more than 1,200 visitors attended and helped raise £8,500 to support the upkeep of our local church. As well as the regular favourites, a further six new gardens will be on show this year. Visitors are encouraged to make an early start in order to see everything. As well as the open gardens, there will be a floral display inside All Saints Church by students from Writtle University College’s floristry department and an exhibition by the Writtle Art Group in the Village Hall. Afternoon refreshments will be available around the village, including a ploughman’s lunch in the Christian Centre and afternoon teas in the Village Hall. Please note that Writtle has limited parking, so we advise any disabled visitors to arrive early. In addition to the central village car park, additional parking is available at Writtle University College’s Lordship Road car park and at the entrance to Brewhouse Hoppit, behind the Co-op in Bridge Street. Writtle Gardens Open Day is organised by The Friends of Writtle Parish Church, a charity that raises funds to help maintain the fabric of All Saints Church (charity number 1130967). • • • • • • • •
Official opening at 12noon on Writtle Green by Lord Petre, patron of the charity Friends of Writtle Parish Church. 18 village gardens open 12noon to 6pm. Traditional dancing by the Blackmore Morris Men. Children’s scarecrow entries. These will remain on display until 5pm. Children’s garden bug hunt, with prizes available from The Green. Church bells rung by the All Saints Writtle Bell Ringers. Plant sales, ice cream and takeaway food on The Green. Floral displays in the church by students from Writtle University
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College. Art exhibition and picture sales by Writtle Art Group in the Village Hall. Art, design and floristry display by Writtle University College in the Village Hall. Ploughman’s lunches in the Christian Centre (next to the church) from 12noon, followed by afternoon teas to 4.30pm. Afternoon teas also served in the rear of the Village Hall from 2-4.30pm.
Tickets are £5 by entry programme available on the day from the booth on The Green. Accompanied children under 16 get in free of charge. Sorry, no dogs allowed.
Writtle Allotments
Writtle has an active allotment community through the Parish Council and Writtle Garden and Allotment Society. Beyond overseeing the 130 allotment plots between them, the Writtle Garden and Allotment Society organises two shows each year: the Summer Show being at the beginning of July and the Autumn Show at the beginning of September. Each show has classes for vegetables, fruits, cut flowers, pot plants, flower arrangements, jams, baking, handicrafts, photography and children’s classes. Until now only those living in the parish have been eligible to take on an allotment, but Writtle Parish Council has agreed to make a limited number available to those living outside the parish. Allotment rents are £30 per full plot and £15 per half plot per year, with concessions respectively of £18 and £9 for the over 65s. If you would like to consider becoming part of this community and taking on a plot, or even joining the society, please email Kelly Sitara, Clerical Officer at Writtle Parish Council, via admin@writtlepc.com or telephone on 01245 420 066 for further information.
CT Food: Live Dosa Review - by John Jacobs I had one of those fallen moments. I was asked to return to Live Dosa to take in their new décor and review the latest menu. I fully understand this is not in the scheme of things overly onerous nor problematic. The problem here is twofold. Firstly, whenever I go to Live Dosa I get the opportunity to catch up with owner Fasilla. Anyone else, I’m fine. I say ‘hello’, they say ‘hi’. I venture in with a vacuous ‘how are you?’ or the riskier ‘what have you been up to?’ inviting them to actually tell me. No one gets hurt, we tacitly agree neither of us have been up to much and we part ways. Not Fasilla. Fasilla has the unwavering knack of bringing me to the realisation that during my fifty years on this planet, compared to her, I have singularly failed to achieve a single thing. An extraordinary human being, mother, scholar, engineering graduate, restaurateur, and successful business woman who never wastes a second on anything unproductive.
Dosa is the phrase we all left with. “The menu is served by an excellent selection of wines, a warm and friendly family service and great ambience. We give this a 5 out of 5 stars”. Perfectly put, team Whiteley. Can’t wait for the next review.
Certainly, in the last twelve months since I attended Live Dosa, Fasilla has sat on a Women in Business panel on BBC radio, completed a PhD in Really Hard Studies from the University of Difficult Stuff, raised twelve orphaned pandas and found a practical use for graphene. My sense of inadequacy runeth over. Put Brexit on her todo list and we’ll all be happy. But that’s only the first problem. The second is that I may have overdone the build up. I’ve never had a bad meal, drink, experience, service or anything else in Live Dosa. I’ve taken friends, recommended it to colleagues, encouraged the good folk of this city to eat there, but - and it’s a big one - my sister and her husband are visiting from the posher part of Manchester. I haven’t had the opportunity to welcome them to Chelmo before and I wanted to get it right and show them the best of what we have to offer; the stars of the show. There are many in our humble domain but it had to be a certainty, so when the Live Dosa review passed my way, it was instant jackpot. However, the last time I eulogized about a restaurant it was during my days as a legal eagle and trying to impress our wealthiest client. Recommending a little known avante-garde restaurant hidden on the Mersea coast dishing up living seafood with something remotely Japanese. I assured him the food was exquisite and very A-list. In the space of a month, he lost three stone in weight and spent a fortune in adult nappies. The health inspector closed them down shortly after. I didn’t have the heart to tell him I’d never eaten there myself but let him know the ghostly pallor really brought out the red in his eyes. Oddly, we’re still friends. So you get my point; the bigger you build, the harder the crash. My concerns were of course unfounded. So, I take this opportunity to confidently pass the literary reigns over to my sister Maroulla and brother-in-law Pete. I really wanted to make their visit special and thanks to Fasilla and the Live Dosa team, that happened. “We visited Live Dosa on the 25th March as a party of 4. The menu is welcomingly different to that of other Asian restaurants and offers lots to try with a good selection of fish, vegetarian and meat dishes. What can we say, our food was excellent! We had the Chicken 65 and the Fish 65 to start with. The 65 is the number of spices used to give your taste buds everything you want from a Keralan restaurant; flavour, spice and a delicious kick. “We then went onto the main event which was Fish Molly and Pudhina chicken for us. The fish was cooked and spiced to perfection, the sauce was very different and the Keralan spices gave it a ‘wow’ from us all. The Pudhina chicken is succulent chicken marinated in fresh mint, green chillies and yoghurt. For green spice lovers (like me), this is a must. The menu is made perfect by a selection of dosa which we also tried. These are thin and crispy crêpes made of rice and lentils with a selection of fillings. You can never have too much
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What’s on in the Area April Friday 19th Abstinence Bar - Live Music from North House Bassment - Come As You Are: Alternative Party The Black Bull - Bingo Cathedral - Lunchtime concert CCFC Away - Welling United v Chelmsford City FC Chelmsford Market - Easter Petting Zoo and Egg Hunt Civic - Dr Feelgood The Golden Fleece - Scooby Hideaways - Audrey Ripper + Parrilla + FireSkye + Coda Star & Garter - The Stents United Brethren - Big Joe Bone Wine Cellar - Gin Fest over 50 Gins + live music Woolpack - Easter Beer Festival Saturday 20th Abstinence Bar - 80s night Bassment - Wet Dream Records: Fruit Tones + Something Leather + Children Of The Fuzz Chelmsford Market - Easter Petting Zoo and Egg Hunt The Golden Fleece - Beggar Ivy Hill Hotel Margaretting - Over 30s 40s 50s plus Disco Dance Star & Garter - The Boomers United Brethren - Lexie Green Band Wine Cellar - Gin Fest (over 50 gins + live music) Woolpack - Easter Beer Festival Sunday 21st Abstinence Bar - Sausage Dog Café Bassment - Rock vs Pop (live with Winston And The Lads) The Black Bull - Kids’ Easter Party Golden Fleece - Exposé Hylands Estate - Charity Easter Bunny Hunt Star & Garter - Open mic/jam Two Brewers - Shakey’s Sessions All Dayer: Hadrian + Lost Revalation + Chameleon + Harry & the Chicks + Kin + Slumber (+ more) United Brethren - Playing for Keeps Wine Cellar - Gin Fest (over 50 gins + live music) Woolpack - Easter Beer Festival Monday 22nd CCFC Home - Chelmsford City FC v Wealdstone Woolpack - Easter Beer Festival Tuesday 23rd Boreham Village Hall - Ballroom and Latin American Dance (classes for beginners & improvers - www.danceasy.co.uk) Civic - Seven Drunken Nights Wednesday 24th The Chichester Hotel (Rawreth) - Belvedere Jazz & Music Club: Cool Heat-Burnin’ Beat - Louise Cookman Sextet Cramphorn - Anchor and Hope (15) Danbury Sports & Social Centre - Zumba class (10.45am) Two Brewers - Scratch Night Series: Part One Thursday 25th Abstinence Bar - Salsa with Salsa Serpiente Cramphorn - Stan and Ollie (PG) The Golden Fleece - Quiz night Two Brewers - Scratch Night Series: Part One Friday 26th Bassment - Come As You Are: Alternative Party Boreham Village Hall - 43rd Art Exhibition (over 200 pictures for sale) Cathedral - Lunchtime concert Cramphorn - The Workshop (15)
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The Golden Fleece - Hit Parade Hot Box - WDR presents: Dr Chan + Three Telepaths Grays Yard - Tropical Soul Star & Garter - Rockhouse Two Brewers - Scratch Night Series: Part One United Brethren - Tuppenny Bunters Saturday 27th Abstinence Bar - Club classics with DJs Martyn & Martin! Bassment - Lemoncurd Kids + Shooty & The Bang Bang + Torque Armada + Jez Kemp Boreham Village Hall - 43rd Art Exhibition (over 200 pictures for sale) CCFC Away - Chippenham Town v Chelmsford City FC Civic - Robert White: The Tank Top Tour (16+) The Golden Fleece - Cadence Two Brewers - Scratch Night Series: Part One United Brethren - Jimmy C Sunday 28th Abstinence Bar - Sober is Fun Comedy Night, with John Ryan, Mark Simmons & Sol Bernstein (tickets £12 at www.soberisfun.co.uk) Boreham Village Hall - 43rd Art Exhibition (over 200 pictures for sale) United Brethren - Isabel & Cameron (4.30pm) Monday 29th Cramphorn - Jibber Jabber Cramphorn - Rent Danbury Sports & Social Centre - Strictly Solo (learn how to dance, 9.15am & 11.15am) Tuesday 30th Boreham Village Hall - Ballroom and Latin American Dance (classes for beginners & improvers - www.danceasy.co.uk) Cramphorn - Rent Old Court Theatre - The Bible: The Complete Word of God (abridged)
May Wednesday 1st The Chichester Hotel (Rawreth) - Belvedere Jazz & Music Club: Simply Swing with Steve Pert Cramphorn - Rent Danbury Sports & Social Centre - Zumba class (10.45am) Old Court Theatre - The Bible: The Complete Word of God (abridged) Thursday 2nd Bassment - Bassment Blues Jam Cramphorn - Rent The Golden Fleece - Quiz Old Court Theatre - The Bible: The Complete Word of God (abridged) Friday 3rd Bassment - Come As You Are: Alternative Party Civic - Ballet Central Cramphorn - Rent The Golden Fleece -Break for Cover Old Court Theatre - The Bible: The Complete Word of God (abridged) Star & Garter - Two Bob Short United Brethren - Cu’da Groove Saturday 4th Bassment - Andy Poole’s Riddled With Booze Orchestra: Talking Heads Cramphorn - Rent The Golden Fleece - The Heaters Hideaways - Small Fakers Old Court Theatre - The Bible: The Complete Word of God (abridged) Star & Garter - Fever: Northern soul evening United Brethren - Dangerous Daydream (pre album launch show)
Please note, all events are subject to change. Please visit the relevant websites or Facebook pages for more details
Sunday 5th Civic - The Ballroom Boys Cramphorn - Faust (pre-recorded from the Royal Opera House) Star & Garter - Open Mic/Jam United Brethren - Keepin’ It Soulful all dayer The Woolpack - GC’s Jazz Club: Bridget Metcalfe (vocal) & Graeme Culham Trio (8pm) Monday 6th Cramphorn - Jibber Jabber Danbury Sports & Social Centre - Strictly Solo (learn how to dance, 9.15am & 11.15am) Ekersley Road (Unit 16) - Judo class (1st lesson free - tel 07768 364 435) Tuesday 7th Cramphorn - La Forza Del Destino (live from the Royal Opera House) The Old Court Theatre - The Cut Girls Wednesday 8th The Chichester Hotel (Rawreth) - Belvedere Jazz & Music Club: TJ Johnson Quintet with Al Nichols Danbury Sports & Social Centre - Zumba class (10.45am) United Brethren - Open Mic Night (hosted by Joe Anderton) Thursday 9th Bassment - Asylum Rocks The Bassment: Red Nettle + For The Hornets + Supercharge Cramphorn - Capernaum (15) The Golden Fleece - Quiz New Hall School - TEDxChelmsford 2019 Friday 10th Bassment - Come As You Are: Alternative Party Cathedral - Lunchtime concert CCFC - John Coghlan’s Quo + Stony Road Civic - The Summer of Love Cramphorn - Border (15) The Golden Fleece - Frog on a Rocket Star & Garter - Belinda & the Beltrons United Brethren - Max Bianco & the Blue Hearts Saturday 11th Alehouse - Record Fair Chelmsford City Racecourse - Spring Essex Festival of Food and Drink The Golden Fleece -Wishbone Hideaways - Wrong Jovi & Hotter Than Hell (live) Nationwide Christian Trust - Men’s Breakfast (Mulberry House, High Ongar, CM5 9NL) Star & Garter - The Blaggers United Brethren - Jamie Williams & The Roots Collective Sunday 12th Acanteen - Switched on Sundays open mic Chelmsford City Racecourse - Spring Essex Festival of Food and Drink Cramphorn - Chelmsford Jazz Club: Sweet Chorus (featuring John Etheridge, David Kelbie, Chris Garrick and Peter Townsend) Golden Fleece - Asylum’s Sunday Service: Mercury Rising + Coda + The Disney Guy Two Brewers - Tall Tales & Short Stories: The Trickster United Brethren - Robin Bibi (4.30pm) Monday 13th Cramphorn - Jibber Jabber Danbury Sports & Social Centre - Strictly Solo (learn how to dance, 9.15am & 11.15am) Tuesday 14th Boreham Village Hall - Ballroom and Latin American Dance (classes for beginners & improvers - www.danceasy.co.uk) Cramphorn - Widows (15) Transition - Make-Up Master Class (tips for women in their 40s) Wednesday 15th Civic - Oliver! (Trinity Methodist Music and Drama) Cramphorn - The Tide Jetty Danbury Sports & Social Centre - Zumba class (10.45am) United Brethren - Open Mic Night (hosted by Joe Anderton)
Thursday 16th Chelmsford City FC - Albert Lee Civic - Oliver! (Trinity Methodist Music and Drama) Cramphorn - Postcards from London (15) The Golden Fleece - Quiz night Nationwide Christian Trust - Living with Loss Day (Mulberry House, High Ongar, CM5 9NL) Writtle University College - Design Degree Show 2019 Friday 17th Bassment - Come As You Are: Alternative Party Cathedral - The Gin & Rum Festival Civic - Oliver! - Trinity Methodist Music and Drama Cramphorn - The Royal Ballet Mixed Triple Bill (pre-recorded from The Royal Opera House) The Golden Fleece - The Strapless Hideaways - Tribute to The Jam + The Regents Star & Garter - The Strides Two Brewers - Shakster Records 12th Anniversary: Skafonics + The March Fleet + Stealing Signs + Magic Seas United Brethren - Emjay Sessions: Morrissey & Marshall + The Family Dog + Tom McQ Writtle University College - Design Degree Show 2019 Saturday 18th Bassment - Shakey’s Sessions: Play at Fling Festival Competition Civic - Oliver! - Trinity Methodist Music and Drama The Golden Fleece - Covered with Mischief Star & Garter - The Statins United Brethren - Ouse Balley Single Club Writtle University College - Design Degree Show 2019 Sunday 19th Civic - Twinkle’s Dream - Baby Ballet The Golden Fleece - Exposed Acoustic Sessions United Brethren - TBC Writtle University College - Design Degree Show 2019
Please send us your events for the next edition (for events between 17th May to 16th June) to editorial@itsyourmedia.co.uk
Local Choir Bring Sunshine to Care Home Residents across Maldon and Dengie Local choir, The Sound Collective Chorus, embarked on a very special care homes tour of Maldon and Dengie, bringing sunshine and smiles to the residents. After seeing a request on a local community Facebook page, The Sound Collective rose to the challenge, creating their own Bring Me Sunshine tour, visiting eight care homes in one Saturday afternoon. Singing feel-good songs such as Daydream Believer, The Sunny Side of the Street and Here Comes the Sun, the choir also encouraged the residents to join in and sing along.
this tour, nothing has been as special as this.” The idea came from, Suzie’s Gift and Tea Shop in Maldon High Street. Owner Susie Pugh has a washing line with wishes and requests from local care home residents. Many of the requests were for music, a visit from a choir and for a sing along. Theresa Kelly, activities coordinator at Firstlings, commented: “The residents at Firstlings interacted so well with The Sound Collective Chorus. We would love to have them back in our home because of the feel-good factor and the joy they all brought.” Another resident at Boucherne said “I enjoyed it very much, I partly knew most of the songs and borrowed the choir words so I could join in all of them.” Staff at Hailey House said “absolutely stunning, there’s no other words! It was a pleasure to hear them. Terrific!” Choir singer Gosia Edwards said: “It was wonderful experience. Very emotional and humbling. You see faces change and hands start moving and it makes you choke. A lovely thing to be part of!” The Sound Collective Chorus is based in Maldon, Chelmsford and Danbury, and encourages men and women of all ages to come together on a weekly basis to sing a variety of different songs, genres and styles. To join the choir, you do not need to have any singing experience, or be able to read sheet music, or audition.
Choir Director Emma Durrant explains: “We’ve sung for the BBC, ITV, corporate clients and huge audiences, and more recently in a Channel 4 Christmas special - but for the 50 singers that came on
For further information about The Sound Collective Chorus please go to their website www.thesoundcollective.com or email tsc.sound@ gmail.com.
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Hairy Monster - Random Thoughts I once worked at a special school for disturbed and disruptive children. I often wondered what happened to those kids when they became adults. I needn’t have worried. I saw them on BBC news last week - they became MPs. Sadly Paul wasn’t there. Such a pity as the House of Commons needs someone like him. He was a compulsive arsonist.
I don’t get into Chelmsford as often as I used to but each time I do there seems to be something new. Really impressed with the way the Indoor Market makeover is progressing and good to see the council continuing to invest in its future. In the Middle Ages, markets were at the centre of the community and the current market team are reviving that status by laying on events to enhance the shopping experience. Next event is a Petting Zoo and Egg Hunt on Good Friday and Easter Saturday. I’ll be there, waiting to grab the Easter egg off the first child to find one.
revealed when the area around Boreham Interchange was being levelled recently? I drive in Europe quite often and it is depressing to return to England and see the amount of rubbish on the verges. I am generally very proud to be British, I can’t think of any other nationality I would rather be, but sometimes I hang my head in shame at the disrespect we have for our beautiful countryside. Littering should be treated as treason and the penalties should reflect that. And while I’m on the subject, chewing gum will not block your stomach or stay in your system forever so there’s no need to expectorate it. It goes right through the digestive system together with all the other rubbish we eat. So when it comes to spit or swallow, it’s a no-brainer!
I don’t understand why we British (I hate the word ‘Brits’) have to get so uptight about everything. We seem to be getting more intolerant than ever. I have always been a ‘live and let live’ sort of person and if, someone disagrees with my opinion, I don’t argue, get upset or fight them; after all it’s their prerogative to be wrong. What worries me is that this intolerance seems to have moved up a level over the past few years. Violent crime and racial attacks are a worry and the rhetoric is increasingly vitriolic. In the words of John Bercow, G-Eazy and Harry Enfield’s Scousers; Calm Down!
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At the time of writing, like the DFS sale, there seems to be no end in sight for the Brexit debacle. So many options, so many opinions, so few solutions. From the ‘let’s just forget about it and pretend the referendum never happened’ to the ‘raise the drawbridge, ignore the rest of the world and reclaim India for Queen and country’ and lots of ideas in between. Immigration was always a point of bitter contention in the debate. We must recognise the contribution of the vast majority of immigrants to this country, but there is a small minority who add very little to our society and should, in my opinion, return to their country of origin: The Royal Family (and Nigel Farage’s wife) should go back to Germany, Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson to the DisUnited States, Jedward to Ireland and Jacob Rees-Mogg should return to the mid-nineteenth century from whence he emerged. Sorted, as Phil and Grant Mitchell would say if they weren’t fictional characters in a longrunning soap opera (much the same as Brexit). Whether you dislike, loathe or simply despise him, Jacob Rees-Mogg has a wonderfully flowery, yet precise, turn of phrase. It is a joy to listen to him talking bo*****s. Similarly, John Bercow and Dennis Skinner have spellbinding articulation. I could happily watch Politics Live on BBC2 every lunchtime if it only involved these three gents. Best ad-lib comedy to never happen. I’ve noticed a growing tendency for people to say sorry lately. It diminishes the effect of the word to use it unnecessarily. If you block someone’s flight path in Asda it’s not obligatory to apologise. Likewise if you stall your engine at the traffic lights or bump into someone in a queue. Apologies should be used in moderation and to express genuine remorse, such as ‘I’m sorry I shot your cat’ or ‘I’m sorry about setting fire to your children’. We need to return to a rational and levelheaded standard of behaviour. In the words of Homer J Simpson, ‘I never apologise, I’m sorry but that’s the way I am’. There has been a call for cyclists to take a proficiency test before using public roads and for it to become compulsory for them to have third party insurance. I was talking to my friend Tarquin about this because he recently scratched a car and is now facing a bill for £50. Mind you, that figure pales into insignificance when you compare it to the £25,000 the car driver is going to have to pay Tarquin for the crush injuries, the broken collarbone and the shattered elbow when he drove over him. Did anyone else feel ashamed at the amount of litter and rubbish Page 16
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Wildlife Corner - by Nick Green
March weather started generally quite wet and river levels were respectable. Thanks to becalmed anticyclone conditions, the end of the month was again quite dry and temperatures were average throughout. Summer migrants started to arrive and included garganey duck, swallow, sand and house martin, chiffchaff, wheatear, black redstart and firecrest amongst others. Raptor migration was evident with reports of marsh harrier, buzzard and red kite drifting north.
west and central Europe and as far north as southern Sweden and widespread throughout Britain - many winter in Senegal, Africa. The species breeds in both deciduous and coniferous woodland with a herb or bush layer, as it nests on the ground. The chiffchaff is insectivorous and one of our earliest returning migrants - I found my first bird in Admirals Park in mid March by song initially: ‘chiff-chiff-chaff-chaff’. The scientific name/adjective for a bird calling its own name is onomatopoetic - as indeed the familiar cuckoo! The Essex Atlas (1996) located the chiffchaff in 68% of tetrads and indicated an absence from the Thames corridor and the Dengie and Foulness areas, reflecting the lack of suitable habitat. The contact call is a monosyllabic ‘hooeet’. Essex Selected March 2019 Highlights: Fingringhoe Wick EWT: red-rumped swallow, cuckoo, 8 water pipits. Wivenhoe: white-tailed eagle. Abberton Reservoir EWT: 8 great white egrets, 4 black-necked grebes, 8 scaup, 6 smew, 2 long-tailed ducks, black redstart. Wallasea Island RSPB: 5 short-eared owls, 3 hen harriers. Lea Valley Country Park: 2 cattle egrets. Rainham Marshes RSPB: 2 Caspian gulls, 2 glaucous gulls, 2 water pipit. Bowers Gifford: garganey, water pipit.
Chiffchaff (copyright: Glyn Evans)
National Selected March 2019 Highlights: Shetland Isles: American pied-billed grebe, white-billed diver, Tengmalm’s owl. Orkney: snowy owl. Dorset: penduline tit, lesser yellowlegs. Isle of Wight: great spotted cuckoo. Cornwall: pacific diver. Isles of Scilly: red-rumped swallow.
The chiffchaff is an abundant summer resident and passage migrant but an uncommon winter visitor. The nominate race breeds over
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CT History 3 Interwar MPs for Chelmsford - Ernest Pretyman, Sidney Robinson and Curtis Bennett - by Stephen Norris
Carne Rasch was succeeded in the Chelmsford constituency by Ernest George Pretyman, who had previously been MP for Woodbridge in Suffolk from 1895 to 1906. Born in 1859, he was from a religious family, his father and great grandfather were clerics, but he was educated at Eton and the Royal Military Academy, Greenwich. Like a number of Chelmsford’s late 19th and early 20th century MPs, he had strong military connections. This was by no means unusual as the majority of Conservatives in the Commons had a military background. He had spent the 1880s in the Royal Artillery. In December 1908 Pretyman recorded a large victory over the Liberals in Chelmsford. He polled 6,132 votes and Dence, standing again for the Liberals, gained 3,387 votes. All three major wings of the suffragette movement arrived in force in the town two weeks before the election because they thought the Liberals had reneged on their promise to introduce legislation giving the vote to at least some women. The suffragists claimed success in lowering the Liberal vote, but the truth was that locally the Liberals were still insufficiently organised. He was MP for Chelmsford for 15 years from 1908 until 1923. Pretyman had already been Civil Lord of the Admiralty from 1900 to 1903 and he was again from 1916 to 1919. He was also Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty 1903 1905 and Parliamentary Secretary to the the Board of Trade 1915 - 1916. He regularly took part in debates on agricultural matters trying to represent local farming interests. At the end of his period as Chelmsford MP he was arguing in the Commons that rates and rents were too high for tenant farmers. He spoke at length on the issue of the effects of free trade on food prices. In total according to Hansard he made over 4,000 contributions to debates in the House of Commons. Ernest George Pretyman died in 1931. A descendent of the family was Robert Cascoyne, 7th Marquis of Salisbury who was the Tory leader in the House of Lords during the 1990s.
After the war, Pretyman had won the 1919 general election by a big majority of five and a half thousand. Labour were now finally organised enough in the constituency to put forward a candidate and did gain over 5,000 votes in the absence of a Liberal candidate. In 1922 the Labour candidate WF Toynbee criticised the Wage Committee for Essex that had agreed to every Farmers Union demand for a decrease in wages. During the previous six months wages had fallen by £1 a week. In the November 1922 election, the Chelmsford constituency electorate had grown to just over 35,000. Of these just over 15,000 were women after the 1918 Representation of the People Act had enfranchised propertied women over 30. Pretyman polled 11,267 votes and the Liberal candidate, Sidney Walter Robinson, 6,380 votes - a majority of 4,887. The Labour candidate was Mrs CD Rackman, an accountant from Cambridge, who polled 3,767 votes. During the post-war depression, Pretyman saw no answer but a reduction in the general level of wages, the classical economic approach. “The workers must see that unless we get somewhere near an economic wage we could not restore trade and industry.” By November however, Pretyman was calling for protection as a cure for unemployment. His opponent at the next election in 1923 was again the Liberal, Robinson. He was a building contractor and also a farmer with land near Chelmsford. Robinson was well known for his breeding of pedigree short horn cows. He was a JP in the county and a Freeman of the City of London. Robinson was also a member of ECC before first contesting Essex South East in 1918. After losing to Pretyman in 1922, he was lucky in 1923 in the sense that there was no Labour candidate to split the Liberal vote. He recorded 12,877 votes against Pretyman’s 10,185.
The first and so far only Liberal MP in Chelmsford thanked his labour friends in the constituency. Pretyman decided not to stand again after representing the constituency for 15 years. During the short period Robinson was an MP, he was best known for his introduction of a bill to include farm workers in the National Insurance scheme. Asquith, the former Liberal Prime Minister, visited the town and spoke at the Corn Exchange. The building was full but because there was amplification outside and there were more people outside than inside. Portable apparatus had been developed by Captain HJ Round of Marconi and this was the first time it had been used. During the next election campaign Robinson again spoke in favour of Free Trade. At a meeting of the Liberals at the Gun he said: “Repeal would cost a great deal of unemployment in Chelmsford.” Labour’s candidate was a General Moller. Herbert Morrison was a visiting speaker at a Labour meeting at the Corn Exchange. It was ‘perfectly clear that the Labour Party was not Bolshevic or Communist, did believe in using the constitutional power of parliament and the municipalities for the good of the public’. In the 1924 election, the participation of the Labour candidate did not make a decisive difference because nationally and locally the tide had turned in favour of the Conservatives. The Tory candidate was Henry Curtis-Bennett, who was a prominent solicitor. He polled 15,815 against the 10,244 of Robinson. Moller only polled 2,904 votes and lost his deposit. In 1926 Curtis-Bennett retired citing the strain of his divorce as the reason for his withdrawal. Stephen currently offers the following talks about the history of Chelmsford to local organisations: 1. 4 QI Chelmsford MPs. 2. The Suffragettes in Chelmsford. 3. Chelmsford Lives, Memories of Chelmsford 1940s - 1970s (snippets of interviews with local people plus 100 photos in the background, for the Friends of Chelmsford Museum). 4. The Hoffmann Company in Chelmsford. 5. Life in the Wood Street Workhouse: The Chelmsford Poor Law Union 1835 - 1871. 6. The Poor and Society: The :ast 60 Years of the Chelmsford Workhouse and Infirmary. 7. QI Chelmsford Councillors and Mayors (in preparation). For more information or to book Stephen, please email: stephen754norris@btinternet.com.
May/June Issue Deadlines: Artwork - 9th May Articles - 1st May
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Therapy - by Chelmsford Today we have a unique article all about mental health and sport. Thanks to Peter for contributing. Enjoy! My name is Peter, I’m one of the therapists at Chelmsford Therapy rooms. As well as being part of Chelmsford Therapy rooms I also work as a psychology consultant for a sports agency and a counsellor, a ‘talking therapist’ for the Professional Footballers Association, and the charity Sporting Chance, that was set up by former Arsenal and England Captain Tony Adams, MBE. Tony saw the need for a safe, dedicated environment where current and former sportsmen and women could receive support and counselling for the kinds of destructive behaviour patterns that exist in the world of competitive sport, but that are often denied. In this role, I work with elite athletes, professional footballers and managers, plus rugby players and cricketers. In my latest and very exciting project as Director of The Institute for Sporting Development & Wellbeing, (ISDW), ISDW are offering more support and understanding to mental health and wellbeing within professional football clubs and academies. I have also delivered talks on wellbeing and sports psychology to variety of clients, including colleges and professional football clubs. I am also a life coach and a qualified football coach.
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In the build-up to the World Cup, Tottenham and England footballer Danny Rose was another professional athlete to talk openly about his battle with mental illness in the mainstream media. Statistics show that elite athletes are three times more likely to suffer from mental illness. For a perceived privileged life as an athlete, the stigma and fear of being viewed as weak is cited as the most common reason for suffering in silence, the common narrative within sporting culture is that it promotes mental toughness. This toughness can at times lead to avoidance of facing up to a problem. That said, mental toughness can also facilitate and have a positive impact on good mental health. The stigma surrounding mental illness is not just limited to sport but is generally in everyday society. I consider that the expectation, pressures and stress of an athlete’s position can be a factor. Often, in my experience, the work that I do with athletes is no different from working with anyone else, regardless of role or profession. Perhaps the only difference is that I may use analogies of their sport and their focus to look at their situation to work through their problems. Often athletes have single-minded focus on achieving results in their sport, this can also translate to achieving success in their struggles. For someone like Danny to speak openly can often be a catalyst and support for others to speak, especially from someone who is perceived to have it all; money and a dream job. There are also a number of key risk periods for athletes such as times of injury, retirement and competitive failure. These risks periods can also reflect in everyone - losing a job, a relationship, or fear of failure for example. Often it can be some kind of loss that can trigger a problem. The government set up a sport strategy called Sporting Future and has been looking at how sport can improve its offer of mental health support to elite sports people. Sporting Future not only recognised the impact sport has on physical and mental health but also highlighted the sacrifices athletes make in striving for success. Often it’s sacrifices that anyone can make that can feel difficult and hard to comprehend. Prince William, who is also the president of the Football Association, accused clubs of failing to support players of a ‘dereliction of duty’. He said the habit of treating players like ‘financial assets’ must change. “Some of these clubs don’t do anything about mental health,” he said. “If we’ve got to change anything, we’ve got to change the whole way we look after players.” The prince is a strong mental health campaigner who created the charity Heads Together in 2017 with the Duchess of Cambridge.
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Therapy Rooms Mental health and wellbeing are words being used more and more in our everyday society. To understand that mental health problems has no discrimination is important, it can happen to England internationals as well as the person next door, it can be regardless of profession, gender or race. There is no one-size-fits-all solution to addressing mental health issues, however I believe that talking to someone helps you see the problem more clearly, and enables you to explore all the possible solutions. To be face up to and learn to work through the causes of your distress and/or anxiety can be important in the recovery.
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We can work fairly efficiency as human beings on a day to day basis using coping mechanisms to work through, it’s often when these break down that we can struggle. The triggers that can affect our mental health can break down our coping mechanisms that may have been in place for years and that we took for granted. It does takes courage to acknowledge that you are struggling, and then to accept support.
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Seeking out therapy should not be underestimated; how much courage and mental toughness someone has shown - an example that they are ready to start making the changes to their life.
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As a counsellor I have supported clients from all different kinds of backgrounds and also helping with variety of issues from anxiety, panic attacks, abuse, addiction, overthinking, depression, stress, confidence, loss and ending relationships - from adults to couples through to young people. I often say to people that I enjoy what I do, this can be met with strange looks as the main perception is I’m listening to people’s problems. This is true, however I feel in a very privileged position to meet so many different and amazing people, people that I also learn so much from and can have some impact on their lives.
Call Michael on
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Peter Dutton Counsellor, talking therapist, mentor, sports psychologist, life coach www.isc-wellbeing.co.uk peter@isc-wellbeing.co.uk 07956 101 978
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April Showers... but Get Toned April Shoulders (and ARMS)! - by Erica Foulds I hope you managed to find time for some shoulder stretches since my last edition. If you haven’t read it yet, I discussed sore shoulder niggles, The importance of upper posture muscles being strong and balanced, and how to get moving to alleviate pain. It may be fate, or proving my point from article one about going too hard in January, but I seem to have had a lot more questions about arm and shoulder pain in the last month. One particular client’s niggle stuck in my mind which I would like to share in case this is relevant to one of you. This client does a lot of driving for his job, sat in a poorly supported van seat hours every day - his sedentary lifestyle leads him to go hard in the gym on weekends to make up for this. Unfortunately he has had bouts of lower back pain over the years which led him to me for pilates for specific strengthening and lower back mobility exercises. These have helped to give him an awareness of his posture whilst driving and switch on some of the sleeping muscles, and luckily he now finds time to do a small 5-minute routine every day to maintain his core strength keeping his pain at bay. However, this week he came to me with a ‘niggling pain in his bicep’, he showed me pointing to a rough area to the top of his bicep muscle. He told me he was more stressed due to a personal life issue, his neck and shoulders were feeling tighter than normal but he also told me he had been doing lots more exercises at home to for an upcoming early summer beach holiday! I showed him how to correctly do press ups, how he could use his dumbbells at home to tone his arms safely rather than actually doing too much, further aggravating the muscles on top of a very ‘hunched’ stress posture! I reminded him that, in fact it is important for anyone who is sat for prolonged periods of time like him, to be allocating time to working the posture muscles concurrent to the work of the ‘beach body muscles’ because this made for safer but quicker results! That evening, in a lightbulb moment, I remembered that in my last article I didn’t explain that sometimes these niggles don’t appear exactly on the shoulders, they can refer down the muscle chain or even end up around the fingers. If you suffer from pins and needles or niggles/pain anywhere down the arm, forearm or even fingers, please don’t ignore it - seek medical advice, but this could also be originating from a nerve passing through a tight muscle around the shoulder and neck area. If this is the case, the exercises in my last article may help you. With the recent bouts of gorgeous sunshine which we have had, and of course the example of my recent client above, it seems about right to bring a few tips to the floor on arm toning. •
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Press Ups: This is a great golden oldie, but done badly can be the worst thing for your shoulders. Follow these tips to increase effectiveness and safety: a) elbows narrower by the body when they bend, b) if you can’t do it without ‘straining and dipping’ your lower back then do them on your knees, c) on the push phase breathe out and pull your navel in towards your spine, d) if you find this hard don’t worry, this is expected for the untrained arms so do it standing 3 foot from a wall and ‘press up’ into the wall. Tricep Dips: Done by sitting on a sturdy chair or edge of sofa, feet out at hip width (feet further away is harder), hands palm down onto the seat right by the side of hips, slide hips off the seat and drop hips towards the floor slowly. Then when elbows are 90 degrees bent push back up until arms are straight. a) keep elbows narrow, b) try not to hunch shoulders to the ears, c) if you cant do 10 then bring your feet closer to you. The important part of the move is where you are straightening your arms, this is the tricep (back of upper arm) working. Flying Arms: Ideally with a small weight (a tin of soup or beans
is great if you don’t have hand weights) hold arms out wide at shoulder height. Keeping arms straight, bring arms forward in front of chest til hands touch, then open them wide again. Repeat 20 times slowly most importantly at shoulder height throughout. If you are in need of some help with your upper body toning or would like any other help with exercise, at Hummingbird we can help with 1:1 sessions or small group pilates and yoga classes. You can view our full list of classes and workshops online at www.hummingbirdpilates.co.uk, or email us at info@ hummingbirdpilatesyoga.co.uk or call us 01245 422 556.
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Savasana - the Easiest or Hardest Yoga Pose? - by Mandy Haynes Savasana, or corpse pose, is considered the easiest poses to perform, yet the most difficult to master. Whilst this pose requires less physical strength and flexibility the other yoga poses, it challenges the body and mind in many different ways. In savasana, you lie on your back (like a corpse, as the name suggests) and relax and your body and mind so that you can reap the benefits of the physical asana practice. Although I often begin my classes with a brief settling savasana, it is mainly used at the end of a session. Trying to ask the body to relax, even when lying down, without preparing the body by releasing tightness and tension, can feel almost impossible, so it is important to practice the other more active asanas beforehand as they stretch, open and release tension in the muscles. They also help relax the diaphragm so that the breath can move freely. When the words ‘prepare for savasana’ are announced at the end of the class, there will be those that are in the ‘easiest pose’ camp that sigh with relief and settle themselves down on their mat ready to relax. And then there will be those that happily twist, balance and bend their way through the rest of the class and then (inwardly for the most part!) groan and struggle when it comes to lying on the floor. I have known students to leave the class early in order to skip savasana, and even had a lady pop up into a headstand whilst everyone else was in relaxation! That particular incident was during one of the very first classes I taught, so I didn’t then have the confidence to suggest that she might like to come down and give the body time to settle before the end of the class. The art of relaxation is certainly harder than it looks! When you first start practicing savasana, it can be a real struggle to relax into the pose; you may lie there feeling tense, staring up and the ceiling and wondering when you can move - or you may fall asleep as soon as you lie down! The essence of savasana is to remain conscious and alert, whilst being relaxed and at ease.
Although it might seem as though you aren’t doing an awful lot whilst in savasana, in actual fact there are a whole host of benefits that come from practicing this pose. According to Yoga Journal, savasana can help to relieve mild depression, high blood pressure, headaches, fatigue and insomnia. It can calm the nervous system and promote equanimity in your entire body. Fatigued muscles get to relax, tense shoulders and jaws soften and the mind finds itself in a calmer, quieter state. Before settling into savasana, I will often invite my students to take ‘three final tensions’ - a deep breath in through the nose whilst squeezing, tensing and tightening the muscles, and a loud exhale out of the mouth as they let go and release, repeated three times, signalling to your body to release into the pose. These cleansing breaths also sends a message to your parasympathetic nervous system that it is safe to relax and be just as you are. Guided relaxation or meditations, hands-on adjustments, lavender eye pillows, soft music or just silence all have their place in the guidance towards relaxation, but it is really only a regular practice of savasana that will train you in the art of relaxation; an essential quality for meditation and a true experience of yoga. Everyone is deserving of savasana. Learning how to be still in a busy world is one of the greatest gifts you can give yourself. I am so excited to start my yoga nidra training and can’t wait to share the joys and immense benefits of the practice. So if you already love your savasana, be sure to keep your eyes peeled for my yoga nidra classes later in the year! For more information on the classes available at Hummingbird Pilates & Yoga, visit www.hummingbirdpilates.co.uk.
r fe d f t O ite 5 n e im £4 i Cl Unl for w s ) Ne Day shipapply r s 30 mbe(ts &c Me
Pilates, Yoga, Meditation Book your space online or call: Small Classes & 1-2-1’s www.hummingbirdpilates.co.uk Inspirational Teachers 01245 422556 Friendly, Community Vibe Reeds Farm Estate, Writtle, CM1 2ST www.chelmsfordthecitytimes.co.uk Page 23
Spot 10 Differences (answers on page 31)
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Landscaping: Small Scale Grand Design - by Chandler Material Supplies When thinking of garden landscaping, what image comes to mind? Probably for most, a vast space to accompany a suitably vast grand design perhaps? Actually, garden/outside landscaping is for everyone and anyone who has an outside space that they wish to enhance to make the very most of - be it balcony, roof garden, courtyard, frontage or back garden. There’s plenty of good reasons to get the space you have - whether tiny or titan - working at its best to accompany your living area. In fact, by using one of a handful of products available at your local builders merchants, you’d be surprised at what can be accomplished. “We all invest substantial time and effort on the interior of our homes. Good landscape design outside can reflect the quality and effort on the inside. The garden is often the largest room in the home... Hard landscaping can help create flow from outside to in, reflecting the materials on the inside or in some cases using the same materials inside to out.” Edward Flaxman, Director, Studio 31 Landscape Architects. Porcelain paving is one of the most beautiful, premium additions you can add to an outdoor space, reflecting the feel of natural stone, but with practicality at the forefront. The benefits of choosing a porcelain patio or path mean you get a scratch resistant, non-porous, easy to clean product that requires no sealing and that will look good all year round. Get that low maintenance ultra modern look in your outdoor space with products such as Bradstone Romeli or Mode paving.
A hard-wearing, scratch resistant and low maintenance paving solution, Bradstone Halus is ideal for bringing a modern, contemporary style to gardens and patios. Designed to mimic the unique qualities of natural stone without the need for sealing. It is available in a patio pack consisting of four different sized pavers in a choice of two shades, buff or grey Bradstone Romeli, a hard-wearing, scratch resistant and low maintenance porcelain paving is ideal for bringing a modern, contemporary style to gardens and patios. “Success of any garden is about how it is experienced. At Studio 31 we always try to create journeys within a garden space no matter how small. Pockets of hard landscaping create spaces to sit, relax, entertain, socialise and dine.” Katie Flaxman, Director Studio 31 Landscape Architects. Hard landscaping also allows for greater usability and accessibility all year round. Adding features like fire pits and outdoor kitchens to a terrace or hard landscaped part of the garden means it can be used
outside of just the summer months. There’s also a growing body of evidence to suggest spending time in nature enhances our health and wellbeing. A properly landscaped outdoor space can encourage us to do this during all four seasons. Decorative aggregates are quite often a good choice for a more cost effective way of creating hard landscaped areas. Ideal for driveways, edgings and small gaps. There are options from white polar ice stones, plum slate chippings, or mulch which reduces weeds and also allows planted areas to be walked through and appreciated up close and personal. Trending high currently, composite decking has become even more accessible to the public in recent times, although this does come with a slightly larger initial outlay. With its attractive 25 year guarantee, Millboard has become the UK market leader in this area. A high quality finish makes the products look very much like real timber, even close up. Trex is another leading brand whose product finish is more suited to those that want a sharp nontimber looking design. With long guarantees and properties such as anti-slip, anti-algae, no rotting or treating plus ease of fitting for installers, it is little wonder that composite decking is starting to replace traditional decking as a preferred choice for more and more homeowners. Millboard and Trex are both brands that offer better quality longer lasting products than those available in the cheap DIY stores. Chandlers stock a varied range of colour choices and finishes to choose from such as Enhanced Grain (most common), Smoked Oak, Coppered Oak, Golden Oak, Limed Oak - Carbonised (charred), Weathered Oak (vintage, driftwood) and Last-Grip (coppered oak, golden oak), Contour and Transcend . “There are a number of surveys which have demonstrated that good quality outdoor space adds value to your home. If you have a well designed outdoor space your home will be worth more... In many cases well designed outdoor space can be the difference between a sale and no sale. This makes sense when you consider most of us would look for and choose to buy a home with a garden.” Edward Flaxman, Director, Studio 31 Landscape Architects.
Chandlers are official stockists of Bradstone paving, Long Rake Spar decorative aggregates, as well as Bradstone and Trex composite decking. With a wealth of information and expertise to hand, we’re here to help you chose the right design and paving for you and your garden, so come on in and get inspired. Kulli Saran-Chandler For more information on these and other landscaping products visit www.chandlermaterials.co.uk where you can order over 2,500 products for free home delivery, or visit our branch in Chelmsford to see the products close up in our display areas.
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Quiz Time - by John Theedom 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37.
What is an akita? What is the highest number used in a Sudoku puzzle? A piece of challis is what exactly? Which historic document was signed at Runnymede? According to The Bible, how many humans were on the Ark? Dr Christian Barnard carried out the world’s first heart operation in which country? Who publishes The War Cry? In which country did the sport of golf originate? What is the modern name for Abyssinia? Which type of creature might live in a skep? Where is the HQ of The International Red Cross based? We call it a catapult, but what do the Americans call it? Paté de foie gras is made from the liver of which bird? What was Barney Rubble’s wife’s name? Which famous singer sang the song When I’m Cleaning Windows? In which English county is the civil parish of Staplehurst? Nuuk is the capital of which Island? What is rigatoni? In Only Fools and Horses, who played the role of Boycie? What are glees? What was Michael Caine’s birth name? The famous cook Mrs Beeton’s first name was what? Where is the world’s oldest golf course? Who is the patron saint of music? What is the title for a merchant sailor? In which part of the human body is the lumbar region? What shape is a lateen sail? In which UK county is the market town of Stamford? What is alchemy? An action referred to as doffing, is done by who? A vervet is which kind of animal? What is a dragee? What is the origin of the word hooligan? Cereology is the study of what? If you are diagnosed to suffer with erysipelas, what do you have? The term Jack Tar refers to a member of which service? How old is Jeremy Corbin going to be in May in 2019?
38. 39. 40.
How many years is a lustrum? In the music world, what does vite mean? Where is ‘Bread and Cheese Hill’? Answers on page 31
Choir Chooses Local Charities Having last year raised money for Colchester Cancer Centre Campaign and SSAFA, Essex Police Choir, as part of their 30th anniversary celebrations, have chosen two smaller local charities to support in 2019. The David Randall Foundation from Maldon supports people with life limiting illnesses to enjoy life to the full for as long as possible by helping to provide ‘Good Days’ for them and their families. It also provides scholarships to people who demonstrate exceptional dedication and passion in pursuing their ambitions in sport or music but may be held back by their financial situation. Kids Inspire, based in Chelmsford, supports Essex based children and young people recovering from traumatic experiences or dealing with emerging mental health difficulties. They provide a range of services including individual therapy, coaching and mentoring, group work, training and local community outreach activities during school holidays. The donations will come from the proceeds of the choir’s annual concert with the Essex Police Band at St Luke’s, Tiptree on Saturday 19th October and their Christmas concert at Trinity Methodist Church, Chelmsford on Saturday 14th December.
The objective of the choir, which was formed in 1989, is to enable charities, churches and other good causes to raise money for their work. During that 30 years, the choir, who do not charge for their performances, have performed at over 300 concerts and have helped raise over £350,000 across the county - they are probably the leading group in Essex for contributing to disabled loos in churches! The choir sings in four parts - sopranos, alto, tenor and base - and has nearly 50 members. It performs 8-10 concerts a year and these are held all over Essex and beyond . Rehearsals take place each Tuesday evening from 7.30pm - 9.30pm at Police HQ in Chelmsford with just a short break in August and at Christmas. The annual subscription is only £75, but music and uniform are provided free of charge. New members do not have to have any connection with the police service, and are encouraged to come along for a few weeks to see if they like what is offered - and whilst they do not have to read music, participants do need to be able to hold a tune! If anyone feels the urge to join a friendly supportive band of singers, whilst giving something back to the community, then they should visit the choir’s website for further information at www.essexpolicechoir. co.uk, or contact the Membership Secretary, Sue Dobson, on 01206 549 801.
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Rotary Youth Competitions Move on to Regional Final Stage I wrote a few months ago about the great young talent there is in the country, and particularly locally, and how Rotary helps to develop it by organising a whole range of youth competitions. I am delighted to update our readers on the progress especially as the contestants from Essex have done so well. In the Young Chef category, Sacha Martin, winner of the district heat, has gone on to win the regional final which was held at the Colchester Institute. She beat other budding chefs from as far afield as Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, London and Essex. The task for the finalists was to prepare in two hours a three course meal consisting of a starter, main course and dessert for two people keeping within a £20 budget. Sacha’s starter was sea pepper crusted tuna sashimi niçoise, new potatoes, tomato, quail egg, French beans, olives, capers, black olive tapenade, vinaigrette, basil oil, and salad leaves. The main course was pan roasted pork tenderloin, fondant potatoes, carrot purée, apple braised red cabbage, apple crisps, baby courgettes, apple cider jus, chorizo soil. To finish she made honeycomb ice cream baked Alaska, fresh honeycomb, bee pollen, popping candy and white chocolate snap. She now goes on to the national final in Leeds on 27th April and we wish her luck. I am sure Sacha will be cropping up on MasterChef in a few year’s time. In the Young Musician section, it was another great day for two of our entrants. Madelaine McCarthy gave a stunning rendition and won the Vocalist award, whilst Bethan Spragg playing pieces on the flugel horn and the trumpet was the worthy winner of the Instrumentalists. Madelaine was sponsored by Bishop’s Stortford Rotary Club and Bethan by the Rotary Club of Chelmsford. They both go on to the regional final in Cambridge on 7th April and all being well, to the national final which will be held at ARU University here in Chelmsford on Saturday 4th May. This is a very prestigious event and Chelmsford is proud to have been selected to host it. The public is welcome to attend and I can assure you that it will be very worthwhile. The standard is incredible and in the future I am sure you would have to spend
a lot of money to attend a concert by some of these young people. The Lord Lieutenant of Essex, Mrs Jennifer Tolhurst together with Mayor of Chelmsford Cllr Yvonne Spence presented the prizes and certificates at Chelmsford Cathedral. Still more good news because both our Intermediate Team and our Senior Team won their respective categories at the regional finals of the Youth Speak competition held in Redbridge. Both teams now go on to the national final in Nottingham in May. The competition comprises teams of three: a chairman, a main speaker and someone giving a vote of thanks. The Colchester Royal Grammar in the Intermediates spoke on the subject of Artificial Intelligence Boon or Bane whilst the Brentwood School’s topic was The Last Glass Ceiling for the Seniors. They both carried the flag for our Essex schools magnificently and again they take our best wishes for success in the next round. We also have a finalist through to the Young Citizen of the Year which is televised on BBC World News. Sophie Alderton, aged 21, has won through to the final in Nottingham. She is also the District 1240 Young Achiever of the Year. Sophie set up a charity to help young people with disabilities after she was bullied at school because her sister had special needs. She has done remarkable work and deserves recognition. RYLA, or to give it its full name Rotary Young Leadership Awards, has changed the format this year. It now offers a qualification equivalent to an NVQ through the ILM Course. Although some said it couldn’t happen, there are 56 pupils taking part from 10 schools, colleges, cadets and they are being tutored now to take part in RYLA weekend 1st/2nd June where they will be assessed for ILM Stage 1 Certificate. Once again, our local Rotary clubs are leading the way because we are piloting the scheme for Rotary in Great Britain and Ireland. RYLA has always been a tremendous opportunity for youngsters to develop confidence, team building and leadership skills, and this takes it one stage further as it is a recognised qualification. Any young student with RYLA on their CV or university application will have a head start. As always, this is a busy time for Rotarians with the emphasis very much on youth at the moment. Staging all these events takes a lot of hard work because we know ‘things just don’t happen on their own’. Rotary is on the lookout for more volunteers to help whether it be moving chairs on the day, stewarding, making tea or offering your own organisational skills. There is always a warm welcome for new members, so visit www.chelmsfordrotary1240.org or give me a call on 01245 260 349 for details. Finals of the Youth competitions may be coming to fruition, but I can assure you there are lots more projects in which you can become involved. Rotary never stops its commitment to the community. Stan Keller
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Stargazing with Mark Willis - April / May 22nd April: Mars at around 8pm will be easy to find, due west. Look for Orion and the star, Saiph, at the bottom left corner. Drawing a line from Saiph so that it crosses Mintaka, which is the extreme right star of Orion’s belt and this line will guide you to a bright red ‘star’ which is not a star at all, but is the planet Mars. 22nd/23rd April: Lyrid Meteor Shower. Looking towards the constellation of Lyra you will this meteor shower. No telescope or binoculars for this. A deckchair and some strong coffee will be better. The Earth travels to the location of the Lyrids, not the other way around. Lyrids are meteors, dusty debris that burns up in the Earth’s atmosphere. Best viewing is around midnight and the meteors are visible from the general direction of Lyra, although they can appear almost anywhere. 18th May: You’ve heard of the term ‘once in a blue moon’. Well, tonight’s the night! Normally, there are only three full moons in each season. Occasionally, there are four full moons, hence the term. Blue moons occur, on average, once every 2.7 years. Last month, I mentioned stargazing giving way to solar observing, due to the days becoming too long for stargazing at an appropriately early
time. The North Essex Astronomical Society host afternoons where you can sample the delights of solar observing. • •
Saturday 11th May (12pm - 3pm) - Solar Gazing at Abberton Reservoir. Saturday 18th May (12pm - 3pm) - Solar Gazing at Great Notley Discovery Park.
Full details on how to get there are now on their website: www.northessexastro.co.uk/great-notley-information. May 4th: On 4th May there will be a new Moon. This means the skies will be extra dark which is a great opportunity to see planets, galaxies and deep space objects. As usual, email any questions to mark.willis@ chelmsfordcommunityradio.com. Mark Willis presents Willis Wireless at the new time of 12pm every Tuesday afternoon on Chelmsford Community Radio on 104.4 FM and online at chelmsfordcommunityradio.com. Twitter: @WillisWireless
Chelmsford Creative Collective Chelmsford Creative Collective (CCC) is a group of friendly, local creatives. We have an active Facebook group where we share events, discuss collaborations and support each others creative endeavours. We meet on the last Tuesday of the month at a local pub; please check Facebook or email chelmsfordcreativecollective@gmail.com for details. Everybody is welcome for a drink and a chat.
Who are you and what do you do? “I’m Matt, the owner and founder of Bonsai Skateboards. Its a small local business that aims to help grow the skateboarding community and try to make skateboarding more accessible to anyone who is thinking of starting up. Currently, as we are small, we have only been able to sponsor a handful of local events, but as we grow we are hoping to help more people and provide support for long term skaters and new skaters alike.” How would you describe your working process? “Chaotic! This is my first business so I am learning a lot as I go.” Who or what inspires you to do what you do? “Skateboarding has been a part of my life for going on 15 years and it has helped me through some pretty rough times and given me some of the best. I dont think anything else outside of extreme sports can have all of the same benefits in the same way. What drives me is making sure that skateboarding is not only always part of my life, but that everyone else has the opportunity to experience it. In terms of health and mental health, it provides an alternative to the standard options, which is really important for people who feel like conventional methods aren’t for them.” Tell us about your most recent project. “The most recent release was the Reaper graphic, drawn by Flipping Zombies. We are hoping that this allows us to spread out slightly and provide products elsewhere in the UK, while still providing support for people in our local community.”
What does Chelmsford Creative Collective mean to you? “I am relatively new to discovering this, but for me it has given me an insight to the creative community that is available locally and shows me local artists that one day I will hopefully be able to work with to create products and help grow the creative and skateboarding communities.” You’re stranded on a desert island with three items of your choice what would they be and why? “Skateboard, skate-ramp and something to play music on! Chuck in my headphones and let me have a skate, I’ll forget I’m even on a desert island.” www.bonsaiskateboards.co.uk
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