The City Times
Including: Boreham, Broomfield, Danbury, Great Baddow, Maldon, South Woodham Ferrers, The Walthams and Writtle 10,000 copies per month Issue Number 90 - April 19th - May 19th 2021
CHAN THAI WEDNESDAYS
2 FOR 1 TUESDAYS 12-3PM & 5.30-8.30PM
5.30-8.30PM TAKEAWAY MENU ALSO AVAILABLE
HANNELS
OUTDOOR DINING
CHANNELS Bar & Brasserie
CHANNEL Weddings
OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK Monday (12pm – 10pm) Brasserie Menu 12–3pm & 5.30–8.30pm Sandwich/Snack Menu 12:00-5:30pm Tuesday – Thursday (9am – 11pm) Breakfast Menu 9am–12pm Brasserie Menu 12–3pm & 5.30–8.30pm L I T T LSandwich/Snack E Menu 12:00-5:30pm Friday – Saturday (9am – 11pm) Breakfast Menu 9am–12pm Brasserie Menu 12pm–8.30pm Sandwich/Snack Menu 12:00-5:30pm Sunday (9am – 7pm) Breakfast Menu 9am–12pm Sunday Lunch Menu 12.30pm–6pm
HANNELS
EXTENSIVE COVERED L I T T L E & HEATED AREAS CHANNELS Bar & Bistro
BOOK ONLINE
EXTENSION & LITTLE REFURBISHMENT
CHANNEL
NEW RESTAURANT Weddings EXTENDED BAR BIGGER GARDEN & PATIO
We’re back in a big way. BOOK ONLINE and stay up to date with all that’s happening at: www.channelsestate.co.uk or call: 01245 440 005 Channels, Pratts Farm Lane East, Little Waltham, Chelmsford CM3 3PT (Entrance by the Park & Ride)
LITTLE HANNELS
CHANNEL E S TAT E
Channels Bar & Brasserie
The Channels team can’t wait to welcome you! Channels Bar & Brasserie is situated in stunning surroundings in the heart of the Channels Estate in the north-east of Chelmsford. A family owned and run business established over 40 years, we pride ourselves on making every person who comes to dine with us part of the family. While 2020 has been a very strange year for us all, we have used this time to develop a brand new extension to our already popular bar and restaurant. We are excited to share our gorgeous new space which can hold 140 people inside, as well as 300 outdoors on our stunning new patio, providing both covered and heated seating as well as open air casual dining.
recently also set up our very own bee hives for the freshest honey, we grow in our own seasonal vegetable garden ensuring that only the freshest produce is ever used, and we are excited to announce that we now use our own fishing boat which will bring fresh fish to our kitchen daily! We know the importance of supporting local business and the continuing effort of sustainability in our kitchen - we are committed to only serving the best to our customers and Head Chef Dan Pitts creates a seasonal menu which uses the best in fresh meats and produce. If you tend to prefer a vegetarian or vegan dining option, you will be delighted to hear of our exclusive Plant Menu which will cater for both and has become very popular with our regulars. We advise you to book your table with us in advance to avoid any disappointment. You can do this on our website at www. channelsestate.co.uk. Whether it’s coming out to our live music events, dining in our new restaurant for any meal of the day, or just enjoying a walk in the countryside and stopping for a cuppa, we are excited to welcome you and cannot wait to say ‘welcome to the Channels family’.
The bar and brasserie allow for every type of dining. Whether you would like to bring the family for a meal out or have a more intimate experience, we have the space for both. Our patio and part of our indoor dining is also dog friendly and we welcome those furry family members with their very own Doggy Dining menu! You’ll soon find you will come in for a coffee and decide to stay for a bite to eat as our cosy, rustic interior is so inviting - you won’t want to leave. If you are looking for a very special night out, you can also reserve our new and exclusive Chef’s Table. Designed to give you the most enjoyable of evenings, your party will receive a bespoke menu and enjoy superior views of the surroundings. We know how to celebrate at Channels, and we are looking forward to making your celebration one you will remember for years to come.
Please note: We anticipate our new back patio space to be open at the end of April, with the whole of the restaurant making its grand opening on 17th of May (following the Government guidelines). Please view our website (www.channelsestate.co.uk) for all up-to-date information. *
Chelmsford Market Open
We can’t wait to see you again! Chelmsford markets are delighted to welcome back all our traders. We’ve also teamed up with Click It Local, the virtual high street, that enables you to buy from our small independent traders and have it delivered to your door the same day. Just head to www.clickitlocal.co.uk for delivery and click & collect from the market. Or if you prefer to browse in person, then we’d love to see you from 12th April. Our indoor market is arguably more ‘outdoors’ as it’s so airy, and we’ve gone the extra mile for you by creating more space between the stalls, thus making it easier to follow social distancing. We also have hand sanitiser stations in every entrance so you can shop safer. The indoor market is open Tuesday to Saturday and you can find more information about both markets at www.chelmsford.gov.uk/market and keep up-to-date on our Facebook - www.facebook.com/ChelmsfordRetailMarket.
If you have never dined at Channels before, you are in for a treat. Our menu boasts of the freshest ingredients from many locally sourced distributors around the area. We pride ourselves in only using the finest ingredients and we support local businesses. We have Page 2
High Street Market More people are choosing to shop safer outdoors and with our High Street market in its 14th year, it’s now more popular than ever. The market operates each Tuesday, Friday and Saturday and you’ll find artisan bread, fantastic fresh fish, aromatic coffee, fruit and vegetables, cut flowers and other plants - not forgetting our gourmet street food vendors. Discover Chelmsford markets yourself for a unique place to meet, shop and eat, safely.
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City Times Intro Hello readers, What a difference a month makes! As you can see, we are back in print and we hope you are happy to see us! On Monday 12th April we had our biggest unlocking to date with all shops, gyms and pub and restaurant gardens opening - and you can now have your hair cut too and much more besides. We must mention the passing of Prince Philip the Duke of Edinburgh. 99 is a good age of course, but he was also a husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather as well as a member of our royal family - and he was also the Queen’s rock. We can look back at all he has achieved over 73 years, including the Duke of Edinburgh’s Awards which has shaped so many lives over time. We know that we have also lost so many others over the past year who are as important as he was, and we pay our respects to him, and to all those we have sadly lost. What are you looking forward to now and in the future? Hopefully by being careful we can continue with the unlocking and get back to the new normal, what ever that will be of course! If you have anything you think may be of interest to our readers, then please let us know. We also want to know about any events that are happening (of all types) to restart our What’s On guide once more. Contact us via email at editorial@itsyourmedia.co.uk. Stay well and safe and let’s hope we can all forward and not backwards to a better future. Stay safe! Paul & Nick www.thecitytimes.co.uk | www.moulshamtimes.com Advertising Editorial Nick Garner Paul Mclean 07970 206682 01245 262082 / 07595 949701 ads@itsyourmedia.co.uk editorial@itsyourmedia.co.uk
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City Times Food Microgreens: Miracle on Your Window Sill - by Lisa Whittle
I love this time of year, when spring is in full swing; the birds are singing their hearts out as they build their nests and everything is growing rapidly. The lengthening days, sunshine and ensuing explosion of life makes me feel that everything good is ahead. It makes my mind turn to growing things - in the garden or on the kitchen window sill.
and how therapeutic it can be to watch. In just a few days small seeds can become a ready supply of fresh edible greenery. Great for children to watch too - the changes are dramatic and daily and engage interest and even awe from little ones.
I find it’s very therapeutic and life-affirming to plant seeds and watch them spring into life and grow into plants - especially if you can eat them! Even more so if those plants are extra nutritious and easy to grow… What I am leading up to telling you about here is sprouts… not the Brussels sort of Christmas dinner fame but the tiny shoots of just germinated seeds that are full of the just mobilised nutrients that help the seed grow mega fast at this critical point in its development.
Broccoli seeds are a good choice
Broccoli seeds soaking
Seeds that have begun to sprout roots and shoots are producing high levels of nutrients such as chlorophyll, vitamin C, folic acid, phosphorous, magnesium and potassium. Seeds given the right level of moisture and warmth and ultimately light will spring to life in the mysterious, magical, miraculous process called germination. Sprouts are also becoming known as microgreens and can be eaten raw or lightly cooked and added to most meals as an extra dose of green nutrition on the side. They can also play a key role in salads, sandwiches and wraps of course. You can add them to smoothies, but depending on exactly what you have grown, they may be a little on the bitter side.
If you’ve ever grown cress you’ll know how quick this process can be
One day later
Cress is a great one to start with. Germination is quick and the seeds are small and reliable. Small seeds do seem to make the process easier. If you google ‘sprouting’ you will see that you can sprout many different seeds and beans from lentils, chick peas, mung beans (that produce the sprouts you will be familiar with found in Chinese spring rolls and that you buy in supermarkets for stir fries), but I find the smaller seeds work best. I have had disappointing results from larger seeds. In my experience they tend to need more consistent warmth and I’ve been left with mouldy seeds with no signs of life on more than one occasion.
Day 2: roots have appeared…
Using old, out-of-date seeds can be another cause for disappointment. Seeds don’t last for ever and an old pack just might not spring to life. Invest in a new pack if this happens to you and try again.
Day 3: remarkable growth has happened and you can eat them from now on
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My favourites for reliable results are broccoli, radish, red clover, pink kale, alfalfa, and mung beans in warmer weather. The Internet is a good source of seeds - for example www.skysprouts. co.uk, or www. gardenseedmarket. com, or even Amazon.
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Instructions for Sprouting In a Jar The most popular and convenient method for sprouting seeds is in a jar. Almost any seed can be sprouted in a jar following these basic guidelines. Kits can also be bought with purpose created jars and trays.
seed material and remove at this point if possible. 3. Soak Seeds: Place rinsed seeds in a jar and fill about ¾ full with cool water. Cover with a mesh lid or cloth, secured with a rubber band, to allow air flow. A general rule is to soak for at least 8 hours. Some larger seeds may require a longer soak. Soak until the seeds have doubled in size. Keep in mind Sprouts can be added to any meal as well as that temperature salads, wraps and sandwiches also affects soak time. In warmer temperatures the soak time is shorter. In cooler temperatures soak time is longer, and larger seeds like chickpeas or kidney beans may require a 24-hour soak.
1. Choose a Jar and Lid: Any glass jar will do for sprouting, though one with a wide opening is most convenient for rinsing, draining and removing Day 4: Growth continues and the jar gets sprouts. Choose a filled up jar large enough to contain the seeds and sprouts: For smaller seeds, use a 250-500ml jar or try this convenient wide-mouth 500ml sprouting jar with mesh lid. For bigger beans and grains, a one litre sprouting jar with lid makes sprouting large seeds easier.
4. Drain Seeds Well: It is important to drain the seeds well for several hours while allowing plenty of air circulation. Mesh lids work well for this step, as the jar may be inverted and propped at an angle to drain for long periods - purpose made jars are easily rested at an angle. 5. Rinse, Drain, and Repeat: Rinse seeds with cool water and repeat draining. Rinse gently to avoid damaging tender new sprouts. Usually 2-3 days of rinsing and draining about 3 times per day is sufficient. In very warm temperatures, rinse more frequently. In cold weather, less frequent rinsing may be fine, but keep in mind that seeds may not sprout as well. A temperature of about 18-26oC for most seeds is fine. 6. Final Rinse and Drain: Once sprouts are ready to harvest, rinse one final time and remove un-sprouted seeds and seed hulls if desired. Drain thoroughly one final time before eating or storing sprouts in the fridge. Another option is to transfer them to soil in a seed tray at this stage if you wish to grow slightly larger microgreens. I have found it is important to not to overfill the jar to ensure circulation of air to avoid rotting - less is more! Don’t leave the sprouts to grow too long, there is a risk of mould and rotting as time goes on. Your sprouts should smell fresh and have no slimy parts - if they have, they are past their best. Better to stop earlier and put in the fridge and start a new batch. In the fridge under 6oC, growth will stop - but the sprout will remain alive with full nutritious goodness. They will keep for 3-5 days in the fridge while your next batch is growing.
2. Rinse Seeds: Rinse the seeds well with cool water (around 20oC) and drain. Remove any debris, stones, or broken seeds. Day 5: Growth and they are done and ready for storing in the fridge When sprouting smaller seeds, removing broken seeds is not practical, but do look for any non-
A Word About Sprouting Nuts It can be extremely beneficial to soak nuts in cool water to stimulate the germination process. You can either eat them like this (they will be a little softer) or dry them again in a very low oven or dehydrator. This process increases their available nutrients and lowers ‘antinutrients’ - substances such as lectins and phytic acid. This is the logic behind the many products you will find described as ‘sprouted’ - they have been through this germination process to make them more nutritious. Store grown sprouts in the fridge to keep them fresh Please let our advertisers know you saw their advert in The City Times
Page 5
Nick’s Music and Ramblings Quite a lot has been going on since our last publication. We are back in print of course. We continued to publish online during the lockdown and will of course continue to do so. Personally, I have been busy beavering away here in my office, not only for the magazine, but also planning music; so far, I have put together a pretty good line-up for Chelmsford City Football Club I think. It is sad to see that Railway Hotel pub in Southend is not re-opening. Lets just hope that right people can be found for the future running as it’s a place like no other. Dave and Fi Dulake created a great space for music and the arts as well as amazing award-winning vegan food. The atmosphere was just so welcoming to one and all. Here in Chelmsford we also have the sad news that Scott is leaving the UB. This has become a local hub in Chelmsford and one that I have sometimes had a hand in regarding the live music shows. It is sad to see him leave, but you can understand that with a young family the pub can be so time consuming. So again I hope that the person/people who take it over continue the direction. A little-known back street pub has become one of the best known and go-to places for fun, food and live entertainment. Now that things are starting to relax a little, I was thrilled to go and see my family - it has been almost a year since I last saw them. My, how my grandchildren have grown! They also have a new house after living in a maisonette for the past 14 years. Now they have plenty of space and my daughter has a decent size kitchen for her Kiki’s Delicious Kitchen project to create her amazing food. They also have a good size garden too - I know there will be a few barbecues going on this summer... Tentatively, there are some events being planned for us all to enjoy as long as all goes according to plan and some don’t go crazy and wreck it for the rest of us. We can now also get the free lateral testing kits which are not a hundred per cent effective, but a pretty good guide - I know I will be using them. Music It has been a while since I have been able to do this, so I am hoping we can go ahead with our planned music events. I don’t really know much about what everyone else is doing and putting on yet, so I would advise to keep your eyes on social media if you can. I have now got 16 shows booked for Chelmsford City Football Club with more to come. My plan is to do as many Friday shows as I can and we have 15 nights booked so far. The one exception is on Wednesday 22nd September when we have our friend Albert Lee returning to play. We will hopefully kick off with a bang on Friday 25th June with Ronnie Lane’s old band Slim Chance. Most of these guys played with Ronnie and those who didn’t certainly knew him. Opening the night we have The Ugly Guys. I am sure many of you will know them as they consist of local legends from the Kursaal Flyers as well as other local acts. Next, on July 9th we welcome back Wille and the Bandits. I can’t wait for this one, and we have the amazing electric cellist Calum Ingram opening the night. We then move into September and on Friday 3rd we have Chris Farlowe with the Norman Beaker Band back to play, with Mississippi MacDonald opening. Next up on 10th September we have The Animals along with The Sharpeez. On 17th The Urban Voodoo Machine will be playing for us, with Steve Hooker and his band to open. On 22nd September we have the great Albert Lee and if that was not enough, on the 25th I have managed to get the legend that is Geno Washington (the one that Dexys Midnight Runners sang about). Geno will have his Yo Yo Blues with him too, and to open we are thrilled to welcome Bex Marshall, who last year played at the 2020 Oscars. Just as you catch your breath we are off again. On 1st October we have our very own Connor Selby and his band along with, of course, Page 6
Joe Anderton at his side. Opening the night is Danny Boy Piper. Then on the 8th is another special with The Hot Rods, who you might know as Eddie and the Hot Rods. We planned this for last year as a tribute to the late Barrie Masters, the band’s sadly now deceased front man. The boys have kept it all together and Dipster, who was originally on bass, has moved to the front of the stage. Opening this exciting night is Department S, you may remember them reaching 22 in the charts with Is Vic There? in 1980 - yup, them. We are still working on the following week, so let’s move onto 22nd October where we have The Mentulls who are brothers Andrew and Jamie Pipe with David Crabtree. They have their own unique brand of progressive bluesy pop/rock, with Andrew on lead vocals and guitar and Jamie on Hammond, synth and piano, and David on drums. They make a very special sound. Supporting on the night we have The 251s from Southend. This is Russ Cottee’s latest venture with a bluesy/jazz mix taking us back to the sound of the 50s and 60s. On 29th October we have Gibson, Martin, Fender named after a song by Mick Green of The Pirates. This band has two of the guys who played with Mick Green in 1994 - a reincarnation of The Pirates with Romek Parol drums and BJ Anders on bass and vocals, They are now joined by the award-winning guitarist James Oliver who they met when he opened for their band The Spellkasters. To open this, we had to have Jeff Chapman’s Roosters - there was no other choice. Now into November and firework night with Jack J Hutchinson and his rockin’ blues band. They will blow your mind they are that good. Next we have 60s legends The Strawbs: Dave Cousins, Dave Lambert and Chaz Cronk. They are currently number two in the Folk Charts with a new album. Incidentally, Sandy Denny and Rick Wakeman both started off in the Strawbs. The openers on the night will be Jolene Missing and Hippy Joe Hymashy (Hayseed Dixie). 19th November sees Eric Bell playing - the very man who started Thin Lizzy. You’ll hear him on Whiskey In The Jar. Opening is Stony Road with Trevor Gentry at the helm. Friday 26th is going to be a special night as we pay tribute to our good friend Char Tinsley who we lost a year ago to the day of the gig. It was she who introduced me to the excellent Who’s Next tribute band and they will be turning up on the night as friends of Char to help us raise the roof and pay tribute to this wonderful woman who we lost far too young. The opening act will be her brother Wayne Tinsley. To round off the year we have got back that great funk outfit form the 1970s, Kokomo - still with 7 of the original 10 members; a veritable who’s-who of amazing musical talent. 5.com will open again as they were so good before. We will of course have more to add as and when - watch out online and in the Moulsham Times and City Times. Please note that you cannot currently get tickets from the football club, it’s online or via our ticket hotline only, which is 07508 496 411. It would be fantastic if you could share our both magazines the City Times and Moulsham Times. We continue to publish both magazines online at www.issuu.com/itsyourmedia. If you are interested in advertising with us, please get in touch via ads@itsyourmedia.co.uk, or if you have a comment or an article, please send to editorial@ itsyourmedia.co.uk and we will reply to you as soon as we can. For all my updates and information go to Black Frog at www.blackfrogpresents.com, or for shows - www.fb.com/ BlackFrogPresents. The Isolation Festival/blackfrogbands page can be found at www. fb.com/IsolationMusicFestival. We are also now on YouTube too: www.youtube.com/ blackfrogpresents. My new band page for Yes It Is is www.facebook.com/yesitis. Stay safe and well please and let’s start to get ready for the big celebration when we can see the other side, as we know that is going the biggest party ever.
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Chandler Materials - Your Local Supplier of Building Materials Chandler Materials is a family run, local and independent builders’ merchant which has been servicing the people of Essex since the 1950s. The business holds traditional family values at the heart of its culture, supporting and supplying hundreds of local builders and the general public with building, landscaping, plumbing, paint and bathroom materials through good times and bad. We pride ourself on our customer service; whether it be for advice or product information, our experienced team are ready to help. They regularly go the extra mile to help things run smoothly.
as you imagine them in your own outdoor space. We also have a weatherboarding display area, so you can see the colours available to transform the outside of your home with Cedral. Viewings of our display areas are by appointment only, so call us to book your appointment today. On site, we offer a paint matching and mixing service. Choose from thousands of colours to bring your indoor spaces to life. As well as this we also have all the necessary decorating accessories to make life as easy as possible! Our newly refurbished Bathroom Showroom is also back open for appointments from the 12th April, featuring the latest trends from brands such as Merlyn, Roper Rhodes & Burlington. Call us today to book your appointment to start designing the bathroom of your dreams. Whatever you need, we’re here to help! Contact us today to see what we can do for you - www.chandlermaterials.co.uk.
Our new and improved website features over 5,000 products, so it’s easy to find what you’re looking for and place your order today. Goods can be collected from our branch or delivered to the local area for free by our friendly delivery team. We have a walk-on landscaping display featuring porcelain, sandstone and concrete paving as well as composite decking and decorative aggregates, so you can touch and feel the product
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Page 7
City Times Gardening If you have not done so already, this is the perfect moment to start - or for some of you continue - to sow seeds for crops of edibles or a range of ornamental plants. Seeds can be sown in loam based or loam-less compost, but ideally sow seed in a compost similar to that in which the plants will be grown. For example, alpines are usually grown in a loam-based potting compost, so choose a John Innes seed sowing compost which is also loam based. Houseplants and bedding are usually grown in a loam-less potting compost so sow the seeds in a loam-less seed compost. The majority of plants propagated in the glasshouse are sown in loam-less compost, whereas plants sown in cold frames outside are usually sown in John Innes.
• • •
•
Use a fine sieved compost. Moisture retentive to hold and provide adequate moisture. Most seed composts contain peat or a peat substitute for this purpose. Well drained and aerated to reduce the likelihood of fungal diseases and to facilitate root growth. Horticultural sand may be mixed with compost to improve drainage and aeration. Low in fertility, as high levels of fertility can scorch young tender roots and the seed already contains what it requires in the food store of the endosperm or cotyledons. A small amount of phosphate in the compost encourages root formation - pH should be around 5.5 - 6.5. Sterile as the presence of pests and diseases is particularly damaging to seedlings. Store composts in a clean dry place and ensure it is covered
Containers The type of container will vary according to the seed being sown. The traditional container is the tray or ‘squat pot’, but modules, which have the advantage of minimising root damage, are increasingly used. Hygiene is very important to prevent the spread of fungal diseases such as damping off. Prior to use, containers should be scrubbed in warm soapy water and left to dry. Tools Firming board: This is a flat board shaped to the size of the seed tray which is used to gently firm the compost to ensure that water can be drawn up by capillary action. Striking-off board: This is a ruler-shaped board, which is used with a sawing motion to remove excess compost from the seed tray to produce a level surface. A firming board can be used in the same way.
Compost needs to be: •
Friable so the new roots and shoots can easily grow through it.
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Dibber: A small plastic dibber can be useful for making holes for station sowing large seeds. Labels and pens: All containers should be labelled with the date and plant name to avoid confusion and wastage. All tools should be cleaned after use and stored in a clean dry place. Growing Environment This will range from a cold frame for tree and shrub seeds, to a polytunnel, which will offer protection for an early start of an annual crop such as Lathyrus odoratus (sweet pea). At the other end of the scale is a glasshouse, used for bedding plants which may have a heated bench or closed case to provide warmth. All of these are known as a protected environment. Check out this link for a visual guide to success: www.rhs.org.uk/ Advice/Profile?pid=501.
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For further top tips for this month check out this link for further jobs for the garden as we move through April: www.rhs.org.uk/advice/in-month/april. Happy gardening For any gardening tips, please contact Tom Cole, Horticultural Lecturer, Capel Manor College, Bullsmoor Lane, Enfield, Middlesex, EN1 4RR, or by email tom.cole@capel.ac.uk.
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City Times History
Agriculture in the Chelmsford Area (Part Three) - By Stephen Norris ‘Never again would the schoolmaster cane a boy because a gentleman had complained that he had not doffed his cap to him...’ This third article on farming in the Chelmsford area looks at the changes in rural society from the late 19th century, the importance of Thomas Churchman Darby, and Joseph Brittain Pash. By 1901 conditions had improved for most farmers in the area with wheat prices for farmers 14% higher, though the agricultural labourer did not benefit a great deal. A small increase in wages was insufficient to prevent a large number moving from the surrounding rural districts to the town attracted by sufficiently higher wages in the new engineering firms. In 1914 there was a 13-week strike in the county by the local branch of the National Union of Agricultural Labourers. Although it was ultimately unsuccessful, it did ensure that more notice was taken of farm workers, who did well in general during the war. The role of the farm labourer in Mid Essex was little different in 1900 compared to centuries before. ‘Growing crops and tending livestock still employed the same techniques that had been used in Tudor times’. Farm workers had always lived in cottages, but increasingly came to resent the fact that these were ‘tied’ to their job. This meant that there was always the threat of homelessness in retirement. The Workers Union used this to mobilise support in the county. The natural order of rural society remained largely untouched in the years leading up to the first war despite the partial unionisation of the farm labourer. Although mid Essex, like the county as a whole, was never noted for a predominance of big landowners - the local landowner or ‘squire’ always had a pre-eminent position in the local village community and a number of the villagers would work at his house or in his gardens. He was usually a magistrate or justice of the peace. The first five or six rows of pews would be reserved for family members in the local parish church, and improving and repairing the latter was often one way the owner could carry out ‘good works’ in his community. In 1900, four of the eight Essex MPs were Essex landowners. Colonel Tufnell lived in Howe Street in the Walthams and owned almost half of the cottages - of 57 households when Edward the Seventh died, Tufnell owned 25. ‘Edwardian Howe Street would have been very much a working place with three farms, a mill, a malting, a smithy, businesses in the building and allied trades, market gardening, timber sawing, shops and a post office’. There was no publicly provided water and of course, no electricity. It had no cases of divorce and it was rare for a baby to be born out of wedlock. The Tritton family dominated Great Leighs as the vicar Andrew Clark noted in his published diaries. Herbert Tritton was Lord of the Manor and his country seat was Lyon Hall. He was a partner in Barclays Bank, which had once been Barclay, Tritton, Bevan and Co. ‘The Trittons had done much for the village: the sick were taken to hospital in one of their cars, food was distributed and help given when babies arrived’. They had a village pump built and a clock put on the church tower. His four daughters were always doing ‘good works’. Clark appreciated Tritton’s support of the parish, but found his evangelical fervour difficult to stomach. Although he filled the front rows of the parish church with family and staff he also supported nonconformity. He had a parish hall built which was also used for nonconformist services. Villagers in Great Leighs, such as Herbert Rolley, could not rely on just their wages for survival. He recalled that in 1904, “I lived in a cottage in School Lane and I rented it for one shilling and six pence a week. There were 18 fruit trees and a huge walnut. These incidentally provided the greater part of our subsistence for my wages at the time were 10 shillings a week which I earned by working at a nursery from 6am to 6pm.” Another villager Alfred Green said: “My parents were very poor. My father worked on a farm and his wages were 13
shillings for 54 hours. Our rent was about one shilling and sixpence a week and after buying a little coal and an ounce of baccy for the old man 3d, and a pint of beer 3d, it did not leave much for food and clothes.” Before the WW1, most of the villagers in Great Baddow and Sandon still worked in local farms. As elsewhere in the rural districts they were housed in low cost cottages ‘often sharing a wash house with an earth toilet at the bottom of the garden’. Les Sparrow’s grandparents had an arable farm: “We had two horses, a cow and loads of chickens. It was mainly a two-man farm. My grandparents got in extra labour at harvest time. All Essex farm houses had a brew house.” Fred Spalding senior bought Meadgate Farm in Great Baddow, near where the Army and Navy roundabout is today, when he retired from his shop. He used a steam plough when these were beginning to be used more before the outbreak of the WW1. Spalding remembered extreme poverty in the village: there was a man in the village known as ‘Donkey’ because when his family was starving he cut up a dead donkey and used it for meat and soup. In every village the Great War resulted in a decisive change in attitudes within the community. As a member of Little Baddow parish council said, ‘Never again would the schoolmaster cane a boy because a gentleman had complained that he had not doffed his cap to him’. By 1900 the Darby Digger had a national reputation. Thomas Churchman Darby was born in Little Waltham in 1840. At 18 he invented a horse shoe and established a small engineering works for its production. He was scornful of the plough because it made the soil ‘sour’. Darby moved to Pleshey where he worked on his digging machine. Initially he sought help from Eddingtons, the Chelmsford engineering firm which had developed a machine for laying land drains. Darby’s machine had mechanical digging forks driven by means of an ordinary single cylinder steam engine. His first machine, introduced around 1876, walked on six steam operated legs. This encountered severe problems, not the least being that it cost £1,600. A second prototype with eight legs and a double boiler was no more satisfactory costing £1,800. He then set up his own firm, Darby Diggers, which produced a more successful third digger. The boiler was retained, but the legs removed. Its engine drove both the wheels and the digging forks. In 1880 it was shown at the Royal Show at Carlisle. One significant problem that remained was the time that it took to get the machine back on the road after digging because the wheels had to be changed. In 1900, Darby moved the works to Wickford and formed a new company, the Darby Land Digger Syndicate, to market a rotary digger. One of these was inspected by King George V in 1913 shortly before production was discontinued. The new digger had cost the company the enormous sum of £100,000. ‘Had he had the advantage of the internal combustion engine his story might well have been different’. In reality, he was unlucky to have developed his expensive machine at the time of the agricultural depression. Darby’s son Sydney later perfected the Darby ‘All Weather’ wheels to fit tractors. The agricultural machinery firm of Joseph Brittain Pash advertised ‘the largest stock of agricultural machinery, dairy goods and spare parts in Essex’. He had started his workshop on his farm in Galleywood as early as 1866. He moved the business to near Chelmsford’s new market. By 1900 he was producing comparatively few goods himself. He was the sole agent for Massey Harris, who claimed to have introduced reaping machines to Essex in 1866, sheaf binders in 1892 and tractors in 1915. Pash’s workers were prepared to travel 100 miles to erect fences. Tom Turner remembered his warehouses at the rear of the Corn Exchange: “The pioneer of selling, servicing and repairing agricultural machinery”. Pash was also admired locally for setting up the Essex Industrial School for abandoned children.
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City Times Finance
The Three Point Checklist for Your Finances
With COVID-19 restrictions lifting and life starting to resemble something of its former self, we turn our attention to checks and balances, whether they be literal or not, in order to move forward we must start somewhere. If that means to ‘boost the economy’ by supporting local businesses, so much the better! Hands Space Face you know the drill! 1. HANDS up for Pension Contributions Some people have lost their income or have seen the level of their earnings plummet due to COVID-19. If this has happened to you, then you may understandably have had to reduce or even stop contributing to your pension plan. If however on the other hand your income has kept up, or you have since found or resumed your employment, do not miss the opportunity to continue or increase your contributions - your future self will thank you for it! Also, check your entitlement to the state pension and get a forecast, for any workplace or private schemes. Ask for your projections and valuations and work with your independent financial adviser to maintain your position and ensure you are on track for the future. 2. SPACE Your Savings and Investments As a new tax year has started, now is a great time to take stock of your financial situation and manage your savings plans. If you haven’t already and are able to, start a savings plan, put aside as much as you can afford each month. Even irregular, ad-hoc savings will make all the difference to your future financial well-being. For example, a good start might be an ISA which is designed to allow for tax free growth and presents a tax-efficient way to save (and an alternative to low interest paying bank account). Ask your independent financial adviser for details on which type of ISA would be most suitable given your unique personal circumstances. 3. FACE Your Financial Issues Reviewing your pensions, savings and investments presents an opportunity to reassess your overall financial position and get clarity on what it is you are trying to achieve. Could readjusting your holdings put you in a more favourable position? Would a bigger contribution put you in a better position few years down the line? Is it time to review all your assets and work with your adviser to formulate a credible financial plan or to make sure that no unexpected Inheritance Tax surprises crop up in the immediate future? How much money do you really need to maintain your lifestyle when you retire? Can you even afford to retire? Questions aplenty - answers on the postcard? No, but your independent financial adviser will make sure that you are on the right path when it comes to your finances.
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We spent the past year or so fearing the unknown and focusing on our physical health as well our sanity and now we have survived all this, it is time to look to our financial future and our future selves and ensure that we are in the best shape of our lives, not just in body and spirit, but in bank balance also! Silvia Johnson Bsc(Hons), DipPFS, EFA, CertCII (MP) is a Director and Independent Financial Adviser at Royale Thames Wealth and provides independent financial advice to individuals and businesses. www.royalthameswealth.co.uk silvia@royalthameswealth.co.uk 07908 109 741 / 020 8720 7249 Royale Thames Wealth Ltd is an Appointed Representative of New Leaf Distribution Ltd which is authorised and regulated by Financial Conduct Authority number 460421. The value of your investment may go up as well as down and the value is not guaranteed. Past Page 12
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Spring Clean Your Yoga Practice - by Mandy Haynes Ah, it’s that time of year - longer and lighter days, warmer weather, fresh buds bloom and animals awaken to herald the spring! With that, often comes the desire or need to have a spring clean declutter, organise, reassess and clean. We could put the same spring cleaning into our yoga practice - and I have some tips and ideas to get you started! Spring Clean Your Yoga Space The environment in which you use to practice should be quiet, calming and inviting - a space you want to be in that calls you to your mat. Now some of you may be lucky enough to have a dedicated place to practice; a spare bedroom, garden building or home gym and if that’s the case then this should be pretty easy to maintain. Regularly cleaning the floor, keeping any shelving free from dust and keeping candles/incense burners/diffusers topped up. If like me you share your yoga space with a well used room in your house, it can be a little harder to transition to your place to practice. Before you roll out your mat, have a quick whip round and put the kids toys away, clear away the dirty dishes, move any furniture to one side and give the floor where your mat goes a hoover or sweep. Close the door, light your candles, pop on your playlist and let the room around you melt away. Spring Clean Your Yoga Mat Some mats might have specific instructions on how to clean them depending on their fabric, so be sure to check the manufacturer’s guidelines. Most mats however, can easily be given a really deep clean with washing up liquid and warm water - put in a spray bottle, spritz your mat and give it a good scrub (both sides) with a microfibre cloth. To finish, rinse your mat with warm water and allow it to air dry. How frequently you do this will depend on how often your mat gets used - weekly or monthly generally - but it is also recommended to clean your mat after every use. You can easily buy mat cleaner sprays online. Or make your own: in a spray bottle, mix equal parts distilled water and white vinegar and add a splash of tea tree oil and maybe some lavender. Spring Clean Your Yoga Practice (Part 1) Invest in some yoga props. Blocks, bricks, straps, wedges and bolsters are a few basics to consider, but there are so many props and pieces of equipment available to enhance and support your practice. It’s a good idea to look at the kind of yoga you practice and what might be best suited to you. As a starting point I would recommend a block, two bricks and a strap (and a bolster and eye pillow for dreamy Savasanas and Restorative/Yin practices). Props can do all sorts of your practice and certainly shouldn’t be seen as cheating - they are there to enhance, aid, support and deepen. They can add height, length and space. There’s so much to say about props - I’ll come back to them next month! Spring Clean Your Yoga Practice (Part 2) Add some twists into your practice. The benefits of twisting poses are numerous; they can aid digestion, relieve lower back pain, stimulate circulation and release tension in the muscles of the abdomen. They can be done in supine (lying on your back), seated or kneeling, in standing or balancing and so on. My favourites include a prayer twisting lunge, half lord of the fishes and a supine twist. Finally, when the weather allows, take your practice outdoors! Feel the sun and air on your skin, let your body tell you what it needs or just start to put a few poses together and see where your practice takes you...
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opportunities to desperate people.
Service Above Self It was with great sadness that we learned of the death of Prince Philip and our condolences go out to Her Majesty the Queen and the Royal Family. Of all the eulogies that immediately appeared in the media, the most striking to me was his devotion to service: service to the Queen, to the country, the armed forces, the environment and to youth.
Fundraising has continued over the last twelve months bringing out innovative ideas such as online balloon races and duck races. It is surprising what you can do when needs must. The charity sector has suffered more than most, so is desperate for the assistance that Rotary provides. Foodbanks in particular have had more call on them as people have been furloughed or have lost their jobs and Rotary has certainly stepped up its support in this direction, often from money saved by not meeting face to face. I have had my vaccinations and am full of praise for the volunteers, who are certainly not all Rotarians, but whilst it is true you can volunteer without paying dues, if you want to have real impact in the area of service you choose, with projects you choose, then Rotary is a good option. Rotary provides its members with a network of men and women with similar values, to work together to serve on local, national and international levels. Perhaps the greatest value Rotary offers is the lifelong friends that develop while serving with your fellow Rotarians. Just by the way of an update. I have written previously about the End Polio Now campaign. I am delighted to tell readers that this year to date there have only been two reported new cases of polio in the world. This is fantastic news and shows we have nearly achieved the goal of total eradication. It’s not the time for complacency as we saw last year how cases increased but, nevertheless, great news. On the converse side, we heard that three women in Afghanistan carrying out immunisations were brutally murdered. Tragic news and some people who are against vaccinations of all kinds should take note of the extremes that occur.
Chelmsford clubs support children in Ghana It accords with Rotary’s motto, Service Above Self. Prince Philip was an honorary member of the Rotary Club of Edinburgh, a club I was pleased to visit a couple of years ago and there on display was his Rotary membership number - number 1. Service is the embodiment of Rotary and during these difficult times Rotarians have had to adapt to ensure support for individuals and good causes did not stop. The lockdown threw up new challenges and new needs. Scams became even more rife, so Rotary organised webinars on current scams, what to look out for and how to avoid them. Practical advice for the public: Postal Delivery Scam, where online criminals have been using fake DPD and Royal Mail emails to collect personal information which they then use to commit further fraud; Purchase Scam, in which criminals offer goods for sale that are in high demand. These include scams involving pets that don’t exist, games consoles, mobile phones and even hot tub scams and camper vans; Vaccination Scam, despicably preying on the vulnerable by phone, email or text in an attempt to steal personal and financial details. The message contains a link to a fake NHS website with an application form to register for the vaccine asking for various personal and bank details to ‘confirm your address’. This information is then used by criminals to target your bank; Coronavirus Tax Refund, similarly criminals are bombarding inboxes with fake emails, texts and calls claiming entitlement to a support grant or tax rebate due to coronavirus. The aim is to get you to give them your personal details like your name, date of birth, address and sometimes even your payment card details, which they then use to steal your money. Report emails like these to report@phishing.gov.uk. Once criminals have your details, they will often call you, pretending to be from your bank’s fraud team, trying to persuade you to move your money to a ‘safe account’ or give away your card reader codes, offers to make quick money, etc... Whilst this is not new, COVID-19 has opened new
Sometimes however, it is the little things that make a difference. It could be a special act of kindness or something to cheer people up. Whilst I was out walking in Beaulieu Park the other day, I came across a scarecrow put there by the Rotary Club of Chelmsford Mildmay. It was part of the Scarecrow Trail for children and it certainly put a smile on my face. Not sure the dress code is acceptable for normal Rotary meetings! Yet this brings up an important issue; A Rotarian in casual dress how old school rules have changed and no longer do you have to wear a jacket, suit and tie - it is more about what you can contribute to the community. Rotary is looking for people of action and once again, I would stress that women are equal in Rotary and like every organisation, Rotary is looking for even more diversity and inclusivity among its membership. If you would like to find out more about Rotary in the area, visit www. rotary1240.org, or give me a call on 01245 260 349 and I would be only too pleased to point you in the right direction. Stan Keller
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Canon Tom’s E-Pistle
Hello friends. Early on last week, I had already received several ‘Happy Easter’ greetings from friends on the interweb, it’s a lovely gesture and I thank them for thinking of me but... and I know I can be pedantic about this kind of thing, it was a bit early for me, after all, Easter doesn’t actually begin until Easter Day itself.
It’s a bit of a thing with me to try and keep times and seasons accurate in the Church year. There’s such a rush in the secular world to leap ahead to the good bits that the times of preparation are lost and so much good stuff with them. Christmas starts in late August nowadays and Easter chocolates are on the supermarket shelves on St Stephen’s Day (there I go again - most people call it Boxing Day!). It seems to me however, that we weaken our celebrations of anything if we don’t do the preparation well. In the Church, Lent and Advent are in the Church calendar for a reason and whilst we shouldn’t expect the secular world to understand or appreciate them in the same way as we do, we
certainly should be making the effort to do these things well, with prayer, integrity and a desire to deepen and strengthen our relationship with God, otherwise what’s the point of having them? I have no problem with atheists and agnostics using the phrase ‘Happy holiday’ at Christmas and Easter, but we shouldn’t be frightened to use our own language in return and say ‘Happy Christmas’ or ‘Happy Easter’ - no offence is meant by either and mutual respect for our differences is healthy. I’m not one of those Christians who thinks we need to persuade others to become Christians, it’s their choice. If I expect people to respect my choice to try and live in a Christian way, I should certainly respect the choices they make about their own lives. As we look forward to the relaxing of the lockdown rules, perhaps we may experience something of a resurrection ourselves as we are able, once more, to journey out into the world and engage with others. May those engagements be friendly, loving and life-giving. Tom
NHS Hearing Aid Support, Help and Advice Now Available On Saturdays in Chelmsford Hearing Help Essex, a not-for-profit charity, is delighted to announce that its essential NHS hearing aid support, advice and guidance to residents of Essex, will become available on Saturdays opening from 3rd April - 26th June, 10am-1pm, operating from its Resource Centre based in Moulsham Street, Chelmsford. The charity is working hard to deliver additional provision to serve the many people across the county with hearing loss, who wear NHS hearing aids and have acquired hearing difficulties. The challenging pandemic times have led to ensuring that a safe and socially distanced environment is made available for those who need to access help.
Saturday, 10am - 1pm (April-June only). Other ways to reach out are via email, web-chat, or text message for anyone not being able to personally visit the Resource Centre. Todorina Hammond, Interim CEO, Hearing Help Essex comments: “We are extremely pleased to now be able to offer Saturday openings to support residents across Essex with hearing loss and look forward to helping as many people as we can. It’s important for hearing aid users to have their hearing aids re-tubed and cleaned every 4-6 months to ensure best efficiency. Anyone seeking advice on assistive equipment to aid day-to-day communication will also benefit.”
NHS Hearing Aid Support, the cleaning and re-tubing of hearing aids, information, advice, and guidance is offered by the friendly Hearing Help Essex team. Anyone new to hearing loss who may perhaps be feeling isolated will also derive benefit from seeking a listening ear. Visits to the Resource Centre in Chelmsford is strictly by appointment only and must be booked in advance:
Government social distancing guidelines are applied to all prearranged appointment visits, with the right safety procedures in place and will be shared in writing prior to attendance.
Monday-Friday, 10am - 3pm.
www.hearinghelpessex.org.uk
To make an appointment call 01245 496 347, or email info@ hearinghelpessex.org.uk or text on 07950 406 173.
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A Year in the Life of the Mayor The Deputy Mayor and I attended the Civic Society AGM online and gave a presentation on our year so far. We shared a large number of slides showing both our in-person engagements, as well as those which took place online. My apologies to the many engagements that were left out, but there just wasn’t the time to talk about them all.
on: • Those who worked tirelessly to keep us safe and well - our NHS staff and key workers. • Those suffering from illness, loneliness and Isolation. • Those whom we have lost in this last year.
Sanctus update: It was recently announced that homeless people and rough sleepers will be prioritised for Covid vaccines and 21 of our service users received theirs in the Sanctus courtyard.
Both the Deputy Mayor and I recorded short pieces about inspirational women to go across social media for International Women’s Day. I chose to talk about the past Lady Mayors of Chelmsford. There are many distinguished people who have held this office, beginning with Frederic Chancellor in 1888 - although we waited 73 years until 1961 for Jean Roberts to be the first woman appointed as Mayor. There is a lovely recording of Jean Roberts Mayoral Year which is worth a watch on YouTube.
This is a huge step towards ensuring the safety and protection of the homeless and vulnerable as well as the wider community. Our service users feel comfortable to come to Sanctus each day to eat and seek help, which means offering services such as this on Sanctus’ premises prevents delays and other barriers that many may face when accessing healthcare. A huge thanks to Julie, a nurse from Essex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust who came to Sanctus and spent several hours administering the vaccines, and to Open Road and Essex Stars for making this possible.
Muriel Davies succeeded Jean Roberts in 1962. In 1973, before reorganisation, Joan Roulston was Mayor. In 1976 Helen How was appointed Chairman of the Council. By 1978, the council reverted back to Mayor and Enid King took on the role. Our other ‘Madam Mayors’ were Connie Johnson, Jean Norton, Felicity Sturt, Freda Mountain, Chris Rycroft, Margaret Hutchon, Nicolette Chambers, Pat Hughes and Yvonne Spence. All of these ladies brought their own style to the Mayoralty. Councillor Jean Roberts was Mayor of Chelmsford from 1961-62. Jean Roberts was an extraordinary woman who fought fascists, promoted fairness, and worked to reform local government over her 100-year lifetime.
I was expertly interviewed online by Daisy and Molly from Boswells School; this interview was to be part of their podcast. We talked about the role of mayor, what’s different for a mayor during a pandemic and the work of my charities. Linda and I recorded another podcast, this time looking back on some of the events and places we were lucky enough to be invited to. Thanks to Carl Spaul for recording this. All the Chelmsford Mayor’s podcasts can be heard on Spotify and other platforms. I took part in a lovely online Zoom meeting with the 2nd Chelmsford Beavers. It was a joy and I was asked some very good questions by the boys and girls. They all showed some really good actions when they sang the Banana Song - I couldn’t help joining in! I recorded a video to go out on social media to commemorate Commonwealth Day. Like so many events during these past twelve months, Commonwealth Day was being marked rather differently because of COVID-19, but it is still a day that was marked by the 54 Commonwealth countries that are home to 2.4 billion people. This year’s Commonwealth theme is one that we can strive for in our own communities as we seek to innovate, connect and transform, working to create a future after COVID-19 has been suppressed. To commemorate the anniversary of a year since we went into total lockdown, we had a Day of Reflection. This day was spent reflecting Page 18
The Deputy Mayor, Cllr Linda Mascot spoke about a very special woman who makes a positive difference to young people through teaching dance: “My choice as an inspirational woman is Debbie Holme who founded Essex Dance Theatre in Great Baddow in 1975. She remains Principal, promoting inclusion and diversity making the EDT community accessible to all. Debbie and her EDT ‘family’ use dance as a tool for youth work by developing social skills, teaching self-confidence and boosting physical and mental well-being in the many young people who pass through their doors. Debbie is an
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exceptional, caring lady who rightfully received the British Empire Medal in 2017 for the fantastic work she carries out in our community. Truly inspirational.” Although Holocaust Memorial Day was in January, I was also asked to record a Welcome Speech for this year’s online Holocaust Memorial event, which went out on Facebook on Thursday 8th April. The Mayor has 10 fundraising places available for a charity firewalk. Remember to register your place and mention you are fundraising for the Mayor’s Charity - mnessexmind.org/firewalk-2021. Thanks to Andy Poole who continues to put together Big Entertainment quizzes online in support of the Mayor’s Charities. Hopefully soon we will be able to meet up and have a socially distanced quiz in a local pub beer garden. The Deputy Mayor attended the Essex Indians online Holi Festival - a very colourful and joyous afternoon celebration of the emergence of
spring and good over evil. We all hope that next year this will be an outdoor event that everyone can attend. If you wish to invite the Mayor to attend an actual or virtual event email mayors.Office@Chelmsford.gov.uk. Twitter: @chelmsmayor Instagram: Chelmsford_mayor Facebook: Mayor of Chelmsford Podcast: You can ask your smart device to play ‘The Chelmsford Mayor’s Podcast’ (available on Spotify and other platforms).
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City Times Fun
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Answers on page 30
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Spot the Difference - 10 to find (answers on page 23)
Quiz Time - by John Theedom 1. In which sport does one compete for the Webb-Ellis Trophy? 2. Who was the actress who played Dot Cotton in Eastenders? 3. In which sport is the term sticky dog used? 4. Which species of tree produces conkers? 5. Ex-football star Wayne Rooney is now manager of which club? 6. In which year was the law banning fox hunting with dogs introduced? Approximately how much is Ed 7. Sheeran worth, to the nearest £10m? 8. 24 hours From Tulsa was a hit for which singer? 9. If your birthday is on August 30th which star sign are you? 10. In which English county do the Epsom Races take place? 11. What was Sir Geoffrey de Havilland famous for producing? 12. What type of transport is a sampan? 13. What nationality was Prue Leith at birth? 14. The young of which fish can be alerins and smolts? 15. Who was the comedian whose catchphrase was ‘Ooh you are awful, but I like you...’? 16. Who played the character Lily Savage? 17. What exactly is oolong? 18. Which 3-letter word completes the following, C…pped, Wors… and Rose…? 19. What would you use a mezzaluna for? 20. At what age did the artist Andy Warhol die? 21. Who was the author of the Horrid Henry series of books?
22. How did Sussex farmer Peter Hicks make the headlines in 1963? 23. Who was the main character in the novel The Hunchback of Notre Dame? 24. Which type of dog is used by Eskimos to pull their sleds? 25. In the house, what is a jalousie? 26. In the music world, what speed is lento? 27. 2 types of canoe are used in the Olympic Games, a kayak and which other? 28. How many square feet are there in a square yard? 29. Who was the first British artist to win the Eurovision Song Contest in 1967? Who was the female singer who had a 30. hit in the 60s with Knock, Knock, Who’s There? 31. Who was the Chinese snooker player that defeated John Higgins in the 2021 finals of The Masters? 32. In which area of the UK does the nickname ‘janner’ apply? 33. Which Coronation Street star has just died at the age of 85? 34. Which motorway connects London and South Wales? 35. What is the freezing point on the fahrenheit scale? 36. Who was the singer/actor with the nickname King of Calypso? 37. What kind of pastry is used in the making of profiteroles? 38. What kind of animal is Sooty’s friend Sweep? 39. What, precisely is a gigot? 40. How did the young man feel when his torch ran out of battery power? (Answers on page 31)
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Chelmsford Window Gallery Presents... The Window Gallery Chelmsford was set up in June 2018 to give local artists a space to display their work. Throughout lockdown we have been hosting monthly virtual exhibitions. The Featured Artist for April 2021 - and our first exhibition back in the gallery - is landscape photographer Julie Weedon. You can check out the exhibition in the window of the Window Gallery on Broomfield Road, or take a look at the video exhibition with music by Katy For Kings on our Facebook page and YouTube channel. Artist Name: ALRS_Photos When did you start making art? “7 years ago.”
Do you sell your work? If so, is it difficult to part with it? “Yes and no!” Instagram: ALRS_Photos Facebook: ALRS_Photos www.windowgallery.org
What sort of art do you create and has this changed over time? “Photography, in particular landscape, street and dereliction.” What inspires you? “The work of other photographers.” What do you do if you’re not inspired? “Take a drive around the back roads and see what I come across!” Do you have any connections with the art community in Chelmsford? “I did the photography for Karen Hughes’ website, Creative Coaching Community, very recently - this will go live very soon!” How often do you create? “As often as possible.” What’s the best thing about being an artist? “The freedom of expression and creativity.” Have you exhibited locally before? “Yes at the Ideas Hub.”
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Moulsham Times Poetry Competition
The categories are: Under 11s 12-17s 18s and over The poems will be judged by Rosie from www.personalpoems.co.uk and the winner from each category will have their poem published in the Moulsham Times in June. You can submit one poem per person and email paul@moulshamtimes.com with your entry. The poem can be on any subject you wish. If you are in the under 11s or 12-17s category please include your age. Closing date for the competition will be 15th May with the winning poems being published in the June edition.
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When I First Moved to Chelmsford Two Years Ago I Had Two Kidneys. Today, I Have One Answering the obvious question, I gave the other kidney away to a stranger who I’ll never meet. I’ll never know their name, their gender or their age - only one fact; that before receiving my healthy functioning kidney on Friday 8th January 2021, they were dying. I found this out whilst dozy with anaesthetic, post-operation, when my surgeon came to see me.
Actually, that’s not true. I know a second fact about the person who has my kidney: I know that they are no longer dying. Doesn’t that sound like the best possible feeling in the world, that a person exists today who would not be here, if not for something you did? The answer to that question is why donation was always such a simple decision for me.
in a nationwide quarantine. All kidney transplant programmes were stopped indefinitely until the situation could be brought under control. In October, the programmes were able to start again and, little realising the short window we would have, I was registered and work was started on finding me a recipient. The NHS has a great system, whereby a person wanting to donate to a loved one but who isn’t a match, can donate to someone else so long as the NHS finds a kidney for the loved one. Due to this system, there was a group of five people ready to donate and receive, but just waiting on one person to be the last donor. In December 2020 as the virus loomed large again in everyone’s life, I was matched with this group of five and a date was set for 8th January for all six operations three donors, three recipients. All six of us quarantined for two weeks starting on Christmas Day. All six of us went into our different hospitals around the country, while A&E units overflowed and ambulances lined up waiting to deliver Covid patients. As staff in transplant programmes across the UK were redeployed to emergency units, we six nipped in right before the gates closed and had our surgeries. I would do it all again in a heartbeat. My recovery has been relatively easy; I haven’t had much pain and nothing has really changed for me - apart from four new little scars which remind me that someone, somewhere, is alive because they have a small part of my body that I didn’t need anyway.
Chelmsford Library
A friend from a running group did it three years ago and I’ve had it in my mind since then. Life took me elsewhere for a bit (I moved out to Italy) and finally, when I came to live in Chelmsford, things calmed down enough for me to act on the idea. First, I gathered statistics (risk of death from kidney donation is 0.03%) and more statistics (in 2019/20, 233 people died while waiting for kidney transplants) and yet more (given my age/health, my risk of problems later in life caused by donation is 1 in 300,000). All these statistics confirmed how I’d always felt since the first moment I thought about it - why would I not do it? I couldn’t see any reason not to. The thing that finally made up my mind was having a very ill cousin. While I was living in Italy, her lifelong struggle with diabetes went downhill. Her kidneys suffered and went into renal failure and she needed a dialysis machine to live. She desperately needed a new kidney and pancreas. A pancreas needs to come from a deceased donor so I was unable to help. I was, however, able to see the results of her transplant. Her life was completely transformed. Having her alive today is the biggest advert for organ donation that I can think of. It was time to act on my idea to do that same thing for someone else. With no better idea of how to start, I walked into the Kidney Clinic at Guy’s Hospital and offered them one of my kidneys! After getting over the initial shock of my offer and establishing that I had no recipient in mind, they launched into the normal routine of preparation for donation. In between my work at Hylands House and Chelmsford Indoor Market, and volunteering at Chelmsford Community Bookshop, I had blood tests, x-rays and countless injections, until finally it was all done. Then arrived 2020; 2020 had other ideas. Instead of registering officially for donation in April, I was locked down like everyone else
Libraries reopened from 12th April and we are welcoming customers old and new!
Essex Libraries will shortly be joining a new consortium of libraries, mainly situated in the London area. Eventually this will mean access to a much greater choice of library items which can be requested in the usual way. To this end, Essex Libraries are changing to a new Library Management System which stores all customer information and the library catalogue, and records all transactions such as issues, returns, renewals. While the new system is being installed, there will be a period when the catalogue will be unavailable from 6th April to 21st April. However, items can still be borrowed and returned during this time. Our Summer Reading Challenge will be taking place this summer in our libraries! Open to all children, the theme is Wild World Heroes working in partnership with the World Wildlife Fund. If you are aged 14 or over and would be interested in volunteering to support this event, please visit our website for details on how to apply. Having listened to customer feedback, our library opening hours are changing when we reopen. For opening hours of all libraries, to find out more and to keep up to date, or to follow us on Facebook or Twitter or to subscribe to our newsletter, go to our website at libraries.essex.gov.uk. As we reopen, we will adhere to Government guidelines regarding social distancing, face coverings and hygiene to ensure your visit will be safe and enjoyable. Come and see us soon!
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• 10,000 copies of the City Times • 9000 copies of the Moulsham Times • Discounts available for longer runs or when advertising in both our magazines • Editorial/business interview for regular advertisers Email ads@itsyourmedia.co.uk for more information or call us on 07970 206682 Page 28
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Competition Time - A Chance to Win a New Quiz Book A Question of Boxing is a quiz book which will surely test even the keenest fans of the sport. The publication is a must-have for anyone who follows the noble art, as the book is both educational as well as entertaining and covers all aspects of the sport.
Closing date is 20th May 2021.
Over the years, boxing has produced a number of fighters who have gone on to make an impact in the ring and have hence become a great in doing so. While the outstanding heavyweight greats often get the most attention from the media and the fans, it would be right to point out that the lighter weight divisions have also produced a number of boxers who can be called ‘great’.
A. B. C.
Sadly, they are often forgotten in the mists of time... In the book, questions are asked about champions from the past to the present and the bouts which have captured the imagination of the fans.
Good luck!
The knockout questions, which are presented in chronological order, will force readers to dig deep into their memories. Some of the questions posed will appear easy while others will prove to be testing. The book will also appeal to the new generation of fans who are now taking an interest in the fistic sport and thus wish to learn more about the game. You can currently get 25% off any book if you use the discount code ‘Oates 25’ here: www.jmdmedia.co.uk. Ralph has also donated two copies of the book for the City Times for you to to try and win! To enter the competition, please answer the following question correctly and email your answer to paul@itsyourmedia.co.uk. Please remember to include your name and address!
On June 28th, 1997, whose ear did Mike Tyson bite off? Evander Holyfield Michael Spinks Frank Bruno
The winners will be notified by email soon after the closing date.
If you missed any online issues over the last 3 months you can view both The City Times and the Moulsham Times magazines online, visit www.issuu.com/itsyourmedia
Two people who answer correctly will be selected at random to each receive a copy of the book.
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Stargazing with Mark Willis - April/May Eta Aquarids meteor shower: 19th April - 28th May, and peaks at 6th and 7th May. 17 April: 21:19 Conjunction of the Moon and Mars. Constellation of Taurus. th
18th April: M3 which is a globular cluster, is very well placed for observation. 22nd, 23rd April: Lyrids Meteor Shower from 16th - 25th April, but peaks on 22nd and 23rd April. 6th May - 02:35: Looking east, you’ll see the Aquarids meteor shower. 40 meteors per hour. 8th May: Lyrids meteor shower. 13th May: Mercury is at its highest point in the sky. Still very tricky to
see it, as Mercury is rarely visible when it’s properly dark. 27th May: Comet 7P/Pons Winnecke will reach perihelion. New Moon: On 11th May and 10th June 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 me with any questions… I normally presents on Chelmsford Community Radio. As soon as I have had both my vaccines I will return to Lite Bites at 12pm on Tuesdays. www.chelmsfordcommunityradio.com Twitter: @WillisWireless m.willis@hrc.org.uk
Chelmsford Community Radio Spot the Difference Answers
We are proud to welcome the Essex Book Festival Book Club to our lineup of shows. The festival was established by Essex County Council in 1999 to celebrate the book in all its forms with the widest possible audience in Essex. Since then, it has grown into one of the leading festivals of its kind in the eastern region, inviting local writers and writers from all over the world to take part its activities. It also hosts a year-round series of writing and reading programmes for all ages and abilities. Every second Thursday of the month the hard working team behind the Essex Book Festival bring you an amazing collective of fun chat, news and interviews relating to the world of literature. Covering local authors and year round events for avid readers in Chelmsford and beyond. If you missed this month’s show, you can catch up on our mixcloud page at www.mixcloud.com/chelmsfordcr/thursday-communitytakeover-the-book-club-080421-chelmsford-community-radio. For more details on the Essex Book Festival, head over to their website at essexbookfestival.org.uk. Don’t forget that as well as The Book Club, we have Treasured Chelmsford from the Chelmsford Civic Society and our visual arts show Zest from Matt Willis sharing the monthly Thursday night slot. You can listen to us on 104.4FM in Chelmsford, online at www. chelmsfordcommunityradio.com, or ask your smart speaker to ‘play Chelmsford Community Radio. Page 30
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Quiz Answers
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20.
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21. Francesca Simon: Rugby He electrified his Land June Brown Rover to deter traffic Cricket wardens! Oak 22. Quasimodo Derby County 23. Husky 2005 24. A blind made of a row of £200m angled slats Gene Pitney 25. Slow Virgo 26. Canadian Surrey 27. Nine Aircraft 28. Sandie Shaw (aged 20) Wooden boat (used in 29. Mary Hopkins Asia) 30. Yan Bingtao South African 31. Plymouth Salmon 32. Johnny Briggs (Mike Dick Emery 33. Baldwin) Paul O’Grady 34. M4 Tea 35. 32 degrees Hip 36. Harry Belafonte (94) Chopping food (curved 37. Choux blade) 38. Dog 58 in 1987 39. A leg of lamb or mutton 40. Delighted
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