Including: Chelmsford, Hatfield Peverel, Danbury, Great Baddow, Maldon, South Woodham Ferrers, Stock, Ongar, The Walthams and Ingatestone
Welcome to The City Times April/May edition.
Spring is in the air and the outdoor events are beginning... Check out our What’s On pages for more details on which events are coming up!
WIth festivals in mind, take a look at page 13 for a great competition to win tickets for Creamfields at Hylands Park!
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The concerts at Hylands Estate provide the perfect setting in which to enjoy a picnic concert while appreciating four and half hours of wonderful entertainment. It starts with one of the best swing singers in the country - Sam Griffiths - whose first album went to number one in the iTunes Jazz Charts - and will wow you will all your favourite swing songs. The main concert starts with a majestic spitfire display accompanied by well known British war themes.
The concert will be performed by London’s Orion Orchestra, which boasts some of the finest young musicians in the country. The
orchestra will play all your favourite proms pieces including, Nessun Dorma, the Sailor’s Hornpipe, Land of Hope & Glory, Rule Britannia and Jerusalem along with a whole host of other fantastic classical pieces.
The evening will end, as always, with a spectacular firework display by Meteor Fireworks which is fully synchronised to the orchestral score.
www.belevents.co.uk
Another month of odd weather from freezing cold to winds, and from lots of rain with flooding to bright sun and warmth. Easter will have just happened by the time this edition hits the streets as well - so let’s hope it was a goodun.
I am currently having my office decorated and do not have my main computer to hand so I’m using a laptop to write this, which I am not used to!
I have just seen that April is Global Astronomy Month, but sadly Essex has nowhere listed in the top 15 places to view stars in the UK, although some of the counties near us do have places.
Since the last edition we had the 3foot People Festival and The Fling Extravagasm events in Central Park, Chelmsford. If you did not go to The Fling then you missed a great event - it was good to see original creator Liam Rich back to organise it, and what a great job he did! Let’s hope that this is the return to the original concept idea of this event and maybe even the return of Street Diversions, who knows.
We have the Chelmsford Festival coming up and Concrete Canvas, as well as the Essex Book Festival. It is good to see other types of festivals taking place, rather than just music events - this may seem a strange things to say as I am so involved in music! I do of course love all the music festivals, but it does all seem to be being a little overdone right now - so much so that I am not going to be putting on a festival this year. I stop from mid-July to early September as I am wondering what the point would be triying to compete with all the other festivals being put on. I will be going to some, but not the really big ones like Glastonbury as such events feel too large for me. These days, I tend to like the ones that have just a couple of stages so l can get to see who I want. These are generally known as boutique festivals.
We are of course heading towards better weather and longer days, and everything is now starting to bud and blossom and the birds starting to nest. I am seeing a few bees about already and I have just cut my grass as well, so let’s hope for a good spring and summer this year and nothing too extreme.
This has been a busy month! We recently had our Stevie Wonder show which blew us all away; this really was a world-class band and Noel’s vocals were spot on. They have started the Sunday Jam session at the Star & Garter in Moulsham Street from 4pm - I went along and got up and blew some harmonica which I really enjoyed doing. I think this will now be every other Sunday with the next jam being on Sunday 16th April.
I went to Blues at the Barleylands a couple of times as well to see friends like Mississippi MacDonald performing, and then the Fran McGillivray Band who invited me up for a number. Fran and Mike’s daughter Katie Brayben (her professional name) has just won the Laurence Olivier Award for the second time. This was for Best Musical Actress in The Eyes of Tammy Faye about the a televangelist. The music was written by Elton John with lyrics by Scissor Sisters’ frontman Jake Shears. Previously, Katie won the same award for her portrayal of Carole King in Beautiful. They are so proud of her, but as Katie says, “I am so lucky to have two such loving and gifted musical parents...” I have to agree with her!
I have also been to Hot Box a few times in the past month and am just getting ready for my first show with Robbie McIntosh playing a special afternoon show on Saturday 22nd April from 2pm to 4.30pm. The day after this, he and his band play for me again at the Social Club. Hot Box is a great place and is so varied with a lovely bar and eclectic collection of stuff all around the venue. Every time I look I
see something different. They also have things like chess and quiz nights, open mics and a whole variety of music from jazz to metal and from punk to folk and country.
After we went to the Fling event we went to The Star and Garter and saw Medicine playing, who are led by our own Mark Barnard. As always, they put on a wonderful show and it was a great way to end the evening in good company.
We have had another couple of shows at the Social Club. We had Post Floyd Dream playing (you got it) Pink Floyd, with Rostock opening for them. Both bands were fantastic, although Post Floyd’s lasers did set off the fire alarm! Luckily, we worked it out quickly so not too much upheaval was caused and night continued well... Next we had a night of jive and rock and roll with Bamboozle, a trio from Kent who are outstanding as were the 251s who opened the night.
I went to London the other Friday in an attempt to go to the Palladium to see Connor Selby with Joe Anderton who were opening for Beth Hart on her UK tour. Unfortunately, the show was cancelled just as the doors were due to open. Beth cancelled it, although the rest of tour did continue without fault. I was lucky, as my daughter and her family were going to the theatre so we met up and had dinner together which I loved as I had not seen them since Christmas and then I had a drink with Connor and Joe and others. The other Saturday I was back in London at a new venue for me called Lafayette which is near Kings Cross. Lafayette is both a venue and night club. I went with my friend Martin to see Elles Bailey and Tamara Stewart, and both acts were on fire. I am so pleased I went and got to see some other old friends there as well.
I have confirmed Connor Selby and his band for Friday 1st December. We also have Robbie McIntosh booked for Friday 21st April. Then we have Take It Easy the following week, covering all your favourite American rock classics including some Fleetwood Mac and Bruce Springsteen. We then take a break for a couple of weeks before returning with Who’s Next and local act, Age Of Discovery.
If you know of anything happening or want to comment about anything, please let us know via the email address below.
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For all Black Frog Presents updates and information for shows at the Chelmsford Social Club and other venues, go to www.linktr. ee/BlackFrogPresents, or scan the QR code in our advert in this magazine. You can also pre-book for the paid show with a text or call to 07508 496 411 and then pay cash or card at the door at the advance price without commission.
As March ends we enter the Easter holidays. I’m really looking forward to having some time off with the children, lazy mornings and my favourite: brunch! My go-to brunch at home is most certainly poached eggs and avocado on toast - quick and easy! I add lemon juice and some chilli flakes with lots of salt and pepper to my avocado to jazz it up.
My top tip for the perfect poached egg is to source really fresh eggs - local farm shop eggs are the best. First bring a pan of water to the boil, just as it reaches boiling point with a spoon stir the water to create a whirlpool - this helps the egg white attach to the yolk. Turn the heat down to a simmer and crack the egg into a small bowl - I find this easier to slide to egg into the pan this way - and cook for 3 minutes. Once the egg is cooked, carefully spoon it out on to a couple of sheets of kitchen towel to dry it and then it’s ready to serve.
Being a trained chef, I’ve always cooked French and traditional cooking. However, I’ve been experimenting with new styles and techniques and as you know if you’ve read my previous articles, I love a dish that is fast, tasty, doesn’t cost loads to make, that the whole family can eat - because at dinner time who wants to be cooking four different dinners?
Let’s talk Jambalaya. Jambalaya is a rice dish that originated in south Louisiana in the 18th century. While there are countless variations, a standard Jambalaya contains rice, protein, seasoning, vegetables and spices. I love this because it means you can literally throw in any spices, veggies, fish or meat that you have - and following on from my store cupboard article last month, a lot of the ingredients are usually in stock, which keeps the cost right down.
The recipe I am going to share is my adaptation of the dish...
Ingredients
6 polish sausages chopped (We use Kabanas).
1 onion finely chopped.
1 green pepper chopped.
2 sticks of celery chopped.
2/3 garlic cloves crushed and chopped.
2 tsp smoked paprika.
1 tsp thyme.
Half a tsp oregano.
Half a tsp basil.
Cayenne pepper to taste.
250g long grain rice.
1 tin of chopped tomatoes.
2 bay leafs.
Half a litre of chicken stock.
250g prawns.
Coriander and parsley to garnish.
Method
Fry the sausages until golden and set aside with the oil they produce. Cool the celery, onion and pepper in Frylight or a glug of olive oil until soft for about 3-4 minutes, then add the herbs, spices, garlic and cook for a few more minutes.
Stir in the rice and coat around the other ingredients.
Add the tin of tomatoes, bay leaf and stock. Cook for 12 minutes until the rice is cooked. You may need to add more chicken stock along the way.
Add the cooked sausages and prawns and combine and cook for 3-4 minutes.
Garnish with fresh parsley and coriander.
I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as we do and look forward to catching up next month.
April is Stress Awareness Month, so I thought this column should be dedicated to some simple strategies you can employ to feel calm and in control, whether at home or at work.
Moderate levels of daily stress can actually be good for us - it motivates us to meet our goals, it helps the body to prepare for danger and it helps us to cope with difficulty. However, when stress becomes chronic - that is sustained, elevated levels of stress - then this can be hugely detrimental to the body, disrupting sleep, reducing immunity and increasing the risk of chronic disease.
So how can you tell if you have chronic stress? The main symptoms include low energy levels, difficulty concentrating, sleep disruption, anxiety and bodily aches and pains.
Even without chronic stress, the frequent pressures of daily life can easily build up, and because it’s such a gradual process, you don’t even notice how stressed you’re becoming. That’s why it’s vital to employ simple strategies to help manage your stress and to switch your body from constant ‘fight or flight’ into a much more relaxed state.
Here are my top tips to help manage your daily stresses:
1. Get outside for a few minutes in the morning to expose yourself to natural light. Not only does this have a positive effect on mood and stress, it also helps you to fall asleep faster at night.
2. If you feel your stress levels rising during the day, take a few minutes to practice some simple breathing techniques. You can find details on box breathing and other effective breathing techniques online. Find one that suits you.
3. Take a warm bath about 90 minutes before going to bed. This will help you to fall asleep more quickly. Good sleep is key to
being able to manage your stress levels.
If you don’t have time for a bath then spend 5-10 minutes listening to a guided meditation. The Calm app offers a free trial of its excellent recordings.
In addition to the above, there are also tweaks that you can make to your eating and drinking habits. First of all, caffeine and alcohol consumption can both exacerbate symptoms of chronic stress. Ideally keep to no more than three cups of tea or coffee per day and make sure all caffeine is consumed by 2pm at the absolute latest. Suitable replacements include herbal teas - chamomile is particularly good in the evening before bedtime. You could also consider naturally decaffeinated tea such as Roobios, which also has numerous health benefits.
Moving onto alcohol... It’s a common myth that it helps with sleep. While it may certainly help you to fall asleep more quickly, the sleep will not be restorative and you’re likely to wake up tired and lacking in energy.
Finally, focus on nutritious, whole foods and cut back on refined carbs such as white bread, pasta and flour, along with high sugar, high fat foods such as cakes, biscuits and chocolate. These cause blood sugar levels to rise quickly, triggering a series of reactions in the body that, in brief, cause mood swings, cravings and high levels of stress hormones released into your body.
I hope you have found all my advice helpful. It really is just the tip of the iceberg. If you’d like to discuss your stress concerns in more detail, then please book one of my free 30-minute stress strategy sessions. You can book at www.linktr.ee/demelzaraynernutrition. Alternatively, sign up to receive my free monthly nutrition tips and recipes at www.demelzaraynernutrition.co.uk.
After a busy month of sowing many a herb, vegetable and ornamental, its now time to prick out seedlings. This involves teasing out the seedlings and transferring them to a new container.
Why Is Pricking Out Necessary?
If seedlings are left to grow on in crowded conditions, they become drawn, with small leaves and long spindly stems and will never grow into good quality, sturdy plants. Pricking out will give seedlings more light, space and air making them less prone to fungal diseases.
The seedlings are transferred from a seed sowing compost to potting compost, which contains a higher level of nutrients than seed compost.
Broadcast seedlings may germinate erratically, so a range of sizes can often be seen in the seed tray. They can be graded during pricking out so that growth is more even.
Seedlings are spaced out so that they grow at a uniform rate. This should mean that all the plants will be ready at the same time.
When Should Pricking Out Be Done?
Basically as soon as possible - usually when the cotyledons have fully expanded. The seedling should have leaves that are large enough to handle and a simple, single, short root that will not be damaged by transplanting. Another indicator is when seed leaves are touching.
Working Area
Pricking out should be undertaken either in a purpose-built clean pricking-off shed, or in the glasshouse beside the area where the containers of pricked out seedlings are stood down.
Gather all the necessary equipment and organise the workspace so it is both comfortable and efficient.
Equipment
Choose suitable low nutrient potting compost such as loam-less peat-free potting compost or J I No. 1 potting compost. Never reuse potting compost.
Containers to be used can range from seed trays to modular trays or individual pots depending on the seedling. Today, seed trays are less popular, modular trays are more common. Containers must be clean to prevent the spread of fungal disease.
A striking off board is used to remove excess compost. Boards that mark the pricking out stations are sometimes useful. They may be bought but may be made with two pieces of wood and nails spaced at regular intervals.
A dibber (a length of bamboo cane or a proprietary one) is used to tease out the seedlings.
Method
Prepare the Container
Fill the container with compost and strike off the excess. Modular trays should be tapped to settle the compost. If pricking out into a tray, an adapted striking off board may be used to mark out the planting stations.
Prepare the Seedlings
Water the seedlings well in advance to ensure the compost is moist when you come to prick out the seedlings. Ideally the seedlings should not be wet when you prick them out as this will make them more susceptible to damage.
Tap the tray of seedlings to loosen them from the sides. Loosen the compost with your dibber, and holding the seedling by the leaf gently tease it out of the compost. Make a hole in the compost using your dibber and insert the seedling into the hole. Gently firm the compost around the seedling.
Remember to never pick up a seedling by the stem as this will cause damage. Always pick up seedlings by the leaf using your thumb and forefinger. Do not delay inserting the seedling into the compost as they dry out very quickly.
Most seedlings are pricked out individually, but some small seedlings such as Lobularia maritima (Sea alyssum) and Lobelia erinus (Lobelia) are pricked out in small clumps of up to five seedlings.
Larger seedlings or high quality specimen plants may be potted-off directly in to individual 7cm pots.
Gently firm the compost around the seedling so that the seed leaves sit just above the compost - if the seedling is left very tall it will not produce a sturdy plant.
Water the seedlings in, place the container in suitable temperature to grow on and protect from strong sunlight. Check out this RHS link for further information www.rhs.org.uk/propagation/seed-indoors.
Lastly, for the first half of April, consider looking at the following tasks:
• Start to look at any water conservation projects for this year. Have you thought about using rain harvesting devices such as water butts? They can be a real godsend when it’s relatively dry. Check out this link for further information www.rhs.org.uk/ garden-jobs/water-collecting-storing-and-using.
• The large cabbage white butterfly emerges as a butterfly in April or May, mates, and lays 20-100 yellow eggs in clusters on the underside of brassica leaves. The eggs hatch within two weeks and the caterpillars feed on brassicas. They pupate in June in a crevice or woody stem. A second generation of the adult emerges in July and the second pupae stage overwinters. For me, a simple but very effective control is to use net covers/ frames over the crop from planting through to harvest.
Here are a few other tasks for the month of 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.
On Saturday 25th March, Chelmsfordbased award winning kitchen retailer Regal Kitchens welcomed local private chef Yui Miles for a live cookery demonstration in their showroom.
Yui reached the Masterchef quarter-finals in 2019 and prepared dishes from her upcoming cookbook, due for release later this year, using the fully working NEFF appliances they have on display.
Exquisite and authentic Massaman and green Thai curries and a salmon Thaistyle salad were on the menu, and Regal’s customers existing and new enjoyed sampling these dishes along with their staff.
This was the third cookery event Regal has held in partnership with Yui, and they are looking forward to holding many more in the
future.
Advance tickets are now on sale for Life Arts Mind, Body, Spirit and Wellbeing Festival at Chelmsford City Racecourse.
What can people gain from coming to Life Arts Festival events? Chris said: “You can can benefit from this space and time to find peace and solutions to your stressful life. You can try taster sessions or ask questions of our well qualified experts. Everything you need for a happier and probably healthier work-life balance is right under one roof.
Around 2,000 visitors are expected at the festival at Chelmsford City Racecourse from 20th - 21st May 2023. The marquee will be bustling with 100+ exhibitors and visiting experts, ranging from complementary therapists, spiritual guides, wellbeing practitioners and specialist not-for-profit support organisations. As ever, there will be beautiful and interesting items to browse and buy, including crystals, candles, books, jewellery, clothing, natural health products, sustainable cleaning materials and homewares.
“Aside from all that, it’s also a great day out! So much to see and do, whether you are someone who prefers quiet reflection and blissful solitude, or energetic and vibrant action. 2023 is my 25th year of running Life Arts and I see many repeat visitors and exhibitors, because they love how it feels to be here! We put lots of time and effort into planning an inclusive and safe space where everyone feels welcome.”
Whether you are coming for the weekend or just the day, you can enjoy all kinds of free wellbeing activities, such as yoga and meditation workshops, TED-style talks, therapy taster sessions and outdoors field crafts.
Fresh exhibitors this year include an area for men’s health (prostate health will be a feature), women’s health (including menopause support), along with experts to guide you on common wellbeing issues such as sleep, midlife weight gain, back pain, anxiety and mental health support. Also new will be a relaxing area for readers, as well as pre-loved clothing for sale, with expert fashion styling guidance.
You can expect uplifting live music and entertainment experiences throughout the weekend, including talented international recording artist and singer Gemma Louise Doyle, and the jazz and soul legend Diane Hall. Feelgood reggae duo BFriendly will be returning, as will folk duo She Brings the Rain. We will also be welcoming international Ecstatic Dance expert, DJ Chica, fresh from her trips to Japan, Thailand, Bali and Arabia.
Chris Cozens is the founder of Life Arts Mind, Body & Spirit Festivals and his goal remains to help people discover news ways to relax, unwind and transform their own lives. In 1998 he discovered how helpful complementary therapies were for his own wellbeing, and changed career after 22 years in the RAF!
Advance tickets can be purchased online from www.lifearts.co.uk (£1 from every advance ticket sold will go to the Helen Rollason Cancer Charity). Or you can buy your ticket on the door when you arrive. Don’t forget that your ticket includes access to the exhibition, live music and other entertainment throughout the day, free entry to yoga and meditation classes and every workshop and talk.
100+ stands and attractions including:
• Free live music on both days.
• Free yoga classes.
• Free meditation workshops.
• Free talks and workshops.
• Free outdoors bush crafts.
• Nutritious food and drinks.
• Taster treatments.
Event and Travel Information
www.lifearts.co.uk/chelmsford-mind-body-spirit-festival-2023
Tickets are now on sale via Eventbrite through our website’s tickets button - www.lifearts.co.uk
Dates: 20th -21st May 2023
Adults: £7.50 per day or £11 for 2 days. Under 16s: free entry.
Times: 10am - 5pm on Saturday and Sunday.
Accessibility: We are a wheelchair-friendly event with everything on the ground floor.
Venue address: Chelmsford City Racecourse, CM3 1QP.
Chelmsford Karate Club celebrated its 56th anniversary in style at the KUGB’s Southern Region Championships in Reading over the weekend. Sensei Jane Naylor-Jones led the club’s squad of junior and adult competitors, which included several members competing for the first time.
Reflecting on the team’s success of winning 13 trophies and 20 medals, Sensei Jane expressed her pride in the club’s history of producing outstanding karateka that have consistently won gold at these championships, many of whom have gone on to win national, European and world titles.
In the adult events, Chelmsford won six events and medalled in all ten. Notably, the Men’s Team Kumite Team A, consisting of England Junior Squad Members Callum Brew, Alexander Lockett, Joseph McKay and Ben Whiteman, won in an exciting final to retain the title. Chelmsford won the Female Team Kumite title for the seventh time in a row with Raquel Amaro, Hazel Moore, Megan Naylor-Jones and Christina Furtuna.
In the children’s events, Chelmsford won the Children’s Team Kata (Jess Pendrous, Harry Brew and Ben Chang). Harry Brew also won the Boys Over 5’5” Kumite. Prince Holden won the Children’s Ippon Kumite. Anna Purcell and Alexander Lockett were awarded perpetual trophies for the best competitor under 16 and adult respectively.
Have you noticed the plethora of end credits in today’s movies? You could visit the toilet and when you had finished, they would still be rolling up. Why is this? When the Hollywood studios collapsed in the 60s and 70s, movie financing by the studios also collapsed, so producers had to look elsewhere for movie financing. They found it by partnering with other movie makers, each of whom contributed agreed finance to enable the movie to go ahead. The downside to all of this is that a movie’s financial investors saw an opportunity to publicise their contribution by creating a logjam of end credits that few people read and those who did were looking for the credit for ‘intimacy coordinators’. Members of the movie industry Hellraiser Club - Richard Burton, Oliver Reed, Peter O’Toole and Richard Harristurned over in their graves in protest at female intimacy coordinators being present on set. These hellraisers needed no help in amorous clinches, they knew exactly what they were doing as, indeed, the actress they were doing it with also knew exactly what she was doing.
The good news is the members of the Hellraiser Club can calm down. The actress Toni Collette revealed that she had asked intimacy coordinators to leave the set because they were making her ‘feel more anxious instead of less’. I suppose that can happen when someone is fretting obsessively about your intimate areas. For example, a snowflake actor requested an intimacy coordinator for his sex scenes because he was married - sort that one out.
Sadly, the big six Hollywood studios, 20th Century Fox, Paramount, Columbia, MGM, Universal and Warner Bros, have been reduced from their golden age of Hollywood days to distributing other people’s
Did you know there is a wide range of activities taking place regularly in the library? So do come and see us - never a dull moment! Here are some of them:
Children’s Events
Rhymetime sessions on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays.
New Parents’ Rhymetime on Wednesdays and Fridays.
Blockbuilders Construction Club every Saturday.
Pens and Puzzles every Sunday.
Sunday Storytime on first Sunday of the month. Creative Writing Group on fourth Saturday of the month.
Events for Adults
Work Club every Thursday morning (book your appointment).
Writebulb Creative Writing Group meets monthly on a Saturday. Warm Welcomes Community Tea every Wednesday and alternate Saturdays.
Essex Sight Drop-in Session first Friday of the month. Coop Bereavement Group, first Saturday of the month. Book groups.
Learn My Way beginners’ computer course.
Do please remember that we have computers which are free for all customers to use with printing and scanning facilities available if required. We have study spaces, photocopying, and free WI-FI. You can also recycle your used batteries, small electrical items and home printer ink cartridges here at the library.
For more information and details of all our events and services, including dates and times and how to book your place, please visit our website, there are too many to list here: libraries.essex.gov.uk. You can also follow us on Facebook or Twitter or by subscribing to our newsletter - all details on our website.
movies.
But, hold on, there is a new kid on the block. It’s called ‘sensitivity editing’. Apparently, today’s snowflake cotton wool children are to be protected from reading books containing literary nasties liable to upset them. When one considers the damage done to children by social media and other means of clandestine communication, it is an insult to writers and authors to have their work outsourced by their publishers to be analysed by third party sensitivity editors. Prime suspect is Roald Dahl, children’s author - and allegedly not a very nice man, but who cares? His books have sold more than 300 million copies and been translated into over sixty languages. What is there not to like? The decision by Dahl’s publisher Puffin Books to change hundreds of his words and expressions is about trying to fit his work to the modern world, so we are led to believe.
Francesca Dow, the managing director of Penguin Random House Children’s Books, has said in a statement that she has listened to the debate reaffirming the extraordinary power of Roald Dahl’s books. She also recognises the importance of keeping Dahl’s classic texts in print by making both Puffin and Penguin versions available. What rubbish! Stop patronising Dahl’s readers - and that request is aimed at all sensitivity editors.
Puffin clearly didn’t recognise the importance of keeping Dahl’s classic texts in print. It wanted to purify them. Its belief that Dahl’s books can have their nastiness taken out of them and still retain their merit was clearly not held with any intellectual or moral conviction.
Record Store Day 2023 returns on Saturday 22nd April at Chelmsford’s only independent record shop Intense Records under the arches by the bus and train stations.
There will be hundreds of limited-edition releases catering for every taste and genre; including artists like Blur, Pearl Jam, Happy Mondays, Fleetwood Mac, The Police, Duran Duran, The Rolling Stones and more - plus a David Bowie 7” box set.
Dance music fans are in for a treat with releases from Future Sound of London, Ed Rush and Optical - and two releases from The Prodigy, with the Invaders Must Die remixes and a Kasabian v Prodigy single.
The younger generation will be queuing up early for Taylor Swift, The 1975 and Ellie Goulding, while the really young ones will probably be asking mum and dad for Bluey and Peppa Pig.
You can check out what release are coming out on the website at intenserecords.com and submit your wish list there too, so we know what you are after.
Open from 8am-6pm, Intense Records will be holding and in-store event with live DJs, including festival headliners The Freestylers and Bailey from Soul In Motion. There will also be competitions, food stalls, a licensed bar and an after-party at Hot Box.
After the weekend, the releases go on sale online on Monday 24th at 8pm.
For more information, contact Intense Records, 33/34 Viaduct Road, Chelmsford CM1 1TS.
01245 347 372
www.intenserecords.com
Friday 14th
Chelmsford Theatre - Dance, Sing, Clap
Hot Box - Transmission - Billy Hunt & T MC + Snakes + The Wicked Ravens
Woolpack Marvlus Soul Club
Saturday 15th
Chelmsford Theatre - Thank ABBA for the Music
Hatfield Peverel Village Hall - Local bands night
The Lion Inn - The Lion House Wedding Show
Sunday 16th
Hylands Estate - Open Day with Hot Box Live
Star and Garter - Jam session (4pm)
Monday 17th
Chelmsford Theatre - Wodehose in Wonderland
Hot Box - Chelmsford Chess Club night
Sandon School - Scottish country dancing (7.30pm - 9.30pmwww.sandonscotdance.org.uk - sandonscotdance@gmail.com)
Tuesday 18th
Central Baptist Church (Victoria Road South) - ECC Retirement
Fellowship monthly meeting (2-4pm - new members welcome)
Hot Box - Country and Americana night
Widford Village Hall (turn left at Chandlers) - country dancing (barn dance - 7.50pm - £2 - 01245 475 660)
Woolpack - Quiz
Wednesday 19th
Hot Box - Watverse
Old Court Theatre - Going Postal
Trinity Methodist Church National Trust Talk: Chelmsford High Street by Yvonne Lawrence (7.45pm - www.chelmsfordNTgroup. org.uk)
Thursday 20th
Chelmsford Theatre - Anything for Love: The Meatloaf Story
Chelmsford Theatre -
Hot Box - Ignition: Goat Monsoon + Silverkord + Earthmass
The Lion Inn - Chelmsford Comedy Club
Old Court Theatre - Going Postal
Friday 21st
Chelmsford Social Club - Black Frog Presents: Robbie McIntosh
Chelmsford Theatre - Greamboys: No Strings Attached
Chelmsford Theatre - Spring Jazz
Hot Box - Foxymop
Old Court Theatre - Going Postal
RAFA Club (Hall Street) - Chair yoga
Saturday 22nd
The Bay Horse - The Locals
Chelmsford Cathedral - Russell Watson
Chelmsford City Racecourse - Wedding Show
Chelmsford Theatre - The One Like Judi Love
Chelmsford Theatre - Spring Jazz
Hot Box - Robbie McIntosh & Steve Wilson (acoustic - 2pm)
Intense Records - Record Store Day
Old Court Theatre - Going Postal
Sunday 23rd
Hot Box - Folk Sunday
Monday 24th
Hot Box - Chelmsford Chess Club night
Tuesday 25th
Widford Village Hall (turn left at Chandlers) - country dancing (barn dance, £2 - 7.50pm - 01245 475 660)
Woolpack - Quiz
Wednesday 26th
Chelmsford Theatre - Chelmsford Gang Show 2023
Friends Meeting House (Rainsford Road) - CRAG Retirement Group (monthly meeting - 9.30am - First visit free)
Wednesday 26th Continued
Old Court Theatre - Going Postal
Rettendon Lodge (Battlesbridge) - Belvedere Jazz & Music
Supper Club: Derek Nash’s Picante Latin Band (7.45pm - to book phone Phil on 07850 607 075)
Thursday 27th
Chelmsford Theatre - Chelmsford Gang Show 2023
Hot Box - Uber Jam
Old Court Theatre - Going Postal
Friday 28th
Chelmsford Social Club - Black Frog Presents: Take it Easy
Chelmsford Theatre - Chelmsford Gang Show 2023
Hot Box - Chew + Levent Basharan Trio
Old Court Theatre - Going Postal
RAFA Club (Hall Street) - Chair Yoga
Saturday 29th
The Black Bull - Shakey’s Sessions: 3 Foot High + Jellyfish & the Milkmen + Creebo
Chelmsford Theatre - Tales from a Thousand Nights
Chelmsford Theatre - Chelmsford Gang Show 2023
Chelmsford Social Club - The Firebirds & DJ Dynamite
Hot Box - Equinox: Chelmsford’s Best Psytrance Party
Old Court Theatre - Going Postal
RAFA Club (Hall Street) - Coffee morning (10am to 1pm)
Sunday 30th
The UB - Get Up, Get Down! (disco, funk, afrobeat & more - first UB garden party of 2023 - from 3pm with DJ’s - Sally Can’t Dance, Funkendick, Aubrey McLeod and David Arscott)
Monday 1st
Hot Box - Chelmsford Chess Club night
Sandon School - Scottish country dancing (7.30pm - 9.30pm - www.sandonscotdance.org.uk, sandonscotdance@gmail.com)
Tuesday 2nd
Chelmsford Theatre - Chris McCauseland
Hot Box - Genral knowledge quiz
Woolpack - Quiz
Wednesday 3rd
Chelmsford Theatre - Walking Through Walls
Friends Meeting House (Rainsford Road) - CRAG Retirement Group: monthly meeting (9.30am - first visit free)
Hot Box -
Patch - The Bridges of Chelmsford (7.30pm - email info@ chelmsfordcivicsociety.co.uk to book)
Thursday 4th
Chelmsford Theatre - Ben Portmouth: This is Elvis
Hot Box - Resonance Open System
Friday 5th
Chelmsford Theatre - Michael Starring Ben
Chelmsford Theatre - Heathers the Musical
Hot Box - Transmission: Collars + Ecto Peach + Elephant Jane
RAFA Club (Hall Street) - Chair yoga
Saturday 6th
Chelmsford Theatre - The Rolling Stones Story
Chelmsford Theatres - Where Is Mrs Christie?
Hot Box - Barrence Whitfield & the Savages
RAFA Club (Hall Street) - Coffee morning (10am to 1pm)
Monday 8th
Hot Box - Chelmsford Chess Club night
Tuesday 9th
Chelmsford Theatre - Calendar Girls
Sandon School - Scottish country dancing (7.30pm - 9.30pmwww.sandonscotdance.org.uk - sandonscotdance@gmail.com)
Widford Village Hall (turn left at Chandlers) - country dancing (barn dance, £2 - 7.50pm - 01245 475 660)
Woolpack - Quiz
Wednesday 10th
Chelmsford Theatre - Calendar Girls
Hot Box - Music quiz
Thursday 11th
Chelmsford Theatre - Calendar Girls
The Lion Inn - Chelmsford Comedy Club
Rettendon Lodge (Battlesbridge) - Belvedere Jazz & Music
Supper Club: The UK’s No Jive & Swing Band, The Jive Aces (7.45pm - to book phone Phil on 07850 607 075)
Friday 12th
Bay Horse - Runaways
Chelmsford Theatre - Calendar Girls
Chelmsford Theatre - Jekyll and Hyde
Hot Box - Boogie in the Box
Saturday 13th
Chelmsford Theatre - Calendar Girls
Chelmsford Theatre - Jekyll and Hyde
Hot Box - Tapeworms
RAFA Club (Hall Street) - Coffee morning (10am to 1pm)
Sunday 14th
Hot Box - Jazz Sundays With Zak Barrett
Monday 15th
Hot Box - Chelmsford Chess Club night
Tuesday 16th
Sandon School - Scottish country dancing (7.30pm - 9.30pmwww.sandonscotdance.org.uk - sandonscotdance@gmail.com)
Widford Village Hall (turn left at Chandlers) - country dancing (barn dance, £2 - 7.50pm - 01245 475 660)
Woolpack - Quiz
Wednesday 17th
Chelmsford Theatre - Teechers Leavers ’22
Thursday 18th
Chelmsford Theatre - Gary Delaney: Gary in Punderland
Chelmsford Theatre - NT Live: Best of Enemies
Hot Box - Ignition: Akkadian + Beyond Extinction + Earthboard
Friday 19th
Chelmsford Social Club - Black Frog Presents: Who’s Next Chelmsford Theatre - G4 Live
Hylands - National Flower Shop
Saturday 20th
Chelmsford City Racecoarse - Life Arts: Mind, Body, Spirit and Wellbeing Festival
Chelmsford Social Club - Live wrestling
Chelmsford Theatre - A Life in the Day of Arthur Lager
Hylands - National Flower Show
Sunday 21st
Chelmsford City Racecoaurse - Life Arts: Mind, Body, Spirit and Wellbeing Festival
Hylands Estate - Open Day with Hot Box Live
Hylands - National Flower Show
There’s not much that’s more quintessentially British than the fantastical image of a Rolls-Royce effortlessly cruising down a country road in the autumn, leaves swirling up around the wheels as they turn. Place this image in the heart of the swinging sixties and we have a moment.
test at age 50, going on to enjoy a 20-year stint behind the wheel before stopping at the age of 70, and presumably going back to being driven once again.
Caine’s Rolls was hand-crafted by Mulliner Parker Ward and featured an OHV 6230cc V8 engine plus automatic transmission. Naturally, the interior was a feast of opulence with expensive leather and wood veneers along with deep plush carpets. The Drophead Coupé Silver Shadow would have cost the young Michael Caine around £10,511 (without extras).
The Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow would go on to be bought from Caine by Jack Leach, who Caine knew from frequent visits to Leach’s famous Gasworks restaurant which tended to cater to music stars of the likes of The Rolling Stones and movie stars such as Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor. Leach remained in London and kept and used the car right up until his death in 2013. Since then, the Rolls has undergone a full and expensive restoration which has included a full engine overhaul, retrim and respray. The new owner is certainly getting a driver rather than a museum piece.
Ok, I might be getting a little carried away here, but then imagine that pristine Rolls was carrying another iconic and cool Brit, Michael Caine. Well, one lucky soul now has the ability to re-enact a little bit of British nostalgia following the recent sale of Caine’s very own Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow for an equally cool £135,000 at an H & H Classics auction. Cheshire-based H & H Classics is a highly esteemed classic car and motorcycle auction house that can proudly boast that it has been in continuous business longer than any UK or European equivalent since 1993. If you love unique cars, they’re well worth investigating.
The 1968 2-door Drophead Coupé Silver Shadow was the first car that Sir Michael Caine CBE was to ever buy and one of only 506 that were ever made. Then a humble pre-honours actor, bursting onto the scene with roles in classic movies such as Zulu in 1964 and Gambit, Caine bought the Rolls - if legend has it - on a bit of a whim while between movies. The actor had by now begun to establish himself as a household name and while considered meagre now, he had earned himself £4,000 for Zulu. The legend that follows makes a nice story; Michael Caine with nothing much to do, writes a shopping list which reads ‘milk, bread, newspaper, cigarettes, Rolls-Royce’. I hope it’s true.
Caine planned to buy the Silver Shadow from the esteemed Jack Barclay showroom in Berkeley Square but was allegedly ushered out of the showroom as a bit of a ne’er do well - clearly selling a RollsRoyce left one with little time to fit in a stint at the movies.
Moving on to HA Fox in Dover Street in Mayfair, Caine was fortunate enough to find a vehicle in the showroom that screenwriter Terence Rattigan had planned on buying then cancelled. Still unable to drive, Caine bought the car (and presumably the rest of what was on his shopping list) in May 1968, only to find that the premiums for an L-plate Rolls were, not surprisingly, through the roof. And so began the decades of a chauffeur-driven Caine. Rumour has it that it took until 1983 before Caine would eventually take and pass his driving
Sean NeylonImages: handh.co.uk
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This article deals with the progress of the city’s football club over the last 40 years.
In 1981 a new company, Chelmsford City 1980, was formed which bought the freehold of the New Writtle Street ground. The early 1990s saw more grandiose schemes for the ground, including a hotel - city’s stadium would have been improved to a 10,000 all-seater. Meanwhile, the debts of the club had risen to £600,000! In 1994 Dennis Wakeling, the chairman of a new consortium, was already maintaining that the club would have to move to become viable, but later that year the Inland Revenue applied to the High Court to have the club wound up. By June 1994 the debts had risen to £1.3 million, a massive total for a non-league club. Again there was a call for an investigation into the club’s finances. A proposed merger with Braintree Town was fiercely resisted by supporters.
Meanwhile, Chelmsford City (1980) Limited was wound up in court. A development company took control of the ground, while City continued to use it for the 1994/5 season. A move to possible sites in Sandon, Howe Green and North Springfield was considered and short-term ground shares with Maldon, Braintree and Thurrock were discussed.
In 1997 the club were finally ordered to leave their New Writtle Street ground by the administrators and played their last game there in August. The ground was demolished two years later and it is now the site of an anonymous housing estate. Initially, City played at Maldon but then shared with Billericay, and a possible site for a new ground was found at Beaulieu Park, Boreham. The new stadium was to have 1,000 seats in a grandstand and standing for 3,000, but the plan was inevitably delayed by the planners in 2002. This led to calls for City to use Melbourne Athletics Stadium. Initially there were plans for a temporary ground to be built opposite the athletics stadium but these were blocked by local residents and had to be abandoned altogether when a £400,000 grant from the Football Foundation
didn’t materialise. A council investment of a million pounds was instrumental in the club finally returning to the town in 2004 when a new pitch was placed within the Melbourne athletics track. The first game saw a 2,998 crowd watch City play against its previous landlords, Billericay. In 2006 a new 1,000 seat grandstand was built along with a supporter’s clubhouse. Since gaining promotion to the Conference South, the club has regularly reached the playoffs without being strong enough to reach the Conference, the tier below the Football League.
From 1950, Chelmsford Ladies football team played in the Essex Women’s League. In 1951 they played London Ladies at Kings Head Meadow. A Chelmsford City Ladies team was established in 1986.
The Chelmsford area has produced a number of distinguished footballers. Geoff Hurst, scorer of the World Cup final hat-trick in 1966, was born in Ashton-under-Lyne in Lancashire, but lived in Chelmsford for 18 years after moving at the age of six. He was the son of Charlie Hurst who was a centre half with Oldham, Bristol Rovers and Rochdale, as well as Chelmsford City. Geoff went to the Kings Road and Rainsford Schools. His parents continued to live in Chelmsford after he moved to digs in East London so that he could play for West Ham United. He was also a promising cricketer playing for the Essex second eleven and gaining one first class appearance for the county against Lancashire in 1962. Hurst was married at Chelmsford Cathedral in 1964.
Mervyn Day, the West Ham goalkeeper, went to Kings Road School before attending KEGS. He became a successful professional player despite the Grammar School not being football-orientated at the time. The City player, Tony Butcher, like Hurst and Day, went to Kings Road School and remains leading scorer for both clubs with 288 goals in 13 years, and the player with the most appearances. He said: “It was impossible [for City] to get in the league because it was a closed shop.”
The Parkinsons UK group is a very friendly group, open to those diagnosed with Parkinsons and their families and/or carers. The group suffered, like everyone, during the pandemic, but managed to still offer with IT facilities, Zoom meetings and quizzes. We have now resumed normal meetings and our numbers have grown.
especially during the music session.
As mentioned before, both classes are on Tuesdays from 11am. There are few occasions when our instructors take a break, but they do give plenty of notice beforehand.
On the 2nd and 4th Fridays of each month (apart from January and August) the sessions are between 2pm and 4pm. These meetings include a variety of programmes with guest speakers, games afternoons, visiting entertainers, quizzes etc.
When the longer and hopefully warmer days arrive, we can arrange trips out. These can be to local garden centres, open gardens and other places of interest.
Last year we had a coach trip to Felixstowe and we had the use of premises called The Hut. It was a bit larger than a normal hut and we were able to enjoy fish and chips (or sausage) tea and coffee, which was thoroughly enjoyed by all who attended. The only thing we couldn’t control was the weather and it poured down! Luckily, we were able to enjoy our food in the dry.
Our meetings are held every Tuesday and the 2nd and 4th Friday each month. On Tuesdays we offer a movement class, they are as described - movements to help people with Parkinsons to keep mobile. They are very light exercise and if you cannot do it you just sit it out. The movement class is from 11am to 11.45am (these are approximate times). We then have a break for tea/coffee and biscuits.
Then from midday to 12.45pm, there’s a chance to strengthen your voice with singing and throat exercises - the throat can be affected by Parkinsons. It must be emphasised you do not have to be able to sing as the sessions are run in a very relaxed and informal manner,
Despite the rain, we had a good response from all who attended and have arranged another trip to The Hut this year.
Last year we were able to return to our Christmas lunch which we held at the Secret Garden in Chelmsford, and we had an immensely enjoyable lunch and afternoon.
Both the group meetings are held at Christchurch Hall, 16A New London Road, Chelmsford, CM2 DAW.
If you would like any more information or to discuss joining us, please telephone Bob Goddin on 07451 800 958 or 01245 471 582.
South Hanningfield Village Hall is based about six miles outside the city centre within the Chelmsford borough. The hall was originally established after World War One and was an ex-army hut bought by a villager with contributions from local residents. Over the years different social gatherings including concerts, dances, Band of Hope, Women’s Institute and a men’s club were held there. At the end of the Second World War, there was a large bonfire and village hall dance. The hall became a registered charity in 1963 and a new village hall was built in 1985 on the site of the hut, which is the current building as it stands today.
The village hall is still used for a variety of public and private functions, such as sports and exercise groups, community events such as dances and tabletop sales, election polling station, resident and council meetings and private parties such as birthdays and wedding receptions.
The hall includes a main hall with a stage at one end. There is a kitchen for preparing food and toilets located in the foyer. There is also a smaller hall which is used for meetings. This top hall can also be incorporated with the main hall which has a licensed bar facility and separate toilets. There is also a car park beside the hall.
with maintaining the hall, fundraising events, and a very supportive builder!
To hire the South Hanningfield Village Hall for any regular activities or events, please contact the Bookings Secretary on 07396 546 050 or email shvhall@gmail.com to check availability and prices. There is currently availability for some regular weekly bookings.
Future events include a summer show on Saturday, 15th July, a Christmas Fayre on Saturday, 25th November and other events planned in between.
www.e-voice.org.uk/shanningfieldvillagehall Facebook: www.facebook.com/southhanningfieldvillagehall
The village hall is managed by a voluntary committee and run for the benefit of the local community. The current committee have done a lot of maintenance in the last 18 months after the covid pandemic. This included cutting back hedges and trees, clearing of rubbish, installing new fencing, recladding the sides and front of the hall, internally replacing the main hall stage, installing a PA system with ceiling speakers and hearing loop, new WI-FI facility and projector, replacement of windows, new tables, and improving some of the toilets while creating a storage facility for tables and chairs. This is thanks to external funding that the committee has received for the various projects with support from volunteers in the village who help
Keep the inward rotation of the forearms, helping you press though your thumbs and index fingers, lengthen through your arms, broaden your shoulders and push your tail bone backwards. Re-find your Dristi, ether between your ankles or knees, which should be hip width apart, (4 inches or 10cm). With each inhalation, push into the mat with your hands, lengthen your arms, widened the shoulders and create more space between your pubic bone and sternum, lengthening the spine.
Then with your exhalation, relax the shoulders, and ease the hips up and backwards, use the quadriceps to straighten the legs, to deepen the stretch through the hamstrings, calves and soles of the feet. Maintain for 5 slow steady breaths, with a little pause at the top and the bottom of each breath. Then push your knees forward and down to the mat, sinking back into Extended Childs Pose.
This month’s yoga pose is probably one of the most famous; Downward Facing Dog Pose, shortened to Downward Dog or Down Dog. In Sanskrit it’s Adho Mukha Svanasan) which is pronounced (AH-doh MOO-kah-shvah-NAHS-ah-nah). Downward Facing Dog Pose builds strength in the hands, arms, shoulders and the external oblique abdominal muscles. It lengthens the back and stretches the backs of the legs (hamstrings, calf muscles, achilles tendons and even soles of the feet).
Downward Facing Dog Pose can be practised as a standalone pose, building focus in the mind and breath and strengthening the arms and shoulders. It can also be practiced a resting pose, as within the Sun Salutation, where Downward Facing Dog is held for five breaths halfway through the Vinyasa Flow sequence. Downward Facing Dog is an inversion, which means that the head is below the level of the heart, increasing blood flow to the brain.
There are lots of playful variations of this pose. It can be held in a static way, allowing you to focus on the breath, hands, arms, shoulders and back. Alternatively, it can be very dynamic, adding interest as you move in and out of the pose, building strength and flexibility, while helping you to become more comfortable in the pose.
Even though there are several ways to get into Downward Facing Dog Pose. I like to start in Extended Childs Pose, kneeling towards the back of the mat, knees slightly apart, big toes touching, torso relaxed over the thighs, resting the forehead on the mat, stretching the arms forward, elbows off the mat and hands wide, little fingers touching the side of the mat. Spreading the fingers wide, middle finger pointing forward, press through the fingertips and knuckles, especially the index finger and thumb. This helps to establish the right distance between the hands and feet and provides a good foundation. Take a few slow, even breaths, with a little pause at the top and the bottom of each breath.
Find your Dristi, 8 inches or 20cm, beyond your thumbs. On your next inhalation, draw yourself forwards, until your shoulders are above your hands, rotating the forearms inwards so the eye of your elbows faces towards each other, this helps you to press your index fingers and thumbs into the mat, helping to broaden the shoulders a little more, stopping your hands from slipping forwards once you’re in Downward Facing Dog Pose.
On your next exhalation, tuck your toes underneath and push backwards through your hands, lifting your knees and hovering them just above the mat, as you continue to push backwards, lengthen your spine, so your sitting bones are over your heels (just like Childs Pose, only with your knees lifted off the mat). You may feel a stretch though the planter fascia and achilles tendons. Use the front of your thighs, to roll the tail bone backwards and up towards the ceiling.
Don’t worry if you can’t straighten your legs, or if your heels don’t touch the floor. Downwards Facing Dog Pose is all about lengthening
I hope that you enjoy this pose as much as I do. For those of you who would benefit from seeing the pose taught in action, you can find a video by searching for Hummingbird Pilates & Yoga Facebook page both pinned to the top and as one of our reels. Alternatively, book now and join me at the studio using this free pass code ‘HPYFREECLASS’. My gift to you.
www.hummingbirdpilates.co.uk
arranged) to various places and ensure that they can maintain good quality of life. Interesting conversation guaranteed! Expenses reimbursed.
Do you want to make a real difference in your community as a Farleigh Hospice trustee? Could you add value to the overall governance and management of our charity? Could you commit some of your time regularly to Farleigh Hospice? Do you enjoy working with individuals who share your commitment and vision?
We have upcoming vacancies and are looking for applicants from all backgrounds. No previous experience required, just commitment, curiosity and challenge.
We are in urgent need of volunteers who would like to help run our friendly Shopmobility office located in the QPark multi-storey carpark opposite the Odeon. Our vital service allows disabled people to access the shops and surrounding city. Help is needed with daily admin tasks, chatting to members, handling payments and manoeuvring the scooters (great fun!).
We need friendly, patient volunteers to help drive vulnerable people to social clubs, shops, and medical appointments in Chelmsford. You will drive your own car and transport mostly elderly people (pre-
Club Grapevine is a weekly term time club for adults with learning disabilities, based at Columbus College on Tuesday evenings from 6.30pm to 8.30pm. We need friendly, non-judgemental team-players to help run activities and make sure everyone is involved and having a good time.
We need help with supporting youth clubs, helping at one of our events, activity days, arts days and sporting events. We also provide an extensive programme of activities and events to create opportunities for young people aged 11-19 to develop their character, enhance their skills and build their own bright future.
A warm welcome awaits men wanting to join the Chelmsford Shed, but we currently have a waiting list. We need more supervisors so that the Shed can open more weekly sessions.
Supervisors support the session, help to promote friendly conversation, and encourage users to use the Shed equipment safely. Full training will be given and support will be given. Some woodworking knowledge is important, but you don’t have to be an expert.
were offered their own show and in March that year In the Middle was born.
Scott and Greg’s fascination with all things to do with performing began at an early age. They studied the Performing Arts at Orpheus College in Surrey, founded by Sir Richard Stilgoe, and when they graduated they joined the Razed Roof inclusive drama group in Harlow.
What’s your favourite thing on the show?
“All of it [laughing], no seriously, we like the new music segment.”
What other CCR shows do you listen to?
“We Like Saturday Breakfast.”
Who’s your all time favourite radio DJ?
“We like Chris Moyles - we think he’s funny and we like his show format.”
Continuing our series introducing our presenters, here are Greg and Scott. Greg and Scott Page are twin brothers who present In the Middle on Chelmsford Community Radio every Wednesday between 10am and noon, assisted by their ‘teaboy’ Carl. They present a mix of personally chosen music, irreverent chat and their own take on myriad subjects, including the latest tech, science and nature news.
Despite their learning disabilities and dyspraxia, the brothers have one of the longest running shows on CCR, a run that began in early 2014 when they turned up for an open day held by the station at Moulsham Mill. Before they left, they offered to help out in any way they could and a week later they began editing some of the tracks in the CCR library to get them ready for play out. Three weeks later they
What’s your favourite TV show?
“Dr Who. We’ve been watching it since we were very young.”
Favourite Doctor?
Scott: “David Tennant.”
Greg: “Jodie Whittaker.”
You can catch In the Middle every Wednesday from 10am on Chelmsford Community Radio.
www.chelmsfordcommunityradio.com
There is nothing better to clear the mind and to help with your own fitness and step-count than a walk in the woods: The fresh air, feeling at one with nature, animal tracks, the scent of trees and bushes flowering, the rustling of leaves all combine to give you a multi-sensory feel-good factor. It refreshes, relaxes and gives you plenty of energy.
It also offers so many opportunities for photos. My favourites are photos of the sun dappling through the foliage, flowers (think of carpets of bluebells or close-ups of buds), close-ups of bees or other insects, ‘funny faces’ in trunks and oddly shaped branches and roots! Every season has its own charm but I must admit, I prefer to go walking when the weather is a little more dry than we have had recently! Now spring seems to be settling, I shall definitely resume my walking and make the most of them.
The wood theme is particularly strong in paper craft and it is so adaptable to create wonderful pages; from weathered wood planks, to wood textures of several types of bark, the choice is endless! Wood themed papers are perfect, not just for your photos from your walk in the woods, but for a multitude of uses. For example, a weathered plank wood effect is ideal for holidays and seaside photos, a dark wood effect is great for backgrounds and other textured wood is fantastic for frames!
Wood-themed papers enhance any photos as you can see from the example on the right. I just love how it contrasts with any colour, soft or bright, and complements any embellishments.
Talking of which, wood embellishments are a great addition to your page layouts and cards. It definitely adds texture and it can be used as is or it can be stained in any colour ink you want to use on your creation. Wood embellishments come in all sizes and shapes, with or without sentiments engraved on them. That is what makes them so versatile and easy to use. Have a look at the selection in our webshop at www.scrap-circle.co.uk.
There are more craft ideas to try out with wood. For example, you could try wood engraving. If you are brave enough, you could make furniture for a doll’s house. I love to see all the miniature pieces of furniture and crockery and home décor, but that scares me a little bit as I guess you would have to be ultra specific and meticulous... It is always exciting to try something new!
Since 2012, Ideas Hub Chelmsford has given birth to many creative initiatives, including the Chelmsford Festival, with whom we are working in partnership.
Chelmsford Festival is an annual community and family-friendly festival offering amazing free events across Chelmsford city centre. This year, Chelmsford Festival will take place between 10th June and 9th July. You can find all events on Chelmsford Festival’s website at www.chelmsfordfestival.co.uk, but here is a flavour of what to expect:
Giant Family Picnic with games in Central Park on Saturday 10th June. All you need to do is gather friends and family, a picnic blanket, a game (if you have one) and a picnic of course for a whole afternoon of fun! This is part of the Month of Community which takes place across the country. Let’s have fun together.
Art and Crafts Fayre at Tindal Square in front of Shire Hall on Sunday 11th June from 10am-4pm, including activities for children and the annual Portrait Competition organised by The Art Place.
Do and Discover Science weekend on 17th and 18th June organised by Chelmsford Science and Engineering Society.
Make Music Day on 21st June from 12-2pm in the city centre to celebrate international Make Music Day, which started in France in 1982 and is taking place on the first day of the summer.
Essex Pride on Saturday 24th June organised by Essex Pride at Central Park.
Day of Dance on the 25th June, 12-3pm in the city centre.
Chelmsford Carnival on Sunday 2nd July - one of the big favourites of the festival! It’s Push, Pull or Carry - we are one of the first green festivals of the UK: bikes, pushchairs, wheelchairs, rucksacks, roller skates and any means that don’t involve an engine. Let your imagination flow.
If you are a business and would like a float but don’t know what to
do, please contact us. We can offer (for a small fee) the support of a creative and potentially a space to build.
We are looking for budding musicians for our Junk Orchestra: first workshop on 1st June to make the instruments - save your milk bottles!
All groups and individuals are welcome to take part. To RSVP and for questions: tony@chelmsfordfestival. co.uk.
The carnival starts at Shire Hall at 1pm and will walk down the High Street and along Moulsham Street, where it will finish at Chelmsford Museum with a fun day of cultural activities on arrival!
Chelmsford Festival’s last day - another favourite of Chelmsford: Street Alive, on Sunday 9th July, with amazing street acts across the city centre. Expect the unexpected!
Chelmsford Festival relies on the kind and generous support of sponsors and grants.
Thank you to Ultrafast Fibre Home Broadband, Feel the Power, Lit Fibre (the new fibre provider in Chelmsford), Chelmsford City Council and www.chelmsfordforyou.co.uk (where you can find what’s on in Chelmsford and the parishes), for their amazing sponsorships, and Arts Council England for a generous grant.
www.chelmsfordfestival.co.uk
You can also follow us on social media
This month we are focusing on your downstairs cloakroom. It might not be the biggest room in the house but it’s one that will see a lot of visitors.
Here are my top tips to give your room the wow factor.
Let your hair down and go as crazy as you like, as this is the one room in the house you can get away with it.
If you decide on wallpaper you are likely not to need many rolls, which means you can splash out on something that’s luxurious or more opulent.
• A splash of dark colour adds mood and personality.
Shop the look: Brand McKenzie wallpaper at £140.00 per roll.
Storage: If your loo doubles as a coat and shoe room, make sure you have enough hooks and shoe racks to make it organised. You could add a cupboard under the sink to hide any toiletries and loo rolls.
Flooring: Busy walls and vibrant tones all over the room aren’t to everyone’s taste. You could switch it up with interesting floor tiles instead. Take it to the next level with underfloor heating.
Lighting: A smaller space like the downstairs loo won’t need as much lighting as other rooms. You could opt for a flush ceiling light in the middle of the ceiling, this will encourage the eye upwards and give a sense of space and height.
Mirror: Adding a mirror can help to enhance the space and make the room feel bigger.
Finally, add a touch of style - it can be easy for this room to end up neutral with zero personality. Create your own style and bring the room to life by hanging up some unusual artwork or pictures.
Check out these pictures of the stylish ladies room at the Everyman Cinema in Chelmsford!
Call us to discuss your design requirements. Lark Interiors 01394 834481
Covering Essex and Suffolk.
• Add impact with colour and wallpaper.
• Light colours will make the room feel bigger.
• Bold patterns will add some drama.
Visit
One of the first things you notice when you visit our Brentwood Writers’ Circle is often a sense of enthusiasm from one or other of the regular members. They usually bring along their first article, book or indeed story, with which they may need guidance as to which magazine, agent or publisher they should contact.
As one of the UK’s longest established writing groups, visitors and new members receive a warm welcome. Since 1941 when Brentwood Writers’ Circle was formed (during World War ll), their committee and regular members have welcomed folk who have been at all stages of their often intricate path to publication.
One BWC member, Nihal Paul, has worked hard on his debut book entitled The Dangers of Knowing it all - From the Diaries of an Outsider.
From reading his Amazon page, Nihal has received numerous notable reviews: ‘I really enjoyed this book.This is a story on so many different levels, all of them entertaining and thought-provoking. The wonderfully descriptive passage from boyhood in India to becoming a Church of England vicar in Essex is full of anecdotes and diversions enough to make this book a must-read. However, there is another journey, that maybe is not yet finished, about his struggles with the balance between his beliefs and organised religion’.
Another said: This is a story of a spiritual person. It’s very readable and gives one the author’s insight of living in the Himalayas in the middle of 20th century. It’s fascinating and so beautifully written. Nihal takes you into the life the he led as he grew up in the north of India. The questions he always asked about life, religion and spirituality as he takes you through his childhood, teenage years and adulthood’.
Many people agree that writing a book documenting family history is a wonderful gift for future generations - but Nihal’s book isn’t just family history, it is a wonderful description of India from the 1950s onwards as well as a new life in Britain, certainly a story on many different levels, all of them entertaining and thought provoking.
Brentwood Writers’ Circle meets monthly at Bardswell Social Club, Weald Road, Brentwood 2.30pm-4.30pm usually on the first Saturday, but next meeting is on 13th May.
www.brentwoodwriterscircle.com
Which religious person makes the most noise? From what does the name ALDI originate?
What connects ‘press’, ‘shooting’ and ‘whispering’?
What is the name for a force of mounted soldiers?
Which is the capital city of Australia?
What is the name of David Jason’s ‘secret’ daughter?
What is a ficus plant?
What is the former name of the celsius temperature scale?
Whose necklace was the Queen’s consort Camilla wearing on her visit to Berlin?
What was Lily Savage’s real name?
How often were private jet planes taking off from British airports in 2022?
What was the name of the female Speaker of the House who died recently?
In which area of London is Nelson’s Column situated?
What was the name of the first female of the Parachute Regiment to receive a maroon beret?
What is unusual about the death of golf greenkeeper Thomas Parker, aged 24?
Who is the Essex-born ‘Queen of crime drama’?
What is Albert Pierrepoint most famous for?
What is the definition of the word ‘thrisis’?
Who is the star in the TV programme Dogs Behaving (Very) Badly?
To whom was Paul McCartney married from 1969 until she died in 1998?
Which male artist sang ‘Hello’?
Which bird is famous for reading whilst eating its dinner?
When is Holy Week?
What is the world’s largest ocean?
Who played Onslo in Keeping up Appearances?
What is the meaning of the word obdurate?
By what name is a gamp more conventially known?
What do the initials LASER stand for?
George Formby was associated with which musical instrument?
In slang, how much money is a monkey?
Which comedian created the character Loadsamoney?
Which was the first country to give women the vote?
Who hosted Play Your Cards Right?
In which European city can you travel on a railway system called the DART?
In the Old Testament, who was cast into the lion’s den by Nebuchsdezzar?
Austin is the capital of which US state?
What marked the first border between Wales and England?
What is the only London Underground station that is one syllable long?
How many keys are there on a standard piano?
What sort of creature is a Rhodesian Ridgeback? (Answers on page 30 & 31)
News Reports of the Five Planet Lineup: 28th March 2023
Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Uranus will have appeared briefly in the sky. Venus and Jupiter are very easy to see with the naked eye. Mars appears quite small. However, Mercury is very hard to spot and Uranus lies just on the borders of naked eye visibility. If you didn’t spot all of them, don’t be discouraged! Go along to a public stargazing event: www.northessexastro.co.uk/upcoming-events.
Lyrid Meteor Shower 2023 - Sunday 23rd April 2023
From 16th April to 25th April and peaking around 23rd April. Visible all night long. At 5am just before dawn it will be producing its best displays. Hopefully, you should see around 18 meteors per hour. It should be a good show this year.
Conjunction of the Moon and Mars - Wednesday 26th April 2023 at 03:19
The Moon will be riding just above Mars. The Moon and Mars at will
both be in the constellation Gemini. Naked eye or binoculars are best.
η-Aquariid Meteor Shower 2023 - Saturday 06th May 2023
Just before dawn on 6th May, this shower will show off its best displays. As the meteor shower is quite low down in the sky you will only see about 12 meteors per hour. Equipment needed will be a sun lounger, some very warm clothes and some hot tea or coffee.
New Moon
On 20th April and 19th 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 me with any questions.
www.chelmsfordcommunityradio.com mark.willis@chelmsfordcommunityradio.com
The Met Office stated that March 2023 was the wettest in England and Northern Ireland since 1981, and the third wettest on record. However, after a long dry February and a drought of 12 months, there’s still a deficit to recover. There’s currently also a severe drought in Spain and Portugal.
The little ringed plover is an uncommon passage migrant and summer visitor. The species is one of the earliest migrants to return from Africa in early March. The species first bred in the UK in 1938, but breeding pairs now number 1,200 - 1,300 with Essex having 10 - 20 pairs most years. The species utilises natural shingles and manmade habitats such as gravel pits and sand banks. It is listed as a Schedule 1 species under The Wildlife and Countryside Act.
Food consists of insects and aquatic invertebrates. The call is a distinctive, piping ‘pew’.
The little ringed plover is a small, slender plover with a distinctive black and white head pattern, similar to the ringed plover. It has a black beak and pale yellowish (not orange) legs. Close views reveal a distinctive yellow eye-ring. In flight, it shows a plain brown wing without a white wing-bar.
Recorded butterflies included: brimstone, comma, peacock, red admiral, small tortoiseshell.
Early spring bird migrants typically included: little ringed plover, sand martin (up to 400 at Abberton), swallow, hobby, yellow and white wagtails, black redstart.
Selected Essex March 2023 Highlights
Abberton Reservoir: black-necked grebe, long-tailed duck, 10 scaup, 3 smew, 8 Caspian gulls, spotted redshank, 20+ ruff. Wallasea Island RSPB: spoonbill, hen harrier, 2 short-eared owls.
National Highlights
There was an unprecedented influx of some 85 alpine swifts, the majority being in the west of the UK with a maximum of 9 at Bray, County Wicklow. Just 2 were recorded briefly in Essex. Records came from Ireland, Cornwall, Devon, Kent, Suffolk, Norfolk, Yorkshire, Lothian amongst other counties. The rarest migrant was probably a short-toed eagle in Suffolk, just the 5th record for the UK if accepted.
Abi Harris, age 52
Centigrade
Queen Elizabeth II
Paul O’Grady
Every 6 minutes
Betty Boothroyd
Trafalgar Square
Captain Hannah Knapton
He was killed with a horseshoe by the greenkeeper
Martina Cole
He was an English hangman
Emotional turmoil suffered by 30 somethings
Graeme Hall Dog
Linda McCartney
Lionel Ritchie
Magpie
From Palm Sunday to Holy Saturday
Harry
