The City Times December/January 2016

Grab a copy of our free Christmas catalogue – it’s full of good things you need!

The City Times

Including: Boreham, Broomfield, Danbury, Great Baddow, Maldon, South Woodham Ferrers, The Walthams and Writtle 10000 copies distributed monthly

Issue Number 39: 16th December 2016 - 20th January 2017

Please contact Consultant to check for any changes to times and venues over the festive season

MONDAYS Millennium Community Centre, Recreation Ground, Baddow Road, Great Baddow, CM2 9RL 9:00am, 11:00am and 1.00pm Lucy 01245 262457

Springfield Community Centre, Perryfields School, Lawn Lane CM1 7PP 5:00pm and 7:00pm Angie 07814 992628 Church of Our Saviour, Saviou Ashton Place Chelmer Village CM2 6ST 5.30pm and 7.30pm Emma 07887 692906

TUESDAYS Millennium Community Centre, Recreation Ground, Baddow Road, Great Baddow CM2 9RL 3.30pm, 5:30pm and 7:30pm Samantha 01245 266442 WEDNESDAYS Church Of St Augustine Of Canterbury, St Augustines Way, Springfield CM1 6GQ 9:30am and 11:30am Emma 07887 692906

Life Church, Hall Street, off Moulsham St. Chelmsford CM2 0HG 5:30pm and 7.30pm Hatfield Peverel Infant School, Angie 07814 992628 Church Road, Hatfield Peverel, Boreham Village Hall, CM3 2RP Main Road, Boreham 5.30pm and 7.30pm CM3 3JD Lesley 07973 239899 5:30pm and 7:30pm Bobbie 07813 324599 Sandon Village Hall, Woodhill Road, Writtle Community Sandon CM2 7SQ Association, 7:00pm Longmeads House, Lucy 01245 262457 12-14 Redwood Drive, Writtle CM1 3LY TUESDAYS 5.00pm and 7:00pm Broomfield Village Hall, Jennifer 07792 516866 158 Main Road, (behind Angel Pub), Springfield Park Baptist Broomfield CM1 7AH Church, 3.00pm, 5:00pm and 7:00pm Springfield Park Road, Victoria 07823 441198 Springfield CM2 6EB 7.30pm Jane 07960 435604

WEDNESDAYS St Michael's Church of England, Junior School, Barnard Road, Galleywood CM2 8RR 7:30pm New Consultant from 4th January Sarah 07494 408634 THURSDAYS Millennium Community Centre, Recreation Ground, Baddow Road, Great Baddow CM2 9RL 9.30am Samantha 01245 266442 Newlands Spring Community Hall, Dickens Place, Chelmsford CM1 4UU 5.30pm and 7:30pm Jennifer 07792 516866 North Springfield Baptist Church, Havengore, off Pump Lane, Springfield CM1 6JP 5.30pm and 7:30pm Victoria 07823 441198 SpringHealth Leisure Club, Brian Close, Off Gloucester Avenue, Moulsham Lodge CM2 9DZ 7.30pm Claire 07852 638666 FRIDAYS The Church Of Ascension, Maltese Road, Chelmsford CM1 2PB 9:15am and 11.15am Samantha 01245 266442 SATURDAYS Springfield Park Baptist Church, Springfield Park Road, Springfield CM2 6EB 8.30am and 10.30am Emma 07887 692906

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CT Welcome Hello readers Welcome to the December/January edition.

Firstly we would like to wish all our readers a merry festive season and a Happy New Year!

We would like to thank all of our advertisers for their support this year and of course you, the readers, for picking up our magazine!

Regards Nick & Paul

www.thecitytimes.co.uk | www.moulshamtimes.com

Advertising Editorial Nick Garner Paul Mclean 07970 206682 07595 949701 ads@itsyourmedia.co.uk editorial@itsyourmedia.co.uk

it’s your media Ltd

Disclaimer: It’s Your Media Ltd publish Chelmsford The City Times. The opinion expressed in each article is the opinion of its author and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of It’s Your Media Ltd. No part may be reproduced without the prior written permission of It’s Your Media Ltd. Registered offices: 15 Hayes Close, Chelmsford. Reg No 9154871. Printed by Printwize.

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Page 3

CT Fashion - Partywear It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas!

Here we go again, as soon as December is upon us, the dec’s go up, mince pie sales go through the roof and there is glitter as far as the eye can see - and most of the sparkly stuff seems to be covering this season’s partywear; sequins, metallics and shimmer everywhere on the high street. Christmas is a fantastic excuse to dress up - when else do we get the opportunity in our lives to do full-on glamour? The problem is though, that Christmas also goes hand-in-hand with expense. Who has the money at this time of year to spend £100-plus on a new dress? Well luckily, dressing for a party doesn’t have to be a costly affair, you don’t have to go that far to find affordable partywear and if you really want to keep the cost to a minimum, you can breathe new life in to something you already have by adding some great accessories. Big trends this festive season are velvet, frills and ruffles, winter florals, sequins and jacquard.

Warehouse Daisy Jacquard Dress (reduced from £55.00 to £38.50) is a similar dress to the one above, with winter florals that shimmer. What more could you want in a party dress?

For all-out glitter, try the PETITE Glitter High Neck Dress (£34.00) from Topshop.

The Floral Velvet Flippy Dress (£40.00) from Topshop, follows the gorgeous winter floral trend.

Mono Floral Wrap Jumpsuit (£15.00) from Miss Selfridge. If you are not a fan of dresses, then how about a jumpsuit in this seasons big trend, winter florals? This floral black and white jumpsuit would look great with a faux fur jacket or coat for a seventies look.

Tops Long Sleeve Sequin Top (£35.00) from Warehouse. For a LBT, rather than a LBD, this is a really versatile top. Wear with a flippy skater skirt, cigarette trousers, or jeans - it will dress anything up.

Multi Gem T-shirt (£45.00) from Warehouse. A subtle version of above.

Mono Animal Ruffle Long Sleeve Blouse (reduced from £34.00 to £18.00) from Topshop. Great for a low-key party and would look fantastic with faux leather skinny trousers and heels.

Whatever kind of party you are attending this Christmas, from an office party to a New Year’s Eve ball, there is a party outfit for you, so read on: Partywear Tips 1. If you’re buying something new, think about practicality: Will you wear it again? We all love a shiny dress, but how many times will you will wear it? If you usually attend lots of parties or events then it’s a good investment, if you don’t tend to, then unless it’s a real bargain perhaps try something more versatile, like a winter floral.

2. Look at what you already have. There are some great necklaces, chokers and collars out there and they can totally transform a simple dress. Think about making an impact with your shoes; a leopard print pair of heels or some gold block heeled sandals could dress up black tailored trousers and a top.

3. If you are going somewhere where you may take to the dance floor make sure you can dance in your shoes. If you are going out in London for example, then you have to also factor in travel.

Ensure your shoes are comfortable to walk in.

4. Don’t forget about your outerwear. If you have a fairly plain wool coat in camel, grey, black or navy, think about buying a faux fur scarf in a similar colour to add glamour.

5. There are some fab tights out there, tights with lace, spots, stars and glitter. Try ASOS or Topshop or Accessorize.

Partywear from Outfit Dresses Going somewhere very glam and you want to spend less than £100? the Warner 2-in-1 midi dress from Oasis (£85.00) could perfectly fit the bill. This dress was inspired by the Warner Textile Archive so could very easily be passed off as vintage, so it should never date.

Warehouse Camo Animal Jacquard Dress (£55.00): This dress combines animal print and the Jacquard trend, which is big this winter.

Skirts Ramble Print Pleat Midi Skirt (reduced from £65.00 to £45.00) from Topshop. This skirt is made from polyurethane, which makes it feel like leather giving it a unique feel. The print is an ornate floral - lovely for Christmas.

Shoes Maggie Velvet Point Court Shoes (£32.00) from Topshop. They come in black or grey.

JAZZ V-Cut Slingbacks (reduced from £59.00 to £20.00) from Topshop. Let the shoes do the talking!

Bags Leather Studded Crossbody Bag (reduced from £38.00 to £18.00) from Topshop.

Jewellery Black disc sequin Peter Pan collar (£18.00) from Freedom. If you are really strapped for cash, any plain top or fine knit jumper would be transformed by adding this collar. Head to Freedom at the Topshop concession for great jewellery.

Enjoy those Christmas parties everyone and Merry Christmas!

Emma Smith lives in Chelmsford and is a personal stylist. She offers personal shopping and wardrobe planning. You can contact her via her website, www.emmasmith.co.uk, or email her at emma@ emmasmith.co.uk, or emmapersonalstylist@hotmail.com.

Photos Miss Slefridge

Page 4

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Music by Nick Garner

We have had a couple of great nights this month, so it was a good way to end the year. We started at the football club with two tribute acts. First was the Jam Project who played all the hits of The Jam and sounded and looked great. They are a local band, so one to keep your ears and eyes open for. Next up was Who’s Next. These guys have been around for a long time but it was their first time in Chelmsford - they were fantastic and the singer really looked like Roger Daltrey. They are all superb musicians and they played for and amazing two hours, playing songs from the full Who catalogue. Dan on guitar had all the moves of Pete Townsend, including the jumps, the sound and the technical skills, as did the rhythm section. In fact, we liked them so much we have rebooked them to play on the 9th December next year.

couple of songs which was great fun.

The next show was the last of the year for my Blues in the City and we ended with a doubleheader. First on was Mississippi MacDonald playing solo and what a great voice and acoustic guitar playing.

He mesmerised the audience as did the next act, the Bad Influence duo, who never disappoint. Val has a fantastic voice and Richard has to be one of the best guitarists this country has, and he makes it look so easy. They invited me to play harmonicas on a

In 2017 Blues in the City will be moving to a Thursday. The first is on 19th January with a first for the UK, Peter Nathanson, who is an American living in Paris. When I was introduced to his music by his drummer, I said yes straight away - he really is good as are the British band who back him. We have LaVendore Rogue supporting.

LaVendore Rogue are none other than Joel Fisk and Jo Jo Burgess.

On the 7th January we have a very special showcase event with two of the most talented up-and-coming stars of tomorrow - Connor Selby with his band and also the Joe Anderton band. Both play a mix of original songs and some unusual covers. I promise you this is a show not to miss - and only £5 entry.

We end the month at the football club again with a double header with acts playing for seventy five minutes. We flipped a coin and first on will be the multi-award nominated Dove and Boweevil Band.

Following them will be Rebecca Downes, who won Best Female Singer at the British Blues Awards 2016. So get your tickets soon before they are all gone. You will see adverts for all three shows in this magazine.

We are almost fully booked up for 2017 already for the football club.

On 24th February we have Zoot Money and the Big Roll Band. On 24th March, we have Fresh Cream with Malcolm Bruce (Jack’s son) and Will Johns the nephew of Eric Clapton, George Harrison and Pete Brown (who wrote the lyrics with Jack Bruce). Pete will also be appearing with his own band who will open the night.

On 29th April we have the Hot Red Chili Peppers, then on 19th May it is time to party with Supersonic 70s, who play all the big hits from the decade. We want you dress up and there will be a prize for the best outfit. June is yet to be confirmed, then on 15th July we have the Kast off Kinks. Three of the band are ex members of the Kinks, while the fourth has played with the Beach Boys’ Carl Wilson and was part of Noel Redding’s band who played with Jimi Hendrix.

Coming later in the year we have Dr Feelgood, Limehouse Lizzy, Los Pacaminos (featuring Paul Young) and Who’s Next. I hope you agree we have put together a great line-up for 2017.

I have almost booked all the Thursday night gigs for Blues in the City and we will do a few special weekend events throughout the year for your enjoyment too. So keep your eyes open for what we are up to.

There is lots more going on in around our city, check out our What’s On guide in this magazine. You can of course go online to find out what’s on where and when on various sites including Facebook and Twitter.

It was also good to see that Asylum have managed to raise the money that they needed to be able to continue the great work of bringing an array of different live music to Chelmsford.

As we always say, without you supporting the live music scene we might lose it. To find what we are putting on, where and when (and see videos) visit any of our various sites.

Keep up to date with Blues in the City at www.bluesinthecity.co.uk or www.facebook.com/bluesinthecitychelmsford, or Twitter @BluesintheCity1.

For the live music at Chelmsford City FC, go to www.itsyourmusic. co.uk or www.facebook.com/itsyourmusic, or Twitter @itsyourmusic.

Page 6

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CT Gardening by Tom Cole

Winter Wonderland November and especially December brings family and friends together to celebrate the forthcoming holidays. Make sure you have a safe season by taking a few precautions before your guests arrive.

For starters, take care with holiday decorations, especially if your guest list includes young children or pets. Although poinsettias have proven not to be poisonous, they may cause upset if ingested and contact with the sap may result in skin rash. Other Yuletide plants like holly and mistletoe do have toxic properties and consumption can lead to mild or acute stomach and intestinal disorders, so place out of reach.

If you have a Christmas tree, anchor it to something sturdy, to prevent disaster should a frightened cat or curious child attempt to climb it. Use a stand with a flat and broad base for extra stability. Hang favourite ornaments and breakables near the top of the tree along

with dried flowers, pine cones and wooden ornaments that dogs and toddlers might find appealing.

A fresh tree can drink up to a cup of water a day - often more during the first few days - so be sure to keep the stand filled to prevent the tree from drying out. Adding a tree preservative to the water will help.

Place your tree away from heat sources like fireplaces and radiators and make sure light cords aren’t cracked or frayed - all safety hazards.

If you have ordered a floral centrepiece or received one from a thoughtful guest add water as soon as it arrives. The florist foam that holds the flowers in place needs to be kept very wet or it will draw moisture from the flowers and speed up wilting.

Don’t just feel the foam block, check the water level in the container too. If possible, submerge the container and foam block in a sink full of water for an hour or so to get them thoroughly wet if not already so and then check the water level daily and add water as needed.

If you receive cut flowers, use a sharp knife to recut the stems to allow water absorption. Place the flowers into a container of 100 degree F water for 30 minutes. This is particularly important for roses, which may not open fully without the warm water treatment.

The water won’t stay at this temperature of course, but the initial boost of warm water will help the flowers open.

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Arrange the flowers in a vase of cool water with floral preservative.

To extend the life of cut flowers add fresh water to the vase daily as needed and change the water every three days re-cutting the stems as before. Place the arrangement in a cool spot at night.

Outdoors, keep your walkways safe for visitors by using kitty litter, sand or environmentally safe salt to melt ice and early season snows (should we get them!). Place wooden tepees over shrubs and foundation plantings to prevent snow falling off the roof from crushing these plants.

Going away for the holidays? If you can’t find a plant sitter, then check your local garden centre for an automatic watering device which will provide your plants with water while you are away. These are also available online and through mail order.

Other activities: Plant a windowsill herb garden, start a worm farm with your kids (to help turn kitchen scraps into compost), prepare for the new season.

Enjoy the festivities and happy gardening!

For any gardening tips contact Tom Cole, Senior Horticultural Lecturer, Writtle College, Chelmsford, CM1 3RR by post (including a SAE) or by email at tom.cole@writtle.ac.uk.

Page 8 www.chelmsfordthecitytimes.co.uk

Santa is coming to Eleflora

Santa will be in his grotto from Friday November 18th 2016 and would love to meet the good Boys and Girls of Chelmsford. While the children see Father Christmas, why not take a look at our Christmas Trees, Wreaths and decorations we have to offer. Children’s rides, Hot Chocolate, Mince Pies, Mulled Wine and Santa may even bring his reindeers £10.00 Per Child Gifts for all children.

To book your childs place Call: 01245 231074 Email: sales@eleflora.co.uk Web: www.eleflora.co.uk

A donation of £1.00 from every child entry will be made to Children’s Cancer UK

Food Review for the Galvin Green Man by Nick Garner Jan and I were invited to go and eat at the Galvin Green Man in Howe Street near Pleshey after having been to the opening, where I met the Galvin Brothers and Fred Sirieix from First Dates who is the general manager of the Michelin starred Galvin at Windows restaurant, which is one of the four Michelin stars the brothers have.

Galvin at Windows in Park Lane has over 30 awards to its name and is one of the great success stories of recent years and a true star of the London restaurant scene. With that in mind you would only expect superb food and service which it was - and not at the price you might expect.

When we arrived we were greeted by Emile Galvin, the son of Chris, who is a lovely man. He took us to our table and invited us to have a glass of their own champagne which was lovely (I am not normally a champagne lover, but this was good). Emile told us his dad and uncle are hands on with tending the herb garden and making sure all is running well. They also have a great bar which is designed around the cellar with the help Adnams, so you can just go and have a drink in the bar. They have very much become part of the local community.

also had side dishes of chips and broccoli and mash and broccoli all priced at £3.50 each.

We both agreed that the food was cooked to perfection; the fish just melted and the vegetables were cooked perfectly - not too soft and not too hard. The service was very good, not too fussy, just making sure everything was ok, and I noticed they were like that with everyone.

We had dessert too (it would’ve been rude not to!) and I had the treacle tart with clotted cream (after having sampled it at the opening) priced at £6.50. Jan had the apple and blackberry crumble and custard priced at £5. We did of course try each other’s food and we both agreed that this is a place we would highly recommend to anyone. We both scored it 10 out of 10 for food, service, ambience and drinks - a very welcome addition to our area and we will definitely be going back.

Our waitress came and took our order and told us that everything they serve is purchased locally; the beef came from Dedham and the crab from Colchester. Emile also told us that they are also hoping to get some land opposite the pub to grow all their own vegetables impressive I thought.

I had a starter of Galvin cured salmon with fennel and avocado priced at £6.50. The salmon just melted in the mouth. Next we had our mains and I asked if they could recommend a white wine, they suggested either a Sauvignon Blanc or a Bacchus - and to my surprise the Bacchus won it for us, full of flavour and the perfect accompaniment to our meal. Jan had one of the vegetarian options; baked pumpkin, chestnuts and Beenleigh blue priced at £8, and I had rainbow trout with carrot and almonds priced at £12.50. We

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Page 9

CT Food With John Jacobs Step by Step Guide to Christmas Dinner ‘Tis the season to drink Bolli. Are we ready for the big day team Chelmsford? Are you dieting away those pre-festive pounds to fit into that unfeasibly tight dress for the office party? Do you have your emergency evacuation plan when the post dinner family feuds erupt as Doctor Who starts? Victor Borge said it best: “Santa Claus has the right idea, visit people once a year.”

People often say that preparing Christmas dinner is tough. I tender a new standpoint - present buying is far tougher. As I get older and less self absorbed, buying meaningful gifts has become a formidable mission. To date, I respond to the question of what I’d like for Christmas with the polite diffident reply: ‘Oh nothing really, honestly I have everything I need, I’m sooooooo lucky.’ What I actually mean is, enormous material wealth, overwhelming physical appeal and the adoration of people I’ve never liked anyway.

Though do try to understand, as you open your gifts, that the people closest to you appear to know the least about you. The Twelve Days of Christmas is actually the Amazon wish list of someone who needs to balance their meds better. For years I avoided buying my godfather a laptop, convinced that I’d probably find him trying to iron his pants with it, only to discover his vast bat cave of cutting edge tech.

• •

and put the oven veg in. Anything else, such as sausages in bacon, can go in too. See, space saving and clever.

Pour boiling water over the green veg and leave to heat through.

You could make gravy from the juices, but frankly, who cares?

Whip up a pint of Bisto, add half a glass of red wine and a mulled wine sachet and shazam! Seasonal jus.

That’s that all taken care of then. So as I sign off for another year, it remains to thank the City Times readers for their good taste, the restaurants who welcomed us into their dining rooms and the good people who work hard to keep this publication at the heart of our fair city, Nick Garner and Paul Mclean.

As always, you can send your recipes, restaurant recommendations and reviews to editorial@itsyourmedia.co.uk. Next year I’ll be looking for your nominations for the restaurant that has stood out for you over 2017. Good or bad.

Now it’s traditional for me to sign off with...

Have a wonderful Christmas and may your ding-dongs be merrily higher than everyone else’s.

John

It’s All in the Prep As the saying goes, ‘fail to prepare... you’ll mess it up’. Most of the work can be done the night before. If like me you spend the night before whiling away the hours in The Woolpack, make sure you know which takeaways deliver on the big day.

Christmas Eve • • •

•

Keep a fresh turkey overnight in a cool place, but bring up to room temperature before cooking. If you’ve bought a frozen bird, give it at least 24 hours to defrost.

Start researching the cost of stage schools after little Alfie/Ollie/ Harry Junior’s sterling performance in the nativity as a blade of grass. Nobody bends in the wind like that.

Prep your spuds in boiling salty water for ten minutes and let them cool, then they’ll be ready to chuck straight into the oven.

You can do the same with parsnips, but parboil for only a couple of minutes. You can also do the same with the other trimmings such as broccoli and sprouts. They just need plunging into boiling water for a few seconds to refresh.

Stuffing again; if you’re uncertain, buy the packet stuff and make it the night before. Heat it up in the oven along with the bird.

Christmas Day Based on a 2kg bird (8 adults worth) and sitting down to eat at 2pm.

• • • • •

8.30am - drink coffee. Put the turkey in a roasting tin (the one you remembered to buy), cover with artery shutting swathes of butter and top with a few rashers of bacon. Cover with foil.

9.30am - preheat the oven. Don’t look here for times and temperatures. It’s on the instructions that came with the bird.

Must I do everything?

10am - put the turkey in the oven, based on every 30 minutes, start drinking brandy.

12:30am - take the foil off and put the bird it back into the oven to crisp up.

About half an hour before dining, take out the bird to let it rest

Page 10 www.chelmsfordthecitytimes.co.uk

Beer by Simon Tippler of roundtowerbrewery.co.uk This time of year is an odd time for us here at Round Tower. December is maniacally busy and then January is painfully slow!

However, both months are fun and keep us busy. December is full of Christmas cheer, delivering beers to pubs and selling bottles and poly pins from our pop up shop at the brewery. Then January gives us a chance to take stock of the coming year, get round to fixing the things we have been putting off for months and spend some time doing general maintenance to keep the brewery in tip top condition.

Chelmsford Library News Happy New Year to all our customers!

Did you know...

• • • • • •

It’s free to join the library!

You can borrow up to 14 items on your library card.

As a library member you can download eBooks and eAudio books from the Essex Libraries website absolutely free.

Essex Libraries currently has available over 800 eAudio books and over 2700 eBooks for you to select from, including over 900 children’s and young adult titles.

As a library member you can use our computers for an hour a day absolutely free.

Chelmsford Library has Wi-Fi.

Date for your Diary...

27th January - Alfie James Productions are performing in the library Little Old Alf, a play exploring social isolation - Alf is a grumpy old man

It is also a time of year for planning, so if there are any beers you’d like to see again or something new that you think we should try, just get in touch and let us know.

We have enjoyed doing our small batch beers, so expect to see a few more experimental beers over the next 12 months or so. We hope to have something interesting at the Chelmsford CAMRA Winter Beer Festival in February and we have some very exciting (and currently top secret) plans for our bar at the Summer Beer Festival next year...

More on that nearer the time!

Anyway, Season’s Greetings to you all and remember… drink sensibly in December - and don’t forget your favourite pubs in January! and a recluse. For more details go to www.alfiejamesproductions.com.

Do you like walking and talking? Join in with our new Walking Talking Book Group - read the book and discuss whilst on a walk through Central Park. Next dates 14th January and 11th February at 10am. Just call in to Chelmsford library and collect the book beforehand.

Pop in and discover all the great services available at your local library. Visit our website for more information, www.essex.gov.uk/ libraries, and follow us on Facebook and Twitter at Essex Libraries.

If you would like to be our charity of the month please email editorial@itsyourmedia.co.uk

• Professional local eye care • Bespoke service • Over 20 years experience as a qualified Optometrist • Proud to provide that individual attention to detail • Friendliest caring team in Chelmsford Call now to make an appointment with Nicky

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T. 01245 352803

www.broomfieldopticians.co.uk www.chelmsfordthecitytimes.co.uk Page 11

What’s On in the Chelmsford Area

December Friday 16th Ale House - Jamies Williams & The Roots Collective Asylum - Last Known State + Wax Colour + Violent Sky Bassment - Rubber Soul presents: Eddie Piller (DJ set) Civic - Jack And The Beanstalk Cramphron - Larry Berkovitz & Zak Barrett Christmas Jazz Fleece - Expose Star & Garter - VT11 Saturday 17th Alehouse - Jamie Williams and the Roots Collective Asylum - Ed’s Birthday Bash & Christmas Party with Distorted!

Bassment - Christmas Party (with very special guest) Black Horse - Live music - R ‘n’ R, CCFC Away - Weston-super-Mare v Chelmsford City Civic - Jack And The Beanstalk Fleece - Hit Parade Star & Garter - The Locals Sunday 18th Bassment - Sunday Funday Civic - Jack And The Beanstalk Cramphorn - The Nutcracker (recored from the Bolshoi Ballet) Star & Garter - Open mic/jam (3-7pm) Monday 19th Cramphorn - A Christmas Carol Fleece - Come and party with us this Christmas Tuesday 20th Civic - Jack And The Beanstalk Cramphorn - Love and Friendship (U) Fleece - Christmas Party Night Wednesday 21st Bassment - The Horse Heads + Rolled Up Sleeves + The Silver Medal + Jump Stone Civic - Jack And The Beanstalk Cramphorn - Lunchtime concert Cramphorn - Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie (15) Fleece - Christmas Party Night Thursday 22nd Asylum - Andy Poole’s Xmas Quiz Bassment - Christmas Acoustic Special: Marc Halls, Jakob Deist & Bongo Steve Chelmsford City Racecourse - Race night Civic - Jack And The Beanstalk Cramphorn - Belshazzar’s Feast Fleece - Frog on a Rocket Star & Garter - Acoustic Jam Friday 23rd Asylum - Merry Metal Christmas: Kaine + Serpentyne + Mercury Rising + Myopic Empire Bassment - SDM presents: Staplemas!

Black Horse - Karaoke from the Babbage Clan Civic - Jack And The Beanstalk Fleece - Electronic 80s night Star & Garter - Adrenalin Saturday 24th Asylum - Asylum’s Got Talent!

Bassment - Christmas Eve Funday! Cinema, Board Games, Video Games, Table Tennis, Hang Out (free ENTRY) Page 12

Saturday 24th continued...

Black Horse - Live music: Tributes Civic - Jack And The Beanstalk Fleece - Christmas Eve @ The Fleece Star & Garter - Solar 9 Sunday 25th Happy Christmas!

Monday 26th Black Horse - Open all day CCFC Home - Chelmsford City FC v Bishops Stortford Civic - Jack And The Beanstalk Fleece - Boxing Night with Kat Price Tuesday 27th Civic - Jack And The Beanstalk Wednesday 28th Bassment - The Fellowship with Guthrie Govan Civic - Jack And The Beanstalk Hylands House - Sleeping Beauty Thursday 29th Civic - Jack And The Beanstalk Fleece - Quiz Night Star & Garter - Acoustic Jam Friday 30th Bassment - Shakey’s Birthday Bash!

Civic - Jack And The Beanstalk Star & Garter - Fist Full of Dirt Saturday 31st - New Years Eve Asylum - New Year’s Eve Party Bassment - Screw 2016 NYE Party!

Black Horse - New Year’s Eve Party: Karaoke with the Babbages (free entry and free shot for each singer - Prosecco £10 a bottle) Civic - Jack And The Beanstalk Fleece - Chelmsford’s Biggest and Craziest Free Party Star & Garter - Strongbox Three Elms - Kitchen (open 12-4pm - FREE BUFFET from 8.30pm) January Sunday 1st Bassment - Sunday Funday CCFC Away - Bishops Stortford v Chelmsford City FC Civic - Jack And The Beanstalk Monday 2nd Civic - Jack And The Beanstalk Wednesday 4th Cramphorn - Lunchtime concert Thursday 5th Bassment - Bassment Blues Jam Fleece- Quiz night Friday 6th Asylum - DMO + NSS58 + Luke Sanders Bassment - Shakey’s Sessions Fleece - DJ night Saturday 7th Asylum - Jump Stone Bassment - Joe Anderton & Conor Selby Band CCFC Home - Chelmsford City FC v Whitehawk Fleece - Codswallop

Please note, all events are subject to change. Please visit the relevant websites or Facebook pages for more details

Sunday 8th Bassment - Sunday Funday Star & Garter - Open mic/jam (37pm) Monday 9th Cramphorn - Santa in Love Wednesday 11th Cramphorn - Lunchtime concert Thursday 12th Bassment - Jazz Funk Civic - The Blues Brothers Experience Fleece - Quiz night Friday 13th Bassment - Rowntree Records Presents Fleece - The Locals Saturday 14th Asylum - Rampton Disco + Midside Bassment - The Mike Lenson Band CCFC Home - Chelmsford City FC v Maidenhead United Civic - Money For Nothing Cramphron - Comedy 4 Kids Fleece - Urban Legend Sunday 15th Bassment - Sunday Funday Civic - In the Mood: The Glen Miller Orchestra Wednesday 18th Bassment - JAR presents: Wax Colour + Third Dart + Smokey Bandini Thursday 19th Bassment - Blues In The City: Peter Nathanson (USA) + LaVendor Rogue Duo Fleece - Quiz night Friday 20th Asylum - Undiscovered Bassment - Mother’s Jam Presents Fleece - Funky Bamalam Saturday 21st Asylum - Undiscovered Bassment - Saturdays Alright for Dancin’ Fleece - The Stents Sunday 22nd Bassment - Sunday Funday

New Year, New Web Site?

Web sites from £299 web sites | business cards | flyers | 01245 262082 Please send us your events for the next edition (for events between 15th January and 22nd January) to: editorial@itsyourmedia.co.uk

All About Chelmsford Quiz 1. Where are there roads named after Dickens characters?

2. Where is Bundicks Hill?

3. How many numbered avenues are there along Broomfield Road?

4 .Where is there a road named after one of the Christy family?

5. How many Mills are there in the Chelmsford area?

6. Where is there a road named after a very famous battle?

7. What does the stainless steel structure at the town end of London Road/Parkway symbolise?

8. Where was there a Roman settlement?

9. Where was the head office of the Britvic Company?

10. Where was the original prison?

11. What was St John’s Hospital originally?

12. Where was there once an open air swimming pool?

13. What was produced by The Hoffman Company?

14. What army rank did Mr Crompton hold?

15. Which estate has names of trees?

16. Where was Brown’s Yard?

17. On which waterway is Ricketts Lock?

18. Which religious building has a section dedicated to American Forces in WW2?

19. Which was the original London Road?

20. Where is there a golf course?

Answers on page 31.

Museum Provides Focus for Works by Local Artists Chelmsford is a thriving town where various initiatives are currently underway or planned which aim to raise its profile as a vibrant modern city. However, seek the views of local artists as to what project they would like to see taking place and the response is likely to be for one that provides much greater opportunity for them to display and promote their work. It is in response to this perceived need that Chelmsford Museums and the Friends of Chelmsford Museum have planned and organised an Open Art Exhibition. This concept, which has been successfully organised elsewhere, enables local artists to submit pieces of their work to the co-ordinating body which judges and exhibits them at a local venue, thereby bringing the art to the attention of a much wider audience. Following a call for local artists to enter their work (see the City Times for August/ September) Chelmsford Museums have made available the Special Exhibition Room at the Museum in Oaklands Park from 3rd December to 5th March 2017 to display the pictures submitted.

for providing the ideal venue, displaying the works well and for demonstrating through the event that Chelmsford is a vibrant artistic place. He expressed a hope that a successful exhibitions would lead to more being organised in the future.

The exhibition includes works by some 40 local artists, entry is free and many of the works displayed are for sale. So if you are still looking for that special Christmas present why not pay a visit and see if there is a picture that particularly appeals to you?

Why not also consider paying a visit to the museum over the Christmas period to take a look at the wide range of artefacts displayed in the permanent galleries that tell the long and fascinating story of Chelmsford?

It is also possible to celebrate Christmas at the museum by joining in a craft workshop on the 22nd and 23rd December. These provide some family friendly fun by giving the opportunity to use a range of materials and be involved in three different crafts with a Victorian theme. These are drop-in events so there is no need to book, but children must be accompanied by a carer (tickets £3 a child).

Looking forward to the new year, the Friends of Chelmsford Museum programme of Spring Talks starts on 19th January with The Contribution of Women in the Great War, a talk by Bill Fulton from the Weston Front Association. All talks take place at the museum, refreshments are served at 2pm and the talk commences at 2.30pm.

Tickets for none members (who are very welcome) cost £6.50.

For information about all Friends events see www. friendschelmsmuseums.btck.co.uk.

Love your museum, be a friend.

At a private view attended by contributors and other invited guests held on 2nd December, the exhibition was formally opened by eminent local artist John Doubleday, whose own special exhibition of work at the museum has only recently ended. He commented on the good response from local artists to the new venture, drew attention to the wide ranging nature of the work presented and congratulated the artists on their achievements. Thanks also were given to the museum

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01245 863 863

Vinyl Revival Continues For Christmas 2016!!!

With vinyl sales on the up, it was no surprise to the staff of Intense Records in Chelmsford that the turntable was the most popular Christmas gift last year, with one record player being sold every minute in the run up to the big day.

The vinyl revival is one of the fairytale success stories of recent years.

Having faced near extinction in 2007 when only 205,000 LPs were sold, it’s likely we’ll see the best part of two million copies purchased this year.

While some fans are buying vinyl simply to own and collect it, many (naturally) want to be able to enjoy its warm, authentic sound but unfortunately no longer have access to turntables. Unsurprisingly, retailers are reporting a surge in demand for record players as one of the must have Christmas gifts this year.

Jon at Intense says: “For Christmas we are stocking a wide variety of records ideal for Christmas presents and a new range of turntables and speaker packages.”

Intense Records are the only remaining independent record shop left in Chelmsford and are now a truly established music specialist.

Situated under the railway arches in Chelmsford, Intense is a walk-in shop and online record store (www.intenserecords.com), featuring the latest releases across all genres on vinyl or CD as well as a vast second-hand section.

Intense Records not only supply the music, but all the latest DJ equipment as well, whether you are on vinyl, CD or with an mp3 controller, we can get you mixing. We have put together some DJ packages for both beginners and advanced DJs. Intense Sound & Light also provide mobile discos and PA equipment, so drop them a line if you need a DJ for your Christmas party or check intensesoundandlight.co.uk.

Intense have continued to diversify, stocking alongside dance music, many other genres from rock to pop and from indie to jazz by popular artists such as David Bowie, Prince, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Rolling Stones and many more. Check out our top ten records, ideal for Christmas presents this year.

Top Ten Christmas Gifts This Year Prince - 4Ever (New greatest hits album) Frank Sinatra - White Christmas (ltd white vinyl) Olly Murs - 24 HRS Pink Floyd - Dark Side of the Moon Bruno Mars - 24K Magic Robbie Williams - The Heavy Entertainment Show 7. Sex Pistols - Never Mind The…. (yellow vinyl) 8. Amy Winehouse - Back to Black (Deluxe Edition) 9. Pete Tong with The Heritage Orchestra - Classic House 10. Various Artists - Now That’s What I Call Christmas 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

Keep it Intense!

Intense Records 33/34 Viaduct Road Chelmsford 01245 347 372 www.intenserecords.com

Gi O u Se thi ft to r as s F y o e o Vo n £ stiv u uc 10 e he G ift r The Chelmsford Skin Clinic offers a wide range of Skin, Aesthetic and Beauty treatments.

All Aesthetic procedures are carried out by Director and Local practising GP, DR Waseem Ahmed. Skin and beauty treatments are carried out by Chloe, who is a Dermalogica Expert Skin Therapist.

• Dermal Fillers • PDO Thread Face and Neck Lifts Name: • Anti-Wrinkle Treatments Telephone number: • Dermapen 3 with Advanced Serums Email address: Redeemable against ALL treatments • Dermalogica Skin Treatments and products with a minimum spend • Crystal Clear Micro-Dermabrasion of £25 – from us all at The • Chemical Peels Chelmsford Skin Clinic. Valid until • OPI GelColor Manicures & Pedicures 28th Feb 2017, t&cs available on • Full Body Waxing our website or in clinic. Please • Eyebrow and Eyelash Tinting present this advert to obtain offer.

• Eyelash Extensions

www.thechelmsfordskinclinic.co.uk 01245 690118 41-45 New London Road, Chelmsford, CM2 0ND

Looking to extend your property?

By Mike Otter

Adding an extension may seem daunting but with the right advice you can gain the extra space that you want whilst increasing the value of your home.

Key to achieving success is establishing what works best for you, your property and your budget.

At GPO Designs we'll guide you at each step in the development process from the capturing of initial ideas, the production and refinement of plans and through the planning and building control stages. Understanding a design from conventional line drawings can be difficult which is why we work with a three dimensional design system and produce colour visuals as standard -see examples of previous jobs at our Facebook page www.facebook.com/GPODesigns.

GPO DESIGNS Planning for your property Drawings and Building Plans for Planning Permission and Building Regulations: ♦ Extensions ♦ New Builds ♦ Garage Conversions ♦ Loft Conversions ♦ Barn Conversions

Our design service starts with a consultation at your property where we discuss and help to develop your ideas.

Measurements and photographs are then taken to allow us to draw up detailed plans. We communicate with you throughout the design process and only once you are completely happy with the design will we then submit the plans to the Local Authority for approval. We produce plans and details for planning permission, permitted development and building regulations applications.

Our aim is to provide a high quality service at the best possible price. We offer fixed rates for our services and these can be found on our website: www.gpodesigns.co.uk. So if you are looking to build a new house, add an extension or a garden room, or if you want a loft, garage or barn conversion, call Mike or George for a free no obligation quote on 01245 835855, or visit our website for further details of our full range of services. We offer daytime, weekend or evening appointments to suit you.

Our Artists Impressions help you to see what's possible

■ Daytime, Weekend or Evening Appointments to suit you `

 01245 835855

www.gpodesigns.co.uk 8 Willow Grove, South Woodham Ferrers.

■ Fast Track Service ■ Free Advice

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Business Interview - Essex Wine School by Tom Bosher about it and I feel it’s important to teach people to understand that character and appreciate wine a little bit more.”

This month we have been talking with Neil from The Essex Wine School. Here’s is what he had to say.

So Neil, when did Essex Wine School start?

“Well, we started back in November 2014 when I bought the franchise for Essex. Its part of a much larger group - there are about 23 of us now and we are based all over the country.”

What made you decide to start this, did you have a background in wine?

“No, I started off as a trader in the city and I became interested in wine. I was lucky enough to be taken out and entertained quite a lot. I had never realised there were so many wines and something just clicked. I started reading up on it a bit more and that’s when I found out about the Wine and Spirit Education Trust. I started to go on courses with them and completed Level 2 and 3 but then put it on hold. Once I left my career in the city, I completed the diploma. With these qualifications I could teach but needed a vehicle in order to run the courses and that’s when the Essex Wine School became available and I snapped it up.”

Is the school just about wine?

“No, I have also studied with the Beer Academy of which I have an advanced qualification, so I do lots of beer tastings. As the name suggests, the Wine and Spirit Education Trust involves an in depth study on spirits, so I also run whisky and gin tastings. There is also champagne, sparkling wines and fortified wines, ie ports, sherrys etc so it’s not just about wine. We have a great variety.”

Do you have to be an experienced wine connoisseur to benefit from your courses or can you just be a beginner?

“Beginners are always welcome. I do specific courses for absolute beginners that want to come and just understand a little bit more about wine. On every single course I just pitch to the whole group, so if we have some real beginners and real connoisseurs I can adjust the course so its educational to both parties, so each evening is perfect for either.”

So what actually happens in your evening sessions?

“If it’s wine tasting we generally have a theme. For example, it could be New Zealand, Italy or Spain and we sit down with six different wines. I normally do a mixture of three whites and three reds and we go through why wines taste the way they do. This can be down to the season, the soil or the weather, plus and many other factors. So we go through and taste the wines and I point out to people all those different characters in the wine and try to bring that back to how the grapes are grown and how the wine is made.”

Why do you think it’s good to know about wine?

“To me, wine is like a piece of art, you can look at a picture and think it is very nice but then once someone to points out all the different aspects of that picture you can appreciate it even more. That’s what I like to do with wine. A good bottle of wine has a lot of character

Do you have to spend big to get a good bottle of wine?

“Absolutely not. I have some really nice wines on the course, some of these can be sub £10 and some are over £20.

Generally you will find the wines that are more expensive have aged for a long period of time.

That’s where you have a big cost, because it would have been aged generally in oak. So for that period of time the wine maker has his money tied up. Either this or a small batch has been created so demand outstrips supply. You can get some really good wines that can be drunk young and have still got a lot of character in them. That’s the balance I try to get on my courses. So you can get some really good wines at a very good price.

You don’t always have to spend big.”

Now the big question, what would be your favourite and why?

“Ahh! When people usually ask me this question my answer tends to be ‘whatever wine I am drinking at that time’. Mainly because I have chosen it for my mood, who I am with, time of day and what I am eating. If I have chosen a wine, its for those particular reasons.

That’s the long answer. The short answer would be for a white wine, something like a New Zealand Pinot Gris, such as Craggy Range, it is absolutely superb so that would be one of my favourites. I also love a good Amarone which is an Italian wine, they tend to be a bit more expensive because they have to semi-dry the grapes so they don’t get as much wine from the crop, but it’s a lovely wine.”

What does the future hold for Essex Wine School?

“We are currently looking at a venue in Leigh-on-Sea, so hopefully in 2017 you will see us expand that far and we are really looking to increase our private and corporate tastings.”

Essex Wine School is another great example of a thriving and rather unique local business. If you would like to have a look at the different courses on offer, then visit www.essexwineschool.com.

bestofchelmsford

When you decide to advertise your business in a publication like the City Times it’s important to avoid some common errors. High up on the list are spelling mistakes. Once the readers notice these they may assume that the service or product you’re offering is of poor quality.

Avoiding these slip ups becomes even more important when advertising professions such as solicitors and accountants. People expect accuracy and care, not an obvious lack of checking the copy.

Take a look at your competitors’ adverts. Are they more attractive and more noticeable than yours? Your ad needs to grab the readers attention. Make your ad clear, indicating clearly what the reader needs to do next to progress their interest in your offering. This is a basic call to action and it needs to be obvious not vague.

Make your ad interesting and not bland. The idea is to draw attention to the benefits. This will make the reader want more information and read on. It’s vital to get your message across. You can have a brilliant looking ad, but it must also be clear as to what you’re advertising.

If you’d like to know more about what we can do for your business get in touch we’d love to hear from you.

Visit our website at www.thebestof.co.uk/chelmsford, or call us on 01245 701 020.

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Make a difference in South Woodham Ferrers On Tuesday 17th January find out how you can further support and help your local community and feel good about yourself at the same time.

Representatives from local charity Centre Supporting Voluntary Action will be on hand at South Woodham Ferrers library (between 10.30am and 3.30pm) to speak to you about local volunteering opportunities, timebanking (volunteering with a twist) and how we can help connect you with help and wellbeing support through our Connect Well project.

In addition, there will be a display to promote Anglia Water’s Keep it Clear campaign with a variety of free goodies available to help you to reduce pipe blockages.

Merry Xmas from Lee & the staff

January/February Issue Deadlines: Artwork - 12th January Articles - 6th January

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therapy by Jenny Hartill So, it’s the end of December/beginning of January and it’s that time of year again - New Years’ Resolutions! In this article I will look at some of the common resolutions people make and how hypnotherapy can help with them.

I’ll Lose Weight!

This is probably the most common issue I deal with in the new year in terms of hypnotherapy. Those people that have overindulged and then realise it’s rather more difficult to stop over indulging than they thought - and because January is such a long month and quite a bit of cash has gone on food and drink many people just think ‘enough is enough, I need to take control’.

A common issue is when clients come to me complaining that January was the longest month ever because they just craved and craved junk food but just couldn’t justify spending the money on it and yet they did anyway. So, armed with their new pay check they ask for help from a hypnotherapist. Hypnotherapy can be absolutely great for helping clients tackle weight loss issues, whether they’ve just got into a habit, lack will power, or have a certain mindset, hypnotherapy helps you face up to why you find it so hard to lose weight. A word of warning though, sometimes weight issues can be due to other, deeper rooted issues and a good hypnotherapist will talk through these with you before building a hypnotherapy screed and delivering hypnotherapy to help you. Please make sure you are ready to tackle these issues, and talk through any concerns with your therapist.

Although anyone can be hypnotised, hypnotherapy isn’t necessarily for everyone and there are other therapies such as counselling that may be a better route. Having said that, hypnotherapy for weight loss is, in my experience, an effective therapy for losing weight long-term for most people.

I’ll Get over My Anxiety/Depression/Stress I have put these three issues under the same section because they all usually go together and definitely influence each other! For many people the festive season is less laughter and cheer and more stress and anxiety, leaving them feeling low and exhausted. I see this a lot, by the end of the festive season some people have simply come to the end of their tether and decided they have to learn how to deal with their mindset so that they can relax. Over thinking is a common cause of anxiety, stress and depression. Whether it’s focusing on one or many things, clients come to me complaining that not only can they not stop thinking, but that their thoughts are negative, worrisome, random and even irrational. Hypnotherapy can help in many ways, but very simply just the relaxation part of it can make an immense difference. Sometimes we just have to learn how to switch off again!

you’re prepared to freeze your butt off to fill your lungs with acrid smoke that will kill you, and why you feel the need to drink so much after all the booze consumed over the festive period. Both counselling and hypnotherapy can help in various ways with these, but one thing is for sure; if you don’t truly want to quit, you won’t. These are not just habits, they’re self defeating behaviours and we need to figure out why you feel the need to indulge in them in the first place. There’s a pay-off. We need to see what it is. Other habits include things like nail biting and picking at skin.

I’ll Sort My Relationship Issues I’m including this in a hypnotherapy article because I do take on many enquiries to do with relationships breaking down over, or just after, the festive period. Just to be clear, no I cannot ‘hypnotise your boyfriend/girlfriend to...’ do anything, say anything, be anything other than the person they are. I also cannot automatically off the top of my head hypnotise you to find more fulfilling relationships and avoid the idiots you keep getting into relationships with, without an in depth discussion about who, what, when, why and how.

What I can do is help you to figure out the patterns you keep repeating and then help you break these patterns. I am not a stage hypnotist. You cannot hire me to make your ex cluck like a chicken in the middle of Chelmsford High Street because they cheated on you at the office party and you want sweet revenge. I also cannot and would not - hypnotise your spouse/child/in-law/mother/father etc to be nicer and less grumpy. Sorry to break it to you folks, but I am a professional, a member of a professional body, with a code of ethics to follow. Even asking me to do these things in jest sends a very cold shiver up my spine. Hypnotherapy is not about controlling or changing people. It’s about looking at your own mindset, patterns and behaviours and using hypnosis to improve your life in the best, most ethical way we can.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from all of us at Chelmsford Therapy Rooms!

If anyone is interested in seeing a therapist, I own and run Chelmsford Therapy Rooms. We have a range of therapists that can help with a multitude of issues. We offer many therapies from hypnotherapy to counselling to nutrition. Please see the website www.chelmsfordtherapyrooms.co.uk, or you can email info@ chelmsfordtherapyrooms.co.uk, or call 0330 100 5162.

Hypnotherapy, Counselling, Nutrition

I’ll Overcome My Phobias Another common New Years’ Resolution is to decide to get rid of a phobia - you can literally be phobic of anything. You can come to my practice and however silly you think your fear is, I’ve probably treated it before and at the very least I will likely know of it! The festive season can often bring things to a head and cause people to decide once and for all they are not going through another experience where they feel embarrassed about their fear. Hypnotherapy can be great for treating phobias and usually I use it in conjunction with some counselling so ensure the client is as supported as possible and to gain the best results that we can.

I’ll Kick My Habits Common New Years’ Resolutions are ‘I’ll Quit Smoking!’ or ‘I won’t drink so much alcohol!’ - and then the next minute you’re freezing your butt off outside your local pub smoking a cigarette and downing a pint. Before I tackle these types of habits we have to look at why

Call 0330 100 5162 to book an appointment or email info@chelmsfordtherapyrooms.co.uk

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Fitness and Well-Being

Winter Wellness, Spanish Retreats & Einstein by Kellie Jones

So the greyness of winter has finally arrived and along with it comes the array of cold and flu remedies on the shelf and plenty of stress inducing news to add to the inevitable christmas overload.

Or you could turn off the TV, meditate, put on some warm clothes and get out and do some yoga in the fresh air, embrace the seasons, eat a rainbow of vitamins, enjoy your family and friends’ company or plan a retreat in the sun!

This was posted up by a friend on Facebook yesterday: “Lovely morning being inspired by Kellie Amanda Jones. She is living proof on the power of positivity. Negative thoughts, negative life! Need to re-do my vision board and attract more magical things into my life…” I’ve always had a sunny disposition regardless of the facts and I think my ability to smile a lot and always find the plus in a minus has pulled me through many bad times, but the realisation that my thoughts and beliefs were creating more of what I was trying to get rid of has been my saviour.

So some of you might be saying you have no choice and I’m sure there are some extreme circumstances that may make this true, but I believe that our reality is mostly what we believe it to be and beliefs can be changed - and we have the science to prove that now! After years of struggling with anxiety, debt and depression, I started to study the theories around the idea that what we focus on we get more of, and that thoughts become things (law of attraction). It’s been roughly three years now since I switched off the TV, stopped reading bad news and started to detox my surroundings from as much negative as possible.

So if I made all my choices this year based on my bank statement I would have been wishing Christmas to come around just so I could have a day off (this is what has happened for the past nine years!), but this year I’ve just arrived back from an intensive yoga course in New York where a dream came true, an all expenses paid trip to Spain to check out a beautiful villa in the mountains to run Hummingbird Retreats, which was preceded by a week in LA presenting at the same event as Deepak Chopra! I’m so energised that I’m happy to teach between Christmas and New Year.

Over the years of financial struggle, I discovered that my family and friends just love me, not what I buy them and would much prefer to see me smiling than depressed and ill because I couldn’t afford to treat them.

Tonight I am running my final #selfloveplanunderway workshop on how to stay healthy and happy over the holidays,(join me on meetup.com) and we have our last full moon Gong Bath on Sunday. After finishing writing this, I’ll be releasing details of our winter sale on annual memberships and working out our Christmas class schedule.

For more details of this and our up-and-coming retreats in Spain, sign up for our newsletter or follow us on on FB or Twitter.

I wish you all a healthy and Happy Christmas and hope to see more of you in the new year!

30 Ne M D w em a C l be ys ien r Un t O (T s & h lim ff C 's i ap p pl f ite er y) o r d £3 5

When you’re a sunny person, cloudy people are drawn to you and rain

on your parade! It isn’t easy to change a belief but it is possible and like anything, practise makes perfect. Albert Einstein said the definition of insanity is doing something over and over again and expecting a different result!

Pilates, Yoga, Meditation Book your space online or call: Small Classes & 1-2-1’s www.hummingbirdpilates.co.uk Inspirational Teachers 01245 422556 Friendly, Community Vibe Reeds Farm Estate, Writtle, CM1 2ST Page 22

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3 ways to deal with weight gain during the December Bender!

As we navigate our way through the month long drinking and party odyssey known as the Christmas period, AKA the December Bender, there are a number things that we must accept will happen: 1. We will all have at least one friend, with the same level of sincerity as Boris Johnson standing in front of a Vote Leave bus emblazoned with lies, inform us that ‘I’m not sending cards this year as I’m going to donate the money to charity instead’ - when you know full well they aren’t going to. They simply can’t be bothered to send you a card and they use the charity bit as a way of softening the blow.

2. Facebook friends will continue to post soppy pictures of their Christmas trees as if they’re the first, last and only person to have ever thought of wrapping some lights around a flippin’ tree.

3. After attending numerous parties, festivals and functions, some happily and some with the enthusiasm of a World War II conscript, one thing is for sure - many, if not all of us, will gain some weight.

So here are my top three tips on how to deal with this weight gain...

1. Train like your half deaf gran trying to watch telly and increase the volume!

With all the festivities, undoubtedly extra calories will be consumed and you’ve got to find somewhere to put them if you don’t want to pile on the pounds. So what better excuse is there to get away from watching another crappy rerun of a Christmas special first shown in circa 1970 than getting out and doing a bit of training?

If you’re used to running for 5 miles, consider going for 6 or even 7, if you’re used to lifting weights for 3 sets of 10 try to do 4 or even 5 sets. So basically, treat your training like your half deaf gran trying to watch the TV and increase the volume of it. After all, these excess calories need somewhere to go and they may as well fuel your training rather than you’re spare tyre! Think of it as a win-win, not only do you get out of the house over the Christmas period (which can seem like a boring eternity for many) but you also get to spend some time away from having to visit someone whom you only see once a year - for a reason. As my mum would say ‘you can choose your friends, but you can’t choose your family’.

2. Act like a girl desperate to fit into a particularly tight dress and DON’T eat.

Before I got into personal training I was blissfully unaware of the lengths women would go to to ensure they fitted into their favourite tight dress. Having heard countless testimonies from clients, the most common and preferred method appears to be starving oneself throughout the entire day thus ensuring they are able to fit into the dress come the evening.

Now I am not condoning this practice as it is often supported by ridiculous amounts of cigarettes and other unhealthy lifestyle choices all in the name of fitting into a dress. However, if you are planning on highly calorific feast in the evening, the premise of reducing your calorie intake in the daytime in readiness for the impending excess calorie consumption is not necessarily a bad idea. Think of it as saving your calories till later in the day, which can simply be done by skipping breakfast or lunch or even both.

In essence, it is a form of intermittent fasting which is gaining traction as a method of weight loss in scientific literature.

3. Behave like a newbie at an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting and accept it.

As regular readers’ will know, often my advice runs counter to some of the advice you see spouted by other fitness ‘experts’ and once again I am not going to disappoint with my final tip.

The third and most important tip is to accept that some weight gain is probably going to happen. At any time of year let alone Christmas, there is nothing worse than when you’re out out, as a certain cockney comedian would put it, than having some fun-sponge friend sitting next to you saying ‘oh I can’t eat that, it’ll make me fat’. So rather than boring your friends with the macronutrient content of your desired meal, opt for whatever you like and accept that yes, it may not help with your weight loss, but it does taste damn good - and it is Christmas after all!

Of course, don’t approach every meal over the festive period with this mindset or you’ll end up piling on the pounds quicker than Donald Trump collects wedding rings, but a little excess here and there certainly won’t be the end of the world! After all, you’ve got January and beyond to burn it off!

Thanks for reading.

To book your free health and fitness assessment, or your free personal training session, or to book a place at my boot camp class, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Matt matt@mlrpt.co.uk www.mlrpt.co.uk 07939 316 401 www.twitter.com/mlrpt www.facebook.com/mlrpt

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Kid’s Page - Spot the Difference 10 differences to find. Answers on page 32.

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by Stephen Norris - Crompton Company Part 2 The first proposal to light Chelmsford by electricity didn’t come from the Crompton Company at all, intriguingly enough. A proposal by the Brush Electric Company was referred to the lighting committee by the Board of Health in 1882. The board replied saying it would oppose any application by the company to the Board of Trade. A number of those on the Board of Health were major shareholders in the local gas company. Two months later, Crompton sent a letter to the Board of Health saying he had applied for a licence for lighting from the Board of Trade but his offer was turned down.

After members of the Leeds Corporation visited Chelmsford, it was announced that the Crompton-Burgin engine was to be used to light parts of Leeds. December of 1883 saw the manufacture of lights for the King of Siam. The following year saw Crompton installing electric lights in a number of collieries, including some in South Wales. This was the first time the bottom of a pit had been lit in this way.

Crompton’s agent in the north carried out several installations for the Company in woollen mills. Also in 1884 the company lit Paddington Station and a Brazilian ironclad ship that was being built in England.

“Three Crompton dynamos, each capable of driving three hundred lights, will be placed in the vessels and three powerful searchlights for naval purposes giving a light of almost ten thousand candles will be provided.” Probably as a result of this the firm received an order to light the training ship, the Lynmouth, lying off Grays and also led the Admiralty to become interested in Crompton’s searchlight. In previous tests, Danbury church spire and the building next to it facing Chelmsford were sufficiently illuminated to be seen in detail from a distance, although they were close on five miles away in a direct line from the searchlight. Later tests resulted in searchlights being supplied for five Admiralty ships. Commercial shipping companies also became interested. In 1887 two Peninsular and Oriental steamships were fitted with searchlights and internal lights.

Meanwhile Crompton, having been rebuffed in his first attempt to light the town, made an offer to light the Agricultural Show for free.

Doubtless he saw this as worthwhile publicity. December 1887 saw a small fire at the Arc Works. Prompt action using a recently purchased hose prevented any serious damage but this was a foretaste of what was to happen eight years later.

The year of the Borough’s Incorporation saw the company being converted into a limited company. It initially had a capital of £140,000 in 28,000 shares of £5 each. Lord Torrington was the first chairman of the new company. Crompton and Albright, two directors of the previous partnership, retained a substantial interest in the company. During the previous five years, average profits had averaged seven thousand pounds per annum. Necessary heavy investment saw the company make reasonable profits in the 1890s but as with other electrical engineering companies, heavy capital outlays often reduced profits and were frequently the cause of conflict between directors and those involved with the technical side.

Crompton pushed for the passing of the 1888 Electric Lighting Act which superseded the 1882 Act and meant that the period in which the local authorities had the right to purchase electricity supply companies doubled from 21 to 42 years. This, he correctly thought, would make councils much more likely to allow companies to develop lighting and generating schemes. The act and the Borough’s Incorporation also meant that he was more likely to get his wish, namely to light his adopted home town.

In a special meeting of the town council in March 1889, the proposed lighting of the town by electricity was discussed. The lighting committee recommended that the council accept Crompton’s tender to light the town for five years. Albright, a councillor, and Crompton claimed that the lamps were 50% more brilliant than those under the gas system. The clerk insisted that “the interest of certain councillors in the electricity and gas concerns was too remote to disqualify them”! The meeting was adjourned. There was enough interest in the

town on the issue that a public meeting was held. Most of those who attended were in favour of electric lighting but would have preferred incandescent lamps to arc ones.

After the gas, directors on the council abstained from voting. Electric lighting was finally adopted by the council at their next meeting. the Chronicle reported in May that “Chelmsford will become the first town in the United Kingdom to be fully lighted by electricity.” At first it was hoped that the town would be lit by the end of 1889 but Crompton had to reposition the lamps. Even after the new lighting system had started, there were a number of problems with the public and the council complaining about defective lamps. Eventually the council instituted a system of fines on the company which were taken from the payments they received. In 1892 Crompton created a subsidiary, the Chelmsford Electric Lighting Company, for contractual purposes.

As early as 1893 Crompton said he was providing lighting for Chelmsford at a loss, but the editor of the Chronicle was certainly not convinced.

A further difficulty was that the company was coming under pressure from the Board of Trade to put their cables underground. The company’s lighting contract was renewed for a further five years, but a clause was inserted in the new contract allowing for a council buyout of the lighting concern during the next 21 years. In 1896 Crompton wrote to the council offering to sell them the electric station and plant. This was probably triggered by the recent fire. The Weekly News thought that the offer had come too soon: “We have heard it hinted that Crompton and Co’s obligations in regard to the public and private lighting in the town are the only effective ties that bind them to Chelmsford.” The paper argued that such was the importance of the firm to the town already, that the council should bear this in mind. Crompton’s proposal was not taken up by the council and a new lighting station for the town was erected in Anchor Street later in the year.

In 1898 the Chelmsford Electric Lighting Company laid about five and a half miles of underground cable. “These will be much larger than the present overhead cables, and will practically, bear all the high tension pressure. A large gang of men has already been set on, digging out the necessary trenches and another one is to be employed almost immediately, the object being to have all the work completed within a month.” By 1899 the Weekly News had changed its mind on the municipal ownership of the town’s lighting.

“We believe there is a strong feeling both inside and outside the council that it would be a good thing to have control of the town’s lighting.” A report valued the subsidiary at £24,000 but the parent company wanted £41,000. Even if the valuation by the company had been lower, it is extremely doubtful whether the council, with its extremely cautious approach to spending, would have opted for municipalisation.

Despite Crompton’s previous utterances, the Chelmsford Lighting Company continued to be profitable in the Edwardian period making a profit of £3,817 for example in 1906.

The 1880s had seen Crompton work to improve his company’s ability to produce generating equipment. He had formed the Kensington Court Company to supply a number of private houses in that area, where he happened to live. Here, he developed the system which went on to be used in many other towns, in some cases for over 50 years. This consisted of bare copper conductors carried on porcelain insulators based in conduits beneath pavements with access through manholes.

He had to reduce the cost of generating electricity. There was also the problem of the maintenance of an uninterrupted supply and levelling out the difference between peak load lighting in the evenings and the relatively small day load. Electric domestic appliances were only used on an extremely small scale. The central station at Victoria, London used a new type of generator. Crompton

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had improved Edison’s machine by strengthening the magnetic field and his generating stations used a group of accumulators to store energy.

The high reputation of Crompton’s generating equipment led to requests to advise on or submit schemes for power from all over the world. Crompton sent senior engineers to examine, report and usually carry out these schemes. The provision of a public power station in Pretoria, South Africa led to a number of other power stations being built in other towns. Crompton’s installation of power stations and HEP stations in India led to similar installations in Burma and the Malay states, as well as Australia and New Zealand. These orders for generating equipment complemented similar ones in the early 1890s from English towns and cities such as Northampton, Southampton and Birmingham. The proven reliability of Crompton’s equipment resulted in cities like Birmingham putting in repeat orders for generating equipment.

Crompton was also a leading inventor of electric domestic appliances, although in the main these were a generation too early for the company to make financial gains out of these developments, because too few houses were supplied with electricity. He developed a wide range of cooking appliances including cookers, toasters, hot plates and hot cupboards. By 1894 the firm had won five diplomas and four gold medals in this field.

From the mid 1890s, Crompton designed and built many electric traction engines for tram cars and locomotion. During 1890 the world’s first underground tube train ran on the City and South London line, driven by a Crompton locomotive. Locomotives were to remain part of the company’s production for well over half a century. In 1885 he had built a double decker electric tram car. By 1890 his motors were driving the electric trams up and down the tramway

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on Southend pier. “The tram runs without a hitch and the light is beautiful.”

In addition to all these developments, Crompton also worked on furnaces. He took out patents for electric furnaces using a new dynamo and produced electric welding equipment, which foreshadowed the later dominance of electric tools in industry. In his leading role in the Institute of Electrical Engineers, of which he became president in 1895, he continually stressed the usefulness and cheapness of electric motors in small industrial workshops.

In Chelmsford, the progress of the works was not without problems.

During October 1889 there was another fire in which the roof of the foundry was discovered to be ablaze. Again, the hose ensured that it was put out before any real damage was done. The following year part of the works was moved to new premises on Lower Anchor Street. In 1895 a serious fire engulfed the main works and the entire engine room was destroyed. In the immediate aftermath of the fire 167 workmen had to be laid off by the firm.

Ever mindful of the importance of the firm to the town, the council set up a relief fund for those left unemployed by the blaze. By the time the fund committee finally met, all but 32 had found jobs or had been re-employed by the firm. Only three months after the fire, Crompton bought a site on Writtle Road for a completely new works. The local papers were not slow to realise and be pleased that this meant the firm was going to stay in Chelmsford for the foreseeable future.

At the time the new works was being built, he also showed his commitment to the town by introducing a new bonus scheme at the Arc works. Ten shillings were given to men and five shillings to boys who had lost no time during a quarter of the year.

Rotary Foundation Named World’s Outstanding Foundation for 2016

The Rotary Foundation, the charitable arm of Rotary, has been named the 2016 Outstanding Foundation by the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP). Rotary is a global network of volunteers committed to improving lives and communities around the world and is very proud to be recognised by such an august organisation as AFP. From its first contribution of $26.50 a century ago, The Rotary Foundation’s assets have grown to approximately $1 billion, and more than $3 billion have been spent on projects that promote peace, fight disease, provide clean water, support education, save mothers and children and grow local economies.

The Rotary Foundation’s top priority is the global eradication of polio. Rotary launched its PolioPlus program in 1985 and in 1988 became a leading partner in the Global Polio Eradication Initiative.

Since then, Rotary has contributed more than $1.6 billion and countless volunteer hours to protect more than two billion children in 122 countries from this paralysing disease. The foundation’s advocacy efforts also have resulted in another $9 billion from world governments and foundations, increasing its impact.

Today, polio is on the verge of becoming only the second human disease ever to be eliminated, after smallpox, with a 99.9 percent decrease in cases since the initiative began. Other foundation priorities have included addressing hunger, poverty, illiteracy and peace.

2017 will be the foundation’s centennial year and Rotary members aim to raise $300 million by July 2017. Rotary Foundation Trustee Chair, Kalyan Banerjee, said: “The continued strong support of Rotary members will help us keep our promise of a polio free world for all children and enable the foundation to carry out its mission of advancing world understanding, goodwill and peace. We look forward to another 100 years of Rotary members taking action to make communities better around the world.”

Rotary clubs have long embraced the call for peace at the grassroots level by addressing the underlying causes of conflict and violence.

In 2002, the Rotary Foundation took a direct approach by providing future leaders the tools to become catalysts for peace in their communities. Each year up to 100 Rotary Peace Fellows are chosen to participate in a masters degree or certificate programme at one of Rotary’s Peace Centers in partnership with universities around the world including Britain. Today, more than 1,000 peace fellow alumni serve as leaders in national governments, non-governmental organisations, the military, law enforcement, and international institutions such as the United Nations and World Bank.

“Whilst almost everyone is familiar with Rotary, not everyone may realise just how much of an impact Rotary and the Rotary Foundation have had on countless people and communities across the globe,” said AFP President and CEO Jason Lee. “On behalf of the entire charitable sector and people around the world, all of us at AFP are honoured to be able to recognise The Rotary Foundation as our 2016 Outstanding Foundation.”

However, this is not the only award The Rotary Foundation has received this year. It was also given the highest possible score from Charity Navigator, an independent evaluator of charities in the US. In the most recent ratings, released on 1st September, The Rotary Foundation earned the maximum 100 points for both demonstrating strong financial health and commitment to accountability and transparency. The foundation also received its ninth straight 4 star rating from Charity Navigator. “Attaining a 4 star rating verifies that

The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International exceeds industry standards and outperforms most charities in your area of work” said Charity Navigator President and CEO Michael Thatcher.

He added that only one percent of charities evaluated by charity has received at least nine consecutive 4 star evaluations, setting “The Rotary Foundation apart from its peers and demonstrates to the public its trustworthiness.” The ratings reflect how efficiently Charity Navigator believes the Rotary Foundation will use donations, how well it has sustained programmes and services and its level of commitment to good governance and openness.

Here in Chelmsford, as part of the great global network of over 1.25 million Rotarians, we are proud of the contribution we make to improve the lives of so many people, not just worldwide but locally too and I am sure you will have seen Chelmsford members dishing out mulled wine and mince pies at the Chelmsford Christmas Lights or collecting outside supermarkets all in support of local people.

It is the confidence that Rotary inspires that encourages the public to support Rotary projects, knowing that money raised will reach its intended targets and not be filtered away in administration costs or corrupt officialdom and these awards reinforce the esteem in which Rotary is held. If you would like to know how to become involved visit www.chelmsfordrotary1240.org, or phone me on 01245 260 349.

Happy Christmas.

Stan Keller

Wildlife Corner

by Nick Green November actually experienced rainfall(!!) but there were still many leaves on the trees persisting at the end of the month thanks to few frosts and light winds.

The Siberian accentor was mentioned in the last edition with the first ever British records and these eventually totalled an amazing THIRTEEN with 150+ European records.

After an extreme rarity, the much much commoner resident robin (Erithacus rubecula) should be featured with Christmas approaching and many cards featuring robins coming through the letterbox! The robin is a popular garden species that is territorial all year round and in these winter months this is the one bird to keep singing, even under streetlamps. The British population is estimated at 6.7 million birds but there is migrant population passing through the country to Scandinavia and Continental Europe - this passage is detected at Essex coastal sites like Walton-on-the-Naze, Colne Point and Bradwell Bird Observatory in both spring and autumn, depending on ambient weather conditions.

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The robin breeds in April (but amazingly I’ve seen a juvenile in my garden on 17th March!) to August, raising 2-3 broods. Clutch size is 4-6 eggs, incubation is about 13 days, fledging after some 14 days with the young tended for another 3 weeks. The diet consists of worms, seeds, fruit and insects. Confident birds often follow the gardener! With the species thriving around human habitation as well as the countryside, this should signal continuing success.

Christmas Quiz Bird Trivia Victorian postmen were called Robins.

Male turkeys are called Toms and the young males, Jakes.

Recent Essex Wildlife News The most noteworthy November 2016 bird news: A waxwing invasion may be imminent, so please check all cotoneaster bushes (especially at supermarkets!) and cherry trees Robin Copyright Glyn Evans for these attractive birds and listen for their high pitched trilling calls. Otherwise selected highlights include great white egret, glossy ibis and white-fronted geese at Wat Tyler Country Park. Also 5 cranes flew south over Colne Point plus there’s been velvet scoter off Brightlingsea and recently up to 7 short-eared owls and 2 hen harriers at Wallasea Island RSPB. The star county rarity of the month was an American Forster’s tern at Mistley for a few days - just the second record for the county - that also wandered to Felixstowe in Suffolk, then Folkestone in Kent.

Abberton Reservoir. The Essex Wildlife Trust Centre café (just north of the Layer-de-la-Haye causeway on the B1025) hot drinks, butties and cake can be still recommended! Recent winter visitors recorded include black-necked and slavonian grebes, scaup, smews, bitterns and Bewick’s swans.

National Rarities: In Cornwall the long-staying dalmatian pelican and Hudsonian whimbrel still remain, as indeed the western purple gallinule at Arkborough Flats NR in Lincolnnshire!

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Stargazing with Mark Willis - December/January January 1st - 3rd - looking south west at 18:00 you will see a lovely line up as the Moon passes Venus and Mars. Low down on the horizon you will see a star called Fomalhaut. Fomalhaut is the third brightest star (as viewed from Earth) known to have a planetary system after the Sun and Pollux.

If you’d like to learn more about stargazing, there are many great books out there. Essex Libraries in Chelmsford have a great selection.

You don’t need maths or physics knowledge. All you need is curiosity!

You could also join an astronomy society. Again, no experience necessary!

January 4th - just as you’re probably scraping ice off of your windscreen, it might seem odd that in fact on 4th January at 14:18 local time the Earth reaches perihelion, (its closest position to the Sun). Earth is roughly 3 million kilometers closer to the Sun on this day.

As usual, email me with any questions.

January 28th - New Moon. This means that you have lovely dark skies which will help you spot distant planets and galaxies.

Mark Willis presents Willis Wireless every Monday at 7pm on Chelmsford Community Radio.

Web: www.chelmsfordcommunityradio.com Twitter: @WillisWireless Email: mark.willis@chelmsfordcommunityradio.com

Heart charity appeals for Chelmsford community to support new fundraising drive to help beat heart disease The British Heart Foundation (BHF) is calling on the people of Chelmsford to help accelerate the fight against heart disease by starting a new fundraising group in the local area.

Around 5,500 people across Chelmsford are fighting a daily battle with heart and circulatory disease. Each year, these devastating conditions claim the lives of more than 350 people in Chelmsford alone.

The nation’s heart charity is calling on the local community to take heart and join the fight against heart disease by starting up new fundraising groups across the region and raising vital funds for heart research.

Our fundraising groups are the face of the BHF in their local communities. From running fundraising events to supporting schools and local businesses and organising collections, they are a fantastic way to support our vital work.

Any time that you can give will be invaluable, because every pound raised from our fundraising groups will help fund vital research and

From SAD to singing

With more people in the UK suffering from various forms of depression, work related stress and anxieties than ever before, there is an antidote on your doorsteps that you may not have realised choir singing!

“Choir singing is an excellent way to fight those winter blues”, says The Sound Collective Chorus Director, Emma Durrant. “We have a new members’ night where you can turn up, never having sung before, get swept up in the fun, and find out at the end that you’ve produced something complicated and of quality and never even thought about work or home.”

As a much loved and talked about choir based in Danbury, The Sound Collective hits the right note as a modern choir with a youthful vibrancy but for all ages - and just as most of us have a varied taste in music, the choir doesn’t label itself as just soul and gospel or funk and pop and instead sings all styles of music from all eras working towards exciting performances and appearances.

“Singing is just one part of the greater fulfilment you’ll get from singing in a choir” says Emma. “Our choir is supportive and fun.

I have seen first-hand the impact choir singing has had on our members. It’s been wonderful to watch people who have never sung outside of their shower before grow in confidence and happiness and feel a great sense of camaraderie with the chorus.”

A recent study by Tenovus Cancer Care and the Royal College of Music has found that singing in a choir decreases levels of stress hormones and increases immune proteins needed to help the body

identify new treatments that could help save lives.

Sophie Tibbitts, BHF Fundraising Manager for Essex, said: “Heart disease is heartless. Too many lives are lost in Chelmsford each year and we’re determined to do everything we can to protect more families from this devastation.

“By starting this fundraising group, you can help us fund the research that’s so desperately needed to bring us closer to beating heart disease. Together we can save more lives, and it’s a fantastic way to meet new people and make a real difference in your community!”

BHF research has helped halve death rates from heart and circulatory disease over the past 50 years, but there is still a long way to go. Through the public’s generosity, the BHF will fund half a billion pounds of new research over the next five years.

For more information, please visit www.bhf.org.uk/localfundraising and to join the fight by setting up a new Fundraising Group, contact Sophie Tibbitts at tibbittss@bhf.org.uk, or call 07920 845 365. fight illness.

The benefits of joining a choir could go beyond mental health too.

Norwegian researchers previously reported that participation in a choir is linked with better health and workplace engagement. The benefits of singing range from the physical - because it boosts oxygen levels in the blood - to the psychological - because it lowers stress and boosts feelings of community.

“I have chosen the best choir!” explains Lorraine Cornelius, choir member and mum of two from Chelmsford: “The Sound Collective is friendly, supportive and fun and has given me so many new opportunities. I’ve always loved to sing but have always restricted it to the shower. Now I have a new found confidence and I’m enormously proud of being part of something to special.”

With a choice of three locations and regular exciting new member nights there is no reason to feel blue this winter and you can enjoy the comfort of knowing you’ll go along with other new joiners. The choir would like to warmly welcome anyone who loves to sing to join and will be holding new joiner nights in January at St Paul’s Church, Loftin Way, Great Baddow on Thursday evenings at 8.15pm, or our other locations in Danbury (Wednesday evenings) and Maldon (Tuesday evenings).

If you have the space or the need for a little sparkle, then come along and find it in the Sound Collective. With lots of exciting plans for 2017, there never has been a better time to join.

Please email tsc.sound@gmail.com to book your free session.

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Answers to Chelmsford Quiz 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

North Melbourne Rainsford Road/Tower Avenue Seven Fell Christy, off First Avenue Moulsham, Cuton, Barnes, Sandford and Broomfield, (off Mill Lane) 6. Waterloo Lane 7. The three rivers that run through the City - Chelmer, Wid and The Can 8. Between Moulsham Street, Spot Mlildmay Road and Parkway, on the site of Essex Water Co (now developed) 9. Broomfield Road/ Parkway opposite charity shops 10. Barrack Square 11. Army barracks in WW1 12. End of Waterloo Lane, on site of the present Swimming Pool 13. Bearings for industry Page 31

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and the motor trade 14. Colonel 15. Tile Kiln (off Wood Street) 16. Navigation Road, now occupied by Building Supply Co. 17. Chelmer & Blackwater Navigation Canal 18. Chelmsford Cathedral (west doorway) 19. Moulsham Street 20. Links Drive (near Widford Roundabout)

the difference answers

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4

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WE DON'T RELY ON THE INTERNET TO SELL OUR CLIENTS PROPERTIES One of our greatest strengths is that we don't rely on the internet to sell our clients' properties. We talk to buyers and sellers and get to know their needs and requirements intimately. As such, when we are asked to conduct discreet marketing for a client, we can match the right people to the right property.

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