The City Times - January/February 2023

Enjoy an extensive one to one tutorial of your new Neff appliances* within the comfort of your own home. Our home economist provides you with a hands-on experience and shows what your new appliances are capable of across a delicious three course meal.

Hello and off we go into another new year - lets just hope that things get better... I feel hopeful that they will do.

First off, I must mention the weather - we have recently had snow and freezing temperatures, then mild and warm, then wind and rain - and all this on the back of the hottest year on record in 2022. If this is not a warning about global change,

I am afraid I don’t know what is. We need to take care of our planet now, not tomorrow or the day after. The planet will survive - though battered because of us - but we are not likely to survive ourselves if we carry on as we are. Just look at all the poor creatures and plants that are disappearing and it is because of us. WE MUST CHANGE NOW. Ok, that is my eco rant done for now. Onto other things.

This year my granddaughter will be 16 and will be taking her exams. Meanwhile, my grandson is going to be 14 this year and has still to decide what he wants to do. The strange thing is as I am regressing, I have passed my kids and am catching up with grandkids (I just have to learn the new lingo). That said, I am 70 this year, but in my mind I am still young - it’s just that the body does not always want to play ball! I will carry on regardless doing what I want to do, that is one thing good about getting older - I do what I want and not what others want me to do - and you know what, I don’t care (maybe that is the rebel still in me).

There have been some changes around the Old Moulsham area recently. The Orange Tree has changed hands after many years and is now being run by Max and Jess, who also run The Queen’s Head in Boreham. So let’s keep and eye out and see if there are any changes and let’s wish them good luck! The other change is where Loveday & Sons jewellers once resided. The company had been established for over 140 years but have now gone from the corner of Baddow Road and Moulsham Street. What has appeared in their place is an eyesore. It is another vape, sweets and tobacco shop that looks hideous and in my opinion, just what we do not want or need. The council tell me they are on it so let’s hope it is sorted out quickly.

Well, spring and summer are on their way as we have now passed the winter solstice. We have also just had the first full moon of the year, known as the Wolf Moon.

I watched the recent rocket launch from Newquay via the live stream on YouTube. The launch sadly failed. Although l am not really in favour of all this penetrating of the atmosphere. Worth saying too that I am that old that I saw the moon landing live on TV when I was a teenager! It was amazing to watch this launch from Virgin’s Cosmic Girl Boeing 747. It went well at first, then at the second stage after the rocket was released from the plane it started to go wrong and it did not reach the height required to go into orbit and to be able to release the nine satellites it was carrying. I was amazed at how small these satellites are.

They say this is not the end and a further attempt will happen again from the UK. This can surely all really help our economy as we are leaders in space technology. So here’s to the future and to the success of the UK space industry.

Music

As this edition of The City Times comes out, we are about to put on our first gig of the year - and what a gig as it is, with Nine Below Zero! We have wanted these guys to come and play for a long time!

I am just waiting to hear what is going to happen at The Orange Tree and whether they still want me to book acts there, so fingers remain

crossed at the moment. I am currently lining up acts for Hot Box this year too, and so far we can confirm Matt Woosey is booked for Monday 12th June with many more exciting acts to come. Of course, Hot Box has many other great shows going on as well, so do check them out online, or just go along - they have a great bar and it is a very friendly atmosphere.

Great news that the theatres in Chelmsford are reopening. Formally the Civic and Cramphorn theatres, they are reopening as The Chelmsford Theatre and it looks like there is a good schedule booked so far. The council also have The Fling and 3ft People festivals returning this year, which is good to know - see the advert in this publication. I see Nine Lives Rock and Roll, who also put shows on at the Chelmsford Social Club, have a full programme for this year already too.

We at Black Frog Presents are filling up fast - we have just booked and confirmed Hamish Stuart, the voice of the Average White Band, who is returning to ply for us before he heads off to the States to be part of Ringo’s band - a band in which he has played with for nearly 20 years now.

We have also confirmed Back Street Crawler with original singer Terry Slesser who was in the original band with Paul Kossoff (after he left Free). The line-up of this band is amazing and this is a not to be missed show! We are so lucky that all these acts want to come and play for us and you. See our advert in this edition of The City Times and follow us on social media for all our updates as we continue to confirm more acts to fill up the year.

There is lots of music going on all over our area - some paid for and some for free. I have been to see a few gigs recently and I am just preparing to go to my first festival of the year, which is at Butlins in Skegness. It will be their last ever Rock and Blues Festival sadlyafter having attended and played there on number of occasions in the past, I felt that I must go as there are also many friends going and playing - some of whom will be playing for us this year. It will be good to catch up.

It would be fantastic if you could share our magazines The City Times and Moulsham Times with others for us. We continue to publish both magazines in print and online at www.issuu.com/itsyourmedia. If you are interested in advertising your business or event with us and our readers then please contact us at ads@itsyourmedia.co.uk, or if you have an event or want to comment or have an article that could be of interest then please send to editorial@itsyourmedia.co.uk and we will reply to you as soon as we can.

Remember, if you have any comments or something you think our readers may interested in, then please let us know and email editorial@itsyourmedia.co.uk.

For all our updates and information regarding Black Frog Presents shows at the Chelmsford Social Club and other venues go to www. linktr.ee/BlackFrogPresents, or scan the QR code on the advert in this magazine. You can also pre-book for the paid show with a text or call to 07508 496 411 and then pay by cash or card at the door at the advance price without commission.

See page 19 for the up and coming gigs at Chelmsford Social Club

City Times Food!

Cranberry and Caramelised Red Onion Sausage Orzo

Hello, my name is Lauren and I am so excited to have been asked to write All Things Food for The City Times! Firstly, I thought I would introduce myself. I am a fully qualified professional chef and have worked in London for Gordon Ramsay and Harrods. I am a mummy to two girls and step mum to two boys.

We all love food and it’s a big part of our lives. Having four children, I don’t want to be spending hours in the kitchen, but I still want to produce home-cooked food that tastes good, looks good and makes us feel good - though fter Christmas I don’t think I could stand the sight of another pig in blanket or mince pie! My first online food shop has been delivered and my fridge is full of colours and healthy food again. Being a chef and mother, I’ve tried to bring a balance to our home life of cooking healthy and tasty food. If I were to cook in butter and oils as much as I do when cooking fine dining food, it wouldn’t do anyone any good in the long run, so I try and meet in the middle - as well as trying to get my steps in with a few home workouts!

With this in mind, the first recipe I am sharing with you is a bright, colourful, wholesome dish that will feed all the family. It’s healthy, will fill you up and doesn’t take hours to cook - because after work, the school run and in between swimming lessons, piano lessons or what ever other club is on that day, no-one wants to be doing that...

This recipe serves four and is my Cranberry and Caramelised Red Onion Sausage Orzo.

Ingredients

12 low fat pork sausages.

2 red onions finely sliced.

4 tsp of olive oil or fry light.

A tsp brown sugar.

4 tbsp of reduced fat crème fraîche. 4 handfuls of baby spinach. 60g of cranberry Wensleydale cheese or any other fruit cheese you prefer (apricot also works a treat). 300g orzo pasta.

Method

1. Heat half the oil or fry light in a saucepan on a medium heat with the sugar, add the red onions and fry gently until soft and golden, keep giving them a stir to stop them burning (usually about 15 minutes).

2. While the onions are caramelising, cut the sausages up into bitesize pieces removing the skin. I find it easiest to cut them then take the skin off - it can be left on, I just prefer the texture.

3. In a frying pan, heat the other half of the oil or fry light and cook the sausages until cooked, and browned (about 10 minutes). Having a good non-stick pan is one of your best cooking investments, along with a sharp knife!

4. Boil some salted water and add the orzo for 10 to 12 minutes until cooked, then drain the pasta but keep the water from the pasta for step 5.

5. Add ¾ of the caramelised onions to the sausages along with the spinach and a splash of your pasta water and cook until the spinach has wilted.

6. Add the orzo and toss together.

7. Stir through the crème fraîche and season with sea salt and pepper.

8. Serve the remaining onions on top and crumble the cranberry cheese over the top.

I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as we do and look forward to catching up next month. Happy New Year xoxox.

Eat Better to Feel Better

Hello, I’m Demelza and I’m a qualified nutrition and health coach based near Chelmsford in Essex. I’m delighted to be writing for The City Times. Each month I’ll be sharing some of my top tips for developing healthier eating habits so that you can feel the best version of yourself.

Let me start by saying that January is not the time for deprivation or new fad diets. It’s a time for nourishing your body and your mind by implementing some simple strategies to help you build sustainable habits for long term health.

We’ve all heard about the importance of eating your ‘five a day’ - an initiative the government introduced almost 20 years ago. Now, new research highlights the fact that instead, we should be aiming to consume 30 different plant foods per week to create a healthy gut packed with diverse bacteria that will not only improve immunity (essential at this time of year!) but also balance our blood sugar, lower blood fats, and help prevent against many diseases.

Now, I just want you to do something for me; ask yourself the following questions:

1. When did I last have a cold/the flu/covid? Was it last week, last month or last year?

2. How long did the symptoms last? Was it a couple of days, a week or longer?

3. How’s my mood generally? Are you upbeat, do you suffer mood swings, do you often suffer low mood?

If you’re regularly picking up coughs, colds or other illnesses and the symptoms stick around for a while, your immune system needs

-

By Demelza Rayner

a boost, and the starting point is in your gut. Moreover, 95% of the happy hormone serotonin is produced in your gut, so if you’re suffering from low mood, then chances are you need to work on improving your gut microbiome. And this brings us back once more to the importance of consuming 30 different plant foods a week.

But where do you start and how do you succeed without spending a fortune on new ingredients? The good news is that the following foods are all included in the weekly target: fruit, vegetables, beans and pulses, grains, herbs and spices. My top tip would be to start with your favourite meals and consider ways of adding one more plant food to each one. This could be a sprinkling of cinnamon on your morning porridge, adding mushrooms or spinach to your lunchtime omelette, or simply including an extra vegetable with your Sunday roast.

In addition, soups are great at this time of year and very easy to batch cook and freeze. Start with a base of onion, garlic, leek and onion (four plant foods already!), then add stock and a couple of seasonal vegetables (why not consider a local veg-box delivery from The Essex Allotment or Sarah Green’s Organics?) and finish with a sprinkling of herbs and spices.

For lots more ideas for reaching your 30-a-week target, read my latest blog at www.demelzaraynernutrition.co.uk. You can also receive exclusive nutrition tips and recipes by requesting my free monthly newsletter.

City Times Gardening

Happy New Year! Its been a turbulent month and half with lovely warm weather at times, followed by a week of snow and ice - and then some unseasonally mild weather! With any milder weather it becomes is a great time of the year to take stock of anything on your patio, balcony, or even in the home, when it comes to container growing. Some may well be looking past their best or lack that sparkle and interest. Spend time to at least clean through and tidy. However, also consider some replacement to maintain interest… or start from scratch.

First of all, investigate your existing plants for any signs of winter damage. With the recent spell of snow and ice a number of plants have perished. Examples such as that tender plant that was forgotten (I did this!) and has been killed off. Unfortunately, on my crowded patio I had missed some lovely agaves and aeoniums. Now they are just mush. They have got to go… lesson learned. Others are looking very sad for themselves and need crushed stems removed or trimmed back with any debris removed from the surface of the container. The latter will assist with much needed air circulation and a reduction in moisture - and

possibly a reduction in that year round pest, the slug. Whatever you do, don’t feed for the time being as this will just encourage unnecessary growth which is likely to be cut back further by subsequent frosts (apply feeds from March onwards).

Importantly, I also double check the pot itself - is water able to move freely through the container and drain, and what is the integrity of container? Has it cracked or shattered due to resent weather conditions? If so, a replacement may be a priority.

Siting Containers

• Site containers where they will not be a tripping hazard and where they cannot topple over. Consider securing containers to, or within, a permanent structure.

• Safe and convenient access for maintenance is essential.

• Place containers away from wind tunnels, for instance between buildings.

• Consider the effects of radiant heat from paving and buildings. This may help to over winter a plant of borderline tenderness, but will also increase evapotranspiration.

• Containers often look most effective when grouped together.

Growing Media

• Specially formulated container composts contain controlled release fertilisers and water retaining gels, but these may also be added to standard composts.

• Soil-less composts are lightweight - an important consideration for a balcony or roof terrace.

• Soil-less composts are difficult to re-wet if they dry out completely.

• Permanent plantings may benefit from soil-based composts, such as John Innes No. 3, which retain water and nutrients well, maintain their structure, and are easier to re-wet.

• Heavier soil-based composts aid stability if growing tall plants which are prone to blowing over.

Plant Choice

• Seasonal planting is relatively easy to manage provided plants are fed and watered regularly.

• Permanent planting, or a mixture of permanent and seasonal planting, may offer opportunities to grow plants with specific requirements, eg, ericaceous plants, or alpines.

• Plants of similar vigour should be selected to ensure a balanced display.

• Combine plants with different colours, texture, form and habit or use several of one species to create an interesting display.

Maintenance

• In addition to the incorporation of controlled release fertiliser at planting, plants may be given a dilute feed during the growing season if growth is slow. A balanced feed is suitable for permanent or foliage plants, but a high potassium feed such as tomato food is best for floral displays.

• Regular and sufficient watering is essential if plants are to flourish in containers. Water daily, or twice daily in hot weather, preferably in the evening, and consider a timed trickle or drip irrigation system.

• Dead-head regularly to promote flowering, and remove damaged leaves and shoots.

• Monitor pests and diseases and treat promptly. Closely planted containers are particularly prone to fungal diseases in wet weather.

• Re-pot permanent plantings, or replace the top few centimetres of compost annually.

Sustainable Planting

• Bamboos and tall grasses are good for exposed sites.

• Camellias and rhododendrons grow and flower well in containers

• Trees such as Acer palmatum, box (Buxus sempervirens), bay (Laurus nobilis), birch (Betula spp.), and fruit trees such as cherry and fig are all suitable for container growing.

• Alpines and rock plants such as house leeks (Sempervivum spp.) are good for shallow pots and pans, and require little maintenance.

• Evergreens such as Euonymus fortunei ‘Emerald Gaiety’ provide year-round interest.

For this spring, try out the following:

• Evergreens such as Hedera helix ‘Silver Queen’ are a good foil for other plants and Bergenia cordifolia has the bonus of early spring flowers.

• Crocus, daffodil and tulips are colourful and may be planted in layers to flower in succession.

• Polyanthus and pansies are inexpensive and flower over a long period.

• Attractive stems of Salix babylonica ‘Tortuosa’ and Cornus alba ‘Sibirica’ provide an interesting vertical feature.

Happy gardening

For any gardening tips please contact Tom Cole, Horticultural Lecturer, Capel Manor College, Bullsmoor Lane, Enfield, Middlesex, EN1 4RR, or by emailing tom.cole@capel.ac.uk.

Regal Kitchens - Christmas Open Day

To celebrate Regal Kitchens’ continued relationship with NEFF, the kitchen gurus welcomed customers new and old to join them for their Christmassy themed Open Day last month. NEFF Home Economist, Adrienne, prepared mouth-watering dishes all day, as well as explaining the features and benefits of the appliances on display in the showroom.

There was a free prize draw during the event and lucky customers took home kitchen gadgets worth hundreds of pounds - everyone went home with a goodie bag worth around £20 as well.

Regal’s experienced kitchen designers were on hand during the event to help customers with all aspects of planning their new dream kitchens for 2023.

Two time Regal customers, David and Ann Gibbs

Chef, Adrienne, explains the NEFF settings to Mrs Pullman

BDM Emma Mcloughlin with Karen and Jem Richardson

Regal Staff were on hand to offer advice to customers

Attendees were entered into a free prize draw to win kitchen prizes

Freshly prepared dishes were available to sample at the event

Emily and Nicola Martin (CEO)

Chelmsford Museum Opens Innovative Exhibition Celebrating BBC Centenary

Don’t miss Chelmsford Museum’s exhibition celebrating the BBC’s centenary and Writtle’s pivotal role in broadcasting history.

The museum collaborated with interdisciplinary artist Sian Fan and with Chelmsford’s talented local artists to explore the history of the UK’s first public radio broadcasts. Forecast22 - Broadcasting Across the Ether features an interactive website with a digital artwork and a physical exhibition at the museum.

The UK’s first weekly radio show was broadcast on 14th February 1922 from a former military hut in Writtle, using the call sign 2MT or ‘Two Emma Toc’. The experimental, irreverent shows proved to be so popular with audiences that they led to the creation of the BBC on 18th October 1922.

The Writtle Hut has been part of Chelmsford Museum’s collections since the 1990s, but it is too large to be displayed at the museum in Oaklands Park and so is held in storage at Sandford Mill. To celebrate the centenary of these broadcasts, Chelmsford Museum commissioned Sian to refresh the history of the hut using modern technology. The project marks the first time the museum has collaborated with an artist to share part of its collections in this way.

Now is your chance to join us in celebrating the 101st anniversary of the first British radio broadcasts with an opportunity to see the original Writtle Hut at Chelmsford Museum’s industrial off-site store,

Sandford Mill. Learn more about the radio broadcasts made from here, and the people who were central in their innovation, from historian Tim Wander.

Book your slot for Saturday 11th February at 10.30am, 12.15pm or 2pm for an hour’s talk and tour. Tickets are just £10, and parking is available on-site.

The supporting exhibition is on show at Chelmsford Museum until 12th March 2023 and the website, forecast22.com, will be live until 14th October 2023.

Visit www.chelmsford.gov.uk/museums/whats-on for all their latest events.

City Times Finance

Planning for 2023 - January: Planning for the Future

The prospect of all-emcompassing New Year’s resolutions has never been appealing and when it comes to your finances, the thought of dealing with several ‘plan for the future’ scenarios can be daunting. How about thinking of your finances in manageable chunks? Maybe concentrate on one particular issue a month or tackle your financial goals in a slow but methodical way, whichever way you prefer it - just don’t ignore it!

The future is impossible to predict, as it is dependent on too many variables but one thing is certain, the need for solid Inheritance Tax Plan is more important than ever.

There are many facets to estate planning and individual needs vary but there are commonalities, too. Take residential property, for instance. A significant denominator of many estates, property values are in many cases above the Nil Rate Band threshold of £325,000 and can create an immediate need for IHT planning.

Gifting

From an estate planning point of view, if there is a reduction in asset values then it may present a good opportunity to give those assets away. The beneficiary can enjoy the asset growth post-event and in the meantime the original gift will have left your estate during times of depressed values.

The famous 7-year survival rule still applies but with the benefit of the gift’s value being assessed at the date of gifting, rather than at point of death, the Inheritance Tax calculation looks more reasonable. Conversely, any gain in value at the time of acquisition will potentially be subject to Capital Gains Tax.

Meaning

Simply put, with lower asset values, the possible Inheritance Tax liability will be smaller. Added bonus: with reduced gain the potential Capital Gains Tax will also decrease.

Planning

Tax rates, reliefs and allowances are subject to changing legislation, so it is wise to consult with your independent financial adviser to ensure that your planning is sound and up-to-date. With a proper

financial planning strategy, you can be ready for the future.

Implementing

At one point or another we ought to face up to our own mortality and the way we view and relate to the world at large. The first step is to prepare a watertight estate plan or revise and update your existing one. Don’t underestimate the fiscal and emotional benefits of a bulletproof financial plan - contact us today to see how we can help.

Silvia Johnson BSc(Hons) DipPFS EFA CertCII (MP) is a Director & Independent Financial Adviser at Royale Thames Wealth Ltd. www.royalthameswealth.co.uk silvia@royalthameswealth.co.uk 020 8720 7249 / 07908 109 741

Royale Thames Wealth Ltd is an Appointed Representative of New Leaf Distribution Ltd which is authorised and regulated by Financial Conduct Authority number 460421.

The value of your investment may go up as well as down and the value is not guaranteed. Past performance is not a guarantee of future performance.

Wills and Estate Planning are not regulated by the FCA.

To view both the City Times and the Moulsham Times magazines online, visit www.issuu.com/itsyourmedia

Rambling through the Strikes - By Britain’s Oldest Angry Young Man

Congratulations to RMT Leader Mick Lynch, for ruining Christmas for thousands of families throughout the country and potentially bankrupting many businesses which relied on the Christmas trade for survival. For example, train strikes could cost the hospitality sector over £1.5bn in lost sales amid an epidemic of cancelled bookings and customer no-shows. Think about that Mick when you are stuffing yourself with Christmas pud. During an interview, Mr Lynch apparently only recognised the arrival of Christmas on Christmas Eve. So how does that work, Mick?

His RMT well-paid members should hang their heads in shame at being participants in his disgraceful and callous intransigence and pigheadedness leading to that ruination of Christmas. At one point in his sabotage of 2022 Christmas, he claimed that ‘his members come first’. No they don’t, the country comes first. But then we are dealing with a dinosaur from the 70s and the sooner the union dinosaurs become extinct, the better it will be. But hold on! How has this wave of industrial unrest taken a stranglehold on the country?

In the early 1960s I was in the management team in Shepperton Studios which, like all film studios at the time, was fully unionised. In Shepperton’s case, three major unions held sway - technicians, electricians and administration. My job was to work with those unions on behalf of management, so I saw union’s activity close up which was, in many cases, very unpleasant and dirty. My experience then

draws a parallel with the current unionised activity. Their demands are not about pay nor working conditions. They and inflation are side issues. Their demands are simply geared to bringing down the present Conservative Party that is in disarray, weak and incompetent, catnip to the unions who soon spotted the government’s weak links.

I am inclined to give the strikers all the money they want then sit back and watch the country go bankrupt. Perhaps that is too extreme. So let’s return to reality, the reality of the picket lines. Those strikers manning the picket lines are having a great time with their banners and broad banter (who actually producers these banners and at what cost? Of course many are homemade and look like it).

From my viewpoint the saddest aspect to all this is the striking nurses. They have learned fast the tricks of the union trade demanding a 19% pay increase and a threat to continue walkouts until they get it. Not very subtle. Even sadder in my view is seeing pictures of striking nurses screaming and shouting like demented football fans, their faces contorted in hate. Why? The tragedy of government impotence continuing into January 2023 is not a good start to the new year (and potentially beyond). I have stated before in this column that this government is the worst Conservative government I have known and I admit to voting Conservative following my attainment of maturity (at 21). The next General Election will be very interesting. I will try to stick around long enough to witness it.

Beautiful Gifts That Don’t Cost the Earth

At Inlustris Gifts we stock the most fantastic products from British businesses which are Fairtrade, ethical, have sustainable ingredients, are cruelty free, have fully recyclable packaging and minimal plastic.

The majority of items we stock are manufactured in the UK and for the few that are made overseas, we ensure that they are Fairtrade. Therefore you can shop either online or in-store with confidence that nothing has been manufactured in sweatshops or has nasty ingredients.

Thankfully, we have found lots of great companies who share our ethos and create amazing products, including gents’ grooming items, reed diffusers, soaps, lots of jewellery, seed bombs, candles, wax melts, pagan and spiritual items and much more.

We also stock wares from local talented makers including pottery, jewellery and cushions with much more to come soon.

Our little shop is a dream come true, and we couldn’t have found a better location than Moulsham Street, which has welcomed us wholeheartedly in the last few weeks.

So when you fancy a browse or are looking for an unusual gift, you will find us between the fireplace shop and the Star and Garter pub at 158 Moulsham Street, Chelmsford. We are open TuesdaySaturday from 9am-5pm.

www.inlustrisgifts.com

Mbali Gives Herself the Ultimate Christmas Gift...

Mbali has given herself the ultimate Christmas gift of health and happiness with an 8 stone 11b weight loss! The Chelmsford superslimmer will be starting 2023 feeling amazing thanks to this incredible weight loss in 2022.

Mbali Nwankwo, 35, from Springfield in Chelmsford has now reached her target weight in time for Christmas in just 48 weeks! Mbali, who has dropped from a dress size 20/22 to a 10/12 says: “Losing weight has made such a big difference to my life. My health has improved, my blood pressure is now good, I have more energy to play with my son, I’m happier and I feel more comfortable in my own skin. And I’m no longer afraid to say yes to opportunities that come along!”

Mbali joined Slimming World in January after feeling unhappy about her size: “I first struggled with my weight at university - a combination of a bad diet, lots of late nights and a lack of sleep, and then having a very young son when covid and lockdown hit also made things hard. I had tried several different ways to lose weight - healthy eating and going to the gym - but I needed something more, and when another mum I knew had joined Slimming World, I looked up my local group, sent my consultant Emma a text message and was on my way! With Slimming World it’s completely different. I still eat all my favourite meals, like chicken and rice, curry’s and pasta dishes - I just prepare and cook them differently now - I focus on the unlimited free foodsfull of filling fibre and protein and they taste delicious too. I never have to miss out and I don’t have to get hung up on weighing and measuring everything I eat.

“I know it can feel like a big step joining Slimming World because you don’t know what to expect. I was nervous but also embarrassed too, I was the heaviest I have ever been. But I didn’t need to be, the group is amazing, very supportive and educational, everyone is so friendly and inspiring and we cheer each other on! The accountability of knowing I’m going to group each week has really helped me too, and I’ve picked up so many tips from other members and I’ve really enjoyed getting creative and trying new recipes. I’m still going to continue to attend the group each week even now I’m at target and look forward to continuing to experiment with different types of food - because I can!”

Chelmsford Library

Happy New Year to all our customers! We hope you all had a lovely Christmas break and we look forward to seeing you all in our library or at one of our events in 2023.

Mbali lost 12lb in her first 3 weeks and was blown away that the changes she’d made had such a big impact so quickly. Over time the changes became regular habits and as the weight started to come off, she started to think about how active she was too so she took up walking, 30 minutes a day either at home with a YouTube video or pounding the local streets.

She says: “I remember being so unhappy last year on my birthday and was determined to feel different when I turned 35! I’ve realised that when you believe in yourself and other people believe in you too, like my consultant Emma and fellow members do - you can do anything you set your mind to. I have lots of ambitions but the biggest is to empower others to believe in themselves and work on making changes to become the best they can be.”

Emma Lodge, who runs 2 groups in Springfield, says: “I couldn’t be more proud of Mbali. She’s a fantastic ambassador for Slimming World and what she’s achieved is nothing short of incredible. I’m constantly inspired by her determination each week and she has come so far from the first time she walked into my group - she’s now beaming with confidence, and she’s definitely made changes for life. She’s recently been to a photo shoot for a national magazine and loved the clothes, the make-up and feeling empowered. Her confidence has soared and I’m so excited for her future.

“Covid and lockdown really impacted on our lifestyles, and more people than ever before are worrying about their weight. In England, around two-thirds (63%) of adults are above a healthy weight, and of these, half are living with obesity and 1 in 3 children leaving primary school are also overweight. I really hope Mbali’s weight loss can inspire people to get started on their own journey and show them that there’s a whole group of people waiting to support them every step of the way - and absolutely no judgement.”

Emma’s Slimming World groups are held at St Augustine’s Church in Springfield every Monday at 5.30pm and 7pm and Wednesday at 9.30am or 11am. To join or find out more, call Emma on 07887 692 906 or just pop along - a warm welcome awaits.

help during the cost-of-living crisis and can direct you towards any additional advice you may need. There will always be somebody to talk to and somebody to listen.

Winter Reading Challenge

The Winter Reading Challenge will be finishing on 28th January, but there is still time for you to join and/or complete the challenges if you hurry! Completers will receive a free packet of seeds they can plant to welcome in the spring and will also receive a free book provided by Penguin Books while stocks last.

Work Club

Warm Welcome Initiative

As the weather gets colder and the cost of living keeps rising, we would like to welcome you to come and use our library as a warm space. We have comfortable seating areas and free Wi-Fi, and we offer community tea times on alternate Saturday afternoons and every Wednesday morning from 10.30am. Do come and join us.

On the Wednesdays, our volunteers will have information about

Are you looking for employment, in need of help with creating/updating your CV, assistance with job searching and applications or advice on interview skills? Then book an appointment at our Work Club on Thursday mornings. We have knowledgeable volunteers and staff ready to help.

There is lots more going on; full details of all our events and services, including dates and times and how to book your place are on our website at libraries.essex.gov.uk - there are too many to list here! You can also follow us on Facebook or Twitter or by subscribing to our newsletter - all details on our website.

Fling Cabaret Extravagasm

A scintillating teaser event from the much-loved Fling Festival comes to Central Park on Saturday 18th March 2023.

The Fling Cabaret Extravagasm features a tantalizing variety of cabaret acts. Expect singing, comedy, burlesque, circus and more at this party to end all parties.

The show takes place in a big top tent in the middle of Central Park, with a central stage giving you the very best views of the most alluring acts.

World record holding international aerialist and contortionist Jo Foley presents an act of mind boggling and incredibly flexible manoeuvres. With over 13 years gymnastics experience, Jo has performed across the world, including for British and international royalty.

There’s also the talented Tom Gaskin - a new wave gentleman juggler with circus blood in his veins, who can juggle practically anything. While Sebastian Anqelique, ‘The Harlequin of Boylesque’, joins the show with a breathtaking fire act.

Your host for the evening is one of the most celebrated figures in UK cabaret - singer and comic, Dusty Limits, the award-winning ‘compere without compare’ (The Stage).

Acts include operatic singer Lili La Scala, best known for her vintage performances, with regular appearances at shows across the UK including High Tease and The Burlesque Show.

And if that incredible line-up wasn’t enough to lure you in, you can also expect to enjoy a live DJ and an on-site bar - plus a mystery guest! Tickets are available now for over-16s only at £24 per person or £19 for concessions. Limited premium tables for up to four people with a bottle of prosecco are also available at £120. The event opens at 7pm and performances start from 8pm. Book online at www. chelmsfordtheatre.co.uk.

The main Fling Festival will return in July 2023. For up-to-date information sign up to Chelmsford Theatre’s mailing list or follow ‘@flingfestival’ on Facebook.

Friday 20th

Bay Horse - Drop D

Chelmsford Theatre - Strong Enough (ulitmate tribute to Cher)

Chelmsford Theatre - Mark Simmons

Chelmsford Social Club - Black Frog Presents: Nine Below Zero + Al Perez

Hot Box - Darryl Butcher + Missfunktion Saturday 21st

The Black Bull - Shakey’s Sessions: Risen Ashes + The Keels + Three Rivers Band

Chelmsford Theatre - The Illegal Eagles

Chelmsford Theatre - Mitch Benn: It’s About Time

The Norton - D’Ukes

The Village Hall (Wickham) - Wickham Bishops Jazz Club: The Pete Rudeforth Band (6.30pm for 7.30pm, email wickhambishopsjazzclub@gmail.com, tel: 07548 775 777)

Writtle University College - Open Day event Sunday 22nd

Chelmsford Theatre - Madagascar: A Musical Adventure JR

Monday 23rd

Hot Box - Chelmsford Chess Club night

Sandon School - Scottish Country Dancing (7.30pm - 9.30pmwww.sandonscotdance.org.uk - sandonscotdance@gmail.com)

Tuesday 24th

Central Baptist Church (Victoria Road South) - ECC Retirement Fellowship monthly meeting (2-4pm - new members welcome)

Widford Village Hall (turn left at Chandlers) - Country Dancing (barn dance - 7.50pm - £2 - 01245 475 660)

Woolpack - Quiz

Wednesday 25th

Great Baddow Parish Hall - Joseph K Hot Box - Black Pines + Admissions

Patch, Grays Yard - Beatrix Potter’s Secret Code Breaker Talk (7pm - email info@chelmsfordcivicsociety.co.uk)

Thursday 26th

Chelmsford Theatre - That’ll Be the Day

Chelmsford Theatre - NT Live: The Crucible

Great Baddow Parish Hall - Joseph K

The Lion Inn - Chelmsford Comedy Club

Friday 27th

Chelmsford Theatre - That’ll Be the Day Chelmsford Cathedral - Xander Benham

Great Baddow Parish Hall - Joseph K RAFA Club (Hall Street) - Chair yoga

Saturday 28th

Chelmsford Theatre - Queenz The Show with Balls

Great Baddow Parish Hall - Joseph K

The UB - Justin & Nick Duo

Monday 30th

Chelmsford Theatre - Shakespeare Schools Fesitval Council Chamber (Chelmsford City Council, Civic Centre, Duke Street, Chelmsford, CM1 1JE) - Holocaust Memorial Day commemoration (hear personal testimony from survivor Susie Barnett BEM - entrance is free but prior reservation required by email to harryfranklin@hotmail.co.uk confirming how many places required and full names - 7pm for 7.30pm)

Hot Box - Sick Joy

Tuesday 31st

Old Court Theatre - Marriage Bureau

Widford Village Hall (turn left at Chandlers) - Country Dancing (barn dance, £2 - 7.50pm - 01245 475 660)

Woolpack - Quiz

February

Wednesday 1st

Friends Meeting House (Rainsford Road) - CRAG Retirement (group monthly meeting - 9.30am - new members welcome)

Old Court Theatre - Marriage Bureau

Rettendon Lodge (Battlesbridge) - Belvedere Jazz & Music Supper Club: UK’s number 1 big band vocalist Matt Ford (7.45pm - to book phone Phil on 07850 607 075)

Thursday 2nd

Chelmsford Theatre - Tom Houghton: Absolute Shambles

Chelmsford Theatre - Johnny Cash Roadshow

Hot Box - Cosmo Pyke

Old Court Theatre - Marriage Bureau

Friday 3rd

Chelmsfor Social Club - Black Frog Presents: Led-into-Zepplin Hot Box - Cosmo Pyke

Old Court Theatre - Marriage Bureau

RAFA Club (Hall Street) - Chair Yoga

Saturday 4th

Chelmsford Theartre - Money for Nothing

Chelmsford Theatre - Joshua (and me)

The Globe - Shakey’s Sessions: Roxxi Red + Chemiqueen Hot Box - Boogie in the Box

Old Court Theatre - Marriage Bureau

RAFA Club (Hall Street) - Coffee morning (10am to 1pm) Monday 6th

Hot Box - Chelmsford Chess Club Night

Sandon School - Scottish Country Dancing (7.30pm - 9.30pm - www.sandonscotdance.org.uk, sandonscotdance@gmail.com)

Tuesday 7th

Chelmsofrd Theatre - Bugsy Malone Woolpack - Quiz

Wednesday 8th

Chelmsford Theatre - Bugsy Malone Hot Box - Music Quiz

Rettendon Lodge (Battlesbridge) - Belvedere Jazz & Music Supper Club: The Essex Hot Five (7.45pm - to book, call Phil on 07850 607 075)

Thursday 9th

Chelmsford Museum - Chelmsford Light Parade

Chelmsford Theatre - Bugsy Malone

Friday 10th

Chelmsford Social Club - Black Frog Presents: The Orbison Project

Chelmsford Theatre - Bugsy Malone Hot Box - Hothaus Drag Presents Bimbos, Himbos and Thermbos

RAFA Club (Hall Street) - Chair yoga

Saturday 11th

Bond Street - Vegan Market

Chelmsford Cathedral - Silent Disco

Chelmsford Theatre - Bugsy Malone

RAFA Club (Hall Street) - Coffee morning (10am to 1pm)

The UB - Playlister

Sunday 12th

Hot Box - Jazz Sundays with Zak Barrett

Monday 13th

Hot Box - Chelmsford Chess Club Night Tuesday 14th

Chelmsford Theatre - Princess and the Frog

Sandon School - Scottish Country Dancing (7.30pm - 9.30pmwww.sandonscotdance.org.uk - sandonscotdance@gmail.com)

Bardswell Social Club (Weald Road, Brentwood, CM14 4TJ) -

Spike’s Place Jazz Club: Valentine’s Special - Sarah Moule Quartet (8pm - 01245 420 475 - spikesplace.co.uk)

Widford Village Hall (turn left at Chandlers) - country dancing (barn dance, £2 - 7.50pm - 01245 475 660)

Woolpack - Quiz

Wednesday 15th

Chelmsford Theatre - The Barber of Seville Hotbox - The Big Music Quiz

Patch - The Show Must Go On (history of the theatres, cinemas and entertainment in Chelmsford - 7pm - email info@ chelmsfordcivicsociety.co.uk to book)

Rettendon Lodge (Battlesbridge) - Belvedere Jazz & Music Supper Club: Vasilis Xenopoulos & Nigel Price Qnt (7.45pm - to book, phone Phil on 07850 607 075)

The UB - Pub Quiz

Friday 17th

Chelmsford Social Club - Black Frog Presents: The Overtures

Chelmsford Theatre - Tap Factory Hot Box - The Tier Lauch Party

Saturday 18th

Chelmsford Theatre - Dreams of Fleetwood Mac Chelmsford Theatre - Carl Hutchinson: Watch till the End Hot Box - Ghost Car

Village Hall (Wickham Bishops) - Wickham Bishops Jazz Club: Paula Jackman’s Jazz Masters (6.30 for 7.30pm - contact Pete: wickhambishopsjazzclub@gmail.com - 07548 775 777)

Sunday 19th

Chelmsford Theatre - Chelmsford Dance Centre Specatular Hylands Estate - Open Day

Charity of the Month - Why to Seek Debt Help Sooner Rather than Later?

The carols have been chorussed, the chocolates consumed and the decorations are down. Many of us now enter a new year that is financially more uncertain than previous years, and find ourselves, or those close to us, in need of help to navigate through increasingly difficult challenges in 2023.

So why is getting help so vital for people who have found themselves in unmanageable debt?

It Improves Mental Health

Unmanageable debt is widely recognised to increase stress levels, disrupting sleep and significantly impacting a person’s general wellbeing. It can make people feel isolated and alone, living with the constant anxiety that debt creates. A CAP report in 2022 revealed an increase of almost 30% in people considering or attempting to take their own lives due to mounting debts. Addressing your debt by talking to others is often the first step towards finding a solution and taking care of your mental health.

There Will Be More Options Available to You

Getting help sooner rather than later means you have more options in how to address your debt. Many people watch their debts build up for months or even years, whilst suffering in silence. CAP reported that a quarter of their clients took more than three years to seek help before contacting them. Getting support and expert advice from a trusted debt help service early on means you’re more likely to have the opportunity to choose the solution best suited to your needs. It’s never too late to get support, but the longer you leave intervention, the less options will be available to you.

It Improves Relationships

Research from the Money and Pensions Service shows that talking about money worries makes people feel less stressed and more in control, empowering them to make less risky financial decisions, and even improves their relationships. Talking about money isn’t always a straightforward conversation, but is often wrapped up with feelings of

fear, guilt and shame. Talking with those close to you might make you feel vulnerable, but it will almost certainly break feelings of isolation and shame and help you develop stronger relationships through accepting support. Plus, the more you talk about debt and money, the more you open the door for others to do the same.

Seek help with money worries, or signpost people to where they can get help.

An increasing number of people are struggling with money, credit and debts right now. Lots of debt help charities and organisations can help you build a budget as part of getting debt-free. Don’t let 2023 be filled with worry - get help today by contacting an organisation like Christians Against Poverty (CAP) for free expert budgeting guidance and debt help. Call CAP on 0800 328 0006 (free of charge) or visit capuk.org to find out more and to to be linked with your local Chelmsford Debt Centre.

Christians Against Poverty (CAP) is a UK charity with over 580 services across the country delivering debt counselling, money management education, job clubs, life skills groups and more. Visit capuk.org to find out more.

The Rise of the Retro Motorcycle

The observant among you probably first noticed the beginnings of the retro automobile fad with a few dashes of chrome piping appearing on new cars a few years ago; this evolved into hugely successful reboots for the Mini, Beetle and Fiat 500. A similar thing has been quietly going on in the motorcycle world. Here, across the Atlantic and in Japan, the rose-tinted image of the swinging sixties has resulted in a conveyor belt of ‘retro’ over the past few years, and one of the areas where it has been absorbed the best, is in the motorcycle world. The Great Escape (released in 1963) is arguably more famous for the scenes with Steve McQueen riding to his escape on a 1961 Triumph TR6 Trophy, disguised as an BMW R75, and along with McQueen’s permanent status as an all round cool guy, I might be inclined to argue that this accounts for most of the inspiration for all the retro bikes on the market today.

It was in the swinging sixties that Triumph was at the peak of its power; long before the jaw dropping energy of the Japanese models would saturate the market. After a worrying drop in sales, retro cool has brought Triumph to the fore again with sales last year almost reaching those dizzy sixties heights once more.

Triumph isn’t the only brand reaching back into the past for inspiration; the 75-horsepower Ducati Scrambler is, Ducati tell us, not a retro bike as they seek to distance themselves from the current trend. Though keen not to burn their bridges entirely, Ducati describe the Scrambler as ‘post heritage’ in their advertising blurb. There’s even a Classic version and the olive green paint option is straight out of any classic movie McQueen might be seen in. It really is a nice looking bike. With a bench seat and bucket headlight it borrows heavily from the classic bike styles of yore.

Of course, an article about retro motorcycles would not be complete without a nod to Harley Davidson. Arguably less iconic on this side of the Atlantic, the brand has always had its roots firmly in the looks-over-speed camp. The company has for many years adopted the policy of ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’ keeping the fans on board. Rather than use the term retro though, the catalogue is full of words like custom and cruiser. If you want to avoid the more laid back and distinctive Harleys, then take a look at the 883cc Evolution engined 883 Roadster with its tapered peanut fuel tank and understated styling - more UK retro in its appearance than American.

If you want to really convince, then look no further than the Royal

Enfield Classic 500 range (above), bikes that don’t shy away from what they want to be. With old-school paintjobs and accessories, a single cylinder, 2-stroke Classic 500 comes with modern disc braking and fuel injection - plus you’re buying into real history and great looks.

If you’ve ever wondered why it might be easier to get away with such pure retro styling in the motorcycle world compared to the car world, it’s worth considering how little biking has actually changed throughout its history as far as rider comfort goes. Yes, suspension has come a long way since the First World War, but essentially, the rider is still subjected to the elements in exactly the same waythere’s no climate control air conditioning or entertainment systems to make much difference (well, not really); it’s all about the look.

Triumph does of course have a complete Classic range and can also now boast the likes of David Beckham being a fan adding spade loads of extra cool to the brand. Beckham rode an adapted Triumph Bonneville T100 during the highly entertaining BBC documentary, Into the Unknown. In it, Beckham takes three good friends on a motorcycling road trip across Brazil to ‘lose himself’ and ‘discover himself’ in equal measure. Like a shortened version of Ewan McGregor’s Long Way Round series (in which McGregor rides BMW adventure bikes), Into the Unknown is a more stylised family-friendly adventure. We see a laidback Beckham in just a T-shirt and openface helmet riding his Bonneville with one had rested on his thigh admiring the scenery. Triumph’s marketing department must have cried with joy.

By Sean Neylon

Peter Best Insurance Services Ltd, Suite 4 Courtyard Offices, Braxted Park, Great Braxted, Witham, CM8 3GA. 01376 574 000

info@peterbestinsurance.co.uk

Image: royalenfield.com

Motor-Vision.co.uk is a motoring news blog bringing you the latest features, stories and information from the motoring world.

A History of Sport in the Chelmsford Area Part 4 -

This article looks at the history of tennis and golf in the Chelmsford area before the Second World War.

The first Chelmsford Lawn Tennis Club was founded in 1878, only a year after the first Wimbledon tournament. In 1885 the club had 100 members both male and female, with its male members including doctors, solicitors, clergy and other professionals. The club used land next to the cricket ground in New Street, but its headquarters were at the White Hart Inn in Tindal Street. In 1892 it had 60 members and its Vice President was Beadel the local MP.

A rival club, the Chelmsford Borough Lawn Tennis Club, was formed in 1885 but had collapsed by 1897. A new club, the Grove, formed in 1893 was much more successful and by 1896 it had between 50 and 60 members. In 1895 he Grove was one of two clubs which formed the Essex Lawn Tennis Association, and during 1907 the two clubs were joined by the Mildmay. The Grove’s original courts were in Grove Road, Moulsham, but by 1895 they were in Vicarage Road where they remained for 75 years. An early president was Frederick Wells, the brewer. The ground itself was rented from the Mildmays until 1913 when the site was bought with interest-free loans from members and donations. Membership of tennis clubs was expensive because the grass courts had to be maintained. As early as 1880 the club announced annual rates of subscription of 10 shillings for men and 5 shillings for ladies. This and an extensive social side, ensured that membership was exclusively upper middle class. The original Chelmsford Lawn Tennis Club folded in the 1910s but reformed in the 1920s.

The Chelmsford Golf Club was founded in May 1893. Initially it used a 9 hole golf course at Galleywood common. One of the founding members was Garrad Baker, a High Street chemist, who was Secretary of the Chelmsford Race Committee. This probably accounted for the decision to establish a 9 hole course there... The course was two miles from Chelmsford station and because of this, carriages had to be hired from the Saracens Head by members. Despite this, the club proved popular at a time when the game was

enjoying a boom.

By Stephen Norris.

The Chelmsford club is the 11th oldest in the country. One of the earliest golf course architects, Tom Dunne, laid out the course. An entrance fee was set at two guineas, with an annual subscription of one guinea for men and half a guinea for ladies. Lord Rayleigh was the first president and AJ Balfour, the Prime Minister between 1902 and 1905, the first vice president.

In 1895 the club had 89 members - 68 men and 21 ladies. By 1906 this had increased to 163 - 107 men and 56 ladies. In the same year a clubhouse was provided adjoining the Horse and Groom public house, and membership was increased to one pound and ten shillings for men and fifteen shillings for ladies. The local parish council complained to the lord of the manor about a place of natural beauty being destroyed.

A new agreement leased the links to the club for three years at a rent of ten pounds per annum, and there was to be no cutting down of trees, and golf couldn’t be played in July and August when members of the local Working Men’s Club could use the course. This, plus the fact that gypsies often camped on the common and military rest camps also caused damage to the course, were probably instrumental in Sir Daniel Gooch of Hylands House offering to lease some land at Widford to the club, suitable for an eighteen hole course. The new course opened in 1911 and most of the all-round cost of £1,500 was raised by loans from members.

Fourteen holes of the course were on the Chelmsford side of the railway line, and the other four holes were on the Widford side. By 1914 membership had increased to 241. During the First War, the holes on the Widford side were ploughed up. When Hylands was sold after the war, the club bought the freehold. In 1938, the club opened its extension to the course on the Chelmsford side and the Widford holes were no longer required. At the start of the Second War, membership stood at 324. The course only suffered damage once when a stick of bombs fell on the second fairway.

New Podcast Starring Hmp Chelmsford Employee Highlights How Staff Protect the Public and Help Break the Cycle of Crime

Rachel, 24, an operational support staff worker at HMP Chelmsford appears in a new podcast showing what life is really like behind prison walls, and how staff across the country work tirelessly every day to protect the public and give prisoners a second chance to help break the cycle of crime and change lives.

Rachel, who lives locally, worked in retail before joining HMP Chelmsford where she helps with the day-to-day running of the prison, including greeting visitors, registering offenders and carrying out security checks and searches. She will share the highs and lows of her vital work in A Prison’s Guide To to keep prisoners and communities safe while reducing reoffending, giving prisoners the skills and support they need to live crime-free lives on the outside.

Rachel says: “I’ve worked at the prison for nearly two years now and before I started, I thought it would be a scary and intimidating place to work. However, I felt so welcomed and feel grateful to have such a friendly support network of colleagues throughout the ranks and departments. There are people of all ages and backgrounds, but we’re all good at our jobs and work brilliantly together. You form quite a unique bond with each other as your colleagues are the only people who really understand what it’s like to work in a prison.

“There have been some challenging experiences at the prison, but I’ve always felt well supported and I know I can get help if I need it. It’s definitely made me more confident and stronger as a person. My friends are often quite surprised that someone like me, a bubbly girl who’s quite short and small in stature, can work in a male prison, but I think it just goes to show that there are no stereotypes when it comes to working here. My parents are very proud of me and the best bit is having a stable career has allowed me to get on the property market which is a huge personal achievement. I really hope people will enjoy listening to the podcast and hearing about my job. It’s a tough career but really rewarding and there’s loads of opportunities for progression.”

Most people never get the chance to see inside a prison and this four-part series podcast, which is narrated by actor Ben Bailey Smith and available on all podcasting platforms, will give the public the chance to hear first-hand from the staff working there every day. The series also features episodes with Babafemi Dada, 55, Governor at HMP Gartree, and Ishmael Hussain, 28, a trainee psychologist at HMP Frankland.

Actor Ben Bailey Smith says: “It’s definitely the case that for most of us, our only experience of prison comes from what we see in the media. Hopefully, we’re going to be offering a more realistic portrayal - one that acknowledges the realities of how tough it can be behind prison walls, whilst also showing the public how hard the staff are working as a unit to help offenders turn their lives around. Staff like Rachel who are in there every day, supporting the growth of the prisoners in her care.”

Garry Newnes, Governor at HMP Chelmsford, adds: “Rachel is a crucial part of the team here and by sharing her experience has helped to show that there’s no typical day working in a prison. Every shift is different, but each one is an opportunity to make a difference in a prisoner’s life and protect the public. The hard work of our staff is often unseen so it’s fantastic to see it celebrated in this new podcast.”

The podcast, titled A Prison’s Guide To, has been made by Acast Creative and the Ministry of Justice.

Key Workers, Problem Solvers, Life Changers HMP Chelmsford is currently hiring. You don’t need qualifications to become a prison officer or to join in a support staff role, HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) believes that personal qualities are more important.

HMPPS is looking for people who can demonstrate good communication and influencing skills, commitment to quality, effective decision-making, care and understanding.

Training is available throughout a prison service career including for support staff, who can progress to become a prison officer. Officers can choose to progress into management, become a dog handler or train as a physical education instructor.

A support staff role salary starts at £23,226 and a prison officer salary starts at £28,880, and you have access to a Civil Service pension. HMPPS is currently hiring prison officers across England and Wales.

Find out more about becoming a prison officer here: prisonandprobationjobs.gov.uk/prison-officer.

To listen to the podcast series here: feeds.acast.com/public/shows/ a-prisons-guide-to.

New Prospectus Launch

Adult education provider, ACL Essex, part of Essex County Council, has launched its latest prospectus for adult learners looking to step back into the classroom or learn online in Chelmsford.

Lisa Jarentowski, ACL Essex Principal, says: “Our new course offer for 2023 showcases the wonderful opportunities available for the people of Essex. Whether you want to upskill to improve your career prospects, take up a new hobby, learn a new language, or socialise with like-minded people, here at ACL Essex we have a course for you, no matter your age or ability.”

The new prospectus details all courses available from January to July 2023. Qualification courses require an assessment prior to enrolment.

The ways that residents can access learning is growing, breaking down barriers and helping people fit courses around their other priorities. As well as traditional classroom learning, ACL also offers live online virtual classrooms, self-led online learning, hybrid classrooms with the choice to learn online or in centre, and Skills Hubs. Skills Hubs are purpose-built rooms will allow individuals to access technology, complete online courses and initial assessments, and improve their digital skills. A facilitator will be available to help with any technical difficulties or questions that may arise.

Over a thousand courses will be available across ACL Essex’s network of adult community centres and online, including mental health and well-being courses, GCSE and Access to Higher Education qualifications, plus language and creative courses, such as pottery, art and cookery. To develop technological skills, ACL Essex will also provide digital courses for all ages and abilities, and to help parents and guardians support their children in a range of areas, family learning courses are also on offer. Many of the courses on offer could be free to Essex residents.

Learners enrolling onto a course which leads to a qualification may be entitled to financial support with course fees, resources such as textbooks or equipment, IT equipment (including access to Wi-Fi), transport costs and childcare. In addition, ACL Essex offers support to help learners start and stay in learning if they have a recognised need, such as dyslexia, dyspraxia, mental health, anxiety, processing, sight and hearing difficulties, mobility, learning difficulties, ASD etc.

To view the new ACL Course Guide January - July 2023, please visit www.aclessex.com/course-guide. To discover more about the courses on offer at ACL Essex, visit www.aclessex.com. Copies of the latest ACL Essex course guide are available at ACL centres, job centres and libraries across Essex.

Cari on in Business… Regardless of What Life Throws at You

Cari Tottman would be the first to admit that her journey into becoming a business owner hasn’t been the easiest ride. But now, the Chelmsford-based entrepreneur is keen to use her own experiences to inspire others to go after their own dreams, on their own terms.

Cari - who owns a virtual assistant business, works as a home utilities advisor, and also runs her own property portfolio - has, up until now, been quite coy about her achievements. Deciding to quit the 9 to 5 in her early 40s, she enjoyed a varied career during her 20s and 30s, despite having to navigate the highs and lows of bringing up two young children on her own and dealing with a series of personal challenges along the way. As Cari explains, however, it’s during the darkest of times that she found the courage and motivation to start her new chapter.

“I went through a few life-changing events before I decided to start my own company. I had to deal with a particularly tricky divorce, and then the passing of my dad back in 2015 really knocked me for six. But as most people will understand, it’s these kinds of shifts that make you realise what you really want from life - and, more importantly, what you need to do to start living the life you want.”

After being introduced to the business several years beforehand, Cari eventually decided to sign up with a franchise that provides outsourced administration and back office support.

“It’s funny, because the opportunity didn’t come along at the right time at all. I wasn’t ready to lose the security of a full-time job. But after weighing up the pros and cons of joining the franchise, I realised the business could offer me a much more flexible and scalable way of putting my administerial and organisational skills to good use for clients who desperately need my help.”

She hasn’t looked back: “My experience has really opened my eyes to what’s possible and gave me confidence in my abilities as a businesswoman. Most importantly, though, I finally have the freedom to do what I do best while working around my other commitments, without compromising my earnings. Joining the franchise has been a total game-changer for me and my family.”

Cari is now in the process of writing a book that documents her journey with the franchise so far, along with her other ventures. She’s hopeful that her words will encourage others to transform their careers for the better, despite what life’s throwing at them.

“It’s not about blowing my own trumpet. It’s about proving that anyone can do what I’ve done. Everybody has the resilience to be in business - they just need to tap into it, stay focused, and keep reminding themselves of their ‘why’. For me, my ‘why’ is my kids. I’ll move heaven and earth to provide the best possible life for them.”

Cari’s new book, Cari on… in Business, is on sale now at Amazon. Please feel free to visit her website carionregardless.com or follow her on social media using ‘@carionregardless’ (Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn) for updates.

I am pleased to have the opportunity to share my passion for yoga with you all, with the aim of inspiring you to give it a try. This month I’m going to focus on one of the most common standing balances Vrksasana (vrikSHAHS-ah-nah) or Tree Pose.

Yoga for me is all about balance, in fact the word yoga translates as ‘union’ or ‘yoke’, the union of mind, body, and spirit, working together in harmony, in a mindful and balanced way.

However, we so rarely get the opportunity during our day to do any real balance, despite it being so vitally important to our mental and physical well-being.

At first glance, Tree Pose may seem easy, however it is a deceptively challenging pose, after all we’re not born with our sense of balance, it’s something we must learn, and once learnt, we must keep practising it to maintain and improve it. Balance poses help to develop body awareness (where and how we move our body) and improve our physical strength and flexibility. The secret though, as with all yoga, is not allowing your mind to wander. To develop mental focus help, we introduce a Dristi, or focused gaze.

Improving our balance, like anything else, takes time and practice. If you’re worried about falling you can always stand near a wall or use the back of a chair, using just your fingertips to reassure yourself as you start to find your balance and increase in confidence.

Where to Start

As with many standing poses, we start in (Tadasana) or Mountain Pose. Choose a point, at eye height, which is not moving, and focus your eyes on that point, called a Dristi or focused gaze. The further away your focus point is, the better your balance often is, this will also stop you being distracted and help you to develop your mental focus. Then establish a good foundation, by grounding the four corners of your feet, soften the knees and tuck the tail bone under, lengthen through the spine, helping you to stand a little taller, roll your shoulder blades down your back away from your ears, lifting the crown of the head to the ceiling, Standing tall, strong, immovable like a mountain. Start to introduce your three-part breath, breathing slowly and evenly in and out through your nose to help establish your mindfulness.

Slowly transfer your weight into your left foot, keeping the weight evenly on the four corners of your left foot, bending your right knee, ensuring you keep your hips still, slide the right toes backwards to the inside of your left ankle then turn the knee outwards without moving the hips, the heel of your right foot can rest against your left ankle, toes just touching the mat for a bit of moral support. Again, think about the four corners of the left foot, if the wait transfers to the outside edge it’s probably because you’ve lifted your right hip, if you wait rolls inwards it’s because you’ve dropped your right hip, level the hips.

If you’re feeling confident you can flex your right foot or bring the sole of your right foot to the inside of your left calf, with your toes pointing towards the ground, gently pressing evenly with your toes and heal. It’s very important to avoid placing the sole of your foot on the inside of your knee joint itself to avoid knee pain, as knees bend forwards and backwards. Your hands come together at your heart centre in a prayer position - then, if you’re feeling balanced, you can raise the arms above your head, while maintaining the prayer position of the hands.

Now comes the hard bit, maintaining your focused gaze (Dristi), whilst keeping your balance for three to five long, slow, steady breaths before returning to mountain pose and repeating the same steps on the other foot.

I often incorporate this pose into my daily routine, practising it while waiting for the kettle to boil. I hope this article encourages you to give yoga a try and that you find a moment of stillness, while you improve your balance. Remember life and yoga should be fun, just enjoy yourself. If you feel that you’d benefit from regular yoga practice or would like help mastering this and other beneficial poses, join me for a Hatha yoga class at Hummingbird Pilates & Yoga this new year.

Montgomery Bonbon: Museum Mystery Trail Provides Family Fun This Half Term at Chelmsford Museum

Families will be able to go undercover and test their detective skills at Chelmsford Museum as part of the national Montgomery Bonbon: Museum Mystery Trail, organised by Walker Books and Kids in Museums. The exciting new trail celebrates the release of the children’s book Montgomery Bonbon: Murder at the Museum written by comedian Alasdair Beckett-King, with illustrations by Claire Powell.

Do you ever get the toe-tingling feeling that a mystery is about to unfold? Meet Montgomery Bonbon (aka Bonnie Montgomery) the world’s greatest ten-year-old secret super sleuth!

Launching in time for February half-term, the trail will run from 11th February to 31st March 2023. Chelmsford Museum is one of more than 50 museums across the UK taking part, encouraging Chelmsford’s families to explore their local museum. Children can grab an activity sheet at the museum and have fun testing out their detective skills and solving puzzles. Free moustache bookmarks will also be provided to get little ones in the in the mystery-solving mindset!

Families will also have the chance to enter a grand prize draw competition on the Kids in Museums social media channels - search ‘@kidsinmuseums’ to win a signed copy of Montgomery Bonbon: Murder at the Museum and their very own detective kit.

Can You Make a Difference in Your Community?

to help people in need.

Side by Side volunteer - The Alzheimers Society

Side by Side is a service to help people with dementia to keep on doing the things they love - and try new things too! They meet up with a volunteer, decide what they’d like to do, and do it together.

Volunteer at Chelmsford Light Parade - 9th of February 2023 Can you help us make the stunning Chelmsford Light Parade a success?

With performances from fire artists, shadow puppetry from artists across the UK, as well as some amazing floats and lanterns from across community groups in Chelmsford, the now annual parade is a beautiful event. We need a team of volunteers to help with logistics, preparing the space, marking the parade route, and making sure everyone has a safe, enjoyable time.

Volunteer at Broomfield Hospital Broomfield Hospital has lots of volunteer roles available, all of which offer the chance to make a real difference to the lives of patients, their loved ones, and to hardworking NHS staff.

Roles include helping in wards, at mealtimes, in the gardens, at help desks, at the breast clinic, on chemotherapy wards, and in physical therapy.

Receptionist/ general assistant - Parkside Community Hub

Exciting opportunity to get involved with the community at a brand new community hub in Melbourne. Your duties will include managing the reception area, greeting our customers and making them feel welcome, serving tea and coffee, and working with our friendly team

Side by Side is a fun, friendly, super-flexible volunteering opportunity through which you’ll receive expert training and support to develop within your role.

Social media volunteer at Millrace Furniture Restoration

We are looking for a volunteer to help develop and update our social media, to advertise and promote our work, and to assist in the development of our website and overall online presence. Millrace Furniture gives support, lessons, and practice skills to help people who are recovering from mental ill health.

Volunteers for community bookshop / charity shop

We need enthusiastic, friendly volunteers to help in our charity bookshop - Shopmobility on Market Road.

Reception and Shopmobility assistants

We are in urgent need of volunteers who would like to help with daily admin tasks, helping in the office booking members in and out and handling payments. You will also be preparing scooters for Shopmobility members by manoeuvring them from storage for collection.

Shopmobility is based on the ground floor of the QPark multi-story carpark opposite the Odeon cinema.

Introducing Tony Knight Chelmsford Community Radio

Continuing our introduction of presenters series, Introducing. Tony has a background in the motor trade, and now with a career of over 25 years in the building maintenance industry having worked in and managed some of Londons most iconic and prestigious buildings.

His early days as a DJ at school discos in the 80s and house parties in the 90s were heavily influenced as a child of the 70s, with a family that loves music. The years of listening to Motown, soul, disco, glam rock and pop music at every opportunity was a great education, so it was a natural progression to then get behind the decks and play the music he loves.

After a break in DJing, he picked it up again in the early 00s and this then led to a conversation with a work colleague who suggested trying volunteering at a radio station. This led Tony to join Hospital Radio Chelmsford in 2017, initially as part of a request show team, building skills and knowledge. Tony is now programme controller for the service as well as supporting the management team with day-today operations and serving on the board of trustees for the charity.

Tony joined Chelmsford Community Radio in 2019 and since then has broadcast every Saturday at 4pm with Essential Anthems. Thís show

brings together Tony’s love of DJing, house music and the old-skool vibe of the early days of the explosion of the house music scene.

Tony also has an off air role at Chelmsford Community Radio within the management team, assisting with the programming, station output quality and development of the station, ensuring our key commitments are met and exceeded. Part of the role is also to ensure that the station remains accessible and available to everyone.

You will also find Tony at various events around Chelmsford supporting outside broadcasts for both Chelmsford Community Radio and Hospital Radio Chelmsford, as well as working with Rolling Stage Hire at numerous events around the city. This includes assisting with the building of the staging for the events and in some cases also presenting and DJing to the crowds. The highlight of this being the Admirals Park fireworks in 2021, keeping thousands of people entertained on the Rolling Stage, and his biggest event crowd to date.

You can listen in to Tony every Saturday on Chelmsford Community Radio at 4pm with his Essential Anthems show, on 104.4FM in the city, on line www.chelmsfordcommunityradio.com and on the CCR104.4 app available to download.

First of all, I would like to wish you all a happy New Year and many fantastic opportunities for 2023!

I decided a long time ago to forget about making New Year resolutions! However, every year I challenge myself to look at for new things to try out - and one of my favourites is to look outside of scrapbooking, which is my usual go-to craft to do and see what I can borrow and use into my layouts.

Let’s explore together a couple of craft ideas that you might be interested in.

Project Life: this is a paper craft which uses cards, usually in two different formats: 6x4 and 4x3 inches. Some of the cards are used to record events in your life while others embellish the page. Meanwhile, photos in both formats are added. Some people round off all the corners of both cards and photos. You can either stick them to a 12x12 page or use a specific protector page which comes with different pockets in which to slot the cards and photos. It is a fast way to make an album without too many embellishments and too much time spent on each page. It is ideal if you have lots of photos, for example after a holiday or trip.

I enjoy incorporating those new ideas into my scrapbooking: I use the project life cards into my layouts, I cut out patterned paper to make

At The Art Place, we strive to create an inclusive and diverse safe space for the LGBTQ+ community. Creativity can be a powerful tool for creating positive change and education is at the heart of that power. It is our hope that members of the LGBTQ+ community feel welcomed and accepted and celebrating LGBTQ+ History Month is part of our work to build an inclusive culture.

Every February in the UK, LGBTQ+ History Month is celebrated by businesses, schools, universities, libraries, community groups, and individuals to promote equality and diversity whilst raising awareness about LGBTQ+ history. This highlights the achievements and contributions of the community, builds insights and encourages further enquiry, and develops a deeper understanding of the prejudices the community has faced in the past, and many still continue to face. The annual monthly celebration was founded in 2004 by Schools OUT UK, an education charity that aims to make schools and education institutions safe spaces for the LGBTQ+ community (schools-out.org.uk).

We have hosted LGBTQ+ History Month exhibitions before and we believe these events have provided an empowering space, not only for LGBTQ+ artists to display and sell their work, but also to educate the community about the importance of equality, inclusivity, and diversity. Some of these past events have included a queer quiz, spoken word, zine workshop and talks for the community and allies.

We also host monthly LGBTQ+ socials for the community to connect, play games and make new friends. Many members of the LGBTQ+ community experience loneliness and feel isolated when they don’t have the means to connect with others in the community. Our socials and meet-ups work to change this by encouraging them to be creative and express themselves as much as they are comfortable with. These are held on the last Saturday of every month. We have an over 18 group from 12-2pm and an under 18 group from 3-5pm.

Recently, we’ve teamed up with Not a Phase, a small charity that supports transgender adults across the UK and are working towards

my own project life cards, I arrange papers and photos as if my layout page is a project life page. The rectangle and square patterns work well with both papers and photos. The photo below is an example of the project we will be doing on the Craft Day at Highwood Village Hall, near Chelmsford on Saturday 28th January. Information and booking details are to be found on www.scrap-circle.co.uk.

Bullet Journal: this is more of a diary writing type of activity, recording and planning events, hobbies and all sorts of activities happening in your life. The pages in the notebook are dotted instead of being lined to allow for a more creative approach. It is the ideal medium to try out different calligraphy and fonts as well as to embellish to your heart’s content. I started a Bullet Journal a few years ago and still carry on with the exercise. It helps me be more organised and I love making lists! I usually incorporate some form of journaling into my layouts as I find out that I forget details as time goes on.

If you would like to try out a particular craft, why don’t you contact me? I can organise a workshop for you and your friends. It is a fun time among friends doing something creative. The Bullet Journal workshop is very popular. Email me to find out more information at info@scrap-circle.co.uk.

a brighter future for the community. They host a monthly Essex Trans+ social every third Sunday of each month from 1-3pm at The Art Place.

LGBTQ+ History Month is a hugely important time to educate, connect, and listen. Education is power and that power can only grow when it is shared.

Learn more about our LGBTQ+ History Month events and how to attend/get involved via our Instagram and Facebook pages and our Linktree (link in our Instagram bio).

Book yourself on the LGBTQ+ Light Parade workshops:

Dates / Eventbrite

The Light Parade is on 9th February 2023, 6pm at Chelmsford Museum with a fire show as the finale. Everyone is welcome and it’s free! Making Lanterns for the Light Parade (LGBTQ+ Community): Tickets for multiple dates - www.eventbrite.co.uk.

Edith Miller - CEO of Ideas Hub Chelmsford

Indigo Sapphire Moon - Communications Manager at The Art Place www.ideashubchelmsford.org 07880 990 443 hosts@ideashubchelmsford.org Facebook: @TheArtPlaceChelmsford Instagram: @ArtPlaceChelmsford

Our step-by-step guide to help you decide whether to do a simple refresh or take on a bigger challenge, focusing this month on your living room.

The living room is where we relax, perfect for cozy nights in, or a place for guests to mingle.

Quick Fix

1. Declutter magazines, books, ornaments. Anything in your room that has accumulated and you’re not using. Sell, recycle, charity!

2. Find a new colour for cushions, throws and candles. Deep tones like emerald or aubergine can bring some warmth, or spring shades of crisp blue, honey yellow and botanical greens.

3. Bring some greenery indoors. An indoor oversized plant (where the Christmas tree stood) or succulents for a side table.

4. Add some art. It can be challenging to choose artwork to match your space - think of the theme of the room. Mirrors help reflect the light; an oversized mirror can make the room feel more spacious.

5. Home fragrances to freshen your room. Try a new candle or diffuser to set the mood. Cherry blossom, peony or lemon verbena are not too sweet and will wow your guests.

Bigger Challenge

1. Plan your room. If you are thinking of new furniture, flooring, or rugs, sketch the room with the measurements to make sure all the items will fit.

2. Style and function. Think about what your style is or how you want it to look. Traditional style, modern, or relaxed? What’s the room mainly

used for?

3. Furniture, flooring and lighting. The sofa is the largest piece of furniture and the focal point of the room. A big sectional sofa is great for snuggling up, or a two-seater and armchairs creating an area for conversations. Flooring: Swap old carpets for an elegant wood floor; this will increase the light and space. Not all wood flooring is expensive, some laminates look realistic at a fraction of the cost. Lighting: A mix of table lamps, floor standing, and ceiling gives your room the three lighting elements. Ambient gives a glow and sets the mood, Task lights need to be brighter for reading and hobbies. Accent lighting is used to zoom in on artwork and focal points.

4. Decorate your room. Choose a colour that compliments your furniture and the style you want to achieve. Consider the natural light in your room as this will alter during the day. Maybe a feature wall in wallpaper or paint? Tester pots and samples will help you decide.

5. Window styling. Update curtains with new fabrics, alternatively replacing with blinds to maximize light and space. Wood slat blinds and window shutters are stylish, contemporary, and long lasting.

Our services include decluttering, colour advice and interior styling.

Book your Free consultation: call 07979 66 33 39 or email info@saltmarshinteriors.co.uk www.saltmarshinteriors.co.uk

Tales from the Circle - By Sylvia Kent

New year? New expectations? With budding and professional writers in mind, our Brentwood Writers’ Circle committee offers plenty of new creative ideas! This is why a writing fraternity is the place to be for anyone aspiring to produce novels, stories and articles. In fact, anyone with a fondness for seeing their narrative published.

On entering this dark time of the year, our members often begin thinking about the supernatural, so our first gathering of the year is dedicated to writing and reading members’ spooky tales by candlelight. This ghostly group takes place at our January 7th meeting at Bardswell Social Club, Weald Road, Brentwood (2.30pm - 4.30pm). But just as eerie goings on are on Saturday’s menu, at other times of the year we serve up different ideas to whet our writers’ appetites, including listening to well-known speakers, invitations to enter competitions and generally network with other like-minded people.

Each writer is unique and many like to concentrate on their favourite genres, be it novels, articles, or maybe memoirs. Some folk use pen-names; one member Colin Payn (pseudonym Peter Mence) was already experienced in writing and selling articles to travel magazines. This helped pay for some holidays, but he always felt that he couldn’t be a real writer until he had a novel up on the shelf over his desk. When this did happen in 2016, with the publication of The Park Trilogy, beginning with Dot’s Legacy, then Dot’s Surprise the following year, and eventually Dot’s Secret in 2021 - he was a happy man.

A flurry of projects took over Colin’s writing life in the intervening years. By 2018 his collection of short stories, entitled Transport of Dreams was published. Within, we learnt much about travelling in cars, motorhomes, planes, cycles and even just armchair-travel, and

his narrative was followed by articles in magazines, with invitations to appear in various anthologies.

An unusual project took Colin and fellow BWC member Dawn Knox through the 2020 pandemic year. Living eight miles apart, Colin and Dawn used every type of communication available to produce their excellent book The Future Brokers, set in 2050. Their premise was based on the human reaction to global warming and the rise of artificial intelligence. Published in 2021, it is not so much science fiction, but climate fiction. A second book will follow.

Colin is also facilitator for his popular Facebook group (Basildon Writers’ Group) which has been growing for twelve years and consists of numerous talented local writers. Search for them on Facebook.

Full details about writing clubs contact us at www. brentwoodwriterscircle.com and colinpaynwriter@gmail.com.

Quiz Time - By John Theedom

How old is Sir Cliff Richard?

Which is the busiest railway station in Britain?

For how long has Agatha Christie’s play The Moustrap been running in London?

What was the gutarist Mr Hendrix’s first name? What is Evander Holyfield’s nickname?

What type of programme did Sister Wendy present on TV?

What did Randy Crawford do for a living?

Which TV presenter could help you with your cooking?

Where in your body is the sternum?

What is a polyp?

Which red coated cheese is named after a Dutch town?

What is the flute used in military bands called?

In money terms, what does LSD stand for?

When did English footballers last win a world title?

Why did Lee Harvey Oswald kill JF Kennedy? What is CAISU?

How much is it costing us, per day to store unused pandemic PPE in warehouses?

Which artist painted the Water Lily Pond in 1899?

Which precious stone can also be a female?

Which is the only Scandinavian country to have yellow on it’s flag?

21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40.

In which British city is Queen Margaret University located?

What does the prefix ‘sino’ indicate? What does ‘Julienne’ mean in the food world? Which animal is the symbol of Capricorn? Throstle is an old-fashioned name for which bird?

In 2007 Robert Kilroy Silk started a new political party, named what?

What are you doing if you are dowsing? What kind of craft is a sloop?

In what year was William Shakespeare born? What is skeet?

Who or what was the Morris Isis car named after?

Who played Miss Jones in Rising Damp? The kelvin is a unit in the measurement of what?

What game is also known as ‘foosball’? Which metal was discovered by Hans Christian Oerstet in 1825?

What is the singer Lulu’s full real name?

In which year did British Aerospace and Marconi Electronic Systems merge to become BAE Systems?

By what other name was the infamous Al Capone known?

Where, in our area is Baddow Hospital? Who was Ali MacGraw’s co-star in Love Story? (Answers on page 31)

Stargazing With Mark Willis - January/February

Looking east, late on a January evening, you will see the Great Bear, or Ursa Major. People in North America call it the Big Dipper. Sometimes referred to as the Plough, although this is a plough which in January appears to be resting on the end of its handle! This constellation remains in the night sky, in the UK, all year round.

23rd January: Moon is near Venus and Saturn.

25th January: Moon is near Jupiter.

29th January: Moon is near Pleiades.

22nd February: Moon is between Venus and Jupiter. Just after sunset you will see this amazing sight. There is also an opportunity to spot Neptune, although you will need a 10 inch telescope to spot Neptune.

A word on exoplanets: Exoplanets are planets which orbit stars (other suns) outside our solar system. Less than 30 years ago, we simply

had no idea of any exoplanets. We now know of 5,000 exoplanets. The youngest that we know of is Proplyd 133-353 which is in the Orion nebula and is less than half a million years old. (Earth, by comparison, is 4.3 billion years old). By contrast, WASP-183b is almost as old as the universe itself! The Universe is around 13.8 billion years old.

New Moon: On 21st January and 20th February there will be a new Moon. This means the skies will be extra dark which is a great opportunity to see planets, galaxies and deep space objects.

Please feel free to email me with any questions.

www.chelmsfordcommunityradio.com mark.willis@chelmsfordcommunityradio.com

Wildlife Corner - By Nick Green

The Met. Office stated that 2022 was the fifth warmest year since records began.

The robin is an abundant resident, passage migrant and winter visitor. It’s a very familiar species in gardens and parkland. Of course it appears frequently on Christmas cards! It’s also one of the few birds to sing during the winter period, typically under street lights.

period, all you have to do is count all the birds that visit your garden or local park. To enter results, please visit website before 19th February at rspb.org.uk/birdwatch and use code BH21.

Selected December Highlights

Colne Point: 2 Dartford warblers, snow bunting. Abberton Reservoir: 3 great northern divers, Slavonian grebe, long-tailed duck, scaup, up to 9 Bewick’s swans, spoonbill, 14 great white egret, spotted redshank, Caspian gulls and yellow-legged gulls, short-eared owl. Wallasea Island RSPB: 1-2 spoonbills. Canvey Point: velvet scoter.

Early nesters at this time of year include tawny owls.

Remember it is the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch covering Friday 27th to Sunday 29th January 2023. For just an hour within that time

Robin (copyright: Glyn Evans)

82 London, Waterloo with 41.4 million passenger entry and exits in 2021/22 70 years from November 25th 1952 Jimi ‘The Real Deal’ Art She was a soul singer Joan Bakewell Chest, breastbone Sea animal or a skin growth Edam Fife Libra Sestertius Denarius

1966 To impress his wife Marina Child Abuse Investigation Safeguarding Unit £770,000 Claude Monet Beryl Sweden Edinburgh Chinese To cut into long thin strips Goat Song thrush Veritas Searching for water with a veeshaped sensative twig

14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26 27. www.thecitytimes.co.uk Page 31

28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40. Call Luke on 01245 699128 or 07852867042

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your local & reliable ELECTRICIAN Serving Chelmsford and the surrounding areas @EncoreElectrical1 @Encore Electrical