The City Times - July/August 2019

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Issue Number 69 July 18th - August 15th 2019

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While many kitchen businesses sell high quality kitchens, they are usually very standard in shapes, sizes, designs and fittings - meaning that your choices can be quite limited.

Although it may seem less complicated to order a readymade kitchen, there may be problems when it comes to fitting, as a readymade kitchen may not fit your exact measurements or blend in well with your existing interior. This can cause a lot of disappointment and may limit your choices further. With a bespoke kitchen, you have an endless choice of designs, shapes and sizes etc, because each and every part of your kitchen - such as fittings, cabinets, furniture and islands - are made from scratch.

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Many kitchen sellers may use the term ‘bespoke’ to promote their kitchens, but you may find that a lot of these sellers are using the word bespoke incorrectly. Just because some readymade kitchens can be personalised with your choice of colours and materials, doesn’t mean that it is really ‘bespoke’.

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measurements. All of the shapes, sizes, designs ideas, fittings and materials etc, are chosen specifically by the customer and each bespoke kitchen is crafted to meet their personalised requirements. Bespoke kitchens are made of raw, high quality materials and crafted with close precision.

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If you would like any more information about our beautiful kitchens, please do not hesitate to contact us here at Regal Kitchens, where we can discuss your design ideas and help you get started on your dream kitchen project. We look forward to hearing from you.

Our showroom in Navigation Road, Chelmsford is open 10am 4pm, 7-days per week. www.regalkitchens.co.uk

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CT Welcome

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Hello readers,

Welcome to the July/August edition.

Nick has been to Wembley to see The Who supported by locals, The Connor Selby Band (see page 6)!

Look out for McCartney Sales and Lettings in this month’s business interview.

Please also remember to tell our advertisers that you saw them in this magazine.

Enjoy your month!

Regards Nick & Paul www.thecitytimes.co.uk | www.moulshamtimes.com

Editorial Advertising Paul Mclean Nick Garner 01245 262082 / 07595 949701 07970 206682 ads@itsyourmedia.co.uk editorial@itsyourmedia.co.uk Disclaimer: It’s Your Media Ltd publish The City Times. The opinion expressed in each article is the opinion of its author and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of It’s Your Media Ltd. No part may be reproduced without the prior written permission of It’s Your Media Ltd. Registered offices: 15 Hayes Close, Chelmsford. Reg No 9154871. Printed by Printwize.

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Smoke and Fire Festival 2019 Two and half days of off the scale family BBQ fun!

US-style low and slow returns to Promenade Park, Maldon this August.

Sweet and spicy? Hot and crispy?

Whatever your preference, you’ll find succulent, melt-in-the-mouth BBQ favourites galore at the Maldon Smoke & Fire Festival this August. The festival attracted over 18,500 visitors last year!

Learn tips and tricks from over 18 Kansas City Barbecue Society (KCBS) BBQ teams from across Europe, as well as our five awarding Live Fire cooks, or join a free Broil King master class at our exciting BBQ demo kitchen.

You can also dance your cares away at our two stages of fabulous live music, or cook up a storm at home thanks to the amazing range of products on offer - and we’ll even keep the young ones entertained in our extensive kids’ zone.

The third year of this one-of-a-kind festival promises to have something to tickle everyone’s taste buds, while also raising funds for an important local charity, the Essex & Herts Air Ambulance Trust.

This year we are starting the festivities early with our Friday night launch party featuring Doctor and The Medics live, plus lots more.

Entry tickets available on the gate or online at www.smokeandfirefestival. com.

There were lots of big events July 6th and we could only attend one each - the Fling and The Connor Selby Band at Wembley Stadium which is on the next page! Reports are all were great events!

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Music and Ramblings - by Nick Garner

As I am writing this article I have just heard that the County Council has announced that none of the Essex Libraries will be closing, so the power of the people has won and it shows that they have listened to the masses. Well done all who campaigned, as we need our libraries and community spaces.

Chelmsford Arts and Cultural Festival We are at present working on a spectacular end to the festival which I wish I could say more about - but until we confirm, I cannot say anything else - watch this space! Suffice to say that wee are working hard to make this a really fantastic 10-day festival for 2020.

We are still looking for volunteers in many areas, so please contact us via the details below to find out more if you are interested in helping out.

Music and Ramblings I am unable to report on The Fling or Fake Fest this year as I was at Wembley Stadium with our very own Connor Selby and his band who opened up for The Who. I was asked to be the band’s guitar tech and look after the guitars - something I used to do many years ago.

It was strange walking in to the stadium when it was empty and to see just how big it (and the stage) really is. For the band, this was a wonderful opportunity sharing the stage with Imelda May, The Kaiser Chiefs, Eddie Vedder - and of course The Who, who last played at Wembley stadium 40 years ago! The Connor Selby Band went on at 3.40pm and played to around 15,000 people. The audience loved the band as they delivered a great punchy 30 minute set. The band had a great time and lapped it up; it made me feel so proud of all of them.

We all stayed for the whole day; The Who were amazing, including a full orchestra as well. We were all well looked after and The Who’s manager came to see the band afterwards and said how he and everyone had enjoyed the set - so let’s see what happens next!

I did manage to pop along to the Chelmsford Beer & Cider Festival in Admirals Park, which was very good and a great success, in part thanks to great weather for most of the event. I hear that Fake Fest was a sell-out but have not heard any reports back as yet, but I did hear that The Fling was fantastic and well attended as was the 3foot People Festival before it.

As this edition of the City Times hits the streets, the first Dixie Fields

Country Music Festival in Chelmsford will have happened, as will Village Green. Meanwhile, the Brentwood Festival will be about to begin.

There is plenty more to look forward to with the third UB Fest coming up during the August Bank Holiday weekend - lots of good stuff happening at that over 4-days. It’s free to attend, so keep an eye on the next edition for the full weekend line-up. It is also the third Smoke and Fire Festival in Maldon from the 16th - 18th August with Doctor and the Medics kicking it all off on Friday. This is another great festival with much of it free to enter, all the monies raised will go to the Essex Air Ambulance, which as we all know is a very worthy cause.

I am excited to be off on a couple of little adventures soon; one to our friend’s mini festival in Kent, the second will be Chicken Stock Festival. Then our band, Jamie Williams and the Roots Collective, will be setting off on a mini tour playing at the Goat in Berkhamsted (Friday 26th July), the Brasenose Arms in Cropredy near Banbury (Saturday 27th) and the Southgate Inn in Devizes (Sunday 28th). On Tuesday 30th July we play at the 100 Club in Oxford Street, London.

So some fun times ahead, and maybe see some of you along the way!

As ever, please do try to come out and support the great live scene that we have in Essex because if you do not, we may lose it. For more information on all of the above and more, see the links below and go to our What’s On pages to see what else is happening in your area.

Check the Internet too to see what’s on locally - Facebook is always good as is Twitter as well as your local papers and community boards.

Please check out the links below and please ‘like’ our pages on social media and help us by inviting your friends to ‘like’ our pages as well.

Chelmsford Arts and Cultural Festival: hello@chelmsfordfestival.org www.chelmsfordfestival.org Online festival programme: www.issuu.com/chelmsfordfestival www.facebook.com/chelmsfordfestival Twitter: @chelmsfordaacf www.bluesinthecity.co.uk www.facebook.com/bluesinthecitychelmsford Twitter: @BluesintheCity1 www.itsyourmusic.co.uk www.facebook.com/itsyourmusic Twitter: @itsyourmusic

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MONDAY Millennium Community Centre, Recreation Ground, Baddow Road, Great Baddow CM2 9RL 9:00am, 11:00am,1:00pm, 5:00pm & 7:00pm Lucy 07801 433626 Springfield Bees Preschool, Perryfields School, Lawn Lane, CM1 7PP 5:00pm and 7:00pm Angie 07814 992628 Hatfield Peverel Infant School, Church Road, Hatfield Peverel CM3 2RP 5:30pm and 7:30pm Marie 07988 426728 TUESDAY Broomfield Village Hall, 158 Main Road (behind Angel Pub), Broomfield CM1 7AH 3:00pm, 5:00pm and 7:00pm Victoria 07823 441198 Millennium Community Centre, Recreation Ground, Baddow Road, Great Baddow CM2 9RL 3:30pm, 5:30pm & 7:30pm Samantha 01245 266442 WEDNESDAY Church Of St Augustine Of Canterbury, St Augustines Way, Springfield CM1 6GQ 9:30am and 11:30am Emma 07887 692906 Writtle Community Association, Longmeads House, 12-14 Redwood Drive, Writtle CM1 3LY 3:00pm, 5:00pm and 7:00pm Jennifer 07792 516866 Life Church, Hall Street, off Moulsham Street, Chelmsford CM2 0HG 5:30pm and 7:30pm Angie 07814 992628 Boreham Village Hall, Main Road, Boreham CM3 3JD 5:30pm and 7:30pm Marie 07988 426728

WEDNESDAY Springfield Park Baptist Church, Springfield Park Road, Springfield CM2 6EB 5.30pm and 7:30pm Elise 07979 816486 St Michael's Church of England Junior School, Barnard Road, Galleywood CM2 8RR 7.30pm Lena 07939 675034 THURSDAY Millennium Community Centre, Recreation Ground, Baddow Road, 9R Great Baddow CM2 9RL 9:30am Samantha 01245 266442 North Springfield Baptist Church, Havengore, off Pump Lane, Springfield CM1 6JP 5:30pm and 7:30pm Victoria 07823 441198 Newlands Spring Community Hall, Dickens Place, Chelmsford CM1 4UU 5:30pm and 7:30pm Jennifer 07792 516866 Moulsham High School, Brian Close, Chelmsford CM2 9ES 5:30pm and 7:30pm Marie 07988 426728 FRIDAY The Church Of Ascension, Maltese Road, Chelmsford CM1 2PB 9:15am and 11:15am Samantha 01245 266442 Fit n Fab Studio, Village Square (Near Asda), Chelmer Village CM2 6RF 5.30pm Emma 07887 692906 SATURDAY Springfield Park Baptist Church, Springfield Park Road, Springfield, CM2 6EB 8:30am and 10:30am Emma 07887 692906 　

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Page 7

CT Gardening - by Tom Cole

It’s busy, busy, busy in the garden at this time of year, and to help us, the weather’s just about holding off compared to last year’s very hot times. Take time out of your schedule to keep on top of those gardening chores to keep your space in tip-top condition.

Check out these jobs for the next few weeks:

The Flower Garden • Remove the tip of main flowering shoots of annuals to encourage them to bush out. This works wonders for zinnias, antirrhinums and sunflowers.

• Start taking cuttings of tender perennials such as heliotrope, salvias, fuchsias and penstemon.

• Remove and compost earlier flowering biennials such as sweet william, which are over now with their seed pods starting to brown.

• Plant the last of the half-hardy annuals in their place - I’m trying cosmos and cleomes this year, as these will flower into the middle of autumn.

• Thin biennials such as forget-me-knots and wall flowers.

The Vegetable Garden • Pinch off the growing tips of squash and courgette to encourage branching and water regularly. This has the benefit of reducing the fruit being produced - however, the fruit will be larger.

• Keep removing side shoots of cordon varieties of tomato and make sure the tops are pinched when they reach the top of the greenhouse or support system (even with cherry varieties) by this stage of the year. They’ll also need a feed once a week, and in the hot weather water every morning so that they stay consistently moist.

• Apply a high potash fertiliser once fruits start to form on peppers, cucumber and tomatoes.

• Plant out purple sprouting broccoli and winter leeks.

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•

Sow your autumn and winter Swiss chard and perpetual spinach towards the end of the month.

The Salad and Herb Garden • Perennial herbs, such as chives and marjoram, benefit from a second short back and sides haircut now. It’s best to reduce them to the ground in late May or early June and then do the same again about now. It won’t be long until they’re up again in a couple of weeks with fresh, tasty leaves.

The Fruit Garden • Thin fruit trees - fruit trees bearing heavy crops need to have their fruit thinned to get a quality crop. Inspect trees and remove any excess fruit. On plum trees, there should be one fruit every couple of inches.

• With eating apples, aim for a fruit every 4-6in. For larger cooking apples there should be one fruit every 6-9in. This spacing allows the fruit to swell, prevents rotting and lightens the load on the branches of cultivars such as ‘Victoria’.

• Prune stone fruit trees - do it now in midsummer to avoid the risk of silver leaf disease and bacterial canker. These can gain entry through wounds when the tree is dormant so, with plums and cherries don’t do the more usual winter tree pruning. Keep pinching out unwanted shoots during the growing season.

• Prune vines. They’ll need their shoots cut back to within two leaves of the last bunch of fruit. The plant’s energy needs to be directed into the developing fruit. Pinching back also allows light and air to reach the bunches.

Lastly, if you want to further your knowledge and understanding of these or other gardening jobs, please consider one of the following courses at Writtle University College: For RHS Level 2 Certificate in the Principles of Horticulture (1 year, day release on Thursdays), RHS Level 2 Certificate in the Principles of Plant Growth, Propagation & Development (September - February on Thursdays), RHS Level 2 Certificate in the Principles of Garden Planning, Establishment and Maintenance and for RHS Level 2 and 3 Certificates in Practical Horticulture, email tom.cole@writtle.ac.uk for information on availability of days and times.

We also offer full time Level 2 & 3 programmes and apprenticeship schemes. New for this September we’ll be offering part-time garden design programmes. Contact ben.wincott@writtle.ac.uk for more information.

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If you’d like a shorter programme for say 1 or 2 days, then give our Short Courses team a call. We’ve got courses on construction (erecting fences, paving and brickwork), general garden tasks such as pruning, propagation, container gardening, successful care of lawns, and growing fruit and veg. For the professional, a whole load of competence-based certificates covering arboriculture, pesticide application and use of various machinery and equipment.

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

Page 8 www.chelmsfordthecitytimes.co.uk

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CT Food: 100% Plant Power - by Lisa Whittle Since I questioned the existence of a vegan Chelmsford last month my eyes have been opened to the array of vegan life in the area…

Take the Primrose Natural Foods and Juice Bar at the top end of Moulsham Street. It’s a cornucopia of yummy healthy natural vegan and vegetarian food in the form of salads, hotpots, paninis, juices and smoothies. They are open for breakfast, lunch and snacks Monday - Saturday. When I went in I had a cooling melon, tomato, mint and cucumber salad and savoury rice with cashew nut mayonnaise and a beautifully attractive blueberry smoothie. I will definitely be going again! I may have a colon hydrotherapy next time too! This goes on upstairs as well as other therapies to help you detox and stay well.

Another gem of a find is the Patina Café at The Transition behind the Anne Knight Building near Chelmsford train station. It’s 100% plant based with a super-green ethos serving the likes of vegan lasagna, curries, hearty soups and bruschettas and delicious cake. The Transition is an event, co-working and exhibition space holding an array of workshops and immersive dining experiences - I will be back!

I even went to a Chelmsford Vegan Fair, an event of all things vegan including tasty vegan snacks organised by Lotus Stray Rescue at Essex County Cricket Ground. This local charity rescues stray dogs in Romania and beyond, spaying them and finding them homes. They organise regular vegan events around the county raising money for their noble work. Take a look at www.lotusstrayrescue.com and find them on Facebook.

I noticed that even the popular Paper Mill Lock Tea Rooms by the canal in Little Baddow has vegan specials on its blackboard.

My fellow CT columnist Ken Louis Sheppherd tipped me off about the dedicated vegan menu at Wetherspoons too! Its small, but the fact it exists in a chain so mainstream, in my opinion, is a near miracle.

Now on to the local vegan pièce de résistance as promised - a full review of The Hawk at Battlesbridge.

Along with The Dukes Head near Billericay and the George and Dragon in Mountnessing, these gourmet pubs are part of the Premium Country Pub chain, a brand of the massive Mitchell and Butler company and they have an extensive dedicated vegan menu. As they also hold the Miller and Carter steak houses and Toby Carvery brands, I am guessing this move to serve the

vegan community is more an act of marketing than one of ethical consciousness, but maybe that’s being too cynical - who knows?

Taking a meat eating companion, I went to sample the vegan wares midweek at The Hawk. My first observation was it was surprisingly packed out for a Wednesday evening - a good sign of culinary popularity! We sat down in quality rustic surroundings and studied the menu. What a treat to have a full and extensive meat-free, dairyfree and egg-free list to choose from. As a starter I went for a vegan staple, the roasted lentil falafel but on tempting beetroot hummus with Lebanese-style dip and ciabatta. Richard chose pan-fried mushrooms with spring onions and garlic, served with a soy, lime and ginger dip and rice paper crackers. This turned out to be so delicious he was tempted to lick the plate, but refrained as we were in polite company! My falafel was fab, but the paroxisms of delight I was witnessing made me make a mental note to go for the mushrooms next time... I guess I was experiencing food envy!

Spiced coconut curry with miso sesame aubergine, broccoli and a scorched red chilli and jasmine rice was my main course. Oh gosh, I was not disappointed - this was yummy, yummy, yummy! Now, surprisingly - and I kept quiet at the time of ordering - for a main course my carnivorous friend went for the plant-based burger with trimmings of coconut tzatziki, slow roasted tomato sauce, lettuce and house salad. Unlike some vegan burgers, this turned out to be a filling, satisfying and tasty experience - one that Richard said he would definitely repeat! Result!

Now on a roll, for dessert Richard went vegan again and chose the pineapple tart tatin topped with mango and served with coconut milk sorbet. Lucky for me he let me try it and regretted it as I couldn’t leave the coconut milk sorbet alone!

Soooo yummy once again! It is a stand-alone option too, with berries - and I’ll have that next time. I had the blackcurrant mousse with biscuit base, crushed mango and fresh strawberries which put a smile on my face!

Very naughtily, after this we also shared a chocolate tart because the staff told us we couldn’t leave without trying it. Oh my goodness, you dessert fans, it was to die for!

Coffee came with appropriate milk alternatives to choose from and rounded off a substantial vegan gourmet experience for both of us. Richard’s parting comment, which I think is worth noting, was that this vegan meal didn’t feel like a compromise. Thanks to The Hawk’s excellent vegan menu I think he might be on the turn. We will definitely be going back and commend Premium Country Pubs on their visionary vegan menu. lisactfood@gmail.com

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What’s on in the Area July Friday 19th Bassment - Come As You Are: Alternative Club Night The Golden Fleece - The Earnshaws Hideaways - Bled The Fifth + Job + Supercharge + The Lightscopes Hotbox - Bilk + Safenath Star & Garter - 80s night United Brethren - Lee Live Trio (Doll Set Tones) Saturday 20th Bassment - Backwater Channels’ Showcase The Black Bill - live music with Haulage Bond Street Bowl - Mencap Sunburst Festival The Golden Fleece - Handle with Care Transition - Tomo On Set Photography Expo Star & Garter - Fast on the Draw United Brethren - Steve Hooker Sunday 21st The Black Bull - Jazz Jam (4pm-7pm) Bond Street Bowl - Mencap Sunburst Festival Civic - Essex Dance Theatre Star & Garter - Open mic/jam United Brethren - Paul Steven Wood (4.30pm) Monday 22nd Danbury Sports & Social Centre - Strictly Solo (learn how to dance, 9.15am & 11.15am) Other Halves Dementia Group - Lunch at The Hive - www. otherhalves.org.uk Nationwide Christian Trust (Mulberry House, Chelmsford Road, High Ongar, CM5 9NL) - Time out with God (10am) Tuesday 23rd Boreham Village Hall - Ballroom and Latin American Dance (classes for beginners & improvers - www.danceasy.co.uk) Transition - Power Yoga Wednesday 24th The Chichester Hotel (Rawreth) - Belvedere Jazz & Music Club: Pianorama - Dave Browning, Ted Beament & JJ Vinten Danbury Sports & Social Centre - Zumba class (10.45am) The Golden Fleece - Summeroke! (Karaoke in the garden) Star & Garter - Mark Absent and the Registers Thursday 25th The Black Bull - Half price on main meals all day The Golden Fleece - Quiz night Friday 26th Bassment - Come As You Are: Alternative Club night The Black Bull - Bingo Cathedral - Lunchtime concert Civic - Dance Projection - Set to Shine The Golden Fleece - Fleecefest - Grizzly Bearz + The Titans + silent disco Hotbox - Ewan Whosarmy Star & Garter - Strongbox United Brethren - Rubber Soul Saturday 27th Bassment - Tirade + Donnie Willow The Black Bull - Open mic night Chelmsford City Racecourse - Brake Horsepower 2019 Civic - Dance Projection: Set to Shine The Golden Fleece - Fleecefest: Andy Poole’s Riddled With Booze Orchestra + silent disco Other Halves Dementia Group - The Millenium Centre (Great Baddow) Ploughmans lunch - www.otherhalves.org.uk Transition - HiWire fundraiser and quiz night Page 12

Saturday 27th (continued...)

Star & Garter - Vibes Factory United Brethren - Paolo Morena Sunday 28th Chelmsford City Racecourse - Brake Horsepower 2019 Transition - Create United Brethren - Joe Anderton (4.30pm) Monday 29th Danbury Sports & Social Centre - Strictly Solo (learn how to dance, 9.15am & 11.15am) Other Halves Dementia Group - RHS Gardens Hyde Hall - www. otherhalves.org.uk Nationwide Christian Trust (Mulberry House, Chelmsford Road, High Ongar, CM5 9NL) - Time out with God (10am) Tuesday 30th Boreham Village Hall - Ballroom and Latin American Dance (classes for beginners & improvers - www.danceasy.co.uk) Transition - Power Yoga Wednesday 31st Danbury Sports & Social Centre - Zumba class (10.45am) The Golden Fleece - Summeroke! (Karaoke in the garden)

August Thursday 1st Bassment - Bassment Blues Jam The Black Bull - Half price on main meals all day The Golden Fleece - Quiz night Friday 2nd Bassment - Come As You Are: Alternative Club night The Golden Fleece - The Company United Brethren - Longy Saturday 3rd Alehouse - Record fair Bassment - WDR Essex Psych Festival: Up In Her Room Black Horse - Reggae night CCFC (home) - Chelmsford City v Hampton & Richmond Borough Chelmsford City Racecourse - Trevor Nelson’s Soul Nation The Golden Fleece - Barney and the Rubbles United Brethren - Tanya Piche Sunday 4th Chelmsford High Street - Bearded Gypsy Trade Fayre Star & Garter - Open mic/jam United Brethren - Sonic Journeymen Izzy Buholzer & Jevon (4.30pm) The Woolpack - GC’s Jazz Club: Paul Wood (vocals) & Graeme Culham Trio (8pm) Monday 5th Danbury Sports & Social Centre - Strictly Solo (learn how to dance, 9.15am & 11.15am) Nationwide Christian Trust (Mulberry House, Chelmsford Road, High Ongar, CM5 9NL) - Time out with God (10am) Unit 16 (Ekersley Road, Chelmsford) - Judo class (1st lesson free - tel: 07768 364 435) Tuesday 6th CCFC (away) - Concord Rangers v Chelmsford City Widford Village Hall - Natty Chatty Ladies Club (1.30pm) Wednesday 7th The Chichester Hotel (Rawreth) - Belvedere Jazz & Music Club: World’ No 1 ‘Frank’ Stephen Triffitt + Sextet (£20 Admission) Danbury Sports & Social Centre - Zumba class (10.45am) The Golden Fleece - Summeroke! (Karaoke in the garden) United Brethren - Joe Anderton’s Open Mic

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

Thursday 8th Bassment - Asylum Live Showcase: Oh Maddie + Rollin’ Machine + Paul Gillings The Black Bull - Half price on main meals all day The Golden Fleece - Quiz United Brethren Friday 9th Bassment - Come As You Are: Alternative Club night The Black Bull - Bingo Cathedral - Lunchtime concert The Golden Fleece - The Rising United Brethren - Do Do Bones Saturday 10th Bassment - JAR Records Live Showcase CCFC (away) - Weymouth v Chelmsford City Chelmsford City Racecourse - One Night of Queen The Golden Fleece - Sons of Southpaw United Brethren - Connor Selby and Joe Anderton Sunday 11th United Brethren - Ellie Rees (4.30pm) Monday 12th CCFC (home) - Chelmsford City v Dartford Danbury Sports & Social Centre Strictly Solo (learn how to dance, 9.15am & 11.15am) Nationwide Christian Trust (Mulberry House, Chelmsford Road, High Ongar, CM5 9NL) - Time out with God (10am) Tuesday 13th Boreham Village Hall - Ballroom and Latin American Dance (classes for beginners & improvers - www. danceasy.co.uk) Transition - Power Yoga Wednesday 14th The Chichester Hotel (Rawreth) Belvedere Jazz & Music Club: Jivin’ Miss Daisy (9 piece swing band - £15 admission) Danbury Sports & Social Centre Zumba class (10.45am) The Golden Fleece - Summeroke!

(Karaoke in the garden) Thursday 15th The Black Bull - Half price on main meals all day The Golden Fleece - Quiz night Friday 16th Bassment - Come As You Are: Alternative Club night The Black Bull - Psychic night The Golden Fleece - Adrenaline United Brethren - Dave Jackson Trio Saturday 17th Bassment - Havokira CCFC (away) - Havant & Waterlooville v Chelmsford City The Golden Fleece - Mushroom Clown South Woodham Ferrers Village Hall (CM3 5PL) Free drop-by Ukulele Festival (seven bands - 10.30am-5pm) Charity Ukulele Concert (professional artists - 7-11pm) (£10) United Brethren - The Mill Island Band Sunday 18th Star & Garter - Open mic/jam United Brethren - Jackson Line Duo (4.30pm)

August/September Issue Deadlines: Articles - 31st July Artwork - 8th August

Please send us your events for the next edition (for events between 16th August & 15th September) to editorial@itsyourmedia.co.uk

CT Business Interview: McCartney Estate Agents Sales and Lettings - by Derek Threadgall As a Gold Winner of The British Property Awards two years running, how does one shape up as Best Estate Agent in Chelmsford? After all, Chelmsford is a booming city fast becoming commuter based for the rash of apartments springing up wherever land is available. Where property is required by buyers, estate agents appear as if by magic to satisfy them.

There is no magic about the McCartney success story as a local independent estate agency established in 1992 by Shaun Candler. Like many in business, Shaun was determined to make his business succeed.

Exceptional customer service is the foundation of Shaun’s success.

Let Shaun take up the story: “For the first ten years I concentrated on house sales and built up a small but professional and highly experienced team. Eight years ago, I opened a lettings office in Chelmsford’s Moulsham Street and conveniently situated opposite our sales office - Nick Secunda is the Lettings Manager.”

Inevitably, a combination of the Brexit fiasco and the Prime Minister’s resignation led to a dip and a difficult period for the business. As Shaun puts it, “people hold back when there is uncertainty.”

However, the market is picking up as people now realise that the Brexit stalemate and a possible general election is not necessarily going to affect them with their future moving plans. McCartney’s sales office is experiencing a welcome rise in enquiries and the need for more properties to sell.

Let’s look a little closer at the services McCartney offers those people who are now seriously considering buying or selling a property.

All valuations are carried out by Shaun or a senior member of staff with a wealth of experience in the local property market together with the most up-to-date information from property databases, including the Land Registry. McCartney can also calculate the client’s moving costs and will discuss a marketing plan that works for the client’s individual needs and timescale. Only highly experienced property experts are employed to ensure the client achieves a hassle-free sale at the best possible price.

McCartney believe the successful marketing of the client’s home should not be left to chance. Therefore, the client’s property is seen by the widest possible audience. All properties are presented to the highest standard in full colour brochures complete with floor plans and can be seen in newspapers, magazines and prominent window displays. They will also be seen on www.mccartneyestateagents. co.uk and on leading property websites including Rightmove, Zoopla, Primelocation and onthemarket.com. All potential purchasers are qualified to ensure they have the ability to proceed.

Regular contact with all parties and (where necessary) mortgage lenders, surveyors and solicitors, should ensure the smooth running of the transaction.

Accompanied viewings, open house events and low key marketing are all part of the marketing mix provided by McCartney.

McCartney Lettings have successfully offered a comprehensive personal and reliable service to landlords and tenants alike. By working closely with clients, McCartney has created a bespoke service that is tailored to the client’s needs. Every tenant is fully referenced with a national referencing agency to assess their suitability before recommending the tenant to a landlord. Rental payments are sent by instant transfer for speedy payment and transferred within a maximum of three days of receipt.

Supporting services offered by McCartney include: • Energy Performance Certificate (EPC): Whether selling or letting a property, McCartney have teamed up with a professional EPC provider to supply an affordable and easy solution.

• Conveyancing: McCartney can recommend local property lawyers who will provide a first class service.

• Mortgages: McCartney are introducers to independent financial advisers who can give free impartial advice on the whole mortgage market.

McCartney Unique focuses on luxury and executive homes. Whether a client is looking to sell a character premium country estate or a city centre character property, the McCartney Unique approach to marketing the property will be innovative, fresh and results driven.

The property will be presented to the highest standard. Time and resources devoted to each instruction will be more than any other estate agency.

McCartney is proud to offer a unique selling experience with a strong emphasis on customer service and high quality marketing.

A few last words from Shaun: “Online estate agents can be very impersonal and sales chains can often break down due to lack of communication. People keep coming back to us as a local agent for 27 years as they can speak to me, or one of my highly experienced team which puts us ahead of the game. We like to build long-term relationships with our clients and many recommend us to friends and family.

“Moving on to younger generations, we have staff trained for the digital age and keeping up with the social media side of the business. McCartney’s business is built on energy, professionalism and knowledge with a commitment to remaining at the heart of the community.”

Contact McCartney Sales and Lettings for all your property requirements (01245 266 980) or visit their website: www. mccartneyestateagents.co.uk.

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Hairy Monster - The Final Installment!

Happy Memories Some bus driving friends and I were reminiscing about past antics and I recalled my first ever school trip in the early seventies when my coach was almost detonated. I had left it in the car park at the Commonwealth Institute in Kensington while I went off for a spot of lunch.

between two wolves. One wolf is evil - he is anger, hate, envy, greed, lies, self pity, arrogance and ego. The other wolf is good - he is joy, love, peace, hope, generosity, truth, humility and faith. Which wolf will win the fight?

On my return I found the area cordoned off by the police and army.

Apparently there had been a bomb threat, all the other vehicles had been driven out and my 49-seater was the only one left, so the bomb disposal team were just about to send in a small robot vehicle to blow the boot off the coach. Five minutes later and I would have had some explaining to do to Pathfinder Coaches. As it was, I was told in no uncertain terms that I should never leave the vehicle unattended. Of course, the school kids were really disappointed that the army didn’t blow the coach up...

As the politics of hate seem to keep growing, my hope is that this negative trend will soon end and we can all return to tolerance and fraternity, get on with living and enjoying life for what it is - a temporary loan.

When President Trump visited our septic isle in May, the Queen presented him with a first edition of Winston Churchill’s book on World War II. When Boris goes to visit him next month he’ll take some crayons so the Donald can finally get to colour it in.

When I first moved to Chelmesforde it was but a small village with a blacksmiths, a farm with one sheep, a church, a brothel and a duck pond where we would occasionally drown witches. In fact, the place was deemed to be so unappealing that they built the bypass before they built the town. It’s grown by leaps and bounds since then and only the pond remains, but this has recently been downgraded so we’re not even allowed to kill the local hags anymore. It’s political correctness gone mad I tell you. So now it’s time for me to move on to a place that retains the good old traditions of yesteryear. I’m off to somewhere where they still understand the importance of heritage, where a woman accepts her obligation to be drowned for being ugly and small children are brought up to know the importance of hard labour and ritual sacrifice. I will miss the new Chelmsford, but only because it hosts one of the best DFS stores in Essex. Fare thee well olde friend.

My apologies to friends, work colleagues and anyone else on my phone’s contact list for calls I have accidentally made, especially in the early hours when I thought I was turning off the alarm but was actually dialling a random number. I have never fully come to terms with mobile phone teknolojy. I’m great with cars and motorbikes, but unfortunately mobile phones don’t have wheels or loud exhausts, so I’ve never been interested enough to read the instructions that go with them. Sorry.

It was 1 o’clock in the morning and I was woken by my phone beeping. A message from the National Lottery telling me ‘Good News’ I’d won a prize. I was so excited, I couldn’t get back to sleep, waiting for their website to reopen at 6am. Depending on how much I’d won, I chose several sports cars, a villa in Spain and an investment scheme for my grandkids. Finally, I logged in and found I’d won... £30.

The one you feed.

Thought I’d visit the Postal Museum while I was in London a little while back. It was very interesting and while I was there I spotted the lost parcel my gran sent me in 1963. Result!

As this is my last offering in City Times I would like to thank the editor Paul for allowing me to vent my spleen over the past 18 months or so. Thanks also to my readers, both of whom have remained loyal throughout.

Rich Clifford and The Young Once As part of a mini tour, Rich Clifford & The Young Once are due to perform at the 2019 Burnham Quay Day on Monday August 26th.

The band, who have been a firm favourite at the event for a number of years now and whom deliver an undeniably accurate musical recreation of Cliff and The Shadows, plus a wide spectrum of other 60s music, are thrilled to be making this return visit.

In previous years, the band have performed outside The Anchor Pub, just off the lower high street on The Quay Side. However, due to the rise in popularity and footfall at the event, the performance will now take place within Mill Fields, Riverside Park.

The event will feature many other attractions for the whole family and runs from 12 noon to 5pm.

Other Dates on the Tour Saturday September 21st. The Princess Theatre, Clacton (01255 686 633).

Saturday October 26th. The Headgate Theatre, Colchester (01206 366 000).

Saturday November 9th. Witham Public Hall (0345 017 8717).

For more details and tickets, please visit www.theyoungonce.co.uk.

It’s that time of year when tens of thousands of teenagers leave education and venture into the adult world of employment. It’s a minefield out there and unless you know exactly what you want to do and have the qualifications and personal qualities necessary to clinch your dream career, it can be a frustrating and disheartening time. It may take time, but in the end it will all be worth the effort. And if you don’t have any luck finding a job in the near future, just remember that in 50 years you’ll be old enough qualify for a position at B&Q. I was astounded to read that 50,000 viewers had written to ITV demanding they reinstate the Jeremy Kyle Show. I couldn’t believe that anyone who watched this toxic programme was literate enough to write a letter of complaint.

I read this recently, and thought it summed up the human condition: There is a fight going on inside you. It is a terrible fight and it’s Page 16

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Wildlife Corner - by Nick Green

June weather was initially cold and wet and insectivorous animals must have suffered. On BBC’s Springwatch, a swallow brood suffered. However, the last two weeks were hot and humid.

In Essex, the marsh harrier is a fairly common summer visitor, common passage migrant and winter visitor. Some twenty pairs now nest at localities like Hanningfield and Abberton Reservoirs, Rainham Marshes RSPB, Old Hall RSPB and Ingebourne Valley anywhere there is suitable reed bed habitat. In 1973, there was just one pair nesting in the UK at Minsmere RSPB, Suffolk, but thanks to conservation measures, the species has successfully recovered. The species is sexually dimorphic(!) with a smaller male and larger female that is mainly dark brown with a yellowish crown.

Essex Selected June Wildlife Highlights The month started rather cool and wet - not good for insectivorous birds.

Spring bird migration was in full flow and flowers, shrubs and trees were blossoming.

Male marsh harrier (copyright: Glyn Evans)

St Osyth: red-backed shrike. Abberton Reservoir EWT: 2 cattle egrets, American Bonaparte’s gull. Vange Marsh RSPB: American ringnecked duck, marsh sandpiper.

National Selected June Migration Highlights Shetland Isles: great knot, sardinian warbler. Western Isles: snowy owl (St Kilda), calandra lark. Scotland: black duck, pied-billed grebe.

Northumberland: Baillon’s crake, Baikal teal. Yorkshire: roller. Devon: American yellow-rumped warbler on Lundy. Norfolk: squacco heron, American lesser yellowlegs. Suffolk: Minsmere RSPB, Cretzschmar’s bunting. Cornwall: American royal tern.

To advertise in our August/September issue please email ads@itsyourmedia.co.uk

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CT History: Simon Burns MP - by Stephen Norris 1986 saw the selection of a new Conservative parliamentary candidate Simon Burns from a field of more than 100 candidates.

Burns was educated at the Christ the King School, Accra, Ghana, Stamford School and Worcester College in Oxford. He is a second cousin of David Bowie and was a founder member of the Rutland and Stamford Young Conservatives. In 1972 he worked for the Democrat Senator George McGovern in his presidential bid against Richard Nixon. From 1973 - 1975 he was a committee member and Secretary of Oxford University Conservative Association. Between 1977 and 1981 he was a member of the Putney Conservative Association and in 1983 he stood in the Alyn and Deeside (North Wales) constituency where he reduced the Labour majority from 6,800 to 1,368.

In the build up to the 1987 election, a poll for Anglia TV had the Alliance and the Conservatives neck and neck with 41% each.

Eventually he gained a majority of over 7,700 over Stuart Mole. The alliance met resistance in the new housing estates on the outskirts of Chelmsford, which had boosted the electorate by 5,000 since 1983.

The following year Mole stood down saying he would not fight the constituency again. He was credited by the Essex Chronicle for being responsible for the increase in Liberal support in the town in the previous twenty years and having played a large role in the creation of the administration that then ran the town. From the outset Burns has lived in the Chelmsford area, thus answering one of the perceived weaknesses of Stevas as a constituency MP. The election defeat was followed by a split in the local Alliance party in council politics. Four out of six holders of top posts in Chelmsford’s SDP, announced they would not be supporting efforts to merge their party with the Liberals. Mole supported the merger but there was a strong anti-merger feeling amongst SDP supporters in the town. The Chelmsford SDLP was launched in May 1988.

Simon Burns’ early years as MP for Chelmsford were characterised by a series of disagreements with the local Alliance government.

Initially these were arguments over the Poll Tax. Burns insisted that the council was using the Poll Tax as a cover for a big increase in spending on the rates before the new tax was introduced. At first the Poll Tax was expected to be around £300 per person in Chelmsford but when it was finally announced it was £392. This was largely because of a ‘safety net’ which would have to go to other higher spending areas in the country. Burns maintained that the high charge was also due to the council’s continued high spending. He said: “I have a strong suspicion that the borough council’s spending has been done to try to take advantage of the changeover in the system of financing local government in order that they can hide their profligacy by blaming the increase on the Government.”

March 1990 saw the protests against the Poll Tax outside the council offices organised by the Chelmsford Against the Poll Tax organisation.

By June there were more than 20 thousand unpaid tax bills and the council was owed £5 million. CATP argued that many people couldn’t afford to pay. 300 summonses for non payment were sent out in October and 47 staff were struggling to deal with the 115,000 residents in the borough that were liable to the charge. By then the shortfall had been cut to seven and a half percent. In 1991 the new community charge was reduced by £30. Burns argued that this was due to the County Council cutting its share of the charge, rather than anything the local council had done. In 1992 Poll Tax bills rose by 15% after the new Tory council had cut spending to avoid being rate capped. By 1993 when the new Council Tax started Chelmsford council still had three and half million pounds owing on the Poll Tax. In 1991 the Conservatives had regained control of the Chelmsford council, winning 29 out of 56 seats. Labour did gain 2 seats in All Saints ward, the first time it had held seats since 1979. Simon Burns commented: “I am delighted that Chelmsford has got rid of the Liberal Democrats. I look forward to working with the new council.”

Despite his predictions that the Liberal Democrats were a fading force in the town, they won a majority again in 1995 winning 32 seats.

Until 1994 Burns was PPS at the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. He was then assistant government whip, Lord Commissioner of Her Majesty’s Treasury and then Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Health. In 1992 he won a majority of 18 thousand in the general election. At this time he was working a 72 hour week, not including travelling, which was extensive because he lived in the constituency.

Proposed boundary changes announced in 1993 would have transferred St Andrews ward, Writtle and Chignal to Brentwood and Ongar. The Hanningfields, Margaretting and Stock would go to Billericay. A Liberal Democrat commented: “This seems to be a case of people playing games with pencils on maps without any knowledge or understanding of local circumstances.” Simon Burns was against the changes which would have made the constituency geographically smaller. The resulting boundary changes created two constituencies involving the borough. These were West Chelmsford (which Burns stood for) and Maldon and East Chelmsford which included the villages of Danbury and Great Baddow. In the 1997 election Simon Burns saw his majority reduced from 18,000 to 6,000. After the Conservative defeat, Burns was Opposition Front Bench spokesman for Social Security until 1998, when he became the spokesman for the Environment, Housing and Planning. From 2001 to 2005 he was the Shadow Health Minister, after which he became an opposition whip. Meanwhile, he had been elected to the executive of the influential 1922 committee and became its treasurer in 1999. One of his principal achievements was to get his private members bill, the Football (Offences and Disorder) Act through parliament, which tightened up the law on football hooligans. In 2000 he pressured the government to strengthen the law further by giving the courts the power to withdraw hooligan’s passports in order to prevent them causing trouble abroad. His election majority was again just over 6,000 in 2001.

John Wittingale was elected to the constituency of Maldon and East Chelmsford in 1997 after previously being MP for Maldon since 1992. He was educated at Winchester and the University of London, graduating in economics. Wittingale was special adviser to several Secretaries of State for Industry in the 1980s before becoming political adviser to Margaret Thatcher when she was Prime Minister.

He was awarded an OBE for his work in that role.

Despite their decline in parliamentary elections, the Liberal Democrats remained a strong force in municipal elections. In 1999 however they lost control, when Labour councillors could exercise the balance of power. They regained power in 2003 but depended on support of the Independents. In 2003 the Conservatives finally regained control of the council, which they held again in 2007.

Despite persistent criticism of the council in the later years of the twentieth century, the council was able to announce in 2001 that it was debt free having paid off its previous £27 million loan.

After proposals in 2003, a new streamlined single constituency for Chelmsford finally came into being in 2010. In the 2010 election Simon Burns was again victorious beating the Liberal Democrat candidate Stephen Robinson by just over 5,000 votes. Before this, Burns had worked for Hillary Clinton in her campaign to be nominated as the Democrat candidate in the 2008 election. Burns has an extensive library of books on the Kennedy family. He quit his London flat in the wake of the expenses scandal after ‘inadvertently’ overcharging on the flat. Burns was Minster of State for Health in the new Conservative government until 2012 when he became Minister for Transport. In May of that year he celebrated 25 years representing Chelmsford. Recent years have been marked by an argument with John Bercow, the Speaker in the House of Commons. Burns had to apologise after calling the latter a ‘stupid sanctimonious dwarf’. In 2011 he compared the campaigning group 38 degrees to ‘zombies’ resulting in thousands of complaints. The same year there was a controversy over the MP’s £41 thousand chauffeur bill - necessary he maintained, because he needed to work on confidential papers. This led him to start using the train again to get to the House of Commons

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In October 2013 he somewhat surprisingly resigned from his government post in order to - unsuccessfully as it turned out - stand for the vacant post of deputy speaker of the House of Commons. If he had won, Burns would have been deputy to Bercow.

In the 2015 general election he was elected to the Chelmsford constituency yet again with a majority of over 9,000 over the Labour candidate Chris Vince. Burns decided not to stand before the 2017 general election.

Stephen currently offers the following talks about the history of Chelmsford to local organisations: 1. 4 QI Chelmsford MPs. 2. The Suffragettes in Chelmsford.

3. Chelmsford Lives, Memories of Chelmsford 1940s - 1970s (snippets of interviews with local people plus 100 photos in the background, for the Friends of Chelmsford Museum).

4. The Hoffmann Company in Chelmsford.

5. Life in the Wood Street Workhouse: The Chelmsford Poor Law Union 1835 - 1871.

6. The Poor and Society: The past 60 Years of the Chelmsford Workhouse and Infirmary.

7. QI Chelmsford Councillors and Mayors (in preparation).

For more information or to book Stephen, please email: stephen754norris@btinternet.com.

Chelmsford Coaches In 1742 a regular coach service to London was established which replaced the previous private service. It was operated by Deborah Goodwin and Co. The service, known as the ‘Chelmsford Machine’, ran daily from the Ipswich Arms to Gracechurch Street in the city of London, returning the same day during summer time (during winter, the following day). The service departed at 7am, returning from London at 2pm.

Passengers were allowed 30lbs of luggage but paid sixpence per 1lb over. The coachmen were family members - John Goodwin, Deborah’s son and John Woods, her son-in-law. The fare was about 3/- (unconfirmed).

In the 1780s, there were other coaches servicing the town, some routes were just via Chelmsford, and these tended to travel in convoy for security reasons.

Doug Killick

Chelmsford Library News The school summer holidays are fast approaching and we have the ideal solution. Come along to Chelmsford Library and join our Summer Reading Challenge. This is an annual event with this year’s theme called Space Chase.

As iwith previous years, the aim is to read six books which can be chosen from our vast selection in the Children’s Library. Fiction and non-fiction books are available, so while you are reading you can learn about the world we live in.

The launch date for this (excuse the pun!) is Saturday 20th July and runs throughout the school holidays until Monday 2nd September.

If you are not already a member, just pop in and a member of staff can join you up. Then books, right through to the classics for children, are there for your choosing.

On Thursday 6th August we are holding an Essex Children’s Author Day. This event will start at 10am and finish at 12noon. Six authors will be here, three being allocated slots from 10am, and three from the 11am slot. They each will read from their works and host a Q&A session. Book related craft sessions for the children will be held at 10.30am and 11.30am.

The authors’ books will also be on display for you to purchase. This event promises to be an exciting morning for you and your children.

For children starting school Chelmsford Library are holding two sessions where children can meet up with new starters and play, while parents can get to know each other.

On Tuesday 13th August, parents and children who are starting Trinity Road School are welcome to attend between 10am-12noon.

On Tuesday 20th August the session will be for parents and children who are starting Westlands School.

Both these sessions are drop in sessions, so just come along.

As well as our popular Baby and Toddler Rhyme Time sessions, we also hold Daddy Cool events once a month. They are aimed at dads, grandads and uncles.

The next two events are on Saturday 27th July and Saturday 24th August between 11am and 11.30am.

For more information on all the above events, please visit libraries. essex.gov.uk/events.

Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/essexlibraries.

For more information on our events, visit www.essex.gov.uk/ libraries.

Old Park Meadow Art

The team at Old Park Meadow Natural Burial Ground are delighted to have raised over £2,500 at their recent fundraising art exhibition in aid of the Essex and Herts Air Ambulance with over 250 people attending over the two days.

With over 30 different talented artists exhibiting, there was a wide range of paintings on display for people to view and buy which supported the artists and the Air Ambulance. Paintings and prints were kindly donated to the raffle by the Aubery Art Gallery, Jacquie Brown and Neil Higgs. Next year, they hope the exhibition will be even bigger and better!

If you would like more information, please email info@ oldparkmeadow.co.uk or call in and see them - they are behind the Butchers Arms pub at North End between Great Dunmow and Chelmsford, CM6 3PL.

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Therapy - by Chelmsford Therapy Rooms Before I start todays article I have a fantastic announcement to make: I am delighted to inform all of you that since Healthcare & Pharmaceutical Awards 2019 voting went live on the Global Health & Pharma (GHP) website, Chelmsford Therapy Rooms has received a nomination! Only clients or colleagues can put a name forward for nomination so I am extremely grateful for this amazing opportunity!

I’ll announce the results nearer to the time that they are published on the GHP website.

Now for the article: I’ve been watching a lot of documentaries recently on ancient civilisations. They reminded me that hypnosis has been around for a lot longer than you might realise. We can trace the use of hypnosis as far back as ancient Egypt. We know this because the Demotic Magical Papyrus depicts a young boy being led into a trance-like state so he could contact the Gods. Reportedly, the ancient Egyptians would use slaves to receive prophecies and visions as well as converse with the spirit world, and one of the ways they apparently did this was to encourage the slave to stare into a flame until they went into a trance-like state where they would be able to ‘contact the spirit world’.

Using the flame of a candle in this way is rarely used today, most hypnotherapists use the more conventional approach of Progressive Muscle Relaxation and then a Deepener (as I wrote about in my last article). Some hypnotherapists do still use the ‘staring at an object technique’ but rather than using a flame this would be along the lines of staring at something else, like an object in the room, something being held by the therapist or staring at a specific spot. The idea is to encourage everything to go ‘blurry’ so you want to close your eyes.

Travelling a little bit forward in time, ‘mesmerism’ was an early form of hypnosis (named after Franz Anton Mesmer born 1734). Although Mesmer has been highly credited with his devotion to his patients, unfortunately some believe he is also where the weird and wonderful myths around hypnosis began. To demonstrate why, here is an example of one of his theories and subsequent experiments: Anton Mesmer firmly believed that disease was caused by an imbalance of an invisible magnetic fluid that was contained in all living and non-living things, and he initially treated his patients with magnets. He surmised that the body must have two poles, like a magnet, and must, like a magnet, be emitting an invisible magnetic ‘fluid’. According to Mesmer, disease was due to some interruption or maladjustment in the flow of this ‘fluid’ and it therefore can be cured by correcting the flow. Mesmer used an apparatus which he called a bacquet, an oak tub filled with iron filings and broken glass.

Protruding from the wooden top were dozens of bottles with the necks pointing in the direction of the patients. Placed inside the bottles were many iron rods whose purpose, according to Mesmer’s theories, was to spray magnetic rays on the subject. These bottles were filled with supposedly magnetised water.

The patients gathered round the baquet, each holding the hand of the patient on either side, the whole party forming a kind of ‘magnetic ring’. Ethereal soft music would play and the lights dimmed. Some of the patients would start singing during these strange seances. Inevitably, a few patients experienced spasms or a ‘crisis’ after which they would emerge from the experience feeling improved in health. Now, if that ain’t a little strange, even for the 18th century, I don’t know what is!

James Braid was a Scottish surgeon who coined the term ‘hypnotism’ in his unpublished Practical Essay on the Curative Agency of Neuro-Hypnotism (1842) as an abbreviation for ‘neuro-hypnotism’ (meaning ‘sleep of the nerves’). Braid fiercely opposed the views of the mesmerists, especially the claim that their effects were due to an invisible force called ‘animal magnetism’, and the claim that their subjects developed paranormal powers such as telepathy.

Instead, Braid adopted a sceptical position, attempting to explain the mesmeric phenomena on the basis of well-established laws of psychology and physiology. Hence, Braid is regarded by many as

the first true hypnotist, as opposed to the mesmerists and other magnetists who preceded him.

Braid ascribed the ‘mesmeric trance’ to a physiological process resulting from prolonged attention to a bright moving object or similar object of fixation. He suggested that ‘protracted ocular fixation’ fatigued certain parts of the brain and caused a trance - a ‘nervous sleep’ or ‘neuro-hypnosis’. Later, Braid simplified the name to ‘hypnotism’. Finally, realising that hypnotism was not a kind of sleep, he sought to change the name to ‘monoideism’ (‘single-thought-ism’) based on a view centred on the notion of a single, dominant idea; but the terms ‘hypnotism’ and ‘hypnosis’ have persisted.

Reportedly, James Braid developed his technique of hypnosis after witnessing a stage performance by the travelling Swiss magnetic demonstrator Charles Lafontaine in November 1841. Throughout the 20th century, despite adopting the term ‘hypnotism’, stage hypnotists continued to explain their performances to audiences by reference to supernatural powers and animal magnetism.

Stage hypnotists have shocked and impressed us with their seeming control over their subjects and because of this, hypnotherapy to many - even in the 21st century - is still an enigma. Remember though that what hypnotherapists do is completely different. Hypnosis may seem like a weird and wonderful thing that is completely out there. In fact in modern times, due to the fact we can now monitor brain waves, we can prove that hypnosis is the most natural thing in the world. In fact, you are in a state of hypnosis each time you are about to drift off to sleep and when you wake up everyday. Hence, hypnosis is a completely natural phenomena and you experience it everyday.

Jenny Hartill is a counsellor, hypnotherapist and owner of Chelmsford Therapy Rooms. She has experience in a multitude of issues but specialises in anxiety and self esteem. Please see the therapist list on the website at www.chelmsfordtherapyrooms.co.uk, or you can email info@chelmsfordtherapyrooms.co.uk, or call 0330 100 5162 to enquire about an initial consultation. Alternatively, Jenny’s own private therapy company website is www.cloud9-therapy.co.uk, her email is info@cloud9-therapy.co.uk and her telephone number is 07507 307 170.

Mid Essex Osteoporosis Support Group The Mid Essex Osteoporosis Support Group invites you to a talk by a speaker from the charity Age UK Essex. This event will take place on 31st July 2019 at Broomfield Village Hall at 2.30pm.

Age UK Essex is a charity offering a wide range of services and support to people over the age of 50. They offer advice on many topics including welfare benefits, social care, legal matters and coping with bereavement. They also offer many services, some of which may require payment to help fund the charity. Some of the services available are toenail cutting, befriending, home help, outdoor activity and respite for carers.

As we grow older it is very useful to learn what help is available depending on the needs of the individual. Osteoporosis can be a very debilitating condition, so it is reassuring to know that help is available should it be needed.

I am sure this will be a very interesting and informative talk that will benefit everyone who attends.

The venue for this meeting is Broomfield Village Hall, 158 Broomfield Road, Broomfield, Chelmsford CM1 7AH. Admission is £2 and this includes tea, coffee and biscuits. Doors open at 2.15pm and a committee member will be available to guide you to the meeting room.

For further information please contact 07720 353 825.

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Why Pilates? - by Erica Foulds So, we have reached part 6 of our journey into full body exercise discovery. We have looked at some of the best exercises in creating a better moving, more efficient functioning body. I hope you have found the exercises allow your joints to move more freely and that you’ve unravelled a few knots in your shoulders and back. Working from head to toe we are now midway, literally, and I thought this could be the perfect opportunity to give you a month off (sort of) knowing that many of you will be taking a few weeks to go and catch some rays once schools are out. Just find a few moments in each week to revisit the exercises and stretches that you most enjoyed so far or found worked for you. If you are new to my articles then this could be a great time to go catch up on the fun that we have had so far in previous issues!

At Hummingbird we pride ourselves in delivering specialist pilates, yoga and meditation. We are the largest studio of our kind in Chelmsford and within our team we are passionate and united in the key philosophy - creating something for you that is not just personal but realistic, is effective and productive but most of all fits with your lifestyle.

My friend and fellow teammate Mandy has been teaching you monthly about her passion for all aspects of yoga, breaking down some of its beautiful elements for you to use in your daily life. So here’s some food for thought on pilates and how at Hummingbird we could help you discover your body through it.

Over the last 95 years, since Joseph Pilates created this wonderful method of movement. Its existence has proved to be an incredible tool in not only making the human body feel better but also look better. Its also good for reducing the chances of injury and used by physiotherapists worldwide. It was designed to be hugely adaptable, for amputees of war, to professional athletes/dancers. Today it is still a huge influence and cornerstone in fitness, well-being and clinical and leisure industries. It is loved by sports stars and celebs alike due to its many benefits.

Combining a mix of low impact stretching and conditioning, it is excellent for core strength and posture. It can be used to give you a full body workout attacking and toning unruly areas, it compliments and can improve athletic performance, it is the perfect answer to

A Small Good Thing Samia Uddin from Chelmsford will be commencing her project A Small Good Thing for the third year running. The project entails collecting and donating household goods to rough sleepers in Chelmsford.

Samia organises the project every summer to support two local homelessness charities CHESS and Sanctus. The project will run from 1st July - 30th September 2019.

The idea is to gather basic household essentials such as wet wipes, deodorants, toothpastes, toothbrushes, mosturisers, sun lotion, water bottles, tinned soup and socks. These will be distributed to local homelessness charities every fortnight.

Samia said: “Over the last two summers that the project has been running, more than 1,500 items have been distributed between CHESS and Sanctus to give to their users.

“I was inspired to start the project back in 2017 when I got to meet residents from CHESS at an interfaith event where food was served to the homeless community. Giving is an important part of all faiths, and we should do what we can to support the most vulnerable in our society.

“It’s easy to underestimate how small items can make such a huge difference to a homeless person. These are cheap daily essentials

both ante and postnatal exercising and is excellent for relaxation and stress management. What more could you want!?

Hummingbird Pilates classes are small - maximum 8 person - so you have plenty of individual attention allowing your teacher to create a pace that’s right for you. We also have different levels on our schedule, so you can choose to start where is right for you.

Beginners courses (offered regularly through the year) will give you a fantastic first few hours, in detail, teaching you the foundation moves.

Our mixed level allows you to work amongst varying experience, but our intermediate class is one for a bit more of a challenge. Gentle Pilates classes are wonderful if you are just in the mood for some gentle movement, spinal and joint focused over a workout. We also do 1-2-1 or 2-2-1 and reformer pilates. We have 50 classes (yoga and pilates) a week spread across two beautiful studios for you to choose from, so plenty available.

Importantly, we have a variety of flexible use options so you can come and go as you please. Our unrivalled introductory special offer is 30days unlimited pilates and yoga for just £45!

• • • •

Monthly membership options are available from £50 (auto-pay monthly).

Pay-as-you-go options are available with easy to use class blocks from £55 per month.

No commitment drop-in classes are just £15.

Private 1-2-1 pilates are from £55 and blocks of 1-2-1 are available from £200.

Every month we also have fun social media offers (Facebook, Pintrest and Twitter) including competitions that you can enter for free to get free classes and treats!

Please look at our class schedule for details on all our classes and book yourself in - you can pay online with our easy to use online booking system.

We look forward to seeing you on the mat soon! www.hummingbirdpilates.co.uk info@hummingbirdpilatesyoga.co.uk 01245 422 556

that we all depend on. In fact, if we all took a few minutes to look around our homes, we are likely to find a number of unused items that we no longer want, that can improve another person’s life.

“Homelessness is a big issue not only in Chelmsford but throughout the UK. Sadly, the preconception of homelessness being solely down to substance misuse or a ‘choice’ still exists. But in reality, the factors which can cause homelessness are usually as a result of unemployment, lack of money, relationship breakdowns, physical and mental health challenges, trauma, abuse and addictions.”

The MP for Chelmsford, Vicky Ford, said: “I would like to thank Samia and all those who help with the A Small Good Thing project.

The Government is committed to ending homelessness, and local councils as well as charities such as CHESS and Sanctus do excellent work. Being able to provide people with a package of toiletries or other personal items may seem like a small thing, but it can also make a huge difference to them. Thank you to everyone for these donations.”

If the public wish to donate, however big or small, donations will be gratefully received. The items can be dropped off from 8.30am to 5pm Monday to Friday at The Essex Youth Service Office (there is a wheelie bin in the gated entrance for donations to be placed in) at 193 Moulsham Street, Chelmsford CM2 0LG. Aternatively, email Samia at samia.uddin14@gmail.com by 30th September 2019.

Donations can also be picked up within the Chelmsford area.

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Yoga During Pregnancy - by Mandy Haynes Pregnancy yoga and yoga during pregnancy are not necessarily one in the same! I am currently pregnant with my second child, and coincidentally in recent months I have gained several pregnant students in my classes, so it seemed like a good time to write about my experience of yoga during pregnancy.

When I was pregnant with my daughter Hope, I had just completed my 200 hour Yoga Teacher Training and decided to continue my training straight away with a prenatal (pregnancy) yoga course. It is something I would have done at some point, but being pregnant myself and wanting to learn more about how yoga can be adapted to accommodate a growing bump, the poses and pranayamas to avoid or modify, and how the breath and relaxation can benefit you during pregnancy and birth, it seemed like the perfect timing.

I taught pregnancy yoga to a lovely group of women during my third and fourth trimester and continued to attend a 90 minute vinyasa flow class with my teacher until I reached 37 weeks of pregnancy, by which point my body needed a rest.

Since having Hope and being fortunate enough not to have to return to full-time employment, I was able to build upon my yoga business and now teach regular vinyasa flow classes.

From very early on in this pregnancy, I was making subtle changes to my own practice, but did not want it to effect the classes that I teach. There are poses that are recommended to avoid during pregnancy, such as closed twists and inversions like shoulder stand and headstand, some that need to be modified as your bump grows and body changes, and some that might feel great one week, and not so good the next. So far my vinyasas have changed; my chaturanga to upward facing dog has become a tricep dip on my knees into cow pose and back bends are not as deep as they once were due to the stretching sensation across the front of the torso. As the weeks go on,

there will be more changes, and potentially less physical teaching and more verbal cues if I get too breathless to do both at the same time!

The key is to listen closely to your body and respect what it’s saying! I use this as a general rule for every yoga student, pregnant or not, but it is particularly important during pregnancy that you are not trying to keep up with the person on the mat next to you, or push yourself through poses that don’t feel right.

As I mentioned, I currently have several students at different stages of pregnancy attend my classes, which I love. Pregnancy yoga is wonderful for those new to yoga, as well as a great way to surround yourself with other mums-to-be and enjoy breathing and relaxation techniques. However, for those that have a regular yoga practice up until pregnancy, they might not want to stop their usual classes and replace it with a only with a pregnancy yoga class. Due to the nature of a vinyasa flow class and the fact that the vast majority of students are not pregnant, I don’t have the time to make adjustments or suggestions for every pose, so although I will always point out things to avoid completely, I do rely on pregnant students being confident and in tune with their bodies and knowing their own best practice. In making the adjustments that are necessary for the changing body, it is possible to surprise yourself and find a version of a pose that actually feels so much better!

Pregnant or not, when life is busy, yoga (even when I’m teaching it) is a wonderful way to take a step back and appreciate your body and all that it does for you (including growing a human!), notice it’s changes, and allow your mind to quieten.

I hope to continue to teach until mid September and return after a couple of months post-birth.

If you would like to join me, or see what else is available at Hummingbird Pilates Yoga, head over to www.hummingbirdpilates. co.uk.

www.chelmsfordthecitytimes.co.uk Page 23

Spot 10 Differences (answers on page 31)

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Quiz Time - by John Theedom (answers on page 31) 1. What is the slang term moolah for?

2. Traditionally, which meat is used in cock-a-leekie soup?

3. Which is the 12th sign of the Zodiac?

4. In which English county is The Market Rasen racecourse?

5. During WW2, what was ENSA? 6. Which animals may be kept in a fold?

7. On a brown sauce bottle, what do the initials HP stand for?

8. Of which country is the maple leaf the national emblem?

9. Pre-euro, which country used the lira?

10. What is meant by the term ‘volive’?

11. A pinata is used for what purpose?

12. Where is the famous hill in the Hovis TV advert?

13. Grace Darling is remembered for saving the crew of which ship in 1838?

14. What type of building is a keep?

15. Omnipotent means what?

16. How tall was Tommy Cooper?

17. What is Ms Sarandon’s first name?

18. To what do the initials KGB refer?

19. On a DVD, what does the ‘E’ rating mean?

20. When, precisely, did WW2 in Europe end?

21. What do the initials BOAC stand for?

22. Which athlete won the 2019 London Marathon a record 4 times and set a course record?

23. The River Tamar separates which two English counties?

24. Which is the only US state to have just one syllable in its name?

25. Which nocturnal African mammal takes It’s name from the Dutch word for earth pig?

26. Prince Charles and Diana were married on which date?

27. When was the emergency number 999 launched in the UK? 28. Who or what is an aviatrix?

29. How much is a ‘bushel and a peck’?

30. Who is the author of Lord of The Rings?

31. Mountain ash is also known by what other name?

32. What is the Danish food, havarti?

33. The rottweiler dog is named after a town in which country?

34. In Spanish cooking, what does the word ‘salsa’ mean?

35. What was the name of the ranch in the TV show Bonanza?

36. What is a raptor?

37. Which country hosted the 2019 FIFA Woman’s World Cup? 38. Which style of music originated in Detroit, USA? 39. In chess, the horse’s head represents what?

40. What is Nigella Lawson’s father’s first name?

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Local Arts for Arts Sake - by Kenneth Louis Shepherd In mid June I ventured along Moulsham Street as I often do. I love the atmosphere, with so few shops owned by chain stores and so many independents - and I like the pubs which are friendly. At this time the Chelmsford Arts Trail was based there .

I was pleased at the quality of the art which was displayed in the shops which took part. It was a much higher standard than I had expected. I personally liked the works of Keith Bird which had a Lowery-esque look about them.

In the trade works which, unlike these, are of a lower standard and are often of a referred to as ‘Sunday art’ no matter what day of the week it was created, it may interest you to know that the experts place Sir Winston Churchill and Adolf Hitler into this category. I write about this in my forthcoming book called To Be or Not to Be. An artist whom I admire, and who in my opinion is underrated, is the Paris based Impressionist named Armand Guilaumin. He did not give up his regular job - in order to earn a crust he worked with for the Government department that dealt with public ways and drains and sewers. A famous artist named Pissarro said ‘he spent his days with us and his nights in the ditches. What guts.’ I speak of this in each of my published books.

I see many fine works displayed in the Co-op Quadrant store. I find the works of Sam Toft to be amusing.

From the Arts Trail Organisers

The Chelmsford Art Trail and Exhibition is a community event designed to showcase the local artistic talent in Chelmsford. These events are organised by a small team of volunteers who put in a lot of work over many months to make them happen. The Art Trail depends on the generosity and good will of the traders along Moulsham Street, who support the event with generous window space. The Art Trail in turn supports local businesses by encouraging footfall.

It is a shame the more upmarket John Lewis and Debenhams stores do not follow this lead.

I feel that it unsatisfactory the a city with the size and status of Chelmsford does not have an art gallery, municipal or otherwise.

Many places much smaller do have such an institution. The tiny town of Hythe has an art gallery in a classic building which looks similar to our Shire Hall. Nearer to home the towns (not cities) of Southend and Saffron Waldon both have art galleries. In Devon and Cornwall many small communities have such places. In Chelmsford, a few works of art can be found in the excellent Chelmsford Museum, but are hidden away in the restaurant.

This venture could be placed in the disused Shire Hall which has stood empty for over four years. The liberal democrat councillor has said that it should be used for cultural purposes rather than for restaurant or retail units. Now that this party has gained many many more seats, maybe this will become the case. Such a prestigious place would attract more people to the city centre; people who will spend money and help the local economy. Our student population at the Ruskin Anglia University and elsewhere would potentially benefit.

I am prepared to launch a campaign to achieve this aim and I am doing it NOW! Best Wishes, Ken up my work, but also to buy some bits from some of the shops we went into. So it shows how important these art trails are. I got to see some great art as well investing in the local traders. Well done for all your hard work and to all the others involved.”

This year for the first time, we also staged the Open Art Exhibition in St Johns Church. We received an extremely warm welcome from the church who had a rota of lovely people who made tea and coffee and supplied delicious cake throughout the event.

The wonderful illustrations in the Hop Beer Shop inspired one regular to bring in some of his granddaughter’s art to share - one piece is now winging its way off to Scotland. People have also commented how they played ‘spot the art’ with their children when walking into town. This is what the event is all about. Getting people to engage with and talk about art and hopefully inspire some to get involved.

To finish with one email received by an artist taking part: “A few of us came on Saturday morning. I haven’t walked up Moulsham Street for years. I’m coming back today, not only to pick Please let our advertisers know you saw their advert in The City Times

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Rotary Seeking Your Views

1st July is all change in Rotary as that is the date of the start of the Rotary year. It also made me think about how to change the public’s perception of Rotary when people hold such deeply entrenched views. It’s not just confined to Rotary, of course, it applies in sport, politics, entertainment, everywhere so why should Rotary be any different?

Rotary is only for men: Wrong! This is a misconception. Rotary started in 1905 as an opportunity for business networking for men, but now women are equally prominent in the workplace so Rotary opened its doors to women thirty years ago. Interestingly, if you look at recruitment figures in Rotary over the last 5-10 years there would be roughly a 50-50 split between the genders. This does mean that to even out the percentages overall there is still a long way to go since it started with 100% men - but as a matter of fact, the last two national presidents have been women.

Rotary is just for old people: Whilst it is true that the average age is much higher than we would like, it is also true that there are many Rotarians in their twenties or thirties and these are bringing fresh ideas and energy. Anyone can join over the age of 18 and there is also a separate group called Rotaract open to 18-30 year olds although they can opt to be a Rotarian without being a Rotaractor first.

You have to be a professional person or a business owner to belong: This isn’t true either. In fact, I was a voting delegate in April in Chicago when a motion was passed to add the word ‘occupation’ into the laws so that it accurately reflects the community. Actually, you don’t have to be in employment at all as newly retired people with time on their hands have much to offer in experience. Rotary welcomes anyone who wishes to give something back to the community.

Cost: Cost seems to put people off, but again this is something that is being addressed. Membership equates to roughly £2.50 per week, the price of a cup of coffee. Many clubs have weekly meals but this isn’t necessary and more and more are moving away from this model to a less formal approach which not only brings the overall cost down but lends itself to a dynamic, project focussed club.

You need to attend every week: As mentioned above, this isn’t necessary and the rule book has been thrown away. What Rotary

is more interested in is that members do whatever they can, so marshalling at a fun run, organising a youth competition, visiting a school all counts as attendance. Some clubs meet every week and that’s fine as well because apart from anything else, Rotary is a great way to meet people and enjoy yourself. By the way, it isn’t essential to wear a suit and tie to a meeting. Smart-casual is fine.

Rotary is political/religious: Definitely not. It is a diverse organisation and has members in around 200 countries in the world. Nor is it a secret society - although you may be excused for thinking it is as people don’t seem to know much about it, hence this article!

Do you need to be invited to join Rotary? Well, I’m asking now. You need to contact your local club and express an interest and go along, meet the people, see if you enjoy it, but also remember there are several clubs nearby and another club may suit you better if the first one doesn’t quite meet your requirements.

What are the benefits of being a Rotarian? I could write a whole chapter on this. There are the friendships you make, the satisfaction you get from helping a cause locally or further afield, there is the opportunity for self-development by increasing your confidence in public speaking and management which will help in your career, there is the opportunity to lead youth teams abroad. As one Rotarian put it, ‘I joined to make a difference, I stayed because I am’.

Rotary addresses many of the inequalities that exist and is all about providing service, its motto is Service Above Self. This can take many forms and is not all about fundraising. Some people think that by giving a donation once in a while that is all they need to do to improve social issues, but whilst it is all well and good putting money into the bucket - someone has to hold the bucket. That’s an analogy and stretches far beyond the literal meaning. Society needs men and women to make things happen and that’s where Rotary steps in, ‘People of Action’. Are you someone who is willing to take the extra step?

I hope that I have answered some of your questions. If you aren’t a Rotarian I would like to know what is stopping you! So please email me at communications@rotary1240.org, or give me a call on 01245 260 349. More information about Rotary can be found on www. rotary1240.org.

Stan Keller

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Stargazing with Mark Willis - July/August 20th July: The Apollo 11 Moon landing is 50 years old today. Apollo 11 was the spaceflight that landed the first two humans on the Moon. Mission commander Neil Armstrong and pilot Buzz Aldrin, both American, landed the lunar module Eagle on July 20th 1969 at 20:18 UTC. Armstrong became the first human to step onto the lunar surface six hours after landing on July 21st at 02:56:15 UTC. The eagle-eyed will have spotted that the USA (and the UK) were both on the night side of Earth. The radio and TV were sent to Parkes Observatory in Australia which then relayed the signals to Mission Control in Houston.

I spent all night and the best part of the next day watching this on TV. I will commemorate this on my radio show on Tuesday 16th and Tuesday 23rd July on Chelmsford Community Radio.

28th- 29th July: the Delta Aquarids meteor shower. After midnight, this meteor shower promises to be very good this year. Equipment needed: dark sky location if possible, deck chair or lounger and hot coffee.

The Summer Triangle: This comprises of three bright stars, Altair, Deneb and Vega. These stars are the first ones to appear in British and European skies each summer. You might be amazed to know that although Altair and Vega (respectively) are a mere 17 and 25 light years distant, Deneb is a monster 3,550 light years distant from Earth. Despite this, Deneb still manages to muster an impressive ranking of the 19th brightest star in the sky, compared to Altair’s and Vega’s brightest rankings of 12th and 5th respectively.

New Moon: On 1st and 30th August there will be a new Moon. This means the skies will be extra dark which is a great opportunity to see planets, galaxies and deep space objects.

As usual, email any questions to mark.willis@ chelmsfordcommunityradio.com.

Mark Willis presents Willis Wireless at the new time of 12pm every Tuesday afternoon on Chelmsford Community Radio on 104.4 FM and online at chelmsfordcommunityradio.com.

Twitter: @WillisWireless

Chelmsford Creative Collective - Jon Atkinson Chelmsford Creative Collective (CCC) is a group of friendly, local creatives. We have an active Facebook group where we share events, discuss collaborations and support each others creative pursuits.

We meet on the last Tuesday of the month at a local pub, please check Facebook or email chelmsfordcreativecollective@gmail.com for details. Everybody is welcome for a drink and a chat!

Introducing Jon Atkinson Jon is based in Holland-on-Sea in Essex and creates papier-mâché sculptures utilising the traditional work process of a wire armature to which he attaches the papier-mâché. Jon’s inspiration at three years old was watching his father’s pastel painting. However, he preferred creating something he could pick up and touch, his most recent papier-mâché project, unsurprisingly, is a piece of machinery.

Jon has displayed his work in The Window Gallery this May and has

also exhibited in Colchester and Japan.

“The sculpture and small objects produced by Jon Atkinson are a special rare three-dimensional trompe-l’oeil. The heightened realism is more than a mere imitation of natural appearances and surfaces.

Each object is given its own special meaning because of the extreme care and skill which has gone into the making. The methods used are as acutely personal as the works themselves. And to find someone with this type of commitment - without the normal avenues of training and support - is exciting, particularly as he has found his own way through a minefield of style and media to a true act of communication.” (John Addymen ARCA)

The Chelmsford Creative Collective has been a major influence on Jon and an inspiration from his conversations with, as he puts it, ‘like minds’ (- not much ‘culture’ in Holland-on-Sea, especially for someone as culturally gregarious as he has been for many years). If he ‘goes on a bit’ at gatherings, bear with him, he’s quite harmless!

The three items he would have with him on a desert island would be a spear with a dual purpose knife on the end for catching and cutting his food, flints for making a fire to cook on and his sanity would be preserved with a complete book of Shakespeare’s sonnets.

Jon’s creative philosophy is simple: ‘If it is paper, can I make it look real?’

August 3rd - August 30th: Group exhibition August 31st - October 4th: Photography exhibition: Windows Within October 5th - November 1st: Matthew Brazier exhibition November 2nd - November 29th: Skateboard exhibition November 30th - January 3rd: Flipping Zombies exhibition

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Money Chicken Pisces Lincolnshire Entertainments National Service Association Sheep Houses of Parliament Canada Italy Consecrated Holding candy Gold Hill, Shaftsbury in Dorset SS Forfare Castle Having unlimited power 6’ 4 Susan Russian Secret Service Exempt from classification 1 minute after midnight on Tuesday 8th May 1945

21. British Overseas Airways Corporation 22. Eliud Kipchoge 23. Devon and Cornwall 24. Maine 25. Aardvark 26. July 29th 1981 27. July 1st 1937 28. A female pilot 29. Bushel = 4 pecks and 1 peck = 2 gallons 30. JRR Tolkien 31. Rowan 32. Cheese 33. Germany 34. Sauce 35. The Ponderosa 36. Bird of prey 37. France 38. Motown 39. The knight 40. Nigel

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