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City Times Intro Hello readers, Welcome to The City Times July edition. We hope you are all looking forward to brighter and better times ahead, moving forwards and not backwards again. With England reaching the final in the Euros and being only narrowly beaten, let’s hope that this too helps bring us all together! If you have anything to tell us, or if there is an event you know of, then our readers would also like to know about it, so please get in touch! If you want to publicise your business, we can also advertise this for you. Please also remember to let our advertisers know that you saw their advert in The City Times. Stay safe and well and have a great summer. Paul & Nick www.thecitytimes.co.uk | www.moulshamtimes.com Advertising Editorial Nick Garner Paul Mclean 07970 206682 01245 262082 / 07595 949701 ads@itsyourmedia.co.uk editorial@itsyourmedia.co.uk
it’s your media Ltd 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 Warners (Midlands) PLC.
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City Times Food: Umami and You - By Lisa Whittle Do you have a sweet tooth? Or are you more of a savoury person? If you’re the latter you may have taste buds more wired for what is known as ‘umami’ - a taste that is officially the fifth flavour. Bespoke umami paste is available from When I was at school I learned that supermarkets there were four tastes detected by our tongues - sour, sweet, bitter and salty - and every other flavour is made up of these. Well, they missed out umami apparently which was ‘invented’ (or discovered) as long ago as 1908 by a Japanese chemist called Professor Kikunae Ikeda, but has since been refined and closely defined. He named the fifth distinct flavour ‘umami’ which means ‘essence of deliciousness’ in Japanese, and its taste is often described as the meaty, savoury taste that deepens flavour. In other words it’s the intense, savoury tasty, moreishness, the extra zing, that extra something, that extra depth of flavour that makes you want more and feel satisfied. It’s a savoury yumminess that’s not exactly saltiness. Foods associated with this taste are: Garlic and onion. Mature cheesy flavours. Miso. Soy sauce/liquid aminos. Anchovies and anchovy paste. Tuna and sardines. Worcestershire sauce. Thai fish sauce. Shellfish. Meaty tastes, especially cured meats. Ripe flavoursome tomatoes. Concentrated tomato paste and sundried tomatoes. Mushrooms. Truffle oil. Marmite/yeast extract. Savoury nutty tastes. Fermented foods. Seaweeds such as kombu. It’s even in green tea. To define it further, umami provides a taste that spreads across the tongue and is long lasting. It has a complexity Umami food cupboard to it that is somehow balanced and staples literally makes the mouth water with increased salivation. To get technical, umami is the taste of glutamate, an amino acid that is one of the building blocks of protein. Glutamate occurs naturally in the human body and in many delicious foods that we eat every day, and it was this that Professor Ikeda discovered by analysing his dashi seaweed soup. Professor Shintaro Kodama, a disciple of Ikeda, discovered in 1913 that dried bonito flakes (a type of tuna) contained another umami substance - the ribonucleotide IMP. In 1957, Akira Kuninaka realised that the ribonucleotide GMP present in shiitake mushrooms also gave the umami taste. One of the most important discoveries that Kuninaka found was the synergistic effect between ribonucleotides and glutamate. When
foods rich in glutamate are combined with ingredients that have ribonucleotides, the resulting taste intensity is higher than would be expected from merely adding the individual ingredients. This synergy of umami may help explain various classical food pairings: the Japanese make dashi soup with kombu seaweed and dried bonito flakes; the Chinese add Chinese leek and Chinese cabbage to chicken soup, as do the Scots in the similar Scottish dish of cock-a-leekie soup; and Italians combine Parmesan cheese on tomato sauce with mushrooms. All of these are high in umami taste. Certainly, this taste has been known to be eaten if not craved by many cultures in history including the Romans, ancient Chinese and medieval arabs - mainly by using fermented sauces in their cuisine. Some of you may associate the term glutamate with another culinary product that is highly connected to this discussion - monosodium glutamate or MSG. After Professor Ikeda’s discovery of umami as glutamate, he went on to begin a company producing the first monosodium glutamate under the trade name Ajinomoto - and its still available today. You could say MSG is the purest form of umami, but it’s also an artificial version of it. Nevertheless, it is legal and widely used in food manufacturing as a flavour enhancer. It is sometimes known as ‘savoury chemical magic’ because it can make the most nondescript food transcendently tasty. Although it sounds like a miracle product, it unfortunately contains the element sodium - as does sodium chloride (common salt) which is something we are being advised to eat less of for better health and less risk of strokes and heart attacks. The World Health Organisation is recommending a 30 percent reduction for most people. Although the umami taste has been hailed as a way of shifting our plate away from saltiness, and scientific experiments have shown umami does make low-salt food more attractive to people, we need to create this with more natural food methods than MSG otherwise we are just replacing one form of sodium with another. More natural methods are available now; both Waitrose and M&S have an ‘umami paste’ that you can add to soups, stews and stir fries. The fashion for Korean food tastes is in part umami combined with hot spices and is now widely available to add to dishes. Adding foods from the list above means you can’t go wrong - food cupboard staples such as soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, liquid aminos, Marmite, Engevita yeast flakes, onion or garlic powder, smoked paprika and sundried tomato paste will add an umami depth of flavour. If you’re looking for further inspiration, look at Adam Fleischman’s book Flavour Bombs: The Umami Ingredients that Make Taste Explode. He became so fascinated by his craving and love for what he later realised was umami that The Piglet - a chocolately umami dessert he began a burger chain in the USA called Umami Burger, maxing out each dish with umami-loading foods - even the desserts! He has one he calls The Piglet - it’s a dark chocolate desert with dried powdered porcini mushrooms hidden within the biscuit base. Apparently it doesn’t taste mushroomy, it tastes earthy and chocolately. Another example of umami yumminess or an ‘umami bomb’ as Adam Fleischmann would call it. For a quick way to add umami flavour to any recipe, Adam Fleishman recommends making your own ‘umami dust’ - take your pick out of dried kombu seaweed, dried shittake mushrooms, dried anchovies, garlic granules, powdered soy sauce, salt and white pepper. Mix it together and keep it for when needed.
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Nick’s Music and Ramblings So, it is looking like we are unlocking now, and it will be our own choice to continue to wear a mask in certain places, I know I will. Let’s hope this goes ahead as businesses - including the hospitality, entertainment and similar industry sectors - need it so we can survive going forward. I went to visit my daughter the other week for my grandson’s birthday with some of their friends as well as my son. It was fantastic to see my grandchildren and for them to be able to have their friends around as well - it made me very happy, and Amber sent me home with some of her amazing home-cooked food which was scrumptious and fed me twice. It has been good to see places getting busier, but sadly also the roads are busy again too - maybe people are using their own vehicles rather than public transport, are you?
One event I am pleased to see happening in Chelmsford is the Chelmsford Festival which I started back in 2018. Although it is scaled down this year due the uncertainty of what is happening with Covid, Edith, Tony and the team have pulled it off - well done! I went to see the art exhibition in the Art Place in the Meadows on Saturday. There was also lots of pop-up entertainment in the High Street which put a smile on everyone’s faces, mine included. There’s still lots more going on including the carnival on 1st August. To find out more either call into the Art Place, or visit www.fb.com/chelmsfordfestival. I think there are a couple of tickets left for the rescheduled one-day festival on Saturday 7th August with The Dualers, Neville Staple (The Specials), From The Jam (Bruce Foxton of The Jam) and others. This
event is in Admirals Park in partnership with the festival. If you know of any events open to the public that are occurring, please let us know and we will list it for free in our What’s On guide. If you have anything to say or anything else you think we should all know about, then please send it to the editorial email address below. I hope we can keep this pandemic under control so we can all move forward, although it will probably never be as before, I’m pretty sure of that. As I always say, we must now concentrate on our planet and everything on and in it whether above or below ground. It is us yes you and I who are making a mess of it, so we must act now to save it. Let’s stop using plastic and all this packaging; recycle and repurpose and do not throw so much away please. Music At last I have some live music to write about! I have recently been to a festival I have also started to put on shows at long last. I have now been to three socially distanced gigs at Barry’s Blues Barn in Witham. The first was Trevor Babajack Steeger back in May, then Connor Selby and Joe Anderton and lastly Matt Long - all these have also played for me in Chelmsford in the past, and Connor and his full band will be playing on Friday 1st October at Chelmsford City FC - one not-to-be-missed show. Barry’s Blues Barn is by invitation only being that it is basically his back garden. It is fabulous what this passionate man has created for himself and us to enjoy. I have also been to my first festival in Dorchester called Raising Spirits - I was there as the photographer. It was wet and got rather cold, but it was so good and great fun and l made some fab new friends who I am seeing again at Wickham Fest in August. The festival is the brainchild of one of the world’s top boogie rock ‘n’ roll pianists, Ben Waters, and he played with his band and had a host of amazing local talent play throughout the festival, including his son and daughter. Robbie McIntosh and his band closed the festival. I will be going back next year for sure as it was in a beautiful walled garden and was just so friendly and well run. I put my first show on the other week with Slim Chance and the Ugly Guys. Neither have played live for over year, so they were both nervous at first but very quickly fell back into it and had a great time as did all of those watching the show. We were nervous as the equipment had not been out in over a year, and it was the first time for most of our streaming equipment. Barring a couple of small hiccups (only noticed by us) it was an outstanding success. By the time this magazine is out we will have had our next two, with Wille and the Bandits with Calum Ingram, and Robin Bibi with his big band and Jeff Chapman’s Roosters. Then we have a short break and return on Friday 3rd September with the man who was number one when we won the World Cup back in 1966 - Chris Farlowe with Out Of Time which was written for him by Keith Richards and Mick Jagger. Handbags and Gladrags was another written for Chris - by by Mike D’Abo of Manfred Mann. Chris also sang with the bands Atomic Rooster and Colosseum and he is still in great voice. Playing with Chris will be his good friend Norman Beaker and his band. Expect great fun and banter! Opening on the night will be Mississippi MacDonald. Details and links are below and in the advert in this publication. It would be fantastic if you could share our magazines The City Times and Moulsham Times for us. We continue to publish both magazines online at www.issuu.com/itsyourmedia. If you are interested in advertising with us please contact us at ads@itsyourmedia.co.uk or if you have a comment or an article please send to editorial@ itsyourmedia.co.uk and we will reply to you as soon as we can. For all my updates and to find information on the Black Frog Presents events, just go to www.linktr.ee/BlackFrogPresents or scan the QR code in my poster in this magazine.
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OLD PARK MEADOW NATURAL BURIAL GROUND
We offer burial and ash interments, funerals, celebrations of life, services and wakes. Adaptable to any ceremony and a completely personalised service from plaque to music. Reserving a plot in advance is also possible. Assurance of a caring and compassionate experience. Coppice Lane, North End, between Chelmsford and Great Dunnmow, Essex, CM6 3PL Tel: 01245 806332 Email: info@oldparkmeadow.co.uk Web: www.oldparkmeadow.co.uk
Old Park Meadow Natural Burial Ground
Old Park Meadow is a natural burial ground between Chelmsford and Great Dunmow. Located in a tranquil setting in the heart of Essex, formerly farmland, our 34-acre site consists of a variety of grasses, trees and wildflowers, creating the perfect space for natural burials. We offer burial and ash interment plots as well as being able to hold funerals, services, celebrations of life and wakes. We are committed to caring for the environment and have endeavoured to create wildflower meadows and young woodland that are both sustainable and beautiful. In collaboration with the Essex Wildlife Trust, the RSPB and the Woodland Trust we are trying to ensure all our flora and fauna contributes to the surrounding ecosystem, providing a haven for local wildlife. We hope that continuing in this manner will lead to a sustainable eco-system that can thrive here for generations, ensuring a profound environmental legacy for anyone buried or interred here.
attention they deserve. We take it upon ourselves to ensure every ceremony is of the highest standard and understand that nothing should be left to chance on such an important day. Our experienced team will always be on hand to guide you through the funeral process.
With traditional burial grounds becoming overcrowded, the blossoming, vibrant and sustainable lands of Old Park Meadow offer a stunning alternative for saying goodbye. The Lodge is perfect for services and weather permitting the doors can be open allowing the outside to come inside.
There are no time constraints and no fixed rules or formats. We have found that families appreciate the fact that we do not rush them in and out. We are open to people of all faiths and beliefs regardless of where they live and treat every family with the delicate care and Please let our advertisers know you saw their advert in The City Times
We offer time and space in such a beautiful place, with peace and tranquillity all around. Caring staff who go above and beyond make Old Park Meadow so special. We also have a voluntary gardening club and coffee mornings every Wednesday, so please do come along and ask any questions that you may have, or just enjoy the grounds.
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City Times Gardening With everything growing well, it’s time to think about taking a few more stem cuttings. This is a great time for semi-ripe cuttings and stem cuttings. As a stem cutting, they are taken from the current season’s growth that has started to become woody, but still has leaves. Propagating plants by semi-ripe cuttings is a fast and simple way to produce large numbers of genetically identical plants in a relatively short period of time.
cuttings such as conifers, a sandier 3:1 mix is preferable.
Semi-ripe cuttings are used to propagate a wide range of plants but it’s particularly good method for propagating flowering shrubs such as Philadelphus coronarius (mock orange), Weigela ‘Florida Variegata’, Forsythia x intermedia, Viburnum x bodnantense (Viburnum), Cistus spp. (Rock Rose), and Salvia rosmarinus (Rosemary).
Small numbers of cuttings can be successfully grown in 13cm half pots with the cuttings inserted around the outside. Single cuttings can be placed in individual 9cm pots.
Many of these plants can be rooted in a cold frame, but others such as Camellia spp. may require a mist bench in a protected environment to root, otherwise success will be low. Propagation Material Selection and Timing The parent plant selected for propagation should be healthy, vigorous, pest and disease free and true to type. Sappy, damaged, spindly and flowering growth should be avoided. If the only material available has flower buds, ensure these are removed when the cutting is prepared. Collect cutting material early in the morning when the plant is turgid. Further water loss can be minimised by placing the material in a damp plastic bag and using as soon as possible. The timing and method used varies between species, but most semiripe cuttings are taken in late summer (July to September). Conifers are propagated in February/March. Growing Media A suitable growing medium for rooting most cuttings is a 50/50 horticultural sand and peat or peat substitute mix. For slow to root
Over 25 years experieince
Containers The type of container used depends on the number and species of cutting taken. Hygiene is important to prevent the spread of fungal diseases. Pots and containers should be sterilised, rinsed in clean water and left to dry before use.
Seed trays are suitable for growing large numbers of small cuttings such as heathers and conifers. Modular trays are ideal for most types of cuttings and are easy to handle and ensure minimal root disturbance when the rooted plants are potted up. Care must be taken with watering as modular trays dry out more quickly than seed trays. Tools and Equipment: Sharp Propagation Knife A good quality, clean, sharp propagation knife is essential to ensure minimal damage to the cutting and for health and safety reasons. The knife should be sharpened before propagating and cleaned and oiled after use. Labels and Pens All plants should be clearly labelled to avoid confusion and waste. Ensure the pen is waterproof. Record the name of the plant and the date the cuttings were taken. Rooting Hormone Semi-ripe cuttings should be treated with a medium-strength rooting hormone. These sometimes contain fungicides to reduce the possibility of fungal infections.
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Growing Environment Semi-ripe cuttings are less prone to desiccation (water loss) than softwood cuttings but are slower to root. As they are less prone • Trees • Pruning • Hedges • Roots Removed • Topping • Patios to desiccation, they require less environmental protection than softwood cuttings. • Rotovating • Turfing • Fencing • Garden Design • Decking
• Block Paving • Tar & Shingle • Guttering • Chimney Repairs • Building Work• Roofing • Fascias & Soffits • Drainage solutions Place the cuttings in a cold frame or more difficult to root specimens
on a mist bench with soil warming cables, or in a propagator. This will increase success rates and speed of rooting, but most will root quite satisfactorily in a cold frame. Follow this step-by-step guide to taking semi-ripe nodal stem cuttings: • Cut off a shoot to include all current season’s growth. Remove the tip, if it is soft, just above a node. • Shorten the cutting to 5 - 7.5cm, cutting just beneath a node. Remove the leaves from the lower half of the cutting. • Dip the bottom end of the cutting in rooting hormone. Insert the cutting to half its length in the growing medium, firm the compost around the cutting. • Label and water. • Check out this visual guide: schoolgardening.rhs.org.uk/ resources/sequence-card/how-to-take-semi-ripe-cuttings. Check out this link for July gardening tasks: www.rhs.org.uk/advice/ in-month/july.
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CROSSROADS Braintree & Chelmsford Braintree Day Respite Centre
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Held every Friday 10am - 3pm Braintree Baptist Church Blyths Meadow, Coggeshall Road, Braintree £38 includes a raffle, a cooked lunch & entertainment for the day! Places are limited & subject to eligibility. Crossroads also provide a respite service in your own home braintreexroads@btconnect.com Charity No. 1059393
Crossroads Respite Care My husband suffers with a rare autoimmune disease called Susac Syndrome, which has affected aspects of his brain and mobility. This has had a drastic impact on our daily life and left me in a situation where I have to deal with all the usual household tasks as well as looking after my husband - and I am not getting any younger.
My first reaction was to be scared of what I would be taking on and it felt like my own life was ending. Like most people in my situation, I get very stressed and tired and worry constantly about the impact on my own health of caring for someone else - I feel it has deteriorated over the last few years. Although I do just get on with my life the best I can, I have not been able to continue with my rambling groups or my aqua aerobics classes which I used to enjoy, and I miss the cycle rides that we both used to do prior to his illness. I contacted Crossroads when my husband first came home from a rehabilitation centre where he had spent 18 months and firstly received assistance in applying for Attendance Allowance and Carers Respite Allowance. Unlike most people, my husband needed someone to take him out for
walks and coffee who could make good conversation and encourage him to chat and socialise. In his mind he didn’t see why he needed a carer and expected me to take him out all the time. I couldn’t have wished for a better carer than the one provided by Crossroads who was able to deal with him sensitively while also dealing with some difficult moments. The carer also used to accompany my husband to his hydrotherapy class once a week and sometimes to the gym. This made things so much easier as he had someone different to talk to and I had someone to take care of him so I could do other things without feeling too guilty. A big part of both of our lives was and still is our grandchildren. I looked after my granddaughter for two days a week prior to my husband’s illness and continued to do this while he was in rehabilitation and when he came home. The grandchildren help take my mind off other things and help stop me feeling sorry for myself, even though it can be tiring sometimes. Having a carer allowed me to start thinking about myself more and I use the time to have lunch or coffee with friends, go for a massage or go walking with a group. Luckily our two sons and families live close by and we see them often, although I don’t see my siblings on a regular basis. I had a taste of what life would be like without a carer during the Covid lockdowns, and it was difficult at times. I also wondered whether my husband would refuse to have carers again after the break, but fortunately he seemed to be ok with it. He still doesn’t seem to understand why he needs a carer, but he enjoys the company anyway. He can’t walk quite so far at the moment due to a fractured hip, so they enjoy doing some adult Lego kits together for some of the time as he needs some support to do this. I think Crossroads provides a unique service which is different from a care agency and is ideal if the person needing care wants a friendly face and someone who they can make easy conversation with. I would definitely recommend their service.
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Regal Kitchens - Case Study
Mr and Mrs T’s New in-Frame Kitchen in Mundon, Essex Mr and Mrs T had lived in their property for around 2 years. They had quite a modern kitchen which they inherited from the previous owners, but the current layout or amount of storage available didn’t work for them or their family. They did look at other local kitchen companies, but Mr T’s parents had employed Regal a few years previously and were delighted with their new kitchen, so it seemed right to visit Regal’s Chelmsford showroom. The entire downstairs of the house is open-plan and therefore the new kitchen needed to be functional as well as beautiful. They saw the kitchen area as the hub of the home, so it was important that we achieved the right layout that would work for the whole family as well as installing products that were on their wish list.
make any changes to the ceiling or the island, the new Neff venting hob was chosen to be installed too, meaning their guests can feel involved whilst they are being entertained with no downdraft extractor restricting views and use of the island. The beautiful in-frame look and stunning Cambria quartz was continued through to the utility room, where their laundry appliances were housed. The clients love their new kitchen and have already started recommending us to friends and family. Regal Kitchens showroom situated at 2 Navigation Road, Chelmsford, CM2 6HX is open 7-days per week between 10am and 4pm. Free parking available. www.regalkitchens.net
As soon as they saw the display of bespoke, in-frame furniture, they knew it was the kitchen for them, so they invited our designer out to visit their home. It was important to the clients to get the right appliances, and as the flooring wasn’t being altered, the design had to accommodate this. The appliance wish list for their new kitchen comprised of coffee machine, oven, dishwasher, hob, extractor, fridge, freezer, washing machine and tumble dryer, as well as other accessories like a water softener, kettle tap and pull out bins. The clients decided on all of the above. Additionally a microwave oven combi was installed, and so not to Page 10
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City Times Finance
Myths
The elephant in the room - are these myths stopping you from getting financial advice? I don’t know about you but I love a good bit of research. The facts behind the numbers are not always easy to comprehend, so let’s have a look at some of the stats in more detail.
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.
1. Research says: 35% think they can take care of their finances* We say: Everyone is different and some absolutely can while others not so much. However, advised clients are on average £47,000 better off after 10 years***. Even if you are not easily impressed, it’s hard not to see value in that!
Next City Times Issue Deadlines:
2. Research says : 47% think financial advice is too expensive* We say: Most of the clients that approach us do not know how much our advice actually costs, what it includes or why some advisers use different charging structures, eg, fixed fee, hourly or percentage of the investment or mixture thereof.
Articles - 6th August
3. Research says: 45% believe that advisers are only interested in selling you something*
Artwork - 13th August
We say: We have legal responsibility and duty of care to only ever recommend products tailored specifically to your needs. Simply put, we are not salespeople!
Issue Date - 19th August
4. Research says: 17% don’t like discussing their finances* We say: Speaking to an adviser is no different to asking your doctor or solicitor for help - we are simply financial experts, we love helping others and we don’t bite!
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5. Research says: 41% of respondents opine that advisers only provide advice on products that earn a commission* We say: In reality we do not get any commission for recommendation on pensions, investments and retirement income products. 6. Research says: 29% don’t trust advisers* We say: Did you know that 8 out of 10 advised clients say that trustworthiness is one of their adviser’s top 3 qualities!** What say you!? 7. For those 22% that think financial advice is not for them, research indicates that 1.5 million individuals would probably look for advice if they knew how advisers can help - knowledge is key! You may be one of the 15% who don’t think that they need financial advice - let’s have an initial chat to see how we can help you with managing your money and plan for the future. Source*: Exploring the advice gap. April 2021, Royal London customer research Source**: Feeling the benefit of financial advice, September 2020, Royal London customer research Source***: What it’s worth - Revitalising the value of financial advice, December 2019 Silvia Johnson BSc(Hons) DipPFS EFA CertCII (MP) is a Director & Independent Financial Adviser at Royale Thames Wealth Ltd. https://www.royalthameswealth.co.uk silvia@royalthameswealth.co.uk 020 8720 7249 / 07908 109 741
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A12 CHELMSFORD TO A120 WIDENING PUBLIC CONSULTATION HAVE YOUR SAY We are holding a public consultation on proposals to widen the existing A12 between junctions 19 and 25 to three lanes in each direction (where it is not already) and create a three-lane bypass in each direction at Rivenhall End. The proposals also include a bypass between junctions 24 (Feering) and 25 (A120 Marks Tey interchange). For more information, visit our online exhibition at www.highwaysengland.co.uk/A12 Give us your views Online via the response form at www.highwaysengland.co.uk/A12 Complete the consultation response form available from the pick-up locations and return the form to FREEPOST A12 WIDENING Email your response to A12chelmsfordA120wide@highwaysengland.co.uk Write to us at FREEPOST A12 WIDENING All responses should be returned by 11.59pm on Monday 16 August 2021. Subject to the government’s COVID-19 guidelines, we plan to hold public information events. Here you can find out more about the proposed scheme and speak to members of the project team who will be happy to answer any questions you may have. Public information events Location
Date/Time
Phone number
Marks Tey Village Hall Old London Road, Marks Tey, Colchester, CO6 1EJ
Friday 23 July 2021 2pm – 8pm
01206 213250
Springfield Parish Hall St Augustine’s Way, Springfield, Chelmsford, CM1 6GX
Saturday 24 July 2021 12pm – 5pm
01245 466313
info@fortephysicalhealth.co.uk fortephysicalhealth.co.uk fortephysicalhealth
Feering Community Centre Coggeshall Road, Feering, Colchester, CO5 9QB
Tuesday 27 July 2021 2pm – 8pm
01376 572467
Pick-up locations You can get a copy of the consultation brochure and supporting materials at the following locations: • Braintree Library, Fairfield Road, Braintree, CM7 3YL, 0345 603 7628 • Chelmsford City Council Customer Service Centre, Duke Street, Chelmsford, CM1 1JE, 01245 606606 • Colchester Library and Community Hub, Colchester Library, Trinity Square, Colchester, CO1 1JB, 0345 603 7628 • Copford Village Hall, School Road, Copford, Colchester, CO6 1BX, 01206 211235 • Essex County Council, County Hall, Market Road, Chelmsford, CM1 1QH, 0345 743 0430 • Hatfield Peverel Library, The Street, Hatfield Peverel, Chelmsford, CM3 2DP, 0345 603 7628 • High Chelmer Shopping Centre, 15A Exchange Way, Chelmsford, CM1 1XB, 01245 260755 • Kelvedon Library, Aylett’s Foundation School, Maldon Road, Kelvedon, CO5 9BA, 0345 603 7628 • Maldon Town Council, Market Hill, Maldon, CM9 4RL, 01621 857373 • Marks Tey Parish Council, Old London Road, Marks Tey, Colchester, CO6 1EJ, 01206 213250 • Springfield Library, St Augustine’s Way, Springfield, Chelmsford, CM1 6GX, 0345 603 7628 • St Mary’s Parish Church, Easthorpe Road, Easthorpe, Colchester, CO5 9HD, 01206 738759 • Tiptree Library, Rectory Road, Tiptree, CO5 0SX, 0345 603 7628 • Witham Library, 18 Newland Street, Witham, CM8 2AQ, 0345 603 7628 If you have any queries please contact the project team by email at A12chelmsfordA120wide@highwaysengland.co.uk or by calling 0300 123 5000.
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Chelmsford Rotarian Wins Prestigious Award Gloria Nichols from Chelmsford who is a past President of Brentwood Breakfast Rotary Club, has been given a Champions of Change award by Rotary International in Great Britain and Ireland. In previous years, pre-Covid, this award would have taken place in the Houses of Parliament in either the Lords or the Commons, but alas like so many other events, the ceremony was held virtually on the 30th June. There are only 12 Champions of Change in the whole country for this annual award for outstanding and inspirational humanitarian and community service by Rotarians. Gloria has been instrumental in promoting and supporting Mary’s Meals, a charity based in Scotland, which supports the provision of meals in underdeveloped countries. The charity introduced a Schools Backpack Project to supply backpacks containing everything a child may need during a school day, including essentials such as clothing, water, pens and pencils and much more besides. Gloria, a long-time supporter of Mary’s Meals, became the principal organiser of the project here in the Rotary District covering all of Essex. Thanks to her efforts, over 200 backpacks were sent to children in Malawi, where some of the world’s poorest children live. By supplying these everyday items, money was freed up to ensure the basic object of Mary’s Meals is achieved - ensuring each child has a proper meal every day. How fortunate we are in the UK where such poverty does not exist!
Gloria (centre) helping out the Young Chef Final at Anglia Ruskin University
Many worthy candidates nominated across the whole of the 1,700 Rotary clubs nationally were considered - and with only a dozen awards, Gloria’s contribution had to be exceptional. Amongst the other winners were help for fitting prosthetic limbs to amputees in Pakistan and supporting adults with learning difficulties gain employment opportunities. President of Rotary International in Great Britain and Ireland, Tom Griffin, commented: “The Champions Awards are about giving those who pioneer, lead and support some amazing volunteering projects the recognition they deserve. The selfless and truly life-changing impact of our Champions really demonstrates how we can make a difference and touch people’s lives. Rotary is certainly a place where people can turn their passion and ideas into lasting change. There are so many heroes out there and to them I say thank you and keep doing what you are doing. Gloria is a worthy recipient of this award.” In the virtual ceremony Gloria said: “I am delighted and honoured to receive this award and I would like to thank my Rotary Club for all their help and support as well as all the other clubs in District 1240 for their continued support for this amazing cause. Mary’s Meal has been close to my heart for at least the last ten years. Today it provides nutritious daily meals to nearly two million children across four continents, encouraging them to attend school. Support is global and I am a proud supporter of this incredible charity and I thank Rotary for this recognition.” Gloria has been a leader in the community, not just in Rotary, over many years and she is now putting her enthusiasm behind a campaign to raise £15,000 for a dialysis machine for Broomfield Hospital. She shows what can be achieved by Rotarians working together.
Gloria promoting the Backpack Project at a Rotary conference If you would like to find out how you can be involved, and bring your ideas to the fore, visit www.rotary1240.org or give me a call on 01245 260 349 for details of Rotary clubs near you. Stan Keller
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Please quote M&S
Chelmsford Community Radio - Paul Dupree “I’d always had an idea of how I wanted to broadcast, having listened to the likes of John Peel and Kenny Everett growing up, and one of my shows, Transmission, broadcast on Wednesday nights, is a mix of those two styles introducing the listeners to new alternative music - whether local or otherwise - with guest musicians in the studio playing live, but all underpinned with a sense of humour.
We are really proud of the diverse choice of shows here on Chelmsford Community Radio and would like to introduce you to some of our presenters. Second up is Paul Dupree: “I got into community radio in 2015 after long spells of residency work, four years as the first DJ at the Bassment venue here in Chelmsford in the late nineties, and then until 2013 doing regular Saturday nights at the Anchor in Moulsham Street, as well as mobile disco work, including weddings, all of which had been a hobby while slogging out a career in IT, which I took retirement from last year one week before the first lockdown!
“My soul roots which stem back to the seventies never left me though, and my Saturday night show Paul Dupree Gives Up The Funk tries to recreate the pure joy I felt at that age in hearing and enjoying soul, funk and disco music, although playing many up-to-date tracks as well as the classics. “As well as the radio shows themselves, I now have a very good rapport with many musicians, venues and businesses, and to that end we will be putting together some Transmission show-branded showcase evenings at various venues when standup live audiences are viable again. “One of the most gratifying aspects of being part of the Chelmsford Community Radio family is the amount of freedom we have been given as broadcasters to choose the style and content of our shows, which has allowed many like myself to grow into our roles and develop. I think you would find it hard to find many similar operations that offer these opportunities. “I hope you’ll listen in at some point!” Transmission: Wednesdays 8:30pm - 11pm Paul Dupree Gives Up The Funk: Saturdays 8pm - 10pm www.chelmsfordcommunityradio.com
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What’s On All events are correct at time of going to press. Please check with the venue for updates.
July
August
Friday 16th CCFC - Robin Bibi Big Band + Connor Selby & Joe Anderton Civic Theatre - Tell Me on a Sunday Hotbox - Stealing Signs + Last Hyena + Mandeville Saturday 17th Hotbox - Parafrenilia + Herausgezogen Wednesday 21st Hotbox - Skate Night Thursday 22nd Hotbox - Jar Records Presents: Toads + The Whomp Rats Friday 23rd Civic Theatre - Dance Projection World Cup Showcase Hotbox - Rugged Raw 3 Saturday 24th Civic Theatre - Dance Projection World Cup Showcase Hotbox - Raz Sunday 25th Civic Theatre - Essex Dance Theatre Showcase 2021 Hotbox - Thomas Headon Monday 26th Civic Theatre - Dragons & Mythical Beasts Tuesday 27th Civic Theatre - Dragons & Mythical Beasts Wednesday 28th Civic Theatre - Dragons & Mythical Beasts Hotbox - Skate Night Thursday 29th Hotbox - Sergio Villas Live Set Nationwide Christian Trust - Lunchtime Special, 3 course and musicians (Mulberry House, High Ongar 01277 365 398) Friday 30th Hotbox - Rolled Up Sleeves Saturday 31st Civic Theatre - Fireman Sam Saves the Circus Hotbox - Black Pines + Mia Joan
Sunday 1st Chelmsford Carnival (www.chelmsfordcarnival.co.uk) Wednesday 4th Hotbox - Skate Night Thursday 5th Hotbox - Walking Through Walls + Snow in Slow Motion Friday 6th Admirals Park - The House & Garage Orchestra Saturday 7th Admirals Park - The Dualers + From the Jam + Neville Staples + Bad Manners Hotbox - Deh-Yey + The Penny Antics Wednesday 11th Hotbox - Skate Night Thursday 12th Civic Theatre - I Wish Friday 13th Civic Theatre - I Wish Hotbox - 7th Tier Presents: Alternate State Saturday 14th Civic Theatre - I Wish Hotbox - Cosmology Sunday 15th Hotbox - Zak Barrett & Friends Tuesday 17th Nationwide Christian Trust - Ladies Day with Helen Azer (Mulberry House, High Ongar - 01277 365 398) Wednesday 18th Hotbox - Skate Night Thursday 19th Hotbox - Sweet Crisis Friday 20th Hotbox - Shakey’s Sessions: Beans on Toast Saturday 21st Hotbox - Yes Grasshopper + The Horse Heads
Chelmsford Library
The Summer Reading Challenge is here! It is taking place in all our libraries and is open to all children.
is completed. We are looking forward to seeing you all!
The theme is Wild World Heroes working in partnership with the World Wildlife Fund.
To find out more and to keep up-to-date, or to follow us on Facebook or Twitter or subscribe to our newsletter, go to our website: libraries.essex.gov.uk.
Sign up from 10th July and receive rewards for reading six books during the summer with a medal and certificate when the challenge
As Covid restrictions continue to ease, we will be able to restart many of our activities and events - watch this space for information or check our website and social media for updates.
We will continue to adhere to Government guidelines regarding Covid safety measures to ensure your visit will be safe and enjoyable. Come and see us soon!
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City Times History
Transport in Chelmsford (Part One) - By Stephen Norris Transport in and around Chelmsford during the last 140 years, part one: ‘This smelly, scruffy embarrassment to our county town’ The above verdict of Chelmsford’s bus station was delivered by a local newspaper in 2002. It could equally have been applied to Chelmsford’s transport system in the late twentieth century, which had evolved over the previous century but was manifestly not ‘fit for purpose’. As a market town, roads were always likely to be crucial to Chelmsford’s development. Much of the town had been wedged in between two rivers since the Middle Ages which with a network of narrow streets, threatened in the early part of our period at least, to limit the expansion of the town. Chelmsford’s rivers were susceptible to serious flooding until they were reconfigured in the centre of the town during the 1960s. The Chelmer and Blackwater Navigation had played an important part in the previous expansion of the town, but by the 1880s it was declining in importance. Chelmsford had been reached by the railways 40 years before municipalisation and these were to play a vital role in its industrialisation. As was the case with many towns of its size, the advent of the motor car put pressures on the traditional structure of the town which it hadn’t been designed to handle. It is strange that all the controversy and enquiries into Chelmsford’s bypass made it the last major town on the A12 to receive one. Its county town status obviously didn’t bear any weight when it came to a major decision such as this. Prior to the creation of the borough, and also of the Essex County Council, the maintenance and building of roads in the Chelmsford area had been the responsibility of the local Highways Board which covered the rural district as well as the town. As early as 1880 there was discussion in the local papers about the possible dissolution of this board. The Essex Chronicle was critical of the state of the local roads, it thought gravel - the local stone - shouldn’t be used, but didn’t want any more money being spent in this case on bringing in granite by railway because the Board of Health was already spending large amounts on its new sewerage scheme. Its dissolution would have meant the responsibility for the roads falling on the parishes. This ensured the immediate survival of the Highways Board. Footpaths remained often in an appalling state especially in rural areas, with little or no scavenging carried out. One cause of the roads being broken up was the increasing use of heavy traction engines by farmers. They also caused problems in Chelmsford itself. In 1885 the Weekly News complained that ‘traction engines are constantly being driven through the town at a speed far in excess of the 2 miles an hour allowed by parliament. On many occasions within the last few months these ponderous engines have passed through the High Street at a speed of at least 4 or 5 miles hour, causing houses on either side to oscillate to an extent which must be dangerous both to buildings and occupants’. In 1883 the Highways Board bought a new road roller which was drawn by 2 horses to roll the granite in better. Another, more easily seen cause of destruction of the roads was the susceptibility of low-lying Chelmsford to regular spells of flooding. In 1882 both the Chelmer and the Can overflowed their banks and submerged large areas either side. Severe storms in 1885, with two and a half inches of rain in two hours, made the roads and streets impassable. In 1888 a rapid thaw of snow and ice caused the overflowing water to cover Victoria Road and much of Broomfield, Springfield and Baddow. Several cottages at Springfield wharf were covered. Because of widespread damage to the houses of poor residents in the town, a relief fund was set up with a committee to administer it. The committee prided itself that of over £333 raised, 16 shillings were spent on expenses. Another natural phenomenon,
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the earthquake of 1884, did a lot more damage in Colchester, but it was certainly felt in Chelmsford - ‘even the prison at Chelmsford was said to have looked like a ship rolling on the sea’. With the establishment of a roads committee on the new Borough Council, the local papers kept up the pressure concerning the state of the roads. The Essex Chronicle thought that the town’s roads were in a better state than other Essex towns but ‘still compare badly with those of equal size to Chelmsford outside the county’. It urged members of the committee to visit other towns to see what could be done, and in 1890 the committee bought the town’s first steam roller. The same year, the Council trialled a new road sweeper made by the local firm Coleman and Morton. It was judged to be better than the one already used, being adaptable to any variation in the road and sweeping to a width of ten feet. An iron bridge in New London Road had been swept away during the floods of 1888 - floods which indirectly brought about one of a number of disputes between the Borough Council and the new County Council. Initially, the town council were willing to a pay a quarter of the cost of the new bridge, but the ECC were willing to pay only half. Part of the problem was that the responsibilities of the new County Council had yet to be clearly defined. The County Council took the borough to court, but inevitably a compromise was reached with the borough paying a third and the county two thirds of the £2,100 for the new bridge. The new bridge consisted of six iron composite arched ribs laid on brick built piers. Several hundred people attended its opening. The Chelmsford Rural Sanitary Authority (the forerunner of the Rural District Council ) also had to replace a bridge at Writtle, which had been destroyed in the floods. As at Norwich, the main streets in Chelmsford were wood paved, even though flooding often raised and warped the blocks. In 1901 for example, £450 was raised for the cost of new wood paving in Duke Street. The Council made persistent efforts to get shops and public houses in the town to pay for the paving outside their premises. There was a long standing dispute, for example with the owners of the White Hart Hotel. Before the First War, the Borough Council, along with the new Rural District Council, made persistent attempts to widen key roads. In the absence of compulsory purchase orders however, the councils had to wait for properties to be offered for sale and then widen small sections in roads, such as New Street and Duke Street. This explains the hotch-potch of road widths we have today. For example, in 1906 the Council applied to the Local Government Board to widen parts of Duke Street because of the increased traffic to the railway station. Previously, the Council had widened the entrance to New Street from the High Street which had been particularly narrow. A strip of land from the corner of the Shire Hall to the churchyard was bought for £1,400 with half the cost born by the ECC. In the years immediately before the war, the Council carried out a good deal of widening on the approaches to Chelmsford, including Wood Street, Baddow Road and Rainsford Road. This usually involved using pieces of garden and parts of buildings. The Rural District Council widened part of Gaol Lane (Sandford Road) in 1899 and part of Navigation Road in 1901. Improving the often poor state of its roads and footpaths was expensive for the new RDC. It ordered all new and repaired roads to be steam rollered in 1906. By 1914 the District Council was spending over £2,500 a year on road maintenance. At the turn of the century, the first motor car related accidents were occurring in the town. Most of them were due to the comparative rarity of cars, with people and animals not being used to them, rather
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than sheer speed. Cyril Frost remembered the very early ‘Red Flag cars’, so called because a man had to march 60 yards in front with a red flag, driving through the town. In one incident a horse spooked by a car engine bolted into a shop window. A boy was caught on a car’s lamp bracket in 1903 and carried some yards, fracturing his thigh. In 1907 the Council applied to the Local Government Board for regulations to limit the speed of motorised vehicles in the borough to 10mph, but the Chief Constable said the limit was not necessary. The editor of the Weekly News was evidently in two minds about the new vehicles: ‘The new motor car is not in favour with many, indeed it is much disliked but they have come to stay, if they are driven with due care and attention’. World War One saw a lot more cases of cars colliding, with the increase of military vehicles in the town. The advent of the motor car also made the work of the petroleum inspectors, checking that petrol was kept safely and securely, more important. In 1911 for example, the Anglo American Company sought permission to store 2,000 gallons at their garage near the railway station. Of course, before the war cars were greatly outnumbered by bikes and horse drawn vehicles as means of transport. Pennyfarthings were particularly popular in the rural areas around Chelmsford and prior to the war, an increasing number of employees of Chelmsford’s new factories used bikes to get to and from work. Despite some criticism from farmers, the Great Eastern Railway (GER) became increasingly popular with passengers. In October 1889 The Times described the company’s trains as the most punctual in the country. The same year a new line was opened from Chelmsford to Wickford. Some local politicians, particularly Frederic Chancellor, tried to promote the idea of a line joining Ongar and the Epping line to Chelmsford. This would not only provide another route for Londoners to the coast, but it would also improve links with the country town and make it easier for those on county and judicial business to travel to Chelmsford. Chancellor thought such a line would greatly weaken the argument for moving the county administration to London, which was being widely touted at the time. A meeting was held at the Corn Exchange in May 1891 to get support for the idea. The directors of the company decided however that they couldn’t consider the scheme because of expensive work being carried out at Liverpool Street Station. To mollify the town’s politicians and newspapers the directors stated: ‘The lines will be connected before many years’. The following year, the Essex Chronicle revived the idea, emboldened by the fact that the company had just opened a new line from Upminster to Grays, though they found it difficult to get widespread
public support. Another campaign by the paper, which had more success, was the pressure for a new railway station. The original station had been opened in 1856 and in the opinion of the newspaper was in a worse condition than Colchester’s railway station which was already being rebuilt. In April 1892 the Borough Council’s seal was attached to a petition asking for a new railway station - a second petition was signed by the town’s inhabitants. When completed, the new Edwardian building was an impressive brick design. In 1893 the steamship Chelmsford was launched. It was built for the GER for the new route from Harwich to the Hook of Holland. The ship was 300 feet long and had a breadth of 34 feet, with a depth of 16 feet. It could accommodate 200 first class passengers, 602 second class and a limited number of third class passengers. A number of townspeople went on early trips to Berlin and elsewhere. The GER itself was to disappear in 1929 with its absorption, along with a number of other lines, into the London and North Eastern Railway Line (LNER). In 1891 there was a public meeting in Chelmsford on the need for a telephone link with London. Discussions took place with the National Telephone Company. 20 firms and traders had to sign contracts at an annual rental of £10 each, and the company opened a local exchange within months. In 1905 the GER decided, like other railway companies, to operate buses. These operated between the station and the rural areas around Chelmsford. The three services were to Great Waltham via Broomfield, to Danbury via Great Baddow and to Writtle. GER was the first railway company to build their own buses, they were designed by James Holden, a carriage and wagon superintendent at the company. The buses had seating for 36 passengers inside and 18 outside. Thomas Clarkson took over these bus services in 1913. During the war, Clarkson’s steamers went to Billericay, Broomfield and ‘even up and over the hills to Maldon’. His National Omnibus Company’s first garage was under one of the arches in the railway viaduct, where women were brought in during the war because of the shortage of male drivers. Next month’s article will look at the changes in transport in the area between the wars.
Canon Tom’s E-Pistle Hello friends. As I write this article it is the day of the England v Germany match in the Euros! There is much excitement on the TV across a large number of stations about how the game will go, who should be in the England team and how Gareth Southgate should set up to play our opponents. There are many opinions, but only one man gets to make the decisions - and boy, must he be feeling the pressure... The expectation of the nation falls upon his shoulders and however the team play, it will come down to the choices he has made.
of England’s prayers calls ‘a sure and certain hope’. It’s a hope which leads us to believe that, whatever is happening now, the final outcome will be right, that faithfulness to God will ultimately lead us to the place God has prepared for us. The journey may be hard but the end will be glorious.
We all know what the British press is like when it comes to sporting success or failure. They are unbelievably tough when individuals or teams fail to meet expectations and equally over the top when there is a win. Who’d be a sportsman!?
The cry of hope will always be heard… COME ON ENGLAND!
Yet hope is a part of the British psyche, it’s why we so often find ourselves supporting the underdog, there is always hope and hope is a key component of faith too. I’m not talking about the wishy washy ‘I hope we win’ said in a way that sounds like, ‘I’m sure we’ll lose though’. No, the hope that comes with faith is what one of the Church www.issuu.com/itsyourmedia
By the time you read this the result of the match will be known, it is my hope that England will come good this time, and may be your hope too - but whatever the final score there will be other games, other opportunities for glory and hope will spring again, it’s the English way.
Tom
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City Times Fun
Spot 10 differences Answers on page 30
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The Story of Diesel Locomotive No 45132 and Events at the Epping and Ongar Railway Since the Covid-19 restrictions have been eased, we are pleased to say our services are gradually returning to normal. We will welcome PAW Patrol to the railway on 8th August and Dinosaurs pay us a visit on 22nd August. For those interested in classic cars, we are hosting our usual Classic Car Rally on the 29th August, followed by a visit from Gruffalo the next day. Full details of all our events can be found at www.eorailway.co.uk. In this issue I would like to tell you something about one of our resident diesel locomotives, a ‘Peak’ No. 45132, (original No. D22), which is privately owned by Roger Bray, one of our volunteers.
month. A series of commissioning runs were undertaken during the summer of 2019, including running during the EOR Diesel Gala and then a loaded test and gauging run. Unfortunately, during the return leg back from Ongar on this run a defect on the generator again became apparent and the loco was stood down. The only thing for it was for the generator to go back to Bowers for investigation and so it was lifted out again on 22nd November 2019. Hopefully it will not be too long before the generator is fully repaired and we can enjoy No. 45132 hauling trains again. As restoration work continues, Roger would like to invite new members to join his team, if you have engineering skills or are a competent DIY person, please email him at 45132.d22@gmail.com. All members of Roger’s team are members of the Epping Ongar Railway Volunteer Society; adult membership costs just £20 per year and is available from membership@eorailway.co.uk. Roger would also be pleased to hear from you should you have photos or details of No. 45132’s BR workings.
No. 45132 in the yard at Ropley in 1994 (photo by David Franklin, www.nightrail.photography) Roger’s loco No. 45132 started its service with British Railways (BR) on 1st April 1961 and worked from various depots over time, and that included some 20 years hauling top link Midland Expresses to and from London St Pancras. Inevitably, along with many of its classmates, the loco was eventually relegated to secondary services and on 8th May 1987 she was allocated 1P13, the 1735 hours service from St Pancras to Derby. No. 45132 failed at Kettering with a defective triple pump - this turned out to be her last BR working and shortly after she was hauled to March in Cambridgeshire and placed in open storage. By the early 1990s, No. 45132 had been sold to Booth Roe scrapyard in Rotherham, but had yet to be collected from storage at March. Roger managed to purchase the loco from Booth Roe and on 5th March 1992 it was hauled to the Watercress Line in Hampshire by locomotive No. 47214. Work soon commenced by Roger and his small team on the fault-finding and restoration processes. Another triple pump was fitted - not easy, as the old and the new one had to be man-handled through the cab door and into the engine room. Exactly 2 years to the day after its arrival on the Watercress Line (5th March 1994), No. 45132 entered revenue earning preservation service at the diesel gala. The loco was intensively used and ran in regular service until disaster struck on the 3rd March 2000 when the main generator banding partially burst whilst getting ready for another diesel gala weekend. It soon became apparent that the damage was severe and would be expensive to repair. Whilst out of service and fundraising for the generator was ongoing, restoration work continued, including rebuilding of the No. 1 nose end and reinstatement of the split headcode boxes at that end. The generator was lifted out and sent to Bowers Electricals for repair. The loco departed the Watercress Line for a new home at the Epping Ongar Railway on 15th September 2014. When the generator returned from Bowers it was reinstalled and all the hard work reassembling the loco was finally completed. To the delight of the owner and volunteers the loco was started up for the first time, since the year 2000, by long standing volunteer Michael Petherbridge on 29th March 2019. She moved under her own power the following
There are of course, many other opportunities to volunteer on the railway - if you have time to spare our Membership Secretary would be pleased to hear from you on the above address. If you would like to learn more about us, and receive a complimentary copy of our quarterly in-house magazine Mixed Traffic, please send an email with your postal address to mixedtraffic@eorailway.co.uk and please mention Ongar News. Robert Good Epping Ongar Railway Volunteer Society
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A Year in the Life of the Mayor My diary is starting to fill up with engagements now that restrictions are lifting and more events are being planned. I’m looking forward to meeting people in person, as online meetings become a distant memory. I was delighted to receive a video by rock icon Suzi Quatro supporting my charities - Sanctus, Helping Hands Essex and Midessex Mind. Huge thanks to Suzi, self-acclaimed Essex Girl via Detroit - you can watch it on my Facebook or Twitter page. I’ve continued to go out and about to thank volunteers who have stepped up during the Covid pandemic at Melbourne Surgery in South Woodham Ferrers, and presenting a Certificate of Recognition to Tesco in Springfield Road for their continued support for the community in so many ways. Thank you.
The Civic Society invited the Mayoral Party to take part in a history walk at the end of June, starting at Oaklands Park and ably led by Alan Pamphilon. It was very interesting to spend a couple of hours walking around New London Road and hearing about the history of some of the houses. On 21st June, the Civic Service was held at Chelmsford Cathedral during Monday Evensong. It was very moving to hear the beautiful singing of the choir, even though we weren’t allowed to join in with either the hymns or the National Anthem. Fr Tom Page gave a fitting sermon and multi-faith prayers were said by Smita of Chelmsford Hindu Society and Sidra representing the Chelmsford Mosque.
It was a delight to meet 100 year old George Brown in Galleywood. We sat in his garden chatting about his life experiences and throughout this special day he was visited by over 80 friends and family - socially distanced and within safe guidelines of course. Congratulations George. It was a real pleasure to open The Base for young people and meet Gavin and his team to see the great work being done by Reach Every Generation and the Building Lives project to support our youth. On a beautiful sunny day, I officially opened the new offices for Bluebird Care in New London Road, Chelmsford and chatted to the team. I wish them every success in their new premises. One of my ceremonial engagements was at the Chelmsford War Memorial on 21st June with my Chaplain, Fr Tom Page, Deputy Mayor Linda Mascot and Mace Bearer, John Kempson to Raise the Flag for Armed Forces Day. Another sunny day was spent at a Farleigh Hospice fundraising coffee morning in Springfield, where I was very happy to spend money on the various stalls on offer. The Deputy Mayor joined me to celebrate the NHS Pride Picnic in the grounds of Broomfield Hospital, where we received a warm welcome and enjoyed chatting to staff and thanking them for all their efforts during the past year. The backdrop of music provided by the great volunteers of Hospital Radio was lovely. I attended the opening of Code Ninjas at Waterhouse Business Centre, where children can learn to code whilst building their own video games. For more information, visit codeninjas.co.uk. Chelmsford Cathedral hosted a Project Postcards Art Exhibition, which reflected the creativity emerging from the lament and hope of this difficult time. I was invited to open the exhibition and the intricate and delicate textile postcards were beautiful.
It was a real pleasure to open the Hanbury Memorial Garden at Hylands Park which has been lovingly restored and planted thanks to the generosity of the Friends of Hylands House. It’s well worth a visit, all involved have done a fantastic job - it’s a beautiful and tranquil place to visit. Unfortunately, the weather wasn’t so good when the Mayoress and I opened the new basketball facilities at Writtle College. The London Warriors showed us their skills and Tarryn Algar wowed us with his skilful ball tricks. We were also entertained by a parkour demonstration from Team Kinetics, which made for a lovely and lively afternoon. Monday 5th July marked the 73rd anniversary of our wonderful NHS and I was delighted to mark this by raising a flag at the Civic Centre for NHS workers, carers and other frontline workers who have supported us all during this past 15 months. This is a new day of remembrance, and thanks to those who lost their lives working on the frontline during the pandemic. This simple act of kindness was being done all across the country to mark this day of grateful thanks. If you would like to invite the Mayor to an event, please email mayors. office@chelmsford .co.uk Twitter: @ChelmsMayor Facebook: Mayor of Chelmsford Instagram: Chelmsford_mayor
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Chelmsford Window Gallery Presents... Window Gallery - Broomfield Road, Chelmsford The Window Gallery Chelmsford was set up in June 2018 to give local artists a space to display their work, we host a new exhibition every month.
Where do you practice art? “I practice my art at my home studio where I feel most comfortable. I also practise through my job as a teacher where I have the privilege to demonstrate my skills to my students.”
Featured Artist: Jonathan Harvey-Thomas
Do you have any connections with the art community in Chelmsford? “I have connections with the Chelmsford Museum where I had my own exhibition. Through collaborative work with local artist Holly Parr, we have sold pieces of art through The Pop Up Shop in Chelmsford’s Bond Street.”
You can view this exhibition in the Window Gallery from 3rd - 30th July. Please also check out the video on Window Gallery’s YouTube channel with music by The Frestonians. When did you start making art? “I have always created art ever since I was a child which lead me to become an art teacher in 2008. Alongside this, I have been making and selling art professionally since 2015.” What sort of art do you create? Has this changed over time? “My art has been quite fluid over the years as I love to turn my hand to all sorts of mediums and learn new skills. However, for the last few years I have had a passion for embroidery art as I love the textures it creates. I have been working on perfecting my technique and have now developed me own style.”
How often do you create? “I am always creating for fun and work. I try and create at least one of my own pieces a month between commissions, which I generally do 2-3 times a month. I believe it is really important to get that balance between my own ideas and the requests of others.” What’s the best thing about being an artist? “The thing I love the most about being an artist is the freedom to create and getting lost in what I create. Just getting that random idea, then really visualising what it may look like and how it will be made, through to the final piece. My art also really aids my mental health as it’s a place I feel most zen. Where have you exhibited before? “I had a solo exhibition at the Chelmsford Museum in 2017 called The Journey’s Of Hercules and I. This was a series of work based on walks with my dog in textiles and print. I have also exhibited work there for their annual group art exhibitions. Holly and I currently have our collaborative work on display at The Wonky Wheel gallery in Finchingfield.”
What inspires you? “I am hugely inspired by nature - the sounds, colours, textures and obviously the visuals. Here in the UK we are spoilt with our surroundings, and growing up in Wales where I was surrounded by green, fills me with creativity. I love and appreciate the natural world around me - from flowers, to birds to the sea.” What do you do if you’re not inspired? “There are 2 things that solve a creative block for me. I either drink tea or go for a walk. I find tea can aid any negative mood, the whole process of making the tea and then that little 5 minutes of heaven drinking it, taking in every sip. Fresh air, particularly walking my dog, breathing in the fresh air clears my mind. With both of these things I feel I can create my art with a positive and creative energy.” Page 24
Do you sell your work, and if so, is it difficult to part with it? “I do sell my artwork - both originals and commissions. I do this through my Instagram, website and Etsy. I do find it hard to part with as I feel quite protective over my pieces, as I know how much thought, love, time and effort I put into each piece. However, I take huge enjoyment from seeing my pieces in their new homes and the happiness it brings to the buyer.” What superpower would you have and why? “This is an easy one for me. I would love the power to teleport. To be somewhere else in the blink of an eye. Not only would this enable me to see family that live far away. But imagine all the places in the world you could visit, all the amazing things you could see in such a short space of time...” Instagram: @jonnyhy.act Website: jonnyrv.wixsite.com/artwebsite www.windowgallery.org
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Saluting the Sun - By Mandy Haynes The Summer Solstice took place last month on Monday 21st June. The Summer Solstice is the longest day of the year, when the sun travels the longest path and reaches the highest point in the sky giving us the most hours of daylight. Astronomically speaking, it is also considered to be the first day of summer. Throughout history, people have celebrated the summer and winter solstices as they mark the beginning and end of cycles - they can be a time to reflect on where you have been and set intentions for where you want to go. The solstice encourages us to connect with the rhythm of nature and move with the changing energy of the seasons. On the same day, yogis across the world celebrate International Yoga Day which started in 2015. The idea was proposed by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who stated: ‘Yoga is an invaluable gift of India’s ancient tradition. It embodies unity of mind and body; thought and action; restraint and fulfillment; harmony between man and nature; a holistic approach to health and well-being. It is not about exercise but to discover the sense of oneness with yourself, the world and the nature. By changing our lifestyle and creating consciousness, it can help in well-being. Let us work towards adopting an International Yoga Day.’ Honouring both these days with ceremony, ritual or yoga can help us to connect with and harness the enlivening energy of the sun. In yoga the Summer Solstice is often celebrated with the practice of 108 rounds of Sun Salutations, or Surya Namaskar. The sun salutations are a series of postures that warms, strengthens and aligns the entire body. The number 108 is a renowned and sacred number in many traditions. For example: • 108 appears in ancient, sacred texts (tantras and Upanishads). • In Ayurveda, there are 108 sacred points on the body. • Buddhist Malas have 108 beads used for counting mantras or chants. • It also connects the Sun, Moon and Earth - the average distance
of the Sun and Moon to Earth is 108 times their respective diameters. The sequence as I often teach it is as follows: Mountain Upward Salute (inhale) Standing Forward Bend (exhale) Standing Half Forward Bend (inhale) Four-limbed Staff/Chaturanga (exhale) Upward Facing Dog (inhale) Downward Facing Dog (exhale - 3-5 breaths here) Standing Half Forward Bend (inhale) Standing Forward Bend ((exhale) Upward Salute (inhale) Mountain (exhale) Whether you have the time (and energy) for 5 rounds or 108, the repetition of this flow can have a beautifully meditative effect. You can alter the effect and feeling of sun salutations by adjusting the pace with which you move. If you move through the sequence rapidly, transitioning into the next pose each time you inhale or exhale, you’ll notice how quickly you warm up - moving in this way is stimulating and energising. Alternatively, you could try moving slowly and deliberately, perhaps holding each shape for an extra breath or slowing the breath down so that you’re in each pose for a little longer. This becomes a more calming practice, a moving meditation. The sun salutations can serve as a self-contained practice, as a warm up for a longer practice, or creative variations can be used for a more varied flow. If you would like to join me for a Vinyasa Flow class where Sun Salutations are often used and experience the energy for yourself, you’ll be very welcome - Wednesdays 7.30-8.30pm, currently on Zoom. Take a look at Hummingbird Pilates & Yoga full schedule of online and studio classes at www.hummingbirdpilates.co.uk.
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CT Therapy Hi Everyone! Jenny here, I hope you’re all well! We’re still busy taking enquiries at Chelmsford Therapy Rooms. I’m taking quotes to build another therapy room - the building industry is very busy at the moment, but hopefully we’ll be able to book someone to build the room very soon! In the meantime our therapists still ensure they work around you so you have appointment times that suit your schedule. Since lockdown started easing, people seem to feel more confident in coming to see us face-to-face. Although the majority of our therapists offer online therapy via Zoom or telephone counselling, many people feel that face-to-face therapy is the best option for them. It’s not uncommon to find that clients find it much easier to open up when in the room face-to-face with their therapist. We’ve had enquiries in lots of different areas over the last couple of months. It seems that for lots of people lockdown gave them an opportunity to re-evaluate their life and relationships and they need help navigating some of the realisations and conclusions they’ve come to. Here are a few examples of the types of enquiries we’ve been receiving: Relationships: The couples enquiries have slowed a little and we now are receiving enquiries from people who are re-evaluating the types of relationships and people they want in their life. For some, they’ve come to the realisation that they deserve more than what they’ve been experiencing. For others, they’ve noticed patterns they keep repeating and they want to address these patterns and change them. Perhaps lockdown has given some individuals break from the usual people they would come across in everyday life, allowing them the space they needed to process and re-evaluate the relationships in their life. Anxiety: We’ve definitely had an increase in enquiries from those suffering with anxiety. In particular social anxiety, where the individual is feeling uncomfortable in certain situations such as navigating a busy high street, going into a shop, or just the idea of ‘things going back to normal’. In the last case, individuals usually have realised that they suffered with anxiety before lockdown and in fact being restricted gave them a break and a chance to calm down. Now we’re preparing for life to go back to how it was, the anxiety is looming again. We’re also receiving lots of enquiries from parents who are worried about their children suffering with anxiety. We do have therapists that are able to see children. Otherwise, the majority of our therapists have lots of experience helping those suffering with anxiety. In fact anxiety is probably the most popular issue we help people with. Burnout: Before the pandemic, many companies didn’t trust their staff to work from home, believing that this way of working was a copout and their staff would simply slack off. I’ve got news for you - the longer lockdown has gone on the more enquiries we’ve had from individuals suffering with burnout. We’ve seen people start work earlier and finish later. We’ve heard from individuals as to how they thought they’d have more time with their family because they’re working from home, but actually the opposite is true and they’ve been working ridiculous hours. In fact I’d go as far as to say that hearing a client tell me they regularly work until past 10pm is becoming common. Sometimes the individual feels pressure to get everything done, or find it difficult to switch off. Sometimes their company has made people redundant and the individual has to do that other person’s work, or multiples persons’ work. Other companies have become busier but refuse to take on any new staff, or they claim they are taking on staff but none actually ever appear. Page 26
The result of this is that people burnout. The most common symptom of burnout is feeling anxious. Other symptoms include feeling on edge, feeling physical tension in the body, feeling nauseous, headaches, tiredness, general illness, forgetting words or losing track of a conversation, and feeling generally down or sad or perhaps a feeling of dread. It’s really important when working from home that you have a structure to your day, so you have a start and end time, scheduled breaks, and keep hydrated. A really good technique to deal with burnout is meditation, but to be honest we’re getting enquiries where the individual is already meditating daily and yet they’re still feeling dreadful. This is where hypnotherapy can work wonders; it’s very powerful and fantastic for burnout. Weight Loss: A lot of the time when we have enquiries about weight loss they tie in with burnout. Because people are working so hard, they grab quick and easy food rather than cooking. Of course the gyms were closed for a while too which didn’t help! Many people are finding themselves drinking more alcohol, treating themselves more to sweets, and just not keeping an eye on portion sizes. If you’re feeling a little overweight then you’re not alone! We’ve been helping our clients tackle their weight issues by helping them to look at their habits and how to change them, as well as the roots of their weight issues and finding solutions to these. If you are interested in speaking to one of our therapists, please don’t hesitate to call us or fill in the form on the website. Because we are private therapists you don’t need a referral from your GP, you can literally just pick up the phone or send us an email. Being private means we are much more flexible, meaning we can usually see a client for an initial consultation quite quickly. We don’t have any long waiting lists, we can usually book a new enquiry to see us within a week. Some of us can even be as fast as 24 hours! Jenny Hartill is a therapist and owner of Cloud9 Therapy and Chelmsford Therapy Rooms. She is a counsellor, hypnotherapist and mnemodynamic therapist and can help with a multitude of issues. 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.
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The Ramblings of Britain’s Oldest Angry Young Man There are some so-called sports that are guaranteed to send me to sleep. golf, snooker, darts (although I prefer to play darts) and tennis. I try to watch international rugby if only to see how many players are damaged goods at the end. That leaves me with cricket and football. I only played cricket once when I was at school - I tended to keep out of the way. Cricket balls are quite hard as I found out during that match. I considered myself safe while sitting on the boundary - until an unsporting batsman hit a ball along the ground (I think it’s called a daisy cutter) and in my direction. As the ball approached me, I took up a position kneeling with cupped hands ready to stop it going over my boundary. When the ball was about two feet from my hands, it hit a bump in the grass and reared up over my hands to pulverise my nose, but, my nose stopped the ball going over the boundary. Naturally, I was carried off and taken away to be repaired. Later, in another match, the captain told me to bowl a couple of overs. I had no idea how to bowl, let alone for a couple of overs. Before it was my turn, I studied the other bowlers’ action which looked rather dangerous to me. However, I decided to do my own bowling action. I ended up taking three quick wickets. The captain said that my bowling was unplayable. I didn’t know quite how to take that. So, I was left with football. When growing up in three primary schools (don’t ask), I spent time with classmates playing football in streets and any open space we could find. A lamp post would be one goal post and a jacket or school bag would be the other goal post. The virtual crossbar would be dictated by the height, or lack of it, of the goalkeeper leading to many arguments as to the validity of a goal when the football had crept in under the virtual crossbar. It was a rare occasion when we had to stop the game to let a car drive by. Today, street football has been exterminated by parked cars. Football was the working man’s game. 125,000 flat caps and mufflers watched the first cup final at Wembley Stadium in 1923. We all had our favourite teams, but we did support our local team as well. Local rivalry between town teams was fierce. In my case, the
two local town teams were Clacton, and Harwich (‘the Shrimpers’). These local derbies were well attended and quite ferocious at times. I remember seeing a wonder goal at one local derby played at Clacton. The Clacton centre-forward (before we had strikers) had the (leather) ball in his own half and decided to go for the Harwich goal. He cut through almost the entire Harwich team and from the Harwich half unleashed a shot that went in under the crossbar of the Harwich goal. In later years I played for my local youth club team when I scored my first own goal and later when I worked in London, I played for the Rank Film Distributors team where I scored my first (and only) competitive goal - and that was a fluke. I did manage to persuade the late popular film star Kenneth More to pay for a new kit for us. He asked me who we were playing next. I told him it was Rank Advertising. His reply was: ‘Beat them and I will pay for your new kit’. I was pleased to phone him with the score and then a group of us set out to find a new kit. Today, I only take a cursory interest in football. Sport in general is no longer sport, it is a business. Football, in particular, has sold its soul to television and sponsorship. Gone are the days of player loyalty to his club. Football agents have emerged from the woodwork to manipulate managers and players, some of whom are paid six figure sums each week. No-one is worth that amount. After all, they only play with beach balls today. Players now are mere goods to be bought and sold at will. The irascible Brian Clough once complained that if he wanted to discuss anything with a player, he had to also have present the player’s wife, agent and more than likely the pet parrot. Television has killed the sport as players’ antics play to the cameras and ten year olds in my local park emulate them. Gone are the days of leather footballs which as a defender, I headed once - and that was enough. Derek Threadgall
Resonance - Recreating the Record
Local music collective Resonance have collaborated with the Essex Record Office to release an album on 15th July 2021 that has been made using sounds from the Record Office’s archives.
Recreating the Record showcases 11 local musicians who sampled sounds from the archives to create a diverse range of electronic music, ranging from ephemeral ambience to beat-driven industrial noise. With a focus on the future of Essex, Recreating the Record combines the technology of the past with the present. Many of the sound archives are fragile and at risk, having been initially captured decades ago on reel-to-reel tape or even (in some rare examples) wax cylinders. The heritage of Essex’s sound archives is continually preserved through modern digital methods to ensure they aren’t lost or destroyed. This combination of historic analogue and present digital technology is the focus of the album. The artists were free to manipulate the original recordings as much Page 28
as they wanted to create their compositions, using audio processing tools to effect, stretch and warp them into completely different (and often unrecognisable!) sounds. Many of the musicians use analogue electronic synthesizers based on designs from the 1960s and 1970s, and integrate these with digital audio workstations and computer programming to create their music. The result is a journey that moves between dark, minimal compositions and uplifting passages that highlight the mixed history of Essex. Nostalgic sounds merge with machinery noises reminiscing of Chelmsford’s scientific and industrial heritage. Field recordings capture the Essex countryside and Southend Seafront, combined with introspective electronic melodies. The ambience of Colchester and its famous zoo blend with trains and sampled orchestral TV programmes invitinging memories of days out around Essex and the journeys these archives capture. The album is available from the 15th July 2021 and released on Resonance’s bandcamp page at resonancehq.bandcamp.com. All proceeds are going to the Friends of Historic Essex charity, who work closely with many heritage organisations to preserve Essex’s history. For more information on the archives, visit www.essexrecordoffice. co.uk. For a closer look at the archive of sounds, then the Essex Record Office have a site at www.essexsounds.org.uk with an interactive map where each sound was recorded. Updates on Resonance events and work can be found on their Instagram (@resonancehq) and website at www.resonancehq.co.uk.
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Quiz Time - by John Theedom 1. What is the name of our newest Health Minister? 2. What does a clock do when it is still hungry? 3. Which word signifies ‘H’ in the NATO alphabet? 4 What colour is cerise? 5. Why are they called Wellingtons? 6. In cockney rhyming slang, what are ‘turtles’? 7. What is Fleet Street, London most famous for? 8. What is a leveret? 9. What are the colours of the Greek flag? 10. How many are there in a baker’s dozen? 11. What type of entertainment did the Phantom get involved in? 12. In which fictional location is the the WW2 series Dad’s Army set? 13. What is the monetary unit of Iceland? 14. What is a panjandrum? 15. What is another name for a corsair? 16. What is the first name of the singer Ms Lipa? 17. The FA says it will ban any English fans who sing which song? 18. Which breakfast fish is coming back into favour? 19. Which veteran GB news presenter has decided to take a long break from broadcasting? 20. The US cop who murdered George Floyd has been sent to prison for how long? 21. A young girl invited her friends round for a drink of dad’s special wine, how much did 1 bottle cost?
22. What is the US city where a block of flats collapsed recently? 23. The leaves of which plant are traditionally used as an antidote for nettle stings? 24. What exactly is a rood? 25. What are classified using the Dewey Decimal System? 26. What colour is the semi-precious stone jet? 27. Who played Emma Peel in the 1960’s TV series The Avengers? 28. In the Tour de France, a white jersey with red spots is worn by the cyclist who has which title? 29. What is the meaning of the Jewish word chutzpah? 30. What nationality was Albert Einstein? 31. What does it mean when something is dessicated? 32. What is the French term for an unmarried young girl? 33. What type of animal is a logomorph? 34. What is a burbee? 35. What is the name of Aberdeen’s airport? 36. Who were the original inhabitants of Australia? 37. What is aspic? 38. On which Scottish Island is the town of Portree? 39. In which gents’ garment is there a pocket called a fob? 40. What was the first name of Mr Todd, the ‘Demon Barber’?
(Answers on page 31)
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Stargazing with Mark Willis - July/August Comet Neowise: This time last year, this comet was discovered using the WISE space telescope on 27th March 2020. Take a look at this comet tracker here: theskylive.com/c2020f3tracker. 21st July: Looking due west, Venus will appear one degree north of Regulus. Venus will appear as a gibbous disk when observed through a telescope. 29th July: Mars will pass 0.6 degrees north of Regulus. The star Regulus is 79.1 light years away. So the light we’re seeing from it is not 2021 light, but 1942 light! This month marks the 45th anniversary of the arrival of Viking 1. The first truly successful landing on the planet Mars. 2nd August: Saturn at opposition, looking southeast. This is the best time to observe two beautiful planets this month, and Jupiter too on 19th August. Perseids Meteor Shower: Who doesn’t like shooting stars? The best way to observe them can be found here: www.afar.com/ magazine/when-and-where-to-watch-the-perseid-meteor-shower. 19th August: Jupiter at opposition. This is the best time to observe this mighty planet. The full Moon isn’t until 22nd August, so it should be a good show this year.
People sometimes ask me which is a good book for beginner astronomers. I recommend the Sky At Night: How To Read The Solar System by Chris North and Paul Abel. There are also some very good astronomy books in Chelmsford Library that you can borrow. As usual, email me with any questions. Soon, I hope to return to Lite Bites at 12pm on Tuesdays on Chelmsford Community Radio on 104.4 FM as well as online. Mark Willis www.chelmsfordcommunityradio.com Twitter: @WillisWireless mark.willis@chelmsfordcommunityradio.com
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