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The City Times
Including: Boreham, Broomfield, Danbury, Great Baddow, Maldon, South Woodham Ferrers, The Walthams and Writtle 10000 copies distributed monthly Issue Number 82 - 16th July - 13th August 2020
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Essex Police Welcomes 58 New Police Officers
As part of our continued commitment to ensure more officers are present in communities, we have welcomed 58 new police officers at our headquarters in Chelmsford for an adapted Passing Out Parade ceremony on Friday 3rd July. The new officers were welcomed into the force by Chief Constable Ben-Julian Harrington, Deputy Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Jane Gardner as well as other chief officers. Special measures were put in place to ensure the officers could celebrate while respecting the government distancing guidelines, which has included 2.5m spacing at the recognition ceremonies as a precaution. The new officers completed their training under new circumstances over the last few months, and classrooms contained smaller numbers of people with plenty of space and many sessions were also held online.
an exceptional student in each intake, in honour of our late Essex Police Training Sergeant Kirste Snellgrove, who sadly passed away at the beginning 2012 after a long and challenging battle with cancer. This award represents all the core values and behaviours of a police constable, which Kirste herself not only practiced, but instilled in her students. Recalling why he decided to become a police officer, Eddie said, “I wanted to do something different from the usual 9 to 5. I want to help and protect people in need and make a difference.” With a current strength of 3,306 full time equivalent (FTE) police officers, we are well on track to recruiting our target of 3,369 FTE Police Officers by 31st March 2021.
Mr Harrington thanked the officers for all their hard work during their training and welcomed them into the force. Chief Constable BJ Harrington greeted the officers and said: “It’s a real honour for me to welcome another 58 officers to Essex Police. Our job is to help people, keep them safe, and catch criminals, and that’s exactly what they’ll be doing. “They will be in our communities providing a visible and reassuring presence, helping people in their time of need, catching criminals, and working with our partners to keep people safe and protect the vulnerable. “Essex Police is growing at its fastest rate in four years and every new officer we welcome is making a difference in our communities. “Being a police officer is a real privilege because we can make that difference to people’s lives and help them when they need it the most, and I wish our latest recruits every success in their new careers.” PC Eddie Thorn was awarded The Kirste Snellgrove Student Officer award. The award was introduced to celebrate the achievements of Page 2 ctjulyaug2020-proof2.indd 2
Last month, 262 people appled to become a police officer - that’s around 9 applications each day. There are so many exciting opportunities for you at Essex Police: If you want to make a real difference to your community and help people, keep people safe and catch criminals, discover more about starting your journey as a police officer at: www.essex.police.uk/ fitthebill #FitTheBill. www.chelmsfordthecitytimes.co.uk 14/07/2020 14:09
City Times Intro Hello readers, Welcome to the July/August edition. We hope you are all staying well. We are now back in print once more after publishing three online only editions! If you want to read any of these previous issues, you can find them by visiting www.issuu.com/itsyourmedia. Stay safe! Paul & Nick www.thecitytimes.co.uk | www.moulshamtimes.com
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City Times Food Hoorah for Cafés! - by Lisa Whittle
Cafés were sorely missed by me during lockdown and I am delighted they are beginning to open again now. Whether you also felt their loss, or got out of the café habit, or maybe you were never in it - join me here in celebrating some of the best cafés in our area. All the cafés listed are following Government guidelines for COVID-19. Some of them may be participating in the Government’s recently announced Eat Out to Help Out Monday - Wednesday discount scheme; plus there is the VAT reduction to 5%. Need any more encouragement?
walking along the canal or playing in the water on SUP boards, boats or kayaks or those just dropping by specifically for the café are all customers. The café sells toasties, sandwiches and homemade cake plus offers drinks and snacks.
The Stables Café - Hylands Park As its name would suggest this café is in the old stable block of Hylands House and was a great addition to the park for visitors and dog walkers when it opened in 2018. It serves both hot and cold breakfasts, lunches and afternoon teas in the sit-down café as well as drinks, snacks and light bites from its dog-friendly Garden Café Kiosk around the corner (it also serves dog-treats). Its run by Churchill Catering, a family company operating in country parks and forests around the country.
9am - 4pm every day Jamaica Café, Unit E, Block 4, Bond St, Chelmsford CM1 1GD (01245 3584070) www.jamaicablue.co.uk
10am - 4pm daily (breakfast to 11.30am and lunch from 12pm 2.30pm). The Garden Kiosk opens at 9am. (01245 357 770) www.hylandsestate.co.uk/explore/thestablescafe Mauro’s at Castle Kiosk – Hylands Park Situated at the northern end, off the A414, this is another much loved refreshment outlet at Hylands, Mauro’s is open again serving hot baguettes, cakes, drinks, snacks and ice-creams. Downham Hall - South Hanningfield Set in the orangery of the stunningly refurbished Downham Hall, this café overlooks the grounds and the peaceful and stunning valley of the River Crouch in the Essex countryside. It serves breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea in the form of locally sourced fresh, homemade produce. Only recently opened, Downham Hall also has a restaurant, hotel accommodation and is a venue for events - well worth a visit. 7am - 4.30pm Tuesday - Sunday (01268 422 464) www.downhamhall.com Tiptree Tea Rooms - Chelmsford and Heybridge Basin Something of a local treasure, the Tiptree jam company, Wilkin and Sons Ltd, has been making preserves in Essex since 1865. When it branched out a few years ago to run The Tiptree Tea Rooms serving and selling its products as well as hearty breakfasts, lunches and afternoon teas, we were delighted. From Monday July 6th all of its tea rooms opened for dining and takeaway. Locally we have: Tiptree at Bond Street, Chelmsford, CM1 1GH (01245 257 023) Lordship Road, Writtle, CM1 3RS (01245 422 600) The Lock at Heybridge Basin, Basin Road, Heybridge, CM9 4RS (01621 854 466) 9am - 4pm - hours are subject to change www.tiptree.com Papermill Lock Tearoom - Little Baddow, Chelmsford This is a popular and busy local café on the Chelmer and Blackwater Navigation in a ‘honeypot’ countryside spot near Chelmsford. People Page 4
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Open from 10am every day Paper Mill Lock, North Hill, Little Baddow, Chelmsford, CM3 4BS (01245 225 520) www.papermilllock.co.uk Jamaica Blue Café - Bond Street, Chelmsford Now fully reopened but running at half-seating capacity, Jamaica Blue Café in Bond Street is serving its full and extensive menu of light meals, sandwiches, cakes and snacks and drinks. It’s opening with slightly reduced hours of 9am - 4pm every day.
Tea on the Green – Danbury Tea on the Green is a traditional tearoom near the pond on Danbury green it’s a place to go for a breakfast or lunch or afternoon tea. All the food is homemade with many veggie and vegan options. It’s been in existence for more than 25 years. 10am - 2.30pm every day 2 & 3 Eves Corner, Danbury, Chelmsford CM3 4QF (01245 222 621) The Bakehouse - Newney Green, Writtle This is the popular café arm of the Fox and Goose pub with an extensive café menu for breakfast, brunch, lunch and afternoon teas. Indoor and outdoor dining is available, as is takeaway and online ordering. It’s known for its homebaked breads and pastries and is an established place to meet. Please do note that The Bakehouse Maldon is not currently open. 8am - 4pm every day Wyses Road, Chelmsford, Essex CM1 3SN (01245 248 245) www.bakehousecoffeeshop.co.uk The Stores Café - Great Waltham A popular independent village café with a modern feel and a tasty and varied menu. It’s now open with indoor and outdoor seating and a slightly reduced menu and opening hours. The café continued to do takeaway during lockdown which they still do as a Friday Pizza Night which needs to be booked in advance. There is parking available at the community centre around the corner. You can also also find them by searching on Facebook. 8.30am - 3.30pm Wednesday - Saturday currently The Stores Café Chelmsford Rd, Great Waltham, Chelmsford CM3 1DE (01245 362 649) The Hive - Chelmsford City Museum Oaklands Park The Hive Café is to be found in the Victorian house that is Chelmsford City Museum and is in what would have been the original drawing room. The café offers an extensive menu with a homemade feel and generous portions. It prides itself on serving fresh, tasty and locallysourced food. It is welcoming customers for inside and outside dining on the terrace overlooking the gardens. 8am - 5pm every day - last orders at 4.30pm The Hive Café, Chelmsford Museum, Oaklands Park, Moulsham Street, Chelmsford, CM2 9AQ (01245 351 860) www.hivecafechelmsford.co.uk www.chelmsfordthecitytimes.co.uk
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Stewart’s Deli and Tea Room, Tindal Street, Chelmsford A lovely cosy and friendly independent tea room in what is thought to be the oldest building in the area, dating back to the 1600s. It’s particularly known for its lunches and afternoon teas. During lockdown they started a delivery business for their homemade food, becoming known for scones and Cornish pasties. 10am - 3pm every day currently 4 Tindal St, Chelmsford CM1 1ER (01245 265 766) www.stewartsathome.com Eat Plant Café - Moulsham Street, Chelmsford The super healthy plant-based café at the top end of Moulsham Street is planning to reopen around July 25th initially as a takeaway service with telephone and online ordering, then collect. Its loyal customer base will be delighted to once again access their delicious healthy food. Inspiring workshops to follow in due course. Check the website for current opening times (01245 263 810) 89 Moulsham Street, Chelmsford, CM2 0JF www.eatplantcafe.co.uk Pete’s Place - Ramsden Heath An independent café with creative specials and fresh soups every day and a passion for Indian and Mexican food. This was once Hall & Co and bought by Pete last December and newly refurbished. Reopening August 3rd. 9am - 4pm Monday - Saturday, 10am - 2pm on Sundays, currently 2 Heath Road, Ramsden Heath CM11 1HU (01268 711 600) www.facebook.com/petesplacecafe Dandelion and Burdock Kitchen and Lounge - Stock This independent village café has a solid brunch and lunch offering with specials every day.
10.30am - 3.30pm Monday - Wednesday, 9.00am - 3.00pm Thursday - Saturday, closed on Sundays 20 The Square, Stock, Essex, CM4 9LH (01277 829 772) www.dandelion-burdock.co.uk Butts Green Garden Centre Café - Sandon A popular café in a peaceful garden centre setting. It has a broad menu with locally sourced ingredients for breakfast, brunch, lunch and afternoon tea. The salads are particularly sought after. Inside and outside seating is available as well as takeaway food. 9.30am - 4pm Monday - Saturday, 10am - 4pm Sunday Butts Green Garden Centre, Mayes Lane, Sandon CM2 7RW (01245 223 524) - www.buttsgreen.co.uk Writtle Road Secret Gardens Tea Room - Chelmsford A well established café, licensed for alcohol and serving a comprehensive range of homecooked breakfasts, brunches, lunches and cakes and snacks. Indoor and outdoor seating available. Currently operating reduced opening times. 10am - 3.30pm Monday - Sunday, with last orders 3pm for hot food. The Secret Garden Tea Rooms, 7 Writtle Road, CM1 3BL (01245 348 337) www.secretgardentearooms.co.uk The Bee-Shed Coffee House, Lathcoates Farm - Chelmsford A busy café at the much loved local pick-your-own fruit farm with a full range of options for breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea. Takeaway service available. Lathcoates Farm, Beehive Lane, Galleywood CM2 8LX (01245 353 021) www.eapples.co.uk
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Nick’s Music and Ramblings Ramblings Firstly, I must say that we are so thrilled to be back in print so that more of you can enjoy our publication once again! How are you how have you and yours been? We do hope you are coping with this awful situation that the world finds itself in at present. I don’t know about you but I find it all quite scary at the moment with the relaxation of restrictions and the opening of many places once again - though I do totally understand the reasons. What worries me is those who seem to think it is all over; well it is not, and if we are not very careful we will get that second spike. When will all the people listen and learn? Yes, have this freedom, but be careful and be respectful of everyone else and keep your distance. Wear a mask when you can: you may think you have not got it but you may have and without being careful you could spread it - it could be you who creates that second spike... I am getting on in years and I want to live and see my grandchildren grow up and get married and have families of their own. With my grandchildren and the future of our planet in mind, the other thing we dearly need to concentrate on is saving our planet instead of destroying it. Every little thing that we do helps, so please do reconsider your actions if you are one of those who thinks your little bit of rubbish being left on the ground does not matter. Well it does. Besides all of the above, it is good to see people out and about again and for me being able to see friends and family who I have missed so much. Seeing them on a screen is not the same, even though we can still not hug or shake hands. Are you one of those who has rushed to the hairdresser or to one of the other many businesses to reopen? There are of course many other businesses that are still waiting to be allowed to open - some I can understand not yet being able to, while others should maybe be allowed to. This is all of course subject to having the correct safety procedures in place and of course us all being sensible as well. I know one thing; my grandson who is in Year Six was thrilled to go back to school and to see his friends and teachers before he moves up to secondary school in September with his sister. My son is now working from home, and my son-in-law has kept on working as he is considered an essential worker. My daughter has just gone back to work in the jewellers - she says they are manic, which I find bizarre. My daughter loves cooking. She started up a little enterprise offering a home delivery service of home-cooked food. This has taken off big time for her and people are loving her food and she is loving doing it.
I now have a working name and Facebook page for Yes It Is. I do not see it as full regular line-up, but varying depending on who is available at any given time. I do not plan to do many shows either. I am very lucky as over the many years I have been in the industry I have made many friends, and some of them are great musicians who are up for playing with me - so watch this space! Some of you may have seen my online Isolation Festivals (all links below) I put on for twelve weeks with 195 acts taking part and including the likes of Hazel O’Connor, Chesney Hawkes and Louise Goffin (daughter of Carole King) among many others from all genres of music. I am currently looking at what to do next. My current thought is about putting on live concerts online as pay-to-view, so that the artists can earn a little cash. We have some big acts interested in this idea as well... We want to keep the cost to you the viewer to a minimum and this would be costed per screen not person. We are thinking of a cost of under five pounds. Once again, watch this space and ‘like’ our Black Frog Bands page on social media. There is still lots going on with music online, with both big and small acts performing in open mics to jams and concerts. Some bands have now been able to get together again and we are starting to see more of this. Of course, there is lots more online, from exercise and fitness, to cooking to storytelling - all you need to do is search, and it is not only on social media (for those of you who are not into social media). It would be fantastic if you could share the City Times for us. We will continue to publish both magazines the Moulsham Times and City Times 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. We will now put on music via Black Frog Bands - you can find out more at www.blackfrogbands.co.uk. The Isolation Festival Facebook page can be found at www.bit. ly/3cDoCYW. We are now on YouTube as well - visit www.bit.ly/3dEG4wK. My new Yes It Is band page is www.facebook.com/yesitis.
She is now waiting to see if it continues as restrictions are lifted. If so, this could end up her full-time career. They are looking to move as one thing she needs is a bigger kitchen as well as more bedrooms for the kids. How she creates what she does where she is at present baffles me. If you have any stories or things you like to share please let us know send to editiorial@itsyourmedia.co.uk. Music There is is still sadly no live music of course. It is great to hear of the Government’s injection into the arts (as I write this we are still waiting for the details to be published). I have kept busy during this time after sadly having to postpone many live shows which we now hope to put on in 2021. No longer being in the band I was in for over ten years, I have had to think about my musical future as well. What is next? Well, I have had my guitars sorted out and started to write once again after many years. At first I was thinking I will only do this for recording but after a few people heard some tasters I have been encouraged by some to play live when we are once again allowed to.
When venues are allowed to open again, please send your events to editorial@itsyourmedia. co.uk for inclusion on the listing pages!
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City Times Gardening July is looking like it might be a warm one. Lovely long warm days are great for garden work, enjoying the fruits of your labours - and of course having the odd barbecue or three!
in increased fruit production along the main stem. Once the plant reaches the top of your greenhouse, remove the top. This has the result of sending all energy to remaining flower and fruit trusses. Continue to feed and water regularly to avoid blossom end rot.
For me this is also a great time to look at all things pruning related. Here are a few key areas worth concentrating on: The Flower Garden Many perennials have become top heavy and can collapse on other plants, smothering them. Reduce by half and this has the impact of increasing airflow in the border and potential repeat flowering. Works well with catmint, hardy geranium, lady’s mantle and delphiniums. Dead-head fading flowers for all bedding displays. This keeps the plant compact and really does improve repeat flowering. It can also reduce grey mould. Remove flower and flower stalks cleanly. Prune wisteria this month by cutting back whippy leafy growth to two leaves from the main stem. This retains the framework shape and encourages repeat flowering. If your variety is very vigorous, repeat this exercise during the summer every couple of weeks.
The Fruit Garden You may have noticed a number of fruit trees shedding fruitlets during June and early July; this is known as ‘June Drop’ and is the plant’s way of shedding excess fruit. However, fruit clusters may still be too congested. If so, thin out fruitlets by first removing misshapen fruits, then remove every other fruitlet. The end result will be less fruit of course, but quality will be improved. Improve fruit quality for figs by pinching out the tips of side shoots after they’ve developed five leaves. Follow this link for more information: www.rhs.org.uk/advice/grow-your-own/fruit/figs. The Greenhouse Continue to pinch out side shoots of cordon tomatoes. This will result Page 8 ctjulyaug2020-proof2.indd 8
Lastly, don’t forget the following garden jobs: • Take care as the weather gets warmer and more humid, as blight (Phytophthora infestans) may be just around the corner. This airborne disease works its way down from the top of the plant leaving brown patches on leaves and withered growth. This disease attacks both tomatoes and potatoes. Improve air flow and keep on top of feeding. Check out this link for further information: www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?pid=217. • If like me you have been enjoying irises this year with their fabulous flowers and strap-like leaves, and they’ve finished flowering - there’s work to do! Divide clumps of bearded iris so they have time to form roots and flowers buds for next year before the cold weather arrives. Simply lift them out of the ground, cut out unproductive swollen rhizomes and retain 15cm (6”) sections with good leaf growth to plant out. The swollen stems, known as rhizomes, are planted by trimming roots back by half and sitting rhizome in the soil so that it is partly exposed to sunlight. • It’s turning out to be a great year for courgettes and butternut squash. Nip off the growing tips of squash and courgette plants to encourage branching. Keep cutting off courgette fruits to encourage repeat flowering. Check out this link for other jobs for the garden as we move into July: www.rhs.org.uk/advice/in-month/july. Happy gardening and keep safe! For any gardening tips please contact Tom Cole, Horticultural Lecturer, Capel Manor College, Bullsmoor Lane, Enfield, Middlesex, EN1 4RQ by post (including a SAE), or email tom.cole@capel.ac.uk. www.chelmsfordthecitytimes.co.uk 14/07/2020 14:09
Wildlife - by Nick Green June weather proved to be quite variable, but it will be remembered for the heatwave at the end of the month (28oC on 25th) attracting large numbers of visitors to beaches like Southend and particularly those of the south coast in the Bournemouth area. The coronavirus pandemic continued to strike on an international and national basis and the UK death toll surpassed 42,000. Chelmsford town centre remained quiet, although restrictions were slowly being lifted or relaxed.
‘eyes’ on both its forewings and hindwings for a similar purpose. I finally saw my first specimen of this wonderful hawkmoth species this spring; 2020 has proved to be an excellent year so far for butterflies and dragonflies and much higher numbers of hawkmoths have been trapped and released
Butterflies recorded included small and large whites, small tortoiseshells, holly blue, meadow brown, comma, large and small and Essex skippers and peacock. Dragonflies along the River Cam in Admirals Park included ruddy darter and banded demoiselle. Azure damselflies were also spotted. The eyed hawkmoth is quite common in the UK up to the midlands and with records from all over Essex. Adults emerge May to August and live for 10-30 days and do not feed. They have a wingspan of 70-80mm and are nocturnal and attracted to lights. The eggs hatch within 10-14 days and the caterpillar is just 3.5mm and present from June to September. Food plants include wild and cultivated willows and sallows in gardens, orchards and where willows grow, parks, riversides, fens and woodland. However, when the caterpillar is fully grown it’s about 70mm long, green with a distinctive whitish spike on the rear segment - the similar poplar hawkmoth caterpillar has a bluish spike. The caterpillar pupates in a thin layer of soil, the pupa being a shiny black/brown. When disturbed, the ‘eyes’ on the hindwing are exposed as a defence mechanism. Our more familiar day-flying peacock butterfly also has
Eyed Hawkmoth (copyright: Glyn Evans) A national invasion of some 100 rose-coloured starlings was noted with at least 3 on the Essex coast at Clacton, Colne Point and Bradwell-on-Sea. In Naze, Blyth’s reed warbler and in South Benfleet, marsh warbler.
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Get a Bird’s Eye View of Your Property! When you think of drones, you probably associate them with causing airport chaos or people using them in locations where they shouldn’t be and raising privacy concerns. However, drones have the potential to be used to do tasks that would have seemed impossible just a few years’ ago. In addition, as the technology develops they are expected to add millions to the UK economy, which is even more crucial at the current time.
capture stages of the build at regular intervals? Or would you like a promotional video for your business? Essex Aerial Photography works with businesses and individuals, and in response to COVID-19 wants to help support the local community. Therefore, it is now offering its basic photo only service for just £99 (+VAT); this is a 50% saving off the normal price!
It is this future potential that caused Craig Hubble to have a career change and move from his full-time career in the London TV industry to focus on setting up his own company, Essex Aerial Photography. Based in Chelmsford. Craig wants people to use his company for jobs that may have previously been carried out by more expensive and less safe methods. Craig is keen to change the perception and the myths of the drone industry: “Anyone can go to a shop and buy a drone, but as soon as you use that drone to make money - you are breaking the law. “I needed to go through a thorough theory and practical assessment enabling me to obtain the relevant permissions from the Civil Aviation Authority. Additionally, I need to know all about the airspace I am operating in, safe separation distances for people and buildings and of course understanding the great British weather! Flying the drone is only a tiny piece of the overall operation. A drone in itself isn’t dangerous, it’s all down to the person operating it and knowing what to do.” So how could a drone benefit you? Would you like to capture a unique view of your property and land to create a photo that will last a lifetime? Do you think you have some missing roof tiles or damage? Don’t erect scaffolding or scale a ladder - send the drone up! Are you embarking on a construction project and would like to
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This would be great for homeowners wanting to show off their property or for estate agents to add a competitive edge. Additionally, all other packages, including 4K video plus their video editing service, have been reduced by 25%. Drop them a line for a no obligation quote or to discuss your requirements in further detail. www.essexaerialphotography.co.uk info@essexap.co.uk 07445 092 821
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City Times Finance COVID-19 and Your Money - Investing IN and FOR Our Future Most of us heard the famous line from the film Wall Street: ‘Greed, for lack of a better word, is good...’ This may have been the mantra of the swinging 80s investment world... brick-phone carrying, champagne swigging yuppies in power suits... In contrast, later on in the film, we heard it said that, ‘the most valuable commodity is information...’ That line never gets old and is as relevant today as shoulder pads were then. So how do we reconcile these two vastly different statements? The good news is that we don’t have to. In a post-covid aftermath, these quotes are a poignant reminder of the fragmented nature of investing and reveal two distinct approaches that can achieve the same outcome.
Leaf Distribution Ltd which is authorised and regulated by Financial Conduct Authority number 460421. Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage. 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.
Bypass and Station Plans to Be Launched Plans for a Chelmsford north east bypass and Beaulieu Station are to be launched to the public this month in a specially created ‘virtual village hall’ event, following the award of £218million of Government funding for the schemes.
Now that the crisis is cautiously showing signs of easing and investors are re-evaluating their priorities, it is clear that we may have turned our vision away from ourselves. As a result the ‘greed is good’ message has been replaced with an altogether different one. Phrases and words such as ‘socially responsible’, ‘environmentally friendly’, ‘sustainable’, ‘ethical’, ‘fair’ point to a world where ‘information is the most valuable commodity’. Fundamentally, the prospect of future-proofing investor returns whilst ensuring that governance and social responsibility take the front seat is surely as rewarding as it is desirable. Long gone are the days when one could not survive without the other. Returns and altruism are no longer mutually exclusive. If sustainable funds have been outperforming traditional funds and supporting underlying beneficence, the post-covid landscape may well change if this trend continues. At its most basic, ethical investment strategy is guided entirely by our own character - here the moral, social, spiritual and cultural compass take centre stage. There are many prongs to this strategy. The most common one is ‘avoidance’ where the objective is the exclusion of undesired companies or causes, which may include firearms or fossil fuels.
The new 8km bypass, running between the A131 close to Great Leighs and the A12 at Boreham, will remove traffic from the B1008 in Broomfield village, Essex Regiment Way and rural routes to the east and west, while also supporting the ongoing development of Beaulieu. Chelmsford Station, meanwhile, is the busiest two-platform station outside London with 8.5 million passenger trips per year. Creating a new three-platform station at Beaulieu will help ease pressure on the station. Through reducing the need to travel into Chelmsford city centre, there will also be up to 900 vehicles taken out of the city centre each morning peak, improving capacity on the road network.
Different approach focuses on inclusion. This seeks an active and practical strategies, where businesses practice positive social or environmental work, such as alternative energies, climate change or even human rights. The upshot is that ethical investing is not only changing our landscape, literally and figuratively, it is empowering investors to ‘put their money where their heart is’. Thus championing their individual and unique values whilst helping to shape the world to be a better, more balanced place. Sustainable investing has the potential to shape our future and our planet’s future with our money. It is, for lack of a better word: good! If we stop supporting values which may no longer align with our goals, we need to make use of the most valuable commodity which is information. Silvia Johnson Bsc(Hons), DipPFS, EFA, CertCII (MP) is a Director and Independent Financial Adviser at Royale Thames Wealth Ltd silvia@royalthameswealth.co.uk www.royalthameswealth.co.uk 020 87207249 / 07908 109 741 Royale Thames Wealth Ltd is an Appointed Representative of New Page 12 ctjulyaug2020-proof2.indd 12
More details on the two schemes was launched on Monday 13th July from 9am through a specially created ‘virtual village hall’ - a webbased exhibition created specifically for the scheme which will run until Friday 21st August 2020. For further information and to access the virtual event, visit www.essex.gov.uk/chelmsfordnorth-east-bypass. For enquiries, email cneb@ essexhighways.org. www.chelmsfordthecitytimes.co.uk 14/07/2020 14:09
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City Times History
Chelmsford in the Second World War (Part Two) - by Stephen Norris By the start of the war in 1939, Chelmsford should have had in place three types of ARP measure: these were preventative, alleviative and remedial. Preventative included the provision of public and private shelters. When the war started the first order for public shelters had only just been placed. Alleviative included the treatment of the wounded. Remedial included the communal feeding and the provision of rest centres for those whose houses were destroyed or seriously damaged after a raid. News of a raid was sent first to the borough’s central report centre at the Civic Centre, then to the county report centre at the County Hall and finally to the regional control centre at Cambridge. During the ‘phoney war’ period the sirens were regularly tested and in April 1940 there was a full scale ARP exercise to test the responses. There was a fierce argument in the town as to whether ARP workers should be paid, with many arguing that some of those in the 24 paid posts could afford to do them freely. Generally the system worked well, except for odd occasions as in 1943 when a central area warden resigned over the Home Guard training on his patch. A week after the war started all the ARP services had their full complement, except the auxiliary fire services, which still needed 150 more men and some of the casualty services which needed just a few more men. The auxiliary firemen still needed uniforms. First aid training and gas courses were proceeding apace for those who were new volunteers. Like many other small or medium sized towns, the lack of what many townsfolk saw as sufficient protection in the form of shelters was a consistent bone of contention right up until the end of the war when the V-2s were falling. Some of the first public shelters to be built were initially built for schools and the public was allowed to use them after they had been cleaned when the schools had closed. In December 1940 the shelters were declared too cold, but they had to be used because several school grounds had been machine gunned during recent raids. In July 1940, just before the air raids started, the council debated the provision of household shelters. The government provided the cost of materials but the rest of the cost had to be found by the council. Chelmsford’s borough engineer admitted there weren’t enough public shelters, particularly in the northern part of the borough, but the council maintained - as it did throughout the war - that shelter provision was limited by the Government’s upper limit of provision for 10% of the population. In January 1941 the attempted bombing of all Chelmsford’s big factories pushed the Government into allowing shelters to be built for all houses within 250 yards of the main works. The council maintained that the cost of providing any further shelters in addition to these would be prohibitive. Despite the urgency there were inevitable delays in the shelters being built, because builders were extremely busy and there was a shortage of labour and materials. In August 1940 the government said that public shelters could only be built in the shopping streets of Chelmsford and refused a request to build one on the Boarded Barns housing estate. July 1940 had already seen a petition for a public shelter presented by residents of the Rainsford housing estate. In the meantime, the under pressure council was reporting firms to the Home Office for slow progress on the construction of the school shelters. Before the end of 1940 with the town under heavy bombing, a Chelmsford Air Raid Shelter Committee (CARSC) was formed. Although there was a strong communist influence, it represented a wide range of interests in the town, but this didn’t prevent some critics maintaining that its real aim was to cause discontent amongst the townsfolk and its workforce in particular. Representatives of the committee presented a petition to the council calling for the provision of many more bomb-proof shelters and for alternative accommodation for those who had lost their homes. It was presented by Labour Councillor AE Hodge. This petition also included the unfeasible demand for the provision of interior Haldane shelters to house all the people of Chelmsford which would have Page 14
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pushed the total cost up to £350,000. The Rector of Springfield signed it because there had been the awful raid on Coventry the night before. Bellamy, the chair of the council’s ARP committee, said that they had gone as far as the government allowed them to. Alderman Smith was at least more constructive, saying that the Air Ministry should regrade the town in terms of the level of threat it faced from the air. The council set up a new committee to consider matters raised by the CARSC, but the general view on the council was that there were a lot of towns under more threat than Chelmsford and the town would just have to wait its turn. In January 1941 the Ministry of Homeland Security provisionally agreed to the provision of 9 public shelters for the town but the CARSC naturally felt this was insufficient. Meanwhile, the council decided against the provision of Haldane interior shelters for houses near the big works and the borough engineer came up with a system of blast or baffle walls instead. Eventually a mixture of 220 six person outside shelters and 50 blast walls was agreed. Chelmsford Council received 100% grants on all shelters built from 1941 onwards, but there was an acute shortage of labour to actually build them. The fire brigade were regularly pumping out water from the shelters that had been completed. To combat the intense level of cold in the shelters the council eventually provided a moderate level of heating whilst ensuring there was adequate ventilation. The council also strengthened the school shelters, where there was danger of collapse. Several rural parishes complained about the absence of public shelters, when in fact the majority of bombs were falling on the rural areas. As in the town, there were endless delays in delivery and erection when they were assigned them - for example in Great Baddow. Bet Allen in Great Leighs said: “We didn’t have any shelters in the village. We’d hide under the table if we thought a bomb was coming.” The District Council left the decision regarding the use of school shelters to the individual parishes. In 1944 there was a petition from Galleywood residents for shelters and by the end of the year domestic shelters were being distributed free in the rural area. By December 1941 there were domestic shelters provided for 7,000 people in the town, usually of the Haldane type. The CARSC continued to press for more shelters and in March 1943 six more public shelters were provided. They were completed in March 1944, but before this the shelters in the Recreation Ground were in a dreadful state having been vandalised. Chelmsford Borough bid for 5 additional public shelters, but the Government didn’t accede, still favouring domestic shelters. The council maintained that the joint domestic and public shelter provision for 15,000 people was well above the average for a town of Chelmsford’s size. In April 1944 further school shelters were still being built. Brian Kemp, who was at Moulsham Junior School during the war, spent a lot of time in a shelter, often visiting one three or four times a day. M Davies spent most of his time in a cellar. Colleen Yaxley lived in Great Baddow: “In our garden my grandad and uncle built an air raid shelter under what was the rockery. During the war we spent much of our time in one or other of the brick built shelters at the village school. There was no proper lighting so we spent the time singing or being read to. When the siren went we went into it and when the all clear was sounded, we practised crawling out of the rear escape exit. I was far more frightened of the mosquitoes flying about than the bombs.” In Great Leighs, Alf Quilter was an ARP messenger: “When I heard there was an air warning, I had to leap on my bicycle... blowing three short blasts and then another on my whistle. Then I had to go all the way round again blowing a continuous blast when the all clear came through.” Later a siren was installed in the village. If an invasion had occurred the church bells would have been rung, so they were not rung on Sundays during the war. To view part one visit www.issuu.com/itsyourmedia www.chelmsfordthecitytimes.co.uk 14/07/2020 14:09
Chelmsford Library Its really great to be able to say all Essex libraries are now open again following lockdown! We are enjoying welcoming our customers back - albeit it to a very limited service at the moment, but more of our services will be added over time. Customers can return, borrow, and renew items via self-service machines. We are adhering to government advice regarding social distancing and hygiene to keep both customers and staff safe and able to have an enjoyable experience in our libraries. Opening times have changed in some libraries for the time being, so please check our website for your local library opening times. Customers can continue to access all our great digital services via our website including Borrowbox for eBooks and eAudio books. Search #LibrariesFromHome for more details on Twitter.
MENORCA HOLIDAY VILLA WITH PRIVATE SWIMMING POOL FOR RENTAL
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For our younger readers, the usually much anticipated Summer Reading Challenge is taking place online this year. It’s called The Silly Squad and celebrates funny books, happiness and laughter - visit summerreadingchallenge.org.uk for more information. We look forward to seeing you all in our libraries very soon. #LibrariesFromHome www.libraries.essex.gov.uk
xIf you have any questions please email info@chelmsfordcivicsociety. co.uk Search YouTube and Facebook for Chelmsford Civic Society to keep up to date with events.
Chelmsford Heritage Open Days is Back this September and Needs Your Help Heritage Open Days is back between 11th and 20th September 2020! This year will be a little different. We are hoping to do some outdoor events but there will also be a number of virtual events!
We need your help! Do you have a memory from war time Chelmsford We are aiming to put together clips of World War Two stories from Chelmsford in a series of up to 3 minute clips to show during this years Heritage Open Days! Maybe you remember sheltering during an air raid or maybe you have a story of community spirit? If you have a story a family member has told you, please feel free to tell this story too! www.issuu.com/itsyourmedia ctjulyaug2020-proof2.indd 15
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City Times Charity Man Undergoes ‘Covid Cut’ Challenge at Work in Aid of Essex Hospice Charity Close to the Business’s Heart A man from Barnston has ‘braved the shave’ after letting others decide on how short to shave his head in support of local hospice care. With hairdressers closed, Rod Brett, Workshop Manager at RC Boreham & Co, an agricultural dealership based in Chelmsford, raised over £1,500 by letting his son Ben cut his hair and leaving the decision on how short to go in the hands of his colleagues, family and friends. Rod, 62, received at least £1,000 in sponsorship meaning he received a short number 1 cut. Usually at this time of year, Rod and his colleagues at the company take part in Race4Business - a 5K charity run based around Chelmsford city centre organised for the first time this year by Havens Hospices. Sadly due the pandemic the event was cancelled, inspiring Rod to take on a different type of challenge: “The challenge began as a bit of a bet to start with - the hairdressers had been closed due to lockdown rules and my hair had got so long, so I thought I would cut it off for charity and it evolved from there. With the Race4Business event sadly cancelled this year, I thought any money we raised could go to Havens Hospices. “Race4Business is a great team event that creates plenty of interdepartment competitiveness at Borehams, and doubles as a social event for work. I have taken part every year since 2007 and so has my son Ben who was the ‘hairdresser’ on the day. Although all of us were disappointed the race wasn’t able to take place, we are very much looking forward to next year’s event. I want to thank everyone for their generosity - from colleagues, customers and suppliers to family and friends - I had the easy job!“
thought Rod’s idea of a haircut lockdown style and ‘the more money raised, the shorter the haircut’ was brilliant! We look forward to the Race4Business every year and would usually fund the entry fee for all the staff and guest runners that are part of Team RCB. Instead this year we have pledged £150 to take the total Rod has raised over the £1,500 mark. “As a family, we have experienced the fantastic care and support given from Little Havens. It really is a joyous place which truly sums up Havens Hospices’ motto: ‘together, we’re making every day count’. “We have no doubt that the same invaluable support is provided to adults, teenagers and other children through Havens Hospices’ other services. A big well done to Rod and we hope that others will take inspiration from him and think of other ways to raise money during this pandemic, where so many events have been cancelled.” Rachel Hawksworth, Voluntary Income Team Leader at Havens Hospices, said: “We can’t thank Rod and all the team at RC Boreham & Co enough for their generous support, sticking by us and continuing to raise money for the charity even though the Race4Business event was cancelled. It is because of businesses like theirs that we’re able to continue providing our essential palliative and supportive care to children and adults across Essex when they need us most. “We have been following Rod’s ‘hair journey’ closely to see if his family and friends would raise enough money for him to have his hair cut the shortest it could go, and they certainly did. Thank you again for organising this brilliant fundraiser in lieu of Race4Business and we can’t wait to be back in Chelmsford’s city centre next year so we can continue to raise thousands of pounds for local hospice care.”
Havens Hospices is a charity close to RC Boreham & Co’s heart, and they know how much of a positive impact the charity’s care has on families. The partners of the business have a member of their family who receives care at Little Havens Hospice.
To take on a challenge to raise money for local hospice care, consider the Havens Hospices’ virtual 30 in 30 challenge. For more information on how to get involved, visit 30in30.havenshospices.org. uk.
Anna Hunter, one of the Partners at RC Boreham & Co said: “We
Below: before and after photos of Ron’s haircut.
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Hearing Help Essex New Chelmsford Resource Centre Now Open! Hearing Help Essex, a Chelmsford based not-for-profit charity, is pleased to announce the opening of a brand new spacious and accessible Resource Centre on Monday 6th July, located in Moulsham Street, as part of their response to the COVID-19 pandemic. After months of lockdown, the charity has worked hard in making provision to resume its services in a safe and socially-distanced environment to support the many people across Essex who have acquired hearing loss and wear NHS hearing aids. NHS Hearing Aid Support, the cleaning and retubing of hearing aids, information, advice, and guidance services will be offered to clients who are in need of vital help. Anyone new to hearing loss, who is perhaps feeling isolated will also derive benefit from talking to the friendly team. Appointments must be booked in advance and are available Monday - Friday between 9:15am and 4pm.
Audiology Department for advice. Government social-distancing guidelines are applied to all prearranged visits, with the right safety procedures in place and will be shared in writing prior to attendance. To make an appointment call 01245 496 347 or email info@ hearinghelpessex.org.uk or text 07950 406 173’ hearinghelpessex.org.uk
Sophie Ede, CEO, Hearing Help Essex said: “We are delighted to be back to doing what we do best and look forward to seeing as many people with hearing loss benefit from our fantastic new Resource Centre. It is important for hearing aids to be retubed and cleaned every 4-6 months to ensure best efficiency and benefit to wearers.” The organisation is committed to helping people that remain shielding or are housebound and who are in essential need. If visiting the Resource Centre is not possible, the charity hope that a doorstep service can be provided in the near future. All visits to the Hearing Help Essex Resource Centre and doorstop service are by appointment only. If people have an urgent issue with their NHS hearing aid, they should contact their nearest NHS
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A Year in the Life of the Mayor I am honoured to have been elected as Mayor of Chelmsford and am looking forward to actively supporting local residents, businesses, community groups and charities during this challenging time. With COVID-19 affecting us in so many ways we hadn’t even thought of, my theme for the year is wellbeing. With this in mind I have chosen three charities who all strive to help improve wellbeing for those they serve.
The first is Chelmsford based Helping Hands Essex (hhe.org.uk). I was a trustee of HHE in its infancy and continue to fully support the work they do, focussing on those who are homeless or facing homelessness. I have also chosen Mid and North Essex Mind (mnessexmind.org) as there is limited mental health support in Chelmsford. I am delighted that Mind will soon be opening a subsidised counselling service for Chelmsford children and young people to allow the most vulnerable families the opportunity to access high-quality counselling. My third is Sanctus (sanctus-home.com). A small charity that feeds and offers a safe and warm environment where homeless and vulnerable individuals feel comfortable and are able to access help. All three charities are local and very community-focused. These are particularly difficult times for charities who need our help more than ever before. With fundraising events being cancelled, it’s proving challenging to raise funds, so any help or ideas would be welcomed. If you would like to donate to the Mayor’s Charities, please contact us below for transfer details, or you can send a cheque made payable to ‘The Mayor of Chelmsford’s Charities’ to The Mayor’s Office, Chelmsford City Council, Civic Centre, Duke Street, Chelmsford CM1 1JE. Thanks to all who have already donated, particularly Tapp’d in Moulsham Street for their generous gift.
Jude Deakin - Mayor of Chelmsford Facebook: Mayor of Chelmsford Twitter: @MayorofChelmsford
Are you involved in a charity? Send in an article, we feature one a month! Up to 800 words introducing the charity and covering what the charity does. editorial@itsyourmedia.co.uk
Take care and stay safe www.issuu.com/itsyourmedia
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City Times Fitness
Yoga Practice at Home Part 3 - by Mandy Haynes
We are now entering the third part of our home practice series. Hopefully you found the first two sections helpful to boost your self practice. If you have been practicing regularly, have you noticed any shifts or changes in your strength and flexibility? Have you found that as your body has gotten used to the movements and shapes it is creating, that you’re able to stay present and mindful? This month we look at some standing poses to add in. To begin, give yourself a few minutes to settle and check in with yourself before going through the movement meditation at least 5 times and then part two of the mat based poses, ending in Downward Facing Dog. Standing Forward Bend From Downward Facing Dog, walk your feet forwards until they are between your hands (come up onto your fingertips if needed). Bend the knees as much as you need to so that the belly rests on the thighs, bring your weight a little bit forward into the balls of your feet so that your hips stay over your ankles and let the head hang. Take a few breaths here and to come up, place your hands on your hips and rise up with a long spine. Mountain Pose Mountain pose is the foundation of all standing poses. Stand with your feet together or hip width apart, lift and spread your toes then lay them softly on the floor. Lift the knee caps to firm the thighs, lengthen the tailbone toward the floor, roll the shoulders back and down and widen the collar bones. Let the arms hang down by your side and have the crown of your head above the centre of the pelvis. Take 5 breaths here with either the eyes closed or a soft gaze. If you are familiar with Sun Salutations, you could add 5-10 rounds here. Warrior 2 Turn to the long edge of your mat and step your feet wide apart with
the heels aligned with each other. Turn your right foot out 90 degrees so that the toes are facing the top of the mat and pivot the left food inwards slightly so that the toes are at a 45-degree angle. On an inhalation raise your arms to shoulder height, palms facing down and stretch through the fingertips. On an exhalation, bend your front knee so that is directly over the ankle. Keep the shoulders over the hips and turn to gaze over the middle finger of your front hand. Hold for 5 breaths, then bring your hands to your hips, straighten your front leg and bring your feet parallel. Wide Leg Forward Bend On an inhalation, lift the chest and lengthen the spine and as you exhale start to hinge the torso forward from the hips and go halfway down. Place your hands on the mat underneath your shoulders and take a few breaths. Stay here, or walk your hands back and fold deeper from the hips and release the head. Hold for 5-10 breaths then move your hands back under your shoulders, lengthen the spine, bring your hands to your hips and come up to stand. From here move into Warrior 2 on the other side and then back into the Wide Leg Forward Bend. To finish, from the end of your last Wide Leg Forward Bend, walk your feet back into Mountain Pose. Bring the hands together in Prayer position and softly close the eyes, take 5 breaths. In part 4 we will look at balancing poses and the yogic philosophy concept of sthira and sukha. For a guided practice, you can join me online - take a look at the Hummingbird Pilates & Yoga schedule of over 20 live stream weekly classes at www.hummingbirdpilates.co.uk. If you missed parts 1 and 2 then please visit www.issuu.com/ itsyourmedia to view them online.
Canon Tom’s E-Pistle
Greetings all! Well now, how exciting to see so many shops and restaurants etc opening up again. It gives us a glimmer of hope - but only a glimmer - that things will get better. We do of course have to continue to be vigilant and careful about how we socialise and what we do when we come into closer contact with people; the last thing we need is to slip back into lockdown. Once is enough! We have been looking at how we open up our churches too. In my parish a small group of people have waded through the great sea of papers that came down from the Government and from the Church that gave us guidance on how to make sure our services and the people that attend them are safe. It was a slog but it’s done and we are now open for business on Sundays. However, we are going to continue our live streaming of services for those still unable to attend. It gave me reason to stop and think - why haven’t we done this before?
I’m sure that many other institutions and businesses, as well as individuals, have had cause to think the same. Why didn’t we do this, ages ago? Some of the changes forced on us by the coronavirus crisis have been very good and may well make for things to be better permanently. As is often the case, good things may come from adversity. And that’s the story we find in the Bible over and over again. It’s when people are in the most difficult of situations that they call upon God. Although often, once the crisis is over, He Page 20 ctjulyaug2020-proof2.indd 20
gets forgotten again. I’m not pointing fingers, we’ve all done it - me included! I’m just wondering if, this time we’ve searched out God for support, we might remember to stick with Him as He sticks with us. Could be worth a try. Tom
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City Times Wellbeing
Therapy - by Chelmsford Therapy Rooms This issue we have an article by our resident nutritionist Jane Hickey. She’s looking at the emotional impact of lockdown in relation to overeating. Enjoy! A cloudy sky over Stonehenge greeted the summer solstice of 2020 as I watched the sunrise live streamed into my home. As I write this, that image of the sun appearing behind the clouds seems to be symbolic of the hope we all need this year, timed with the easing of the conditions which have been imposed upon us in months of unprecedented restrictions to daily lives. Maybe now we can have hope that there will be a safe return to the normality we used to know or maybe the security of a new normality? As the months have gone by, while everyone sheltered at home, overwhelmed by the prospect of the threat to physical health, the increasing impact on mental health has also been felt. As the conditions of lockdown are easing and physical health still needs to be protected, so too does mental health. While everyone did what had to be done to keep safe, everyone has had to make sense of what has happened in their own ways, including the experience of heartache and the impact on emotional wellbeing. The routines of normal life were lost as new routines slipped into their place, in a world of exceptional change to daily lives. Suddenly the ordinary events of life became the extraordinary events. Travelling on a train, stopping off for a latte, meeting up with a friend, now became memories. The new routine was simple: stay at home. Although this situation was shared by everyone, everyone had to adapt their own situation, whether working from home, not working, home schooling children, or living in social isolation. The rules were clear. But maybe there were days when it was a struggle to find the motivation to walk around the room, never mind get out of the house for an hour’s exercise or to walk the dog. Were there times when you just wanted to stay safe under the duvet? For key workers, of course, staying at home was not an option as they had to brave events happening in the outside world. Measures were put in place to protect everyone: the hand sanitisers, gloves, face masks and social distancing. These measures, intended to reassure, may paradoxically have contributed to initiating feelings of panic and raising anxiety levels, particularly at a time when the support of normal routines had disappeared and social contacts had vanished. Phobias and anxieties may have found fertile ground to flourish. Restful sleep may have been elusive. Nearly everyone found their eating habits were changed. There were shortages of food items, long waits with queueing and restrictions in the supermarkets and restaurants were closed. Suddenly everyone had to make do with the food that was available to cook at home, supported by the advice of celebrity chefs on making the most of whatever ingredients were available. But, whatever food you had in your kitchen, staying at home meant endless opportunities to snack, to alleviate the boredom and to create a distraction from the stresses of life. In your attempts to calm anxious thoughts, you may have found you could not resist cravings for certain types of foods, maybe chocolate, cookies or crisps. You may have found your alcohol intake increased. When you became aware that some of these food choices may be causing weight gain, you may have also found yourself wondering about the impact of your food choices on your general health. These new habits were quickly established and may have become hard to break. Do you wonder if you can return to your previous routines? Are you wondering exactly what you should eat to support your health and wellbeing?
be beneficial for your health. With support you can overcome your cravings and understand the impact of food on your health, both negative and positive. With support you can make the food choices to optimise your wellbeing. What Can Nutritional Therapy Offer You? A nutritional therapist takes a holistic case history of your health, to assess your individual needs and develop a diet and lifestyle plan personalised for you. You are given clear recommendations which are explained fully so that you understand the impact of your food choices on your health and how to balance these. A health coaching model supports you to introduce the changes that are right for you at a pace that works for you. Nutritional therapy supports you to make the food choices to support your health, both physical and mental. There are steps which you can take, to begin to take control of the habits and routines that you would like to change. Introduce each of these three steps one at a time and choose the order that works best for you. By writing a realistic shopping list and sticking to it, you will take control of the food and drink that you bring home. Only buy the food you intend to eat! By establishing a regular eating pattern of three meals a day, you will balance your food intake. Add in no more than two snacks, only if these are needed. Breakfast, the first meal, is best within an hour of getting up. Aim to finish your last meal by 8pm, at least two hours before you go to bed. If you can manage to finish eating by 6pm or 7pm on some days, that increases the benefits of your natural overnight fast. By including a portion of protein with every meal (and snack) you will balance your intake of macronutrients and this will stabilise your energy levels. Sources of protein include meat, beans and pulses, eggs and nuts. The easing or the end of lockdown is unlikely to be a return to the normality we used to know, for some time at least. If you are aware that your emotional health has suffered from the trauma associated with recent events, seek the support to enable you to heal. Nutritional therapy guides your eating habits and is also effective alongside other therapy to support your healing. Please note that nutritional therapy is not a treatment for eating disorders. If you suspect you have an eating disorder, you need to see your doctor for a diagnosis and treatment. If anyone is interested in seeing a therapist, Chelmsford Therapy Rooms has a range of therapists that can help with a multitude of issues both online via Zoom or Skype or some of the therapists are now working face to face. Therapies on offer range from hypnotherapy, counselling to nutrition. Please visit www.chelmsfordtherapyrooms.co.uk, or email info@ chelmsfordtherapyrooms.co.uk, or call 0330 100 5162. Chelmsford Therapy Rooms is owned and run by Jenny Hartill, an Integrative Counsellor, Hypnotherapist, and Mnemodynamic Therapist who is happy to answer any questions!
Although the conditions imposed were shared everyone, experiences have been highly individual. If you have found it particularly traumatic, conditions are easing now, creating an opportunity to reflect. With increased control over daily lives you can begin to revise the habits which have developed and adapt to a newly defined normal. Recognising the difficulties that many have faced, there have also been welcome benefits, such as the impact on the environment and the improved pace of life. Many people have been enjoying the benefits of more meals cooked at home. Your food choices can www.issuu.com/itsyourmedia ctjulyaug2020-proof2.indd 21
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Quiz Time - by John Theedom 1.
2. 3. 4. 5. 6.
7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20.
What was the name of the B-29 bomber that dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima in 1945? In meteorology, what is measured using the Beaufort scale? According to a Beano comic survey, which is the UK’s funniest city? Who is the current Speaker of The Commons? Who was the killer of Martin Luther King in 1968? Which comedian made a guest appearance in Neighbours in July 2020? Who was the first member of the royal family to be interviewed on TV? What is the meaning of the word dontopedalogy? What nationality was Ivor Novello? Which pea is used to make hummus? What is the name for the list of a ship’s cargo? What is another name for the aardvark? What is the name of the river at Battlesbridge? The TV programme Downton Abbey is set in which English county? What exactly is a wain? What is the name for a meeting place used by the Freemasons? What, where or who in the world is a solarno? How many UK number 1 hits did Elvis Presley have? Who Is Kevin The Teenager’s best friend? In the game of bowls, what is the name of the white ball?
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21. What is distinctive about the navel orange? 22. From which country do budgerigars originate? 23. What year was Gatwick Airport opened for civilian use? 24. What nationality was Dame Nellie Melba of Marconi fame? 25. What type of animal is an eland? 26. Which UK football club is Jurgen Klopp manager of? 27. Icterus is the technical term for which medical condition? 28. What do the initials ‘NB’ mean? 29. Who is the snooker player that died recently aged 77? 30. Who wrote the book entitled Learning to Fly? 31. When BT split from The Post Office in 1981, they wanted to change the colour of phone boxes to what? 32. What name Is given to the longest day of the year? 33. In the world of shipping, what is meant by the term POSH? 34. What is President Trump’s wife’s first name? 35. How much is it costing to paint an RAF plane red for the Prime Minister? 36. In which country can you be fined £112 for having a dirty car? 37. In horse racing, at which course is there jump called The Chair? 38. In VAT, what does the ‘A’ stand for? 39. In which country is the Irrawaddy the longest river? 40. What is another name for the pantry?
Answers on page 31
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Rotary Rings the Changes 1st July sees the start of a new Rotary year with new leadership coming in at all levels from club to district, national and international. I myself have decided to seek a new challenge having decided to move clubs after 24 years. It’s been a difficult time for everybody with coronavirus and the voluntary sector has certainly been affected as much as any.
for frontline health and care workers, so these snoods have been specially manufactured for Rotary and are made from polyester microfibre. They are light and comfortable to wear, washable and bear the Rotary branding so will also be a means of raising awareness of the work that Rotary does locally. They do not offer the sort of protection necessary for a frontline NHS nurse or doctor. The snoods have been distributed in a number of ways. Some were given to key workers whilst others were made available to the general public in Chelmsford for a suggested donation of £3 per snood. Golf and bowls clubs present an ideal use of snoods because of the protection they offer and their the ease of use and can certainly be used once this pandemic is over - although it still doesn’t look like that will be any time soon if a second spike follows the relaxation of lockdown rules! Some found their way to faraway lands such as Australia, America and Nigeria. So successful was the initial promotion that a further quantity was ordered and this second batch has also virtually run out. We have no idea of the sum collected as yet, but it is substantial and will be donated to local charities including local NHS causes.
When clubs were eagerly looking forward to completing projects and providing a big finish to the year, nobody could have foreseen the consequences of the pandemic. However, clubs have not been idle. They have embraced the new technology and held meetings, very successfully, via Zoom and these have proved very productive. I will desist from posting a photo of one of those ubiquitous Zoom screenshots which only serve to emphasise that beauty shops need to open as a matter of urgency and I have advised Boris Johnson accordingly... Government advice has also changed with regard to face coverings and as lockdown restrictions have been relaxed, the general public is instructed to cover their faces in certain sitations and thereby reduce the possibility of spreading the virus by coughing or sneezing over other people. Ahead of the game, at the beginning of May, four of the Rotary Clubs in Chelmsford joined forces to produce a snood which can be worn as a face covering to help us protect one another. What is a snood you may well ask? I wasn’t entirely sure myself when I was initially asked to come up with a design but I was on a fast learning curve and quickly found out, much like a lot of people who now feel comfortable with Zoom meetings who previously had considered themselves technophobes. A snood is a neck tube which can be worn as a sort of scarf or pulled up around the face to offer protection as shown in the attached photographs. Current guidance makes it compulsory to wear a face covering when you are on public transport. It also urges the general public not to purchase medical grade masks as these need to be prioritised www.issuu.com/itsyourmedia ctjulyaug2020-proof2.indd 25
Please give me call on 01245 260 349 if you would like to get involved with the snood project or any other aspect of Rotary - Rotary is about putting something back into the community, and this seems an ideal way of helping during these unprecedented times. I can only echo the words of the Prime Minister: Stay alert, control the virus, save lives - and I can add, wear a Rotary snood. Stan Keller Photographs: Left: Mukund Nori, a Rotarian living in Connecticut, USA wears his Rotary snood, while on the right: The author, Stan demonstrates the snood in Chelmsford Page 25 14/07/2020 14:09
City Times Fun Spot the Difference
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10 to find(answers on page 31)
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City Times Art Chelmsford Window Gallery Presents... The Window Gallery in Broomfield Road, Chelmsford was set up in June 2018 to give local artists a space to display their work. We host a new exhibition every month. Featured artist for July 2020 - Dawn Stringer-Ruff. When did you start making art? “As cliched as this sounds, I have been creating artwork for as long as I can remember. When I was in school, I always aspired for a career within the art industry and this led me to study fine art at Chelsea College of Art and Bath Spa University. After my degree I started to work in art education, but have kept my practice running alongside this which is something my pupils love to see and hear about!”
even attempt to grow flowers in my garden and use these sources as reference points for my own artwork. I am particularly interested in flowers when they are at various stages of their life cycle, I love drawing them in a state of decay highlighting beauty within things we tend to ignore.” What do you do if you’re not inspired? “When I find myself struggling for inspiration I always take myself to various art exhibitions around London and I will often find myself at Kew Gardens. Photography is also a great medium to use to help reinspire creativity. I will play with composition and lighting to help me push my work forward. Despite this, sometimes you just need to take a short break from your practice to be re-inspired or just start to play with new art mediums.”
What sort of art do you create and has this changed over time? “I create mixed media drawings and paintings that depict the beauty of flowers. I predominantly work with liquid acrylics and coloured pencils and love using bold and metallic pigments. I am inspired by traditional botanical art, however I add a contemporary touch through using backgrounds, geometric patterns and sometimes gold leaf. This adds a sense of vibrancy and personality whilst highlighting the individual identity and uniqueness of nature. “I adore flowers and this is my main inspiration, however my practice has dramatically changed in recent years. When I was studying at university I created large scale sculptures and installations using a wide variety of techniques, and although I still love this medium my interests have developed over time.” What inspires you? The natural world inspires my art. I love visiting Kew Gardens and I Page 28 ctjulyaug2020-proof2.indd 28
Where do you practice art? “I create my work at my home in my studio with my cat who often sits on my lap keeping me company. Sometimes I will draw onsite and have been known to take my art equipment on holiday to the Lake District.” How often do you create? “I create my artwork whenever I can! Colour pencil is a very time consuming medium, but I always have an artwork on the go. Being in lockdown has allowed me to explore new composition ideas and turn my focus to concentrating on the small details of a flower.” What’s the best thing about being an artist? “I love being an artist and having the ability to express myself and my passions through a visual medium. It is more a way of life rather than something I just do however, being an artist does make you an annoying perfectionist, but it gives you creative thinking skills which have become invaluable for my job in education!”
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Where have you exhibited before? “I have exhibited my artwork in various locations within the UK but mostly in London and Essex. Check out my website for full details.” www.dawnstringer-ruff.com
Is it difficult to part with your work when it’s sold? “I sold my first commission during lockdown and it was sad to say goodbye because I loved working on it, but it made me so happy to know I had helped someone feel better in these challenging times.” Featured artist for July 2020 - Beaded Blooms by Hollie Parr When did you start making art? “Five years ago, although I only started to consider it my job 9 months ago when I joined the Hylands Estate Artist Studios.” What sort of art do you create? Has this changed over time? “I create French beaded flower art.” What inspires you? “Nature.” What do you do if you’re not inspired? “Go for a walk, visit a beautiful garden, or spend time in nature.” Where do you practice art? “In my studio at Hylands.” Do you have any connections with the art community in Chelmsford? “I am part of Hyland’s Estate Artist Studios collective. I also have made some lovely artist friends through my eldest son’s school and have created some beautiful collaborative pieces with them.” How often do you create? “Daily.” What’s the best thing about being an artist? “Helping help others feel better.” Where have you exhibited before? “This will be my first physical exhibition. I am part of Explore Essex Virtual Summer of Art.” www.issuu.com/itsyourmedia
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What superpower would you have and why? “To be kind.” Search for Beaded Blooms on Instagram and Facebook www.beadedblooms.co.uk www.windowgallery.org
WEA (Workers Education Association)
WEA (Workers Education Assoc) is having to adapt in these unusual times. Next term we will be unable to offer any face-to-face courses, so we are offering courses online via Zoom. A new experience for all of us, but we hope that people will be sufficiently interested to give them a go. All our highly experienced tutors have risen to the challenge and the Chelmsford branch is offering two courses: •
•
Starting on Monday 21st September we are offering Russian Music- From the Revolution to Recent Times (3pm - 4.30pm) Starting on Tuesday 22nd September we are offering Film and Nostalgia (9.30 - 11am)
Both courses cost £48 and can be booked online on the WEA website from 20th July for local people. Courses will opened up to a nationwide audience at the end of July. Help can be provided on how to use Zoom if needed. A range of courses available across eastern region can also be found on the website. wea-essex.org.uk/branches/chelmsford Page 29
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Stargazing with Mark Willis - July/August July 14th - Jupiter at Opposition: Looking toward the southern horizon from 10pm onwards - this is the best time to look at Jupiter. Jupiter being closest to Earth. July 20th - Saturn at Opposition: Due south, this is the best time to see the ringed planet. As with Jupiter, closest and all night long. When observing these two planets, don’t forget their moons. Did you know you can take pictures of these planets? You can find a fascinating series of videos on YouTube by Astrobiscuit, including one called Saturn for £75. These videos are all the more remarkable as Astrobiscuit lives in London with all that light pollution. You can find him at www.youtube.com/Astrobiscuit. July 22nd - Mercury: Best time to see Mercury. July 28th, 29th - Delta Aquarids Meteor Shower: An average shower, producing about 20 meteors per hour at peak.
August 11th, 12th - Perseids Meteor Shower: The Perseids is one of the best meteor showers to observe, producing up to 60 meteors per hour at its peak. These showers actually run from July 17th to August 24th. With both Delta Aquarids and Perseids showers, observing is best done from a dark location after midnight. New Moon: On 21st June, 20th July and 19th 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 me with any questions. I would normally present LiteBites every Tuesday at 12 midday on Chelmsford Community Radio.on 104.4 FM and online throughout the world. Sadly, I am in the vulnerable group. I hope to return to the airwaves as soon as I can. www.chelmsfordcommunityradio.com mark.willis@chelmsfordcommunityradio.com
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