The City Times - June/July 2018

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CT Welcome Hello readers,

Welcome to the June/July edition.

Festival season is upon us and this month there is the 3foot People Festival, The Chelmsford Festival (see page 7 for more info) and the Fling among others!

You can also view both our magazines - City Times and Moulsham Times - online at www.issuu.com/itsyourmedia.

Enjoy your month!

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

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CT Fashion - Dressing up for the Occasion There’s something about summer that makes people want to celebrate, isn’t there... Whether it’s a soirée, a wedding ceremony or a good old fashioned shindig, it’s likely you’ve got at least one special occasion in your diary for the warmer months. Of course, then that brings the age old question on everybody’s lips: ‘What do I wear to so and so’s shindig/soirée/ceremony?’ How does one find something that is comfortable (there’s nothing worse than a dance in shoes that bring a new meaning to the phrase ‘killer heels’), affordable (nobody wants to break the bank for something you might only wear once, let’s be real) but chic and sophisticated (you want to be the belle of the ball, naturally)?

Well luckily for us the high street is literally overflowing with options for occasion wear this summer season. It’s like the shops can hear the nuptials and smell the champagne on the warm(ish) air.

You can’t walk past shop windows without seeing a sparkly heel or a floor length frock.

Sometimes the sheer variety of options in occasion wear shopping can send us into overdrive - what is the right heel height?

What would not offend your grandma but still make you feel great?

What cut should you go for..?

Fear not, fashionista - here’s a sensible, not too overdressed catwalk of your options to suit any occasion.

The Statement Dress: Now, let me be clear - a statement dress is not for the fainthearted, but will make you feel pretty darn wonderful.

Whether you’ve got your eye on the best man, or perhaps just want to stand out from the crowd - then the statement dress is for you. Best saved for really special occasions like your best friend’s wedding, a prom or a gala, these are the backless, or interestingly structured dresses (perhaps a tiered tail, for instance) that you find in the designer section of Debenhams or House of Fraser. Make sure you choose a block colour, such as red, cobalt or fuchsia, then team with a high nude strappy sandal and plain clutch. Simple. Just let your dress do the talking. Oh, and be ready for the drinks offers to start coming in (you can thank me later...)

The Go-to Floral Dress: The floral dress is one of my favourites;

it’s versatile and suits any special occasion. This season’s floral dresses are large flower prints on bright, bold backgrounds - New Look, Dorothy Perkins and Miss Selfridge are the best places to spot a floral dress.

Strappy or Bardot sleeves work best for a flirty, summery look.

Lots of floral dresses on the high street right now are flatteringly cut just above the knee to show off a simple wedge or sandal. But this summer it’s all about the waterfall front cut which seductively start just above the knee and makes their way to the ankle; you heard it here first. The best thing about opting for a floral dress? They can be worn with heels and a clutch for a really special occasion or coupled with flats and a satchel for that BBQ you simply must attend.

The Skirt and Top Combo: Perhaps usually saved for work, the trusty skirt and top can also be a fantastic occasion wear coupling. It really does depend on the occasion, and in my opinion it’s best saved for the day sessions you might have scheduled. This season’s skirt and top for occasion wear includes a satin or lace midi skirt with a simple T-shirt or cami in a similar shade. Think light and airy; these combos are best saved for the all day wedding or the daytime jolly.

You’ll find the best of these ensembles skirts in Primark, Topshop and New Look.

Caroline Flack’s new collection for River Island offers a beautiful pink skirt and top co ord, perfect for day to night occasions.

Remember, keep the top simple - if you fancy, a satin T-shirt really does add the wow factor - and the skirt light, bright and maybe even a floral print. Team with nude strappy sandals and you’re ready for anything.

The All-in-One for All Occasions: Do not be afraid to wear a playsuit or jumpsuit to a special occasion. Once popular for their comfort and casual vibes, the new age ‘boilersuit’ - the jumpsuit, and short version, playsuit - have the beauty of still being comfortable but also being fashionable and frankly, pretty darn sexy (just don’t share a loo with someone you don’t know very well - there’s no elegant way of getting out of a jumpsuit/playsuit). John Lewis and Warehouse offer some beautiful, tailored pieces to suit any special occasion.

Make sure your jumpsuit is the right length, just touching your ankles, so that you can show off a pretty heel. Keep these simple, I love a nude heel with a jumpsuit for example. This season’s all-in-one is the culotte jumpsuit. Sophisticated and chic, these stop mid-calf, are wide-legged and allow your skin to breathe whilst showing off those pins and the all important footwear in all its glory. Plus, wide-leg styles are really flattering for bottom heavy ladies (I can speak from experience) and a wedge sandal could also be worn if it’s more of an informal, casual occasion.

See, I told you I had the answers for all occasions. Now all you need to worry about is where the bar is located…

Rebecca Forde is a writer with a penchant for fashion, great literature and drinking a lot of coffee. You can contact her by emailing rebeccaforde@hotmail.co.uk. © All Images: River Island

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All Things Music - by Nick Garner

Chelmsford Festival of Art & Culture 23rd June to 1st July This is it - our very first of (we hope) many festivals of Art & Culture for Chelmsford over the coming years. We have printed 10,000 programmes and it is also available online at www.issuu.com/ chelmsfordfestival. There is so much going on during the festival and you will find a brief overview in this publication and we thank many of our sponsors and supporters as well. Also during this time the popular 3foot and Fling festivals are happening, so there is plenty going on for everyone during this period.

Music and More We were lucky to have Larry Garner, one of America’s finest bluesmen, play for us recently. He also had the great Norman Beaker and his band backing him on the night. The whole show was fantastic with Larry and Norman bouncing off each other with their great guitar playing and vocals plus a lot of humour. They ended up playing for just over two hours as no one wanted them to stop! Opening the night was another treat, with Mississippi MacDonald and his new band the Soul Fixers - wow, they stunned us; what a great band and great songs. In fact they were so good that we now have them playing our festival on Sunday 24th June at the Bond Street Bowl!

The Bassment saw Bill Mead return with the Sharpeez. This time, with a new look and a new album about to be released, they treated us to a preview of these recorded songs. It was a fabulous show, with Loz Netto playing amazing lead and slide accompanied by the wonderful Brendan O’Neill on drums and Mike Steed on bass along with Bill’s driving rhythm guitar and great songs. Opening was Connor Selby playing solo - he has also got a new album out. Conor sang and played a mixture of originals and a few well chosen covers and he wowed the audience once again. Connor and his band are playing the festival on Saturday 23rd June at the Bond Street Bowl.

There is so much good live music coming up this and next month.

Chelmsford Festival of Art & Culture on the 23rd and 24th June at the Bond Street Bowl also features dance and aerial circus displays along with street food and a bar plus lots of craft - and there will be a High Street Take Over by Bearded Gypsy on Sunday 24th June too. The festival will feature music and storytelling and comedy throughout the week and much more.

The Fling has the Buzzcocks headlining this year and we, Jamie Williams & the Roots Collective, will also be playing. We are also playing at the Chelmsford Festival on the 24th at Bond Street.

The weekend after this we have the first Fake Fest in Central Park with, as it name suggests, some fabulous tribute acts.

On Thursday 26th June at the Bassment, Blues & Roots in the City host another night of live music, where we welcome back the incredible Dave Onions - a master of acoustic guitar and the mandolin. Roy Mette will open for him again as they worked so well together previously. Entry is £5 in advance or just £7 on the door.

On Saturday 28th July we have Zoot Money & his Big Roll Band return to play at the football club (see the advert in this magazine for details). Sunday 29th July sees the return of the Writtle Jazz Festival with a stunning line-up this year, including Guthrie Govan with the Fellowship among many others.

There is a lot more going on at the Bassment, The Fleece, The UB (United Brethren) and many other venues across the region - see the listings pages for details.

As ever, please do try to come out and support the great live scene that we have in Essex, because if you do not - we may lose it. For more information on all of the above and more, see the links below and go to our the What’s On pages to see what else in happening in your area. Check around the Internet - Facebook is always good as is Twitter, as well as your local papers and community boards.

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

The Blackwater Country Show Sunday June 17th 2018 Venue: Chigborough Road, Heybridge, Maldon, CM9 4RB The show warmly welcomes thousands of visitors from miles around.

The huge range of attractions at the 2018 show includes the chance to watch a team of uniformed riders on magnificent heavy horses synchronised to music, the paddlesport team will showcase the speed and agility of lightweight canoes across the lake and meet the vikings in their living village and handle birds of prey.

Skilled craftsmen and local producers come together at this popular event in the heart of the countryside to display and sell their creations. There are marquees and exhibits of painters, potters, walking stick makers and blacksmiths, bakers, and brewers. There is flora and fauna, home and garden country gifts, handmade jewellery and nautical wares too.

Foodies will be delighted to see a range of fresh local produce, juices, award winning cheeses and pies, pickles, chutneys, cupcakes, homemade fudge and a great variety of hot food to enjoy. There really is something for everyone.

For those who enjoy nostalgia, a variety of colourful vintage tractors will be driven - and looking forward to the latest developments, some modern machinery is also on display. Together, these fascinating displays show how farming has moved through the ages.

There are so many opportunities for children too. Why not take them into a canoe for the first time? There are experienced staff and instructors on hand to help them navigate the beautiful lake. And if Crufts inspires you, your furriest members of the family are also invited to join the fun! You can enter your four legged friend in a race against time in Flyball, a thrilling agility relay game. Or why not enter them into the agility course, or dog show for the chance of winning a rosette?

Around the showground, the little ones can meet animals that are sleek, prickly, furry, shorn and curly! Enjoy activities in the children’s area with lots of space to have fun and laughter with the family.

Adventurous youngsters can have a go at clay shooting or try using a bow and arrow tutored by professional archers.

This is a local, big show in its 13th year with a friendly, bustling atmosphere surrounded by soft hedgerows and natures wildlife. In support of the Essex and Herts Air Ambulance.

What a great way to spend a day in the country!

Advanced tickets can be bought from Maldon TIC on 01621 856 503 and Burnham-on-Crouch TIC on 01621 784 785 at discounted prices (tickets will cost a little more on the day).

Visit www.blackwatercountryshow.co.uk for more details.

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and the Sounds of Essex Orchestras. Simultaneously at Christ Church URC, the Essex Symphony Orchestra will present a programme inspired by film, radio and TV. Over the final weekend, the Chelmer and Can waterways will host a vibrant River Festival. On Saturday, June 30th there will be model boat displays, canoe, paddle board and Frangipani stand-up paddle demonstrations.

Chelmsford Festival of Art & Culture begins in a week’s time with the ambition of bringing our streets alive with music, art, dance, culture, science, heritage and river events. The festival launches on Saturday, June 23rd with a host of entertaining activities which will spill over into a week long, city-wide programme of mainly free art and cultural events. This year’s festival will run from Saturday, June 23rd to Sunday, July 1st.

The High Street on the opening day of Saturday June 23rd will start with The Big Sing Choir at 10.30am outside Barclays Bank, then at 11.30am a colourful carnival parade featuring Grapevine Essex Dance, Little Stars Circus, Morris Dancers, Indy-African Gems and others who will be showcasing their flamboyant regalia, get-ups, moves and cheer. A full programme of dance, music and circus performances will follow on from this at the Bond Street Bowl.

Headlining will be the Trembling Wilburys and the Buzniks among others. Diverse dance performances will include ABCD Bollywood, Shortie Buck Fam and Regi Hybride (Criminalz crew) to name just a few. Little Stars Circus will also perform incredible aerial circus arrangements involving aerial hoop, silks and trapeze. The Hyve in the City at the VR Space (Bond Street), will present 6 free dance workshops including Irish, popping NGU, Bollywood, hop-hop, krump and salsa.

On Sunday, June 24th the Bearded Gypsys Trade Fayre will take over the High Street to present an eclectic array of unique designers, popup craft and art stalls and a range of street food options. Local chef Leon Lewis will also offer a delicious range of vegetarian cuisine. The Bowl will host music and dance performances from Malcolm Bruce, The Ugly Guys, Jamie Williams & the Roots Collective, Grapevine Essex Dance and Delta Ladies.

Other High Street attractions for the opening weekend include storytellers, face painting, photo booths, yarn bombing, street animations and art and science workshops. As well as all this, Hylands Artist Studios (at Hylands Park) will be sharing their enthusiasm for the visual arts by exhibiting their collections, demonstrating their work and running creative workshops. The genres of art include: portrait, glass, encaustic, abstract and illustration. There will also be a programme of live music with pop, opera, show tunes and jazz.

During the week the city will host several visual art exhibitions, musical performances and heritage based talks. The visual art exhibitions will include pop culture posters, Hive artists, Gallery 43: Celebrating the Essex Countryside, Wishbone Gallery with JJ Adams, Chelmer Fine Art with Gilson Lavis, ESP workshops, Ian Bailey wallpaper displays, V Flections portraits and local artist exhibitions.

Other demonstrations will include live art with Steve Pablo Jones and Dave Stephen and city graffiti art. Alan Pamphilon will present a talk entitled Industrial Heritage plus a Chilling Tales of Chelmsford walk.

Gareth Bennett, Church Music Minister, will host several lunchtime concerts presenting an individual performer, band, troupe and/or choir.

On Saturday, June 30th in Central Park the Sounds of Essex will present a youth music festival to celebrate young people’s learning in music across Essex. The Sounds of Essex would like to inspire young people to engage with all genres of music, including classical and modern. The programme of events will include band stage and orchestral performances, singing and musical workshops. A Sounds of Essex youth concert at Chelmsford Cathedral will follow this event and will feature Phil Toms oratorio, Island with Essex School Choirs

Sunday July 1st is the the final day and will see a lively day of boating and racing. The Essex Dragon World Cup Race will feature 32 teams competing in three races for a place in the finals to raise funds for blood cancer research. The competing teams will be in football fancy dress. The narrow boats and cruisers along the Chelmer and Blackwater navigation will also open their doors to visitors and offer a selection of crafts, cream teas and river trips from the various moorings at Springfield Basin.

A huge thank you to all our volunteers, partners, supporters and collaborators, and especially to our main sponsors for making all these events possible.

Partner and Principal Sponsor: One Chelmsford Funders: Big National Lottery Fund, Arts Council England Media Partners: BBC Essex, The City Times and Moulsham Times Sponsors: Alfreshco, Bond Street Chelmsford, Chandler, Chelmsford City Council, Curious Spirit, Decathalon, Essex County Council, It’s Your Music, Evolution Events, Future Signs Essex, High Chelmer, Jefferies Solicitors, Meadows, Newell Property Development, Notting Hill Genesis, Polar, Printwize, Teledyne e2v, The United Brethren and Solopress.

A full programme of events for the week is now available. For more information search on Facebook or visit www.chelmsfordfestival.org.

For the online programme visit www.issuu.com/chelmsfordfestival.

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CT Gardening - by Tom Cole

It’s wet one moment, dry the next; muggy and then wet again!

Difficult times when managing your garden, but us gardeners like a challenge. So weeding, watering and monitoring plant health is key this month.

One key pest to look out for at the moment is the box tree caterpillar.

It can decimate box plants and I’m afraid that its just got to my garden. This little thug has just caused most of my box plants to defoliate and die back from the top down. The larvae of the box tree moth sticks leaves together to make a protective structure around itself as it gets close to pupating. The key issue with this terrible pest is that it may have up to three generations a year during the growing season. For best results, pick off the caterpillars which are they’re around 4cm in length, greenish/yellow in colour, eventually showing a striking effect down its body. You could use a systemic insecticide containing pyrethrum, applying it so that you are ensuring

full coverage of the plant. An alternative is an ingredient called acetamiprid. Take care to avoid pollinators by spraying earlier in the day. Another method is to use nematodes as a biological control or use pheromone traps - the latter helps monitor the problem. Let me know how you get on.

Other Top Jobs This Month: 1. Plug any gaps in borders with plants such as bedding geraniums, borage or basil, fuchsias, heliotropes and gazanias (being ever watchful of slugs and snails). All will give increased interest for the rest of the growing season.

2. Keep long term containerised plants watered and fed well. If you’ve got camellias, rhododendrons and magnolias it is key to feed with iron rich feeds and keep the root zone moist to ensure excellent flowering next year.

3. Continue to tie in wall shrubs and climbers, especially vines and roses. These plants put on rapid growth at this time of year and need to be either tied in to a framework and or cut back.

Some light thinning of all plants will improve air flow and reduce disease build up.

4. Check your height of cut when using the mower, especially as we move to drier hotter conditions. Remove no more than a third to a half off at any one time. As temperatures increase, remove less as this puts reduced stress on the plant and means less die back and brown areas becoming visible. Continue to feed and weed.

5. Continue to pull rhubarb, looking out for any limbs wanting to flower. If seen, remove flowers by pulling limbs from the base.

Energy will then go into leaf production for a short period of time.

6. Earth up potatoes as and when you see around 15-20cm (6-8”) of top growth to ensure tuber production and avoiding light hitting potatoes. Simply draw soil over the crown of the plant leaving stem tips exposed. You’ll end up doing this a few times for main crop types.

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

Our next open information evening is on Wednesday 20th June between 5.30-7.30pm.

20% Discount when you mention The City Times

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

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

Page 8 www.chelmsfordthecitytimes.co.uk

Chelmsford & District Fuchsia Society - Annual Display Weekend For an event to last 33 years it must be pretty special. The fact that it is run by volunteers to raise money for a local school makes it amazing.

The annual Chelmsford & District Fuchsia Society Display, which takes place on 4th and 5th August, has raised an incredible £91,500 over the years and the group are working hard to add to that figure this year. However, visitor numbers has been dropping over the past few years and the Display Committee are keen to encourage visitors back to this stunning event.

The colourful fuchsia display takes place at St John Payne School and the society raise funds for the local Columbus School, previously know as the Woodland School. When the event started it was for the Woodlands School respite holidays held at St John Payne School for one week during the summer holiday, the classrooms were turned into dormitories and the sixth formers became a buddy for the children of Woodlands. The money we raised was spent on taking the children out on coaches for the day. The holiday scheme stopped and the money was instead spent by Woodlands School on extra curriculum activities from adventure playgrounds, to music lessons.

The fuchsia display is made up from hundreds of plants grown by the members, who have years of experience. There are so many varieties on display and it is a wonderful sight. There are fuchsia plants for sale as well as local craft stands, tombola, a raffle and secondhand books. Food and drinks are served all day and there’s plenty of free parking as well!

Press Officer Janet Wall said: “I have been involved with our Fuchsia

Society for a long time and our members work so hard to make this display look amazing.

Our sole drive is to raise as much money as possible for the Columbus School children and we need the support of everyone to do this. If you love your garden, you’ll love our display! Come and see this wonderful sight and help us raise money for this fantastic cause.”

The event takes place on Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th August at St John Payne School, Chelmsford CM1 4BX, from 10am-5pm on Saturday and 10am-4pm on Sunday.

If you’d like to find out more, please call Janet Wall on 01245 281 962.

CT Food - by John Jacobs Good day fellow Chelmsfordians. I was recently indulging in reminiscences. I don’t normally wallow in nostalgia, but I’ve recently avoided several days of agonising stomach cramps and the prospect of adult nappies following a close encounter with an undercooked chicken. This took me back to a trip to Morocco as a fresh-faced naive young man looking for adventure. Myself and a friend thought it a great idea to drive our derelict Mercedes to the West African coast.

We made our way through France, taking in Orleans, Bordeaux and the smaller villages off-route. We ate in motels and slept fitfully in the limited shelter of our car, crossing the Pyrenees into Spain and heading south to Algeciras. We took the car ferry and watched in awe as the chalk domed buildings of Tangiers came into view.

As we alighted into port, customs officials asked for proof that our classic automobile actually belonged to one of us. Regrettably, we had no such thing. That was a mistake. So, they confiscated the car, most of our cigarettes, a bottle of scotch and my fake Ray Bans.

Having dumped us in the seedier part of town with no money and a worried expression that said, ‘hello, we’re not from around here, kindly rob us and leave us for dead’ we did the only thing our wits would allow. We convinced the alarmingly growing group of young men that had begun to take an interest in us that we were with Interpol, moved hurriedly to the nearest hotel, ran up a drinks tab of biblical proportions and telephone calls to the British Embassy then subsequently legged it. A couple of things I need to iterate. Firstly, this actually happened, secondly, yes I know what we did was make off without payment, but in our defence - we couldn’t care less.

with five star ratings have been guilty of slip-ups or contamination that couldn’t have been awarded. I admit, rather guiltily, that my favorite and go-to takeaway has a one star rating. Ultimately, if hygiene was that bad, they’d be closed!

Well suffice to say, having lived and breathed in the city for some considerable time, I have yet to experience anything as stomach churning as the back streets of Tangiers. The purpose of this cautionary tale is to remind everyone that as summer approaches and barbecues are lit, there are a few easy steps to ensuring you and your guests stay out of Broomfield’s waiting area.

Watch out for cross contamination by washing your hands between handling fish and meat and salads. Take the guesswork out of whether the food is cooked by ovening beforehand and just use the barbecue to heat through and add flavour. If you’re using your barbecue for the first time since last summer, give the grill a good scrub and consider lighting well in advance to burn off any residual organic matter.

Lastly, have fun and have a great summer.

Having found our feet and settled in to an apartment in Rabat, we made our second mistake. Street food - we just weren’t ready. Our delicate cossetted constitutions and most of my white blood cell count gave up completely. Food has never hurt so much. Nowadays, this holiday destination has stringent hygiene standards. Back then, not a sausage - and what I ate was certainly not a sausage.

So this got me wondering. When we log onto TripAdvisor, Just Eat or Deliveroo we can read the feedback of other diners and take a punt on something new but tried and tested. How many of us go that little bit further and take a look at the hygiene ratings awarded by our friendly neighbourhood health inspectors?

All restaurants and takeaways have to display their hygiene ratings in a prominent place and online. But what do they mean? A restaurant can be awarded zero to five stars, five being the best, so you can make more informed choices about where to buy and eat food.

5 - Hygiene standards are very good 4 - Hygiene standards are good 3 - Hygiene standards are generally satisfactory 2 - Some improvement is necessary 1 - Major improvement is necessary 0 - Urgent improvement is required Ratings are a snapshot of the standards of food hygiene found at the time of the unannounced inspection. Inspectors will look at several things including handling and storing of food, how it’s prepared, how clean the facilities are and how food safety hygiene is managed.

It’s not a foolproof system. Some of the best kitchens in the country Page 10 www.chelmsfordthecitytimes.co.uk

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Green Party Air Quality Statement

There is a problem with congestion in Chelmsford and we are told that only 4% of road capacity remains. This has a huge impact on the air quality in Chelmsford with particular hotspots around junctions and routes with congested traffic, such as Springfield and Rainsford Roads and around the Army and Navy, most of which are also residential areas. Public Health England estimates there are 72 premature deaths a year in the city from poor air quality.

Unfortunately this is the few impacting the many, who feel they have no other choice than to use a car to travel around the city. Public transport in Chelmsford is generally poor and expensive and consequently few see it as a viable alternative to the car. The success of the two Park and Ride services shows it is possible to change this. The planned investment in cycle infrastructure in the city is welcome, but the future transport plan needs to be far more ambitious with a goal of removing our reliance on cars.

We believe good air quality is a public right that we should shout about and seek to defend. The County and City councils must reverse their short term, narrow policies of the past - including Baddow Bus Gate - and look to the future.

The Chelmsford Green Party wants to change this with a bold and radical plan for Chelmsford Transport. Dense electric car charging infrastructure and 20mph speed limits in the city centre will create a clean air zone for Chelmsford. The introduction of a levy on private workplace parking would be reinvested into better public transport.

What do you want the future of Chelmsford to look like? We are conducting exhaustive local research and would greatly appreciate your views.

www.chelmsfordthecitytimes.co.uk Page 11

What’s on in the Area

June

Friday 15 Bassment - Shakey’s Sessions: Pet Needs + Fling Festival competition CCFC - U2 Tribe + The Velvet Tree Civic - Made in Dagenham!

Cramphorn - Black Panther (15) Faces - One Step Behind as Madness The Golden Fleece - Lithium Star & Garter - VT11 The Transition - Clay Club Saturday 16th Bassment - Two Non Blondes: Small Fakers Civic - Made in Dagenham!

Galleywood Heritage Centre - Essex Society For Family History Chelmsford Group Meeting The Golden Fleece - Acoustic Sessions (3.30pm) Wishbone (9.30pm) Great Waltham Church - Waltham Singers: Field of the Cloth of Gold New Hall School - 375th Anniversary Summer Fête Star & Garter - Rewind United Brethren - Joe Anderton and Connor Selby Sunday 17th Chigborough Road - Blackwater Country Show Central Park - Father’s Day Spectacular Cramphorn - Swan Lake (live from the Royal Opera House) Galleywood Heritage Centre - Craft Fair & family fun day Star & Garter - Open mic/jam The Transition - Beginner’s Photography Crash Course United Brethren - Sunday Sessions: Rich Young (3pm) Tuesday 19th Boreham Village Hall - Ballroom and Latin American Dance (classes for beginners & improvers - www.danceasy.co.uk) Cramphorn - Black Panther (12A) (Baby Cinema) Wednesday 20th Chelmsford City Racecourse - Ladies Day The Compasses, Liittley Green - Chelmsford Morris (8.15pm) all are welcome, or join us (www.chelmsfordmorris.co.uk) Thursday 21st Bassment - BRITC with Dave Onions & Roy Mette Chelmsford City Racecourse - Ladies Day with Billy Ocean Cramphorn - Madama Butterfly (live from The Glyndebourne Opera House) The Golden Fleece - Quiz night St Michael and All Angels Church (62 Leigh Road, Leigh-onSea, SS9 1LF) - John Seeley’s Jazz and Saxophone Group Friday 22nd Bassment - Wallop! The Drama Llamas + Mercury Rising + Horrible Dolphins Cathedral - Lunchtime Concert The Golden Fleece - The Nook Star & Garter - Thirsty Work Saturday 23rd Bassment - Saturday’s Alright For Dancin’ (indie disco) Chelmsford Festival Parade - Chelmsford Morris (12noon) - all are welcome or join us (www.chelmsfordmorris.co.uk) Page 12

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Civic - School’s out for Summer Chelmsford Festival - Bond Street entertainment, including The Trembling Wilburys The Golden Fleece - Acoustic Sessions (3.30pm) Beggar (9.30pm) Star & Garter - The Class The Transition - Laughter Yoga The Transition - Art by the Glass United Brethren - Paolo Morena Wriitle Uni Bar - Writtle Wanderers Farm Funday Sunday 24th Chelmsford Festival - Bond Street Entertainment, including Malcom Bruce Civic - School’s out for Summer High Street - Bearded Gypsy High Street Takeover Star & Garter - Open mic/jam United Brethren - Sunday Sessions: Justine de Mierre (3pm) Monday 25th The Transition - Keys to Optimum Health and Vitality United Brethren - Essex Chordsmen (barbershop) Tuesday 26th Bassment - Mencap Club Night!

Cramphorn - Brad’s Status (15) Cricketers - Spoken word and Steve Pablo & Dave Stephen Hylands Park - 3foot Festival Wednesday 27th Cramphorn - Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr Story (12A) Hylands Park - 3foot Festival The Leather Bottle (Pleshey) - Chelmsford Morris (8:15pm) all welcome or join us (www.chelmsfordmorris.co.uk) United Brethren - One Tree Hillbillies (bluegrass) Thursday 28th Christ Church - Chelmsford Festival lunchtime concert Civic - 20th Century Boy The Golden Fleece - Quiz Hylands Park - 3foot Festival The Orange Tree - A night of comedy Friday 29th Bassment - Sounds Of The Sixties with Alex & The A Siders Cathedral - Lunchtime concert Civic - 20th Century Boy The Golden Fleece - Tantric Zoo Star & Garter - The Locals The Transition - Freedom Yoga & Sound Healing Workshop United Brethren - Dave Sharp Saturday 30th Bassment - Fling Festival After Party (free entry with wristband) Central Park - Sounds of Essex: Youth Music & Wellbeing Fest Civic - 20th Century Boy Cramphorn - Dance Trix Summer Show 2018 The Golden Fleece - Acoustic Sessions (3.30pm) - Cadence (9.30pm) Hylands Park - The Fling Festival River Chelmer - Chelmsford Canoe Club Fun Day Star & Garter - Illicit St Michael’s Church, Galleywood: The Chelmsford Singers United Brethren - Steamhouse

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

July

Sunday 1st City Centre - River Festival, including Dragon Boat Race Star & Garter - Open mic/jam United Brethren - Sunday Sessions: Katy Forkings (3pm) Woolpack - GC’s Jazz Club: Guest, Graham Pike (jazz multiinstrumentalist) + Graeme Culham Trio Tuesday 3rd Boreham Village Hall - Ballroom and Latin American Dance (classes for beginners & improvers - www.danceasy.co.uk) Civic - Get Ready (dance show) Wednesday 4th Bassment - We Are All Fossils album launch + Carousel The Chichester Hotel, Rawreth - Belvedere Jazz & Music Club: Iain Mackenzie Quintet Civic - Get Ready (dance show) The Rayleigh Arms (Terling) Chelmsford Morris (8:15pm) all are welcome or join us (www.chelmsfordmorris.co.uk) Thursday 5th Bassment - Bassment Blues Jam Civic - Get Ready (dance show) The Golden Fleece - Quiz Friday 6th Bassment - Shakey’s Sessions: Ransoms + Spencer M Taylor (full band) + Monkey Tennis + The Family Dickens Cathedral - Lunchtime concert Civic - Get Ready (dance show) Star & Garter - TBC Saturday 7th Alehouse - Chelmsford Record Fair All Saints Church - Writtle Singers Summer Concert Bassment - JAR Records: indie/rock/psych/fuzz Civic - Get Ready (dance show) Chelmsford City Racecourse - 80s Legend Night: Tony Hadley, Nik Kershaw + Right Said Fred The Golden Fleece - Acoustic Sessions (3.30pm) - The Rising (9.30pm) Star & Garter - TBC United Brethren - Jamie Williams Collective Sunday 8th Star & Garter - Open mic/jam United Brethren - Sunday Sessions: Clive Cowan (3pm) Tuesday 10th Admirals Park - CAMRA Chelmsford Beer & Cider Festival Boreham Village Hall - Ballroom and Latin American Dance (classes for beginners & improvers - www.danceasy.co.uk) Cramphorn - Mary and the Witch’s Flower (PG) (Baby Cinema) Cramphorn - The Party (15) (8pm) Wednesday 11th Admirals Park - CAMRA Chelmsford Beer & Cider Festival King William IV (Braintree/Notley) - Chelmsford Morris (8:15pm) all are welcome or join us (www.chelmsfordmorris. co.uk) The Chichester Hotel, Rawreth - Belvedere Jazz & Music Club: Kenny Ball’s Greatest Hits Cramphorn - An American in Paris Hylands Park - The Greatest Showman Thursday 12th Admirals Park - CAMRA Chelmsford Beer & Cider Festival Bassment - Jazz Funk with Jason Rebello Cramphorn - Mary and the Witch’s Flower (PG) The Golden Fleece - Quiz night

Friday 13th Admirals Park - CAMRA Chelmsford Beer & Cider Festival Bassment - indie/rock/funk/soul/hip-hop/reggae Civic - BIG - the Musical The Golden Fleece - Steal Star & Garter - TBC Saturday 14th Admirals Park - CAMRA Chelmsford Beer & Cider Festival Bassment - INDELICIOUS! All day independent, local food, live music & DJ festival!

Civic - BIG - the Musical The Golden Fleece - Acoustic Sessions (3.30pm) Red Leaf (9.30pm) Sandon Village Fête - Chelmsford Morris (2pm) all are welcome or join us (www.chelmsfordmorris.co.uk) Star & Garter - TBC United Brethren - The White Gospel Writtle Village Country Fair - Chelmsford Morris (12:30pm) all are welcome or join us (www.chelmsfordmorris.co.uk) Sunday 15th Civic - Essex Dance Theatre Star & Garter - Open mic/jam United Brethren - Sunday Sessions: Robbie Gladwell (3pm) Tuesday 17th Civic - Chelmsford Gotta Dance Wednesday 18th Bassment - AudioGiggle (a night Of comedy & live music) The Chichester Hotel, Rawreth - Belvedere Jazz & Music Club: A Touch of Class - Enrico Tomasso & Helen Keating Septet Civic - Chelmsford Gotta Dance Thursday 19th Bassment - Asylum Mag Night, with Earthmass + Hell Feeder + See You In Reno Cramphorn - Manifesto (15) Friday 20th Bassment - Pieface (Small Faces, Faces & Humble Pie) Cramphorn - Romeo & Juliet (pre-recorded from The Royal Shakespeare Company) The Golden Fleece - Barney & the Rubbles Saturday 21st Bassment - Foxymophandlemama (Pearl Jam tribute) Civic - Around the World The Golden Fleece - Acoustic Sessions (3.30pm) The Repertoire Dogs (9.30pm) United Brethren - A Light Left On Sunday 22nd City Centre - Chelmsford Race for Life Civic - Right Here, Right Now Cramphorn - The Square (15) United Brethren - Lexie Green

Chelmsford Festival We did not have space for all of the great events on during the Chelmsford Festival: Visit www.facebook.com/pg/chelmsfordfestival/events, or www.issuu.com/chelmsfordfestival for the full programme of events!

Please send us your events for the next edition (for events between 21th July to 22nd August) to editorial@itsyourmedia.co.uk

CT Business - One Day You Will Need Me, and I Will Be There for You - by Lindsay Whitehouse One of the founding Fathers of the USA, Benjamin Franklin, wrote in 1789 that often quoted phrase “nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes”. Well M Lucking and Sons, Funeral Directors of Chelmsford, started their business of looking after our dead some 150 years before Franklin’s simplistic but brilliant line was written.

To find a family business that is only 20 years or so away from entering its fifth century is quite astonishing.

The firm remains firmly in family hands. It is owned by Christine and Jenny, the two daughters of the late Gus Lucking. They both make important input to the business, however the bulk of the operations and the actual funeral director tasks fall to their cousins, Darren Lucking and Roy Palmer. Additionally, Christine’s daughter Sarah works fulltime in the business.

The firm originally started as a carpentry and joinery business that made coffins and inevitably developed into a funeral director business. The carpentry aspect of the business continues to thrive and Lucking are the only local funeral directors who are able to make bespoke coffins and caskets to the exact specification of the deceased’s family.

The theme of craftsmanship continues with the provision of stonemasonry services and personalised, individually designed, headstones to mark the final resting place of a loved one.

I advise all fledgling businesses to do a number of key things. This includes keeping their stock levels low, and avoiding capital expense by hiring specialised equipment. Lucking and Sons are a perfect example of this philosophy. They do not own any specialist hearses or horse drawn carriages. They hire in the exact specification of vehicle for every individual funeral. This frees Darren and Roy from a multitude of management tasks around the logistics of their business and avoids tying up cash.

More importantly, it allows them both to focus on their customer service. If a family makes a phone call at 2am having just suffered a bereavement, they need support and guidance. The person that answers that early morning call will be the point of contact throughout proceedings. He will also be the funeral director on the day. He will make it his business to meet the family at their home, to know about the deceased and what he or she enjoyed in life. This is important, because the funeral needs to reflect the personality and wishes of the deceased and their family. It must be reassuring to know that you are talking to the actual funeral director and not some anonymous voice at a call centre miles away.

Roy and Darren take it in turns to be on call throughout the night to be the vital first point of contact. Many of us have no idea what to do when we lose a member of our family. If you ask them to, Roy and Darren will take care of - quite literally - everything. This includes arranging the service to reflect the wishes of the family and any religious input they request. Many families wish to make their own arrangements for the service. They will support the family to help this go smoothly and ensure everything is properly coordinated.

They will even advise on probate and will sort out any miscellaneous documentation and pay professional fees on behalf of the family.

They are able to advise on catering and floral arrangements, but they do not seek to foist this on to the family if they already have their own

arrangements in place.

I asked Darren what was the most important part of the business ethos. His reply underpinned his absolute commitment to customer service and total professionalism. Roy repeated exactly the same mindset. The business eschews payment of any retainers to hospital or care home staff for any referrals. They obtain much of their business through word of mouth recommendations and repeat business from families that they have looked after well in the past.

Indeed, they keep records of the director of each funeral and will ensure that the same director who helped to bury dad a few years ago can officiate when it is mum’s time to join him.

The undertaking profession is not regulated, but both Darren and Roy wish it were, and Lucking and Sons are members of SAIF (the Society of Independent Funeral Directors). SAIF require their members to evidence a high standard of service and a caring traditional approach to their communities and Lucking and Sons have done this for centuries, so it is no hardship to adhere to SAIF requirements.

Funeral directors engage with their customers at a time of huge emotion and when people are at their most vulnerable. Some people wish to take away all this pressure from their loved ones by setting out the precise arrangements for their funeral and paying for it in advance where their money is held in an independent trust until it is time for the final service to be delivered. Lucking and Son can advise interested people how to set this up.

I asked Darren if there was one piece of advice he could give to people in respect of his professional interest what would it be. His reply was unequivocal - get your will sorted out. He stressed how important it was for all of us to make it clear exactly what we wanted to happen on our death. Dying intestate can cause untold problems and uncertainty for those you love the most, whilst giving money to those you love the least (ie the tax man).

The logistics of arranging a funeral are not hugely complex, although there can be some complicating factors. It is the human touch that is the most important part of this business; a good funeral director has the right balance of sympathy, empathy, humanity, professionalism, reliability and sense of occasion. Funerals are not meant to be fun.

Those I have attended, which capture the sense of humour of the deceased, tend to be the ones that most accurately mark their life.

I enjoyed meeting Darren and Roy, I left their office feeling that they would deliver exactly what they promised and look after their families to the best of their ability. They seemed to me to have all the qualities that anyone would require from a funeral director. www.mluckingandsons.co.uk

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Beer - by Simon Tippler If you are looking for a podcast to listen to on the way to work or whilst out on a jog, then I recommend downloading this week’s episode of The Food Programme from BBC Radio 4. It is called The Mothership of Brewing: Beer and the Belgians and is a fantastic look at how and why the Belgians have been at the forefront of beer for such a long time. The presenter talks to a couple of great beer writers, Pete Brown and Tim Webb, and it is both entertaining and informative.

If that whets your whistle for podcasts, then it is worth searching through the archives to find previous episodes related to beer, such as Wild Beer - Renegade Brewing. Although this is a few years old (2014) it is a great look at spontaneous fermentation that has been popular in Belgium for a long time, but is coming more popular in the UK. Wild Beer Brewing Company in Somerset have made a great business out of spontaneously fermented beers and have managed to get their beer all over the country.

If you are looking for more opinions in your podcast then you might like The Beer O’Clock Show (www.beeroclockshow.co.uk) who do great reviews of beers and breweries.

There are plenty of podcasts devoted to brewing beer at home and one of the best is www.thebrewingnetwork.com. The only caveat that I have to add is that is that it is from America and as long as you can get past the accent and personalities then there is a wealth of information buried within the podcasts. The episodes particularly worth searching out are the more technical ones where they interview experts in their field. Ones that have been especially interesting have been on yeast and also on wood aging beer, though the science involved might require a couple of listens to fully understand.

However, if you are in the shed brewing some beer over the weekend then these might make the perfect soundtrack to your day!

We can build web sites We can design/print flyers We can design/print business cards

01245 262082

Hairy Monster - Random Thoughts My son and I have an expression, ‘pie-eyed purchase’. This is a euphemism for going online after having a few too many drinks and buying something really stupid. My worst excess was a pair of hideously decorated Doc Marten boots which I bought on eBay one Saturday night. Waking a few hours later, the enormity of my madness hit me so, at 3 o’clock on Sunday morning, I tried to cancel the purchase but was informed the boots had ‘already been shipped’.

They duly arrived a week later and are still in their original packaging in the loft. My son however, went one stage further and has to take the gold medal for insane purchases. He made a seemingly low bid on a purple ex-London Transport double-decker bus for a joke, only to find the reserve price had been reduced by the following morning and he had ‘won’ the auction. When bidding for this 30 foot long monstrosity, Rob had ignored the fact that he lived in a two bedroom flat in Islington on a red route where parking was only allowed for 30 minutes at a time. The seller declined his attempt to withdraw the bid, and the ‘blunder bus’ is now sitting in a farmer’s field in Scotland where its only passengers are several dozen hens.

However, as I frequently tell friends, it’s not essential to be inebriated to make silly mistakes. I’ve been married twice and I was sober on both occasions...

I think we have all come to expect that if there is a World War III it will be announced on Twitter and that Facebook probably knows everything about us, including our inside leg measurements and the exact whereabouts of the stash of Cadbury’s Creme Eggs we hid from the kids. Social media is getting a lot of negative coverage just lately so it was good to hear a positive story last week. A lady in South Woodham was out walking her newly acquired puppy when it slipped its leash and ran into the great beyond. She immediately

appealed on the local community Facebook page for help in finding it. Within minutes she had offers of help and messages of support and thanks to the good people of SWF she was reunited with the pup within the hour. A great result for community spirit and an example of the positive potential of social media. Politicians and American comediennes, please take note!

Watching daytime television is a pretty depressing experience. The programmes are dire and the commercials in between are only there to remind viewers of their mortality. If it’s not an advert for a firm of solicitors who will sue the hospital for sawing off the wrong leg or a loan shark who will lend you fifty quid in return for your soul, it’s a plan to pay for your own funeral. I have to say, as a confirmed atheist, that I have no interest at all in what happens to my mortal remains after I snuff it. However, to avoid causing my family the financial stress of my passing, I have given my son a £50 B&Q voucher which should cover the cost of a wheelbarrow and a good quality garden spade. Sorted, as Phil and Grant probably wouldn’t say... because they are fictional characters in a TV soap.

Big shout out to staff and customers of Caffè Nero in Chelmsford High Street for filling Sanctus Homeless Charity’s collecting tins so rapidly and repeatedly. Thanks for your generosity.

This years World Snooker Championship was held on one of the hottest days of the year at the appropriately named Crucible Theatre.

‘What kind of idiot would pay to sit in a theatre on a scorcher like this?’, I thought - as I sat in my underwear watching it on TV...

It has been said that spelling ‘dog’ backwards has some sort of profound meaning. It hasn’t. It’s just a word.

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Wildlife Corner - by Nick Green The green hairstreak Callophrys rubi is widely distributed throughout Europe but in Essex there are few colonies including the Outer Thames, Maldon and Colchester. Preferred habitat is open woodland , scrub or heathland on very freely draining soils. In Essex chalk pits, it feeds mainly on dogwood but on gravel it is associated with gorse or broom. It is probable that the pupa overwinters in ants’ nests.

The pale green eggs are laid singly in the buds or leaf tips of the foodplant and are very hard to find. They turn a darker green after a few days and hatch after one or two weeks. The caterpillar has four stages of growth (instars), starting off small and brown and finally turning green with yellow markings and with an unusual segmented shape, like a woodlouse. After their first moult they turn cannibalistic, also eating their cast skin.

Green hairstreak Copyright Glyn Evans

Chelmsford Library News Already a parent and want to still meet other mums and dads?

Then join us for our regular Baby and Rhymetime sessions (held in term time only).

Our Baby and Toddler Rhymetimes are held twice a week on Tuesdays and Thursday mornings at 10.15am and 11.15am.

These sessions are a great way to meet new people and for your children to interact with other children. Join in with the songs and do the actions with your children and listen to some wonderful stories.

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On Tuesday 19th June Local Author Angela Pink will be here for both Rhymetime sessions reading from her latest book Bill The Jungle Octopus. Come along and listen to this local author.

Angela will also be bringing her books along with her to sell.

New parents and grandparents are welcome to come along to our Baby Rhymetime held on Wednesdays between 3.30-4pm (term time only - refreshments available).

We have been holding our Community Teatimes here in our Gallery Area for some time now and they are proving popular.

These are on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month between 2pm and 3pm. Mencap host this session with cakes made by the students and tea and coffee is also served.

On alternate Saturday mornings at 10.30-11.30am, Community Teatime is held in the Gallery Area. All are welcome so if you need a break from shopping and have the grandchildren with you, then pop in and enjoy a cuppa and a biscuit - juice and squash is also available.

Great Baddow Library hold a Family Fun Event every Saturday between 11am and 1pm. There is crafts, books, board games toys and refreshments available with a different craft theme each month.

In today’s world, job hunting can be daunting. Let us help make it less so. All are welcome to drop in to our Work Club sessions held every Thursday between 10am and 12noon. We can help you with updating your CV, search job sites and give you information to help you look for your next job in a relaxed atmosphere.

For more information on all of our events and services, please visit libraries.essex.gov.uk, or follow and ‘like’ us on our new Chelmsford Library Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ ChelmsfordCentralLibrary.

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Therapy - by Chelmsford Therapy Rooms After positive feedback about my last article on the coping technique called ‘sorting boxes’, I thought I’d share some more coping techniques with you. This issue I’m looking at a very popular problem - anxiety. Lots of people suffer in silence from anxiety issues for many different reasons. Sometimes there’s a deep underlying cause, sometimes anxiety can crop up because of stress levels and sometimes people feel anxious in very specific situations. Those that feel anxious in specific situations often suffer from anticipatory anxiety. This is where we feel anxious leading up to the situation because of a subconscious, or conscious, expectation of a negative outcome. The two coping techniques below can be used both for anxiety in the moment and anticipatory anxiety.

Grounding Technique When you feel anxious, you can try to ground yourself using this technique. This is designed to remind your subconscious that the environment you are in is safe. The objective is to communicate to your mind that you really are ok, that everything around you is exactly as it should be and the situation is normal. It is also helps us to externalise rather than internalise, because focusing on the grounded and calm objects in the outside world can be a positive and constructive distraction rather than focusing on the internal anxiety and turmoil, because when we focus on something it gets bigger.

Look around you. Focus on the objects you see one at a time. Focus on solid, still objects. Then remind yourself that you are with this object, the object is fine, it’s still, there’s nothing making the object move or fall over, the object is fine and therefore you are fine. Try to pick out specifics about the objects you’re looking at as this should help distract you from the anxiety and builds a better picture in your mind. What colour is the object? Are there many colours? What shades are there? What is the texture of the object? What do you like about the object? Try to think of every angle possible for each animal/ mineral/plant/vegetable/synthetic (etc) you choose.

Pigeon Holing This technique is great for those that feel anxious for a long period of time (anticipatory anxiety) or who need to get through something (feeling anxious in the moment). Here is an example of pigeon holing, I’ve used ‘going out for dinner’ because it’s a common fear for anxiety sufferers, usually because they feel trapped at the table and other common fears come into play here like social anxiety and a feeling they need to ‘be normal’ which then puts pressure on the sufferer.

The first example covers using pigeon holing to cope with anticipatory anxiety: Check the time. We are now going to pigeon hole your day. The idea is to place the suggestion in your mind that time is moving fairly quickly and that the meal will be a relatively short amount of time.

1. How many hours approximately do you have before the meal?

Don’t count down the hours, we just need a quick check to allow you to plan your day and live in the moment.Once you have your pigeon holing plan in place the idea is that you pay attention to what you need to do when within that period, living one pigeon hole at a time. So when you get to the meal this is just another pigeon hole where you can use other coping techniques if needed.

2. What do you have to do in your day before the meal? You could make sure you have some tasks to complete as this will help you to not dwell on the anxiety, instead you can do something constructive that distracts you from feeling vulnerable. You can use the grounding technique throughout the day if you need to if you feel the anxiety coming on.

3. On the way to the meal be prepared, If you need to get a train, get the ticket well beforehand. This can be on your to do list. If driving, plan the route. However you’re getting there you could look out for landmarks on the way, again to distract yourself and keep your mind thinking about anything other than anxiety.

For many anxiety sufferers their anxiety is always there in the background, so bear in mind that keeping busy might not

completely get rid of the anxiety but it will help you to not focus on it. The more you focus on anything, the more energy you give it and the bigger it gets, so focussing on practical tasks can really help.

4. At the restaurant think about what happens before you even order - if meeting the people there, what conversation topics can you talk about? What will you drink? You might want to consider not drinking too much alcohol, although many people believe that alcohol is supposed to calm you down, it can also heighten your current emotional state meaning you could end up feeling more anxious. Use the grounding technique, know where the toilets and exits are so your anxiety knows you have an ‘escape route’ rather than you feeling like a caged animal. Remember, anxiety is something we have had since the dawn of humanity, originally it kept us safe from being attacked by wild animals etc - subconsciously knowing you’re not trapped will help manage your anxiety levels.

5. After the meal is over, reinforce that you are ok, physically and mentally. Even if you were anxious, nothing happened. You are safe. This will help reinforce that going for a meal is ok, it’s something you are capable of, it’s something safe.

6. When you have left, on your way back and when you are home, carry on the reinforcement. What did you enjoy about the evening? Try and maintain a positive mindset, even if your anxiety levels were quite bad, you got through it. You are ok. Who did you like chatting to at the meal? Did you enjoy your drink?

What was nice about the food? Was there a good view from the window? Were the waiting staff polite? Pick as many positive things as possible, you may even want to write them down to remind you for next time and to solidify the positive sections of the meal.

Pigeon Holing in the Moment If you want to use this technique for a shorter length of time, this means that your pigeon holes will also be shorter. Using this technique in the moment means you retain a certain amount of control. Rather than planning far in advance, you can plan just one pigeon hole ahead at a time. For example, if you’re feeling uncomfortable in our restaurant scenario above, you can plan to visit the toilet in twenty minutes. Then when in the toilet you can give yourself five or ten minutes before heading back to the table. You can use pigeon holing in the moment along with pigeon holing over a greater length of time; just adjust your pigeon holes as you need to.

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

Chelmsford Therapy Rooms is owned and run by Jenny Hartill, an Integrative Counsellor and Hypnotherapist, who is happy to answer any questions!

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July/August Issue Deadlines: Artwork - 4th July Articles - 12th July www.chelmsfordthecitytimes.co.uk

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

General Knowledge Quiz by John Theedom 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

Which home article is rated in togs?

What can be lifting, swing or suspension?

Which politician is known as IDS? What is the surname of Strictly’s Brendan?

What is Barack Obama’s wife’s name?

Which very popular flavouring pod is in short supply?

Which breed of dog have the police just started to use against terror suspects?

8. What is the connection between a London art gallery and sugar?

9. Which supermarket has introduced pedal power cycles for home delivery?

10. How old is Sir David Attenborough?

11. Where in the world has there recently been an eruption of a volcano?

12. What do the initials HRT stand for?

13. Who has just won the World Championship Snooker?

14. What makes flamingos pink?

15. To whom does the term ‘silver surfer’ apply?

16. Where or what is Neger?

17. In which section of the orchestra does the cello fit?

18. What is the first name of the actor, Jacobi?

19. What is a palindrome?

20. Which part of a fish is it’s dorsal?

21. Who uses a kukri?

22. What is the name of the male star in Midsomer Murders?

23. What is the name of Ben Fogle’s wife?

24. What type of animal is vanner?

25. Which kind of food can be ramen or soba?

26. An abacus is used for what purpose?

27. What turns litmus paper red?

28. In musical terms, what is legato?

29. What is a coati?

30. What was mazawatee?

31. A ‘cep’ can be found where?

32. What is a Boston crab?

33. From which musical do the songs Lambeth Walk and The Sun Has Got His Hat On come?

34. M*A*S*H was set in which war?

35. A ‘hogshead’ is a container for what?

36. In Dad’s Army who plays the part of Mr Mainwaring?

37. A ‘tyke’ is a native of which English county?

38. Who sang Like a Virgin?

39. In which county is Ramsgate?

40. What kind of creature is a gila monster?

(Answers on page 31)

Page 22

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Living Life with Ease Part 1 - by Allyson Smith To have been asked to be a guest writer whilst Kellie takes her sabbatical is something I felt was a response to my inner calling that she referred to in last month’s edition there will be more about that in the coming months whilst I hold this space.

We all have a story inside us. Some choose to share them and others may feel they don’t quite get the opportunity to do so. You see, as someone who strives hard, is a bit of a perfectionist and has an innate ability to resist saying ‘no’, I am incredibly grateful for this opportunity. With no particular writing career behind me I have felt ‘called’ to write through what has become a regular meditation practice.

Time to connect the dots… We live in a world where we can be connected 24/7 if we choose, and many of us move from one moment to the next without actually reflecting upon the ‘moment’ that we might be in. That’s where meditation and yoga can help to reflect and be grateful for the ‘moment’ that we might be in. Those ‘moments’ as we move through life may be good or not so good but with a regular practice or just taking the time out, both yoga and meditation are tools that can enable us to get the most out of them and connect with our inner being thus enabling a life experience with a greater sense of ease.

Having recently become a mother, (well, kind of two years now!)

I’d like to hope that any parents reading this article will be able to relate to the phrase ‘nothing can prepare you for when your first baby arrives’. As someone with a successful career in the city (and one who continues to be incredibly grateful for it), driven, hard working, constantly thinking ten steps ahead, my world felt totally turned upside down when my gorgeous little boy arrived. You see, he had his own plan, not my project management one!!

Rewinding back to when I discovered I was pregnant, I had just renewed a twelve month subscription at Hummingbird, Pilates & Yoga studio in Writtle. A regular attendee at intermediate/advanced pilates and drop in at ashtanga yoga meant that rather by default than design I had to slow down. Mmm, so what classes were going to help me slow down, tame my monkey mind, whilst maintain a sense of well-being? Cue meditation and a dose of pregnancy yoga!!!

What a change from that must-be-on-the-go-24/7 state of mind. So there I am, in my first meditation experience as recommended by Kellie. I met Andy Pierce who runs the regular Sunday meditation class. Sit down and breathe, my mind says to me - ok so this seems pretty straightforward, how am I going to see any benefit from this!?

Remarkably, 55 minutes later as we are coming to the end of the class I feel different. A difference hard to describe, but I actually felt like I had slowed my mind down and was able to think more clearly, peacefully and connect with my body. There is no right or wrong way to meditate and one person’s experience will be different from the next, but what I have learned from my own experience is that meditation calms your breathing and helps you to focus upon breathing more effectively, which has remarkable benefits to your own well-being - and a peculiar way of creating more time in the day...

Curiosity took me back to meditation and making that commitment to just 5 minutes everyday can make a real difference and make the day feel easier, calmer and create more space in the midst of that 24/7 environment that I am sure many people reading this article can relate to.

hummingbirdpilates.co.uk) and give it a try. After all, its always worth trying something at least once in life - you never know where it might lead.

Life is amazing and each and everyone of us should try something to seize every moment, and as the late often quoted Dr Wayne Dyer said, sometimes when ‘we change the way we look at things the things you look at change’.

Writtle Jazz Festival Writtle Jazz Festival returns this year with three days of entertainment - and the line-up is virtually complete!

Friday 27th July kicks off at 7pm till late with The Nicola Farnon Trio returning from last year when they played both in the marquee on the Village Green and in the courtyard at The Rose and Crown.

Nicola plays the double bass and sings - a sheer delight! Our headline act for Friday is the sensational duo of Jason Rebello (pianist for Sting for a number of years and also Jeff Beck) accompanied by saxophonist Tim Garland. This will be amazing!

We finish with Tony Gooderham’s ‘Liven Up’, which concludes an outstanding evening of jazz for just £15!

Saturday 28th July from 7pm till late will feature The Daniel Parker Trio, a regular at The Writtle Jazz Festival, The Simon Hurley Quartet and our headline act at 9pm is the Fellowship, which is very exciting, consisting of our very own saxophonist Zak Barrett with Pete Riley on drums, Seth Govan on bass, John Leo Dutton on keys - and of course Chelmsford’s Guthrie Govan on guitar!

The line-up for Sunday 29th July from noon till 9pm is nearly finalised. We welcome The Elliot Weight Trio, The Dan Banks Quintet, The Melvin Beddow Big Band and the Frank Weatherly Trio to the Village Hall. The Rose and Crown will host Solar and The Wheatsheaf will see The Dave Mascall Duo with Julia Quinn return, followed by Joe Gibson.

The marquee on the Village Green kicks off at 1pm with The Neil Angilly Trio, Noel McCalla and The Derek Nash band at 2.15pm and The Sarah O’Shea band at 3.30pm. We are still waiting to confirm the act for 4.45pm, but we finish with Sunchaser at 6pm and Harry Funk Band from 7.15pm!

You can purchase tickets from The Rose and Crown, The Wheatsheaf, Robyn’s Nest, Barnet Fayre, Writtle Library and from The Civic Theatre in Chelmsford, or in person, by phone (01245 606 505) and online at www.chelmsford.gov.uk/theatres/whatson/community-events/writtle-jazz-festival. Tickets are £15 for each day and will be £17.50 on the day!

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The History of Marconi in Chelmsford: Part Nine - by Stephen Norris So we finally come to the last part of these articles on Marconi in the town. The space given to the company reflects the role that it played in the town for over a hundred years, as well as its importance nationally and internationally.

By the time Arnold Weinstock retired, he had made GEC the 18th largest business in Britain, dominating the country’s engineering, electronics and telecommunications business. George Simpson took over as Managing Director and began bringing in a new corporate style of management. Initially of course there were assurances that the Chelmsford jobs were safe, but by 1997 however, the workforce at New Street had been halved. In the same year the closure of the historic Marconi College in Arbour Lane was announced. Marconi Radar was still recruiting engineering graduates and in 1996 it announced plans to recruit half the 200 it needed from the new Anglia Ruskin University. The Marconi Laboratories at Great Baddow developed a miniature TV screen just over half an inch wide for medical use and for the emergency services.

In 1999 GEC sold Marconi Electronic Systems, which included Marconi Radar, to British Aerospace for £7.2 billion. The latter became BAE Systems, in which Marconi Electronic Systems was linked up to the Italian defence giant Alenia as Alenia Marconi Systems. They won a number of major contracts, in 2000 for example the company was awarded a £260 million order as part of a new Royal Navy anti-aircraft system.

Simpson and his aides decided to complete his reconfiguration of the GEC empire, now renamed as Marconi PLC, by taking part in the infamous ‘dot com’ boom. He bought up overpriced United States telecommunications companies and two big Internet acquisitions in 1999 brought the company massively into debt. When the dot com bubble burst Marconi PLC’s shares crashed. Within weeks the group of companies, which as GEC had been worth as much as £35 billion, was reduced to a share value of £100 million - this sealed the fate of the historic New Street works and production was to be switched to their Waterhouse Lane site. In the event, the groups mountain of debts necessitated further sell offs and the move never took place.

In 2002, Marconi Strategic Communications (the old MCS) was sold to the Italian giant, Finmeccanica. By the end of that year the Marconi name had all but left the town, with only 25 people working at New Street. Alenia Marconi Systems continued to make world beating radar, but away from Chelmsford. The AEU shop steward Bill Pigram said: “The new company is treating people as badly as the old one because of a complete miscalculation in the US.” In 2005 what remained of Marconi PLC was sold off to the Swedish telecommunications company Eriksson, who used the Marconi brand for a while then renamed it Telent. Marconi Radar lives on as BAE Insyte (Integrated System Technologies) mainly working on advanced technology for the Royal Navy at Glebe Road. In 2010, jobs were being created at the old Great Baddow Laboratories with BAE pioneering low carbon eco-friendly technologies.

Meanwhile, a saga surrounding what would happen to the Marconi historical archive developed. During its long history the company had amassed a large collection of archives and artefacts. A sell off of the Marconi historical collection was narrowly averted, but negotiations with the then borough council failed. In 2004 it was announced the collection was not being transferred to Oxford University and the university allowed the town to keep some exhibits on permanent display.

During 2009, 50 Marconi cameras were obtained from a private collection for the museum, including one that was used to film and broadcast the Coronation. In 2011 the late William Waters left his collection to the Industrial Heritage Centre at Sandford Mill, consisting of ‘every little bit of radio equipment you could want from 1890 to the 1960s’. This made it possible to reconstruct the wireless room on the Titanic. The collection remains divided with the archives and the products of the early firm at Oxford, while Sandford

Mill holds the Marconi Hut and a range of later equipment including broadcast transmitters, TV cameras and the major national collection of Marconi marine radio equipment.

Even in the new millennium there were still some workers at New Street who had stuck with the company for decades, displaying the sort of dedication that their corporate bosses would have hardly understood. Bill Lambert for example had helped with the Duke of Edinburgh’s visit in 1962. He had explained to the Duke how his jig boring machine worked. His son said later that during an extensive stay in hospital “his boss went to the hospital to tell him that he’d had to put someone else in charge of the machine. He couldn’t have dad learn it from someone else.” Sir Robert Telford, the last MD of GEC - Marconi Electronics Ltd and later the company’s life president, had started as an apprentice in New Street in 1938: “Apprentices were expected to learn the job bottom up.” He said that loyalty to Marconi had been built up by recruiting from all corners of the UK during the depression years. “Working for Marconi was a good job.

There was a high degree of skill at all levels with the top research people, who were leading the world, dealing with skilled men on the shop floor.” In 2008 Faheem Ahtar retired after 48 years with the company, starting immediately after he arrived from Pakistan as one of the first Asians in the town.

The New Street site is now being developed with only the front facade having been given grade 2 listed building status. A number of redevelopment plans had previously come to nothing, including one which would have retained key buildings, but also involved the demolition of most of the factory in order to provide new homes, a hotel, new business space and a new arrival space for a Chelmsford station.

The owners went into administration, but in 2012 the site was bought

by Bellway Homes. Plans involved the preservation of the front of the 1912 building along with the water tower and the power house. The orginal building has finally been preserved and taken over by Benefit Cosmetics and Alan Pampillon is now conducting tours which finish at the site.

It remains an absurdity that such a great amount of stored skill and technical ability, which was still proving itself in the 1990s, could be permanently wasted by corporate incompetence.

Future articles will include two on E2V, a company which of course had originally a close connection with Marconi.

Chelmsford Park & Ride Sandon and Chelmer Valley customers are now able to pay for their travel with contactless debit and credit card payments - both on and off the buses.

First Essex is the first bus operator to roll out contactless payment across all its bus fleet including Park and Ride vehicles.

Designed to make paying for travel more convenient and accessible, the contactless option on First Essex buses removes the need to carry cash, while the fast and easy contactless payment will improve boarding times and lead to quicker bus journeys.

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Are You at Risk of Developing Glaucoma? - by the Chelmsford Private Hospital Glaucoma is a disease that damages the nerves inside the eye and causes patchy loss of vision. It is known as the silent thief because it steals your eyesight without you ever noticing.

You can detect it by having a thorough examination of your eyes including pressure and visual field assessments.

Glaucoma can be caused by high pressure of the fluid inside your eye or a weakness in the optic nerve.

There are many types of glaucoma the most common form is due to high pressure slowly damaging your optic nerve and eyesight; but you can have low tension glaucoma when optic nerve damage occurs with low pressure and a gradual deterioration in your vision.

Often glaucoma damage is not noticed because the brain fills in the missing peripheral vision, and the detailed central vision is not affected. Glaucoma is one of the most preventable causes of blindness in the UK and if caught in time vision can be saved.

Without adequate treatment, loss of vision usually gets worse and becomes permanent. Early treatment by a glaucoma specialist consultant prevents the progression of glaucoma blindness.

The best way of detecting glaucoma is by having a comprehensive eye examination to check the health of the structures and pressure inside your eyes alongside diagnostic testing. We detect glaucoma with diagnostic tests using state-of-the-art technology to evaluate and measure the pressure, function and structure of your eye. Computerised visual field assessment maps out the function of the retinal nerves and at the back of your eye; this simple but high tech assessment detects plots and analyses less sensitive and blank areas of your vision.

Optical coherence tomography provides exceptional 3D scans of the structures of the optic nerve and retinal nerve cell layers inside your eye. Detailed statistical analysis makes it possible to detect glaucoma damage and identify any structural changes or progression of glaucoma before vision is lost.

By measuring the thickness of the front surface of the eye, known as the corneal central thickness, we can interpret pressure inside the eye more accurately. A thin cornea means a less strong eye and another risk factor for glaucoma. Glaucoma specialist ophthalmologists offer the latest treatment to prevent vision loss.

Treatment to lower the pressure inside the eye includes eye drops applied every day. Glaucoma specialists offer laser light beam technology called selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) which can last as long as 5 years. Other innovations include implants directly into the eye or specialist surgery for more permanent treatment.

Glaucoma is for life and needs regular ongoing diagnostic testing and monitoring to detect any changes and progression of the disease to treat and prevent glaucoma blindness. The most effective treatment is early in the disease process before vision is lost. The good news is if glaucoma is caught in time, vision can be saved. Early management and recognition prevents glaucoma blindness.

Early referral to a glaucoma specialist ophthalmologist saves eyesight.

Article by Helen Collett, a private orthoptist and provides ophthalmic diagnostics for the glaucoma specialist, Consultant Ophthalmologist Mr Petros Andreou.

Clinics are held at The Chelmsford Private Hospital on Tuesday afternoons. For more information go to www.thechelmsford.co.uk.

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Page 25

Celebrating A Centenary of Beekeeping in Chelmsford - 1918 to 2018

In 2018 Chelmsford beekeepers are celebrating their centenary with a succession of events aimed at promoting our craft and membership whilst raising awareness of the vital role honey bees play in our lives.

Our goal is to reach out to the public. At each of the events we will be providing packets of wildflower seeds to promote wild flora for the bees. We will showcase the products of the hive, such as candles, beeswax, pollen, royal jelly, propolis and of course - honey. We will be talking to the public about bees and beekeeping and discussing the various food sources for the bees throughout the season, from the early spring yellow rape fields to the late ivy flowers in the autumn.

There will be the opportunity to hear just how the bees use flowers to make such a varied array of honey. Last Sunday we held our first event at Norsey Woods Open Day - this was a great relaxed family day out in beautiful woods and we saw over 300 visitors to our stand, explaining beekeeping activities selling honey and giving away free wildflower seeds June: New Observation Hive & Bee Garden Opening: One of the most popular attractions at Oakland’s Park Museum has been the observation hive, which has now been retired due to old age. A new hive has been commissioned and will be open to the public for the first time in June. Chelmsford Beekeepers have helped design the new observation hive and we will be adding a live colony of bees! It will be situated on the first floor and will allow many visitors to see the bees at work with even greater clarity than before.

1st September: Orsett Show: The annual Essex Honey Show attracts vast number of visitors with many attractions. Chelmsford Beekeepers will be contesting in the annual Honey Show. There will also many other bee products, an observation hive and bee related information to enjoy.

School Visits: We will be visiting schools throughout the year to raise awareness of pollination and bees to our young people. Children are fascinated by insects and the outdoors and teaching in this area has proven to stir the imagination and raise awareness from an early age - and of course, tasting the honey!!

Some Useful Facts...

• Chelmsford Beekeepers (CBK) was founded on 2nd December 1918. Today we are a division of the Essex Beekeepers Association, who were formed 138 years ago after a meeting in Chelmsford. We have 140 members who meet regularly to share their craft. In recent times we have seen a renewed interest in beekeeping. We run a number of courses for new prospective beekeepers and offer ongoing support to all our members.

• Chelmsford Beekeepers had 38 new beekeepers enrolled on this year’s new beekeeper course.

• Chelmsford is an ideal place for honey bees to thrive, with our arable lands, array of flora and decent weather.

• Chelmsford was home to Ted Hooper MBE who was a master of the craft who would also have been celebrating his 100th birthday in 2018. His books are still helping us today.

• Chelmsford is home to Clive De Bruyn, who has been beekeeping since the 1960s. He is one of the best known and most respected beekeeping authorities in Britain and Ireland.

Based in Essex, he runs over 100 colonies for queen rearing, honey production and pollination.

• Chelmsford is the fasted growing city in the UK and we want to ensure of bees grow with it.

Pollination, Pollination, Pollination.

The honey bee performs a vital function in pollinating both our flowers and our crops, which gives the fruits and foods of today. The importance of pollination is taught in schools across the land. Honey bees are crucial for agriculture because they pollinate a wide range of cultivated food plants - the honey bee remains a vital part of our existence.

Threats to the Honey Bee In 1978 we had 207 members facing the consequences of

Triazophos crop spraying. This pesticide had a detrimental effect on the bees. In 2003, after much campaigning nationally, Triazophos was banned across Europe - much to joy of the beekeeper. Records from 1978 show that the average yield of honey from the bees was around 32lb - one colony produced 90lb from the flowers of a parsnip crop. 100 years ago, yields of honey often ranged from 50 to 100lbs. In recent times there has been much made of the use of new chemicals called neonicotinoids. This insecticide used by farmers is believed to impact upon the health of our bees. Neonicotinoids have finally been banned, but their residue is still a problem. In 2017 the average yield of honey from a colony was just 29lbs compared to a national average 23.8lbs.

A Worrying Trend...

Varroa mites feed off the bodily fluids of adult, pupal and larval honey bees and often carry viruses that are damaging to the bees causing deformed wings, and even paralysis. Varroa has been implicated in colony collapse disorder in the USA which sees a colony catastrophically die out. Research has indicated that alone, neither varroa mites nor deformed wing virus are particularly deadly, yet together with neonicotinoids they can pose an incredible risk to colonies.

We will be highlighting these and other issues our bees face at our centenary events and in our future communications.

Families Make a Beeline to Chelmsford Museum

Hundreds of children buzzed around Chelmsford Museum inspired by its latest event, Show Me The Honey, which celebrated the return of the much loved bees to the museum’s collection.

One of the museum’s most popular exhibits, it also provided a week of interactive activities for children to find out more about the life of the honey bee. Children were given the opportunity to learn all about the life of bees, how they collect nectar, create honey and communicate with one another. There was also lots of opportunities to try honey, make a candle, dress-up as ‘Queen Bee’ and find out what flowers the bees are most attracted to.

The event also encouraged visitors to take part in the Friends of the Earth Great British Bee Count. Here children could buzz around the museum’s Oaklands Park and record all of the bees in the grounds.

Visitors were also encouraged to download a British Bee Count app so they could record the number of bees in their own garden too.

Dave Finkle, Manager of Chelmsford Museum, organised the event.

He says: “Show Me the Honey was a tremendous success. It was excellent to see the children’s faces all fascinated to find out more about bees. We also have to give a very special thanks to the Chelmsford Bee Keepers Association who are currently celebrating their 100th birthday and supplied us with bees and supported the event.”

He continued: “At Chelmsford Museum we endeavour to bring to life the museum experience and there will be many more opportunities coming up for youngsters to get up close and learn more in an entertaining and fun way.”

The Chelmsford Museum is currently running a Just for Fun competition to find a name for their new queen bee, simply visit www. facebook.com/chelmsfordmuseums to enter your suggestions.

To discover more about Chelmsford Museum, visit www.chelmsford. gov.uk/museums.

The Friends of the Earth Great British Bee Count free app is available from 17th May to download via Android and Apple app stores. To find out more about The Great British Bee Count visit act.foe.co.uk/act/ join-great-british-bee-count-2018.

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State of the Nation Survey Rotary’s State of the Nation survey examines social and community issues in today’s society, along with establishing a barometer check on how people feel life compares now with previous generations.

Rotary’s survey to the nation has importantly uncovered how nearly two thirds of us (64%) feel lonely.

to be brought into Rotary to ensure the 113-year legacy is maintained and importantly evolves to ensure relevance in the 21st century and beyond.

With data analysis from the State of the Nation report showing how the current generation feel people looked out for each other more years ago, that their current work/life balance is poor and that the burden to have it all makes them feel under pressure, it is probably unsurprising to find that a staggering 84% of us wish we were living in a simpler time where everyone was less materialistic.

Worryingly, analysis of the survey data exposed that two thirds of people believe their standard of living is worse than that of their parents’ generation and a staggering 92% of us feel bogged down by the stresses and strains of modern day life.

Understanding why people feel as they do is critical to finding meaningful solutions. When asked why work/life balance is harder now than before, the main factors given were: • • •

Loneliness is an issue normally associated with older people, but in fact the highest percentage of people affected were aged between 16 - 29, followed by those aged 30 - 44. This is a significant finding and something that Rotary is seeking to address.

The survey also uncovered that today’s generation feels it doesn’t have the same sense of community spirit as the previous generation, with nearly half of respondents (47%) claiming they don’t even know their neighbour’s name.

According to respondents, the biggest issues in society are believed to be: • • • • • • •

Mental health (56%) Poverty (48%) Homelessness (48%) Crime (45%) Care for elderly (41%) Unemployment (38%) Opportunities for young people (34%)

The situation has deteriorated so much in recent times that Rotary has established 200 extra community based groups in the past year to help tackle the challenges facing society, with Rotary clubs across the country working to confront some of these big social issues with initiatives including: • • • • •

Youth employment projects.

Creating food banks.

Providing mental health support in communities.

Helping to tackle crime.

Or even just being there for someone to talk to when they’re lonely.

Rotary is present within most towns and cities, supporting community cohesion and underpinning the fabric of society. Working alongside other community groups, Rotary is often the facilitator bringing support teams together. But it is our millennial generations that need

Managing finances (42%) Getting on the property ladder (40%) Maintaining a ‘job for life’ (40%)

Interestingly, although technology is seen as a positive enhancement to today’s world, many people believed their parents’ life was better because they didn’t have the pressures of social media.

We would always advise a certain air of caution, with rose tinted spectacles often being unleashed when we look backwards, but the fact that people revealed their belief that people looked out for each other more, finances were in better shape (more home ownership) and that there was a stronger sense of community spirit does indicate that more needs to be done to address these challenges.

The question we want to raise is around how Rotary affects change within our communities to address the concerns that have been uncovered. Tackling loneliness and enhancing community spirit and cohesion is at the heart of what Rotary stands for.

Taking part in something meaningful, getting out of the house and meeting others, particularly in a family friendly environment gives a greater sense of intrinsic satisfaction, easing feelings of isolation and loneliness.

The global Rotary network is a great way to meet new people, make lasting friendships and have fun.

This is particularly pertinent given the feedback from the young adults who responded as they will be able to develop skills, share personal and vocational experience and take up leadership roles all whilst making a difference to the local or international community. A true win-win for our millennial generations and the wider society.

Rotary is an ideal means of combating isolation and loneliness. Not just for the work it does in the community, but equally for providing a vehicle for everyone to become involved - to feel they are making a significant contribution in the community and to make new friends.

If you would like more information on how to join Rotary visit www. rotary1240.org or give me a call on 01245 260 349.

Stan Keller

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Back to Work - by Eleanor Searle

My baby is now almost one and I’m preparing to go back to work full time.

My to-do list is ever growing, not helped by him picking up an inevitable virus on his second nursery settling in session.

Consequently, I now have a poorly baby to look after, a longer list of uncompleted jobs and an even longer wish list.

The hope of getting my hair cut and coloured before I return to work seems to have slipped away as it has drifted off the priority list. The work wardrobe sort-out also hasn’t happened, so with a bit of luck at least one pair of trousers will still fit! The ideal of emerging from maternity leave looking like my pre-motherhood self has been sabotaged, but I guess doesn’t really matter much in the grand scheme of things. At least I’ll look very real and probably very tired!

The good news is though that he loved his nursery so at least I feel really happy that we’ve chosen a nursery that’ll really suit him.

Also, I’m sure that by next week, he’ll be feeling better and order (or disorder) will have been restored. If unlike me you’re preparing to go back to work and have those two hour nursery settling in sessions to look after yourself, maybe consider a massage. At Stretch, we have lots of lovely massage treatments such as hot stones, aromatherapy and Thai yoga massage at an introductory offer price of £25 for a 45 minute treatment. Call to book and appointment on 01245 505 866 - and treat yourself!

I will be jealous, but pleased that you were able to use that precious time to yourself better than me!

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Stargazing with Mark Willis - June/July 27th June: Saturn at opposition and from tonight and until 16th December, the planet will become an evening visitor. Opposition means this is the closest that an outer planet gets to Earth.

12 July: Evening: Mercury reaches greatest eastern elongation. This means that it’s an ideal time to observe Mercury as it rides higher above the horizon, appearing low down on the western horizon just after sunset. th

27th July 06:07 BST: Mars is at opposition which means that it is at closest approach to Earth. Don’t miss this as this as there won’t be as good a look at Mars as this until September 2035! Mars is the second smallest planet in the solar system and yet it has some big mountains and canyons. Valleris Marineris is a super canyon, 4,000 kilometers long, (the distance from New York to San Francisco) and 7 kilometers deep dwarfing our own Grand Canyon! (The size of the Grand Canyon is 446 kilometers long and 1.8 kilometers deep). Just like the Grand Canyon, the Valle Marineris was also formed by a colossal amount of water that covered much of the surface long ago in Mars’ past.

27th July 09:21 BST: Tonight’s a busy night! As there is also a total

lunar eclipse. The Moon will appear dim and coppery and it will be directly above the brilliant red Mars.

29th July: Delta Aquarids meteor shower. Sadly, the full Moon’s glare is going to spoil this otherwise nice display. Next year, 16th July 2019 will be unhampered by a full Moon.

Correction on last month’s issue: I stated that the Whirlpool Galaxy was a mere 60,000 light years away from Earth. Ooops! It is, in fact 23.16 million light years distant. The Galaxy’s size is 60,000 light years in diameter. Still a lovely galaxy, just a tad further away...

New Moon: On 12th July and 11th 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.

Mark Willis presents Willis Wireless every Monday at 7pm on Chelmsford Community Radio on 104.4 FM and online at chelmsfordcommunityradio.com.

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

Chelmsford & District Philatelic Society

Next year the society celebrates it’s centenary on the 11th November having started on a very memorable date - Armistice Day. We meet on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month in Room 1, Christ Church United Reformed Church, New London Road, Chelmsford CM2 0AW at 7.30pm.

Our last meeting before our summer break is being held on 26th June and we return on 11th September.

We enjoy a wide variety of presentations from both our own members and members from visiting societies. This year’s programme has included the history of seven families of Tristan da Cunha, Air mail of Ireland, Something Beginning with J, Malayan Airmails, Munich - the Road to War, Czechoslovakia, and the history of the Dunmow Flitch.

For further details please contact davideverard@live.com, or telephone 01206 465 506.

Film and Show Music Coming to Chelmsford on Saturday June 30th with the Essex Symphony Orchestra!

We are really excited to be performing something VERY different to our usual programme of music and I am pretty sure that audience members, both young and old alike, will be interested in coming along to this particular event as we have lots of exciting things in store for them! We will be showcasing a number of popular film blockbusters and West End show pieces, as follows:Bernstein: Zimmer/Badelt: Williams: Williams: Williams: Williams:

West Side Story: Symphonic Dances (1957) Pirates of the Caribbean Flying Theme from ET Star Wars Suite!

Raiders of the Lost Ark - Final March Schindler’s List

As you can see, our concert very neatly coincides with the current launch of the new Star Wars film, Solo, and we are hoping to attract an even bigger audience than usual with the quality programme we have prepared for them. Tea, coffee and biscuits will be served in the half-time interval and this will be a great opportunity to mingle with audience members, orchestral players and Friends of ESO. All proceeds from the interval will go to the local charity we will be supporting this time which is J’s Hospice.

Details of how to join as a Friend of ESO can be found on our website, www.essexsymphony.org.uk/friends.html - this is a great way to add social value to Chelmsford by supporting a long standing local orchestra and the cultural scene in and around Chelmsford. You can also become a corporate sponsor of ESO to help us continue to offer community and child outreach activities. By becoming a

corporate sponsor you will be able to advertise with us in our concert programmes and promote your own venture or business. Please email us on esofeedback@gmail.com if you are interested and also see our concert programme on the concert night for more details.

Free Ticket Offer!

We will be giving away 20 free tickets to the first few lucky audience members to step through our doors on the night of the concert. For those who have never seen the Essex Symphony Orchestra in action before, we would love to offer you the chance to see your first concert with us for free! If you are a newcomer, just let us know on the night as you come through the door and if you are one of the first 20 people who have never been to one of our concerts before, we will happily give you a free ticket and show you to your complimentary seat!

An important note: There is an earlier start time of 6.30pm (rather than the usual 7.30pm) as we would like to make it possible for our younger audience members to attend.

Date/time: Venue:

Tickets:

Saturday 30th June 2018 at 6.30pm Christ Church, 164 New London Road, Chelmsford, Essex, CM2 0AW £14.00 (under 18s get in for free!)

Tickets are available from Daces and Allegro Music in Chelmsford or from Pam Gladwell on 01245 601 418 - or you can simply turn up on the night and buy them at the door, but better to buy them in advance!

Page 30 If you would like to advertise with us please email ads@itsyourmedia.co.uk

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Writtle Singers Summer Concert Conductor ~ Christine Gwynn Saturday 7th July 2018 7.30pm All Saints Church, Writtle CM1 3EN Stuff and Nonsense A musical entertainment for a summer evening featuring a mermaid, two sailors, several trees, an owl, a pussycat, some nasty songs about Essex, some tequila and a chaotic visit to Strawberry Fair - in diverse musical settings.

Tickets: £12/£5 (£2 supplement on door) Free admission for children under 16 Tickets available online at www.writtlesingers.org Box Office: 07815 966 978, also available at James Dace music shop, Broomfield Road, Chelmsford.

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