Chelmsford the city Times June/July 2016

City Times

Dressmaking | Alterations | Curtain Making

Chelmsford

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Issue Number 33: 17th June - 19th August 2016

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CT Welcome Hello readers

This is the busiest month of the year for festivals with 3foot People Festival, The Fling, Walthamstock, Chelmsford Beer and Cider Festival and Brownstock! Blues in the City also have two shows at The Bassment in June and July. So enjoy all the music and fun - fingers crossed for sunshine! We are also in the middle of Euro 2016 of course and have the Olympic Games coming up very soon!

There are lots of other events happening this month; check out our What’s On page for more details!

Have a great month, see you next issue!

Nick & Paul www.chelmsfordthecitytimes.co.uk | www.moulshamtimes.com

Advertising Nick Garner 07970 206682 ads@itsyourmedia.co.uk

Editorial Paul Mclean 07595 949701 editorial@itsyourmedia. co.uk

it’s your media Ltd Disclaimer: It’s Your Media Ltd publish Chelmsford The City Times. The opinion expressed in each article is the opinion of its author and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of It’s Your Media Ltd. No part may be reproduced without the prior written permission of It’s Your Media Ltd. Registered offices: 15 Hayes Close, Chelmsford. Reg No 9154871. Printed by Imagery UK.

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Page 3

CT Fashion - Your Essential Swimwear Guide After a hasty retreat, the sun is out once more and it looks like summer is back!

So, as women, what would be the thing that we will have on our minds at this time of year? Day’s at the beach, music festivals, summer picnics… No, it would be getting into a bikini or swimsuit, after our bodies have been wrapped in thick woolly layers over the winter. Whether you are flying off somewhere or staycationing, we all have that moment, when we have to shed those layers and do a ‘beach reveal’. If you are luckily enough to be honed and toned then great, you may not have any issues stripping off, but in my experience there’s not that many women who don’t have a hang up or two about their bodies. But I am here to tell you can look great and feel great without shedding half your body weight or spending every waking hour at the gym. So do what you can in regards to exercise and healthy eating as you will undoubtedly feel better, but don’t think you have to ‘Get Beach Body Ready’ like all those celeb’ magazines will have you believe. Those clever clothes designers make great swimwear for every type of body shape.

Here’s the lowdown…

Bigger bust: A tankini or bikini is much easier to wear then a swimsuit, but the right swimsuit can look great. Look for balconette tops and underwires are a must. Avoid triangle styles, anything with zero support and anything with ruffles, frills, gems or diamante (any detailing up top will make your boobs look bigger) If you choose a contrasted bikini top and bottom, then the bottoms could be a print or bright colour and the top a darker colour.

Also remember that the skimpier your bikini bottoms are, the bigger your bust will look, so look for a slightly wider bikini brief. Check out bravissimo.com if you are bigger up top. Freya Deco swim moulded UW top (£40.00) and Freya Deco swim hipster brief (£16.00) Debenhams or Valencia Swimsuit (by Bravissimo - £48.00).

Athletic: You are straight up and down with no curves. You can wear the teeniest, itsty-bitsy bikini if you want to.

Triangle bikini tops and tie-side bikini bottoms are perfect for you.

Bandeau style tops are also a good style to opt for. You can also indulge in some ruffles and frills, bottom and top, to add curves.

One-shoulder swimsuits and monokinis look fab on an athletic shape and you can also opt for a cut-out style costume. Bright Aztec Triangle Bikini Top and Bottoms (£32.00 - Topshop), One Shoulder Swimsuit (£35.00 - Warehouse).

Smaller Bust: Triangle style bikini tops with a halter neck will create the illusion of more curves. Bandeau style tops with any matching brief.

Balconette styles and halter necks are also great. Bikini tops with some padding will flatter and enhance your shape and tops with frills and embellishments are brilliant for creating the look of bigger boobs. Floral Bikini Top (£25.00 Warehouse), Light pink frilly bustier bikini top (£16.00 - River Island).

Pear Shape: if your bum, thighs and hips are bigger then your top half then you are a true pear. Avoid tie-sided styles, and boy shorts and opt for a normal brief, you could even go for a skirted swimsuit bikini bottoms. The 1950s style of costume but with a higher cut leg is a great shape for a pear. If you are wearing a contrasting top and bottom bikini, then the darker colour should be on the bottom and the lighter or brighter colour or print should be worn on the top. You can also go for frills or ruffles up top, as you usually have a smaller bust. Dobby Texture Plunge Bikini Top (£22.00) and Dobby Texture Ruched Bikini Bottoms (£18.00) - Fat Face.

Curvy: If you are an hourglass shape, you have many swimwear styles to choose from. Balconette and halterneck are styles you could opt for. The retro cut that is on trend right now, which has wider high waisted pants. As your hips are in line with your boobs you don’t want a suit or bikini that alters your proportions, so opt for matching styles over contrast styles when looking for a bikini and play around with detailing on a swimsuit, so any print or colour, it’s up to you. Boy cut, or normal bikini style or wider tie sided briefs are all options. When it comes to swimsuits anything goes - retro styles, styles with stripes, racer swimsuits, bandeau styles, asymmetrical just experiment with styles. Tropical Plunge Bikini Top and Bottoms (£30.00 - Topshop), Slash Detailed Swimsuit (£34.00 - Topshop).

Tummy hiders: Some suits and bikinis are great at hiding tummies.

Tankinis are a great option, and you can mix and match with sizing.

Look for swimsuits with draping and as these are very flattering for the tummy area, also look for swimsuits where the bust area is a different color to the torso of the swimsuit, so the bust area may be white with a black contrast torso. Look for contouring in a vertical direction; these are great costumes for creating a slimming effect.

If you want to buy a bikini, then look for a wider higher waisted style brief with a balconette top. A large print, believe it or not, is also great for minimizing the tummy area. Try Miraclesuit Sanibel Plain Control Swimsuit, Turquoise (John Lewis £130), Secret Slimming™ Amalfi Print Plunge Swimsuit (£29.50 - M&S).

Emma Smith is a personal stylist. She offers personal shopping and wardrobe planning. You can contact her via her website: www.emmasmith.co.uk or email emma@emmasmith.co.uk or emmapersonalstylist@hotmail.com.

Photos Marks & Spencer

Page 4

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To purchase online tickets www.wegottickets.com/event/364493

Music by Nick Garner

We recently had The Animals and The Sharpees play at the Football Club and the gig was fantastic, The Animals ended up receiving a standing ovation and The Sharpees went down a storm as well. We are now looking forward to another legendry act - Chris Farlowe and the Norman Beaker band, with Roy Mette’s 60s Project supporting them, on Saturday 18th June.

Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young with fabulous harmonies and great musicianship - you will not see a better live show.

We have just had the Battle of the Bands at Asylum and Shakey’s festival at The Fleece over the last bank holiday weekend, as well as the hugely successful reggae festival at the Star and Garter. It gives me hope that live music is on the up in Chelmsford and with the summer comes The Fleece acoustic Saturday afternoon shows too well worth a look.

Check out our events listings in this magazine and get yourself along to enjoy some wonderful live music this summer. Let’s hope it stays dry and warm for us all so we all go around with smiles on our faces. www.bluesinthecity.co.uk www.facebook.com/bluesinthecitychelmsford Twitter @bluesinthecity1 www.itsyourmusic.co.uk www.facebook.com/itsyourmusic Twitter @itsyourmusic

The Sharpees On Wednesday 22nd June at The Bassment we have a special night on with Gregg Sutton (from the USA). Gregg used to be Bob Dylan’s bass player and has written many hits including Stop for Sam Brown and Tonight for Joe Cocker. He has also worked with Santana, Bonnie Rait, Timothy B Schmitt (Eagles) among others. This is just one of a handful of shows that Gregg is playing in the UK and it’s only because I knew him when he played with Dylan that he is playing for us. The support for the night is Jack J Hutchinson, who was nominated as best UK Acoustic Act this year at The British Blues Awards.

It is Chelmsford’s Fling Festival on Saturday 2nd July where we are hosting the Blues & Roots stage. We have a great line-up starting at 12.30pm with Dave Sharp (The Alarm) and then, in order: Joe Anderton Band, Delta Ladies, Stony Road, Jamie Williams & the Roots Collective, The Sharpees, Salvation Jayne, Rum Honey and The Ouse Valley Singles Club. With Turin Brakes headlining the main stage and so much more going on, it is one event not to miss (see the front cover for more information and the website).

From the 5th July it’s this year’s Chelmsford Summer Beer and Cider Festival with lots of wonderful ales and ciders and fun for all, plus some great live music to entertain you. Remember too that Saturday 9th is family day.

July 13th Blues in the City are pleased to welcome to The Bassment one of the world’s top guitarists, Robbie McIntosh, rated along with Derek Trucks as the world’s best slide guitar player. Robbie has played with (to name a few) Paul McCartney, The Pretenders, Tom Jones, Norah Jones, Talk Talk, Tears For Fears and John Mayer.

Robbie will open the night and will then join his best friend and bass player Steve Wilson and his band, Wilson, who I would compare to Page 6

www.chelmsfordthecitytimes.co.uk

CT Gardening by Tom Cole We’re finally in the summer months… hurrah! With this in mind, the extra light and warmth will certainly encourage the garden to put on a massive burst of growth. However, with this it will also mean that the dreaded weeds will burst out from everywhere - so keep hoeing them to suppress their rampage through beds, borders and pathways.

Weeds can be a nightmare, I have to say though, that cutting them out in their prime by physically removing them and or raising them to the ground will mean your choice plants will have the freedom to grow well. Annuals like chickweed needs to be decapitated by a weeding hoe and are best done on a lovely dry day before it reaches the flowering stage - as a result the plant won’t regenerate. Perennials like dandelions or plantains will need further consideration. Simply cutting them down will just suppress them for a short while and then they’ll shoot off again with great vigour. I’m afraid that digging out the root system is the best option. Of course you could also use a variety of sprays to do the job for you, but if the culprit is growing amongst your clump forming perennials this will prove almost impossible, especially for the likes of ground elder or couch grass! Check out any good garden centres for spot weeder treatments, including gel based products, that you can wipe onto leaf and stem growth. I always follow weeding with a generous top up of mulch material such as shredded bark as this further keeps the weeds at bay.

Lastly, we’ve enjoyed the spring colour from many a woody shrub. Now it’s time to prune them to encourage good growth for an even better display next year, as these are plants that have flowered on previous season’s (or older) growth.

Once they have finished flowering, remove flowering stems to the ground or to where there is a perfectly positioned vegetative stem - one that hasn’t flowered at all yet. In some cases once this stage has been completed, thin out every third stem completely. This is ideal for Philadelphus spp. and also Kerria japonica. Don’t forget to also take out dead, diseased, damaged and displaced growth. Also, don’t forget to stand back from the plant every now and again in order to check that the shape is being retained - it’s easy to go off at a tangent and when you stand back, its lopsided.

Take the time this month to position summer hanging baskets and containers outside, but just have a piece of horticultural fleece at hand should we have weather that turns unruly. Alternatively, place in the glasshouse or porch overnight if you have one.

Whilst you’re positioning pots and other containers for a great summer display, don’t forget that there is a myriad of bedding that can be squeezed into any gaps between your perennial plants in borders to give that added burst of refreshing colour and greater seasonal interest.

01245 422712 / 07711 606561 www.highwoodlandscapes.co.uk • Trees • Pruning • Hedge Trimming • Roots Removed • Topping • Rotovating • Turfing • Fencing • Garden Design • Decking • Patios • Block Paving • Drives • Tar & Shingle Property Maintenance • Roofing • Chimney Repairs • Building Work • Flat roofs • Guttering • Fascias & Soffits

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Other plants that can be pruned include the following: Kolkwitzia amabilis Ribes sanguineum Spiraea arguta Weigela spp.

Buddleja alternifolia Cystisus scoparius Deutzia spp.

Forsythia spp Good luck and happy gardening!

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

Unit 1, The Paddocks, Highwood, Chelmsford, CM1 3PU Page 8 www.chelmsfordthecitytimes.co.uk

Exciting Times Ahead It has been a busy and exciting time for Chelmsford City Football Club this year. With a potential investment in the pipeline from Jade Global Group Ltd and the appointment of Rod Stringer as our new manager, next season is set to be one to remember for Clarets fans. However, before the season even kicks off we have our much anticipated pre-season friendlies to look forward to, with visits from West Ham, Colchester United and Southend United to look forward to. Details of all our home friendlies and ticket prices are below.

Friendlies West Ham XI, Friday 15th July (7.45pm) Colchester United, Sat 23rd July (3pm) Southend United XI, Wednesday 27th July (7.45pm) Dover Athletic, Saturday 30th July (3pm) Prices There will be no advanced ticket sales for any of the four matches, with all games requiring you to pay on the day at the turnstiles.

West Ham XI, Southend United XI and Colchester United: Adults: £10 Concessions: £7 12-18: £3 Under 12s: Free Dover Athletic: Adults: £5 Concessions: £5 12-18: £2 Under 12s: Free

Please note that only cash is accepted on the turnstiles.

Chelmsford City Football Club Melbourne Community Stadium, Salerno Way, Chelmsford, Essex, CM1 2EH. 01245 290959 www.chelmsfordcityfc.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/officialchelmsfordcityfootballclub Twitter: www.twitter.com/officialclarets Instagram: chelmsfordcityfc

April/May Issue Deadlines: Artwork - 7th July Articles - 1st July

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Page 9

CT Cooking by John Jacobs

Summer Sunshine in the City Hello City Times readers and welcome to June/July CT Cooking.

Finally the sun is peaking out of its hidey-hole. I’ve fired up the bbq once already and fight to pass a travel agent without popping in for some holiday inspiration. I’ve also managed to find the time have a meal at the not so new a-canteen which has been on my hit list since its move to bigger premises. The food was pretty good but be prepared for a bit of a wait on a busy night. Great to see it thriving.

Carluccio’s is close to opening in the city and goodness knows, the one thing Chelmsford is crying out for is an Italian restaurant. What I am awaiting for with eagerness is the coming of Turtle Bay. Inspired by beach shacks and street hawkers across the Caribbean Islands, this move away from the traditional high street standard will be a welcome addition to the new Bond Street development. I spent a little time in the Caribbean a few years ago; I remember the rum - and not a great deal else. At least I think it was the Caribbean. Considering the amount of rum, could have been Norwich. I miss those days...

London is experiencing a boom in Caribbean restaurants which involves far more than just jerk seasoning. Like our love for Asian food, Caribbean cuisine is intensely spiced and a blend of African, European, East Indian, Arab and Chinese influences. The most popular of these restaurants centre around Jamaican cuisine with its heavy emphasis on marinades of scotch bonnet peppers, spring onions and fresh thyme.

2 large mangos diced.

1 small bunch of fresh coriander, chopped. ½ red onion, finely chopped.

1 red pepper, finely chopped.

425g can black beans, drained and rinsed.

Zest of 1 and juice of 2 limes.

Method 1. Preheat the grill to high and coat the chicken with the jerk marinade, cover and set aside.

2. Meanwhile, toss all the remaining ingredients together in a large bowl, cover and chill.

3. Grill the marinated chicken for about 13-15 minutes, or until cooked through with no pink meat, turning half way through.

Let the chicken rest for 3 minutes then slice and serve with the mango black bean salad, and some extra lime wedges on the side to squeeze over if you like.

If you want to make it a night to remember, serve with a freshly made Jamaican rum punch of Jamaican white rum, lime juice, grenadine syrup, light rum, orange juice and a pinch of freshly grated nutmeg.

Have a great month Chelmsford.

Jerk Chicken and Mango Salad In keeping with all things colourful, flavoursome and Caribbean, this recipe is super quick and easy. Have this with your barbecue or it will store in the fridge for a couple of days without losing anything.

Serves: 4 Preparation time:5 minutes Cooking time:15 minutes Ingredients 4 chicken breast fillets (though thighs work equally well with a little more flavour).

2 tablespoons of jerk marinade (available in any supermarket or pop into one of the West End groceries for authenticity).

Page 10 www.chelmsfordthecitytimes.co.uk

5* Dog Sitters Are Proud Sponsors of Bring Your Dog to Work Day Emma Wallace is pleased to support this fantastic, nationwide dog charity event.

Barking Mad has jumped at the chance to spend more time with our dogs, whilst raising money for an inspirational dog rescue charity.

Bring Your Dog to Work Day is an annual, nationwide event which has featured on ITV’s This Morning and received coverage in the Daily Mirror. It is dedicated to raising money for charities who make a real difference to the welfare of dogs.

The event’s organisers, HOWND, are keen to emphasise that there could also be positive effects for employee productivity and wellbeing. After all, whose work day wouldn’t be brightened by the sight of a gorgeous furry friend, curled up by your feet whilst you tap away on your computer? Whose lunch hour wouldn’t be enhanced by a brisk dog walk with an enthusiastic, canine personal trainer?

We are going to share the fun by broadcasting the highlights of our day across our social media platforms. To find out how you can get involved on Friday 24th June, you can visit www. bringyourdogtoworkday.co.uk. Perhaps you could consider taking your own dog into work for the day, making being in your workplace a much more attractive prospect! It’s well known that we are a nation of dog lovers and that’s the reason why local pet business entrepreneur Emma Wallace is happy to support Bring Your Dog to Work Day 2016 this June. Her venture goes from strength to strength in Chelmsford and surrounding areas organising dog holidays for our region’s best friends.

purpose which they might not have had otherwise. Host dog sitters benefit from the proven medical advantages exercising and looking after a dog can have.

Books by Local Author and Moulsham Times Writer John Power Listed on Amazon Nu Tantras of the Uttarakaulas: Indian yoga philosophy. £8.75 Uttarakuru: Practical Tantrik yoga techniques. £6.75 Pagans and Witches of Essex: Local folk history. £7.75 A Sense of Place: Local and Essex history. £7.75 Madaece: A novel in Beat Generation genre. £8.75 Postage included for UK

www.barkingmad.uk.com is the UK’s leading dog sitting company. It organises dog holidays as an alternative to kennels and recently hit the top spot on the independent review site, TrustPilot. Nearly 1,000 delighted customers have left glowing 5* reviews following truly excellent customer service for their pampered pooches.

Could you be a Barking Mad host?!

The Barking Mad system works to match dog lovers, often active retired people with a furry pal on a temporary dog holiday (as an alternative to kennels). Looking after a dog gives many a lifeline and

Beer Festival by Simon Tippler of Round Tower Brewery It is very nearly time for the Chelmsford CAMRA Summer Beer and Cider Festival. If you don’t know already, this annual event takes place in Admirals Park at the beginning of July. This year it is from Tuesday 5th Saturday 9th and doors open at midday each day. Apart from a fantastic range of beer and cider, there is also some great entertainment on offer. Each day there are a couple of local bands playing and this year there is also a series of talks and tutored tastings being given by some of the great and the good of the beer world. In the past these talks have been a great way to find out a bit more about some of the beers that are on offer and this year will be no different with Melissa Cole, Jane Peyton and Sophie deRonde coming along to help you get more enjoyment out of the humble pint!

Alongside the 300 or so beers and ciders from around the country, there will also be brewery bars from many of the local breweries, including Round Tower. This year we will have lots of great beer for you all to try, including some experimental and one off beers. For example, we have taken one beer and brewed it with different yeasts to demonstrate the effect it has on final beer. We will also be taking one of our beers and dry hopping each cask with a different hop. So come along as ask what we’ve got that is special for this year.

As usual, Podge will be along with his Belgium and foreign beer bar, if you are not sure what to have then he has a wealth of knowledge that he is more than happy to share with you.

Don’t forget that at the beer festival, the glasses are marked in halves and thirds so that you can try many more beers and hopefully discover some breweries or styles that you haven’t previously enjoyed.

www.chelmsfordthecitytimes.co.uk Page 11

What’s On in Chelmsford

June Friday 17th Asylum - Cohaagen + The Mighty Have Fallen + The Horse Heads + Eva’s Dream Bassment - The Lemoncurd Kids album launch + Crème De Chèvre + Mandeville Civic - Spamalot Fleece - Frog on a Rocket Sandon Village Hall - SETS Presents, The Vicar of Dibley Star & Garter - VT11 Saturday 18th Ale House + Intense Records - Record Fair Asylum - Abode + Thirteen + The Heisenbergs Baddow Camera Club - Chelmsford Photo Marathon Bassment - Saturday’s Alright For Dancin’ Chelmsford City FC - Chris Farlowe & The Norman Beaker Band + The 60s Project Civic - Spamalot Cramphorn - The Merchant of Venice (pre-recorded from Shakespeare’s Globe) Fleece - Summer Acoustic Sessions Fleece - Holding Aces Sandon Village Hall - SETS Presents, The Vicar of Dibley Star & Garter - Thirsty Work Sunday 19th Star & Garter - Open mic/jam - 3pm-7pm Monday 20th Cramphorn - A Bigger Splash (15) Tuesday 21st Cramphorn - The Barber Of Seville Wednesday 22nd Bassment - Blues In The City with Gregg Sutton (USA) + Jack Hutchinson Cramphorn - Lunchtime concert Thursday 23rd Asylum - Chris Wheeler Bassment - Paul Dale - Oh! Suburbia album launch party Cramphorn - Mad Max Fury Road (15) Fleece - Quiz Night Friday 24th Asylum - Sportsday + Luciee Closier Band + Trip to Dover Bassment - Rubber Soul with DJ Andy Smith (ex Portishead) Bring Your Dog to Work Day (bringyourdogtoworkday.co.uk) Fleece - The Rising Star & Garter - Adrenalin Saturday 25th Asylum - Cannon + Temple Avenue + Distorted Bassment - Saturday’s Alright For Dancin Civic - One Upon A Time Idea Hub - Repair café (11am - 2pm) Great Waltham - Walthamstock 2016 Fleece - Summer acoustic sessions Fleece - Stereo Jacks Star & Garter - Solar 9 Sunday 26th Bassment - Time For 15 + Coast 2 Coast + Spring Yard + All These Years + All Tied Up Page 12

Sunday 26th continued...

City Centre - Essex Dragon Boat Euro 16 Championships Civic - One Upon A Time Star & Garter - Open mic/jam - 3pm-7pm Monday 27th Cramphorn - Werther (live from the Royal Opera House, London) Tuesday28th Cramphorn - Trumbo (15) Wednesday 29th Bassment - Live Indie Rock Cramphorn - Lunchtime concert Civic - A Night of Dirty Dancing Thursday 30th Asylum - Chelmsford Arts Collective: Here Come the Girls Bassment - Americana Night June with Jess Morgan Trio + The Southern Generals + Paul McClure Civic - Think Floyd Fleece - Quiz Night Star & Garter - Acoustic Jam July Friday 1st Asylum - The Mini Nukes Bassment - Shakey’s Sessions: The Lowriders + Antiques + Nervosa Chelmsford City Racecourse - Simply Red Cramphorn - Son of Saul (15) Fleece - Sammy Lizzard Star & Garter - The Stents Saturday 2nd Asylum - Heel + Breaking Omertà + Bandits of Stature + DJ Betts Bassment - Fling Festival After Party (free with wristband) Civic - You’ve Got A Friend Fleece - Summer Acoustic Sessions Fleece - Engine Hylands Park - Fling Festival Ingatestone Hall - Summer Evening Jazz Star & Garter - Codswallop Sunday 3rd Star & Garter - Open mic/jam - 3pm-7pm Woolpack - GC’s Jazz Club: with guest - Steve Waterman Trumpet & Graeme Culham Trio (8.30pm, free) Tuesday 5th Admirals Park - Summer Beer Festival Bassment - Jazz funk with Ian Thomas (drums) Civic - We Belong Together Wednesday 6th Admirals Park - Summer Beer Festival Bassment - Jazz Funk with Laurence Cottle Cramphorn - Lunchtime concert Civic - We Belong Together Thursday 7th Asylum - Crimson Ties + Wax Colour + Pack of Thieves Admirals Park - Summer Beer Festival Bassment - Bassment Blues Jam Civic - We Belong Together Fleece - Quiz Night

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

Friday 8th Admirals Park - Summer Beer Festival Asylum - Crimson Ties + Wax Colour + Pack of Thieves Bassment - Rowntree Records presents: Britpop Night!

Brownstock - Morris Farm, South Woodham Ferrers Civic - We Belong Together Fleece - The Repitoire Dogs Star & Garter - Electrum Saturday 9th Admirals Park - Summer Beer Festival Asylum - The Deep + Osmium Guillotine + Alive in Lights + Soulborn Bassment - Saturday’s Alright For Dancin’ Brownstock - Morris Farm, South Woodham Ferrers Civic - We Belong Together Fleece - Summer Acoustic Sessions Star & Garter - Fast on the Draw Sunday 10th Brownstock - Morris Farm, South Woodham Ferrers Cramphorn The 60s Brit Pop Girls Show Star & Garter - Open mic/jam - 3pm-7pm Monday 11th Bassment - Evergreen + Castaway + more TBA Cramphorn - Mustang (15) Tuesday 12th Cramphorn - Master Singers of Nuremberg (live from the Glyndebourne Festival) Wednesday 13th Asylum - Cheryl C Hemmings + S J Denney + Luke Fisher + Amy Serin + James Scollen & Lauren Hider Bassment - Blues In The City: Wilson + Robbie McIntosh Cramphorn - Lunchtime concert Thursday 14th Asylum - Fatality + Atorc + Kemakil Bassment - Acoustic Open Mic & Jam Night Cramphorn - Romeo & Juliet (pre-recorded) Fleece - Quiz Night Idea Hub - French celebration: circus acts + more (5pm-10pm) The Lion Inn - Chelmsford Comedy Club Star & Garter - Mojo Moon Friday 15th Asylum - Shakey’s Sessions - Stonewolf + Tiffany Psycho Bassment - Mother’s Jam: Live Indie Rock Civic - Disney Double Bill, by Frances School of Drama Cramphorn - The Assassin (12A) Star & Garter - The Locals Saturday 16th Bassment - Saturday’s Alright For Dancin’ Civic - Disney Double Bill, By Frances School of Drama Fleece - Red Leaf Star & Garter - Fishing for Robots Sunday 17th Civic - Essex Dance Theatre’s Annual Showcase 2016 Star & Garter - Open mic/jam - 3pm-7pm Venue Web Sites Asylum:- www.asylumchelmsford.co.uk Bassment:- www.bassmentbar.com Chelmsford Theatres:- www.chelmsford.gov.uk/theatres Chelmsford City FC:- www.chelmsfordcityfc.com Chelmsford City Racecourse:- chelmsfordcityracecourse.com The Fleece:- www.thegoldenfleece-chelmsford.co.uk Marsh Farm:- South Woodham Ferrers - www.marshfarm.co.uk Star & Garter:- www.facebook.com/star.garter.792 The Fling:- www.flingfestival.com

Star & Garter Live music every weekend (See listings for gigs)

Real Ale Hand Pull Ciders Free Wifi Free Pool on Monday’s www.facebook.com/star.garter.792

Happy Hour Monday - Friday 5-8pm 159 Moulsham Street, Chelmsford CM2 0LD 01245 600009

Please send us your events for the next edition (for events between 15th July and 21st August) to: editorial@itsyourmedia.co.uk

Have Fun in the Sun (Hopefully) at Chelmsford Beer and Cider Festival

Time for fun in the sun or whatever our wonderful British weather brings us!

With an outstanding choice of over 300 real ales, 100 ciders and perries, local wine, foreign beer and free soft drinks (with donations to our charities appreciated), there will plenty to whet your appetite. Organised and staffed by unpaid volunteers, the Chelmsford and Mid-Essex branch of CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale) campaigns to encourage people to visit pubs, try a range of real ales, ciders and perries and keep the pubs alive and kicking. Join in the fun at the biggest beer garden In Essex at Admirals Park, Chelmsford Tuesday 5th to Saturday 9th July 2016. Enjoy the range, the choice, the chance to try something you have not had before and savour the flavour of your favourites.

Essex Respite and Care Association and Kids Inspire charities appreciate the publicity and donations from the festival to further the amazing work they do, so meet the people who make it happen and donate to make someone happier in their life. Lots of lovely food, live entertainment and your chance to meet the experts, is on the doorstep and just around the corner.

Saturday 9th July is family fun day with rides, face painting, coconut shy and children’s entertainer, ice cream and free soft drinks. For more details visit www.cbcf.info

By Claire Irons, Publicity Officer Chelmsford & Mid-Essex CAMRA

The Fling Festival Adds Fresh Acts to Bill The Fling Festival, a boutique festival of live music, comedy and cabaret, has announced a range of fresh acts to this year’s line-up at Hylands Park, Chelmsford on Saturday 2nd July from 12 noon - 11pm.

Headlining this year’s musical feast will be the critically-acclaimed indie-rockers, Turin Brakes, who released their new studio album Lost Property in January 2016, which hit the top 30 on release. The band will only be performing at a few select festivals this summer.

The Fling Festival also attracts a range of under-the-radar acts and emerging talents; the ones to watch this year are Animal Noise who are going from strength-to-strength with their moody swamp songs, The Kubricks, a fun-loving ska party band, Ouse Valley Singles Club, a rock‘n’roll-blending blues, folk and skiffle band and the London Afrobeat Collective - a hypnotic groove pounding ensemble, plus many others.

The Fling Festival isn’t all about the music, with hundreds of comedy, cabaret, side-shows and other performances taking place across the day. Other acts already confirmed include the extremely funny and entertaining poet/ukulele player John Hegley, a leading light in the burlesque scene, Red Sarah, plus an Indian circus theatre, a travelling swap shop and fortune parlour, Buffalo Tank, Imagination Station Puppets and Jo Peacock’s Horse World to name but a few.

This year the party will continue well into the night with VIP ticket holders being entertained by a ‘Secret Agent’ themed experience which will include: DJ, live music, projection, magic, an interrogation room, poker table, mug shot photo booth, chill out area and after hours dance party.

If that’s not enough to keep you going, the event also offers a Silent Disco, dance classes, performance art, storytelling and clay making; there’s even a special area to help you off-load your emotional baggage!

Standard tickets cost from £25, VIP £38, camping £45 and are available from the Festival Box Office on 01245 606 505 or via www. flingfestival.com.

For up-to-date festival information, visit www.flingfestival.com, like ‘The Fling Festival’ on Facebook and follow @FlingFestival on Twitter.

The Fling Festival is produced by Chelmsford City Council Cultural Events Team, and is supported by Essex and Suffolk Water, First Buses, Chelmsford Weekly News, Printing Place and Chelmsford the City Times.

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Go Yellow to Be Green - How You Can Help Protect the River Chelmer If you notice yellow fish appearing on the streets of Chelmsford this year, don’t be alarmed! They aren’t an unusual infestation but a symbol to remind residents that ‘only rain goes down the drain’.

The fishes are part of the Yellow Fish campaign, an Environment Agency initiative to prevent surface water pollution and so improve the quality of the water in our streams, rivers and lakes.

The campaign is being run in Chelmsford by Groundwork Essex, the community charity with a green heart, alongside the Essex Wildlife Trust, and is funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund and Essex & Suffolk Water.

Groundwork works with all members of the community to promote greener living and working, create better places and improve people’s prospects. The River Chelmer is at the heart of Chelmsford’s historic, social and economic development. With a thriving ecosystem, including species like otters and water voles, the river provides an important green space for the local residents and businesses.

However, it is threatened by increasing levels of surface water pollution, especially near the city centre. Surface water pollution comes from litter and hazardous substances, including chemicals, detergents, cooking oils and other waste, entering surface water drains through road drains and driveway gutters, as well as sinks, drains and misconnected pipes in houses and businesses.

months!”

Laura also shared her top tips for how to reduce surface water pollution: •

Dispose of chemicals, oils and cooking fat properly - don’t pour it down the sink or drains.

Use ecological, non-toxic products that are less damaging to the environment.

Sweep external floors before mopping to reduce the material that gets washed off into the drains.

Pour used washing water down utility sinks or toilets - this will then enter the greywater treatment system, rather than ending up in the river.

Keep your vehicle well maintained to avoid leaks.

Use sawdust, cat litter or dry cleaner to absorb oily or chemical spills on the ground or your drive and then dispose of it in the bin Don’t wash your vehicle on the drive or road. Instead, take it to a professional car wash where they have the appropriate drains to prevent the dirt and chemicals entering the surface run off system.

Dispose of pet waste rather than letting it get washed away.

Don’t wash paint and dirty tools directly in the sink. Instead, wash them in a disposable container, like an old ice cream tub, and then seal the dirty liquid in the container and put it in the bin.

Don’t use garden fertilizer or pesticides near gutters or when rain is forecast.

Don’t throw litter on the ground or down drains.

Remember that only rain should go down the drain!

• • • • • •

• •

• • •

To find out more or book a Yellow Fish session for your business, school or community group, contact Laura on laura.castellani@ groundwork.org.uk or 07736 134 773.

Groundwork is working on the Yellow Fish campaign alongside the Essex Wildlife Trust, which is running several riverside activities over the summer. Whether you want to join the pollution monitoring walk on 16th June, take part in the practice survey walk on 21st July or go on the species identification walk on 23rd July, register your interest with Mark Iley at the Essex Wildlife Trust (MarkI@essexwt.org.uk, or 07880 702 794).

The effects of surface water pollution are widespread and can damage the river’s delicate ecosystem and resulting biodiversity. It also impacts the well-being of the community and local businesses, as it prevents the use of the river and nearby green spaces for leisure and pleasure.

Yellow Fish provides information, practical advice sessions to businesses and events to raise awareness among Chelmsford’s residents on how they can help reduce the pollution that ends up in the River Chelmer. Activities for schools include litter picking sessions run with Chelmsford City Council, educational activities on drains and flooding carried out in collaboration with Essex County Council, individual informative sessions coupled with outdoor activities, and an explanation of the project and surface water pollution to pupils when schools organise independent litter picking activities.

About Groundwork Changing places, changing lives - one green step at a time

Big global issues (the economy, the environment) have a big local impact. We work across the UK helping communities find practical solutions to the challenges they face.

We provide training and create jobs, reduce energy and waste, reconnect people with nature and transform whole neighbourhoods.

Step by step we’ll go on changing places and changing lives until everywhere is vibrant and green, every community is strong enough to shape its own destiny and everyone can reach their potential.

For more information visit www.groundwork.org.uk.

Through the project, public drains will also be marked with a yellow fish symbol to remind the local community that all litter or pollution entering the system can cause direct contamination of our rivers and waterbodies.

Laura Castellani, Yellow Fish Coordinator, said: “I’m really enjoying working with businesses, schools and community groups in Chelmsford. I’ve already been very impressed by their commitment to the environment and their openness to learning how small changes in individual behaviour can lead to a big shared improvement. I’m looking forward to working with many more people over the coming

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Page 16

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Chelmsford Picture House Launches New Season The 65-seater Chelmsford Picture House has launched its latest programme of intimate one-off film nights, live and pre-recorded screenings and events for children.

The Picture House programme features an interesting mix of some of the year’s biggest blockbusters and world and art-house films, proving that there really is something for everyone. Following rave reviews, Brit film Eddie the Eagle (5th August) is a highly entertaining feel-good sports epic based on the true story of the first British ski jumper at the 1988 Olympics. There’s also the critically acclaimed Chinese art-house film, The Assassin (15th July), which is a beautifully crafted martial arts epic, plus the documentary thriller Welcome to Leith (22nd July), which explores white supremacy in small town America. The Picture House will also show awardwinning and nominated films such as Mad Max: Fury Road (23rd June).

As well as films, The Chelmsford Picture House will also play host to intimate live ballet, opera and Shakespearian screenings from the Royal Opera House, Glyndebourne Festival, The Globe and The Garrick Theatre. Not to be missed is The Barber of Seville (21st June), performed live from the Glyndebourne Festival and Richard II (28th July) prerecorded from Shakespeare’s Globe, London. For fans of ‘The King of Waltz’ André Rieu (23rd July - live, 24th July - prerecorded), the maestro will be performing from his hometown in Maastricht with his 60-piece Johann Strauss Orchestra.

For those wishing to experience the

perfect summer holiday films for young and old alike, first up is the hilarious and heartwarming Inside Out (29th July), which picked up Winner of the Best Animated Feature Film at this year’s Oscars.

Fans of Kung Fu Panda won’t be disappointed in the franchise’s third outing Kung Fu Panda 3 (5th August); Po,voiced by Jack Black, continues his ‘legendary adventures of awesomeness’ with the gang for another rip-roaring time.

To find out more about film at The Chelmsford Picture House and to book tickets, visit www.chelmsford.gov.uk/theatres or call the Box Office on 01245 606505.

CT Business

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Business Interview - Hummingbird Pilates by Tom Bosher This month it has been my pleasure to interview Kellie from Hummingbird Pilates & Yoga.

Why did you get into Pilates and Yoga?

“I have a background in dance and danced from the age of 2 and a half up to 22 but I suffered a lot of injuries and quite often ended up in the pilates studio at my dance college. I then started working in a gym. Around that time pilates became something you could teach, so I decided to take the qualification as it was familiar to me from my background in dance. I have been teaching for 25 years and yoga has been my pastime for 16 years. It was always something I wanted to do for myself. I’m lucky enough to have a business where I can do what I love to do as my job and my pastime.”

When did you first open the doors of Hummingbirds in Chelmsford?

I originally opened a little studio which only had room for 4 mats, that was 13 years ago. Eventually that became The Hummingbird Centre around 9 years ago. The studio that I now have with my business partner Ellie has been open for 6 years and we rebranded ourselves to Hummingbird Pilates & Yoga 3 years ago.”

What made you choose to open your studio at Reeds Farm?

“Well I always had a small studio which had parking in the town centre and this is where I met Ellie. She originally attended my classes and is a physio. She then went on to train as a pilates teacher rented a treatment room from me to set up her own private physio practise called Stretch. Ellie and I had a chat about our future and as we worked well together we decided to go into partnership. That way we could have a better studio. Literally after having that conversation we found the empty barn at Reeds Farm and after a bit of negotiating with them they converted it into what you can see now which is a pretty amazing space with ample free parking.”

What is it you love about what you do there?

“Number one because it’s my own business and I prefer being my own boss. A lot of people choose to do something to make a lot of money and they don’t really enjoy what they do where as I get to do what I love. I would do pilates and yoga if I had a job working somewhere else as it’s my lifestyle. Most days we are helping to change people’s lives, whether that be a client wanting to enjoy going to Download Festival without back pain right through to people who are rehabilitating from knee and hip replacements. Then we have people who run marathons, want to improve their bodies and feel better about themselves. We also help people getting over depression via yoga and meditation. Most of my staff have been clients and I think that really shows how great it is to work there.”

So from that I expect your classes are unisex?

“Yes. We have male and female teachers and we also have a men’s pilates class which is very popular. Ellie has a mixed physio team too, one guy and three girls do the sports and holistic massage.”

Can people pop in on a pay as you go basis or do they need membership?

“We have pay as you go class passes or contracts, just like a mobile phone. You can drop in but we prefer people to commit and make it part of their lifestyle. We have a fully up to date online booking system with an app which is free to download on Apple and Google Play. People can book from their phones, their desk or computer, they don’t have to ring up and wait for someone to answer the phone.

They can just book themselves in, cancel themselves, pay online.

This leaves us free to organise everything. And obviously the more often you come the cheaper it is. If you are fully committed to coming, membership is cheaper. We just had someone sign up for a year’s unlimited membership as for them that was the cheapest option.”

So finally, what is the future for Hummingbird Pilates and Yoga?

“Well we really want Hummingbird to be part of people’s lifestyle, a community, not just an exercise class they feel they have to do to keep fit, lose weight or follow their doctor’s orders. As to the future we have just opened a Hummingbird Lifestyle Store. Here we sell yoga gear so you can buy the clothing and healthy food. Everything we do considers the environment, eco, sustainability and supports local business. So in the future our aim is to open another eco-friendly studio in the city. People will be able to chill out there, eat healthy food, do their classes - everything except sleep there. In fact you can sleep if you do Yoga Nidra which is yogic sleep. We are now having lots of people coming in giving talks, this month we even have a book signing. We don’t just have workshops about yoga and pilates we have a range of talks on clean eating, self-love, positive mindset, that kind of stuff. Ellie and I also give talks and we are both writing articles for magazines, blogs and a book is on its way.”

Thanks Kellie, you are a great example of a thriving local business that cares about people and encourages them to enjoy a healthier and more satisfying lifestyle.

For more info check out our website www.hummingbirdpilates.co.uk or call 01245 422 556.

bestofchelmsford

We are thebestofchelmsford...

Our object is to get the best local businesses noticed locally. We are a guide for the people of Chelmsford and the surrounding area to find the best businesses. Our businesses are chosen because they have been referred to us we meet them personally, we work with, and for them. We are not a web directory and support only a few businesses in each category, those that we and local people consider to be the best.

We support and invest in the local community of trusted businesses and people... thebestofchelmsford has been running a Buy Local campaign, we consider ourselves champions of Buy Local, supporting all local businesses. You’ll see over 350 of our blue Buy Local stickers in businesses across the area.

We are now introducing village pages to represent those businesses that are outside the city. Our area extends to Burnham on Crouch, Danbury, South Woodham Ferrers, Hatfield Peverell, Writtle, Stock, Ingatestone and of course Chelmsford. thebestofchelmsford has been approved by Essex County Council Trading Standards and we are members of the Buy With Confidence scheme.

If you’d like to find out more about getting your business noticed, call Tom or Peter on 01245 701 020 or visit our website: www.thebestof. co.uk/local/chelmsford - it could be the start of a great relationship. thebestofchelmsford - think different!

We’d like you to get in touch with us by visiting our website at www.thebestof.co.uk/chelmsford, or by giving us a call on 01245 701 020.

Page 18

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From Cleaner to Artist - a Reinvention! by Linda McNeill This month I was thrilled to interview local artist Grace Albon. Not only is she super talented, she is incredibly excited by her work and literally bursting with ideas - I found her very inspirational! Grace works under the title Artist Grace Albon.

Grace has always been an artist but it is only recently that it has become the focus of her career. For the last eight years she has run her own cleaning business called Not Just a Cleaner - so quite a contrast! However, she has gradually cut down the number of clients over the last few months so she can concentrate on her art.

So why a cleaner for eight years rather than an artist? Why the change now? I was very intrigued to find out. I asked her to start from the beginning...

“When I was at school doing GCSEs I always knew I loved art. One day we were set a task to paint a still life of paper bags. I finished it and compared it to the others in the class and I realised mine was an accurate representation of what we were drawing. I suddenly realised I was good. It was a real eureka moment.

“I then drifted through school and college focusing on art. I went to do a fine art degree but it was all theory based and this was really not me, so I went back to Chelmsford College and did a foundation course instead.”

After her college course Grace sold several portraits and held a few exhibitions around Essex, but at this point she decided to keep art as a hobby rather than make a career out of it.

So what changed after running her own cleaning business for eight years? “I think the key thing that has happened is that I have changed. A huge amount of it is to do with my own self belief. I have been doing a lot of spiritual and personal development work and researching the law of attraction, this has had an instant positive effect on my work and my life, You attract what you put out - positivity. It is all about believing that you have already got what you want... I am learning to be more mindful, meditate and live in the present moment, which is rapidly dissolving any negativity towards my work and life in general - if I believe in myself and my skill this gets passed on.” I am so pleased that Grace has found the confidence to pursue her art as a full time venture because she really is incredibly talented.

The decision was made for Grace in some respects as she has been approached by a number of different people to do exhibitions and commissions. “People have been increasingly contacting me to do work and exhibit; work is finding me rather than me having to actively look for it and therefore the time dedicated to art has increased and increased. I have a month long exhibition in the Ideas Hub in September and I have a number of events I’m selling at this year: Baddow Hall PSA Summer Fayre and large stalls at the Mind, Body and Spirit Show on 2nd July and 8th October. I will be donating a

raffle prize at all these events too! You can find all the info regarding events, exhibitions etc on my website, Facebook and Instagram.”

Grace has also teamed up with local birth worker Steph Grainger to assist with Mother Blessings by providing all the art work. Mother Blessings are the equivalent of a baby shower but the focus is on the mother and nurturing her rather than gifts and games. I was lucky enough to have Steph and Grace throw one for me (I am currently 37 weeks pregnant at the time of writing) and it was such a special afternoon. Grace created the most beautiful bespoke pieces for the occasion. I had ‘cast’ my bump in advance of the gathering and Grace decorated it with a gorgeous picture depicting a family of foxes with a baby fox (I had asked for a woodland theme). She also painted tea light holders, made a stunning affirmation frame and painted my bump on the day with an image of a baby fox. If you want to check any of these images out you can see the photos of the event at www. artistgracealbon.com and her Facebook page.

Grace and Steph offer a bespoke service when it comes to Mother Blessings so they will follow the mum’s lead with the kind of embellishments and activities that she wants. I can hugely recommend them!

Grace does not restrict herself to one form of art, although she predominantly works in oils and is a fine artist at heart. “I love doing anything creative - I do not want to limit myself as I have so much to give and am always bursting with ideas and I want to share them!”

Grace did a recent show with her partner in London and sold a number of prints from her recent collection of sketches: “i have started making prints of my work, I find it appeals to a wider audience and it’s lovely to see people enjoying a more affordable option of my work. I like working in many different mediums.” She also specialises in making Polymer Portraits which are 3d family portraits made from polymer clay, set in a frame - they are very quirky and cute! She takes individual commissions and is very open to being approached with different projects. “I’ve created so many different things over the years from designing a flyer for Lakota Bar to painting beautiful pregnant bumps and I love every second of it.”

As I said in the opening paragraph, I found chatting to Grace hugely inspirational as she is so vibrant and positive.

As I interviewed her, her one year old daughter was on the floor making her own pictures on her play mat so it seems that a love of art has been passed on! I shall give Grace the last word: “Now the time feels right.

I have always wanted to be an artist for a living - it feels like my life purpose. It is such a wonderful feeling that it is finally happening”.

If you would like to check out Grace’s work, please visit her website - www.artistgracealbon.com, or Facebook and Instagram pages both under the name Artist Grace Albon!

If you would like to be featured in my column, please get in touch at linda@bunintheovenbirthing.co.uk. I am having a short maternity leave but will be back to writing again soon!

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Page 19

Hypnotherapy by Jenny Hartill Carrying on my series on phobias, today I’m going to write about another fear that is more common than you would think.

Coulrophobia is a fear of clowns. Anyone who watches the TV series Modern Family will be aware that main character and dad Phil Dunphy is petrified of clowns. Fans of British arts and music festival Bestival may be interested to know that in 2006 organisers cancelled the planned clown theme due to many adult ticket holders contacting them expressing a fear of clowns. Fans of hit TV cartoon series The Simpsons may remember the episode Lisa’s First Word where Bart is traumatised by an badly built bed that takes the form of an evil looking clown, causing Bart’s inability to sleep and trauma being expressed by him repeating “…can’t sleep, clown’ll eat me…”

Interestingly, although this phobia has undoubtedly been around for a long time, the term coulrophobia is not listed in the World Health Organisation’s ICD-10 (the 10th revision of the International Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems medical classification list - used in the UK), and even across the pond in the USA, the American Psychiatric Association’s DSM-5 does not recognise this term. However, although coulrophobia is mainly used in the context of ‘informal phobia lists’, this doesn’t make the phobia any less important or any less terrifying for its sufferers.

In order to treat coulrophobia we need to look at how this phobia first developed. This type of phobia mostly evolves from childhood, perhaps as a child the sufferer attended a party with a clown, or perhaps they went to a friends house and watched a horror movie that had a profound and lasting effect on them. Remember, clown costumes tend to exaggerate the facial features (and sometimes body parts such as hands, feet and noses) and this can be read by a young child as monstrous or deformed just as easily as it could be read as comical. It really depends on the person, and this leads me on to a phenomena called the ‘uncanny valley’.

where the coulrophobia has come from, the exact situation and whether there are any features in particular that the client doesn’t like about clowns. Next, I would likely desensitise the client using hypnoanalysis but also have the client imagine the person behind the clown. The idea of this would be to ‘humanise’ the clown, to encourage the client to recognise the human parts of the clown so that they connect with this rather than the parts they find abhorrent.

This technique would also work with the client towards normalising the object of their fear, hence eventually eradicating it altogether. I would also teach the client some relaxation techniques so that they always feel in control.

As for me, I’m going to grab my box of tissues and First Contact DVD and start on desensitising my fear of the Borg... ;-) If anyone requires counselling or hypnotherapy you can find out more information on my website www.cloud9-therapy.co.uk. Anxiety and panic is a specialism of mine.

Our Stage at Fling 2016 Dave Sharp (The Alarm) Joe Anderton Band Delta Ladies, Stony Road Jamie Williams & the Roots Collective, The Sharpees, Salvation Jayne, Rum Honey The Ouse Valley Singles Club

Did anyone watch the channel 4 series Humans about androids that bore an uncanny resemblance to human beings? I can imagine that some viewers experienced uncanny valley whilst watching.

The uncanny valley is a hypothesis in the field of aesthetics which holds that when features look and move almost - but not exactly like natural beings, it causes a response of revulsion among some observers. The significant abnormalities in a clown’s face may alter their appearance so much that it causes uncanny valley in another individual, so the clown is lifelike enough to be disturbing and not realistic enough to be pleasant. This can terrify a child so much that they then carry this fear of clowns throughout their life.

Because of the phenomena of uncanny valley, the individual doesn’t have to necessarily be in the same room as an actual real-life or statue or a clown. This can occur with video games, TV shows and films as individuals often get so involved with the characters that they begin to empathise with the situation occurring in front of them.

This level of empathy can cause individuals to interpret things more closely or personally, thus leading to fears and phobias. Of course this doesn’t happen to everyone, but in my therapy room I have met many people that fit along the scale of emphatic and sensitive to seemingly emotionless and I can tell you the range is massive. Think about it, how many people do you know that have cried at a Disney film? If they cry at a Disney film, why can’t they get freaked out by a clown on a screen and as a result harbour an aversion to them?

Personally, I cry at Star Trek: First Contact. The bit where Picard sets the starship to self destruct and he says: “There’s plenty more letters in the alphabet…” It gets me every time and every time I mourn the impending doom of the USS Enterprise. That film was made 20 years ago...

How do we treat a phobia of clowns? Firstly I need to know exactly Page 20

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Chelmsford Memories New and Old

1976 and All That, the current special exhibition at Chelmsford Museums, Oaklands Park, until 26th June, is well worth a visit whether or not you are old enough to have memories of that year.

It was originally produced and shown in 1977 and has been taken out of the archive for the 40th anniversary of what was a memorable year. David Jones, who is now Secretary of the Friends, was then the museum curator and well remembers working with local newspaper photographers to put together a selection of their pictures as a chronicle of people and events that hit the headlines in Chelmsford during 1976.

The Friends of Chelmsford Museum have pleasant memories of a fine day on their May visit to north Essex to see the church of St Katherine at Little Bardfield and the Guildhall at Finchingfield.

Their next outing on Saturday 18th June will be a coach trip to Christ Church Mansion, Ipswich. This is a fine Tudor house dating from the 16th century which is located on the northern outskirts of the town and situated within 65 acres of beautiful parkland that is open to the public. The house is now a museum with a wonderful collection of furniture in room settings reflecting the 400 years that it served as a gentleman’s country house. There are also many works of art including pictures by Constable and Gainsborough.

The cost of this visit is £22 for non-members which includes coach fare, guided tour and refreshments. For further information, visit: www.friendschelmsford.btck.co.uk.

It was one of the hottest years on record, it did not rain for several months and there were many fires. It was also an Olympic year, Harold Wilson resigned as Prime Minister, Jimmy Carter became US President, Intercity 125 high speed trains were introduced into the UK, The Eagles released Hotel California and punk music happened.

It is surprising how many of the photos have themes still current today and there is an update section with pictures taken by the City Times own Paul Mclean taken from recent editions of the paper.

Finally, on the theme of memories, the Friends are working with local historian Stephen Norris on a new oral history project called Chelmsford Lives. Approaches to the project are being developed as a pilot in which members of the Friends are being interviewed on the theme of ‘Remembering Chelmsford in the late 1940s, the 50s and 60s’. It is hoped to expand on the scale and themes in the future when more volunteers will be wanted, if you have memories of Chelmsford look out for future information about the project.

Love Your Museum, be a Friend.

Allotments Support Farleigh Open Gardens The Princes Road Allotment Association (PRAA) will be supporting Farleigh Hospice again on 26th June this year by opening its allotment site as one of the gardens open to visit.

Allotments have been a feature of the British landscape for hundreds of years providing ordinary families with an opportunity to grow their own food. They proliferated during the Industrial Revolution in the 18th - 19th centuries as towns expanded and many more new sites were created during the two world wars as a means of boosting national food production. Many allotments have disappeared in recent years, in part due to lack of interest but primarily because of the need for land for development.

However, our site has only existed since 1987 when it was laid out on former waste ground to replace allotments lost to new housing further along Princes Road (near to the Queen Bee roundabout).

The allotments have been popular from the first day, with a waiting list for plots and the site has thrived with plot holders gaining pleasure and crops for their effort. It is also a small haven for wildlife in the city and there has been recent work to improve this role through the creation of a conservation area.

So do please come along on the Open Day to see the results at their summer best, chat to plot holders and even take some produce home from the sale stand (all takings will go to the Farleigh Hospice). Entrance to the site is via the main gate by the subway on Longstomps Avenue or the side gate on Princes Way. If you would like further information about PRAA, contact Chairman Brian Torrie via email, brian.torrie@ googlemail.com. For Old Moulsham Open Gardens, visit: www.opengardens.co.uk/open_ gardens.php?id=695.

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Fitness and Well-Being Reducing Plastic = Healthy Hormones (and Yes You as Well Men!) by Kellie Jones

We have got our third hormone related workshop coming up which is a talk with local author Sheila Wenborne about her book, So That’s Why I’m Bonkers!: A girl’s guide to surviving the menopause. We’ve had nutritional and informational workshops all around the same subject and I was lucky enough to attend the last one titled Hotflushfree!. Now I know at this stage men, you are wondering where you come into this? Well this last workshop was hosted by hormone specialists Nanette and Mike!

If you read this article regularly then you will have seen my little rant about landfill last month and those of you who actually come to Hummingbird will know I have a personal loathing for recycling bags and bags of plastic cups, which generally have been used after a class for a mouthful and then chucked. A good portion of the hormone information was around the subject of toxicity and what we are consuming and how it affects our hormones. Obviously the subject was mostly around menopause so the information was directed towards oestrogen, the female sex hormone but on further investigation, fired by my desire to rid the building of plastic waste, I discovered some interesting stuff and men are most definitely not immune. I prefer to keep things on a positive spin and not fill your head up with more things to worry about, so I’m not going to list all the negatives of what the inside of a plastic bottle can do to us, I’ll leave you to go investigate that yourself. Let’s just say that with the knowledge that we are dumping at least 4.8 million metric tons of

plastic in the oceans every year that you cannot turn a blind eye to the fact that we seem to be poisoning ourselves and the planet.

So I’d rather talk about what we can do and there is such a thing as BPA free plastic, but on a global scale I reckon glass is the way forwards. So our last order of plastic cups is just coming to an end and by what seems to be fate I have found a lovely new company that make very attractive BPA/plastic-free reusable water bottles with a mission to reduce plastic bottle pollution in the world. We will definitely be selling these in our Hummingbird Lifestyle Store. I’ve also checked in with our water machine suppliers and their water bottles are regularly tested and kept out of direct sunlight/heat so that’s all good as we love our local Woodhouse Water Company!

I have organic vegetables delivered to my house so there are no plastic bags to throw away and if I go to the supermarket I avoid bagged products as much as possible and bung things straight in my basket, (it saves so much time too not fiddling around trying to open plastic bags!) I challenge you to go shopping and not end up with any plastic in your trolley...)

Anyhow, I always share this stuff because I care about your wellbeing, but this article really is about caring for the planet too. Talking of planets, we have a Strawberry Moon Gong Bath on the 19th - so maybe treat dad to a relaxing evening of good vibes!

For more info check out our website: www.hummingbirdpilates.co.uk, or call 01245 422556. See you next month, Love Kellie x

1001 Fitness Lessons Learnt from Netflix

There I was the other day with a rare few hours to myself. My wife and children were out so I wasted no time in settling down for an afternoon in front of the TV. Before leaving, my wife gave me the orders: ‘Make sure you cut the grass.’ Yeah right, I thought, an extremely rare Saturday afternoon to myself, like I’m going to do that!

I switched on Netflix and proceeded to search for something that would grab my attention. There I lay (I was in full chillax mode of course) scrolling through a seemingly endless number of TV programmes, genre after genre came and went just like Katie Price/Jordan’s husbands. It was only after I’d perused about 1001 programme synopses that I couldn’t actually decide what to watch and gave up all together and went and cut that damn grass.

As I cut the grass, drifting off into my subconscious aided by the potent fumes and ferocious hum of the petrol mower it dawned on me that I had suffered from an affliction which affects many people who are new to exercise, a common yet debilitating problem known as decision fatigue.

Of course their decision fatigue does not centre upon what to watch on the old goggle box, no, theirs is all to do with what exercise regime to follow. They listen to experts on the radio say that cardio is much better than weightlifting to lose fat, only to switch on the TV to find a different group of experts claiming that cardio is bad for you as it eats your muscles faster than Jo Brand eats cakes!. They are left with so many confounding opinions and so many choices to make that they go and do what I did.

What, go and cut the grass?

No stupid, they give up on even starting to exercise because they are just too overwhelmed with what decision to make! They’re scared of

doing right, in fear of being wrong!

So who’s to blame for this?

Personally, I blame the often misguided passion of the exercise evangelists. These exercise evangelists are so certain that their form of exercise is unequivocally right, that anybody who disagrees with them - even slightly - is undeniably, unquestionably ‘wrong’. This level of passion attracts a lot of followers; you only have to look at the hoards of the people who refute the benefits of any form of exercise that is not a military-style boot camp. I’m almost certain that half of these people feel that a training session in which you are not physically sick, or suffer a minor injury is a complete waste of time!

So what should you do?

You’ll be pleased to hear that if you are new to exercise almost any form of training will benefit you, so find something you enjoy doing as this will give you more chance to stick with it, be it running, cycling, or netball. But please don’t make the mistake, which I see so many ’newbies’ making, of not doing any form resistance/weight training, believe me, even becoming just slightly stronger will make everyday tasks seem that little easier - and before you decry my advice in the misguided notion that lifting weights will leave you looking like a slightly more attractive version of the Incredible Hulk, let me leave you with this thought: if building muscle was that easy, why would there be an ever increasing supplement and steroid industry?

For more advice on how to set up your own exercise and nutrition plan that actually works, or to book a FREE TRIAL SESSION, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Thanks for taking the time to read this.

Matt matt@mlrpt.co.uk | www.mlrpt.co.uk | 07939316401 www.facebook.com/mlrpt \ twitter.com/mlrpt|youtube.com/mlrpt

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30 Ne M D w em a C l be ys ien r Un t O (T s & h lim ff C 's i ap p pl f ite er y) o r d ÂŁ3 5

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

s ce ore u Sa n St w i Ne ade M all

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Charity of the Month - The Wilderness Foundation Age UK Essex support over 80,000 people locally and our services are available to anyone who lives in Essex. As a locally funded registered charity, Age UK Essex operates across Essex and is brand partner of the national Age UK charity. Fundraising is a huge challenge as people perceive we have statutory or national funding and this is not the case. Demand for our services is increasing each day, and whilst our ageing population grows, funding for our vital services has almost come to an end.

But, you can help! Are you looking to do something amazing for charity? Age UK Essex have a number of challenges to satisfy those adventurous cravings and local initiatives that support the charity...

Beacons and the Peak District - with a choice of four demanding trekking routes: 100km, 75km, 50km and 25km. TrekFest has something for everyone, whether you are new to trekking and want to complete your first 25km, or you are seasoned trekker wanting to tackle the extreme 100km.

Join us for a fantastic weekend in the Brecon Beacons National Park on the 4th & 5th June 2016 or the Peak District on the 3rd & 4th September 2016. Registration starts from £35 depending on the distance you choose.

Where there’s a will there’s a way.

With over two thirds of people in the UK not even having made a will, Age UK Essex is inviting people to think about making a will or checking that it is up to date.

Many people now choose to support a local charity by expressing a gift in their will and as a local charity Age UK Essex benefits from people leaving a gift in their will (a legacy). A legacy is one such way to help the charity continue its vital work that so many now depend upon to maintain safe and enjoyable later lives. Under careful guidance, this process can be made very simple and you can relax knowing that everything is taken care of.

No time like the present Age UK Essex will be concentrating on wills throughout October to raise awareness about the benefits of having a will as well as raising much needed funds for the local charity. In previous years participating solicitors have offered up to 50% discount off of the cost of making or updating a will.

Do something amazing and take the leap for Age UK Essex.

Combine the most exciting and exhilarating moment of your life with raising invaluable sponsorship to help inspire, enable and support older people in Essex. What beats climbing to an altitude of 13,000 feet before jumping and freefalling for 40 seconds at 120 miles per hour whilst fundraising to protect the long-term interests of the future generation?

If you are interested in helping us change older people’s lives for the better and you are interested in any of these challenges or would like to register an interest for Wills Month, please contact the Age UK Essex Fundraising Team on 01245 207 065, email fundraising@ ageukessex.org.uk or visit the website: www.ageuk.org.uk/essex.

Tara-Jane Andrews recently raised over £500 for Age UK Essex by taking part in a tandem skydive and said it was amazing!

Join Team Age UK Essex trek to the Himalayas to help combat loneliness across Essex.

If you prefer being closer to the ground, Age UK Essex are looking for people to trek the breathtaking Himalayas of Nepal. This charity challenge takes place in the stunning Annapurna region of the Himalayas of Nepal, home to some of the highest mountains in the world with the highlight being a summit to Poon Hill - a majestic peak which offers trekkers an unobstructed view of the highest peaks in the area.

If you sign up to this challenge, you can help us combat loneliness to try and make it a thing of the past in Essex. The registration fee is £349 and you are then asked to raise a minimum of £2,850 which we can help you achieve!

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If you are looking for a challenge in the UK, why not join us for TrekFest? This year TrekFest takes place in two of the most breathtaking national parks - the Brecon Page 24

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St John’s Hospital by Stephen Norris Several generations of this magazine’s readership will remember St John’s Hospital, with a number of them having given birth there.

In 1926 a new infirmary was built at the Chelmsford union workhouse in Wood Street and this was to become St John’s hospital. It had four wards with 24 beds in each. It had a maternity ward on the second floor with 9 beds and one labour ward bed. There was also a children’s ward with 6 cots. The new building reflected the fact that the workhouse was by this time dominated by the aged and infirm, but from the outset it could be used by ordinary patients in the town.

By 1936, 300 operations a year were being carried out and staff and equipment were transferred from the Chelmsford and Essex to carry out tonsil operations etc. Plans to extend St John’s by adding a further 100 beds, an operating theatre and an extension to the nursing home were curtailed by the Second World War.

regarded as out of date. St John’s Hospital had been expanded by means of a succession of ad hoc huts and the ante natal clinic and operating theatre were not up to modern standards.

During the war the institution’s residents were evacuated so it could receive war casualties. Thirteen huts were built under the emergency medical services to provide extra wards; these later became part of the general hospital. The number of beds at the hospital went up from 109 in 1934, to a wartime peak of 705 in 1942 and back down to 354 in 1950.

St John’s hospital somehow survived in the 1980s and 1990s despite the perennial threat of the axe. In the early 1990s a new children’s ward, the Sunshine Ward, was even opened after fundraising by the public. The former infirmary had been the birthplace of most of the town’s babies. The hospital finally closed its doors in 2010 and in 2011 the hospital site came back on the market after the initial owners went into administration. It is now a large and expending housing site.

As early as 1959 the Chelmsford group of hospitals were being

A nurse there in the 1950s remembered the operating theatre being a shock to her because she had been used to working in a modern hospital. She also recalled one of the Grace Bartlett nurseries being converted into an operating theatre for caesarean sections. There had however, been a good deal of piecemeal improvements since the war. These included a new obstetrics theatre, an x-ray unit and waiting room, a new teaching unit, a staff canteen, a new dispensary and an occupational therapy department. In 1959 the hospital had 77 maternity beds and a premature baby unit of 10 beds. It had 12 resident house officers and registrars but over 18 visiting specialists.

What 30-Somethings Need to Know About Rotary A Facebook friend, Michael Bucca, a member of the Rotary Club of Central Ocean Toms River in New Jersey, made this point about communications amongst the younger generation of Rotarians and being a worldwide organisation his comments are equally valid here in Essex as they are in his home state in the USA. From his blog: “You might think that I, a 32-year-old member of a 110 year old organization, would be preoccupied with trying to modernize my club’s way of doing things. But remarkably, my experience in Rotary is teaching me to spend more energy convincing my generation - which keeps trying to reinvent everything - that there is much to be gained in the lost art of personal connection.

“We all use social media in our daily lives. Without a doubt, Twitter, Facebook, text messaging, etc. has great value in our social and professional circles. But long before there were Wi-Fi connections, laptops, or smartphones, a man named Paul Harris came up with the idea of professional leaders getting together face to face to make a difference in their community. The organization that arose from this modest idea took its name from the early practice members had of rotating meeting locations between their offices.

“In an era of instant communication defined by not-so-blind carbon copies, accidental ‘reply-alls,’ and desperate attempts to ‘recall’ an email, many people seem to have lost the ability of competent verbal and non-verbal face-to-face communication with other human beings.

Making good eye contact and managing a well-timed handshake are becoming endangered skills.

“At a Rotary meeting, no one is trying to make a good impression via a text message. We are communicating with fellow members, community leaders and guest speakers in person. We are networking in the way that was standard long before an ethernet cable was a household commodity.

“Does my Central Ocean Rotary Club in Toms River, New Jersey, use texts and emails? You bet. We are always using these tools to organize events, set up meetings, and handle various other tasks.

When we aren’t all together, we turn to technology to get the job done.

“However, for one hour and 15 minutes every Tuesday, we turn our phones off, hold our meeting, and enjoy camaraderie with fun activities such as ‘Happy Bucks’. One member at a time speaks about topics they are personally happy about. Think of this as a reallife Facebook status combined with a weekly GoFundMe campaign - except instead of ‘liking’ a post, people listen and sometimes break out in applause.”

Joining an organization like Rotary is a smart way to meet business leaders in your community and enjoy the opportunity to help people in need. Becoming a member lets you practice life skills that no social media site will ever provide: interpersonal communication. You might meet someone who will change your life. You may even change theirs. But instead of sending a friend request, you will walk right up to them and say ‘hello.’

All over the world clubs meet at different times of the day. Here in Chelmsford we have two lunchtime clubs, two that meet in the evening and one at breakfast so everyone can find a time to suit their personal circumstances. The bedrock of being a Rotarian is the friendships you make whilst contributing to your local community and to projects further afield.

I write regularly in this publication, so it is wonderful to be able to share someone else’s experiences of Rotary membership.

If you think this could be something for you please visit www. chelmsfordrotary1240.org or give me a call on the number below.

Stan Keller 01245 260349

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Wildlife Corner

by Nick Green May enjoyed some anticyclonic weather, but again was rather cool with cloud and some northerly winds which did not help the insectivorous summer bird migrants and resident insects.

Temperatures rarely reached 20 degrees centigrade, so few days recorded butterflies but featured brimstone, holly blue, orangetip, green-veined and large and small whites, peacock and small tortoiseshell. The last day of the month saw extended rain, northerly winds and 10C! Following last month’s feature on the nightingale, one was remarkably recorded near Admirals Park on the 29th - a very good record for Chelmsford!

The great crested grebe in Essex is a locally common resident and fairly common winter visitor and passage migrant. The major freshwater reservoirs, Abberton and Hanningfield, hold numbers throughout the year along with other reasonably sized waters, in the past, this includes Central Park lake too. In winter, birds may also be found in most of the saltwater estuaries including the Stour, Colne, Blackwater, Crouch and Thames. The summer plumage is superb and RSPB history shows that the organisation formed to protect this and other species from the barbarous trade in plumes for fashion in the late Victorian era. The courtship display is very elaborate and elegant when the pair rise out of the water facing each other and shake their heads. Very young grebes ride on their parents’ backs.

Essex Wildlife clubs include: Essex Birdwatching Society: www.ebws.org.uk RSPB: www.rspb.org.uk/groups/chelmsford Essex Field Club: www.essexfieldclub.org.uk Essex Wildlife Trust: www.essexwt.org.uk/get-involved/local-groups/ chelmsford Recent Essex Wildlife News The most noteworthy May 2016 bird news showed: The star rarity was undoubtedly an American Franklin’s gull at Abberton Reservoir (11-16th), but followed by a female red-footed falcon at Vange Marshes from 14th, then a pair of black-winged stilts also from 14th commuting between Wat Tyler Country Park, Vange Marshes and Bowers Gifford RSPB, the latter two species still present on 31st.

Jems Party & Dance Centre

Abberton Reservoir highlights included little ringed plover, little gull, black tern, nightingale and cuckoo. The butties and cake at the EWT Centre café (just north off the Layer-de-la-Haye causeway on the B1025) can be recommended! Cole Point recorded Montagu’s harrier, while Old Hall RSPB garganey recorded Temminck’s stint, curlew sandpipers and red-necked phalarope.

Of interest, red kites were still being recorded in late May - the last official nesting in Essex was in 1854 and with nesting occurring now in Norfolk and Suffolk, an Essex breeding pair is long overdue.

Indeed, ravens are also pushing eastwards and must breed soon - the last official Essex nests were recorded in 1890 at four sites in the vicinity of the Blackwater estuary. Ravens are being seen regularly now along the Thames, particularly at Rainham Marshes RSPB. Nationally, Cornwall could boast the first UK records of the European species, dalmatian pelican and lammergeier, whilst North Uist in the Outer Hebrides hosted a rare American black-billed cuckoo, all setting the twitching fraternity on long journeys!

Photo: Summer-plumaged great crested grebe (copyright Jeff Delve)

01245 267765 www.jemsdance.co.uk info@jems.co.uk 10 Parkway, Chelmsford, CM2 0NF

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Stargazing with Mark Willis - June/July 19th June - looking SSE at 00:17, Saturn can be seen 3.3 degrees S of the Moon.

about this time too. grab a deck chair, some warm clothes, coffee and look up toward the north.

26th June - 00:34, Neptune can be seen 1.2 degrees south of the Moon.

28th July - this is a good time to observe the Trifid Nebula M20. You can use binoculars for this.

4th July - the Earth is at aphelion. This means that it is at its furthest point away from the Sun. This seems strange if you didn’t know this before. We are actually closest to the Sun (perihelion) on 4 January 2017.

The Trifid Nebula featured in a 1967 Star Trek episode called The Alternative Factor. A flashing picture of the nebula was representing a gateway to a different dimension.

20th July 1976 - it will be the 40th anniversary the USA Mars Viking 1 which touched down in Chryse Planitia. The co-ordinates are 22.4 N, 47.5W.

As usual, email me with any questions...

Mark Willis presents Willis Wireless every Monday at 7pm on Chelmsford Community Radio.

27th to 29th July - looking North, the Alpha Capricornids meteor shower is at its maximum. Alpha Capricornids’ parent body is comet 169P/NEAT. The frequency is about 5 per hour. Delta Aquarids peaks

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

In the UK, a child goes into care every 20 minutes. In fact, there are more than 94,000 children who need a stable home with a foster carer. Essex has a higher number of children and adolescents in care than the national average. With three of the county’s towns having been described as the most deprived in England and the region seeing an increased number of children in care seeking asylum, the need for local foster carers has never been greater.

A model of foster care that nurtures and develops foster carers, equipping them with the knowledge and insight to enable them to contribute effectively to a child’s healing process. Carers are given guidance and support to understand that children and young people communicate their distress and anxiety through their behaviour.

Carers learn how they can facilitate positive relationships and attachments with children whose experiences may have taught them that the world is not a safe place and not to trust or rely upon grown ups!

As a former child in care, I was also fostered and I understand the complexities and difficulties for children in care. However I also know the potential for children in care to overcome disadvantage and thrive. I have a deep-rooted and passionate interest in advancing positive outcomes for children in care.

Local Fostering has been launched to meet the growing need to recruit foster carers in Essex. Local Fostering understands that children who come into care will have experienced a difficult start in life. They require emotional warmth, stability and security so that they may become healthy and happy individuals.

A child or young person is placed with a foster carer because they are unable to continue living at home with their own family. There are many reasons why a child may be taken into care, ranging from illness or family breakdown to protecting them from neglect or abuse.

My experience has taught me that foster carers are crucial to facilitating the child’s healing process, through providing a loving, sensitive, flexible environment and a safe family home.

Local Fostering

The educational achievement of children in care is far lower than the national average and they have significantly reduced outcomes.

Leaving care they are far more likely to develop poor mental health, and have a high presence in offending, prison and homelessness services. Many children whilst in care experience frequent changes in placements, often taking them away from their families, schools and friends and creating further disruption, breakdown in relationships and insecurity for these children.

I understand that for children to recover from their traumatic experiences, they require a safe, stable and secure base from which they can grow and develop, and the same opportunities as most children who live in our country and communities.

I am a pioneer of the development of therapeutic fostering services.

At Local Fostering we value our foster carers enormously and we listen to their views and experiences. We know that without our foster carers, the future would not be as bright for our local children in care.

We embrace the philosophy, that if we want foster carers to look after vulnerable children, we need to take exceptional care of our foster carers.

We have the expertise, knowledge, commitment and dedication to guide and support our foster carers every step of the way. Finally, to quote Socrates, ‘the children who are hardest to love need it the most’.

If you are interested in having a discussion about how you might be able to support or provide a home to a local child in care, please contact Liz Tusting-Fleet at info@local-fostering.com or telephone direct 07967381052, I will gladly return calls.

An 82 Mile Footpath Walk Through the Essex Countryside

Lauren (Chelmsford) and Martin (Coggeshall) will be walking the Essex Way, an 82 mile footpath through the Essex countryside, on 23rd June 2016 to raise money for AA Dog Rescue in Latchingdon.

They will be tackling this route over a four day period, walking around 20 miles per day, whilst carrying the food and equipment needed to wild camp along the route (approximately 16kgs each). They are hoping to raise enough funds to help care for those dogs looking for a new home, and to help make their time in the rescue centre as comfortable and happy as possible. Visit their fundraising page at gogetfunding.com/walkingtheessexway.

AA Dog Rescue is based in Latchingdon, Essex, and relies on donations to help save dogs that have unfortunately, due to poor care, found their way in to council pounds where they have 7 days to

be claimed or go in to rescue. To give an idea of how much funding is needed, their approximate costs per dog are: £300 per month for food £50 neutering £6 worming £5 flea treatment £2 dog bowl £10 treats/toys per month £15-50 dog collar and lead Plus additional veterinary care More information can be found at www.aadogrescue.org.uk.

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