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At M. Lucking & Sons, we’re proud to have been serving communities of Chelmsford and the surrounding areas for over 360 years. As an independent, family-owned business we have all the regional knowledge and years of experience to make sure everything runs smoothly. We also work in partnership with Golden Charter so you have a simple way to plan ahead with a pre-paid funeral plan. Contact us today for more information and our friendly staff will be happy to help.
City Times Intro
Hello readers,
Welcome to The City Times May/June edition.
Remember to check the What’s On pages with so many more outside events as summer approaches.
If you have a regular, or a one-off event in the area between 14th June and 21st July, then please send your details to editorial@itsyourmedia.co.uk and we can include your event.
Please also remember to tell our advertisers that you saw their advert in The City Times, as it really helps both them and us to know that their adverts are working.
Paul & Nick
www.thecitytimes.co.uk
Advertising
Nick Garner
07970 206682
ads@itsyourmedia.co.uk
Editorial
Paul Mclean 07595 949701
editorial@itsyourmedia.co.uk
Disclaimer: It’s Your Media Ltd publish The City Times. The opinion expressed in each article is the opinion of its author and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of It’s Your Media Ltd. No part may be reproduced without the prior written permission of It’s Your Media Ltd. Registered offices: 15 Hayes Close, Chelmsford. Reg No 9154871. Printed by Warners (Midlands) PLC.
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Nick’s Music and Ramblings
Is it really May already? I suppose it must be as this is indeed the May edition of The City Times. I’ve had quite a busy time, but I will mention the music a bit later in the article...
I have had my caravan repaired now which is great, so hopefully it’s now going to work well when I go away for trips! I found that in the front locker a mouse had paid a visit, but luckily did not get too far inside. I have had that happen before and they seem to like chewing wiring for some weird reason.
As I write this on bank holiday Monday, I had not managed to get away in my caravan, although I have been out. The weather has been a bit better here than anticipated, so I could have maybe had a couple of days away. I had also planned to go to Hyde Hall today, but with the wet weather decided to stay in and write this article instead.
We are about to use a new streaming platform for our Black Frog Presents shows at the Social Club. We will be using Lounges.tv. We’ve spent some time testing it and trying it out before our first show with it this Friday with Supernatural playing. It does look good and Simon Cowell was so impressed that he has invested in it, which I think is a good sign - no matter what anyone thinks about him! He is very astute and successful in business.
When are they ever going to finish the works on the A12 around Chelmsford and Colchester? It seems to have been going on forever with diversions and closures. It does put me off going on the road because of these diversions and delays. I have also found a few similar obstacles cropping up on other roads; I know the work needs doing but please fix the pot holes first and maybe get all the companies to work together on working on the roads and pavements, so that they all do it at once and fix it properly.
I have done a couple of radio interviews recently, one for BBC Essex with Sadie Nine and the other on Phoenix FM with Michelle Ward - both were good fun. Some of my acts have also been interviewed for Paul Dupree’s show on City Sound Radio by the Even Butterflies Make A Sound blog. Check out this blog, as Andy McCulloch does a great job with it.
One other quick mention; did you notice the free meal voucher on the back of the last edition of this publication or in the current Moulsham Times? This is at the Snooker Club and Chelmsford Bowling at the back of the ARU on Rivermead Islands, Bishops Hall Lane, Chelmsford. They are giving away 1,000 meals for free until Friday 24th May - so you still have time! You do need to pre-book and have a voucher which you can get from them if you don’t have one already, do please say that you heard about it from this magazine or Moulsham Times
Do remember too, that if you think you have anything that could be of interest to our readers or if you want to comment on something in our publications, then please email us at, editorial@itsyourmedi.co.uk.
Music
Music... Now this is my place of comfort! I have added one show since the last edition - that is at Hot Box and is none other than Bex Marshall with her band. They will be playing on Sunday afternoon on 22nd September. I know this is going to be fantastic, as all her shows are.
If you do plan to go a show then please, please, please do try and book in advance - it helps us, the promoter, the venue, and the artist
to get an idea of how many people we can expect.
I have been out to a few shows recently, and I have put a few gigs on too. I had my first show at Hot Box this year with The Ugly Guys and Craig Joiner on a Sunday afternoon and it went really well. Both acts were outstanding according to the audience. I have now booked Craig to open for Slim Chance on 27th September.
Next up, we had Jah Wobble playing a great show, then we had Splink and Skylines; again, two superb acts, but sadly could have done with more people, but those who were there loved it.
On the Sunday I went to two shows. First I went to Blues Barn to see the ‘Italian from London’, Manny Fizzotti, who I loved. The show was totally acoustic - if you get the chance, go and see him. Next, I drove to Wivenhoe to see Zoe Schwarz Blues Commotion - this was a new venue for me, and I think this was about the best I have seen the band play, and they played to a sell-out audience which they richly deserved. I also saw Held By Trees, who I and others say were world class. They totally blew us all away, as did Calum Ingram who opened the night and then later joined Held By Trees on stage to play a couple of numbers with them.
Saturday 27th April was my first Saturday at Hot Box, and it was a sellout with John Otway and his band. This was a truly great show, and the man’s first show in Chelmsford for over 20 years. I will definitely be rebooking them as I know they loved it also.
We had no gig at the Social Club on the Friday before May Day as they had a private event, and they have also laid a fab new floor and refurbished the toilets. They are now fixing the roof so it’s like new.
Although we had no gigs, I did pop out to a couple. First up was to the Headgate in Colchester. This a small theatre with a capacity of around 90 people l think. I went to see Richard Townend with his band the Mighty Bosscats do their latest album launch. I really enjoyed it - I have seen so many incarnations of this band, but this one is really good and tight and l could see they all had a great time as well.
Check out my advert in this mag - I have lots coming up at the Social Club and Hot Box. Besides what I do, there is also lots more going on in and around mid Essex, including Soultasia which I will be at in Maldon on Saturday 8th June.
There is lots more live stuff happening all over Essex for the summer, so please do go and support it - because if we don’t, we will lose more venues, as that is what happens. Then we will start to lose the acts as well because they can’t earn a living. This is not just about music, it’s all types of live shows from all genres - from the theatres to the village halls... and it affects all of us in between.
If you have anything you think that could be of interest to our readers for City Times or Moulsham Times, then please let us know by emailing editorial@itsyourmedia.co.uk - it may be an event or a topic of interest. Or have you done anything unusual or are you planning something? If so, we want to know about it. And if you know of someone who may wish to advertise with us, then please ask them to contact ads@itsyourmedia.co.uk and we can send over full details.
You can get tickets for all our shows at The Social Club in Chelmsford from Intense Records, Hopsters and Chelmsford 4Good - please pay cash in person when you buy. Tickets for all shows are also available online from www.wegottickets.com/BlackFrogPresents, or via our ticket hotline at no extra charge - call or text 07508 496 411 and you can then pay the advance price on entry to the show rather than the walk-up price.
For all Black Frog Presents gig updates and information go www. linktr.ee/BlackFrogPresents, or scan the QR code in my advert in this magazine.
City Times Food!
Another month has gone past and we’ve had all sorts of weather going on! Last weekend I had the pleasure of visiting Whitby and it got me thinking about fish and chips.
We had the most amazing fish and chips there, and of course me being me I wanted to recreate this experience at home, and that’s exactly what I did. I don’t think I’ve shared my chip recipe in my articles before, so this is a perfect time to do so!
First off, let’s talk batter! It’s so important to get the batter right so that it isn’t too cakey and stodgy - we simply want a nice thin crispy batter that coats the fish. I’ve tried many batters and I’ve come up with one that is perfect, using sparkling water and beer together! I’ve tried both on their own and they seem to work perfectly together. So here, I have my version of fish and chips...
Ingredients (Serves 2)
• 50g plain flour.
• 50g cornflour.
• 1tsp baking powder.
• 75ml lager.
• 75ml sparkling water.
• 400g of cod, cut into two.
• Sunflower oil.
Chips
• Maris Pipers cut into chips (as many as you want to cook).
• Plain flour.
• Seasalt to taste.
Method
Mix your flour, cornflour and baking powder in a large bowl. Season, then add 1 tablespoon onto a plate and set aside. Pour your beer and sparkling water into the bowl, stirring with a spoon or whisk until you
Essex Food - By Krista
I’ve been writing for The City Times for a few months now, so I thought it’s about time I introduced myself properly. I’m Krista, a thirty-something year old foodie. When I’m not busy working for the NHS, you can find me out discovering new restaurants, exploring new cities and spending time outdoors. You can see what I’m up to on Instagram by searching and following ‘thehungrykp’. Send me a message if you think there is a local restaurant that I need to check out!
This month, I want to share with you about Maldon’s hottest new brunch spot.
The Tin Roof Cafeteria & Bakery is a gorgeous environmentallyfriendly eatery which opened its doors to the public only a few weeks ago. They have already attracted a great community of regulars - and it’s easy to see why!
They have one goal: to create a space where you can enjoy fantastic food with a ‘patch to plate’ approach, using fresh fruit and vegetables grown in the on-site allotments. They use local produce where they can, to reduce their carbon footprint and support businesses in Essex.
in through the big windows. There is an inviting open fire with exposed bricks,
have a smooth, batter. Leave to rest while you prepare the chips.
I always make homemade chips and hope you love my method! Heat the oven to 200C and boil a large pan of water, then add the chipped potatoes and boil for 2-3 minutes until the outsides are just tender but not soft (as they will start to break up).
Drain, then tip onto a large baking tray with the flour, oil and some salt. Gently toss together until all the potatoes are evenly coated and the flour is no longer dusty. Roast for 30 minutes, turning occasionally until the chips are golden and crisp. This’s honestly is the only way to cook them so that they come out perfect everytime!
To cook the fish, heat 1 litre of oil in a deep saucepan until a drop of batter sizzles and crisps up straight away, this is how we know that the oil is hot enough and ready to cook the fish. Pat the fish dry with kitchen paper, then toss it in the flour mix. Shake off any flour that’s then dip into the batter. Carefully lower each fillet into the hot oil and fry for 6-8 minutes (depending on the thickness of the fish) until golden and crisp. Using a large spoon, lift out the fish, drain on kitchen paper, then sprinkle with salt.
Tartar Sauce
I wanted to add on to the end a quick and easy Tartar sauce recipe: Simply add mayo, chopped gherkins and add lemon juice to taste. Add capers and chopped dill as well for a beautiful accompaniment to your fish and chips.
and comfy sofas for you to sit and enjoy a coffee with a good book. They also have an outside seating area, so you can dine alfresco when the weather gets warmer.
There is an excellent choice of sweet and savoury brunch items on the menu, along with a variety of coffee, herbal teas and tipples. On my visit, I enjoyed the buttermilk pancakes with bacon and maple syrup, and I also tried the ‘full monty’ breakfast which was delicious. Make sure you check out the mouth-watering selection of cakes near the tills - I guarantee you won’t be able to walk away without buying a slice!
They operate a walkin service only, and well-behaved dogs are welcome. There is free parking outside the café for visitors, and they are next to Claremont Garden Centre, which I highly recommend for having a look around.
The Tin Roof Cafeteria & Bakery: Bryants Lane, Maldon, CM9 6TB
The Tin Roof Café has a beautiful interior, with stunning lampshades hanging from the ceilings and lots of natural light pouring
City Times Gardening
As the warmth of summer beckons, it’s time to add a touch of floral brilliance to your outdoor spaces. Hanging baskets, with their cascading blooms and vibrant foliage, offer a delightful way to elevate your garden or patio. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just discovering the joys of planting, mastering the art of creating stunning summer hanging baskets is within your reach.
Choose your basket and liner: Start by selecting a sturdy hanging basket with adequate drainage holes. If your basket doesn’t come with a liner, consider using a coco coir or moss liner to hold the soil in place. Ensure the liner fits snugly and trim any excess material.
Gather your materials:
• Potting mix enriched with slow-release fertiliser.
• Water-retaining crystals for moisture control (optional).
• A selection of summer flowering plants.
• Watering can or hose with a gentle nozzle.
Select Your Plants
Choose a variety of plants that will thrive in the summer heat and complement each other in colour, texture and growth habit.
Here are some named examples:
1. Petunias: Provide cascading colour with varieties like Petunia Supertunia Vista Bubblegum (‘Ustuni6001’) (Supertunia Series) or P. ‘Wave Purple’ (Wave Series).
2. Verbena: Add a touch of elegance with trailing varieties such as ‘Homestead Purple’ or Verbena hybrida ‘Lanai Upright Purple Mosaic’
3. Calibrachoa: Offer vibrant blooms in shades of pink, purple, or yellow, such as Calibrachoa Million Bells Series or C Superbells Lemon Slice (‘Uscal5302m’ PBR) (Superbells Series).
4. Bacopa: Introduce delicate white flowers and trailing foliage with ‘Snowtopia’ or ‘Gulliver White’.
5. Lobelia: Bring a pop of intense blue with varieties like Lobelia erinus ‘Crystal Palace’ or L erinus ‘Riviera Blue Eyes’.
Planting
Fill the basket with potting mix, leaving enough space for the plants. If using water-retaining crystals, mix them into the soil according to the package instructions. Plant your selections evenly around the basket, starting with taller varieties towards the centre and trailing plants around the edges. Gently firm the soil around the roots of each plant.
Watering and Care
Water the basket thoroughly until water drains from the bottom. Check the moisture level regularly and water when the soil feels dry to the touch. Position the basket in a location that receives at least six hours of sunlight per day. Feed your plants with a balanced liquid fertiliser every two weeks to promote healthy growth and blooming.
Maintenance
Remove spent flowers regularly to encourage continuous blooming. Pinch back leggy growth to promote bushiness. Keep an eye out for pests and diseases and treat them promptly if detected. As the plants grow, adjust the watering frequency and prune as needed to maintain the desired shape and size of the basket.
Enjoy Your Summer Display
Hang your planted basket in a prominent location where you can admire its beauty daily. Sit back, relax and revel in the colourful blooms and lush foliage that will brighten up your outdoor space all summer long.
Two Garden Tasks for May
Watch out for late frosts! The tender young growth of many plants may be damaged by spring frosts, causing scorching and pale brown patches to appear between the leaf veins. This tends to be on the exposed and top edges of the plant, eg, acers and fuchsias. Use protective covers if a frost is imminent such as horticultural fleece, bring closer to your house for any house heat to benefit the plant… Alternatively, really consider choosing plants that are reliably hardy and suited to your growing conditions.
Panting and sowing May is an excellent time for planting a wide range of flowers, vegetables, and herbs in the UK. Plant out summer bedding plants, such as petunias, marigolds, and lobelia, into containers, hanging baskets, and flower beds. Sow seeds directly into the soil or into pots for later transplanting, including vegetables like tomatoes, courgettes, and beans, as well as annual flowers like sunflowers and nasturtiums. Ensure that any risk of frost has passed before planting out tender crops.
Happy gardening
For any gardening tips please contact Tom Cole, Freelance Horticulturist and online tutor for www.learningwithexperts.com by email at tomcole8@hotmail.com.
Chelmsford Library
Have you visited us at Chelmsford Library recently? As well as a great choice of books to borrow, the library has free WI-FI and computer use, and you can recycle your small electrical items, batteries, and printer ink cartridges.
There are also photocopying facilities and study spaces and rooms to hire. Or just come along and relax or attend one of our events. As well as our many regular activities, we have the following extra events for children taking place during the May half-term break:
Money Smarts Workshop with Kunda Kids:
Tuesday 28/05/24 - 11-12 noon
An exciting hour of storytelling and creative activities with Kunda Kids, designed to teach young learners about financial literacy. Free event but booking requiredbook your place on our website.
Family Maths Games:
Wednesday 29/05/24 - 10-11 am and 2-3pm
Math-tastic family fun where your child will be learning while having fun playing maths games! These events are free and suitable for children 4 to 8 years old. Booking required - book your place via our website.
Summer Reading Challenge Volunteering: Are you age 14+ and looking for a volunteering opportunity over the summer holidays? If you love books, enjoy working with children and want to boost your CV, then please volunteer for us! More information on our website where you can apply online.
Musicians’ Health Matters - By Jane Hickey
Bass drum. Timpani. Marimba. Snare drum. Cymbals. Tambourine. Bells, and more... Inside or outside the orchestra, is there a section of instruments more characterised by variety than percussion? The image of the wide range of percussion instruments is of vibrancy and joy. But percussion performance is no less exacting in musical expertise.
The percussionists’ presence in orchestral performances ranges from relegation to a supporting role to holding a prominent role in the musical piece. In either role, the prospect of great fun or potential nightmare hangs on percussionists’ split-second timing. Salient musical skills for percussion performance are precise tempo and flawless rhythm. Essential physical skills include speed, strength, dexterity and stamina. Your body needs to mobilise for large movements and to sustain repetitive fine movements. Optimal performance depends on the health of multiple muscle groups, joints and tendons.
As with many physical activities, there is a risk in percussion performance of injury and associated musculoskeletal conditions. Vulnerable areas are arms and lower back. Particular conditions are tendonitis, bursitis, repetitive strain injury and carpal tunnel syndrome. Pain is always a warning sign and should never be ignored. Playing through pain delays treatment and may make symptoms worse. Once you are experiencing symptoms, a reactive approach is essential, with medical help for diagnosis and treatment. Frustratingly, the road to recovery may be slow and painful, with a devastating impact on music performance.
Combining a treatment plan with beneficial nutrients to support healthy muscles, tendons and joints helps recovery. Nutrients also contribute to a proactive approach, preventively reducing the risk of injuries. Attention to techniques and ergonomics in playing as well as strengthening exercises are key. Your food choices also have a vital role in providing your body with the essential nutrients for the physical demands of percussion performance.
In addition to hydration, macronutrients are foundational support for the physical activity of percussion performance. Carbohydrates are the best source of energy for the high energy requirements, both before and after performance. Carbohydrates also help to reduce muscle soreness. Protein is needed to repair and build muscle tissue. Fats are needed for all cell membranes in the body and Omega-3 has a role in muscle strength and recovery.
Youngest Grumpy Old Man
I read somewhere that we still like to get a proper greeting card. Well my generation and those before and some after do like to get one.
In an era dominated by digital communication, the traditional greeting card industry has faced significant challenges. With the rise of e-cards, social media messages and instant messaging apps. Many have predicted the demise of physical greeting cards. Yet despite these technological advancements, there remains a steadfast group of individuals who still cherish the act of sending and receiving traditional greeting cards. Me being one of them.
There’s something undeniably special about receiving a physical card in the mail. Even though the cost of first class stamps have gone up so much.
Whether it’s for a birthday, anniversary, holiday, or just because, the tactile experience of holding a card in your hand evokes a sense of warmth and connection - something a digital message simply cannot replicate. The weight of the paper, the texture of the card stock and the handwritten message all contribute to the personal touch that makes greeting cards unique.
For some, sending a greeting card is an opportunity to express
Your physical well-being benefits from effective hydration and regular meals which are nutritionally balanced. Include a portion of protein (meat, fish, dairy, eggs or legumes) in all meals, a wide variety of vegetables (of all colours and especially greens) and fruits, some whole grains or starchy vegetables and some healthy fats (such as olive oil, oily fish, nuts seeds, avocado). Drink about 8 glasses of water a day generally, increasing this during intense physical activity such as music performance.
Meals or snacks, before and after music performance, help to optimise your performance. Time these carefully by eating one or two hours before a performance (to allow digestion and provide energy) and within an hour after a performance for best support (to top up energy reserves and support recovery). Match the energy intake with the energy requirement choosing a snack or meal, depending whether, for example, you are required for an occasional timpani bash in the piece or for the prolonged snare drum in Ravel’s Bolero
For these before and after performance meals or snacks, a ratio of 3:1 carbohydrates to protein is beneficial. Choose carbohydrates (such as such as quinoa, oats, most vegetables, nut butters or berries) which are released more slowly than simple sugars. For a fast extra energy boost, add a spoonful of honey or a couple of medjool dates.
Some snack ideas are:
• Live yoghurt with berries and nuts.
• Hummus and vegetable sticks.
• Crushed avocado with hard boiled egg.
• Cottage cheese and apple.
• Banana and nut butter.
Not only percussionists, but all instrumental musicians are at risk of health conditions associated with performance specific to the instrument.
If you are interested in finding out how a nutrition programme for instrumental musicians could help you, I offer a free online well-being review.
Use the QR code in the ad on the right or get in touch.
07305 531 583 jane@janehickeyutrition.com
sentiments that maybe difficult to convey in person or through digital means. A well chosen card with a heartfelt message can convey love, gratitude, sympathy or congratulations in away that feels deeply personal and sincere. In a world where communication often feels fleeting and impersonal, the permanence of a physical card serves as a tangible reminder of the sender.
More over, the act of selecting a greeting card can be a thoughtful and enjoyable experience in itself. Browsing through a rack of cards carefully considering the design and message, then choosing the perfect card, can bring a sense of satisfaction.
Thomas Indergard
Friday 17th
Black Bull - Shakey’s Sessions: Paolo The Mighty Small + IC7 + Third Dart + Risen Ashes
Chelmsford Social Club - Black Frog Presents: Steemy Dan
Chelmsford Theatre - My Fair Lady
Hot Box - The Deep Throats
Saturday 18th
All Over Chelmsford - Street Art Festival
Beaulieu Community Centre - Open Mic
Chelmsford Cathedral - Craft and Flea Market
Chelmsford Theatre - My Fair Lady
F Cooke - Pie & Mashed
Hot Box - Com-unity Roots Double Six Dominos (2pm)
Hot Box - Topographics + Metroglow + In a House of Heartbeats
RAFA Club (Hall Street) - Coffee morning (10am to 1pm)
The Station Arms (Southminster) - Richard Townend
The Wheatsheaf - Karaoke
Wickham Bishops Village Hall (CM8 3JZ) - Wickham Bishops Jazz Club - Pete Lay’s Gambit Jazzmen (07548 775 777)
Sunday 19th
All Over Chelmsford - Street Art Festival
Boyton Hall - Essex Young Farmers Show
Chelmsford Theatre - WI-FI Wars
Chelmsford Theatre - Nurse Georgie Carroll: Sista Flo 2.0
The Gardeners - Open Mic
Monday 20th
Chelmsford Theatre - The Fureys
Chelmer Village - Pilates classes (carolinesdanceandpilates.co.uk)
Hot Box - Chelmsford Chess Club night
Hot Box - Acid Mothers Temple
Sandon School (Sports Hall 2) - Scottish Country Dancing (7.309.30pm - all abilities welcome - www.sandonscotdance.org.uk)
Tuesday 21st
Chelmsford Theatre - The Greatest Magician Hot Box - Open Mic Night
Old Park Meadow - Yoga (book by texting 07711 947 199 or visit bookwhen.com/beckysallows)
Outside Chelmsford Prison - The Secret History of Chelmsford Prison (email info@chelmsfordcivicsociety.co.uk to book)
Woolpack - Quiz
Wednesday 22nd
Black Rabbit (Maldon) - Karaoke
Cheerful Chai (CM1 7AH) - free event (please book a space via website www.engagefitnessservices.com - 9.30am)
Chelmsford Theate - The Winter’s Tale
Chelmsford Theatre - Steeleye Span
The Courtyard - Open Mic
The Golden Fleece - Karaoke
Hot Box - Control Voltage Electronic Music Open Mic
Hylands Estate - Essex Global Summit
Old Park Meadow - Gardening Club and coffee morning
The Wheatsheaf - Music, Movie & TV Quiz
Thursday 23rd
Black Rabbit (Maldon) - Quiz night
Chelmsford Social Club - Social Ballroom Dancing Evening
Chelmsford Theatre - Money for Nothing Fête - Sketch and Scribe Workshop
Hot Box - Black Frog Presents Tyzack & Tortora
Old Park Meadow - Yoga (to book, text 07711 947 199 or visit bookwhen.com/beckysallows)
The Rising Sun - Quiz Night
Friday 24th
Chelmsford Social Club - Black Frog Presents: The Jam Project
Chelmsford Theatre - John Lydon
Chelmsford Theatre - Emmanuel Sonubi: Curriculum Vitae Cozy Club - Live Jazz
RAFA Club (Hall Street) - Chair yoga
Rose & Crown - Real Ale & Gin Festival
St John The Baptist (Danbury) - David Burgoyne Concert
Saturday 25th
Chelmsford Theatre - Ria Lina: Riawakening
Saturday 25th (continued...)
Hot Box - Euphoria Complex
Hot Box - Com-unity Roots Double Six Dominos (2pm)
Rose & Crown - Real Ale & Gin Festival
The Wheatsheaf - Karaoke
The Wheatsheaf (Writtle) - The Alley Katz
Sunday 26th
Chelmsford Theatre - Milkshake Live on Holiday
The Gardeners - Open Mic
Hot Box - Uber Jam
Rose & Crown - Real Ale & Gin Festival
Stow Maries Aerodrome - Wings and Wheels
Monday 27th
Hot Box - Chelmsford Chess Club
Rose & Crown - Real Ale & Gin Festival
Tuesday 28th
Chelmsford Theatre - Wonders of Our Universe
Hot Box - Hot Box Waxes Lyrical
Wednesday 29th
Black Rabbit (Maldon) - Karaoke
Cheerful Chai (CM1 7AH) - free event (please book a space via website www.engagefitnessservices.com - 9.30am)
Hot Box - Independance
The Golden Fleece - Karaoke
Old Park Meadow - Gardening Club and coffee morning
Old Park Meadow - Meditation (to book call 07906 653 666)
The Wheatsheaf - Music, Movie & TV Quiz
Thursday 30th
Acanteen - Drag Boozy Bingo
Black Rabbit (Maldon) - Quiz Night
Chelmsford Social Club - Social Ballroom Dancing Evening
Chelmsford Theatre - Message in a Bottle
Hot Box - The Hanging Stars + Three Rivers Band
Old Park Meadow - Yoga (to book text 07711 947199 or visit bookwhen.com/beckysallows)
Radio City Social - Chop Suey! + Machine Ed
The Rising Sun - Quiz night
Friday 31st
Black Bull - Shakey’s Sessions All Dayer
Chelmsford Theatre - Comedy Club 4 Kids
RAFA Club (Hall Street) - Chair yoga
Saturday 1st
Black Bull - Shakey’s Sessions All Dayer
Chelmsford Social Club - Record Fair
Chelmsford Social Club - Black Frog Presents: UK Beegees + Elton
V - Elton John
Hot Box - Com-unity Roots Double Six Dominos (2pm)
RAFA Club (Hall Street) - Coffee morning (10am to 1pm)
The Wheatsheaf - Karaoke
Wheelers Farm - Bring the House Down Festival
Sunday 2nd
Chelmsford Theatre - Spot’s Birthday Party
The Gardeners - Open Mic
Hot Box - Ragga Food and Vybz
Star & Garter - Sunday Jams (4pm)
Monday 3rd
Chelmer Village - Pilates classes (carolinesdanceandpilates.co.uk)
Chelmsford Theatre - Spot’s Birthday Party
Hot Box - Chelmsford Chess Club
Tuesday 4th
Chelmsford Theatre - Ballet Central 2024
Hot Box - Open Mic
Old Park Meadow - Yoga (to book text 07711 947 199 or visit bookwhen.com/beckysallows)
Wednesday 5th
Black Rabbit (Maldon) - Karaoke
Cheerful Chai (CM1 7AH) - free event (please book a space via website www.engagefitnessservices.com - 9.30am)
Chelmsford Theatre - Luke Wright’s Silver Jubilee
The Golden Fleece - Karaoke
Hot Box - Very Odd Quiz
Old Park Meadow - Gardening Club and coffee morning
Wednesday 5th (continued...)
Rettendon Lodge (Battlesbridge) - Belvedere Jazz & Music Supper
Club: Tad Newton’s Jazz Friends (7.45pm - to book phone Phil on 07850 607 075)
The Wheatsheaf - Music, Movie & TV Quiz
Thursday 6th
Hot Box - Black Frog Presents Calum Ingram Band
Friday 7th
Chelmsford Theatre - Alfie Moore: A Face for Radio
Chelmsford Theatre - Larry Berkovitz, Zak Barrett & Friends
Hot Box - Black Frog Presents Malcolm Bruce
Maldon Promenade Park - Classic Ibiza
RAFA Club (Hall Street) - Chair yoga
Saturday 8th
Chelmsford Cathedral - Edward Elgar’s The Dream of Gerontius Chelmsford Theatre - The Chicago Blues Brothers
Chelmsford Theatre - Larry Berkovitz, Zak Barrett & Friends
Hot Box - Com-unity Roots Double Six Dominos (2pm)
Hot Box - Mandeville + Stealing Signs
Promonade Park (Maldon) - Soultasia 2024
RAFA Club (Hall Street) - Coffee morning (10am to 1pm)
Stow Maries Aerodrome - Fly-In
The Wheatsheaf - Karaoke
Sunday 9th
The Gardeners - Open Mic
Hot Box - Jazz Sundays: Zak Barrett & Friends
The Wheatsheaf (Writtle) - Afternoon jamming with Simon French Monday 10th
Chelmer Village - Pilates classes (carolinesdanceandpilates.co.uk)
Hot Box - Chelmsford Chess Club
Sandon School (Sports Hall 2) - Scottish Country Dancing (7.309.30pm - all abilities welcome - www.sandonscotdance.org.uk)
Tuesday 11th
Hylands Estate - Hamlet
Old Park Meadow - Yoga (to book text 07711 947 199 or visit bookwhen.com/beckysallows)
Widford Village Hall (turn left at Chandlers) - country dancing (barn dance, £2 - 7.50pm - 01245 475 660)
Woolpack - Quiz
Wednesday 12th
Black Rabbit (Maldon) - Karaoke
Cheerful Chai (CM1 7AH) - free event (please book a space via website www.engagefitnessservices.com - 9.30am)
Chelmsford Theatre - Legally Blonde: The Musical
The Courtyard - Open Mic
The Golden Fleece - Karaoke
Hot Box - The Big Music Quiz
Madison Heights - Open Mic
Old Park Meadow - Gardening Club and coffee morning Old Park Meadow - Meditation (to book call 07906 653 666)
The Wheatsheaf - Music, Movie & TV Quiz
Thursday 13th
Black Rabbit (Maldon) - Quiz night
Chelmsford Social Club - Social Ballroom Dancing Evening
Chelmsford Theatre - Howard’s End
Chelmsford Theatre - Legally Blonde: The Musical Golden Fleece - Quiz Night
Hot Box - Jeff Chapman’s Roosters (playing Wilko Johnson)
Old Park Meadow - Yoga (to book text 07711 947 199 or visit bookwhen.com/beckysallows)
The Rising Sun - Quiz night
Friday 14th
Chelmsford Social Club - Black Frog Presents: Trembling Wilburys
Chelmsford Theatre - Legally Blonde: The Musical
Hot Box -
St John The Baptist (Danbury) - Deborah Aloba
Saturday 15th
Chelmsford Theatre - Legally Blonde: The Musical
Chelmsford Theatre - Kiri Pritchard-McLean
Hot Box - Com-unity Roots Double Six Dominos (2pm)
RAFA Club (Hall Street) - Coffee morning (10am to 1pm)
The Wheatsheaf - Karaoke
Saturday 15th (continued...)
Wickham Bishops Village Hall (CM8 3JZ) - Wickham Bishops Jazz Club, Allen Beechey’s New Orleans Jazz Bandits (07548 775 777)
Sunday 16th
Chelmsford Theatre - Egg and Spoon
The Courtyard - Euro’s Day Party
The Gardeners - Open Mic
Venues are in Chelmsford, unless mentioned in the listings as being elsewhere.
Send in your events from 14th June to 21st July to editorial@itsyourmedia.co.uk
Join Us on Chelmsford High Street for this year’s VOLFEST!
Whether a day, a month or a lifetime commitment, whatever time and energy you can give can change someone’s life.
Chelmsford CVS is delighted to announce that on Thursday, 6th June we will again celebrate National Volunteers Week by taking over Chelmsford High Street for VOLFEST 2024.
50 local charities will come together to showcase their efforts and promote their services in a festival celebrating all the good that can come from our community working together. You’ll be able to see first-hand some of the vital ways in which charities and volunteers support our city, find out how you and your loved ones can access that help, and discover opportunities to get involved yourself.
Come and join us for a day of feel-good activities, music, food and fun!
VOLFEST has been running in Chelmsford since 2019 and has become a cornerstone of community activity in the district. Lorraine Jarvis from CVS said, “Every year at VOLFEST, there is such a wonderful buzz in the High Street. People chat with the stalls and with each other, finding out how our local organisations can benefit them. Chelmsford has an incredibly impressive and strong charity sector, and it’s really inspiring to see so many of them out in force. Volunteering is truly life-enhancing, and more important now than ever.”
Come down on the 6th to learn more and help us celebrate all things community.
More information about the event can be found here: chelmsfordcvs.org.uk/ volfest.
Follow the event on X by searching for ‘@ ChelmsfordCVS’ or using the hashtags #VOLFEST and #VolunteersWeek.
A Year in the Life of the Mayor
The Copper Pot Café at the Community Station in Moulsham Lodge held an Afternoon Tea with the Mayor on Mother’s Day to raise funds for the Mayor’s charity, YMCA Essex. Thanks to Hayley, Sue and Mark Springett for running this event. The Mayor attended with her mum and had a lovely time.
The Mayor and her Consort were pleased to support the Mayor of Castle Point, Cllr Lynsey McCarthy-Calvert’s Charity Ball which raised more than £2,000 for her charities, Haven’s Hospices, The Benno’s Boobs Foundation and Bobby’s Big Heart.
The Mayor and her Consort met the new CEO of Guide Dogs UK, Andrew Lennox, at Central Baptist Church with many puppy raisers, fundraisers and volunteers coming together over coffee and cake. Andrew shared his future vision for Guide Dogs and listened to experiences of puppy-raisers and puppy fosterers during and after the challenges of Covid.
The Wilderness Foundation held a grand opening of their Chandlers Shed at their Down to Earth allotments in Melbourne. The Mayor was delighted to officially open the shed that had been completely redesigned and refurbished with help and materials provided by Chandlers. The Allotment Project supports young people and adults with additional needs who learn and develop new skills which improve their physical and mental wellbeing. She thanked CEO Jo Roberts, her dedicated team and all the volunteers for their help in running this successful project for over 14 years.
The Mayor of Brentwood, Cllr Gareth Barrett hosted the Annual Brentwood Borough Council Civic Awards at Mount Avenue Banqueting Suite in Hutton. The Mayor and her Consort attended this event to honour Brentwood Running Club and Sue Newth-Gibbs for Service to the Community. Tony Clark and Peter Mayo received Lifetime Achievement awards for supporting their communities with fundraising and other local events. Congratulations to all the recipients of awards.
The Mayor and her Consort were invited to visit the Dogs Trust in Basildon to celebrate their 10 year anniversary. Centre Manager Lisa Cooper showed them around the extensive facilities, with a special behavioural unit, hydrotherapy facilities and a specialist veterinary unit. This charitable facility can cater for up to 120 dogs and covers all of Essex and beyond in offering expert care in rehabilitating and rehoming dogs. The Mayor has a recent and very positive experience of the centre after her son rehomed a puppy 2 months ago, and was impressed by the love and care that is given to all the dogs by the excellent staff, including aftercare and support for the dogs and new owners. To support the work of the Dogs Trust you can donate here: www.dogstrust.org.uk/support-us/donation.
Chelmsford Riverside Ice
Skating Club invited the Mayor and her Consort to a fun and entertaining performance of Alice in Wonderland on Ice She was in awe of the talented young skaters and really enjoyed the show. Thanks to all the performers, coaches and centre staff for working together to make the show such a resounding success.
seekers together) spoke about their important and collaborative work to help vulnerable people. Sidra gave an interesting and informative presentation on Ramadan.
The Deputy Mayor was delighted to welcome members of the Essex Dementia Care Writtle group to Chelmsford City Council for a visit to the Mayor’s Parlour. She spoke about the role of the Mayor, explained about the robes and chains worn by the Mayor and Deputy and answered questions as they all enjoyed tea and biscuits.
The Mayor and her Consort visited 86-year-old Ronald Coe to thank him for raising so much money for MacMillan nurses by selling his paintings. He continues to paint every day and his friend and neighbour Debbie Holme helps to sell them to support this great charity. The Mayor was pleased to present him with a certificate and plant for his garden in gratitude for his fundraising over the years.
The Staff of Office was passed from Charles Bishop to the new High Sheriff of Essex, David Hurst, at a Declaration Ceremony held at County Hall, Chelmsford. The ceremony was presided over by HM Lord Lieutenant, Jennifer Tolhurst, in the presence of deputy lieutenants, judges, mayors, chairs and magistrates. The Mayor and her Consort witnessed the new High Sheriff being sworn in during this historic event and congratulated David Hurst as 844th High Sheriff of Essex.
Mayor, Cllr Linda Mascot was delighted to be invited to read at Munchkins, which was such a treat! Thank you, Munchkins, as she really enjoyed her visit so much!
Open Road Is a leading charity in East Anglia and Kent providing wellbeing initiatives, counselling and practical help for people affected by drug or alcohol addiction and other health and social problems, the Mayor was invited to join the Bishop of Chelmsford, Guli FracesDequani, to meet with trustees and staff of Open Road to hear about their great work supporting clients and their families in their journey to recovery and positive life choices.
Janine and Caroline set up a support group, Breastfriends CIC, for breast cancer patients after they both received a breast cancer diagnosis, and now they deliver regular kits to Broomfield Hospital that contain items for patients that are having surgery, and also kits for women in medical menopause. The Mayor heard about the great support they have provided to each other and many other women by sharing their experiences and setting up networks via their website: www.breastfriends.co.uk/meet-our-founders.
Sandon Parish Council invited Sir John Whittingdale MP and the Mayor to speak at their Annual Assembly in Sandon Village Hall. Chair of the PC, Dee Hyatt, spoke about the challenges of proposed new developments nearby enveloping the village and the importance of the right infrastructure to support expansion. The Mayor thanked parish councillors for being a local voice supporting their community.
The Mayor and her Consort visited Age Concern Chelmsford in Cottage Place to join trustee (and Freewoman of Chelmsford) Freda Mountain for lunch with the daily visitors. They joined in with the seated exercise class before enjoying steak and kidney pudding followed by lemon pudding and custard. Age Concern is open Monday-Friday, with Community Transport collecting elderly residents to enjoy the day centre facilities. The Mayor thanked volunteers and staff and enjoyed chatting to Freda as well as users of the day centre who appreciate the social connections and friends they make there.
The Mayor was happy to officially open 3C&Co in Market Road. This new family venture combines Crowned Beauty Hair Salon, Creative
Sidra Naeem, Deputy Lieutenant and Chair of Feed the Needy, along with other volunteers, held their 11th Community Feeding event in Chelmsford. Sanctus, Chess & CAST (communities and sanctuary
Crave Web and Design and Cecelia’s Design Ltd, a fashion design outlet run by
and daughter.
The sun shone in Chelmsford city centre for the Chelmsford for You Takeover by Essex Cosplayers. The Mayor and her Consort joined Transformers, Ghostbusters, Batman, Stormtroopers, Ursula and many other characters with The A-Team van, Ghostbusters car, Batmobile and car from Back to the Future, all in front of the iconic Shire Hall. The market had dinosaurs roaming with a Jurassic Park vehicle and all raising money for Little Haven’s Hospice. It was absolutely buzzing with people enjoying the fun and a great charity event - well done to the organisers for really bring the city alive!
The mayoral party were all at Melbourne Stadium to cheer on Chelmsford City Women and Girls Football Club who played Colchester in the semi-final of the League Cup. Unfortunately, Chelmsford lost 2-1, but it was a well played match with around 200 spectators. The mayoral party chatted with Dawn Barnard, Secretary of Chelmsford City Women and Girls Football Club, and wished them good luck in the last match of the season with all to play for to win the league.
Chelmsford County High School for Girls invited the Mayor to attend their Presentation of Certificates and Awards at Chelmsford Cathedral with an inspiring address by former pupil Revd Dr Carolyn Hammond who translated the school values into Latin. Headteacher Stephen Lawlor reflected on the year, thanked the whole school community for the school’s success, and congratulated all the recipients of awards for their achievements.
The Mayor was delighted to welcome pupil councillors, from the school where she is Inclusion Manager, from Baddow Hall Junior School along with Headteacher, Richard McIntosh and PA Janice Douglas, to the Mayor’s Parlour to show them her ‘other office’. The Deputy Mayor also joined them, and the children were keen to learn about democracy, the role of mayor, history around the mayoralty, town twinning, council meetings and Chelmsford Council governance through the years, asking many interesting questions for the Mayor and Deputy to answer.
The Mayor and Deputy Mayor were pleased to welcome the Tea & Tiaras WI Group from Galleywood into the Mayor’s Parlour to talk about the role of the mayoralty and show them the ‘golden mile’ leading to the council chamber and containing historical artefacts connected with the mayoralty.
The Mayor and Consort had a very enjoyable evening at Riverside Ice and Leisure Chelmsford Ice Hockey Academy, meeting visitors from Brive in France and watching them in their under-20s match against Chelmsford. It’s always a pleasure to see how much of a supportive community the Ice Hockey Academy are and how inspiring it is to see the younger players supporting the older teams play such a fast paced and skilled match.
CYGAMS (Young Gen) put on a truly sparkling performance of Everybody’s Talking About Jamie at Chelmsford Theatre which the
Mayor and her Consort enjoyed immensely. The talented young people showcased their exceptional vocal talents in this heartwarming, funny and touching musical based on a true story, with a catchy score written by The Feeling frontman, Dan Gillespie-Sells. The standard of performance was excellent - well done to all involved.
The Mayor and her Consort attended a concert with Community Choir, New City Voices and Men2Sing at St John’s Church, fundraising for the Mayor’s charity, YMCA Essex. With a packed audience, the choirs put on a very good show thanks to musical director John TrentWallace and accompanist Clare Penfold. The fantastic total of £1,149 was raised from the concert and raffle.
The Mayor and her Consort really enjoyed spending a sunny morning at Hylands Estate Innovation & Creativity Day with Urban Food Festival where her Cadet, Sgt Walledge joined her. Hot Box provided live music in the Courtyard, and the Mayor purchased lovely bespoke jewellery and pottery and 3D printed toys from the Artists Studios.
Chairman of the Friends of Hylands, Christine Rycroft, chatted about the exhibition in the house, and they met staff entertaining the younger visitors with craft activities as well the enthralling storyteller. There is something for everyone at the Open Days - and the food is varied and delicious; the problem being what to choose!
Sweta Jain, owner of The Luxe Studio, beauty salon in Wharf Road invited the Mayor and Deputy Mayor to join customers and friends to celebrate their 5th anniversary. Sweta gave them a tour of the premises and told them about the extensive services they offer whilst clients enthused about the excellent customer service. Congratulations on your 5th anniversary and successful business in Chelmsford.
Woodville Primary School, South Woodham Ferrers invited the Deputy Mayor to attend their school assembly with Olympic gold medal cyclist Katie Archibald. Katie happily answered the children’s questions and spoke about her journey from cycling to school to training for world class events. In the assembly it was announced that Deputy Head Teacher, Paul White an ambassador for Active Essex, will be taking part in the RideLondon Essex 100 mile race in May. Katie is currently riding for CERATIZIT-WNT Pro Cycling team and presented him with one of their team racing shirts.
South Woodham Ferrers Town Council held their annual meeting at Champions Manor Hall, where the Mayor joined Town Council Mayor, Cllr Donna Eley in looking at the community displays and speaking to local residents who had won community awards.
Sgt Matt Collins from Essex Police - Chelmsford District spoke about local policing and their forward planning. Julie Taylor, from The Liam Taylor Legacy - RIP Fish was invited to talk about her campaign to have catastrophic bleed kits held at premises all over Essex, in case of any injuries with open wounds. There were presentations from other town councillors about projects undertaken during the year on behalf of and for the benefit of residents.
Rev’d Simon Pearce invited the Deputy Mayor to the official launch of the St Andrews Church defibrillator. Thanks to the British Heart Foundation who sponsored the equipment, it sits proudly on the front of the church hall in Melbourne Avenue ready for use in an emergency. Everyone enjoyed tea and cakes then watched a short film demonstrating how to use the equipment.
Mobolaji Adegunle with her son
A History of Leisure and Entertainment Part 9 - By
Although a survey in the 1950s showed up the lack of live entertainment in Chelmsford compared with Colchester, there was however, a considerable amount of live music, particularly for dances, and there was also a number of popular local ballroom dance bands such as the Blue Ramblers.
One of the eight members, Johnny Alliston, remembered, “Everybody had a function, especially at Christmas including factories, shops, as well as hunt balls that were sometimes a fair distance from Chelmsford, such as Saffron Walden.” They didn’t have an agent, after the band started as a hobby and then became semi-professional. The Ramblers sometimes had to play for 5 hours at a single gig. Occasionally, champion dancers were also hired, for example at the Shire Hall.
The band was also the relief band for the Ted Heath Orchestra several times, because the latter would only play one and a half hour sets. Alliston found the functions at Crompton’s and Hoffmann’s very smart with nice dance rooms. Other local dance bands included the Chelma Five, the Embassy Orchestra and Bill Bateman’s Orchestra.
Clive Beattie worked at Marconi in the 1950s. He remembered Chelmsford having a lively social scene. Before the arrival of the teddy boys, he would wear a gabardine suit, dark and sombre, but he might sport a waistcoat and brothel creeper shoes. Beattie said the Shire Hall had all the best big bands including Kenny Baker, Cyril Stapleton, Joe Loss and Ted Heath. The Corn Exchange also got the biggest bands but in more ‘rough and ready’ surroundings. He also remembered several coffee bars including the Orpheus in New London Road, which was underground, and the Amber which was close to the cathedral.
Pete Searles, who lived in Danbury in the 1950s, played in various skiffle groups, including Mark Shelley and the Deans, which were pushing out the dance bands by the end of the decade. His various bands played The Odeon, the Marconi Club, the Lion and Lamb and The County Hotel, and they would often played 5 nights a week. In the 1960s his band played the Saturday Scene concerts at The Corn Exchange supporting acts like Joe Brown, Screaming Lord Sutch and The Who.
The teddy boys divided opinion in the town. Despite occasional disturbances, the manager of Chelmsford’s casino supported them and organised a dance for the teddy boys and their girlfriends: “I find them perfect gentlemen. Teddy boys dress immaculately and are always spotlessly clean, though I don’t like their shoes...” Despite this support, brawls outside The Odeon were quite common.
By the early 1960s, well-known rhythm and blues groups were the order of the day at The Corn Exchange. Although The Rolling Stones and The Beatles never played in the town, Georgie Fame, Zoot Money, The Small Faces and The Animals all played there. The Who played an early date.
There were sometimes fights when mods came over from Basildon. They met in The Steamer and would meet skinheads from Brentwood off the train. There was a scooter club, called The Prize Guys, which met at the Golden Fleece. Later in the decade, one of the most memorable nights was when The Corn Exchange was packed for Jimi Hendrix just after his first single had been released. Footage of the gig can still be found on YouTube. All the local groups including The Mooche, The Coltrane Union and The RBQ played The Corn Exchange regularly to support the headliners. In 1967, apart from Jimi Hendrix, the venue hosted Shotgun Express (featuring Rod Stewart), The Small Faces, Graham Bond, Arthur Brown, Pink Floyd, Fleetwood Mac and John Mayall. To see Pink Floyd would have cost you 8 shillings and 6 pence in advance, or 10 shillings on the door!
Besides the rock acts at The Corn Exchange, there was a thriving folk scene with two clubs, one at the White Hart and one at the Saracen’s Head. Well known acts such as The Strawbs, The Incredible String Band and Martin Carthy played the town. Nic Jones, who became
Stephen Norris
well known in the 1970s before a bad car accident in 1982, grew up in Chelmsford and was a swimming lifeguard in the town. Dave Moran, who also went on to be a nationally known musician, ran the Chelmsford folk club, where Paul Simon - who lived for a while in Brentwood - also played. Folk singers booked for The Civic Theatre included Buffy Saint Marie, Bert Yansch and Julie Felix. For a while, there was also a reggae club in the town.
One of the most controversial events at the end of the decade, which was to have a great effect on live music in the town, was the demolition of The Corn Exchange and its replacement after several years by The Chancellor Hall, named after Frederic Chancellor. There was considerable opposition to the removal of what was by now a muchloved music venue. What made matters worse was that the new hall was scheduled to house only 300 people, although when it opened its capacity was 500.
The local papers expressed concern that the new building might become a ‘white elephant’ even before it had opened. Chancellor Hall opened in 1974 to capacity audiences, but 4 years later it was already in trouble after stewards walked out and a cashier resigned over working conditions. The hall had trouble attracting well-known acts. It did however book some of the biggest punk acts including The Clash and Siouxsie and the Banshees. The former caused problems when there was a violent skirmish between punk rockers and teddy boys.
Chelmsford was quite a centre for punk activity. 7 months after the trouble outside The Chancellor Hall there was a serious clash between punks and skinheads in Anchor Street, where the latter were squatting in two houses. Grayson Perry said: “Chelmsford was quite a hot bed of punk. I ripped the sleeves of a grey school shirt then stencilled HATE all over it with a homemade stencil. I bought plastic sandals, wore the school blazer and put Vaseline in my hair. My piece de resistance was from a bag of horse tacks - it was a huge dog collar with whopping great horse studs, very brutal looking, that I wore round my neck very proudly.” The great metal chain links used to smack him in the teeth when he danced. Bob Geldof even hauled Perry onto the stage when The Boomtown Rats played The Chancellor Hall! Chelmsford’s thriving punk scene resulted in several well-known local bands, such as Anorexia and Nasty Habits. Besides The Chancellor Hall, gigs were played at Deejay’s (the only nightclub at the time), The Odeon, The Y Club and The Prince of Orange (now O’Connors).
A punk festival at the Chelmsford City football ground was a disaster when only 1,500 fans turned up after The Clash didn’t materialise. The Jam had pulled out a week before the event and The Damned refused to play after it became obvious they weren’t going to get paid. Bands that did turn up included Eddie and the Hot Rods, Chelsea, Slaughter and the Dogs and reggae band Aswad. John Peel was the compere and he had bottles and cans thrown at him for his trouble. ‘Fans pelt the stage as punk show flops’ reported The Weekly News. The promoter, Bob Mardon, lost £14,000. It was a sorry end to what was the first, and probably the only, punk festival.
In the 1990s, The Y Club at the YMCA put on a number of top indie acts before they became well known, including The Cranberries, Radiohead and Teenage Fanclub. Liam Howlett, later in The Prodigy, worked at the club. At the same time, The Army and Navy pub became the ‘bastion of grunge, metal and indie pop bands’. In 1994, Oasis played the venue when they were starting to get attention from the national press. Trevor Holds, a local record shop owner, said, “It was a brilliant gig just before they released anything. It was the final date of the tour and the last chance to see them in a venue of that size.” In 2002 a letter in The Weekly News asked: ‘Where are young music lovers to go now The Army and Navy has closed for refurbishment?’ After being used for mainstream entertainment, The Army and Navy was finally demolished in 2007.
Hylands had had live music events before V Festival began - and back in 1970 a proposed pop concert on the estate caused much local alarm. The council eventually decided that it was not a suitable venue.
In 1989 The Chelmsford Spectacular began after the success of the centenary celebrations in Hylands Park. They had been organised by the council, the Friends of the Samaritans and BBC Essex. The 1989 event lost money because of rain, but put on a wide variety of music events including the D’Oyly Carte Opera and the Joe Loss Orchestra. Chelmsford’s Spectacular in 1990 was however a great success with 40,000 people in the park. 15,000 people saw a collection of 60s groups - then the 1993 Spectacular saw 65,000 people watch a line-up that included Take That. In 1994 it was voted the best organised outdoor event in Britain. During 1995 however, the event was called off because of the risk of a £70,000 loss. The Spectacular was revived in 1996, but it gained the lowest audience in 4 years and had to be bailed out with money received from the V Festival. It carried on until 2001 when the council felt it could no longer subsidise it.
The Spectacular was revived again in 2003 but a big loss of £65,000 due to poor weather meant the end of the event. August 2008 saw the holding of the world Scouting Jamboree in the park. Interestingly, the event saw 11 children disappear, presumably becoming asylum seekers...
In August 1996, V Festival began. The large rock festival took place at Hylands with 70,000 attending the two days. Richard Branson’s Virgin Group took control of what became a largely Brit pop festival. The original idea had come from the lead singer of Pulp, Jarvis Cocker. In 1997, 100,000 attended and Branson said, “We will keep coming back as long as the people of Chelmsford want us.”
In the early years there were frequent complaints, chiefly about litter and traffic problems, but these diminished in later years. An early letter said: ‘what is considered by everybody except Chelmsford Borough Council to be a public park looks like a refuse tip and in places smells like a sewage farm’. A tongue-in-cheek reply to this and other letters included, ‘Young people should not be allowed to enjoy themselves. They should stay out of public places until they have learnt to dress in respectable clothing (hush puppies and beige slacks) and are proficient in the art of intolerance and bigotry, while remaining anonymous at all times.’
at Glastonbury. Headliners in 2012 included The Stone Roses, Noel Gallagher, The Killers, Snow Patrol and Tom Jones. In 2013 major acts included Beyonce, The Script, Jessie J, The Kings of Leon, The Stereophonics and Emeli Sande. The festival now shared its line-up with a site at Stafford.
V Festival continued to be commercially successful and it brought in much needed revenue for both the council and the city. Many critics maintain that it played safe musically, sticking to tried and trusted stadium fillers, and bookers lack the imagination of those
In 2006, a much smaller festival called Brownstock was established near South Woodham Ferrers. The audience for the first festival consisted of 100 friends of the organisers and featured 10 straw bales, 2 BBQs and a trailer for a stage. Although it had grown by 2013 so that it featured well-known headliners such as The Fratellis and Tom Odell, it still featured a great many unsigned bands.
Ustrasana - By Steve Johansen, Hummingbird Pilates & Yoga
Yoga has been around for such a long time that it’s difficult to trace exactly when it started. It is believed that yoga originated somewhere in the upper regions of the Himalayas approximately 15,000 years ago. Yoga was initial spread by word of mouth, and the first illustration of was found on Mohenjo-Daro seals made by the Indus Valley civilisation 5,000 years ago.
The problem with things that have been around for a very long time is that we feel they are timeless and don’t change. Yoga is all about change, growth and development - and this is why there are so many variations of poses. My pose of the month, Camel Pose or in Sanskrit Ustrasana (‘oosh-TRAH-sah-nah’) has evolved to have many variations.
Where to Start
To prepare ourselves for the pose, come to a upright kneeling position with your knees hip width apart. You can kneel on a blanket, or fold your mat over to cushion your knees. Roll your shoulder blades backwards, downwards and towards each other, opening up though the chest and collarbones. Place the palms of your hands on your pelvis, fingers pointing downwards on your buttocks. Then draw the elbows towards one another, opening up though the upper chest and collarbones. Introduce your three-part breath, breathing slowly and steadily in and out though your nose. Try to add a short pause at the top and bottom of each breath.
If you’re a beginner and want to come into the easiest version of Camel Pose, on an inhalation, start with the feet pressing down with the tops of your feet into the floor. You will feel the fronts of your thighs tighten. Roll your tailbone down to the back of your kneesyou’ll feel your core engage as your hips move forward slightly, then lift though your belly button and sternum, lifting your gaze and chin upwards towards the ceiling. If you’re comfortable, stay here for 3 to 5 long, slow, steady breaths.
However, if you want a more intermediate version, slide your hands downwards and hook your fingers onto the insides of your thighs, just under your buttocks. On your next inhalation, pull your thighs apart to draw your shoulders backwards, feeling a deeper stretch across the front of the shoulders, as you roll your hips forwards. Lift through your sternum and your chin. Relax deeper into the pose with each exhalation.
To take Camel Pose deeper still, try this advanced version. Start in a similar position to the above versions, only this time tuck your toes, elevating the heels. This will intensify how the front of the thighs feel. Then starting again with the easiest version of Camel Pose - hold for one breath, then deepen the pose by sliding the hands downwards to the backs of the thighs for a breath. On your next exhalation, reach back with both hands to your heels. Ideally the hips should always be above the knees, the palms of your hands will rest on your heels, your fingers point down to your toes and your thumbs on the outside of your heels. With each inhalation draw your hips, sternum and gaze forward and upward. Keeping the hips above the knees, drawing
the shoulders and head back to feel a stretch though the front of the body from the knees to the collarbones. There should be no compression of the lower back or neck.
For those of you who would like to know more of the benefits of the Camel Pose and how to incorporate it into your practice, join me at my studio using this free pass code HPYFREECLASS. My gift to you.
www.hummingbirdpilates.co.uk
The Meadow Orchard - By
Sabrina Moser
Spring is in full swing in Backnang, and so we venture beyond city limits to explore the countryside. Awaiting us are rolling hills, their steeper slopes striped in regimented rows of vineyards. Tidy clumps of forest stretch out in all directions, their floors carpeted with green masses of wild garlic while the surrounding fields glow yellow with honey-scented rapeseed. In the midst of all this splendor,
I would like to draw your attention to what in German is known as Streuobstwiesen. Literally translated as ‘scattered meadow orchards’, this type of stone-fruit cultivation has been a typical feature of the landscape ever since the Romans brought it over the Alps some 2,000 years ago.
At first glance, these helter-skelter groves appear to be an afterthought, abandoned relics from times before rows of monocultures became the norm. Though not as commercially viable as their dwarf counterparts, the tall and gnarly trees of the meadow orchard are invaluable both because of their contribution to the cultural landscape and in terms of the rich biodiversity they create.
Originally conceived for the simultaneous production of fruit and hay, the modern Streuobstwiese is a buzzing, grassy refuge for all manner of plant, fungus and animal life. Indeed, some 5,000 species flourish within the habitat, and nature conservationists work hard to keep these ecosystems intact.
Part of that mission is to ensure that the fruit produced funnels back into the local market.
Unfit for immediate sale, the harvest of misshapen apples, pears, plums and quince is pressed into juices, ciders and that beloved of all German refreshments, Schnapps.
After a day spent wandering the Swabian country and dreaming in the shade of a gnarly old apple tree, you will find that a bracing sip of crystalline liquid fruit really hits the spot. Certainly, the Romans would approve.
backnangforyou@gmail.com
Photo: Schwäbisches Mostviertel eV
Can You Make a Difference in Your Community?
Could you help someone with dementia do the things they love?
Side by Side is a service to help people with dementia to keep on doing the things they love and try new things too! They meet up with a volunteer, decide what they’d like to do, and do it together.
Side by Side is a fun, friendly, super-flexible volunteering opportunity through which you’ll receive expert training and support to develop within your role.
Chelmsford Mens Shed - Lead Volunteers
Can you spare 3 hours a week? A warm welcome awaits men wanting to join the Shed, but we currently have a waiting list. We need more Lead Volunteers so that the Shed can open more sessions.
Lead Volunteers support the session, help to promote friendly conversation, and encourage users to use the Shed effectively and in safe use of equipment. Full training and support will be given at all times, and you’ll shadow another Lead for as long as you need to. Some knowledge of woodworking/tools would be extremely helpful.
Assistant Bookshop Manager - Meadows Shopmobility
We are looking for someone to help our bookshop manager at our
charity bookshop on Market Road, near the library.
We need someone that is flexible in their working pattern and can help with organising donations, manning the till, and disposal of unsellable books.
Minibus drivers - Chelmsford Community Transport
Can you help isolated people to get out and about? We need friendly, patient volunteers to help drive our minibuses so that elderly and disabled passengers can get to social clubs, shops and medical appointments.
Our passengers cannot travel without the help of people like you, and our service is a real lifeline to them.
Volunteer Telephone Befriender at Essex Home Help Service
We all need other people, but not everyone has someone. Essex Home Help Service are looking for volunteers to support with our Telephone Befriending Service.
We are offering a telephone befriending service which is designed to be supportive, reliable and enable friendships to be built through volunteer befrienders for people who may otherwise be socially isolated.
You will come into our friendly offices in Ford End, Chelmsford for 2 hours per week to make telephone befriending calls.
Introducing Carl Spaul Chelmsford Community Radio
Carl has been with Chelmsford Community Radio since early 2014 and came as part of a package with Scott and Greg Page. Together they formed the ITM Crew and have presented the In The Middle show for just over ten years.
He also acts as producer for Will McKenzie and puts together the Dream Frog evocative music play list, which reflects his own personal music taste. During his time at the station, Carl has worked on and presented various shows, including Drive, 60s Fusion and Folk Union
“Getting involved in radio was never on my radar. Supporting Scott and Greg Page in pursuit of their goal was what got me here and the support of everyone at CCR over the years has kept me going. If I can put a show together, anyone can. Dream Frog is a way for me to introduce people to some of the bands and music genres that I listen to.”
When he’s not behind a mic, Carl is a support worker. He also likes walking and doing the occasional bit of gardening.
You can catch Carl presenting Dream Frog every Wednesday at 11pm on Chelmsford Community Radio.
www.chelmsfordcommunityradio.com
The National Red Plaque Fire Service Memorial was officially inaugurated on May 4th 2024, Firefighters Memorial Day, at the Living Memorial complex in Rettendon, Essex, honouring the bravery and sacrifice of fallen fire service personnel. The event was attended by dignitaries and senior fire service colleagues from around the UK.
The memorial is the first one in Britain not only to honour fire service personnel who died on duty, but also those who died after their period of service. It comprises a garden of remembrance, a memorial wall with the names of fallen fire service personnel inscribed on it, and a building housing historical fire service memorabilia. The centrepiece is a statue of a firefighter completed by Essex sculptor Dave Taylor. The memorial was constructed at the initiative of the England 4 chapter of the Red Knights International Firefighters Motorcycle Club.
The ceremony commenced with opening remarks by Norm Beausoleil, International Vice President of the Red Knights International Firefighters Motorcycle Club, who travelled from the USA to attend the opening. Riccardo la Torre, National Officer of the Fire Brigades Union, Moira Bruin, Deputy Chief Fire Officer of Essex County Fire and Rescue Service and David Hurst, High Sheriff of Essex, all spoke, underscoring the importance of the occasion.
In her remarks at the ceremony, Essex Deputy Chief Fire Officer Moira Bruin said, “Today we are not just opening a memorial garden; we are creating a sacred space, a place of remembrance, reflection and healing.
The memorial garden is a tribute to our heroes, a place where their stories will live on and where their memories will inspire future generations.”
Cllr Linda Mascot, Mayor of Chelmsford, officially opened the memorial with a ceremonial unveiling.
Fr John Bloomer of the Chelmsford Diocese led the assembly in reflection and dedication, followed by heartfelt remarks from Fran Theobald, who spoke on behalf of the Living Memorial. She said: “We started the Living
Memorial sixteen years ago, initially commemorating those who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, and adding memorials for more conflicts and service branches over the years.
“Firefighters are people who run into danger when everybody else is running away, and we very much want people to remember this. We hope very much that you will come down and see our memorial”. Ronnie Patterson, President of Red Knights International Firefighters Motorcycle Club England 4 Chapter, whose members were instrumental in creating the memorial, said: “Today marked a poignant moment in our collective history as we honoured the courageous fire service colleagues who dedicated their lives to serving their communities.
The National Red Plaque Fire Service Memorial stands as a testament to their bravery and selflessness, ensuring that their legacy will be remembered and revered for generations to come. We are deeply grateful to all who have contributed to this meaningful tribute. The Red Knights remain committed to upholding the spirit of camaraderie and remembrance that this memorial represents.” Essex-based sculptor Dave Taylor who created the statue of the firefighter said: “I was approached by the Red Knights to create a sculpture of a firefighter, and whilst they were quite specific about the pose, the club members were open to suggestions about how we would realise the piece. Working with one of the team in full PPE, I took photos and measurements, using their equipment as reference. It’s challenging working with over 200kgs of clay, but the club was very supportive. I’m proud to be part of the project and enjoyed working on it immensely.”
The event concluded with a performance by the Sutherland Pipes and Drums.
What do you do with your photos?
I don’t know about you but I remember a time when you had to take 24 photos on your camera, send the film to be developed before being able to see the actual photos you had taken. More times than I can count, the photos came out blurry, out of focus and really unusable!
Those times have gone and with a camera inside our phones, the digital age has taken over. I now have thousands of photossometimes of the same thing as I press the button a little bit too long - and another dilemma is facing us. What to do with all the photos?
In scrapbooking, we do use photos on our pages or layouts, at times a single one, at times several. I used to like making double layouts, especially with my holiday photos as I could have 3 to 5 photos over the 2 pages. But there were still a lot of photos I did not use and I wanted to use them all. How can you choose to blank out a whole visit? Nowadays, I make a mini album to record my holidays. It is easier and contains 20-30 photos. But still there are lots of photos I am not using.
If you are a digital crafter, then you would need to organise your
When the NHS was set up, it focused primarily on treating single conditions or illnesses, but since then the health and care needs of the population have changed.
People are living longer with multiple, complex, long-term conditions requiring longterm support from many different services and professionals. As a consequence, people receive fragmented care from services that are not well coordinated around their needs. This can negatively impact their experiences and create duplication and inefficiency.
To deliver joined-up support that better meets the needs of the population, different parts of the NHS (including hospitals, doctors, mental health services, health and social care) and communities need to work in a much more joined-up way.
England lags behind comparable nations on many key measures of health outcomes. Our obesity rates are among the worst in western Europe. Improvements in life expectancy have ground to a halt. Inequalities in health are widening, condemning some people to live much shorter lives, in poorer health.
Much of this is preventable, yet the NHS remains a treatment service for people when they become ill and lacks a comprehensive approach to keeping us well.
Our own health behaviours and lifestyles are the second most
photo albums and files in a totally different way so as to be more efficient. You could create folders and subfolders, arrange everything alphabetically, or even use dedicated photo management software. Then you need to think of backup system. It all takes time and, frankly, it seems like a lot of hassle to me. But then, my excuse is that I am not a digital crafter.
What I usually do is, at regular intervals, I download all the photos from my phone from the previous time. For example, I downloaded all my Christmas photos. Then the next time, I pick up all the photos from that time and download them, have a quick scan and send them all to print. I make a note as to the event or date I last downloaded to so I know where to pick up from next time.
Finding a reliable, cheap photo printing company is key and there are a few around the place. Yes, you do have to wait about a week to get your photos, but at least you know what they are going to be like! Then out of those hundreds of photos, your next task will be to choose the one or two you need for that page. I usually pick out the colour from the photo with the papers I use, either to complement or contrast.
It all comes back to choosing the best photos, the ones which will conjure up those holiday memories or the best moments with loved ones.
important driver of health. These include smoking, alcohol consumption, diet and exercise.
Places and communities play a key role in our health, which is increasing recognised, including the positive impact of social relationships and community networks on mental health.
The government has created a new policy called the Integrated Care System (ICS) which recognises the importance of collaborating with local community groups and charities in helping to keep people well.
As a result, ‘Integrated Neighbourhoods’ were developed. This is a system of networking within a very small geographical area - eg, Chelmsford central - for all organisations providing a well-being or health service, including Ideas Hub Chelmsford. Through this network they know about each other and together they can better support those who need help. If you are such an organisation, please get in touch to be connected to the forums.
The Art Place is an Ideas Hub Chelmsford project. Ideas Hub Chelmsford is a registered charity concerned with Supporting Wellbeing in Chelmsford.
Community exhibitions coming soon:
• May/June: Your Hair, Your Crown - by Tia Coker.
• July/ August: A Summer of Art for Children.
• September/October: Ageing, Caring, Dying: a Celebration of Life - by Compassionate Communities.
If you would like to input ideas for the design of one of the coming soon exhibition because it is a subject that matters to you, and/or enter a piece of art, and/or share an experience, please contact: communityexhibition@ideashubchelmsford.org.
For more information about our work, projects, workshops and support offered, please visit: www.ideashubchelmsford.org and follow us on Facebook by searching, ‘The Art Place Chelmsford’ (for The Art Place) and ‘Ideas Hub Chelmsford’ (for the charity in general) - and on Instagram, search: ‘Art Place Chelmsford’.
Edith Miller
Interior Design Tips for Your Home - By Tania Dadd
Making the Most of Your Outdoor Space
Now the sun is shining we can finally make the most of our garden or outdoor space. Just a few simple touches can bring your garden back to life and make it a place you want to spend your evenings and weekends.
Add a Herb Area or Patio Pots
The patio is the perfect place to start an herb garden because they thrive well in containers and are easy to get started. Great herbs to plant are parsley, coriander, mint, oregano, rosemary, thyme and sage.
Be careful about buying pot-grown herbs from supermarkets because they are often too stressed to adapt to growing outdoors; instead, buy your herbs from nurseries or garden centres. Choose containers which will give your herbs space to grow deep roots so they can be left undisturbed. Use gritty moist compost and balanced fertiliser to encourage leafy growth, rather than a potassium-rich fertiliser which promotes flowering. Group together different sizes and styles of pots for a fuller look and inject some vibrancy with new-season plants for instant colour. If you favour a minimalistic design, a few Ferns styled in neutral pots will breathe life into your patio.
Borders
If you’re looking for easy garden ideas to add impact to a patio, then upgrade your borders. Even small lawns can benefit from offering up some of their space to be turned into borders. These will add pretty interest and neatly separate out lawn and patio ideas.
Use this extra planting space cleverly - turning it into a haven for wildlife by planting bee-friendly plants.
Lighting Ideas
Adding extra illumination through lighting which will brighten up any closed off corners and gives the patio a welcoming glow. Solar lights are a great option that the environment and your wallet will thank you
for.
Smaller Outdoor Spaces
No matter how big or small your patio, it’s always good to create a focal point to give the space a sense of purpose. Benches either side of a warming fire pit help to create an inviting place to relax and spend some downtime in the garden - however chilly it gets. Raised flower beds surrounding the patio are a clever way to add a splash of colour that will make you feel like you’re dining in the middle of a meadow. Paint the walls of the planters white to attract the light, helping to make the space feel bigger.
Garden Furniture
Use a hanging chair for your seating element to free up ground space. Then layer in pots a plenty to add colour and interest. You’ll love it so much you’ll start to wonder how you ever sat on a normal chair.
For small, bistro patios, especially small spaces with only enough room for a couple of chairs, choose a beautiful bistro dining set to create an intimate alfresco dining space that’s perfect for romantic evenings out in the garden.
Fire Pits are the garden must-have right now, as we look to use out outside spaces more - whatever the weather. Wooden chairs and tables will always be a classic choice for outdoor furniture as wood is warm and inviting, the only downside is you might need to regularly maintain it or put the items away in the winter.
Visit us at the Kings Head Centre, Maldon, CM9 5PN, or book a free consultation by calling 07979 66 3339.
Our services include interior design. colour consultation, decluttering, and styling.
As a ‘jobbing writer’ it’s always a pleasure to meet others who use this description. Imagine how inspiring it was last week to enjoy a wonderful lunch among more than 115 writers - and the venue, The House of Lords. The occasion was the 130th anniversary of the Society of Women Writers and Journalists, among whom were numerous Essex members and, of course, many from very own Brentwood Writers’ Circle.
Our SWWJ guest-list included many from local writers’ clubs including an array of professional novelists, journalists, poets, playwrights, even a few publishers/agents. At the helm was our President, Baroness Floella Benjamin.
So, what’s the background to this famous organisation? Historians will outline the Fleet Street of 1894 when our SWWJ was founded. Dire and disappointing for many women who wanted to write professionally. Often they were forced to adopt male by-lines in order to see their work published. Check my book, The Woman Writer (Waterstones).
Our literary knight in shining armour was Mr Joseph Snell Wood, a powerful newspaper magnate who employed women journalists on his own newspapers, including The Gentlewoman (a favourite of Queen Victoria). Mr Wood financed our organisation for our first three
years. More than 200 women writers immediately joined up.
Famous presidents of the early years included the Duchess of Sutherland, Alice Meynell, and Flora Annie Steel, among others. Later Presidents were Vera Brittain, Joyce Grenfell, Elizabeth Lady Longford and dozens more - including Dr Marie Stopes, Dame Rebecca West, Clemence Dane and Radclyffe Hall, continuing through two world wars. A keen SWWJ enthusiast was journalist Lady Sarah Wilson, Sir Winston Churchill’s aunt, reporting for the Daily Mail during the Boer War. In later years, our members played vital parts in the establishment of the BBC.
The SWWJ brought writers from the UK and overseas into our realm and it was just one keen member, the novelist, Elizabeth Baxter from Brentwood, who - unable to enter Stationer’s Hall (where we used to meet) which had received intensive bombing in 1941 - decided to start a local circle. Thus, was the launch of our own BWC.
We’ve moved venues several times, and now meet at Bardswell Social Club, Weald Road, Brentwood.
Do come along if you love writing (first visit free). Maybe we can help you with your own creative projects? We are also associated with Radio Phoenix Book Club and, of course, our unique Society of Women Writers and Journalists whose latest patrons include Sir Tim Rice, Lady Sandra Howard, Gyles Brandreth and Ken Follett among others.
20th May - 21:00: Moon below left of the star, Spica.
24th May - 04:04: The just past full Moon is just south of Antares. (Visible all night).
8th June - Evening, twilight: Thin crescent Moon below Castor and Pollux.
11th June - 22:00: Thick crescent Moon right of Regulus.
20th June: Summer Solstice, together with the Full Moon, left of Antares. The summer solstice occurs when one of Earth’s poles has its maximum tilt toward the Sun. It happens twice yearly, once in each hemisphere (Northern and Southern).
27th June - 05:00, early morning: Moon right of Saturn. Saturn is a gas giant and totally different to the Earth. To put it simply, there is no solid surface to stand upon.
New Moon: On 18th June and 17th July 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.
Wildlife by Nick Green
The BBC reported that for March, our area area had received some 2,200% of the average rainfall, and the period of September 2023 to April 2024 in 150 years of recording, constituted the 8th wettest winter period!
The yellow wagtail is a common but declining summer visitor and passage migrant. It is a widespread species across the entire Palearctic region from Western Europe to Kamchatka in eastern Siberia.
There is a complexity of subspecies with the British race flavissim breeding in Britain from southern Scotland and along the coast of Europe from Brittany to Norway and wintering in West Africa. Breeding birds are invariably associated with water, damp water meadows and marshy fields along river valleys and freshwater marshes, but also sewage farms, flooded gravel-pits and along reservoir margins.
The adult male yellow wagtail has bright yellow underparts, a green mantle, yellow eye-stripe, brownish crown and ear coverts, black tail with white outer tail feathers. Adult females have a duller, pale plumage. Call is a sweet ‘tsee’.
Early flower/shrubs included crocuses, primroses, blossoming blackthron hedges and magnolias. Butterflies included peacock, brimstone, small tortoiseshell, speckled wood, holly blue, small white, brimstones, orange-tip.
Selected Avian Highlights
Returning summer mugrants from Africa include: swallows, martins, swifts, warblers including nightingales, common and arctic terns, raptors including hobby.
Abberton Reservoir EWT: Greater scaup, 2 American lesser scaup (5th county record), nesting grey herons, little and cattle egrets -
I mention the Moon a lot. If you’re starting out as an amateur astronomer, the Moon is an excellent beginner’s project. It’s very available, super close and the surface features are so easily seen and identified.
Here are the best Moon phases to observe the Moon.
Mark Willis presents the Retro Chart Show every Monday morning from 10 till 12 on Chelmsford Community Radio 104.4 FM across the city of Chelmsford and across the world on chelmsfordcommunityradio.com
spoonbills have returned for the third successive year. Wallasea Island RSPB: 2 spoonbills, 3 short-eared owls, 2 hen harrier. National rarities: American slate-coloured junco, Dorset and myrtle warbler, Argyll.
Yellow Wagtail adult male with friendly sheep! Copyright: Glen Moore
Quiz & Wordsearch Answers
The Tornados
Cliff Richard & the Shadows
Men at Work
Paul Hardcastle
Specials
Black Box
The Pretenders
Captain Sensible
Martine McCutcheon
So Solid Crew
Scouting For Girls
Rihanna
Chemical Brothers
The Wurzels
Freda Payne
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Mud
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Girls Aloud Cornershop Sugababes
Doop
U2
Art Garfunkel
B*Witched
Ferry Aid
Kenny Rogers
Scaffold
Manfred Mann A1
DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince
Orson
Justin Bieber
Kate Bush
Sister Sledge
Partners in Kryme
New Edition
Frankie Goes to Hollywood Bee Gees
CITY BOWL
& snooker club
Easy Diner
Wednesday Night is Curry Night
BUFFET STYLE CURRY
Sample Menu: Chicken Korma, Chicken Tikka Masala, Chicken Jalfrezi, Lamb Rogan Josh, Chicken Balti, Vegetarian options available
EVERY WEDNESDAY NIGHT from 5.30pm
1 Game of Bowling and Curry £15 per person
2 Games of Bowling and Curry £20 per person Curry only £12.00 per person
Also Buffet Style
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Friday - Lunch and Dinner
TRADITIONAL FISH & CHIPS
Saturday - 9.00am - 11.30am
FULL BREAKFAST BUFFET
Saturday - Lunch and Evening MIXED MENU
FOR CURRY & SNOOKER - SEE OUR WEBSITE 25% OFF CURRY NIGHT WITH THIS VOUCHER
VALID UNTIL 15th JUNE 2024 PRESENT THIS VOUCHER ON ARRIVAL
Sunday - 9.00am - 11.30am
FULL BREAKFAST BUFFET
Sunday - Lunch ROAST DINNER plus MIXED MENU
ALSO BAR FOOD AVAILABLE EVERYDAY FOR PARTIES SEE OUR WEBSITE
