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CT Welcome Hi readers
Welcome to the May/June edition. Our Fling stage is all booked for Saturday 2nd July and we are really looking forward to this year’s event, we hope to see some of you there. See more details in the music news on page 6. Also in the next month we have Chris Farlowe playing at Chelmsford City Football Club on the 18th June. See the advert on page 11 Nick & Paul
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CT Fashion - Quadrant New Collections If you have walked passed Quadrant lately you may have noticed that they have given the store a makeover. Only the other day I sat admiring the large black and white photos of Moulsham Street and the High Street which now feature on the side of the shop. Then it suddenly occurred to me that Quadrant is an independent department store; Chelmsford’s only co-operative independent department store. In fact, there are only two independent department stores in East Anglia now, the other Quadrant is in Braintree. In case you don’t know how a co-operative department store might run, here is some information from the website.
“Our Society is run like any other retail business, but with a difference - we follow a co-operative set of values and principles, and we are owned and controlled by our members (shareholders). Co-operatives have always believed in the ethical values of honesty, openness, social responsibility and caring for others. That’s just as true today as it was way back in 1844 when the Rochdale Pioneers launched the first successful retail co-operative.
One of my favourite fashion brands now can be found at Quadrant. Great Plains is a fashion label owned by French Connection with a much more sensible price tag, but the same great design. I actually make a point to visit a shop in Brighton that I know sells Great Plains and now it’s on my doorstep, which is great news. Recently, I went in to chat to the manager of Quadrant and have a look at what else was changing there. I discovered that they have introduced quite a few new womenswear labels; Esprit, Vero Moda, and Sandwich have also arrived at Quadrant - all stylish and affordable fashion.
In the past, Quadrant definitely had a customer of a certain age and the manager told me that many of the same concessions still remain, so there are still the firm favourites for their loyal customers, but now there is also something new and exciting for women of all ages. Other womenswear arrivals at Quadrant are A Postcard From Brighton, Crew Clothing Co, Betty Barclay and Gerry Weber. For gorgeous jewellery, you will find Tempest
“The aim then was to supply goods to the general public via a membership scheme which cost £1 to join - a large sum in those days and yet today it still only costs £1 to join most retail societies including ours. Members were also entitled to receive a proportion of the profit from their purchases, which was returned to them in the form of a dividend, and this is still the case.” In this day and age, considering how fast things move in retail, it’s often hard to keep up and its also pretty unusual to have an independent department store still on our high street, so you might wonder how Quadrant will move with the times in 2016. Well I can tell you that they have already made quite a few changes. When I popped in the other day I was surprised but delighted to see that they have introduced some new womenswear brands, which I am so excited about.
Jewellery and if you are looking for a new bag for spring, they have now introduced Fiorelli and Ollie & Nic. Quadrant has even welcomed some new menswear brands, such as Camel Active, Esprit, Crew Clothing Co and Viyella. The interior of the store has also been refreshed, it’s lighter, brighter and a much more enjoyable shopping experience. So next time you are in Chelmsford, pop into Quadrant (send the family to the toy department, which incidentally is fantastic) and check out the great fashion that they have to offer and support Chelmsford’s only independent department store. 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. Photographs: Betty Barclay, Gerry Weber, Vero Moda Page 4
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Music by Nick Garner
We have hit the ground running after a great Blues in the City which featured two of the finest acoustic players you are likely to ever see; Roy Mette and Dave Onions. If you have not seen them I urge you to seek them out on YouTube to see what all the fuss is about. Live at the Clarets Bar at Chelmsford City FC We had a great night at Chelmsford City Football Club on 22nd April with Sportsday opening the night. They wowed the audience and are a band to keep on your radar for sure. The headline act was The Blow Monkeys, who are as good today as they ever were, playing a mix of their classic hits and new material which went down really well. Everyone went home with big smiles on their faces. As the magazine comes out (13th May), we have The Animals and The Sharpees at the club and then on Saturday 18th June we have a another legend playing - sixties star, Chris Farlowe, who I have seen before with The Norman Beaker Band. Chris’s voice is still amazing and along with Norman, who has played with many of the best bands around, it is sure to be a great night. Chris and Norman have some great banter between themselves on stage too. The support act is one of Roy Mette’s many projects, this is The 60s Project. For this, Roy has written music in the style of the 60s. (See the advert on page 11 in this magazine for ticket details). Blues in the City We are also busy with Blues in the City, having just had our regular monthly night. On Sunday 15th May we are holding a celebration event at The Bassment to mark the passing of a great great blues man, Riley ‘BB’ King, who died on the 14th May 2015. We first held this event last year. This year we have a host of great musicians taking part and promising to play the music that he wrote and loved to play. It all kicks off at 2pm till late and is just £5 entry. All the money will go to those playing on the night to help cover their travel expenses. Our monthly Wednesday event at The Bassment on the 15th June sees two firsts for us with Andy Twyman - the most amazing musician I know. He plays guitar and sings, while also playing the bass drum, snare and hi-hat at the same time. He plays mainly his own songs which all have a humorous side to them, so he is bound to make you laugh and smile. He has also started to do standup - a not-to-bemissed night.
new to the music scene - together they have well over 100 years performing experience with some of the best and most famous in the industry. All members currently live on the south coast and are very well known - not only locally, but throughout the UK and beyond having performed at many festivals in many countries over the years. The band is: Steve Roux (guitar and vocals), Steve Browning (bass guitar), Ray Drury (keyboards) and Bernie Fox (drums). Steve Roux played at our festival a few years back with his Brass Knuckle band and blew the audience away, which I am sure he will do again with this new band of his. (See the flyer in the magazine for more details). Blues & Roots at The Fling Festival 2016 The Fling Festival is coming up on Saturday 2nd July and Blues in the City and It’s Your Music are hosting a stage again called Blues and Roots. We are really pleased with who we have got playing this year and hope that all of you who come along will love our stage. We start at 12.30pm with the mighty Dave Sharp from the 80s band The Alarm, then at 1.30pm a local man heading for the big time, singer guitarist and songwriter Joe Anderton. At 2.30pm we have The Delta Ladies who mix their music with blues, roots, world, bluegrass and folk. Then at 3.30pm we have the award winning Katie Bradley, queen of the blues, who as well as singing plays a mean harmonica. 4.30pm and it’s the band I am lucky to be part of, Jamie Williams and the Roots Collective - those who know us will know it will be boogie time. On to 5.30pm and The Sharpees Maximum Rhythm and Blues. Bill Mead has put a great band together and they are one of the hardest working acts around today. On to 6.30pm and we have Salvation Jayne, they are a loud rocking blues rock outfit who are rapidly heading to the top, so come and see them while you can. 7.30pm and our penultimate act of the festival is Rum Honey, they are a mix of the Stones and Aerosmith, all amazing musicians with some great original music. Then at 8.45pm our last act is Ouse Valley Singles Club; you have to see this act, they are a trio of washboard, ukulele, banjo and bass and they write some of the funniest songs I have heard. Some are very risqué but you will laugh so much, they are brilliant. So that is our stage for The Fling - we are thrilled with all the acts. The Ale House On Sunday May 29th at The Ale House is a gig not to be missed with Jon Amor and Joel Fisk, they start about 3pm and are fabulous. Remember without you all supporting live music we could lose it. There is so much more going on in and around Chelmsford too, so check out our What’s On page and check out the links below for information on our gigs. www.bluesinthecity.co.uk www.facebook.com/bluesinthecitychelmsford www.itsyourmusic.co.uk www.facebook.com/itsyourmusic
Our headline act for the night is Teed Up, who are a recently formed four-piece blues band, although the members are certainly not Page 6
June/July Issue Deadlines: Artwork - 9th June Articles - 3rd June
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Area CT Gardening by Tom Cole Working Pricking-out should be undertaken
Have you been propagating like crazy?
If so it’s time to move your plants on to bigger and better things. Once container grown seedlings have germinated, it is usually necessary to prick them out. This involves teasing out the seedlings and transferring them to a new container. Why is Pricking Out Necessary? If seedlings are left to grow on in crowded conditions, they become drawn, with small leaves and long spindly stems and will never grow into good quality sturdy plants. Pricking out will give seedlings more light, space and air making them less prone to fungal diseases. At Writtle College most of the courses have been undertaking this task in readiness for summer bedding borders, vegetable plots and/or trees and shrubs that were sown late last year. The seedlings are transferred from a seed sowing compost to potting compost, which contains a higher level of nutrients than seed compost. Use a multi-purpose or a specific compost suitable for the plants you are growing on. Broadcast seedlings may germinate erratically so that a range of sizes can be seen in the seed tray. They can be graded during pricking out so that growth is more even. Next time to avoid this, try out modular trays - these contain cells of compost for individual seeds so there is no competition for water or nutrition. As a result they can be left to grow for longer before moving to the next size pot. Seedlings are spaced out so that they grow at a uniform rate. This should mean that all the plants will be ready at the same time. When Should Pricking Out Be Done? Basically as soon as possible! The seedling should have leaves that are large enough to handle and a simple, single, short root that will not be damaged by transplanting. Another indicator is when seed leaves are touching.
either in a purpose-built, clean prickingoff shed or in the glass house beside the area where the containers of pricked-out seedlings are stood down. I haven’t any of these so I have ‘borrowed’ the dining room table and often use the draining board much to the consternation of my partner! Gather all the necessary equipment and organise the workspace so it is both comfortable and efficient. Equipment Choose a suitable potting compost such as loam-less potting compost (peat or coir potting compost) or John Innes No. 1 potting compost. Never re-use potting compost for fear of spreading disease. Containers used range from seed trays to modular trays or pots depending on the seedling. Today, seed trays are less popular and modular trays are more common. Containers must be clean to prevent the spread of fungal disease. A striking off board is used to remove excess compost and boards that mark the pricking out stations are sometimes useful. They may be bought but maybe made with two pieces of wood and nails spaced at regular intervals. A dibber (a length of bamboo cane or a proprietary one) is used to tease out the seedlings. Method Prepare the container by filling with compost and strike off the excess. Modular trays should be tapped to settle the compost. If pricking out into a tray an adapted striking off board may be used to mark out the planting stations. Prepare the seedlings by watering in advance to ensure the compost is moist when you come to prick out the seedlings. Ideally, the seedlings should not be wet when you prick them out as this will make them more susceptible to damage. Tap the tray of seedlings to loosen them from the sides. Prick Out the Seedlings by: Loosen the compost with your dibber and holding the seedling by the leaf gently tease it out of the compost. Make a hole in the compost using your dibber and insert the seedling into the hole. Gently firm the compost around the seedling.
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Remember - never pick up a seedling by the stem, as this will cause damage. Always pick up seedlings by the leaf using your thumb and forefinger. Do not delay inserting the seedling into the compost as they dry out very quickly. Most seedlings are pricked out individually but some seedlings such as Alyssum and Lobelia are pricked out in clumps of up to five seedlings. Gently firm the compost around the seedling. The seed leaves should sit just above the compost - if the seedling is left very tall it will not produce a sturdy plant. Water the seedlings in, place the container in a warm environment to grow on (18 - 20°C) and protect from strong sunlight. Keep a careful eye on watering and check regularly for pests and diseases. Hardening Off Reduce the growing on temperature and eventually move the seedlings outside to covered cold frames. Increase the ventilation during the day and eventually leave the lights (wooden framed glass panes used to cover cold frames) off at night. Protect the seedlings by covering the lights with straw or newspaper should frost be forecast. Good luck and happy gardening!
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Writtle Jazz and Blues Festival 2016 - a New Event for Writtle
This summer, Writtle will be hosting an inaugural event - a Jazz and Blues Festival to be held on and around the village green on Sunday 31st July. Musicians and bands will be playing at various venues including The Bridge Street Lounge & Grill, Fulton’s Writtle, The Rose and Crown, The Wheatsheaf, The Village Hall and a marquee on The Green. Tickets for the festival are available from The Civic Theatre in Chelmsford. Please visit www.chelmsford.gov.uk/ writtlejazzandbluesfestival. There will be a diverse range of musicians at the festival, including Reg Webb and Jordan Marsh! Reginald ‘Reg’ William Webb is a British jazz pianist and vocalist who achieved success not only with his own band Fusion, later The Reg Webb Band (featuring Nik Kershaw), but also touring with Lenny Kravitz, The Outfield, Suzi Quatro, Vanessa Paradis and others. You can see him occasionally at the 606 Club in London with his trio or 6-piece jazz/soul/funk band or filling in on keyboards for Suzi Quatro’s current tours. Zak Barrett, a local saxophonist, will be bringing together local, national and international jazz and blues musicians. The Village Hall will play host to a ‘Jazz Jam’, which will provide an opportunity for amateur musicians to play with an experienced band. We are also hoping to form Writtle Jazz Youth Project, based in the Village Hall after the festival, to teach and encourage young people to get involved with jazz.
Jordan Marsh is a foot stompin’ piano player, singer and song writer think jump blues, swing and rocking boogie woogie. With fifteen years of experience, he never fails to get the crowd up on their feet, playing a mix of original material plus selected covers. Jordan and his band have played many support slots for major artists such as Peter Green, Mike D’Arbo, Nick Lowe and Geraint Watkins. The festival is on for one day and will commence at midday and conclude at 9.00pm. There will be a range of refreshments on offer. Huttons Courtyard Café at Hylands Park will be on the green providing teas, coffees and afternoon teas including sandwiches. The Rose and Crown, in conjunction with Adnams, will be serving alcoholic beverages on The Green as well as in their pub. The Bridge Street Lounge & Grill are planning a BBQ and a cocktail bar and Fulton’s will be selling their range of homemade ice creams! For more information see www.writtlejazzandbluesfestival.co.uk. Ticket prices: £15 adult and £10 concession to cover seniors and under 16s.
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CT Cooking by John Jacobs
Expose your buds Yesterday I emerged from Holborn tube station into a snow flurry, instantly freezing in my three piece suit arriving at a meeting with mild hypothermia. This morning, I’m sat in Central Park, basking in the warm sunshine writing this article. Tick one tradition: Let’s start this conversation talking about the weather. Tradition two: Have you booked your summer holidays yet? I no longer have that to look forward too. Having rescued a puppy with abandonment issues and deep seated neuroses, foreign travel is out of the question. This does limit one’s palate. Are you the full on, dive into the local delicacies adventurous type or are you that person: That person who plans their yearly sojourn around anywhere you can get chips and a pint of unspecified in somewhere hot and loud where there’s a beach bar only three gout-riddled feet away called Giorgio’s Traditional Irish Pub - a tavern where the dress code is compulsory flip flops and prison tattoos, with a children’s play area you can abandon your future little ASBOs and where the food is less ‘off the wall’ and more ‘off the floor’? Then I wish you happy holidays. This article is not for you. Word search, that’s for you. In my distant pre-dog travels, I visited a food market called Reading Terminal. An explosion of colourful food and ingredients sold by equally colourful people serving discoveries in abundance of fresh produce available on the east coast of America and as far down as the Caribbean. I should add that Reading Terminal is not in Reading, Berkshire but Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It’s a delightful place that has had a great deal of bad publicity. At no point did I see a couple of guys up to no good, making trouble in the neighbourhood.
and texture of undigested sardine blancmange which repeated itself throughout my flight home. Nevertheless, as ill as it made me, it was a new experience which I can now tick off my list. To get you started, here are 5 unusual food combinations that sound appalling but actually work. Strawberry and Basil: Blitz these up with some diet lemonade for an unusual alternative to Pimms. Dare I say that adding a little vodka in to the mix makes a perfect summer cocktail. Mango and Chilli: Dice up a mango and drizzle with some sweet chilli sauce. Squeeze over a little lime for this alternative Mexican street food. Chocolate Milkshake and Salt: Try a pinch of salt to bring out the flavours of the cocoa. Don’t overdo the salt. Peanut Butter and Bacon: A spread of crunchy peanut butter in a bacon sandwich is bizarrely enjoyable. Thank Elvis for this one. Cinnamon and Minced Beef: Trust me on this, a sprinkle of cinnamon when frying mince for pasta sauce makes the meat even meatier (if that is indeed a word). Have a great month Chelmsford. Happy fooding.
It was there in the in the company of friends that I ate turtle soup with crackers, avoided chocolate onions and bought the freshest seafood I’ve ever seen outside of Billingsgate. What I’m trying to get round to saying in quite a circuitous manner is - mix it up, try something untried and untested. You don’t have to leave our shores to do it. Make this your month to go out there and try one new thing. Wander round the west end of the city and try the Eastern European delis, African or Keralan restaurants. Speak to the owners and staff who will happily guide you with recipes and ingredients. Make a promise to yourselves that this year, when you’re on holiday, to abandon your reservations to something you’ve never tried before. When in Manhattan recently I ate sea urchin, it had both the taste Page 10 www.chelmsfordthecitytimes.co.uk
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What’s On In Chelmsford
May Friday 13th
Asylum - Lo Chief + Mangostone + Gallow Wood Bassment - Fling Festival: Last Band Standing Chelmsford City Football Club - The Animals + The Sharpees Cramphorn - 1984 - Presented by Early Doors Productions Fleece - Break for Cover Star & Garter - Anuva Cover Three Elms - Fresh Fish Friday
Saturday 14th
Asylum - Diamond Days + Tirade + Motorcycle Display Team Bassment - Maverick Sabre (unplugged) + Jorja Smith Cramphorn - 1984 - Presented by Early Doors Productions Moulsham Lodge Community Station - Community Fun Day Hylands House - 10km run Fleece - Summer Acoustic Sessions Fleece - Beggar Lionmeade Bowls Club - Open Day Marsh Farm - 999 day Star & Garter - Lithium Three Elms - Homemade pie night
Sunday 15th
Bassment - BB King Tribute Day - 1.30pm til late Ideas Hub Nam’s yoga workshop (10am - 12) Star & Garter - Open mic/jam - 3pm - 7pm
Wednesday 18th
Tuesday 24th
Cramphorn - Spotlight (15) The Old Court Theatre - Birdland Birdland by Simon Stephens
Wednesday 25th
Bassment - Minnie Birch + No King No Crown + Tall Tree Tales + Joe Harvey & The Hardy Perennials Cramphorn - Lunchtime Concert The Old Court Theatre - Birdland Birdland, by Simon Stephens
Thursday 26th
Asylum - Mishka Shubaly + Finlay Leslie Bassment - Americana Night hosted by The Southern Generals with The Dreaming Spires Cramphorn - Somewhere In England, presented by Eastern Angles Essex Police Museum - Talk: The Supposedly Haunted Police Stations of Essex - Police Headquarters Fleece - Quiz Night Star & Garter - Acoustic open mic The Old Court Theatre - Birdland Birdland, by Simon Stephens
Friday 27th
Asylum - Battle of the Bands Final Bassment - Mike Skinner (The Streets) DJ set Civic - Legend of a Band - A Tribute to the Moody Blues Cramphorn - Rams (15) Danbury Sports Centre - Moonlight Discos Presents Over 29s Club Nights (advance tickets £10, text 07947 116614) Star & Garter - Andy Robinson Band The Old Court Theatre - Birdland Birdland, by Simon Stephens Three Elms - May bank holiday Real Ale and Real Cider Festival
Bassment - On The Pulse: Chelmsford Arts Collective Civic - Katherine Ryan - Kathbum Cramphorn - Lunchtime Concert Saturday 28th Cramphorn - Frankenstein (Live from the Royal Opera House, London) Asylum - Wild Thorn + Forged in Black + Smear Thursday 19th Bassment - 45s + Grizzly Bearz + more TBA Asylum - Battle of the Bands: Pepper Collins + The Penny Antics + Cramphorn - Measure For Measure Standing Like Statues Fleece - Shakster Records Music Festival Bassment - Rock ‘n’ Roll Bingo Star & Garter - Broadway Clash Civic - Ultimate Bowie The Old Court Theatre - Birdland Birdland by Simon Stephens Cramphorn - Richard Herring, Happy Now? Three Elms - May bank holiday Real Ale and Real Cider Festival Fleece - Quiz Night Sunday 29th The Lion Inn, Boreham - The Comedy Club Bassment - Intense Records presents: MOJO w/ Calibre & DRS Friday 20th Fleece - Shakster Records Music Festival Asylum - Shakey’s Sessions: Ethereal Fire + Royy + Fyresky + Hate Hylands Park - The Great British Pet & Country Show Vessel Star & Garter - Open mic/jam - 3pm - 7pm Bassment - Sun Arcana + The Lucettas + Panama Surprise Three Elms - May bank holiday Real Ale and Real Cider Festival Chelmsford Social Club - Charity burlesque showcase Woolpack- Acoustic open mic Civic - An Evening With Pam Ayres Monday 30th Cramphorn - Daniel Kemish Hylands Park - The Great British Pet & Country Show Fleece - Voodoo Child Three Elms - May bank holiday Real Ale and Real Cider Festival Hylands Park - National Flower Show Tuesday 31st Star & Garter - Rewind Cramphorn - The Revenant (15)
Saturday 21st
Asylum - Vektrill + Johnny Debt Bassment - Supersonic presents: Draper + Sportsday Cramphorn - Anomalisa (15) Fleece - Summer Acoustic Sessions Fleece - Mushroom Clown Hylands Park - National Flower Show Marconi Ponds Open Day - 1pm-4pm - www.marconiponds.btck.co.uk Star & Garter - Indigo Hammer Three Elms - Steak Night (6 - 9pm)
Sunday 22nd
Bassment - Prince Tribute Night Civic - The Ronnie Scott’s Story Hylands Park - National Flower Show Star & Garter - Open mic/jam - 3pm - 7pm Page 12
June Wednesday 1st
Bassment - Jazz Funk with Laurence Cottle Chelmsford City Race Course - Race Night Cramphorn - Lunchtime Concert
Thursday 2nd
Asylum - Droppers Neck Bassment - Bassment Blues Jam Fleece - Quiz Night
Friday 3rd
Asylum - AOS3 + The Skraelings Bassment - Shakey’s Sessions: The Kubricks + Mr B & The Poets + F.O.X Fleece - Expose Star & Garter - Rockhouse
Please note, all events are subject to change. Please visit the relevant websites or Facebook pages for more details
Saturday 4th
Asylum - Jupiter’s Carnival + Yaga Sunet Bassment - Mother’s Jam w/ Changing Seasons + Lo-Chief + The Natives + more TBA Fleece - Summer Acoustic Sessions Fleece - Dawgfish Star & Garter - Indiscreet
Sunday 5th
Cramphorn - Chelmsford Jazz Club: Simon Spillett Star & Garter - Open mic/jam - 3pm - 7pm Woolpack - GC’s Jazz Club: Neale Ridding flute/sax & Sam Edwards Trio - 8.30pm
Monday 6th
Cramphorn - Victoria (15)
Wednesday 8th
Asylum - Acoustic Evening Bassment - Live Indie Rock Cramphorn - Lunchtime Concert Cramphorn - Hamlet (live from the Royal Shakespeare Company, Stratford-upon-Avon)
Thursday 9th
Asylum - Silence Theory + Catmandu Bassment - Wallop! Live Indie Rock Fleece - Quiz Night The Lion Inn - The Comedy Club Star & Garter - Mojo Moon
Friday 10th
Asylum - Painted Soul + Into Horizon + Zublue Bassment - Electric Jam: Paolo Morena + Morrissey & Marshall Cramphorn - Our Little Sister (PG) Fleece - Lithium Star & Garter - The GT40s
Civic - Spamalot Cramphorn - The Merchant of Venice Fleece - Summer Acoustic Sessions Fleece - Holding Aces Star & Garter - Thirsty Work
Sunday 19th
Star & Garter - Open mic/jam - 3pm - 7pm
Venue Locations Chelmsford
Asylum: Viaduct Road - www.asylumchelmsford.co.uk Bassment: Wells Street - www.bassmentbar.com Cramphorn & Civic Theatres: Fairfield Road - www.chelmsford.gov.uk/ theatres Old Court Theatre: Springfield Road Chelmsford City FC/CCFC: Melbourne Stadium Salerno Way - www. chelmsfordcityfc.com The Fleece: Duke Street - www.thegoldenfleece-chelmsford.co.uk Marconi Club: Tydemans off Beehive Lane - www.masc.uk.com Star & Garter: Moulsham Street - www.facebook.com/star.garter.792 Hylands House: London Road - www.chelmsford.gov.uk/hylands
Outside Chelmsford
Chelmsford City Racecourse: Great Leighs www. chelmsfordcityracecourse.com Marsh Farm: South Woodham Ferrers - www.marshfarm.co.uk Three Elms: Chignal St James - www.the-three-elms.com
Please send us your events for the next edition (for events between 17th June and 17th July) to: editorial@itsyourmedia.co.uk
Saturday 11th
Asylum - Tigress (sold out) + Distorted DJs Bassment - Saturday’s Alright For Dancin’ Civic - The Johnny Cash Roadshow Fleece - Summer Acoustic Sessions Marconi Club - Mind, Body and Spirit Festival Star & Garter - 2nd Delivery
Sunday 12th
Marconi Club - Mind, Body and Spirit Festival Star & Garter - Open mic/jam - 3pm - 7pm Woolpack - Irish music night
Monday 13th
Cramphorn - Room (15)
Tuesday 14th Civic - Spamalot
Wednesday 15th
Bassment - Blues In The City: Teed Up Blues Band + Andy Tywman Chelmsford CIty Race Course - Race Night Civic - Spamalot Cramphorn - Lunchtime Concert
Thursday 16th
Asylum - Last Known State + Chocolate Bassment - AT Music Showcase Civic - Spamalot Fleece - Quiz Night
Friday 17th
Asylum - Cohaagen + The Mighty Have Fallen Bassment - The Lemoncurd Kids album launch + Crème De Chèvre + Mandeville Civic - Spamalot Fleece - Frog on a Rocket Star & Garter - VT11
Saturday 18th
Asylum - Abode + Thirteen + The Heisenbergs Bassment - Saturday’s Alright For Dancin’ Chelmsford City FC - Chris Farlowe & The Norman Beaker Band + The 60s Project
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 17th June and 17th July) to: editorial@itsyourmedia.co.uk
The Festival That Changes Lives
Back in 1997 Chris Cozens, a therapist who’d recently moved into the area, attended a local Mind, Body and Spirit Festival in Felixstowe. It was a friendly affair, but Chris felt that it didn’t attract the interest it deserved. So when he heard that the organizers were giving up, he decided to have a go himself. After all, with a background in marketing, organisational skills from his previous RAF career, plus his experience as a therapist, Chris reckoned he could make a fair job of it. “We opened at Felixstowe Leisure Centre in 1998 with just 26 stands” says Chris, “but 350 people turned up and we all enjoyed it so much we decided to do it again.”
spinach curry on the lunch menu and enjoyed it so much she asked the cook for the recipe. It turned out to be so simple and foolproof to make that she still cooks it for her family almost every week. Then there was Crystal: “The atmosphere was energetic and friendly, but at the same time very chilled and relaxing” she says, “I thoroughly enjoyed myself and towards the end I entered the raffle. Something told me I was going to win. Amazingly, a few days later I received a phone call to say I’d won a prize - I chose a meditation CD. I’d definitely go back.”
Since then the festivals have been getting bigger and better with a fascinating mix of entertainment, live music, psychic readings, handson workshops, complementary therapies, tasty food and intriguing things to buy - everything from jewellery to greetings cards, from lucky charms to table lamps. Over the years the Mind, Body and Spirit Festivals have appeared all over East Anglia, culminating in the annual Chelmsford festival spread over a whole weekend with 75 stands - a packed timetable of talks and demonstrations and around 1,500 visitors. That’s the funny thing about the Mind, Body and Spirit Festival - as well as being great fun, it also has the remarkable ability to create positive changes in all sorts of unexpected ways. A Ray of Light - Message from Helen Rollason Cancer Charity When popular TV sports presenter Helen Rollason was diagnosed with cancer back in the nineties she carried on working for as long as possible. “Good quality of life while coping with cancer is the most important gift a sick person can receive.” Helen quickly realised that “it should be available to everyone.” But looking around her, she saw that for some people, it wasn’t.
“It just keeps growing” says Chris, “different people enjoy it in different ways and the festival seems to have lasting effects on some.” It’s fair to say that this festival has the potential to change lives. Take Mike for example. A down to earth builder, Mike was a bit suspicious of this Mind, Body and Spirit stuff. It seemed a bit weird to him. But his partner wanted to go, so reluctantly he agreed to keep her company. Mike expected a lot of eccentric types in kaftans and hoop ear-rings. He expected to be bored. Instead he found himself getting interested. “I saw a stand about a psychic surgeon” he says, “I’d never heard of such a thing but as I’d recently been diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease, I was intrigued enough to stop for a chat. I ended up so impressed I booked a session at his clinic and I’m now one of his patients.” Susan on the other hand, made straight for the feng shui section: “I love all that” says Susan, “and me and my partner had been going through a bad time so we bought a rose duck to help us with our relationship. We also bought a wind chime to bring peace into the house. They’ve really helped. Since then we become a lot closer and we understand each other better these days.” Nearby, Pat, a local artist and designer with a creative eye for colour was drawn to a stall that glowed with rosy-gold salt lamps. Before she knew it, a choice example had been purchased and found its way into her shopping bag and now she basks in the warming light every evening at home. “I wouldn’t part with it” says Pat. Pat’s friend Christine meanwhile was sampling the potato and
So when Helen sadly passed away, she left a wonderful legacy - the Helen Rollason Cancer Charity dedicated to supporting people whose lives are touched by the disease, in the way she believed was so important. Support centres in Essex, London and Hertfordshire now offer patients a range of soothing complementary therapies in an environment of peace and tranquility. Reflexology, aromatherapy, manual lymphatic drainage and counseling are available to support patients’ emotional well-being, alongside their medical treatment. The charity also makes an annual grant towards research and clinical drugs trials. “The charity is like a ray of light” one grateful patient told her doctor. We’re proud that the Life Arts Mind, Body and Spirit Festival supports Helen’s charity with a substantial donation from the proceeds. Kicking off the weekend on Friday 10th June is a Psychic Supper fundraising for the Helen Rollason Cancer Charity, with Kerry Standfast and Lisa Megennis, two of East Anglia’s leading mediums. The bar open from 6.30pm and tickets are £17.50, including a hot supper. To book in advance, call Helen Rollason Cancer Charity on 01245 380719. Entrance: 1-day pass - £4 adults, £3.50 concessions, 16s and under free (accompanied) 2-day pass - £6 adults, £5 concessions, 16s and under free (accompanied) Visit www.lifearts.co.uk for a full weekend programme guide. Mind Body and Spirit Festival in Chelmsford supporting Helen Rollason Cancer Charity - Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th June, 10am till 5pm each day at the Marconi Social Club, Tydemans, off Beehive Lane, Chelmsford CM2 9FH.
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5 Myths About Starting Muscle Training in the Gym Every great body has to start somewhere! If you want to change your body shape for the better by incorporating muscle training into your health and fitness regime, there is plenty of information available to help you get started. There is an abundance of training programmes, diet plans and fitness gurus out there that can offer valuable and helpful advice. Here at CoreSport, we understand and appreciate that every person has a unique body shape and therefore it can be difficult to give one size fits all advice in terms of muscle training, but we do believe it is important to avoid some of the common misleading ideas about muscle training. Here are five of the most common myths that can potentially sabotage the productivity of your training. 1. You need to train for two hours six days a week. Overtraining is a very real issue, and it could be happening to you. If you are just getting started in the gym and you wanted to enhance your muscles, completing really long training sessions more than six times a week can be a recipe for disaster. Rest is absolutely vital for good consistent muscle growth. If you are going too hard in the gym you could be ruining your chances of good muscle gain and running a high chance of serious injury! You only gain muscle during your resting periods, which means when it comes to a good muscle training programme, less is actually more. In fact, it has been proven that success is only 40% gym and actually 60% nutrition.
you take. As a rule you should always tailor your training to suit your needs and not the needs of others. A keen interest in muscle building and plenty of motivation will help you to become an expert in no time. 4. If I stop training the muscle will turn into fat. There is no truth in this whatsoever as muscle cannot physically morph into fat or vice versa. It is more than understandable that sometimes life can get in the way of your training. It is also important to take breaks like these to help keep you sufficiently motivated. However, rumours about muscle turning into fat can be enough to scaremonger gym goers into trading their social life for a night on the weight machines. We are here to tell you that the only way you will lose the muscle you have gained is if you don’t adjust your diet to suit your decline in training. If you aren’t hitting the gym much, it is imperative that you limit your calorie intake and also make the appropriate changes to your supplement regime. If you’re still eating as though you are recovering from a huge weight session, even though you are just sitting on the sofa, you can expect to see some of your hard work disappear. 5. Women will look out of proportion if they start weight training.
2. Lifting heavier weights will speed up your muscle gain.
We hear all too often that women are reluctant to start a muscle training programme for fear of having an ‘unnatural’ look. Any muscle training regime can be adjusted to suit your end goals no matter how you want to look and what muscle groups you want to work on. It is all within your control, which means it is easy to ensure that your muscle gain is perfectly suited to your body type.
Unfortunately, this is a trap that many first time gym goers fall into. If you aren’t training too often, you may think that being ambitious with your weights is the way forward. No matter what you may have heard, lifting weights that are heavier than your ability level is not a fast track to great muscle growth, only a fast track to a painful injury. Muscle training is all about slowly building your body over time and increasing strength on a gradual basis.
A good, healthy regime with the appropriate incorporated supplements will help women to achieve a toned look, no matter what their size. If you’re just getting started, there’s no need to avoid the weights bench because you don’t want the figure of a body builder. Work weight training into your gym workout and you are guaranteed to be pleased with the stronger, leaner body you will achieve.
Don’t be tempted to get competitive in the gym or compare yourself to more experienced weight lifters. The quickest way to great muscle gain is, diet, rest, supplements, appropriate weights, hard work and plenty of patience!
By Protein Paradise in Moulsham Street
We recommend three to four training sessions a week maximum to begin with. A good supplement regime will help you to recover effectively and help you to achieve that perfect gym/nutrition ratio.
3. You need a training partner or personal trainer to help you with your muscle training As we’ve said before, there is a wealth of great information available out there to help kick start your weight training regime. If you aren’t feeling confident, it is often a good idea to get advice and guidance from a personal trainer. This will help you learn how to perform the movements and exercise safely and on good form. However, there is no need to rely on a personal trainer or training partner for the long term. We believe that if you really want to make productive changes, you should go out of your way to learn about the process. Do some valuable research into how to enhance your training over time and you won’t have to rely on the advice of others. Everybody is different, so you need to find what works for you. This is true for the way you train, the diet you follow and even the supplements
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Business Interview - Westwood Hairdressing by Tom Bosher This month I had the pleasure of meeting the team at Westwood Hairdressing at 3 Can Bridge Way. Read on to find out more about this great local business… When and why did Westwood Hairdressing open in Chelmsford? “I was looking for a salon to transform and create a new, strong, quality brand. So we took over an original business that was called Glenn’s Room 4 years ago. We gave it a completely new direction, new look and created the Westwood brand.” What attracted you to opening a salon in Chelmsford? “Chelmsford became a city at around the same time we took over here. We felt there was a definite need for something different in the city and some really good quality hairdressing. Chelmsford is busy, upand-coming and perfect for us. Of course, we are now looking forward to the John Lewis store coming in which will attract even more customers. It’s a great place to be.” Max, as Salon Director, what’s your background in hairdressing and where and when did you qualify? “I trained in London 30 years ago becoming a member of The World Federation of Supreme Hairdressers. Very soon after leaving London I started working in Essex managing a salon for a large group and progressed onto becoming area manager, then later regional manager looking after 40 salons. I opened my first business at the age of 25 and a quarter of a century later I have been fortunate enough to have worked on TV and to take my hairdressing skills around the world to shows and seminars.” So what do you love about the industry? “It’s a combination of the versatility of the job, the many different areas you can go into, and of course it’s great to make people look and feel fantastic. Finally, the people are everything - both staff and guests. I have a great team to work with. They are professional and very creative hairdressers, read our guest reviews for some fantastic feedback.” “Do you have specific hairdressers for men and for women or can they do both? “All of the team here at Westwood can cut hair for both men and women. Guests can choose which level of experience they want from their hairdresser, from graduate stylist right through to artistic director. We start all our new, talented hairdressers at our Training Academy. They already have amazing talent and are the future of hairdressing in the salon.” I imagine things change in the industry quite regularly. Do you send your staff on training courses to keep them up to date with new trends? “Absolutely, training and continuous education is a priority for Westwood. We have our own Training Academy and all the team regularly attend the exclusive Aveda Institute. This training covers from basic colour knowledge to advanced colour and cutting techniques. All our stylists are Master Colour and Cutting Aveda experts. “We are also part of a business training academy called The Fantastic Hairdresser and all the team attend monthly training with them. All these courses keep everyone up to date with the latest trends and fashions, as well as how to best look after our guests, which helps us make the client look and feel great.” Can you cater for people who can’t get into you in normal working hours? “Yes, we are open late Thursdays and Fridays and we are open from
8am on Saturdays.” Are you by appointment or can people just walk in? “We take appointments for clients online or over the phone. We have a sophisticated telephone service that enables us to call every single client back quickly, so we are available 24/7 to make appointments. “People can also walk in, which is quite common. We love seeing new and existing guests and for them to experience the exclusive environment and great hairdressing from a friendly, professional and efficient team.” Finally what is the future for Westwood Hairdressing? “The sky is the limit. In the 4 years since we have taken over here, the salon and the team have grown massively and we will expand in the future into an Aveda Lifestyle Salon. This will mean not only a great salon, but a place to experience what Aveda is all about with full spa facilities.” Well, it was great to meet Max and the team at Westwood and it really is a great example of a fantastic thriving local business. For any queries or if you would like to pop in there you can find them at: Westwood Hairdressing, 3 Can Bridge Way, Chelmsford, CM2 0WP. Or give them a call on 01245 251111, or email reception@ westwoodhair.co.uk. Website: www.westwoodhair.co.uk.
bestofchelmsford
Here at thebestofchelmsford we are all about local. Stuck for something to do this weekend? Visit our interactive events section and find out what’s going on in and around Chelmsford, if you have your own event you can even post it there at no charge. If you’re looking for any local offers then our offers section is where you want to be. Our business section is full of businesses that are recommended by local people just like you - and remember, as we are not a directory you can be sure that only trusted businesses are listed on thebestofchelmsford. We don’t want to give you hundreds of businesses to choose from, we only want to give you the best. Our village pages have just been launched which give the businesses on thebestof that extra platform. Are you in one of our village areas? They cover Ingatestone and Margaretting, Stock, South Woodham Ferrers, Burnham on Crouch, Danbury and Bicknacre, Hatfield Peverel and Boreham, Rettendon and Great Baddow. We would also love you to recommend the local businesses you think stand out from the rest. Its all about getting those quality businesses recognised. You can do this via our website or just give us a call and if any of the businesses join thebestofchelmsford due to your referral, we will give you a £40 thank you. For everything local why not join us today either online or via our app? Thebestofchelmsford - bringing trusted businesses and the community together.
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 701020.
Page 18
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Scrapbooking Workshops - a Reinvention! by Linda McNeill This month I had the pleasure of being invited along to a scrapbooking workshop run by Donna Keene. Donna runs her own crafty business and specialises in scrapbooking and card making and she is also a Stampin’ Up! demonstrator. I had no idea of what to expect when I entered her workshop somewhat flustered after a busy day at work. I think I was anticipating a group of people with large scrapbooks pritsticking photos in at fancy angles. I was wrong! What I saw was a delightful group of ladies making the most beautiful and creative pages. They were printing intricate flowers and hand inking the colour onto them. Gorgeous embellishments were being added such as delicate butterflies and these features were all surrounding family snapshots. They were creating a beautiful page of memories. The ladies were sitting around a large square table, sharing resources and ideas - there was a real buzz of activity and Donna was flitting between them helping, guiding and suggesting. The women were helping each other too - it was a lovely, friendly, supportive atmosphere. The other wonderful bonus of the class? There was cake! Donna had baked a delicious Victoria sponge for the ladies to munch on while they worked. Yum!
I was interested to learn how Donna had got into scrapbooking and how her business had evolved. “I was in town one day in 2010 when I came across a craft stall selling beautiful handmade cards. I spoke to the woman running the stall and she encouraged me to have a go myself. I did some research and came across Stampin’ Up!. I absolutely loved their products and decided to run my own classes and become a demonstrator.” Donna started a card making class in Springfield in 2011 but soon after this fell pregnant with her daughter Lily, so this class never became fully established. However, Donna set up a new class in 2012 and decided to focus on scrapbooking. This class has been very successful and is still going strong 4 years later. Donna has some really exciting events coming up in the next couple of months - Spring Wreath Making is taking place on 12th May at 8pm. Donna is holding a Crafternoon on 22nd May from 10 - 3pm, which sounds like great fun - this includes making a mixture of cards and scrapbook pages all while enjoying afternoon tea - what’s not to like?! She is also holding a card making workshop whereby you create a tin of over 20 cards on 16th June at 7pm. If you are interested in signing up for these workshops or her regular scrapbooking class, please contact Donna via her Facebook page (www.facebook.com/ headoverheelsbydlm) or by email her at head-over-heels-by-dlm@ hotmail.com. Donna was a complete delight to interview and I really enjoyed seeing the beautiful work her class were creating. If you are intrigued and fancy recording your memories in a unique and beautiful way I encourage you to get in touch! If you run your own business or have reinvented your career and would like to be featured in my column, please get in touch at linda@ bunintheovenbirthing.co.uk.
I chatted to Donna about what the scrapbooking class entailed: “We use lots of different tools to create different effects. I have a fantastic gadget called the Big Shot Machine which cuts out beautiful shapes that would be impossible to do by hand such as intricate butterflies and flowers... We also use a technique called heat embossing which creates slightly raised images and looks extremely effective.” Donna showed me some examples of previous projects that they had done and one that caught my eye included a 3D paper ice cream on a summer-themed scrapbook page, it was very sweet! “Most people who come to the class choose to include photos on their page as this is their way of recording memories and family events.” The scrapbooking class takes place once a month in Chelmer Village Hall on a Tuesday evening and costs £12. Those that would like to come along need to book a place in advance so Donna can prepare all the materials. There is a theme every month - the theme I saw them creating was ‘spring flowers’. Donna puts a pack together for each crafter and she always makes an example piece. “I create something to copy for beginners but the more experienced can freestyle it and everyone helps each other.”
Fans in Chelmsford to Get the Ultimate Bowie Experience Thursday 19th May 7.45pm Civic Theatre
With the sudden death of David Bowie shocking people all over the world, fans in Chelmsford will soon be able to unite at the Civic Theatre to celebrate the legendary icon on Thursday 19th May. Ultimate Bowie pays tribute to the work of this global superstar in a show that is visually stunning and vocally impressive. Regarded as one of the most influential innovators over the last five decades, David Bowie frequently reinvented his music and image. He sold an estimated 196 million albums throughout his career, first catching the eye and ear of the public in 1969 with his spaceage mini melodrama Space Oddity, leading to the development of his flamboyant alter-ego, Ziggy Stardust. In this not-to-be-missed show, Ed Blaney takes the spotlight and leads an eight-piece band that takes audiences from David Bowie’s early years with hits such as Starman, through his remarkable career to songs like Let’s Dance, China Girl and many more. The band truly lives up to its name, capturing the essence and authenticity of the man himself in this unforgettable concert.
As well as running the scrapbooking class, Donna is a Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator, which means she sells all the materials and tools used in her classes. I had a peek through the brochure and there To book tickets for Ultimate Bowie, visit www.chelmsford.gov.uk/ are some pretty ingenious little gadgets for any budding crafters theatres or call the Box Office on 01245 606505. Tickets are out there. Donna has an online shop if you would like to take a look £18.50 and £17.00 for concessions. Groups of 10 or more can get yourself at www.headoverheels-by-dlm.stampinup.net. “I plough back 1 in 10 tickets FREE. the income I generate from this into supplies and materials for the class so we can continue to try new techniques and ideas.” www.chelmsfordthecitytimes.co.uk Page 19
Hypnotherapy by Jenny Hartill I came up with the idea for this article after observing one of these critters in my bathroom the other week. It’s that time of year where we tend to see more of these for a bit as we go from sunshine to literally chucking it down meaning these poor sods have to search for somewhere to hide as their home is flushed away. Today I am going to discuss arachnophobia. The interesting thing about phobias in general is that they can be learned, but there is also an argument that this is in fact evolution at work and we are supposed to be scared of certain things. I can believe the evolutionary theory but for one snag - none of our spiders in the UK are killers, unless you happen to have a particularly bad allergic reaction to them. The counter-argument to this is that when we were evolving and living in completely different, sometimes hostile environments, we needed to be scared of venomous spiders. That’s absolutely fine, it probably saved a few of our ancestors lives, but we live in modern times where really we do not need this fear. So, why are so many people scared of them then? This leads me to the learned behaviour argument. If you grew up around people that were perhaps even a little disagreeable around spiders this could have had an impact on your belief system. Even if this impact is simply to keep a general distance from them, the more you indulge this behaviour the more it is reinforced. There is of course the cultural angle to keep in mind, for example spiders are included in traditional food in some local communities in Papua New Guinea and South America, whereas over here we get Little Miss Muffet who sat on a tuffet and ended up being scared away by a spider! At this point I will also bring up another important fact - and I’m sorry if i offend any spider enthusiasts out there, but spiders are UGLY. In fact, I’ll go as far as to say that most insects in general are not pretty in societal terms. What would you rather cuddle, a spider or a labrador puppy?
know the best in situations and especially once the original fear has been resolved, I would expect the client to know when to be afraid and when not to be and if unsure, always to double check. For those who genuinely struggle to be around spiders, I have a further coping technique for you. This doesn’t require hypnosis but may require you to be ok with feeling slightly silly. Years ago i lived in a very old terraced house. One day I came downstairs to see THE BIGGEST SPIDER I HAVE EVER SEEN IN MY ENTIRE LIFE. Genuinely, I thought this thing was exotic. Knowledge is power and so I looked up this spider on the internet and realised that she was in fact a giant house spider. I named her Beryl, and every year when Beryl passed on to the great spiders web in the sky another, slightly smaller version of Beryl would take her place. Always hanging out on the same bit of wall in the living room, we watched X Factor together on a Saturday night - me with my Chinese takeaway and Beryl sat in her little spot. The moral of the story is that I personified the spider. By giving her a name and changing my mindset to accept the fact that she lived here too totally changed my disgust/freaked out-ness to looking forward to my Saturday nights in. If you do some research, spiders are actually good for the economy of the house as they eat the other little critters you don’t like! So, what of the spider I saw the other week? I haven’t lived in an old house for many years and have recently moved. So I walk into the bathroom the other week to see this brown arachnid hanging out next to my shower. So I looked it up. Turns out with the colourings, where she was and the time of year this was a female lace weaver - albeit a slightly confused one as this indoor version is supposed to like windowsills. It would appear that my shower was mistaken for a windowsill. So I named her Lucy. Lucy the Lace Weaver. Long live Lucy :-) 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.
The other way we can develop arachnophobia is via an initial sensitising event. In basic terms, a spider scared the crap out of you, or you were in a very scary situation and saw a spider and linked the spider to the situation. When using hypnotherapy if I can detect an ISE this is great, I can use this to desensitise the client by taking them back through the event whilst they are hypnotised and in a nice, calm, relaxed state so when they experience it again they realise they are ok, they can cope, they no longer need to be afraid etc. Systematic desensitisation is the most common tool used to treat arachnophobia. However, firstly I would teach the client some relaxation techniques and perhaps even recommend some hypnotherapy relaxation sessions before commencing the hypnotherapy specifically for the phobia. This is to encourage the client to be able to take control and relax themselves as phobias can induce not only fear and anxiety but on the extreme end, panic attacks. Once I am confident that the client can handle the process, I would then hypnotise them and take them through various situations in which they would realistically come into contact with a spider. I would then show them that they are still calm and relaxed, nothing happened, they do not need this fear anymore and they are in fact calm, relaxed and confident when they come into contact with a spider. I can then build upon this and show the client in further sessions that they are in fact comfortable around spiders, that they could be of comfort to others if they were afraid of them because the client knows categorically that the spiders they come into contact here are ok. If the client is a prolific traveller, I would encourage them to always ask if they are unsure about a spider, I wouldn’t want them being all friendly and picking up a highly venomous spider in another country! However, our subconscious mind is a powerful tool, we can trust it to Page 20
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café@ Bake n’Grape on Baddow Road have launched café@baken’grape. Now open from 8am (9am weekends), they are offering coffees, teas, smoothies, juices and sandwich/wrap meal deals (for eat-in or take-away) at permanently low prices that are definitely worth a look.
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Why We Owe so Much to the Female Blues Singers of the 1920s and 30s Picture America in the 1920s and in particular, the soulful south - the birth place of blues music. Despite the lofty statement of the United States constitution claiming in 1870 that “the right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude” the reality was far from inclusive. Segregation on the basis of race and colour was common-place and a number of massacres, as well as the intimidation of black people, still a relatively regular occurrence at the ballot box. Women, both black and white, had also only been granted the right to vote in August 1920. Being black and female in those years was to have very little presence or acknowledgement. However, in 1920 WC Handy, an early blues composer and musician, managed to convince record companies that black consumers would readily buy black music. He was more than conscious that the black female singers of the previous 10 years had developed an inimitable style all across the south through Texas and up to Chicago singing in brothels and bordellos, and he felt sure the black African American would relish the opportunity to buy black music. So on August 10th 1920, Mamie Smith became not only the first black woman to record the blues with her song Crazy Blues, but the first ever African American blues singer to be recorded. The record sold over 75,000 copies in its first month, unimaginable at the time. Mamie Smith became known as ‘America’s First Lady of the Blues’. In November 1920, the vaudeville singer Lucille Hegamin became the second black woman to record blues when she recorded Jazz Me Blues. You can still find the original versions of these, old and crackling just as they were recorded, on Spotify. By the end of 1921, Ethel Waters, Alberta Hunter, Mary Stafford, Katie Crippen, Edith Wilson, and Esther Bigeou among others, had made their first recordings and blues had become a nationwide craze. For the first time in recording history, hundreds of black female singers were actively scouted and booked all across the south. They earned little from their work and dirty tactics by recording studios and those with vested interests often claimed ownership of the songs so that the original artists had no entitlement to royalties that rightfully should have been theirs, but the unstoppable wave of female blues music was here to stay. Two of those early pioneer women were Ma Rainey and Bessie Smith, both of whom remain iconic in their treatment of the blues. Ma Rainey was known for her scratchy, soulful and powerful voice and became known as the Mother of Blues, first being recorded in 1923. Meanwhile Bessie Smith, the Empress of Blues, became perhaps the most well known and highly acclaimed black blues singer of the 1920s as well as the highest paid. According to jazz historian Dan Morgenstern, Bessie Smith (and all the others who followed in time) learned their art and craft from Ma directly or indirectly and this is thought to be the case with her mentoring of Bessie Smith.
and emotive sound of the black female blues singers. By the 1930s the thirst for female blues was waning as swing started to grab hold of the popular psyche and many female blues singers lost out. By 1934 some female blues artists, namely Lil Johnson, Memphis Minnie and Bessie Jackson, had started to record what became known as ‘swing blues’. We owe these earlier female blues pioneers a profound debt of gratitude. Were it not for the first recordings of blues by these amazing women, blues may have never reached - and moreover influenced - all the many music genres that followed, from Motown to jazz, to funk and soul. All of these sounds can find their roots in the early music of the black African American soul in the blues. There are very few film recordings of what was danced to these early blues, but we believe from the little we have and the passing down of dance traditions over many decades reaching far back into the early 20th century, that we are able to take a guess at what was danced and are now able to breathe new life into blues partner dancing. There is a revival occurring around Europe the US and the Middle East with a thriving and expanding blues dance community coming together to celebrate early blues music, the dance and the vibe - and it’s happening in Chelmsford too. Jenny Lynn - Blues Dance Teacher Blues Dance Classes take place in Chelmsford on Wednesdays from 8pm at El Chigre’s on Moulsham Street. For more information join us on www.facebook.com/groups/allaboutblues, or call or text Jenny on 07773 919071.
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The records were marketed to the black community and typically labeled as ‘race records’ to distinguish them from records sold to white audiences. However, white audiences discovered them too and within a few years, white female artists were also emulating the raw www.chelmsfordthecitytimes.co.uk
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Fitness and Well-Being Sometimes it Snows in April. by Kellie Jones
challenges.
What an intense month April has been. A time of deep contrast and transition for lots of us. Birth and death, sun and snow. All I know is that I’m glad I have stepped up my meditation practise this year, as it is definitely helping me to get through some personal growth
This month’s Full Moon Gong Bath was again full to bursting, as it seems more and more ordinary folks are seeking something to help them find some inner peace other than the mainstream more material ways that just aren’t fulfilling us. The April 21st - 22nd full pink moon, (or purple moon as I’ve re-named it after Prince’s unexpected departure), will ‘amplify desires and set a stage for complete personal transition. Lighting up our buried desires, our passions and what we have truly been seeking in our lives. April’s full moon is going to help shine a light on all of these areas and begin the deeper questioning process into who we are and what we truly desire.’ So I’m once again back to the question of what do you love to do or, more appropriately, what lights you up? I really believe that more and more of us are questioning whether we are living our lives authentically as the realisation that we are overloaded with too many shoulds and not enough whys. Why are you working so many hours? Why don’t you have any time? What would you really like to be doing? As we see gruesome pictures of landfill are we finally realising that stuff doesn’t make us happy in the long-term? So if not, what will? That’s not to say that having nice things is not important, don’t get me wrong I absolutely love my car and my growing collection of yogapants! It’s just that it seems we’ve lost the importance of some more basic human needs like community, love and support for each other. I don’t believe that money is the root of all evil, I just believe it could be used in far more effective ways. I know more than one person that has turned down lucrative opportunities for more fulfilling careers. As we see doctors on strike, more teachers in our yoga classes and enquiries about what can we do for anxious children, it seems a shake-up in the world is necessary and sometimes it comes back down to nature to do that.
feeling the heaviness of what is going on in the world right now and as science brings the two ever closer together, I am seeing evidence of what is normal to us at Hummingbird becoming more mainstream every day. So if you are even remotely sensing the need for some change, then seeing the world from a different perspective is something we can definitely offer. On the 14th May we have The Art of Inverting workshop with Dan Peppiatt, originally an Essex boy now residing in Devon. Getting upside down certainly changes your view for a bit! We also have the HotFlushFree workshop on the 21st for those women going through a different kind of change, there will be useful information for prevention as well as cure. We are also conjuring up more and more ideas to form a community that supports and unites those seeking more peace and calm in these chaotic times. As well as yoga, pilates, meditation classes and workshops, we also have a lovely little lifestyle store with yummy healthy treats, teas and of course yogapants! Watch out for mens yoga gear arriving soon too. Not forgetting Stretch physio and massage clinic with everything from sports massage to acupuncture to help you heal and restore. Keep up with the news on FB Hummingbird Pilates & Yoga. Twitter: @HummingbirdPY or sign up for our newsletter at www. hummingbirdpilates.co.uk.
I know some of you out there may not believe in the ‘woo woo’ that we do, but I am certain deep down that even the biggest sceptics are
The Fling Festival Announce Turin Brakes to Headline 2016 “Turin Brakes’ tangled, twisty take on acoustic rock sounds confident rather than beleaguered or battered by age” - The Guardian “It really is heartwarming to have them back” - Mojo “South Londoners’ fine return” - Q
“We are very pleased to announce that our headliners for 2016 will be Turin Brakes. We feel they perfectly fit the profile of The Fling and we were absolutely delighted when they agreed to play.” - Andy Winmill, Festival Director One of the finest indie bands of the last decade, Turin Brakes have sold over a million records to date and are still going strong after 16 years. They released new studio album Lost Property in January 2016. The album hit the top 30 on release with two singles - Keep Me Around and Save You - being playlisted on BBC Radio 2.
Formed in Balham, South West London, in 1999 by childhood friends, Olly Knights and Gale Paridjanian (now joined by long term collaborators Rob Allum and Eddie Myer), Turin Brakes signed to French label Source in 2000 and released their Mercury Music Prize nominated debut album The Optimist in 2001 followed by Ether Song in 2003 which featured the top 5 hit single Pain Killer (Summer Rain). In late 2016 the band venture out on a UK tour after a busy festival season performing at the likes of Isle of Wight, Camp Bestival, Cornbury and many more. Video: Keep Me Around http://po.st/TurinBrKMAvid Website: www.turinbrakes.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/turinbrakes
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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 £3 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
What Do Fitness Magazines and ITV Have in Common? So what exactly does the TV channel ITV Be and a whole plethora of fitness and diet magazines have in common? The short and simple answer is that they all have a lot of space to fill, so more often than not they fill that space with rubbish. Think about it, does the Great British public really have an insatiable appetite for ITV Be shows such as The Real Housewives of Orange County or The Real Housewives of Atlanta or The Real Housewives of Beverley Hills or The Real Housewives of New York City? (Believe it or not these are actually real shows!). No they don’t. It’s just that ITV Be runs for hours every day and that means they have a lot of space to fill. So the TV executives fill that space with rubbish programmes such as ‘The Real Housewives of… wherever. And it’s much the same for fitness and diet magazines. Every few weeks a new issue is released. So every few weeks the editors of these magazines frantically try to fill their pages with new and exciting stories about diet and fitness to keep their readers interested. Inevitably some of these articles end up being just like the boobs of many of the women in the aforementioned TV shows - false. The Secrets to Weight Loss For example, take a look at any diet magazine and you’ll come across an article on ‘The Secrets of Weight Loss’. Flippin’ ‘eck, how many more secrets to weight loss could there possibly be? There are supposedly more secrets to weight loss than there is in a Premier League footballer’s marriage! The fitness magazines are not much better either, it seems that barely a month goes by without there being a new and exciting way to
‘get bigger abs’ or ‘get bigger biceps’ or get bigger whatever it maybe. So What Should You Do? You should take these articles the same way as you take your chips… with a pinch of salt and just like a grave digger trying to impress his new boss, you should dig a little deeper. Dig around to find the actual science behind the stories and see if the claims made in these articles are actually true! You’ll be surprised, as unfortunately many are not! Now, this is not to say that all of the articles are rubbish, they are not and many of the expert contributors are just that - experts, so well worth paying attention to. But please note what I’m saying here, SOME of these articles are worth paying attention to, but please DO NOT follow them dogmatically and without question! For advice on how to set up your own exercise and nutrition plan that actually works, 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 www.twitter.com/mlrpt www.youtube.com/mlrpt
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Charity of the Month - The Wilderness Foundation Nature as a catalyst for change in vulnerable youth A group of young people have just graduated from a year-long project which aims to get their lives back on track using the positive power of nature. The TurnAround project is hosted by the Wilderness Foundation UK (based in Chatham Green, Chelmsford) and aims to help young people who have experienced personal or social problems to change their lives. The TurnAround project was founded in 2007 and focusses on risk factors such as truanting, drug and alcohol misuse, youth offenders, poor family relationships or leaving long term care. It works with some of the most vulnerable youth aged 16-21 in our local community and has a track record of 83% of graduates entering further education or employment. Young people who take part in the project are tracked for three years by The Wilderness Foundation UK and Essex University. Stef, A graduate from TurnAround 4 said “taking part in the TurnAround project allowed me to regain self-confidence, become more settled and look to the future. I am now at university studying social work and have followed this career path to enable me to help others.” Another graduate from TurnAround 5, explained: “TurnAround made me a better person, it made me realise there is more to life than getting into trouble and drinking. I travelled and saw beautiful places and met great people.” Kevin, a graduate from TurnAround 5 says, “TurnAround to me was a catalyst for change only to those who pushed themselves. The project gave me the resolve to make the best of my situation and to not give up on my dreams and more importantly my life. The biggest thing I learnt from the project was how to overcome failure and how to help myself.” Kevin is now in the process of applying for university and has been accepted by a number of top universities.
trouble both at home and out in the community. However, the group had one thing in common, they had taken a leap of faith and said they would commit to the TurnAround project and aim to move their lives forward in a positive direction.” Over the year the young people have taken part in social meetings to build their sense of belonging and social skills, workshops to increase their skills and knowledge and two wilderness journeys designed to improve their resilience, independence and self-esteem. Along the way they have been supported individually by community mentors who have met with them weekly and also been encouraged to take up voluntary work and work placements. One of the young people, Michael, has completed over 100 hours of voluntary work at the charity’s community allotments. Michael commented “I love going to the allotments. You can just get stuck in and I always feel much calmer once I have spent time there.” Another young person said: “I have learnt a lot on the TurnAround project, I have learnt to work with others, to talk about my feelings, to believe in myself and how to think more positively about my future.” Jo Roberts, CEO of the Wilderness Foundation, explained at the graduation ceremony that “no two intakes of TurnAround groups are the same, we treat each young person individually and help them with what they need specifically. This may be issues around their anger, trying to get work experience, having better social skills and so on. Whilst this makes our job more challenging, it also makes us unique.” The TurnAround project will run again for the seventh and eighths cohorts once remaining funding has been secured. Funding has already been secured from the Police Crime Commissioners Office and Lindsay Whitehouse, Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner for Essex, commended the project by saying: “This project is really worthwhile. It using nature and respect for the environment to help young people get their lives back on track and learn new skills which enhance their employment prospects and enables them to make a positive overall contribution to society.” Jo Roberts elaborates on this and says: “the positive way that we work in nature is beneficial to our young people as you can try and fight against nature, but ultimately you need to work together with nature. “An example of this is our most recent wilderness trip to North Wales. The weather was a real challenge which meant to group had to show respect for this and make sure they were fully prepared. We also encourage solo time which allows each young person to be alone in nature in a beautiful place that offers peace and tranquillity and time to think. This is a luxury for most of us but lifeblood for young people whose lives can often include violence, chaos and trauma. Not only do our young people learn skills to allow them to engage in the project, we want them to leave with skills to enhance their futures as employees, students, parents and ultimately positive citizens in our community.” The next event is for TurnAround 5 and 6 graduates who are eligible to bid for £2,000 towards their future education, training or start up business costs. The money has been kindly donated by The Dulverton Trust who have set up a scholarship fund in memory of Lady Diana Kemp-Welch who was a much loved patron of the TurnAround project. Each young person that has submitted an application form will be pitching their ideas to a panel of independent judges to bid for two chances to secure the scholarship on Wednesday 13th April 2016.
“The group of young people from this year’s project who graduated are a lot different from the group that we had at the beginning of the project,” says Rosie Carpenter, project co-ordinator. “The group at the beginning were not engaging fully in their education, could not work together, had low self-esteem and were getting themselves into
We are currently taking referrals for our next intake of young people, please contact us if you would like to refer someone. Our contact details are 0300 123 3073 or email rosie@wildernessfoundation. org.uk, or look at the website for further information: www. wildernessfoundation.org.uk/project/turnaround. We are also always looking for volunteer mentors please contact on the same details for more information. All photos curtesy of Rosie Carpenter, Wilderness Foundation.
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Maldon Mud Race 2016 2nd May was a lovely warm day for a mud race. Very different weather from when the race was run at Christmas time.
Thousands of people turned up to watch the 457 metre race from one side of the esturary to the other and then back again. The race was won by Ben Payne, who was taking part as a part of his stag do. This year: • • • •
£55,000 was given to our charities 20,000 visitors came to the event 250 competitors entered the race Fastest finish time was 3 mins 30 secs
Next year’s race is on 7th May and you can register here: www. maldonmudrace.com.
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A Sticky Business by Stephen Norris A business which started in Chelmsford well before the first war was Hawkes the sweet manufacturer. Albert William Hawkes was born in 1866 in Great Baddow. Originally he was a carrier for Lee brothers who made confectionery at Thaxted and Chelmsford. By the 1891 census he was shown as a sweet boiler. In 1900 the three Hawkes brothers and their brother-in-law bought out the Lee brothers but their shop in Chelmsford soon got into difficulties as one of the brothers drank too much. In addition, their horses, which were essential for deliveries, all succumbed to anthrax and had to be destroyed. Hawkes’ business had to be rebuilt. The wives worked in the factory, while the men delivered. Hawkes’ factory was on the corner of New Street and Victoria Road. The business had taken over the old Eddington site in 1907, which in time was enlarged. They also had a warehouse in Roseberry Yard behind the shop which was opposite the Empire cinema. After his first wife died in 1912, Albert married Alice Green from Witham in 1917, she then managed their shop in Duke Street. When he died in 1922 she was joined by a distant relative to help run the shop. The Hawkes factory was hit by a bomb in the second war, as was the shop near the railway station next to Cannons restaurant. At the start of the war, if you took in two pounds of sugar into the factory you got a considerable amount of sweets in return. After the war, the firm’s problems continued when it was hit by the national cuts in fuel, even though the firm thought initially they would be exempt from the cuts because sweets were a rationed good. By the 1950s, Hawkes had a shop in the High Street, as well as their one in Duke Street, workers at the factory remembered the sickly smells of sweets. Muriel Carston, who worked as a bottle filler for nine years from 1930, recalled there being two boilers, with two or three men working on them, mixing two or three tons of sweets at a
time. Later on she also wrapped seaside rock. Hawkes also bought in sweets from several other factories to sell using several lorries. At this time, Charles Hawkes was the owner and his son Bernard also worked at the business. Mary Scott worked at the factory in the 1950s, there were, she said, 40 people working at the factory and you could eat as many sweets as you liked. Mary had joined Hawkes straight from school. Workers were given 3d extra for every 50 pounds they were over target and Heather Case remembered the firm making peanut brittle in the 1960s. Joy Baker worked in the factory from the age of fifteen and in 1961 at the age of 18 she lost part of a finger at the factory - Gepp’s the solicitors got her £600 in compensation. She remembered rats running through the factory under the worker’s feet. There was no canteen. Sugar was stored in a shed which attracted thousands of wasps in the summer. David Johnson worked at Hawkes between 1958 and 1963, he helped stack orders in the loading bay. David was taught to drive in the Hawkes’ yard and the transport manager then took him out to train him to use one of the four works lorries. In the 1960s and 1970s the firm was sold several times, it was first bought by Mackintosh, who then sold it to Rowntrees, who sold it to Palmer and Harvey. Arthur Brittain worked at the firm’s Broomfield Road office from 1963 to 1973, he was happy there until the firm was taken over and was no longer a family business. Palmer and Harvey closed the Broomfield Road office in 1975.
Friends Get Out and About
April was a busy month for the Friends of the Museum with the Annual Dinner, provision of a handling table at the museum for the school Easter holiday and giving assistance at the International Marconi Day at Sandford Mill. It was therefore good to get out for the first of this year’s outing to places of interest. The Friends visited the Beecroft Art Gallery at Southend where they were given a tour by Clare Hunt from the Museum Service who spoke about the origins of both the Beecroft and the collection which it contains. This includes many works by local Essex artists featuring Southend ad its surrounding area. They also viewed the exhibition Black Tie, which features a selection of evening wear from the 1st World War to the 1960s taken from the extensive collection of costumes held by Southend Museum. Friends are now looking forward to the next visit on Friday 27th May. This will start at the picturesque village of Little Bardfield in north-west Essex for a tour and talk about the village church, St Katherine’s. This is described as a jewel of a church in an outstanding rural setting which has its origins in the Saxon period. Recently restored, it is built of flint pebble rubble and some Roman brick and with a tile roof. Features include Saxon windows and a 14th century chancel. Following lunch, there will be an afternoon visit to the Grade 1 listed Guildhall at Finchingfield. This was built around 1470 to house a guild of priests and provide a school room for the boys of the village. After falling into disrepair, it underwent major restoration which was completed in 2013. The Guildhall is now home to a state-of-the-art interactive museum designed to bring to life the history of Finchingfield and its surrounding area. The cost of these three visits for non-members is £17 for the tour and refreshments - for further information go to www.friendschelmsford. btck.co.uk. Following the successful exhibition about Essex jazz at Chelmsford Museum, the next temporary exhibition is 1976 and All That, a remembrance of one of the hottest British summers on record. It is open from 14th May to 26th June and entrance is free. Love Your Museum; be a friend.
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Bassment 29th May - MOJO
On Bank Holiday Sunday 29th May Intense Records return to The Bassment in Chelmsford for the next instalment of their hugely popular event MOJO. Intense may have their biggest coup to date with booking one of the most sought after djs in the world ‘Calibre’ from Signature Records. Jon from Intense tells us: “Since hearing Calibres’ music in 2001, I have been trying to book him and now after 15 years, we have finally realised the dream and are bringing the musical genius from Dublin to our home town.” Calibre has been responsible for some of the most beautiful tracks in drum & bass to date and continues to drop jaws worldwide with his sublime and sultry productions, Calibre’s sound has progressed taking in elements of jazz, funk, dub and techno but lost none of it’s soul. Having played all over the world, Calibre certainly knows how to captivate a crowd. His sets focus primarily on the deeper, more musical side of drum & bass yet never disappoint the dancefloor. Calibre prefers not to sacrifice valuable studio time in favour of extensive gigging, which is why this appearance at The Bassment is all the more special. Hosting Calibres’ set will be his fellow Soul:ution resident, MC DRS. With a reputation now stretching well over 15 years, DRS is a truly versatile MC, host, lyricist and recording artist. Cutting his teeth and touring worldwide with the legendary Good Looking label and Soul:R camp, his soulful style on the mic and honest lyrics are unmatched. Support comes from rising stars and Intense residents, Villem & Mcleod from Spearhead Records. The Bassment can be found opposite Chelmsford Bus Station at 16 Wells St, Chelmsford, CM1 1HZ www.bassmentbar.com Doors open from 8pm - 4am with tickets £15, but early bird tickets are available from Intense Records (01245 347372 intenserecords.co.uk). Online tickets also available from deftickets.co.uk. So get down The Bassment and get your MOJO back!!
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Stargazing with Mark Willis - May/June 22nd May - Looking south, Mars reaches opposition and it becomes observable through the night. Mars will be very easy to spot that night because it is very close to the Moon. Looking North during May, Ursa Major, (aka the Great Bear), will be at its zenith. Because it’s almost directly overhead, you will be seeing it through much less atmosphere. While you’re in that part of the sky you’ll be able to take in some interesting galaxies near the Great Bear. M101, The Pinwheel Galaxy is comparable in size to our own home galaxy, the Milky Way. However it’s 25 million light years away from us. I would advise that you seek out a telescope to see this of at least 140mm. Messier 81 (also known as NGC 3031 or Bode’s Galaxy) is another popular galaxy for stargazers. A pair of 10 x 50 binoculars would be good for this. A telescope of 150mm would be even better.
Install a free copy of Stellarium software on your computer. Stellarium will display a visual of this when you key in the date and times above. Summer Triangle - Looking east, two of the Triangle’s stars are Vega and Deneb, very bright stars and so easy to spot. Vega is comparatively close, a mere 25 light years away and it used to be the Earth’s pole star back 12,000 BCE. It will become the pole star again in the year 13,727! So pencil that in your diaries! Deneb is believed to be 2,600 light years away and it is a pole star, not of the Earth, but of Mars. It is estimated to be somewhere between 55,000 and 196,000 times as luminous as our Sun. Email me with any questions. Mark Willis presents Willis Wireless every Monday at 7pm on Chelmsford Community Radio.
New Moon dates: 5th June and 4th July - so this is an excellent opportunity to seek out those deep sky objects, galaxies, nebulae and distant planets. 7th to 11th June - the Moon and Jupiter will be very close together.
Web: www.chelmsfordcommunityradio.com Twitter: @WillisWireless Email: mark.willis@chelmsfordcommunityradio.com
It may have escaped your notice but the week 24th to 30th April was designated World Polio Week. This is of special significance to Rotarians because Rotary was the instigator of the campaign to eradicate the scourge of polio from the world. One Rotarian in the Philippines decided in 1985 that given the will, polio could be eliminated as the vaccine was available which had been proven to work.
But what of Bill Gates? He was so full of admiration by what Rotary had achieved that he agreed to match any further funding with a 2:1 grant, so that every dollar Rotary raised would be turned into $3 for polio vaccinations. As the disease is so virulent and contagious it is vital to finish the job properly, otherwise it could easily take hold again. Bill Gates made the point that not only does Rotary raise money, but it lobbies governments to allow the immunisations to happen. There are still difficulties in the two endemic countries, but gradually barriers are breaking down and we are very close now.
Rotary Praised by Bill Gates
At that time there were 1,000 new cases every single day spread throughout 125 countries - even the UK. Iron lungs were commonplace and the sight of children with metal braces on their legs suffering from paralysis was heartbreaking. In some senses they were the lucky ones because many died of the disease. The campaign was adopted by Rotarians all over the world and millions of pounds has been donated to ensure all children have the chance of being immunised. It hasn’t been just a fundraising exercise because many members actually travel to the affected areas at their own expense to help with National Immunisation Days. The result is that now there are just two remaining endemic countries with polio - Pakistan and Afghanistan - and so far in 2016 there have only been nine new cases, so we are on the brink of successfully eradicating polio once and for all. This was the pledge given by Rotary to the world all those years ago. Whilst it has been a global campaign, here in Chelmsford Rotary clubs have played their part. The Purple Pinkie effort was set up by a member of Chelmsford Rotary club and the website www. purplepinkie.com still brings in donations from many distant places. The name is derived from the practice of painting the child’s little finger purple to show the vaccine had been administered.
Working with the World Health Organisation, they too acknowledge that it would not have happened without Rotary’s drive. Sir Liam Donaldson of WHO acknowledged this in his address at the National Rotary Conference in Bournemouth last month and his predecessor, Bruce Aylward, once told the story of how his flight was cancelled when on his way to another Rotary conference. He said to the airline: “Do you know where I am going? I am speaking at a meeting of 2,000 Rotarians. The people who make the impossible the inevitable so I have to get there on time.” He did, and I often use that story about the difference Rotarians make and the esteem in which Rotary is held by world leaders. If you would like to know more about belonging to a club near you visit www.chelmsfordrotary1240.org or better still give me a call. Stan Keller - 01245 260349
Waltham Singers Celebrate Cipriano de Rore Imagine yourself in Renaissance Venice during the 16th century - one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the world, a magnet for scholars, intellectuals and musicians. Amongst them was Cipriano de Rore, one of the most influential musicians of the era whose innovative harmonies and methods helped shape much of the music that followed him. On what would be his 500th birthday, Waltham Singers will bring some of his music to life alongside works from other composers, such as Lassus and Monteverdi, who influenced his style. Sung with voices alone and no accompaniment, the concert will really allow you to immerse yourself in the beauty and simplicity of the music. Expect wonderful harmonies, sometime meditative and at other times exhilarating. Leave your musical expectations by the door and come along and experience the magic of a large choir singing early music. You won’t be disappointed. Join us Saturday 18th June 7.30pm, Great Waltham Church. For tickets £14 call Teresa 07528 674846 or visit walthamsingers.org.uk.
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Wildlife Corner by Nick Green
April enjoyed typically showery weather but was rather cool with some northerly winds which did not help the insectivorous summer bird migrants and resident insects. Frosts were recorded in the alpine regions of Danbury Hill and nearby Little Baddow! Hedgerows and shrubs did continue to leaf and flower, but progress was slowed down by the unfavourable weather. African bird migrants continued to arrive in numbers including swifts, house and sand martins and swallows. Warblers included garden, willow, chiffchaffs plus blackcap, whitethroat and lesser whitethroat Note there is a Marconi Ponds Open Day on 21st May, 1 - 4pm (www. marconiponds.btck.co.uk). The nightingale’s song is truly magnificent and can easily be found on YouTube - the species winters in sub-Saharan Africa and is a summer migrant to just southeast England.
Essex perhaps holds 10% of the population, the species preferring Nightingale copyright Glyn dense scrub to sing and breed Evans alongside (rabbit-grazed) glades in which to feed. As regards plumage, the upperparts are mainly rufous contrasting with pale underparts. It’s a Red Data Species as there has
been a 53% national decline between 1995 - 2008.
Probably the best Essex area for nightingales is around Colchester with the best site being Fingringhoe Wick reserve managed by the Essex Wildlife Trust (EWT) - the best time to visit being mid-April during before the shrubs complete leafing and finish flowering. 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 April 2016 bird news: Scarcer wintering birds still included the rough-legged buzzard at Holland Haven Country Park all month. A white stork at Bradwell Bird Observatory on 26th was probably the most notable rarity but Wat Tyler Country Park recorded both purple heron and glossy ibis. Abberton Reservoir highlights included little ringed plover, black tern, black-necked grebe, bittern, scaup, common and black terns, nightingale, cuckoo. The EWT Centre café (just north of the Layer de la Haye causeway on the B1025) and butties and cake can be recommended!
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