The CityTimes - May/June 2018

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The City Times

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Issue Number 56: - May 17th - June 15th 2018

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CT Welcome Hello readers,

Welcome to the May/June edition.

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

Remember to tell our advertisers that you found them in The City Times!

Enjoy your month!

Regards Nick & Paul

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Page 3

Ct Fashion - Take off on Holiday in Style - Your Perfect Capsule Wardrobe mink colour - but black, navy and tan are just as good. Make an informed decision about what suits the majority of your outfits.

You’ll need it to be heavy enough to layer for cooler evenings and light enough to wear when you’re out and about during the day. You can pick a longline jacket up from most high street stores this spring/summer, but the best ones (in my opinion, of course) can be found in Topshop and River Island.

So you’ve booked your holiday, you’ve prepped the bikini body (okay, you have a body to put in a bikini or something resembling a swimsuit, at least) and you’ve got a minimal amount of cash to splash on a few necessary ‘holiday bits’. But there’s always a problem isn’t there; what to pack - what do you really need?

Well the answer my friends, is this: you need the perfect holiday capsule wardrobe. 10kg hand luggage? No problem. Sharing a suitcase with your kids, your husband and your second cousin twice removed? No problem. Only got a back pack to your name? I salute you and absolutely no problem. I’ve rounded up a list of the best and most useful pieces to buy with your pre-holiday budget.

1. The Comfy Sandal: There is literally nothing worse than being miles away from home with sore feet (or worse, a twisted ankle) because the heels you brought with you would give the Burj Khalifa a run for its money. Now, listen; sensible and comfy doesn’t have to mean ugly, sister. The comfy slider is still in this summer - the perfect flip flop hybrid for donning en route to the beach. A pair of Birkenstocks will get you through the next few summers to come and if you’re feeling a bit more robust, Dr Martens have some amazing slider sandals. If you’re walking a bit further, try a flat pair of gladiator sandals - flat and fashionable, win win. If ‘flat shoes’ isn’t in your vocabulary, you could also go for super comfy flatforms - see River Island for some cool pairs.

2. The Flattering Swimsuit: I can feel you recoiling from here. I know, swimsuit shopping is not for the faint hearted, but it can definitely be made easier with a few foolproof tips. If you’re just bringing one swimsuit (which if you’re following the capsule wardrobe idea, then you probably should be) make sure you feel good in it. Should be easy, right? Go for a cut that suits you and select a colour that makes you feel happy. It’s a personal thing. If you need more guidance than that, opt for the classic black swimsuit with a halter neck elegant and simple.

Personally, I am loving the palm print one pieces, especially in F&F at Tesco and Debenhams.

3. The Longline Jacket: Think light and in a sensible colour. By ‘sensible’ I mean a colour that will match the majority of your wardrobe - I’ve got a great one from Primark that’s a beautiful

4. The Multipurpose Scarf: Every savvy capsule wardrobe connoisseur takes a scarf on holiday. Choose a design that matches the majority of your capsule wardrobe (a vibrant print, or a simple one with soft hues) and wear it according to your itinerary. Let me explain: Going out for drinks of an evening?

Wrap your scarf around your neck under your longline jacket.

Sightseeing in the daytime? Use your scarf, which is now a wrap, as a cover for your shoulders or for your lap if you’re having drinks. Not sure if you’ll need the extra warmth your scarf brings? Tie it to your bag as a cute accessory to be worn when you need it. If you’re feeling brave, wear it wrapped around your hairline as a snazzy headpiece. All you need is imagination my friends. Either way, the scarf is your capsule wardrobe staple.

5. A Dress for All Occasions: These are tricky to come by, but so worth it when you get the right one. The dress for every eventuality. The dress that says, ‘yes, I am wearable all day, but if you fancy that extra glass of wine, or two, and oops now you’re having dinner and… it’s 1am, I’m still completely suitable...’

What would a dress like this look like? Well, it would be a floaty, midi length, and (as this season knows) it would have a nipped in waist. It could have a print such as dots or floral, but it would definitely have a V or button up neckline. You can find a dress like this in New Look or Warehouse.

6. The Beach Ready Bag: Not sure what you’re doing for the entirety of the day? You’ll need something to carry that’s perfectly sized and functional enough to carry around with you from beach to bar. There’s nothing better than the oversized tote for this. Look for styles with a large, comfortable strap and a fun print. This season’s go-to prints would be palm tree or metallic styles - Mango and F&F at Tesco have some wonderful offerings.

Don’t forget to pack your sunnies, e-reader and sun cream and you’re ready to set off.

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

Page 4

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East Anglia’s Biggest Well-Being Event On 9-10th June the biggest wellbeing event in East Anglia takes place at Chelmsford City Racecourse. It promises to be a very special event with a stellar lineup of speakers, live music, holistic stalls and family fun activities. The event is also fundraising for the fantastic Helen Rollason Cancer Charity.

“guaranteed to put a smile on your face.”

Life Arts is celebrating 20 years of promoting health and well-being events throughout the region. Chris Cozens, the founder of Life Arts, says this event is

The weekend event brings together a number of experts who are on hand to help people in their quest to have a healthy life - in body, mind and spirit. Sound healing from Ramivana comes all the way from Slovakia, bestselling authors Flavia Kate Peters and Barbara Meiklejohn-Free are running workshops, and there will be delicious food demos from nutritionist and superfood chef, Juliette

Bryant. There are over 100 stalls with the very best holistic therapists, readers, spiritual gifts, art, crystals, jewellery as well as fantastic food.

Families will be very well catered for too, with many free family fun activities including dance, music, yoga, art and craft.

For more event information see www. lifearts.co.uk.

All Things Music

by Nick Garner Music Albert Lee returned to Chelmsford City football ground to play a stunning show to a full house recently, and with Connor Selby opening it made for a just fantastic night.

The UB (United Brethren) hosted the One Tree Hillbillies on a Monday evening, a real bluegrass band - and what a night it was with lots of people of all ages turning up and everyone loved it. The musicianship was incredible and the whole atmosphere was electric. The band loved it too and will be back to play another Monday session soon.

There is lots of good music every week at the UB, check out the listings in this magazine.

There’s always great live music at the Bassment of course, and we’re looking forward to The Sharpeez playing on Thursday 24th May along with Joe Anderton and Connor Selby supporting.

Friday 15th June sees the arrival of the best U2 tribute act to the football club - U2 Tribe. Special guests on the night will be The Velvet Tree.

Remember too that the first Thursday of the month is the amazing Jam Session at the Bassment - and you never know just who might turn up to play...

Chelmsford Arts and Cultural Festival

will be out very soon - and it’s all free.

We will soon be preparing to start the first Chelmsford Arts and Cultural Festival.

The first weekend is full of music at the Bond Street Bowl (outside John Lewis).

Some of the acts we have playing are The Trembling Wilburys, John Bentley’s Buzniks (John is the exbass player for Squeeze) and Malcolm Bruce (son of the late Jack Bruce and as good a musician as his father was). From the USA we have Burgundy Williams, whose voice will just amaze you. There are many more playing too of course, so please look out for the programme which

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

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

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CT Gardening - by Tom Cole

It’s warming up ladies and gentlemen so take care with the olde sun and protect yourselves...

Take care too when watering; for the best results, try early in the day or at the end of the day, as there’s less evaporation from the soil surface. In an ideal world try to harvest water from roofs using water butts and if you have space, link in others to harness maximum supplies. Such water is so much better for your ericaceous plants as it isn’t as hard as our tap water and contains less calcium. Try to water from the base of the container to stimulate deeper root systems which are therefore less prone to dry out. As an aid to keeping the soil and or composts moist, add a layer of organic matter as a mulch to the surface. This will help to reduce watering and also keep weeds back.

Those of you with potatoes, just take care of any sudden drops in temperature this month. Young lush growth is very likely to be frosted, so earth up and lay horticultural fleece over plantings for the night, removing during the day. Don’t forget to generally pull soil over plants leaving tips exposed when you can see around 6-8” of shoot (15-20cm). This will expose any weed seeds and or pest and disease issues, and put covers over developing tubers to stop them greening up. This is also a great ‘cleaning crop’ which could be usually followed by legumes, alliums or root crops.

As plants are responding well to the changes in weather, remember to tie in any long whippy growths on wall shrubs and climbers - especially if thorny!

On the theme of woodies, don’t forget to prune any late spring plants such as forsythia, Kerria japonica and ornamental currants. Remove old flowering stems to the ground or to where there is a well spaced vegetative shoot. Don’t forget to stand back and take a look at the shape. Lastly, reduce vegetative growth by ¼ - ½ if too tall.

Lastly, are you free on Thursday 24th May? Is so, perhaps pop along to our National Garden Scheme Open Day between 10am and 3pm.

Staff and students will be on hand to chat about the gardens at Writtle University College - and there will also be a few plants for sale.

It’s only £4 per person so do come along.

If you can’t wait until then, pop along to the National Flower Show at Hylands House and Estate. This wonderful 3-day event (18th - 20th May) celebrates the very best of gardening, home and lifestyle. Hylands House and it’s surrounding gardens will be filled with inspiration, flowers and plants and everything you need for your home and garden. The show is a celebration of the great outdoors. Come along - we’ve got a stand at the show too!

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

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

Happy gardening!

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

Page 8 www.chelmsfordthecitytimes.co.uk

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CT Food - by John Jacobs

It’s started again. The middle age belly spread. Just keeps on coming, stalking me like a lion on a gazelle. Not that I’d compare myself to a gazelle. I’m an orangutan with no real urge for a great ape six pack. It’s a sysyphean task this staying in shape malarkey. I must have tried every diet known to gender fluid man. Atkins, soup, GI, etc... I’m the one every lifestyle publisher sees coming from several miles off.

If someone with a spurious medical degree from an online university discovers the secret to losing weight without the need to cut down on the doughnuts and a healthy disdain for exercise, then I’m your guy. Parcel up the book in bubble wrap and charge me twenty quid plus shipping and VAT. Ultimately this ends in finding myself back to the start having failed to collect two hundred pounds or win a beauty contest. Also, chances are the content of such diets are so woefully lacking in the essential elements to keep one alive for longer than a month, that replacement nutritional deficits are only made up if one eats the book.

photos detailing the progression of one chap over a month where he goes from slightly large yet healthy to still large but saggy and concluding with extremely ill and in need of a defibrillator. Don’t do it, good people of Chelmsford. Do as I say not as I do. Just don’t take it too far. Vegan is not the answer.

I don’t think I’m unintelligent to the point of believing any of the miraculous claims made by fad diets - it’s the eternal search for a quick fix with no output. Ultimately, what I fail to do is consider food like a relationship; we need food to excite, comfort, fill in the emotional blanks etc, but too much of a good thing can cause complacency. It’s just that my complacency manifests itself as a wardrobe of clothes that I can’t wear anymore.

So here’s the challenge Chelmsfordians - no recipes this month, no restaurant reviews, just a challenge... If you want to try the 30-day challenge with me then I urge you to do so. Send me your pound loss and we’ll compile an average. If we, as a combined city of tubbies, average a stone or more, then I promise I will eat a copy of the diet book of your choice.

Have you ever trawled through the ocean of YouTube videos for how to lose weight? There are literally millions of them. One is even called the Big to Buff in 30 Days. Genuinely, it advocates eating nothing and to maintain this insanity literally for thirty days. There are time lapse

I’m setting my own 30-day challenge by simply eating like a regular Joe. No high protein, banana only, low carb, cabbage rich, fasting, joyless taste-free diet - just breakfast, lunch and dinner, balanced and free from snacking and gelatinous confectionary. No start weight or end goal. Just the number of pounds and ounces a man of my fighting age can hope to shed over a one month period.

If I reach a size that allows me to button the blazer that I bought only 3 months ago, its a win. I’ve decided to patent this approach: I’m calling it the For Goodness Sake, There’s No Obvious Danger from Lettuce, Get off the Sofa, Try Taking a Bus Now and Again, You’re Too Old for a Six Pack... Diet. I think it’s a winner. I’m definitely going to stop driving to work. I work from home.

As the sunshine has now seen fit to arrive, don’t forget to look out for all the events taking place in the city, details of which you can find in your City Times.

Have a great month and I’ll see you on the other side.

26 Baddow Road, Chelmsford, CM2 0DG

Page 10 www.chelmsfordthecitytimes.co.uk

www.chelmsfordthecitytimes.co.uk Page 11

What’s on in the Area

May

Friday 18th Bassment - Greyhaven + Ivy Bay + Victories CCFC - Larry Garner + Mississipi Macdonald Civic - Oklahoma Cramphorn - Austen’s Women Essex Shooting Ground - Charity Clay Pigeon Shoot The Golden Fleece - Grounds for Divorce Face - Kenny Thomas Star & Garter - Hit Parade The Transition - Clay Club Writtle College - Art and Design Show 2018 United Brethren - Andy Twyman Saturday 19th Arteasan Café Tearoom, Madison Heights - Royal Wedding Afternoon Tea (bookings: 01621 929 511) Bassment - Lack Of Afro + Stretch Soul Gang Chelmsford City Racecourse - Dirty Dancing on behalf of East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH) Civic - Oklahoma Galleywood Heritage Centre - Essex Society for Family History Chelmsford Group The Golden Fleece - Acoustic Sessions (3.30pm) - Reptilia Hyde Hall - Wildlife Weekend Star & Garter - TBC United Brethren - Booga Red Writtle College - Art and Design Show 2018 Sunday 20th Civic - Sinatra and Me Hyde Hall - Wildlife Weekend Star & Garter - Open mic/jam The Transition - Resonance III United Brethren - Sunday Sessions: Robin Bibi (3pm) Writtle College - Art and Design Show 2018 Tuesday 22nd Boreham Village Hall - Ballroom and Latin American Dance (classes for beginners & improvers - www.danceasy.co.uk) Cramphorn - The Post (12A) Baby Cinema - 11am Cramphorn - I, Claude Monet - 8pm Galleywood Heritage Centre - Scrabble group meeting The Transition - Turning your passion into a prosperous business Wednesday 23rd Bassment - Asylum Night: Unit 33 + Fatality + Roisin O’Hagan The Hythe, Maldon - Chelmsford Morris, all welcome to come along or join us (8:15pm - www.chelmsfordmorris.co.uk) Thursday 24th Bassment - BRITC: The Sharpeez + Connor Selby and Joe Anderton Civic - Mark Steel (SOLD OUT) The Golden Fleece - Quiz night Friday 25th Bassment - Changes Two Bowie Cathedral - Lunchtime Concert Civic - The Magic of Motown (SOLD OUT) Cramphorn - Get Out (15) The Golden Fleece - 6 String Makeover + Silent Disco Page 12

Friday 25th (continued...)

Star & Garter - TBC Three Elms - Spring Bank Holiday Real Ale & Cider Festival Saturday 26th Bassment - Rubber Soul: Steve Davis DJ Set + Junior Jump & the Bottom Line The Golden Fleece - Ultimate 80s + silent disco Star & Garter - The Statins The Transition - Laughter Yoga The Transition - Learn to screen print Three Elms - Spring Bank Holiday Real Ale & Cider Festival The Koolkatz (2.30pm), Blueprint (7pm) United Brethren - The Mighty Bosscats Sunday 27th Bassment - Indie Disco The Golden Fleece - Skamite + Silent disco Star & Garter - Open mic/jam Three Elms - Spring Bank Holiday Real Ale & Cider Festival The Green Velvet Band (3pm), Gunrunner (7pm) United Brethren - Sunday Sessions: Jolene Missing & Hippy Joe (3pm), storytelling (7pm) Monday 28th Three Elms - Spring Bank Holiday Real Ale & Cider Festival The DW Jazz Quartet (2pm) United Brethren - Trevor Gentry Tuesday 29th Cramphorn - Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri (15) Wednesday 30th The Viper, Mill Green - Chelmsford Morris, all welcome to come along or join us (8:15pm - www.chelmsfordmorris.co.uk) Thursday 31st Bassment - AudioGiggle: A night of comedy and live music The Golden Fleece - Quiz The Transition - PechaKucha Chelmsford Vol. 1

June

Friday 1st Bassment - WDR: Frankie & the Witch Fingers + Black Doldrums + Lo Chief Cathedral - Lunchtime concert Cramphorn - The Final Year (12A) The Golden Fleece - Sidekick Star & Garter - Phil Ball Band Three Elms - Curry night Saturday 2nd Alehouse - Chelmsford Record Fair Bassment - Saturday’s Alright For Dancin’ The Golden Fleece - Acoustic Sessions (3.30pm) - Charlies Aunt (10pm) Star & Garter - Vibes Factory: All day reggae, ska, soul & funk United Brethren - Belinda & the Beltrons Sunday 3rd Civic - Tubular Bells live!

Fleece - Asylum Sunday Service Star & Garter - Open mic/jam United Brethren - Sunday Sessions: Richard Townend (3pm) Woolpack - GC’s Jazz Club: Guest: Mick Foster (baritone sax) and Graeme Culham Trio

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

Monday 4th Civic - Russell Watson - Serenade Tuesday 5th Boreham Village Hall - Ballroom and Latin American Dance (classes for beginners & improvers - www.danceasy.co.uk) Cramphorn - An Ideal Husband (broadcast live from the Vaudeville Theatre) Wednesday 6th The Rodney, Little Baddow - Chelmsford Morris, all welcome to come along or join us (8:15pm - www.chelmsfordmorris.co.uk) The Chichester Hotel, Rawreth - Belvedere Jazz & Music Club: Syd Lawrence Orchestra Civic - Chris Ramsey Live 2018 Cramphorn - Happy End (15) Three Elms - The DW Jazz Quartet Thursday 7th Bassment - Bassment Blues Jam Chelmsford High Street. - VOLfest with Chelmsford Community Gospel Choir The Golden Fleece - Quiz night Friday 8th Bassment - Backwater Channels: Live indie rock Cathedral - Lunchtime concert Cramphorn - Beast (15) The Golden Fleece - Sons of Southpaw Star & Garter - Electrum Saturday 9th Bassment - Jar Records: Moon Balloon + Loose Change + Jump Stone + Brad Sadler Civic - Decades The Golden Fleece - Acoustic Sessions (3.30pm) The Rising (9.30pm) Star & Garter - Lithium The Transition - Chelmsford Film Festival: Awards United Brethren - Baby Boomers Sunday 10th Cramphorn - Coppelia (live from the Bolshoi Ballet) Galleywood Heritage Centre - Picnic in the Garden Hyde Hall Farm - Wilderness Foundation: Farm Walks Star & Garter - Open mic/jam The Transition - Terrarium making workshop United Brethren - Sunday Sessions: Paul Marden Tuesday 12th Boreham Village Hall - Ballroom and Latin American Dance (classes for beginners & improvers - www.danceasy.co.uk) Galleywood Heritage Centre - Talk: 2MT Writtle Birth of British Broadcasting (by Tim Wander) The Transition - Just Imagine Illustrators Group Wednesday 13th The Walnut Tree, Broads Green - Chelmsford Morris, all welcome to come along or join us (8:15pm - www.chelmsfordmorris.co.uk) The Chichester Hotel, Rawreth - Belvedere Jazz & Music Club: Georgina Jackson’s Quartet Civic - Made in Dagenham!

Cramphorn - Phanton Thread (15) Thursday 14th Bassment - Jazz Funk: Tony Sandeman’s Natural Selection Civic - Made in Dagenham!

The Golden Fleece - Quiz night

Thursday 14th (continued...)

Meadgate Church - Chelmsford Community Gospel Choir open workshops Friday 15th Bassment - Shakey’s Sessions: Pet Needs + Fling Festival competition CCFC - U2 Tribe + The Velvet Tree Civic - Made in Dagenham!

Cramphorn - Black Panther (15) The Golden Fleece - Lithium Star & Garter - VT11 Saturday 16th Bassment - Two Non Blondes: Small Fakers Civic - Made in Dagenham!

Galleywood Heritage Centre - Essex Society For Family History Chelmsford Group Meeting The Golden Fleece - Acoustic Sessions (3.30pm) Wishbone (9.30pm) Star & Garter - Rewind United Brethren - Joe Anderton and Connor Sleby Sunday 17th Central Park - Father’s Day Spectacular Cramphorn - Swan Lake (live from the Royal Opera House) Galleywood Heritage Centre - Craft Fair & family fun day Star & Garter - Open mic/jam United Brethren - Sunday Sessions: Rich Young (3pm)

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

CT Business: Hi Ho, Hi Ho, Hi Ho, off to Work We Go - by Lindsay Whitehouse Regular readers of this series of articles will know that I tend to highlight the benefits that a small business can offer which the corporate giants cannot...

The focus of this month’s feature is a company that specialises in property development and provision of business services - the company is called Mantle Business Centres. They work from 5 locations; Stansted and Chelmsford in Essex, Cambridge, Duxford and Stevenage. I visited Elizabeth House in Chelmsford, which is located in the heart of the city directly opposite the Meadows Car Park in Baddow Road.

So what do they do? Mantle provide serviced office space, meeting space, flexi offices and virtual offices. Their services could include a call answering provision as well as a business address. On the day I visited there was a national restaurant chain holding an event there.

Access could not be better, which is a great starting point for any small or medium size business that is looking for good functional, well serviced accommodation in the city centre, but which does not wish to purchase a lengthy and costly lease.

I always advise my business students to cut costs to a minimum, contract out work where you can and focus on your unique selling point. The growth of digital business has meant that many successful outfits started in a spare bedroom. However they can quickly grow to a point where they need office space - but not all the time. That is where Mantle Business Centres come in. Look at their website (www. mantlebusinesscentres.co.uk) to get an idea of how their business could help yours. There is a whole range of packages available and Lucy Hoddle the centre manager will be able to guide any interested business through all the packages on offer. I was really taken with a simple deal of £10 a day to rent a work space. That gives you access to the facilities on a 24/7 basis along with a broadband connection and all the tea and coffee you need. You don’t even need to book, just turn up on the day if you wish. As a value for money flexible package, this is incredible.

I first started working from an office in my house back in the 1990s.

One of the biggest problems I found was loneliness. I missed the office banter and the inspiration coming from chatting to colleagues and testing out new ideas. Mantle’s tenants will not experience that type of business isolation. The energy that small business people pick up from each other should not be underestimated. To help develop that sense of belonging Mantle regularly organise events within their buildings. They even have a staff Christmas party for all their service users so that they will not feel left out in the festive season. This sense of tenant identity builds up a great affinity with Mantle.

Jo Hart, the Group Development and Marketing Manager, told me that a key organisational aim is to identify exactly what their tenants needs are and then give it to them. Don’t forget that Facebook started out in a college bedroom and is now worth billions of dollars. Jo says that Mantle’s ambition is to help small businesses grow and develop by utilising their services on an increasing scale.

As businesses grow so will their needs.

Mantle aims to help them do that, but without the small business having to commit to long leases, or major investments. Who knows, perhaps one of Mantle’s current service users is another Bill Gates...

The 5 business centres have all developed individually to meet their local market needs. One of Jo’s jobs now is to oversee a rebranding exercise that gives a corporate overview to all the centres so that they are easily recognised as Mantle Centres, but without losing their individual identity and unique selling points. Some tenants may even move around amongst the different centres depending on their type of business and what events they are involved in.

Mantle is unlikely to take its eye off the ball, as the comapny’s founder Guy Baker, along with his brother Jamie, retains an operational role. I am always reassured when a growing business has its investors as operators, they are more likely to continue their organic growth and to keep their customers at the heart of the business.

The business model is efficient. Essential services, such as cleaning, maintenance, security, and building enhancement are all contracted out. This keeps the organisation lean, but flexible and responsive. Jo made it clear to me that she always looks at their customer journey and adjusts their services to help facilitate that journey. This means you can hire a dedicated office space, a whole room, a whole floor, or just turn up on the day to get a space just for you.

As well as supporting small to medium size businesses with their professional services offer, Mantle could also help large companies or wealthy investors. Any individual or organisation with a whole floor of a building empty, or perhaps even a whole building, should talk to Mantle. It would be worth exploring the possibility of setting up another business centre. Mantle aims to expand within its Cambridgeshire/Essex/Hertfordshire operational area.

The facilities are exactly what you can expect in a modern office environment. Clean, well furnished, light, with good furniture and with a welcoming and attractive reception area. You would be perfectly happy and comfortable working or meeting there.

When I was working at home in my spare bedroom back in the ‘90s, what I would have given for the chance to have an office base now and again. I think this is a slick, well honed and sensible business model that will help the city of Chelmsford support and encourage more fledgling businesses to develop. Its company mantra of Work Meet Grow encapsulates their offer.

For more information see their advert on page 17.

Channels Channels Drive, Chelmsford CM3 3PT

Aqua Verde With only the popular Pinehurst housetype available to buy, this really is your last chance to find your home at Aqua Verde.

Don’t delay, come and visit our sales centre and discover how we can help you buy.

4-bedroom home from £599,995

Eagle Rise Come and visit our contemporary 5-bedroom showhome and sales centre, The Gleneagles.

3-bedroom homes from £409,995 4-bedroom homes from £584,995 5-bedroom homes from £599,995

Help to Buy ...how it works* Based on a purchase price of £409,995 You pay a 5% deposit of £20,500 An exclusive development set in the glorious Essex countryside comprising two new communities, Aqua Verde and Eagle Rise, each offering a choice of property styles and budgets to suit everyone.

20% interest free equity loan of £81,999 is provided by the Government You only need to secure a 75% mortgage of £307,496

CLOSE TO THE CITY CENTRE - EXCELLENT TRAVEL LINKS - HIGH SPECIFICATION - READY TO RESERVE

Sales centre open daily 10.00am - 5.00pm Call: 01245 698 839

www.bellway.co.uk

Prices correct at time of press. Computer generated images are indicative only, specification on site may differ. *YOUR HOME MAY BE REPOSSESSED IF YOU DO NOT KEEP UP REPAYMENTS ON YOUR MORTGAGE OR ANY OTHER DEBT SECURED ON IT. Help to Buy is subject to the Homes and Communities Agency’s (HCA) terms and conditions and is available on new build homes up to £600,000 to customers where the property represents their only residence. Not available on second, additional homes, buy-to-let or let-to-buy properties. HomeBuy agent eligibility check required. The equity loan is interest free for the first five years and needs to be a minimum of 10% of the purchase price up to a maximum of 20%. After five years, an annual fee of 1.75% of the outstanding equity loan is charged. This is increased annually by RPI plus 1%. The equity loan must be repaid after 25 years, or earlier if you sell your home. A monthly management fee of £1 is payable by the equity loan borrower by direct debit, from the start of the loan until it is repaid. The management fee and interest fees are not capital repayments to the equity loan and do not reduce the amount owing. Help to Buy operates under terms and conditions imposed by the HCA and may be subject to change. Please visit www.helptobuy.gov.uk for further information.

www.chelmsfordthecitytimes.co.uk

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Classic Car Show - Ingatestone Electric Car Chargers Installed at Park & Ride Sites Motorists will now be able to charge their Hall on 29th July 2018 electric cars at four new charging points at

This is the 42nd annual classic show and is open to all classic and significant interest vehicles.

the Sandon and Chelmer Valley Park and Ride sites.

Classic vehicle owners must register, but it is free for the public to attend. For more information or to register your vehicle, please visit www.ingatestoneclassic.co.uk (spaces are limited).

Electric Blue, in partnership with Essex County Council, installed the points at no cost to taxpayers and drivers are able to pay using a mobile app.

This is a charity event and aims to raise money for the Farleigh Hospice who provide a very special level of care and support.

Cllr Ian Grundy, Cabinet Member for Highways, said: “This project comes at zero cost to taxpayers and not only replaces the two chargers installed in 2011, but doubles capacity at each site. “Each point is capable of charging two cars at a time. In total, four cars can be charged simultaneously at each site, so depending on your battery size it should take roughly four hours to fully charge your car. There are no subscriptions, connection fees or minimum spends. Motorists can buy a unit of energy for around 25 pence, so for a 22 kilowatt car battery you could do up to 100 miles for £5.50. “We will be monitoring the usage of the charging points and once there is sufficient demand we are keen to install more points. This is another step towards creating a greener Essex by reducing air pollution and using renewable energy sources.”

As well as the fabulous array of spectacular classic vehicles on display, there will also be tea, coffee and ice creams available, as well as quizzes and raffle prizes to win.

Access to the lovely gardens is free, so make a note in your diary for a great family picnic day out set in the grounds of Ingatestone Hall.

Sunday 29th July 2018 from 9.30am until 3.30pm.

Walkers in Essex Asked to Unite Against Parkinson’s

Electric Blue CEO Alex Calnan said: “We are pleased to be able to support Essex County Council in their EV charger improvements at the Park and Ride facilities and hope to play a significant role in helping Essex residents improve their air quality by converting to zero emission electric vehicles.”

Essex residents are being asked to unite with thousands To access the chargers, you simply need to download the mobile app and start of people across the UK and Walk for Parkinson’s at RHS charging. For more information visit www.electricblueuk.com/essex.

Garden Hyde Hall on Sunday 8th July. The event will raise vital funds for the charity Parkinson’s UK, and is one of and a fundraising pack and at the end of the walk, a finisher’s medal. many walks taking place all over the UK throughout 2018.

Two people are diagnosed with the condition every hour in the UK and Walk for Parkinson’s events aim to raise over £500,000 for research to step closer to a cure.

As the charity is hoping to raise over £500,000 from the 37 events, it suggests walkers aim to raise at least £50 each. All the money raised from the event will fund research to help to find a cure and improve the lives of the 145,000 people in the UK living with Parkinson’s.

There are longer and shorter distances to choose from, so whether you’re up for a challenging walk or a gentle stroll, there’s something for everyone. At Hyde Hall distances include a 2-mile and 5-mile walk to choose from.

Parkinson’s UK is also looking for volunteers to help register people at the start/finish area, or to be a walk marshall at various points on the route during the day.

It’s the first time Parkinson’s UK has hosted a Walk for Parkinson’s at Hyde Hall. Previous walks in the area have seen more than 200 local people take part, so the charity hopes to involve even more walkers with the new and exciting venue.

Sky Sports Presenter and Champion of Walking for Parkinson’s UK Dave Clark was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2011. He is a keen walker himself and is encouraging people to get involved. He said: “We want to make 2018 our biggest year yet for the Walk for Parkinson’s series. I’d like to invite everyone, whatever their level of fitness, to take advantage of the many different types of walks, scenic routes and distances available. Exercise can be really beneficial to people living with Parkinson’s. It is as important to me as my medication in helping me take control and manage my symptoms.

“So please join us at Hyde Hall Walk for Parkinson’s. Every step takes us closer to a cure and our goal of improving the lives of everyone affected by Parkinson’s.”

The registration fee is £10 for adults and £5 for under 16s. Everyone who registers will receive a free Parkinson’s UK T-shirt

To find out more or to sign up to walk or volunteer at the event, please visit www.parkinsons.org.uk/walkhydehall, call 0207 963 3912, or email fundraising@parkinsons.org.uk.

Hairy Monster - Random Thoughts

I am a failed vegetarian; I tried it a few years back but I lacked the willpower. The idea of not having a bacon sarnie in the morning or a large cod and chips on Saturday evening was more than I could contemplate. I’m an omnivore, I admit it. However, there are certain foods I detest. Broccoli, sausages and rollmops are my worst nightmares - and of these, rollmops, aka pickled herring, are probably my least favourite food... ever. And so it was that I went for lunch at a well known restaurant in Boreham with my friend Lea and her mother Annie to celebrate her recent divorce.

We all chose the fish platter - it looked superb - but then, to my horror, staring back at me from between the prawns, the anchovies and the salmon fillets were two rollmops. Rather than offend Annie, who was paying for the meal, I resigned myself to the prospect of having to consume them. I decided to take the bull by the horns and eat them first rather than postpone the inevitable and I swallowed them whole to avoid tasting them. Annie was impressed. “Wow” she said, “you must really like them...” I nodded in assent. She then dug her fork into her two rollmops, put them on my plate and said “...can’t stand them myself.” Then Lea followed suit with a similar explanation.

I don’t remember much more about the meal but I did learn an important lesson: If you don’t like something, say so. It avoids spending the rest of the day throwing up in the toilet.

At 8am, just as I was about to hit the sack, a piercing scream emanated from the adjacent apartment. Five-year old twins and a mother with a screech that could cut through steel were to plague my stay. Maybe if I understood Spanish the constant shouting would have been more entertaining, but I could only surmise as to what heinous crime the kids had committed to evoke their mother’s earsplitting response.

Over the next few days and weeks I found quite a few more cracks in the facade of my dream escape. For a start, dog walkers appear to feel under no obligation, legal or moral, to clean up after their pooches. The beach, deserted by day, was clearly a nocturnal smokers’ paradise. Why people would leave cigarette ends littering the sand was beyond me. How much effort does it take to bury them out of sight of small children? Don’t get me wrong, my stay wasn’t all negative. Sunbathing on the beach from mid-December till late February (not continuously, I did other stuff too), meeting some really nice people, amazingly some of whom were Brits running a charity for local deprived families, and riding Boris (my mountain bike) along the seafront were all positives. To sum up, I’m glad I tried the ‘escape to the sun’ but I won’t repeat it next winter. Like the proverbial ‘curate’s egg’ the experience was good in parts. I enjoyed the weather but I really missed my friends - both of them. Some dreams should remain exactly where they belong; in your head.

It would be a fitting tribute to the memory of Rob O’Connor if I’m solar powered and consequently I don’t cope well with the British homelessness awareness had advanced since his death on the winter. I want to hibernate from October to March, but the human streets of Chelmsford in February. The immediate reaction of the body is, unfortunately, incapable of sustaining itself for a six month city’s residents was one of horror and disbelief that this could snooze, so I investigated the alternative option of spending the time happen, literally, on our doorstep and there was hope that some sort in warmer climes, found an apartment in a place called Manilva on of official action to support rough sleepers might be imminent. But the Costa del Sol a few miles from Gibraltar, paid the owner four sadly, as in so many past tragedies local, national and international, months rent, loaded up the car and headed due south at the end of it seems this is yet another event that will slowly disappear into November. Two days later at 4 in the morning I was in the flat, eating history. To underline the point, Chelmsford Council have now denied a traditional Spanish breakfast of cider, cheesy Wotsits and a squidgy funds to Sanctus homeless charity...

Mars bar. It felt great and as a confirmed pessimist, it was unusual for me to feel confident that the next seventeen weeks would be If ever humanity is spotted near the doors of the council chamber, anything other than perfect. I should have stuck to my gut instincts... security will no doubt be called to remove it from the premises. www.chelmsfordthecitytimes.co.uk

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Wildlife Corner by Nick Green

In April/May the weather continued wet, temperatures struggled to reach double figures at first and slowed bud and blossom development, but the 19th saw 79 degrees Fahrenheit (26C) - the warmest April day for 79 years! Conversely, the 30th was overcast, very wet and with cold northerly winds and just 5C. In in Essex the goldcrest (Regulus regulus), is a common resident, passage migrant and winter visitor. Along with Firecrest (R.ignicapillus), these are the country’s smallest birds and weigh just 6 grammes, yet the migrant populations fly across the North Sea to Scandinavia to breed and migrate back! The goldcrest is typically associated with boreal and temperate trees, particularly spruce and fir. It is one of the most widespread and abundant breeding birds in Britain.

Passage birds are most obvious on the coast and the largest recorded ‘fall’ was in October 1975 with 400 on Foulness on 11th, ‘hundreds’ at The Naze on 18th and 23rd and 150-200 through Colne Point during the month. Spring passage is generally light and undetectable.

In a long cold winter and/or a late spring as now in 2018, bird garden feeding stations really are of great importance. Bird feeders come in a variety of forms including domed, wire mesh, perspex, plastic, etc. Preventing squirrels accessing your feeders is a good idea.

Recommended food stuffs include fat balls, sunflower hearts, niger seed, pinhead oatmeal for robins, mealworms - dead or alive. Putting food on the ground may be good for finches, but rats may also be attracted.

Local Wildlife Societies Essex Birdwatching Society: www.ebes.org.uk Essex Wildlife Trust: www.essexwt.org.uk Essex Field Club: www.essexfieldclub.org.uk RSPB: www.rspb.org.uk

Chelmsford Library News

Do you have children starting school soon? All are welcome to join us at Chelmsford Library to meet new starters.

It is a great opportunity for yourself and your child to meet up and enjoy the books, activities and toys available and to explore our new refurbished Children’s Library. These days/events are being run independently from the schools to help your children engage with other new starters. So if you have a child starting at the following schools please come along.

Wednesday 27th June - Cathedral School (between 10-11.30am) Friday 29th June - Trinity Road School (between 10-11.30am) Wednesday 4th July - Oaklands School (between 10-11.30am) Friday 6th July - Moulsham Infants School (between 10-11.30am) Refreshments available for a donation.

Chelmsford Library hold Community Teatimes on a regular basis.

These are informal gatherings and all ages are welcome. Scrabble and jigsaws will be available for all the family to use.

Mencap host Wednesday afternoon sessions on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month between 2-3pm.

Singing male goldcrest Copyright: Jeff DelveGlyn Evans

June/July Issue Deadlines: Artwork - 7th June Articles - 30th May

Our Saturday Community Teatimes are hosted by library staff between 10.30-11.30am. Come along, enjoy a cuppa and make new friends in a friendly atmosphere.

We are now recruiting volunteers for our Summer Reading Challenge. Are you aged 14 and above and enjoy working as part of a team? Find out more at libraries.essex.gov.uk. Closing date for this is Sunday 14th June 2018. Please enrol early to get your first choice of library.

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

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Therapy - by Chelmsford Therapy Rooms This month I’m writing about overthinking as this is one of the most popular issues that clients come to therapy with.

Everyone at some point has suffered with overthinking. Whether you’re thinking all the time about something you’re planning (like a wedding or a birthday party) that you want to make sure goes well, or if you seem to overthink everything all of the time, overthinking seems to be an epidemic that many people simply don’t know what to do with. In this article I’m giving you a coping technique that has helped many of my clients and I hope it can help those of you that feel you overthink things too much!

The way I would describe overthinking is that the thoughts go around your head like they’re on a cycle track. Then the more you are aware of these thoughts, the more attention and energy you give them, and the bigger and more important these thoughts become. Before you know it you can end up obsessing over minor things and life seems much more stressful than it should be!

There are many coping mechanisms out there to help with overthinking, but one answer is simply to not give these thoughts energy. Of course, you can have therapy to help deal with why you’re having these thoughts, but in the meantime I like to give my clients a coping technique to help them day to day.

This technique is called Sorting Boxes. Close your eyes, take a few

deep breaths to help you achieve a more relaxed state, then imagine there are three boxes in your mind:

Allow yourself to overthink. When a thought enters your mind sort it into the corresponding box. For example, if you’re worrying about an upcoming wedding, what does the thought look like? Is there an image, a sound that goes with it? (The image might be a wedding dress, the sound might be wedding bells etc). Are there any specific emotions that connect to this thought? (Fear, excitement, worry etc). Are there any bodily sensations that connect to this thought?

(The emotions might cause physical symptoms like palpitations, headaches etc). So the original thought along with any images and sounds goes into the Thoughts box, the emotions go into the Feelings box and the physical symptom go into the Sensations box.

This technique allows us to validate the thoughts, feelings and sensations that you’re having whilst allowing you to do something with them. We’re not suppressing anything, we’re not ignoring anything, we’re just sorting those thoughts without giving them so much attention they get overwhelming!

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

Chelmsford Therapy Rooms is owned and run by Jenny Hartill, an integrative counsellor and hypnotherapist, who is happy to answer any questions!

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Fling Festival The Fling Festival returns to Hylands Park in Chelmsford on Saturday 30th June 2018 for its 10-year anniversary.

Headlining this year’s main stage is iconic British band, Buzzcocks, whose achievements include being one of the original holy trinity of British punk, innovators of the independent record scene and inspiration for bands as diverse as REM and Nirvana. Their headline set includes the hits Ever Fallen in Love (With Someone You Shouldnt’ve), What Do I Get?, and Why Can’t I Touch It? Other musical highlights include one of the finest and most respected DJs today, Norman Jay, plus the return of the infamous Silent Disco featuring a BBC 6Music battle between Shaun Keaveny and Steve Lamacq. This year also sees the introduction of two new music stages; Bay Days, which will be showcasing the best of the Essex music scene with sets from New Town Kings, F.O.X and Radd Pitt and Shakey’s Sessions Unplugged, which focuses on leading acoustic acts from Chelmsford and the local area including Leanne Louise, Helen Connelly, Carousel, Louise Parker, Hannah Paris, Magic Seas, Spencer M Taylor and Barton Young.

On top of this, we’re delighted to announce live music from some of most popular and entertaining local bands including live funk and soul from Junior Jump and the Bottom Line, classic hip-hop rock covers from everyone’s favourites, Grizzly Bearz and 90s dance anthems from local heroes, Sunscreem.

But of course it’s not just about the music. Fling strives to provide a unique selection of alternative and engaging entertainment designed to encourage your inner child. This year’s hugely popular Comedy Big Top features a bevy of leading acts from the circuit, including Terry Alderton, whose mind-blowing whirlwind of physical and verbal clowning has seen him on Live At The Apollo, McIntyre’s Road

Show, Royal Variety Performance and Eastenders. We also have Carl Donnelly who has not only been nominated for the Edinburgh Comedy Awards, but also appeared on a selection of TV shows, including Mock The Week and Russell Howard’s Good News. Other acts include Never Mind The Buzzcocks regular, Ben Norris, and unassuming comic genius, Addy Van Der Borgh. For outlandish entertainment look no further than the Cabaret Palace, where some of the most sought after acts from the global cabaret scene are set to enchant, surprise and dazzle the audience. Expect burlesque, knife throwing, pole dance, magic, hula, showgirls and the first ever Fling boylesque show.

After the success of last year, we also welcome back the bizarrely brilliant Social Club. Think Phoenix Nights meets Bethnal Green Working Mens Club, with an array of bespoke attractions from Bonkers Bingo and Play Your Cards Right, to Knobbly Knees and Pub Quiz.

This year also sees a new addition, Joskins Fayre. A traditional American carnival with a twist, featuring digital interactive freak show, Zoltar fortune teller, wonky coconut shi and more.

As well as all this there are the usual Fling favourites; Bollywood Tent, Space Hopper Racing, Adult Crafting, Storytelling, Dance Workshops, Pimms Beach, Fire Garden, Walkabout fun and much more. To keep the festival goers fuelled throughout the afternoon and evening there is a selection of local caterers serving a mouthwatering mix of meat, vegetarian and vegan options from burritos, Mexican loaded fries and pizza, to duck wraps, Indian street food and bubble waffles.

Fling Festival is strictly for those aged 18 years and older. Tier 3 tickets are now on sale from £26.00, available online via www. flingfestival.com, over the phone by calling 01245 606 830, or in person from the Civic Theatre Box Office, Fairfield Road, Chelmsford, CM1 1JG. For up-to-date festival information, please visit the official website www.flingfestival.com, follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter: @flingfestival.

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r fe d f t O ite 5 n e im £4 i Cl Unl for w s ) Ne Day shipapply r s 30 mbe(ts &c Me

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

Chelmsford Film Festival: The Sequel After a blockbusting first year, Chelmsford Film Festival returns for a sequel, and like all sequels it promises to be even bigger and better than the original.

Launched in 2017, Chelmsford Film Festival is an annual event dedicated to celebrating and showcasing the best from the world of short film. This year’s festival takes place from Wednesday June 6th to Saturday June 9th and has a line-up which will delight film insiders and film fans alike.

The four-day festival will feature talks from industry figures as well as networking opportunities, screenings of top independent short films from local and international filmmakers, plus an awards ceremony to recognise the most outstanding work shown this year.

“After the success of last year we wanted to push things even further this year,” said CFF founder and CEO Carl Mackenzie. “We’re really excited to present our award for Outstanding Contribution to British Cinema on our opening night and have a gala screening of Cannibals and Carpet Fitters.”

After the opening night, there’ll be an evening of networking where you can meet film makers and industry experts. “With all of our team working within film, we know how important it is to hook up with the right people and make the right connections,” said Andy Pinkney, CCF director and co-founder.

Throughout the festival there will be screenings of films shortlisted from entries received from the UK and around the world which Chris Cook, Festival Director, is especially excited about: “You just don’t get to see this sort of thing on the big screen very often.”

Finally, the festival’s finale will feature an awards ceremony for the most outstanding entries among the short films and a closing party.

The Festival Day by Day Opening Night: Everyman Cinema, Bond Street, June 6th Everyman Cinema hosts the opening night featuring a presentation of Outstanding Contribution to British Cinema followed by an interview and Q&A session.

There will also be a screening of this year’s officially selected opening night film, Cannibals and Carpet Fitters, followed by a Q&A session with the cast and crew.

Networking Evening: Chop Bloc, Chelmsford, June 7th Join us for an evening dedicated to networking with fellow filmmakers, enthusiasts and industry professionals.

Officially Selected Film Screenings: Everyman, Chelmsford, June 7th, 8th & 9th All of this year’s selected film screenings will take place at Everyman Cinema and will showcase the best short films from around the world.

The audience will participate as they vote for this year’s best film for the 2018 Audience Film Choice Award.

Awards Ceremony & Closing Party: Transition, Chelmsford, June 9th A night of music, networking and awards presented to the winners of 11 categories. After the awards, Chelmsford’s coolest venue, Bassment, hosts the official closing party.

Tickets available from: www.chelmsfordfilmfestival.com For full information please head to www.chelmsfordfilmfestival.com.

For the latest festival news please follow our social media pages: Facebook: @ChelmsfordFilmFestival, Instagram: @chelmsfordfilmfest, Twitter: @ChelmsFilmFest.

Chelmsford Film Festival 2018 is proudly sponsored and partnered

by Everyman Cinema, Bond Street, Tiptree, G&B Finch, Integro, Braintree & Colchester Institute and Chelmsford College.

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Taking the Chance for Change - by Kellie Jones “Grief does not change you, Hazel. It reveals you.”

(John Green, The Fault in Our Stars) So springtime seems to be a little confused this year, with it’s extremely variable temperatures, even the plants and wildlife are not sure what’s going on. But amazingly nature seems to adapt itself and deal with it each year, which I suspect is due to their lack of planning ahead and instead acting on instinct. So why do we as humans need to predict the weather and get all screwed up if it’s not what you hoped for? With the abundance of choices available to us now, more than ever before, thanks to technology, we still seem to be limited by our own minds. By this I mean that we can get stuck in the safety of planning and freak out when something like a storm comes along to change it, only seeing what we are missing, not seeing the opportunity that spontaneity can bring.

This time last year I was working hard on creating a gradual change from what I’ve been choosing, based on my past beliefs and forming a new lifestyle based on my newer, better way of being. I figured that I would slowly transition from running Hummingbird full-time to part-time and be working on my book, blog site and workshops that could give me some of the freedom for the creative change I craved.

But little did I know that a storm was brewing, waiting to floor me with torrential tears, thunderbolts of love and lightning storms of fear. This came in the form of losing my dad to a plague of cancer and meeting my soulmate all in the space of 8 weeks. This was not the gradual, safe change that I had planned, this was ripping up the instructions of how it’s meant to go and being thrown right into the abyss. But now the storm has passed and in its wake is me, stripped bare and vulnerable, as I realise that I will never be the same me again.

For sure when you are in an emergency situation, instinct kicks in.

But where does it go when it’s passed? At first a sense of normality is welcome and some, I’m sure, are happy with that - they just stay calm and carry on. I have tried that but I cannot deny what the intensity of this change in my world has revealed to me. What I didn’t see about myself before, what behaviours I lived out because of my dad, because of being single, because of so many things but mostly of not listening enough to the calling from my soul. This stirring is inside all of us I am certain, some act on it and some may not even know it’s there but if we all could access this inner knowing and bypass the crap in our heads what would we all being doing?

they want to see, I have to practise what I preach.

So with that, I am taking an overdue sabbatical from my role at Hummingbird for a few months, which includes writing this column.

I am taking the time out to write my book with a clear head and an open heart, to travel and to start a new lifestyle with my eyes wide open to opportunity….

If you would like to find out more about meditation at Hummingbird then you can sign up for our now GDPR compliant newsletter at www. hummingbirdpilates.co.uk.

To keep up with my adventures in life you will soon be able to read my blogs on my website, and you can also keep up to date via my Facebook page: #selfloveplanunderway.

PS: One of my wonderful clients who has definitely listened to her inner calling will be writing this column for me in my absence. I can’t wait to read Allyson’s wisdom on this page next month!

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Regular meditation is key to listening, for getting to know yourself better and helps the bad feelings to pass through you so you can enjoy the good ones when they occur. None of us can avoid the storms in life and only have sunny times, so how about we get in tune with our own nature, become aware of our instincts and know when it’s time for change even if it’s difficult to implement? Even though I would prefer to have my dad back with me in this realm, I thank him for showing me what opportunities there still are now that I can see more clearly.

I was recently inspired by one of our Hummingbird clients when she and her husband sold up their house, jacked in their jobs and set off in a campervan to go experience life. She told me she’s had no psoriasis for 6 months now which doesn’t surprise me at all. I know that to inspire others to be the change www.chelmsfordthecitytimes.co.uk Page 23

The History of Marconi in Chelmsford: Part Eight - by Stephen Norris Firstly apologies; last months article should have been titled Part Seven.

The GEC takeover of EE did not initially cause many problems for Marconi. An initial report on Marconi after the merger said that no work would be transferred from the existing plant in the Chelmsford area to the Midlands or the North. The following year saw Marconi develop and build a one million pound earth communication terminal. This was assembled at Rivenall and shipped out to the Ascension Islands. This resulted in the company being awarded the first of numerous Queen’s Awards for Industry.

During the 1970s however, the workforce at Marconi’s factories in the Chelmsford area varied according to its order books. In 1971 for example the cancellation of a Libyan defence contract resulted in several hundred job losses. After 600 redundancies were announced the following year, Stevas, the local MP, met with the Department of Trade and Industry to get assurances on employment at the firm.

Marconi Marine however, continued to flourish. In 1972 it received a big order from a Japanese firm. The same year it was the only one of GEC’s hundreds of companies to receive a Queen’s Award for Industry - this was for exports. The following year Marconi Marine won a design award for its Seachart echo finder. An upturn in orders generally for the Marconi group of companies meant that its factories in the Chelmsford area were actually short of 350 workers in 1973.

During the 1970s and the 1980s, Marconi became increasingly dependent on defence orders from governments both at home and abroad in an era when the Cold War was still very much alive. In 1976 one such order caused a great deal of controversy. Marconi’s contract with the South African Government led to a great deal of opposition from some of the trade unions at the Chelmsford works because of the apartheid issue. In the end, the unions were forced to accept the order because jobs were at risk.

Marconi put itself in a good position to win further defence contracts by developing the new Martello system of early warning radar. The RAF needed a new £100 million system to replace its out of date existing one. Marconi’s Martello system could provide a picture of Russian bomber activity up to 300 miles from the coast. These orders provided employment for Marconi Radar at their Writtle Road site. The firm was increasingly dependent however on the British government choosing Marconi tenders rather than their foreign competitors. In June 1980 the boss of Marconi Radar complained loudly after a major Civil Airports Authority order went to a Dutch company. Despite this, the company won a Queen’s Award for Exports that year. A delay to the government take up off the Martello system led Stevas to make representations again to the government, claiming that 30% of the jobs of the 3,700 workforce at Marconi Radar were under threat. One order went to the US because of heavy subsidies. The take-up of the Martello system by the British government, though belated, paved the way for many further orders for the system from abroad, particularly NATO countries. As with many other Marconi technological achievements, it had taken well over a decade to achieve positive results. Again it resulted in a Marconi company, Marconi Radar, receiving a Queen’s Award for Industry.

with Marconi radar and missile guidance systems. After the war MCS received a massive military order for the defence of ‘Fortress Falklands’.

After a difficult period in the early 1980s, marred by redundancies and poor industrial relations, the Marconi group became one of the most profitable sectors in the GEC conglomerate. For a few years the order books for both Marconi Radar and MCS were full. The shortage of skilled engineers became even more acute however.

A company spokesman said: “It (the business) is becoming higher and higher tech all the time.” In 1984 MCS received a £11 million order for twenty thousand radio sets for British police and firemen to give them the best radio service in the world, in the face of stiff competition. MCS also obtained a major order from the US Navy for radio equipment in 1984.

During the 1980s the Great Baddow laboratories were carrying out potentially vital research into automation and the robots of the future.

By 1985 they were, it was thought, two and a half years away from having an assembly line prototype to demonstrate. This (Operation Gadfly) potentially gave the Marconi group one way of moving away from defence contracts. Unfortunately for Marconi, this type of ‘hi tech’ computer dominated development was not compatible with Weinstock’s view of how the company should be developing.

The 1990s saw two events which in their different ways led to the demise of the Marconi name and group of companies. These were the end of the Cold War in 1991 and the retirement of Lord Weinstock in 1996. By the 1980s Marconi was the primary defence subsidiary of GEC and was renamed Marconi - GEC in 1987. The end of the Cold War drastically reduced the demand for ever more sophisticated defence systems which Marconi had played such a major part in producing. Initially, the affect of this was masked by the outbreak of the first Gulf War in which Marconi played a vital role with its ‘see in the dark’ electronics. The low altitude infra-red night vision system used in the conflict had been developed at Great Baddow.

Marconi Radar’s main contribution to the war effort was target tracking and fine control radar for Sea Wolf and Sea Dart missiles on board Royal Navy ships. They could take out incoming Exocet missiles. MCS supplied high frequency radios for the Royal Navy and the Army. One hundred Marconi - GEC workers were sent out to the Gulf to maintain equipment.

The early 1990s saw a radical restructuring of the Marconi works in and around Chelmsford. New Street, the main base for MCS, saw a complete facelift and the Marconi Radar factory at Writtle Road was drastically scaled down. The concentration of Marconi Radar production in Fife and Leicester led to increased redundancies at that works. This was followed by further redundancies at New Street and Great Baddow. MCS and Marconi Radar continued however, to get big orders. MCS received yet more Queen’s Awards for Industry for both technology and exports for its new Scimitar radio, which was sold to a large number of countries.

Marconi Communication Systems Limited (MCS) was also doing well, with over four and a half thousand people employed at New Street in 1980. Partly because of the local shortage of housing and transport problems, the factory was usually short of workers, particularly skilled engineers. In 1981 MCS won a Queen’s Award for Technical Achievement for a fast tuning automatic radio transmitter which gained the company £50 million worth of business. This was the 25th Queen’s Award for Industry to be awarded to the Marconi group of companies since the awards had started in 1965. In 1982 MCS became the first British company to build and install a satellite earth terminal.

Not for the first time the outbreak of a conflict benefitted Marconi.

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Peter Blake.

A Pop Culture Poster Exhibition, by Sam Mayle a self-taught illustrator, explores alternative themes around movie posters for popular films.

Sam’s influences include sci-fi, fantasy and horror. The Hive Artists WW1: Renewal Exhibition reveals a selection of mixed artwork exploring the themes around war, freedom, sacrifice, courage, renewal and peace.

Chelmsford Festival of Art & Culture launches a new family festival packed with music, art and dance. The festival opens in the town centre on Saturday June 23rd with a host of entertaining activities, and following this will include a week long, city-wide programme of art and cultural events. The programme consists of art exhibitions, musical performances, a carnival parade, storytelling, circus and dance performers, science, dance and visual art workshops and much more. Other highlights include the Sound of Essex Festival (a youth music festival celebrating music from schools across Essex) and the Chelmsford River Festival, including the Essex Dragon Boat World Cup Race. Chelmsford will host this significant festival for the first time this year, and the vision is to grow it year on year making it an annual event to mark in the calendar.

Nick Garner, Festival Trustee, said: “When I initially heard that someone wanted to put Chelmsford forward for the UK City of Culture, I thought we need something big to help with the bid, and I came up with the idea for the Arts and Cultural Festival. This festival includes anyone and everyone - no matter what age, race or ability; it’s something to help put us on the world map as I felt we have so much to offer as a city and county. I hope it’s for the betterment of all. My vision is that it will bring people to the area - not just for the festival, but throughout the year - and will help bring people together, increase employment and grow our arts and culture. I hope this will become one of the world’s major festivals in time. It’s great getting local people working alongside international acts and artists, showing the wealth of talent that we have in all areas, including science and more, which seems relevant given that we are the birthplace of radio.

This is not just for me or my fellow trustees - by the way, without them and our volunteers this would not happen - it is for everyone.”

Street Programme The festival will open with a carnival parade incorporating music, majorettes and dance groups in flamboyant costumes. The parade will move through the main streets of the city to the bowl (outside John Lewis) to see the start of an all-day programme of stage performances. The line-up includes the tribute band the Trembling Wilburys, and The Buzniks - a 4-piece rock combo formed by exSqueeze bassman John Bentley. Headlining on the Sunday will be Malcolm Bruce, son of the late Jack Bruce (Cream). The patrons of the festival include Suzie Quatro and Gilson Lavis.

The Bearded Gypsys Trade Fayre will present an eclectic array of unique and vintage pop-up craft stalls and a range of street food options. Other street highlights will include circus performers, street animations, drummers, storytellers and dancers. There will be face painting, yarn bombing, craft and art workshops supporting local artists, and penny farthing bicycle and model boat demonstrations.

Local chef Leon Lewis will offer a delicious range of vegetarian cuisine.

Visual Arts This festival will see many visual art exhibitions and workshops: Hylands Artist Studios will be sharing their enthusiasm for the visual arts by exhibiting their collections, demonstrating their work and running creative workshops. The genres of art include portrait, glass, encaustic, abstract and illustration. The displays will also contain examples of interior and knitting design and bespoke jewellery. The V Flections exhibition by portrait artist James Wilkinson will focus on his on and off stage sketches, portraits, photographs and videos.

Wilkinson is the official portrait artist to the V-Festival (now Rize) and takes inspiration from the classics of Caravaggio and the pop art of

Gallery 43 will host a show celebrating the Essex countryside from local artists James Hewitt, Sue Spiers and Paul Franks. The Wishbone Gallery plans to promote the work of twelve leading contemporary British artists, including the top selling commercial artist JJ Adams. The exhibition will also include work from three local artists taken from a competition at Rivermead Gallery (Anglia Ruskin University). The Chelmer Fine Art gallery will be offering for sale the portraits of visual artist Gilson Lavis (ex-Squeeze and the drummer for Jools Holland) who has painted many famous musicians including Lily Allen, Paloma Faith, Lulu and Smokey Robinson.

Music

The highlight this year includes the Sound of Essex, a youth music festival, hosted by Essex Music Education Hub, to celebrate young people’s learning in music across Essex. The organisers would like to inspire young people to engage with all genres of music, including classical and modern.

The programme of events will include band stage and orchestral performances, singing and musical workshops.

Gareth Bennett, Church Music Minister, will host several lunchtime concerts presenting an individual performer, band, troupe and/or choir. Essex Symphony Orchestra will present a programme inspired by film, radio and TV. Performances will include Bernstein’s West Side Story, Symphonic Dances (1957) and Simmer/Badelt’s Pirates of the Caribbean.

Dance The Hyve Dance Events will be providing dance workshops and performances. The Hyve is dedicated to promoting the arts in Essex, providing high quality teaching and workshops. The international Artistic Director, Regi Hybride from the famous Criminalz crew, returns to bring the international hip-hop flavour to this event. The team of performers at Little Stars Circus will perform acrobatic demonstrations and aerial arrangements involving aerial hoop, silks and trapeze.

River The river programme includes the Essex Dragon Boat World Cup Race where 32 teams will compete in three races for a place in the finals to help raise funds for blood cancer research. The theme this year will be the competing teams from the 2018 World Cup. The narrow boats and cruisers along the Chelmer and Blackwater navigation will open their doors to visitors and offer a selection of crafts and cream teas from the various moorings. The canoe club will present a day of canoeing consisting of the ‘town dash’ chariot races and bell boat push o’ war.

Heritage Alan Pamphilon will present two historic storytelling events. The Industrial Heritage Talk encompasses a history of local groundbreaking inventions, railway building and electronic innovation. The Chilling Tales of Chelmsford walk describes the more unpleasant, darker side of Chelmsford’s history featuring murders, ghosts, hangings and witchcraft. Chelmsford Museum on Tour will present a pop-up exhibition which includes ice age mammal remains including a woolly rhino’s jaw and items from the Victorian house section of the Chelmsford museum. www.chelmsfordfestival.org

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Culmination of Rotary Youth Competitions Sees Success for Local Students During the Rotary year there are several different youth competitions, and I am delighted to report that the two students sponsored by the Rotary Club of Chelmsford scooped the pool at the District Young Musician Competition at Chelmsford Cathedral in February and then went one better in May when they each won their category at the regional finals held in Buckinghamshire.

Following a series of scintillating performances thoroughly enjoyed by an enthusiastic audience, the Rotary Young Musician was announced as flautist Lottie Anstee and the Young Singer was Abbie Ward. They now go on to the national final in Edinburgh on 19th May and they take our good wishes with them. The Chelmsford club gave each of them a special financial prize to match other awards given at district level.

The Mayor of Chelmsford, Cllr Duncan Lumley and Chairman of Essex County Council, Cllr John Aldridge, presented trophies and certificates.

Youth Speaks It’s quite an accolade to be chosen to host a regional final, not to mention a lot of hard work, so we were very pleased that our local clubs were asked to co-ordinate the final of Youth Speaks at Anglia Ruskin University on Saturday 21st April. Although we didn’t have a winner, Brentwood School Intermediate did us proud. Once again, the event was supported by the Mayor and Mayoress of Chelmsford together with the Deputy Mayoress and Dr James Bettley, Deputy Lieutenant of Essex.

The Intermediate category was won by Springfield High School, King’s Lynn, speaking on E-Safety, and Seniors - Dame Alice Owen’s School, Herts, with Can We Ever Win the Fight Against Slavery in the UK? Both teams now go on to compete in the RIBI National Final at Exmouth Community College on 12th May 2018.

We wish them well in a competition where schools in Essex have had major successes in recent years, winning the overall competition on a few occasions including three years ago when I was District Governor and privileged to give the trophy to our own schools.

Young Chef After winning the District Final at the Chelmsford College, Sasha Martin of Gateway Academy went through to the Regional Final of the Rotary Young Chef competition in London. The competition is designed to encourage young people between the age of 11 and 17 to develop food preparation skills, consider healthy eating options and prepare a menu within a set budget. On the day, students were required to prepare a meal for two people.

Sasha’s menu included for entrée: crispy prosciutto, buffalo Mozzarella & blow torched figs homemade Focaccia, pea shoots, Balsamic glaze, basil oil. For the main dish she prepared: pan roasted Suffolk pork, celeriac purée and parsnip crisps, honey roast vegetables, sprouts, red wine pan gravy and for dessert, chocolate & banana avocado mousse, raspberry coulis chocolate & pistachio soil, pistachio Tuiles, fresh raspberries.

Despite fierce competition at the Regional Finals, at the end of the event the judge announced that the winner was Sasha Martin.

Sasha then went to the National Final at Telford where she was highly commended. Because of her age she is still eligible to enter again next year when the national finals will be held in Essex.

Other Competitions Round Up There have been a number of other competitions, including Young Writer and Young Photographer, and these have also reached the National Judging Final on 14th May. Young Artist is a new competition and more news on how it goes will follow.

Under 12 Football is seeing more entries and we await the winner to go forward to St George’s Premier Football Training Ground.

RYLA is another success in our district. Next Rotary year will see us lead on offering ILM Certificate for those who wish to partake.

It is a new initiative and details are in preparation. It is hoped to have under 18 and over 18 RYLA’s next year. It certainly improves the development of our youngsters in terms of leadership and communication skills.

There is so much that Rotary contributes to the encouragement of young people, but this can only be done with the goodwill of Rotarians. If you feel this is an area in which you would like to be involved, please visit www.rotary1240.org or call me on 01245 463 699 for further information.

Stan Keller

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Stargazing with Mark Willis - May/June During the spring evenings the top part of the constellation of Orion is visible, but Rigel, one of the bottom group, is barely above the horizon. Some constellations never set foot below the horizon. One of these is Ursa Major, the Great Bear.

1st June: Japan’s Hayabusa2 spacecraft will reach the asteroid Ryugu where it will collect a sample and return it to Earth in 2020.

21st June: June solstice which, as many people know, rings in the first day of summer. What is perhaps not generally well known is what the word ‘solstice’ means or where it came from. The root word is solstitium, the first part ‘sol’ meaning the sun and the second part ‘sistere’ which means to stand.

27th June: Saturn at opposition, which means that the planet is at its closest point to Earth. About now, Saturn will become an evening visitor until 16th December when it reverts to being a morning object once more. At midnight, due south, Saturn will be very easy to spot as it’s very close to the Moon! Saturn is of course famous for its impressive rings. The rings are likely to have formed by one or two processes: either a moon broke up, or it was impossible for the moon to form because of Saturn’s mighty tidal forces. There is still a great

deal we don’t know about Saturn’s rings. But they are lovely, aren’t they?

As our nights become noticeably shorter, astronomers do more solar observing. The North Essex Astronomical Society will be holding solar observing days during the summer months. Why not pop over to Great Notley Discovery Park and take a look? These events are free and there will be members to help you see the broiling surface of the Sun and sunspots!

New Moon On 15th May, 13th June, 12th July: There will be a new Moon. This means the skies will be extra dark which is a great opportunity to see planets, galaxies and deep space objects. As usual, email me with your questions….

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

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

Get in the Moment Mumma! - by Eleanor Searle Today’s article was inspired by a friend of mine, who told me how she’d spent a blissful afternoon with her three year old watching a snail make its way up the garden path, noticing everything.

Now before half of you go ‘yuck, a snail’ imagine if it was the first time you’d ever seen one and how amazing that would be. It carries its home on its back for a start and omits a dreamlike silvery trail and these are just two quick observations. For them, it was truly magical moment and one that got us talking about mindfulness in motherhood.

journey together! However, if you need a little more guidance from someone older than your children, come and see us at Hummingbird and we will teach you how to be mindful, either in one of our amazing mindfulness workshops or one-to-one sessions.

Find out more at www.hummingbirdpilates.co.uk.

Mindfulness, put simply, is about living in the moment with an open heart and open mind, something that comes so naturally to our children and something that as grown ups most of us need to work at, as a result of our own cynicism and the stress and disconnect of modern life.

Online there is quite a lot about how mindfulness, deep breathing and relaxing can help you to cope with the difficult moments of life, including the less than perfect bits of motherhood. Those moments where you’re tearing your hair out, have washing coming out of your ears, a huge to-do list and haven’t had an unbroken night’s sleep for what seems like forever. All of which is very relevant and probably the theme for another article, but this article is about letting our children guide us through the greatest adventure of our lives: parenthood.

Showing us how to be truly mindful and reminding us that as parents we need to trust our instincts, hold our nerve and let them explore the world, without thinking about where we need to be or who else needs to validate it for us on social media.

So increase your mindful awareness and I promise that you’ll derive greater enjoyment from the simple things in life. Take a moment to enjoy their smile or marvel at a flower, no matter what else may be going on. It might also (possibly) hold your adult scepticism until you’ve tried it, help you to relax without a glass of wine and with your children present, as you get a rush of endorphins from noticing the little things in life, such as the sun catching their hair or their joy at splashing in a puddle.

I implore you to listen to your heart, slow down, let your children show you how to explore the world, breathe, and when the moment gets rough don’t be rough on yourself or your children. Enjoy your

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Join in with Local Choir as We Celebrate 10 Years in Fine Voice!

Every Thursday in June from 7-9pm at Meadgate Church, ‘The Orchards’ Join in with our open workshops, experience gospel music rhythms, melodies and harmonies and feel the thrill and challenge of singing with the support of our inspiring choir director and our friendly members.

Sunday 24th June at 12:30pm at Chelmsford Festival in Bond Street Come and hear us open the day’s festivities. If you’ve been to our open workshops, we hope you will join in with us on the day.

Throughout our 10 years, Chelmsford Community Gospel Choir has remained a warm, friendly bunch of ordinary people. We have members of different ages, races and genders, with and without a faith, united by the fun of singing upbeat, soulful, gospel music. We love entertaining our local community with our sound, which has gone from strength to strength under the guidance of CeCelia Wickham Anderson, our professional musical director.

Chelmsford Community Gospel Choir invites you to join our 10-year celebrations. Throughout June, people in and around Chelmsford can come and hear us, take part in our open workshops and sing with us at Chelmsford Festival. So where can you find us this summer?

Thursday 7th June at VOLfest on Chelmsford High Street Meet us at this year’s volunteer festival. We’ll be singing at lunchtime and celebrating Chelmsford’s amazing voluntary organisations.

Where Can You Find Us? We meet every Thursday from 7-9pm at Meadgate Church, ‘The Orchards’, near Meadgate Primary School, Mascalls Way, Great Baddow, Chelmsford, CM2 7NS. To find out more, go to www. chelmsfordgospelchoir.com.

So add your voice to our 10-year celebrations. Just turn up in June and join in!

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