The City Times - November/December 2022

Hello readers,

Welcome to The City Times November/December edition.

After this, our final edition of the year is out from Thursday 15th December. Please make sure you send in your events for our What’s On section in good time - you can contact us using the details below.

Please do also remember to let our advertisers know that you saw their advert in The City Times

Paul & Nick

www.thecitytimes.co.uk

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Nick Garner 07970 206682 ads@itsyourmedia.co.uk

Editorial

Paul Mclean 01245 262082 / 07595 949701 editorial@itsyourmedia.co.uk

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Nick’s Music and Ramblings

The clocks have gone back and it is darker earlier and the wind and rain is hereand boy, have we had some rain! I drove through quite a lot of flooding the other weekend - let’s hope these extremes do not become the norm, although it has to said it has also been pretty mild which is nice. I have only had my heating on a couple of times so far.

There seems to be a lot of people moving home near me - at least three moving away since the last edition... or maybe they are just trying to get away from me (tee hee).

Like many other mid-teen youngsters, my granddaughter has been busy doing mock exams preparing for the big ones next year. Good luck to you all, and if you feel stressed or under pressure then please talk about it - don’t bottle it up as that is no good. That of course applies to everyone really, young or old. There is plenty of help and some good listeners out there.

There are so many people worried about how they can make ends meet and pay those bills right now. I would suggest first of all to put Christmas to one side, or if you feel you really have to do something, then think about making things or go to charity shops - it’s the thought rather than the actual present that counts.

We’ve have just had Cop27, so let’s hope it does some good as we do not have much time to save us in the big scheme of things. I do not think these oil protests are the right way forward as they are more disruptive to the public and I think it makes people more annoyed rather than supportive. it certainly does me, and I am passionate about saving the human race on our planet - as I have said, the planet will survive but it us who will not if we carry on the way we are.

There are plenty of sporting events that are either coming up or going on right now. I have just heard that we are in cricket’s T20 World Cup Final as well - you’ll know the result by the time you read this! One of the biggest is about to start of course - the football World Cup. I am not interested, but I know many love it and look forward to it. I see many events being moved and cancelled because of it, and I have lost a date because it clashes with England playing, and I do not think we will get enough people along to the gig.

Please do remember if you would like to comment on anything or you know of anything that is going on that needs a bit of publicity, then please let us know about it and we can give it a write up or add it into our What’s On guide.

Music

We kick off with our girl from Southend, Rosalie Cunningham and her band. Wow, what a great performance. It took me back to my hippy days with that psychedelic prog feel. My friend Dave first put on Rosalie when she was just thirteen when she already had such great music coming from such a young woman. Rosalie is an immense talent and not only does she write great songs, she sings them so well too and is a superb multi-instrumentalist as well. She had Rosco Wilson (Levee) who is her partner on guitar and vocals. He is also sometimes a co-writer as well who we know of old from his band The Southern Slide. Rosalie also has Claudia from Spain on bass, flute and vocals, and Baptiste from France on drums, all rounded off with Aaron on the keys. At times they reminded me of Jethro Tull, which is a big compliment - Claudia even fleetingly did the one leg flute pose! The evening was opened by The Tuppenny Bunters, Dave and Fisuperb drums and keys and great energy with fab songs. Just what we needed to get us in the mood.

Moving swiftly on to the Colchester Arts Centre, I went to see Hayseed Dixie in midweek with my mate Hippy Joe playing. As always, they were superb, as were the support band These Wicked Rivers, who were more of a heavy southern rock band. I’d like to bring them to Chelmsford.

I have to say I think our recent show with Albert Lee was one of the best he has played for us over the years. This time he was with a drummer who he had not met until he turned up for the soundcheck and was as good as Ollie (except no vocals)! The next day it was off to The Orange Tree to see Dave Sharp the founding member of The Alarm. It was a great show with some people having travelled quite far to be there to see him. No one was disappointed and he will be back. I then had my son’s 50th birthday. It’s hard to believe I have a son that age now!

Back to the Social Club and Police Dog Hogan who were just amazing. They had Bob Collum and his Welfare Mothers opening on the night, and they made everyone very happy. There was also another two acts playing that we want to have back. The following week was very busy, starting on the Monday with The One Tree Hillbillies at The Orange Tree. It was great fun! Then it was off to Chinnery’s in Southend on the Thursday to see When Rivers Meet, who were playing for the first time with a full rocking band. Boy, did they rock! I can see why they are climbing quickly to the top, and they had a superb rhythm section behind them. Well done; you have come a long way since playing in the pubs for me.

Next was The Small Fakers, and their own originals band The Veras opening the night. I was stunned by both and I can see why the surviving member of The Small Faces praises them so highly. We have rebooked them already for next year, along with all the others we have already rebooked - more about that in next month’s edition (or go online to see the upcoming shows).

We also had our concert celebration of Claire Hamlin’s life. We raised just over £2,000 for two local very worthy causes: Farleigh Hospice and The Helen Rollason Cancer Charity. People came from far and wide to attend and play - some from the Isle of Wight, others from Yorkshire. I must thank all those who helped and gave their time for free, and all those who provided equipment and played; the house band, my team, The Social Club, and the other musicians who just wanted to celebrate Claire with us. Not only did we have three of her bands play, but we also had others who knew and had played with her in the past, like Zoot Money, Paddy Milner (Tom Jones), and Diz Watson and also Geraint Watkins, who can be seen again on the 2nd December playing with Slim Chance for us.

I also went to Barleylands Blues Club recently, a great way to spend a Saturday afternoon. I went to see Zoe Schwarz and the Blues Commotion, a top band who will blow you away.

Do remember to check out the What’s On guide in this issue. If you know of anything happening or want to comment about anything please let us know by emailing us at the address below.

It would also be fantastic if you could share our magazines The City Times and Moulsham Times with others. We continue to publish both magazines in print and online at www.issuu.com/itsyourmedia. If you are interested in advertising your business or event then please contact us at ads@itsyourmedia.co.uk, or if you have an event or want to comment or have an article that could be of interest, please send to editorial@itsyourmedia.co.uk and we will reply to you as soon as we can.

For all our updates and information on our Black Frog Presents shows at the Chelmsford Social Club or The Orange Tree go to www. linktr.ee/BlackFrogPresents, or scan the QR code on our poster in this magazine. You can also prebook the paid shows with a text or call to 07508 496 411 and then pay cash or card on the door at the advance price.

Upskilling in the Kitchen - By Lisa Whittle

What if you want to get better at cooking, or you are bored with your culinary repertoire, what do you do? I have certainly had phases in my life when I have got out of the habit of cooking so it is no longer second nature. Regular ready-meals, busy schedules, eating out, semi-cooking, heavy snacking and picking… it can all lead to being at a culinary loss! When you are in the zone you experience having quite a number of recipes in your head. You know what’s in the pantry and the fridge and can whip up something from the available ingredients, or you can quickly pick up what’s needed and knock it together in a flash. But when you’re not in that zone and inspiration falls flat, you can feel uncomfortable in the kitchen and deskilled when not in the flow of cooking. So here are some ideas to help get your culinary mojo up and active!

Cookery Books

The perhaps obvious traditional approach when stuck for food inspiration is to reach for a recipe book. I personally prefer the ones with plenty of photos and certainly a photo per dish, so you have a visual guide of something yummy to aim for. Perhaps choose someone prolific like Jamie Oliver or Nigella Lawson? You may have one or two go-to books on your own shelf already.

Google/YouTube/Instagram

A more modern version of flicking through a recipe book of course, is to look online. YouTube has a wealth of cooking inspiration, as does Instagram - both set up to be very visual. People such as the Deliciously Ella food blog started on Instagram and became Ella Woodward the vegan food writer and creator of recipe books, vegan cafés and food products. The Bosh! boys began on YouTube and also became a vegan sensation. Googling can certainly lead to inspiration and recipes. I am also a fan of the BBC Food website - it even allows you to put in the ingredients you have to hand and it will come up with recipe ideas that you can make with what you have (or can soon get via a pop to the shops!).

Another online feature I find helpful is the recipes on the Ocado online shopping website. These are not only inspirational, but with one click all the ingredients you need will be added to your shopping basket - easy! I’m sure other online shopping sites have something similar.

Recipe Boxes

What might be even easier is all the premeasured ingredients arriving to your doorstep with full instructions in a box. Names such as HelloFresh, Gousto, Green Chef, Mindful Chef and Riverford are recipe box household names for a concept that barely existed a decade ago. It’s currently a competitive market place and there are many excellent introductory offers to tempt you. I found that although I had a long phase of doing recipe boxes twice a week, I would end up with a stack of recipe cards but not necessarily the know-how or inspiration to repeat the experience myself, even though I had obviously done it myself once - very odd that! Maybe the premeasured, pre-gathered ingredients made it that just bit too easy. Like being driven rather than driving yourself - you end up getting to know the way so much better if you drive yourself…

Learning Face-To-Face and Hands on with Lessons

Maybe you have culinary skilled friends who can offer you a 1-1 lesson or two? Perhaps you could buy the ingredients and they could help you cook it? Lessons where you actually cook are a great way to learn indeed.

But What If You Don’t Have Culinary-Gifted Friends?

You may not realise it (as I didn’t until I googled ‘cooking lessons near me’) but we are lucky in Chelmsford to have one of the three branches of Ann’s Smart School of Cookery in Danbury. It’s a place to learn hands-on how to cook a wide range of meals from a

professional chef in a professional kitchen. The programme of twohour lessons is published 12 weeks in advance on their website and you can either book way in advance or at short notice for a reduced fee. I have been twice so far, once for Caribbean Cuisine and the other for Spanish Tapas, both booked within 24 hours of paying the minimum fee of £25. Of course, this short notice booking limits your choice as many courses get booked up before this time - but if you are lucky, as I was, you can grab a real bargain this way - plus have a lot of fun, inspiration, gain knowledge and skill and a eat a tasty meal there and then too!

Andy was the professional chef-turned-teacher each time I went. I am yet to meet Ann herself - Ann Hood started the school 15 years ago to share her passion for cooking. She was a past contestant on Master Chef, just to show how enthusiastic and skilled she is. But I was in very safe hands with Andy from whom I learnt a surprising number of insider kitchen tips and tricks. For example, did you know a ‘pinch of salt’ for a chef is far more than you would think? I’m pleased to say the school is a fan of mineral rich rock salt and uses only this and in a ratio of 9 to 1 with freshly ground pepper - and what yum this creates! I also learnt what a friend greaseproof paper is to a cook; line every baking tray and you will not be left scrubbing at the sink later on!

In both classes, the several dishes created (and you get to see what these will be in advance on the website to help you choose - and special diets can be catered for) were co-created by the whole group under Andy’s skilful guidance. He gets each person in turn to help prepare a part of the meal while everyone else watches. It really is a great deal of fun and a great afternoon or evening out! You can even pre-book yourself a beer or glass of wine.

A newer approach for the school is live classes by online streaming. This is something you take out a subscription for for a period of time and is like an interactive way of cooking along to YouTube. You have to get the ingredients yourself in advance if you are going to cook at the same time, but by doing so you are very much likely to remember what you did and how you did it - and you can ask questions to the chef as you are going along. It is also a way of getting around the over-18 rules for the in-person classes, as children and teens of course can join in this way in the comfort of their own homes. I certainly found these lessons an excellent way to learn culinary skills and be inspired! I will definitely go back and may gift a class or two for Christmas presents.

Andy the chef with the finished Patatas Bravas - one of the many dishes made at the Spanish Tapas class at Ann’s Smart School of Cookery

City Times Gardening

For me, autumn is such an interesting season for so many reasons. Key has got to be the fabulous change in leaf colour, with some plants really coming into their own revealing textured and brightly coloured stems through to late season flower and fruit displays.

Here are a few plants that I’ll wait all year for to enjoy:

• Cronus sanguinea ‘Midwinter Fire’ fir it’s coral coloured winter stems.

• Any Heuchera for their evergreen leaves.

• Daphne bholua ‘Jacqueline Postill’ fir the cluster of small, tubular waxy fragrant flowers.

• Lonicera fragrantissima for its fragrant, 2-lipped cream flowers 1cm long in winter and early spring.

Aside from the late season value of plants at this time of year, for those of you with bedding displays with the remnants of summer interest, or pots to spruce up, its not too late to get everything sorted for winter and spring colour. I was doing this with my Capel Manor College RHS L2 Practical students this week, renovating summer bedding borders.

First of all we had already taken out the bulk of the display leaving Phormiums (New Zealand flax), pyramidal clipped Ilex aquifolium (holly) and a lightly clipped evergreen euonymus. Our next stage was to lightly open up the soil and rake to a rough level.

For spring bedding, if the soil had poor moisture content, I would add a well rotted organic matter such as well rotted horse manure. I tend not to use any feeds at this time of year as there will be gradual supply from the organic matter.

Once the site is prepared, it’s time for placing plants prior to planting out. The student group discussed, rather heavily, what was best before a consensus was reached. For the edge, Ophiopogon planiscapus ‘Nigrescens’ (black mondo) was meticulously set out at 20cm from the path edge and 15cm in the row. We then moved on with Heuchera cvs. (Coral bells) highlighting the Phormiums. Smack bang in the middle of the display was a circle of Erysimum cvs. (wallflowers) wax surrounded by a further circle of black mondo. To break up the display a little more, Carex oshimensis ‘Evergold’ (Japanese sedge) was used as a dot plant. In the remaining gaps, a white flowering Polyanthus was used as the infill.

To complete the task, use a border fork to break up any compacted areas working from the back towards the front. The edge of the display was flicked up using a border spade and firmed to avoid soil tipping onto the path. Lastly, the area was swept. We didn’t water as rain was imminent.

Between now and May, the group will check water levels, weed carefully, dead-head flowers and replace any plants that fail.

Finally, click on this link for more tasks to do this month www.rhs.org. uk/advice/in-month/november.

Happy gardening and keep safe!

For any gardening tips please contact Tom Cole, Horticultural Lecturer, Capel Manor College, Bullsmoor Lane, Enfield, Middlesex, EN1 4RQ by post (including a SAE), or by email at Tom.Cole@capel. ac.uk.

When Mr and Mrs H saw a plot of land in Ramsden Bellhouse, It was love at first sight. They knew that with their vision, some luck and the right professional people, that the site could be transformed into their perfect home. With that image in mind, they set about selecting the products and companies that could be trusted to translate the dream into reality.

The brief was clear: a full set of appliances, generous storage, a huge island and bold colours.

As entertaining is so important to the couple, it was decided that two NEFF Slide & Hide 71-litre ovens, as well as two combination oven-microwaves and a big flex-induction hob on the island would ensure that large scale events are easily catered for. The cooling and dishwashing could be fully integrated so as not to interfere with the flow of the kitchen. And a Quooker hot tap means no more waiting for

Bold blue furniture gives a vibrant, energetic and youthful feel to the room and crisp, clean, white quartz surfaces top it beautifully. The 9-foot island promises plenty of accessible worktops for any amount of guests. There is also the addition of the wraparound breakfast bar in a timber finish, warming the look of the room and complimenting perfectly the herringbone floor.

Mr and Mrs H had a dream for their forever-home and have thanked Regal for not only meeting but exceeding their expectations; they say that the company truly lived up to it’s pledge of ‘Client is King’.

To help any clients planning a kitchen renovation in 2023, Regal Kitchens will be hosting a LIVE NEFF cooking demonstration day between 10am and 4pm on Saturday 10th December. All customers whether existing, new or potential are all welcome to come along and sample freshly prepared food and enjoy complimentary drinks, along with expert advice from our friendly staff on the latest NEFF products and kitchen innovations. Everyone attending will be given a chance to enter our free prize draw to win kitchen equipment worth hundreds of pounds, plus everyone leaves with a goody bag with contents worth around £20.

The showroom in Navigation Road has many working NEFF appliances, working Quooker kettle taps and 15 kitchen displays, featuring timeless, elegant and cutting edge design.

For more information about the upcoming event, contact emma@ regalkitchens.net, or call 01245 351 151.

Regal Kitchens showroom in Chelmsford is open 10am - 4pm 7 days per week.

www.regalkitchens.co.uk

a kettle to boil.

Child Trust Funds - What You Need to Know

Saving for our childrens’ future has never felt more important and whilst there are many different options, let’s take a look at Child Trust Funds (CTF).

These were introduced for children born between 1st September 2002 and 2nd January 2011 (since replaced by Junior ISAs) to encourage parents to save for their kids’ future. Broadly speaking, the public information campaign has not been particularly robust which means that a lot of parents, guardians and indeed beneficiaries may have forgotten or lost track, so let’s recap.

The Basics

This tax-free savings account belongs to the child. If yours is turning 18 this month their account matures now. However, if any of your offspring turn 18 between now and 2nd January 2029 then they are entitled to the savings accrued in the CTF account. The final amount will depend on the level of contributions, type of CTF and any underlying investment strategy.

Background

Parents were sent £250 vouchers by the HMRC (£500 for low income parents) and this sum was used to set up the CTF account in the child’s name and invested in one of the following ways:

• Cash CTF: Akin to a regular savings account, earning tax-free interest.

• Shares CTF: invested into stock markets.

• Stakeholder CTF: invested into stocks and shares but to safeguard the savings, riskiness of these portfolios is gradually reducing from child’s 13th birthday. The charges are capped at 1.5% per annum. This type of account might have been opened by HMRC if the parents did not open any type of CTF within a year of obtaining the voucher.

On maturity of these funds, your child can either withdraw the cash or it may be transferred in to an adult ISA. If, for whatever reason the funds are not used, don’t panic - the money will be held in a protected account until such time that your child is ready.

Many CTFs have been lost to people whom they were set up for, maybe because it was HMRC who set it up, the parents have forgotten it exists or have not updated their address - the reasons are varied - however fear not, these accounts are not really lost and locating them is straightforward.

Currently (2022/23) parents, family members or friends can collectively pay up to £9,000 each year, until the recipient turns 18.

Alternative

Junior ISA: CTF can be switched to Junior ISA (but you can’t have both). In the long term JISA may prove to be a better value with more choice and lower charges. We are happy to advise on the best course of action.

If you are the the lucky recipient of the CTF payout, you can either take the money and run, or much more sensibly, make your money go further and invest it into an adult ISA to build up your reserve.

Whether you are a parent, guardian or indeed a recipient of CTF and unsure of your options, please contact us and we will explain all your options and help with dilemmas such as spend (university fees?) or save (first home deposit?) and see how we can make your money go further.

Silvia Johnson Bsc(Hons), DipPFS, EFA, CertCII (MP) is a Director and Independent Financial Adviser at Royale Thames Wealth and provides independent financial advice to individuals and businesses. www.royalthameswealth.co.uk

silvia@royalthameswealth.co.uk 020 8720 7249 / 07908 109 741.

Royale Thames Wealth Ltd is an Appointed Representative of New Leaf Distribution Ltd which is authorised and regulated by Financial Conduct Authority number 460421.

The value of your investment may go up as well as down and the value is not guaranteed. Past performance is not a guarantee of future performance.

Wills and Estate Planning are not regulated by the FCA.

Rambling Through Social Media - By Britain’s Oldest Angry Young Man

Welcome to the dark side of social media, where outsourced workers develop PTSD from filtering out the worst the internet has to offer. The world of first responders includes sifting through detridus, removing the worst posts and blocking accounts. Also looking at distressing content under extreme pressure with time targets. One moderator has disclosed that he needed to spend six hours and 20 minutes viewing posts that can make us sick. If he is not active on his computer for seven minutes, I will get locked out and need to provide an explanation. However, he gets nine minutes a day ‘wellness’ coaching where he is encouraged to talk about things that bother him.

Around the world there are about 100,000 people like him working for tech companies removing death, violence, sex and suicide from social media apps. Does this beg the question of how and why these shocking images appear on social media apps in the first place?

Moderators are low paid and often under-trained. Most are not directly employed by the tech companies which tend to outsource. Moderators sign non-disclosure agreements, and in 2019 one outsourcing firm gave forms to staff acknowledging that the work could cause PTSD and is widely known as the worst job in tech.

Meta employs 15,000 moderators, YouTube 10,000 and Twitter 1,500. But it is never enough to stop the tide of material, with billions of posts a day. Social media has opened a Pandora’s Box of sick depravity into which ventured 14 year old Molly Russell, who paid the ultimate price. Disgracefully, the high flying social media companies couldn’t care less.

How many more Molly Russell’s have to die before our politicians wake up to this threat to our school-aged children, four of whom every week are dying by suicide, and there are dozens more cases of self-harm. Young people should have the right to feel secure in themselves and to grow and develop, instead of being led into an online world where depression, eating disorders and self-harm are normalised.

During the Molly Russell inquest, it was revealed that in the last six months of her life, Molly liked or shared 16,300 images, of which 2,100 were of depressive, self-harm or a suicidal nature. Liz Lagone, head of mental health and well-being policy for Meta represented Meta at the inquest. Her answers at the hearing were more corporate than compassionate, betraying an indifference to the court’s conclusion that social media was a factor in Molly’s death.

Meta says everyone who reviews content for the company has access to 24/7 on-site support with trained practitioners, an on-call service, and access to private healthcare from their first day. Well, that’s alright then.

HOME (the Unusual Estate Agent)

It’s never easy when it comes to talking about yourself, your company, or brand but our goal is to herald a new form of estate agent that dispels the common misconception that ‘all estate agents are the same’. We want our clients to be able to trust us, to be able to heed our advice willingly and without qualms and to feel truly comfortable when dealing with any of us. That way we know that we’ll be adding value to every transaction that we’re involved in. This also means that we’ll create lasting relationships with our clients in Brentwood, Chelmsford and Old Moulsham (our newest office), who are often making hugely important and deeply personal life decisions when it comes to their home.

and community work for 2022 and are close to meeting that target already (mid October) and would welcome any volunteering opportunities to try and squeeze some more in before the year is out or start planning for 2023 - so please get in touch!

Jo, Merrick and myself co-founded HOME in 2006 and since opening we have had two rebrands, including shortening our name from being known as The Home Partnership to HOME, which included a complete glow up recently of our brand and website - www.thehomepartnership. co.uk.

We have grown over the years, opening our second office during 2014 in Brentwood, and more recently our third office in Old Moulsham in August of this year. We are now a team of 25 - across sales, lettings and mortgages.

Our amazing team work extremely hard to provide our clients with a top service. So much so that over the years we have won several industry recognised awards, including been rated as ‘Exceptional’ for Lettings and ‘Excellent’ for Sales by EA Masters, and we are currently shortlisted for three categories by The Negotiator Awards.

We love nothing more than allowing somewhere to share and shout about their experiences when dealing with HOME and have won the Feefo Platinum Trusted Service Award two years’ running, for 2020 and 2021. Feefo are an independent company who collect reviews from our clients, meaning you know the reviews are genuine.

As a leader in the property market, we set the bar high for being personable, reliable, and for our expert local knowledge. We are a companion throughout your property journey, and our refreshingly different approach means we don’t only listen, we care.

We’re now an integral part of the city’s community, contributing as much as we can to enhancing the local environment and really connecting with people in the area. We pledged 80 hours of volunteer

Chelmsford Library

With winter and Christmas now fast approaching, check out what is happening in Chelmsford Library!

Winter Reading Challenge

The Winter Reading Challenge starts on 26th November in all libraries. Children will be asked to complete 6 challenges from a list of 12. These include things like; read a book by an author you’ve never read before, and create a Lego character or scene inspired by the book you are reading.

Children who complete the challenge will receive a free packet of seed that they can plant to welcome in the spring, and early finishers will also receive a free book provided by Penguin Books, while stocks last. Come and join the challenge!

Warm Welcome Initiative - Volunteering Opportunity

We are all currently experiencing much higher living costs, particularly for energy. Libraries are great community spaces, and are expecting more people to come in and use them over the coming months. We would love some volunteers to welcome customers in, be a friendly face, share a cuppa and help provide a safe and warm environment for customers to enjoy. Get in touch if you would like to help!

Chelmsford Central Family Hub Open Day - 30th November

An open day for families with children under 5 years. A drop-in event

We are members of NAEA and ARLA Propertymark, which means we meet higher industry standards than the law demands. Our teams also undertake regular training to ensure that they are at the forefront of developments in the industry and to provide the very best moving experience.

I hope this gives you a true flavour about your unusual estate agent... HOME!

Scott Mason Partner

for information and support with activities for children.

We also have all of our regular activities of course, including Rhymetimes, Work Club, Family History, Learn My Way (computer course), Tablet Taster (help with your iPad or tablet), and lots more!

For details of the above and all of our events and services, including how to book your place, visit our website at libraries.essex.gov.uk. You can also follow us on Facebook or Twitter or by subscribing to our newsletter - details on our website. Details of new events are regularly added, so keep in touch!

November

Friday 18th

Chelmsford Social Club - Tom McGuire and the Brassholes

The Courtyard (Baddow Road) - Happy Days (live music & DJs)

Old Court Theatre - Be My Baby

RAFA Club (Hall Street) - Chair Yoga

Saturday 19th

Acanteen - Raving Frog presents: Lisa Loud

Chelmsford Cathedral - Chelmsford Singers Autumn Concert

Chelmsford Social Club - Undaunted + Radar

Clay Pigeon - Blazin Aces

The Fleece - Lithium

Old Court Theatre - Be My Baby

The Orange Tree - Clare Sevretan and Alex Hearn

Sunday 20th

Chelmsford High Street - Christmas Light Switch On!

Hot Box - Live at Hylands Open Day

Hot Box - Folk Sunday, feauring Swan & Dyer

Patch (5-6 Grays Yard) - Christmas Makers Market

Monday 21st

Hot Box - Chelmsford Chess Club night

Sandon School - Scottish Country Dancing (7.30pm - 9.30pmwww.sandonscotdance.org.uk - sandonscotdance@gmail.com)

Tuesday 22nd

Bardswell Social Club (Brentwood, CM14 4TJ) - Spike’s Place

Jazz Club: Lily Dior Quartet (www.spikesplaceco.uk)

Widford Village Hall (turn left at Chandlers) - Country Dancing (barn dance - 7.50pm - £2 - 01245 475 660)

Woolpack - Quiz

Thursday 24th

Hot Box - Uber Jam

Friday 25th

Hot Box - Cosmology

Intense Records - RSD Black Friday

RAFA Club (Hall Street) - Chair yoga

Saturday 26th

The Black Bull - Shakey’s Sessions: Decades + Alice Offley + Fleeting Mind

Chelmsford City Race Course - Helen Rollason Christmas Gift & Food Fair

Intense Records - RSD Black Saturday (live music featuring Alison)

Radio City - Texas Takeover (live music - Texan ale - BBQ)

South Hanningfield Hall (CM3 8HL) - Christmas Crafts & Gifts

Table Top Sale (07891 653 238)

Monday 28th

Hot Box - Matt Woosey

Sandon School - Scottish Country Dancing (7.30pm - 9.30pmwww.sandonscotdance.org.uk - sandonscotdance@gmail.com)

Tuesday 29th

Widford Village Hall (turn left at Chandlers) - Country Dancing (barn dance, £2 - 7.50pm - 01245 475 660)

Woolpack - Quiz

Wednesday 30th

Rettendon Lodge (Battlesbridge) - Belvedere Jazz & Music

Supper Club: ‘Salute to Benny Goodman’, Pete Long Quartet (7.45pm - to book phone Phil on 07850 607 075)

December

Thursday 1st

Hot Box - Loserhrs presents: Sovereigns + Grace Calver + Song

Friday 2nd

Acanteen - Luther Vandross Tribute

Chelmsford Social Club - Slim Chance + The Ugly Guys

Friday 2nd (continued...)

The Fleece - Barney & the Rubbles

RAFA Club (Hall Street) - Chair Yoga

Trinity Methodist Church - Chelmsford Male Voice Choir (7.30pm)

Saturday 3rd

Chelmsford Cathedral - Caprice Christmas Nowell

Christchurch - Amy Beach Dvorak and Weber

Fleece - Scooby

Oddfellows Arms - Oink!

RAFA Club (Hall Street) - Coffee morning (10am to 1pm)

Woolpack - Rewind

Sunday 4th

Central Park - Santa Fun Run

Chelmsford Cathedral - Vivaldi’s Four Seasons at Christmas

Monday 5th

The Clay Pigeon - Bingo night

Hot Box - Chelmsford Chess Club night

Sandon School - Scottish Country Dancing (7.30pm - 9.30pmwww.sandonscotdance.org.uk - sandonscotdance@gmail.com)

Tuesday 6th

The Lion Inn - Chelmsford Comedy Club

Woolpack - Quiz

Wednesday 7th

The Lion Inn - Chelmsford Comedy Club

Old Court Theatre - Goodnight Mr Tom

Thursday 8th

Hot Box - HotHaus Xmas Xtravangnza

Old Court Theatre - Goodnight Mr Tom

Friday 9th

Chelmsford Social Club - Connor Selby Band + Joe Anderton

The Fleece - Beggar

Hot Box - King Salami and the Cumberland Tree

Old Court Theatre - Goodnight Mr Tom

RAFA Club (Hall Street) - Chair yoga

Saturday 10th

Baritsta - Smiley Culture presents: Shades of Rhythm

Christchurch - Christmas Fair and Tree Festival

The Fleece - Rock Dinosaurs

Intense Records - Coffee and Donuts for the Forty Five Kings

Twitch channel with Danny Bounce Tommy T Butchy B and special guests

Old Court Theatre - Goodnight Mr Tom

RAFA Club (Hall Street) - Coffee morning (10am to 1pm)

The Village Hall (Wickham) - Wickham Bishops Jazz Club (7.30pm - Allen Beechey and The Wickham Bishops New Orleans All Stars)

Sunday 11th

Old Court Theatre - Goodnight Mr Tom

Monday 12th

The Clay Pigeon - Bingo night

Hot Box - Chelmsford Chess Club Night

Old Court Theatre - Goodnight Mr Tom

Orange Tree - One Tree Hillbillies

Tuesday 13th

Hot Box - Acoustic Christmas Music with Jess & the Bandits

Old Court Theatre - Goodnight Mr Tom

Sandon School - Scottish Country Dancing (7.30pm - 9.30pmwww.sandonscotdance.org.uk - sandonscotdance@gmail.com)

Widford Village Hall (turn left at Chandlers) - country dancing (barn dance, £2 - 7.50pm - 01245 475 660)

Woolpack - Quiz

What’s On All events are correct at time of going to press. Please check with the venue for updates

Wednesday 14th

Danbury Village Hall - Sleeping Beauty

Hotbox - The Big Music Quiz

Old Court Theatre - Goodnight Mr Tom

Trinity Methodist Church - National Trust Talk Charlie Haylock, ‘Speech Coach’ for the Actors in the film ‘The Dig’ at Sutton Hoo (7.45pm)

The Woolpack - Essex Skeptics in the Pub - An evening with author Rob Hutton

Thursday 15th

Hot Box - A Very Lemon Curdmas

Old Court Theatre - Goodnight Mr Tom

Friday 16th

Hot Box - Rank-O

Old Chelmsfordians - Larry Berkovitz, Zak Barrett and Friends

Xmas Jazz

Fleece - Sons of Southpaw

Old Court Theatre - Goodnight Mr Tom

Rettendon Lodge (Battlesbridge) - Belvedere Jazz & Music

New

Taproom

Opening in Chelmsford City Centre

A new taproom will be opeing at 59 New Street in Chelmsford, bringing the Chelmsford Brew Co in to the city centre with a selection of 12 draught beers, beautifully crafted cocktails and so much more.

Chelmsford Brew Co presents our eclectic new city centre taproom and cocktail bar. Lose yourself in our beautiful basement bar!

Opening late November 2022.

Chelmsford Brew Co 59 New Street

Chelmsford CM1 1NE

Previously Bottle Burreau and The Hot House.

Send in your events between 15th December and 23rd January for the next issue to ads@itsyourmedia.co.uk

Supper Club: Christmas Gala Night with Jeff Hooper (7.45pmto book phone Phil on 07850 607 075)

Saturday 17th

Chelmsford Social Club - Nine Lives

Christchurch - Essex Police Band Christmas Concert

The Fleece - The Heaters

Hot Box - Jar Records: Gionatan Scali

Chelmsford (Viaduct Road) - The Viaduct Road Record Fair: Intense Records, Radio City Social and Hot Box (lots of vinyl and CDs)

Old Chelmsfordians - Larry Berkovitz, Zak Barrett and Friends

Xmas Jazz

Old Court Theatre - Goodnight Mr Tom

Sunday 18th

Old Chelmsfordians - Larry Berkovitz, Zak Barrett and Friends

Xmas Jazz

Royal Air Forces Association (Hall Street, CM2 OHG)Christmas Buffet & Bar (2pm £5 members/£6 non-members)

A brand new boutique for fans of sustainable and preloved fashion has landed in Chelmsford city centre in support of Essex’s only children’s hospice.

Re:loved by Little Havens, is located in High Chelmer Shopping Centre, and creates a premium shopping experience for fans of sustainable shopping where every purchase supports the hospice charity which cares for local children and young people living with complex and incurable conditions.

Open seven days a week, the store offers preloved and vintage fashion choices which have been donated by the public to raise vital funds for the charity. Every purchase made has a positive impact on the environment, and also local families who rely on the care and support of Little Havens.

The shop has used reclaimed and recycled materials for the majority of its fixtures as the charity becomes increasingly more sustainable as an organisation.

Hobbs, Levi’s and much more.

“If you are a fan of charity shopping and you haven’t had a chance to visit, please come and see what we have to offer in our shop. It’s charity shopping reinvented, and we guarantee you are in for a treat.”

Little Havens is a part of Havens Hospices, a county-wide charity which has 24 charity shops across Essex. This is the second store to open under its Re:loved brand.

Re:loved by Little Havens, is open 9am-5pm Monday to Saturday, and 10.30am-4.30pm on Sunday.

The store is also on the lookout for enthusiastic volunteers who have some time to spare to assist with the running of the shop. For more information about volunteering please speak to the shop manager, or email volunteering@havenshospices.org.uk.

Follow Havens Hospices shops on Instagram by searching ‘@havenshospicesshops’ or on Facebook by searching ‘@HavensHospicesCharityShops’ to stay up to date on the latest preloved and vintage fashion finds in its shops across Essex.

Volunteers are Urgently Required

Age Well East offer befriending to people living in the community who are lonely and isolated. The Age Well East Befriending Service supports anyone who is aged over 18 and living in Essex. They offer both volunteer friendship and local community groups and activities. Volunteers are urgently required.

Elizabeth Bedier, the shop’s Assistant Manager, says: “We’re absolutely thrilled to bring preloved fashion to the heart of Chelmsford, continuing to raise as much money as possible towards our specialist care which is a lifeline to so many local families.

“Since we have opened our doors, the response so far has been overwhelming, whether that’s customers popping in to have a browse, purchasing items or bringing in donations. The support has been incredible.

“As well as high street items, we’re selling luxury, designer and vintage brands too.

Labels include Michael Kors, Ted Baker, Ugg, Reiss,

This time last year, I wrote a piece for The City Times in which I told readers about my twenty-third novel which was then due to be published. Winter at Cliff’s End Cottage is the story of an elderly lady living in a house on the edge of a cliff, and a young journalist who wanted to write her story. The book was published last December and to my complete surprise and delight, later won an award in a category of the RoNAs - a quite prestigious award in publishing circles.

I was thrilled to win an award for this particular book as it was a definite favourite of mine. My novels are always characterled, and since reaching... well, let’s say a ‘more senior’ age, I’ve found a lot of enjoyment in creating older characters. I can now empathise with their points of view, as well as their various ailments and afflictions of age! But of course, I do like a mixed age range among my characters, so there are always younger people in my stories too, including children. For these, I have the inspiration of my own children and grandchildren, as well as all the other people I’ve mixed with over the years.

My work in the NHS provided me with a vast and rich experience of people of all

backgrounds, ages, races and religions, which has been extremely useful in my writing.

I’m pleased to tell you my next novel, The Secret of Angel Cove, is due to be published on 8th December by Piatkus Books (£9.99). This is a story about two neighbours, at different stages of their lives but both at a turning point, who start to wonder about the legend of the ‘angel’ behind the name of their pretty Devon cove. Who or what is the Angel of the Cove, and what stories will Joy and Sara uncover in their quest?

You can find the book on Amazon, or support a local bookshop by asking them to pre-order the paperback for you. Books make lovely Christmas presents!

As always, a huge thank you to all my fellow Chelmsford residents and businesses for the support given to me, and other local authors. I love hearing from readers, so please let me know (via my website www.sheilanorton.com) if you enjoy my books.

Christmas at Intense Records

Christmas Gift Ideas

With people of all ages getting back in to vinyl, this will be one of the most popular gifts this year. If you don’t know what to get that special person, then we are here to help - or we also sell vouchers so they can come and choose for themselves. For those looking to start their collection or upgrade, we will be stocking a range of turntables and speaker packages from leading brands, starting from just £189 and including a free selection of vinyl.

Used Vinyl! Buy and Sell!

We now boast a vast secondhand section with some classic albums from the 60s, 70s, 80s up to the present day, from favourites like The Beatles, David Bowie, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, and many more. We have thousands now across all styles from rock to funk, soul, disco and more. It’s a vinyl diggers treasure chest!

We are always on the hunt for more as well, so give us a bell and we can pop round or just bring them in.

Black Friday WeekendNovember 25 and 26th On Black Friday, limited RSD editions are released from iconic artists including The Cure, Duran Duran, The Farm, Fleetwood Mac, Grateful Dead, Jimi Hendrix, Mobb Deep, Motley Crue, The Specials, Supergrass, Ultravox and so many more!

Intense Records, 33/34 Viaduct Road, Chelmsford, Essex,

A History of Sport in the Chelmsford Area Part 2 - By Stephen Norris

This article deals with the history of cricket, horse racing and swimming in the area up to the Second War.

By the 1880s, local cricket was well established in the Chelmsford area. Little Baddow, although not officially home to a cricket club until 1904, played a match against a combined team from Great Baddow and East Hanningfield in 1793 and another against Boreham in the same year. Little Baddow played Danbury in 1800 and a club was founded in the village as early as 1885 but probably folded soon afterwards. In 1881 Chelmsford Cricket Club played 14 matches. The club had been playing matches as early as 1811, first in Kings Head Meadow and then at Fairfield - the site of the current bus station. It had however, only reformed in 1879. Finances were frequently a problem and in 1881 a subscription ball was held at the Shire Hall to raise money for the club. Membership rose from 40 in 1879 to 160 in 1892. By 1893 the club was flourishing both on the playing field and financially. In 1894 the club played 23 matches, 17 of these at home. Matches were played at the New Street ground, later to be the site of the Marconi factory, which was its home for 32 years. By 1902 there were six other cricket clubs in Chelmsford including the Chelmsford YMCA Cricket Club, which had a ground on Broomfield Road. In 1921 the Chelmsford Cricket Club, without a ground since the building of the Marconi factory, obtained a lease on the water meadow behind Chelmsford Hospital. This was of course destined to become the home of the Essex County Cricket Club. The Chelmsford Club was later to leave this venue for Chelmer Park.

The Essex County Cricket Club had been founded in 1876 at a meeting in the Shire Hall in the county town. Essex wasn’t admitted to the ranks of first class counties until 18 years later in 1894. A famous early Essex cricketer Charles ‘Korty’ Kortwright was born in Ingatestone and played 160 matches for the county between 1894 and 1907. Kortwright took 440 wickets with a best of 8 for 57 against Yorkshire at Leyton in 1900, and in 1898 he took 96 wickets in the season. He also scored two hundreds and caught 167 catches. Kortwright captained the club in 1903 and was often regarded as the fastest bowler of his era. After he retired from cricket he was a prominent member of Chelmsford Golf Club. He died at South Weald in 1952.

It was several decades before county cricket was played in the town. The county’s headquarters were first at Brentwood and then Leyton. By 1924, a great deal of work had been done on the New Writtle Street ground and The Weekly News commented: ‘It only required extension towards the river and county matches could be played there’. In 1925 the inaugural first class cricket match was played at Chelmsford, Essex v Oxford University, and a year later came the first county match against Somerset. This also happened to be the first tied match in Essex County Cricket Club history. The match was initially awarded to Somerset by the umpires on first innings scores, later however, a ruling by the MCC resulted in the points being shared. The rules of the game were also changed because the umpires had not allowed the last over to be completed.

After the Leyton ground was sold in the 1930s, Chelmsford became the headquarters of the club with offices in Duke Street. The cricket itself remained very peripatetic in the 1930s with eight grounds, including not only what became the County Ground, but also Hoffmann’s cricket ground at Rainsford Road being used. Attendances at the Chelmsford cricket week, when a number of matches were played at the ground, were often a problem. Despite this, Chelmsford gradually obtained more county matches. When Walter ‘Wally’ Hammond, the Gloucestershire test cricketer, was likely to play in the Chelmsford cricket week, seating was put in place for 2,500 spectators.

During 1934 the town had 6 matches, including one against the Australians. By 1938 however, despite having a fine side, Essex finances were again poor with a low membership. An amateurs versus professionals match in Chelmsford attracted only a moderate attendance. Chelmsford was also the only cricket ground in the county to suffer during the war when the pavilion was damaged.

Horse racing was held regularly at Galleywood until the 1930s. It

had started in the 1750s and the Chelmsford Race Company had been formed in 1862 enabling a grandstand to be built with various outbuilding areas, including a paddock. Racing was not continuous throughout the year. New rules introduced in 1879 required larger stakes than could be afforded locally, and racing was kept going by infrequent farmers races and hunters races.

The original course was flat over 3 miles, consisting of a one mile straight and an oval of two miles. It crossed both the Stock Road and the Margaretting Road (twice) and it was the only racecourse to go around a church! In 1890, flat racing was replaced by steeple chasing until the last meeting in 1935. One major problem with the course was that too few people paid, with thousands of spectators watching for free from the common ground - only entrants to the grandstand paid to watch. When there was a large attendance, there were probably three outside to one inside and those outside probably had a better view.

It was difficult for police and officials to control proceedings and on-course bookies often absconded with all the winnings. The races did however attract large numbers of visitors to the Chelmsford area coming both by road and rail: ‘There was a constant stream of carriage and carts of every description to and from the course throughout the day. Numerous parties of the upper sort arrived on the course in well appointed equipages and partook of luncheon before the racing began; whilst for the less wealthy sportsmen ample provision was made at the refreshment tents in the rear of the grandstand. A large contingent of ‘East End gentry’ were in attendance with games of chance, the three card trick and pea and thimble rigging’.

In the First War the grandstand was taken over by the army for billets, and much of the common was used as a training area. Several syndicates tried to run the racecourse without much success before the site was eventually sold for just £1,850. Greyhound racing came briefly to Chelmsford at a site on the Writtle Road near the Crompton works in the 1920s. Racing was held there three times a week in the summer and twice in the winter. In 1932 a new stadium opened at Beehive Lane. There was also unlicensed greyhound racing in Kings Head Meadow and at Little Waltham in the 1930s.

Because of the new Chelmsford borough’s cautious approach to spending, the first proper municipal swimming pool was not built until 1906, though one had been proposed as early as 1885. As far back as 1874, a pool in what is now Central Park close to the railway, was used by swimmers. Millponds at Croxton and Moulsham were also used and parts of the River Can were used for paddling. Chelmsford Swimming Club was established in 1899, using a bathing place in the River Chelmer, but this was not for inexperienced swimmers. The club suspended its activities in 1901 until the council built a proper pool to rival the one already built in Colchester.

Chelmsford’s open-air pool eventually opened in July 1906 in Greyhound Mead off Waterloo Lane covering five sixths of an acre. It was lined with concrete cement and on either side there was a terrace planted with trees and shrubs. There were two spring diving boards and a timber island of step platforms in the centre. On one side was a dressing shed 80 feet in length and 36 dressing boxes. There was also a cycle shed. The pool was built in nine months at a cost of £700 under the supervision of the borough engineer Cuthbert Brown.

The Chelmsford Swimming Club was revived with Robert Cook heavily involved, and the rivers were still used. ML Bellamy remembered swimming at Sandford Mill during the First War. By 1935 the swimming baths were in a state of considerable disrepair and an initial £20,000 scheme was rejected as too expensive, so a reduced scheme costing £8,000 was put forward. One councillor said the present one was ‘both dangerous and poisonous’ and could not be patched up. A proposed site using part of the Recreation Ground was abandoned because of objections to using part of the town’s public park. In 1937 no agreement could be reached on the council regarding a new site in Admirals Park, and by July 1938 it had finally been decided to build a new pool on the site of the old one. The war of course prevented any immediate start to the building.

Rotary Partners with KidsOut

Rotary is renowned for its support of individuals and good causes, but there are a few charities with which it has a special connection through formal partnerships. One such is KidsOut which organises a day out for disadvantaged children.

The collaboration began when Lady Grantchester of the Moores family and owners of Littlewoods suggested the idea to the Rotary Club of Kingston of taking disadvantaged children to Thorpe Park. 200 enjoyed the experience and the scheme was quickly established.

The small animal enclosure with chipmunks, pygmy hedgehogs, gecko and tiny tortoise was a particular favourite, before moving swiftly onto the Rabbits House, guinea pigs and donkeys, etc.

Children then found their way into the playground attractions and they made for the JCB Construction Zone, and then on to the thrilling Crazy Barn Ride, the Train Ride, the Doggy Rollercoaster, Happy Horses Adventure Ride and the Full Of Beans! Later, a guided tour of other animal enclosures ensued and the day ended in the indoor soft area before everyone made their way outside and assembled for home via the two Mercedes people carriers provided by Platinum Rescue at a reduced rate.

As another example, 75 youngsters from Treetops schools in Grays had a special end of school year treat thanks to Grays Thurrock Rotary and community partner ASDA at Tilbury. They spent the day at Adventure Island at Southend enjoying rides, with snacks and drinks provided by ASDA and following up with a disco.

KidsOut has since expanded to provide even more help to vulnerable children. In 2007 Pyzzpod was developed to benefit children with physical and learning difficulties and the following year children who had been relocated because of domestic abuse received toy boxes, which now happens every year at Christmas.

It is an evolving programme. World Stories supports children learning English as an additional language, and in 2012 Fun days was launched to give more children some happy memories. Now KidsOut is the only charity to support every child in a women’s aid federation refuge. Rotary still sponsors providing toys and days out and has helped shape KidsOut into an efficient and effective charity. It is true to say that Rotary Clubs has been at the heart of KidsOut all around the UK from the outset.

Local Essex clubs support in force with literally thousands of children enjoying the treat of a day out. In June, children were taken to Adventure Island, Thorpe Park, Colchester Zoo, Marsh Farm Adventure, and Call of the Wild Zoo at South Woodham Ferrers plus other venues. All the children received KidsOut caps and T-shirts and lunch was provided. Transport was arranged using school buses, coaches, minibuses and special vehicles. Children come with their teachers and with Rotary members on hand throughout, overseeing the day.

Billericay Rotary KidsOut took a small group from Ramsden Hall Academy in Billericay to Old MacDonald’s Farm in Brentwood - a farm and fun park venue. One Rotarian was asked by a pupil if he could guess his age... With some apprehension he agreed and when the answer came back as ‘52’ he had a friend for life! For the helpers, it was wonderful to see the pupils so lively and boisterous and so excited and looking forward to their day out.

KidsOut is a strong believer that every child should have a toy to call their own. The Toy Box service ensures that every child in refuge received a brand new box of toys, worth over £80, to play with and improve social engagement and family interaction. Over three months, from October to December, KidsOut teamed up with Rotary volunteers to help pack Toy Boxes in time to deliver to children in refuge for Christmas. In fact, 5,448 Toy Boxes were packed by Rotarians in time for last Christmas. Rotarians categorised, packed and loaded three artic lorries full of Toy Boxes.

The appeal is underway for 2022 and Rotary Clubs are again helping support local refuges. £25 can provide each individual child with a Rotary branded Christmas toy box filled with over £80 worth of new toys. My own club, Dunmow Rotary, has donated £250 to this worthy local cause.

More than 25,000 children enjoy a fun day out across the country. To make the National Rotary KidsOut Day the success that it is, more than 10,000 Rotarians volunteer on the day at over 100 venues. Whether they live with critical health issues, in refuge or with a disability, children across the country are taken out on a fun dayoften for the first time in their lives.

As Grays Rotary president Adrian Alsop says: “The smiles on the children’s faces were priceless.”

To help Rotary in its endeavours to help others please visit www. rotary1240.org or give me a call on 01245 260 349.

Stan Keller

Keeping It Short and Sweet - By Mandy Haynes

Even as a yoga teacher, I find it notoriously difficult fitting in a home practice. There is always something to do or somewhere to be, and there seems to be this unspoken rule that unless you’re on your mat for an hour’s class, then it doesn’t count. However, I am a firm believer in keeping it short and sweet, practicing little and often. A 5 or 10 minute mini-practice in your day is achievable for most and will still benefit you greatly - whether that’s loosening the tightness in your shoulders from sitting hunched over a computer, shaking out the stress of a busy day or gathering some cushions and cocooning yourself in a blanket for a moment of quiet during or after a noisy day with the kids. One yoga teacher that I know calls these mini-practices ‘movement snacks’, another describes them as a ‘flexible form of self-care that can be fitted into the small gaps that open up in our hectic, time-poor modern lives’.

These mini-practices can be done at your desk, waiting for the kettle to boil, seated on your mat or the floor or a few rounds of sun salutations to get the blood pumping! Here’s some ideas to get you started...

Loosen and unwind your spine and shoulders and neck - this can be done on a chair or sitting on the floor (on a cushion or folded blanket for extra comfort):

• Circle your head - semi circles or full circles.

• Roll your shoulders - forwards and backwards.

• Hands on the knees or thighs move through Cat and Cow - lifting the chest and squeezing the shoulder blades together, then rounding the back with chin to chest.

• Interlace your hands behind your head and continue with the Cat Cow movement.

• Keeping the hands behind the head, side stretch left and right.

• Twists - one hand behind, the other hand on the opposite thigh.

• Stretch the arms wide and up and then stretch forwards into a fold (drape over your thighs, hands coming towards the ground if you’re on a chair, or stretch the arms forward if you’re on the floor). Repeat each of the movements a few times.

Release tension and get the energy moving - standing up:

• Shake out your feet and legs, one leg a time.

• Bounce on balls of your feet and shake your hands and arms.

• Swing arms and twist side to side, starting with the arms by your sides, then moving up to the hips, waist, ribcage, shoulders, above the head, then bring them back down through each stage.

• Sweep the arms up and ‘climb up to the ceiling’ reaching one arm up and then the other.

• Sweep the arms forwards and up, take a big stretch, then stretch the arms forward and fold from the hips letting the hands come towards the floor.

• Finish by taking some deep breaths in through the nose and loud exhales through the mouth.

• Repeat each movement with whatever pace suits you. You might start small and gentle and then build into bigger more vigorous movements.

Slow down and be still - gather blankets, cushions and pillows:

• Place a couple of pillows wrapped tightly in a towel (or a bolster) lengthways with another pillow or cushion folded at the top end to elevate it slightly. Wrap a blanket around your body and come into Child’s Pose (kneeling with knees wide at the end of your pillows and lie over them with the pillows supporting your belly, chest and head).

• Sit side on to the pillows and side-lie over them, your top arm could stretch over head.

• Turn your belly to the pillows lie over them in a gentle twist.

• Stay in each shape for a couple of minutes, repeat the side stretch and twist on the right and left.

I hope you find this useful, you’ll be surprised at how easy it becomes to fit in these mini practices once you get started! If of course you do have an hour to spare, Hummingbird Pilates & Yoga has a wide range of classes every day both in the welcoming studios in Writtle and every class is live-streamed on Zoom.

Can You Make a Difference in Your Community?

and warm environment in which they can stay this winter.

Helpline and befriending volunteers - Farleigh Hospice

Could you help someone who is facing court alone?

The volunteers at the Support Through Court help those who are facing the court without any legal representation at all. Our clients may need help completing application forms, completing statements, preparing paperwork and even attend the hearing with them for moral support.

Volunteers for community bookshop/charity shop

We need enthusiastic, friendly volunteers to help in our charity shop on Market Road.

Male visitor/befriender for a young person in care - Barnardo’s

We need a kind, special male volunteer to take out a 14-year-old boy who has just been moved to a new foster placement in Chelmsford. He likes watching football and other sports.

Winter Warm Welcome library volunteer

We are looking for volunteers who can welcome customers into Chelmsford Library and explain what we have to offer, and help run our activities community tea events that provide customers a safe

Farleigh Helpers is a brand new online and telephone support and befriending service which will be based from home and supported by volunteers. The service will provide support to patients, families and clients known to Farleigh as well as helping others in the community who may be ill, lonely, isolated or bereaved.

Construction training for young people in the Chelmsford area - Essex Youthbuild

Essex Youthbuild is a charity that has been working with teenagers helping them gain construction and employability skills for more than 12 years.

We need volunteers who are knowledgeable about construction or DIY (bricklaying, painting, tiling carpentry and plastering) to help provide encouragement and guidance to 14 - 19 year olds in a workshop environment.

Help with horse riding for the disabled

We offer riding and driving to disabled children and adults. We need volunteers to walk alongside and lead the horses, and make sure all the children are comfortable, safe and enjoying themselves. We also need people who can help with the stables, the grounds and gardening/maintenance around the farm.

Introducing Rich Lyman - Chelmsford Community Radio

We’ve been introducing people from our team each month, and this time is the turn of Rich Lyman

Hi I’m Rich Lyman and I’m on a mission to help Chelmsford feel good! My show is on each Friday 7pm - 8pm and brings wellness tips and feel good hits hand picked by Chemlsford’s wellness influencers. As well as picking the songs, the guests give great advice on subjects ranging from art, fitness, gardening, mental health and alternative therapies to prepare listeners’ minds, bodies and souls for a great weekend.

But what inspired me to start the show? Well, since becoming a parent I’ve wanted to give back to the community that helped me get to this point. The birth of our son last year wasn’t an easy journey, we took several years of being told we couldn’t have children unless we changed our lifestyles. So we took advice from local dieticians, fitness experts and even tried acupuncture amongst other alternative therapies - a step into the unknown but it worked! I personally lost three stone and the prep we did set us up for success on our first round of IVF. So I know first hand how changing elements of your life can bring you closer to your goals.

That’s what I want to bring to the people of Chelmsford; inspiring stories from great guests to help listener’s make their lives just that little bit better.

I’ve always had the volunteering bug, it started with helping my mum as a kid when she was leading a charity that supported vulnerable people to live independent lives - she’s my inspiration!

When I got into media studies at school (the only subject I passed at AS Level!) I started volunteering at Hospital Radio Chelmsford for some real life production experience. I loved playing the songs for patients at Broomfield Hospital and it felt great to talk to them and brighten their day with a request.

Upon leaving uni with a media degree, I embarked on a successful career working in TV for the likes of Comic Relief, ITV and Channel 4 as a producer with celebrities such as Peter Andre, Russell Brand,

Tom Jones, will.i.am, Ant and Dec and Holly and Phil on shows such as Saturday Night Takeaway, Ninja Warrior, The Voice, Britain’s Got Talent and Red Nose Day

Still living in Chelmsford, I started volunteering for Chelmsford Community Radio in May 2022. I wanted to pair what I’ve learnt on my life enhancing personal journey and couple with my production experience in order to produce and host a radio show to open the people of Chelmsford to alternative ways of enhancing their lives too. I get a lot out of interviewing my brilliant guests and meeting other volunteers at the radio station, who also do so much for Chelmsfordians with their great shows.

Tune in to me every Friday 7pm-8pm on chelmsfordcommunityradio. com, or search for Rich Lyman’s Feel Good Friday on Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts, to hear all the previous interviews. If you have an idea for a guest then please do reach out to me on Instagram by searching ‘@richlyman’.

www.chelmsfordcommunityradio.com

Crafts - By Magali Ellis and Scrap-Circle

I love this time of the year with its colourful trees and lovely gorgeous and unusually warm days, so it seems a bit weird to think of Christmas craft, but cards and decorations do have to be made ahead of time!

I started making Christmas cards some years ago and whilst I usually decide on one design and do a batch, stamping one day, cutting another day before finally assembling the cards. That means everyone among my family and friends end up with the same card, but it is a quick and easy way to make Christmas cards in a short period of time.

This year I chose to do something different: 15 different cards from 2 patterned pieces of 12 x 12 paper - and we had lots of fun making some during our monthly craft day at Highwood Village Hall! The great thing about these cards is that, depending on the patterned paper you choose, they can be birthday cards or get well cards, and it’s really useful to have a little stash of them at the beginning of a new year. Why don’t you join us on Saturday 26th November and have fun making a winter page layout, and/or on Saturday 17th December when we will be making an album to record your 2022 Christmas memories?

I have now booked Highwood Village Hall near Chelmsford for our 2023 monthly craft days. Prices are being kept the same as this year

An Environmental Christmas?

By the time you read this article, you will probably be amidst your Christmas shopping - which like Marmite is either something you love or hate. Personally, it’s something I hate because I am environmental, and I can’t bring myself to buy stuff that will ultimately end up in landfill.

Many years ago, I decided to buy presents for really close family only, which for me is my children and grandparents, just as I had experienced growing up in France - and that any presents I do buy would be experiences not material goods. Life trauma and loss has taught me that when someone dies, good memories are what keep you going, so building memories is important for me. Of course, all this fits nicely with my environmental beliefs.

So, I am going to be a bit of a hypocrite here... Wearing my hat as the manager of The Art Place in the Meadows Shopping Centre, my hope is to sell as much as possible… We are a charity helping the local community and the income allows us to stay open, provide an income for local artists, and to fund the help we provide to local people, including so many young people.

The gifts we sell are handmade by talented local artists, so as well as being gorgeous and often unique, our sales support hundreds of local creatives. As well as giving them an income, The Art Place allows them to showcase their talents. I’m constantly amazed how much local talent there is. Our environmental credentials are an important aspect of our work, and this is how I reconcile myself to my dilemma: by offering high quality, locally made, sustainable items.

At The Art Place you will find unique gifts for all ages. Contrary to popular belief, local and handmade is not more expensive. You will also find gifts for all budgets. There are no transport costs, and no ‘middle men’ - we directly support local artists. What I love best about The Art Place shop is seeing the artists and crafters celebrate a sale of one of their creations.

The Art Place is part of the Ideas Hub Chelmsford, an amazing local

too, which is always a bonus. It’s £20 without project or £25 with project for the day (9.30am - 4.30pm; see more information and booking details on the website). All dates are Saturdays, except when otherwise specified.

Here are the dates for your diaries: 28th January, 25th February, 25th March, 29th April, 20th May, 24th June, Wednesday 26th July, 19th August, 23rd September, 28th October, 25th November and 16th December.

This time of year is so exciting, as I get to prepare for the year ahead; new craft day dates, craft retreats... At the moment there is a mid-week retreat 13th - 15th February 2023, but there will be some weekend retreats whose dates will be confirmed soon. Let us not forget too the August craft cruise to Spain and Portugal: 10 days of crafting, shore visits to 5 beautiful cities and all the shows, entertainment and food you could wish for...

I am in the process of making a lot of different gifts for Christmas for a variety of budgets, and the subscribers to my newsletter will know about them before everyone else. It’s one of the perks of the newsletter together with exclusive deals and bonuses. And who doesn’t love great deals and discounts? You can subscribe very easily by logging on my website www.scrap-circle.co.uk and click on the subscribe to the newsletter button.

charity whose aim is to support well-being in Chelmsford. The shop is a platform for around 200 traders and 65 artists to sell their work. Inside, we also have a safe and inclusive community space where we welcome everyone, offering daily creative workshops, LGBTQ+ socials, and a range of services designed to support you, including a free legal service (kindly provided by www.affordablelawforyou.co.uk), plus a wide range of local help and information.

Opening Hours are 9.30am - 4pm (5.30pm on Saturdays and opening at 10.30am on Sundays). The Art Place couldn’t happen without the help of our 38 incredible volunteers, your donations, and the support of the Meadows Shopping Centre who are kindly providing us with the space.

Edith Miller CEO of Ideas Hub Chelmsford

www.ideashubchelmsford.org

07880 990 443

hosts@ideashubchelmsford.org

Follow us on Facebook by searching ‘TheArtPlaceChelmsford’ and in Instagram by searching ‘ArtPlaceChelmsford’.

Tales from the Circle - By Sylvia Kent

Emma’s story

Whenever the topic of writing arises, many people mention the ‘lonely’ word. And it’s true - writing can be a solitary business. Time and concentration are needed, perhaps to meet a deadline, finish a story or complete that article you want to send off to an editor. But equally important is a need to get together with other individuals who write, to share ideas and maybe sketch out your first book, pick up know-how in contacting agents or publishers.

People take up writing for many different reasons. Some enjoy the craft itself and would like to share their words with others unconnected with their friends and family and gain informed opinions with constructive feedback. One of our Brentwood Writers’ Circle members, Emma, recalls: “I started writing via a therapy journal in 2012 as an aid to understanding my depression. During the course of recounting events, I began to explore and then write down other memories. I enjoyed the process of writing - it brought peace and focus to my mind during a troubled time.

“These memoirs then started to shape and merge with a fiction idea for a novel based on my experiences working in the coach and bus industry from 1998 - 2010. I felt I had an excellent viewpoint from a female perspective in a male dominated industry, with many tales to tell. This work is ongoing as I plan to produce a series of books rather than just the one.

“I joined Brentwood Writers Circle in February 2014 and felt very lucky to have a group on my doorstep. It was the best decision I

could have made. I was welcomed and encouraged and the benefit of speaking with people who share an interest is beyond measure for me and very inspiring. Writing short stories is fascinating and because of BWC, I came second in a fiction competition in 2016.

“I have learned a great deal from the group about the art of short story writing and have written many more since. I won first prize for the BWC competition in 2022 and now enter work for many external competitions, receiving useful feedback. It helps me having a prompt and a deadline to work to.

“I also joined the Basildon Writer Group, and in October 2021 was published for the first time in their anthology It Happened in Essex and managed to occupy us all through covid. It was excellent and taught us other new skills through Zoom and emails. I’m grateful to the group members who have generously shared their experiences and their skills not only the writing but also how to promote, how to self publish and how to edit.”

www.brentwoodwriterscircle.com

Quiz Time - By John Theedom

Which artist’s set at Live Aid consisted of just one cover song?

‘Alfresco’, ‘Golden Boy’ and ‘Shirley’ are types of what?

A natural sponge is what colour?

Which is the fastest speed - gale, storm or hurricane?

Which bird shares it’s name with a famous nurse?

What was the name of Robin Williams’ character in Mrs Doubtfire?

In medical terms, what does ECG mean?

Which dessert is named after a ballerina?

What word can go before ‘fast’ and after ‘tea’?

Who or what is your doppelganger?

Which part of your anatomy has the same name as a punctuation mark?

How many valves does a bugle have?

What does the voice say at the end of Mr Blue Sky by ELO?

Where is a fresco painted?

In the song, where did Billie Jo Spears want to lay her blanket?

Which country has the greatest number of telephone subscribers?

To which mammal family does the dingo belong?

Which King George bought Buckingham Palace?

Which tourist attraction commerates the Great Fire of London in 1666?

What is emitted from a fumerole?

What is the main ingredient of the Indian dish dhal?

How long does one revolution of The London Eye take?

Who is the leader of the Labour Party?

Worn by Roman Catholic priests, what is a mozzetta?

Where in Essex is Great Gibcracks Chase?

Which metal is liquid at room temperature?

Which river runs through Tonbridge, Maidstone, Rochester, Chatham and Gillingham?

Who founded the Virgin Record Co in 1969?

Which former Italian currency unit was equal to 100 centemisi?

What sort of creature is an avocet?

What is film director Mr Spielberg’s first name?

Bogot is the capital of which country?

What shape is the US president’s office in The White House?

What is a lunette?

Who was Lex Luther?

Which group produced the song Moves Like Jagger?

How many children does Ozzy Osbourne have?

On a horse, what is a nosebag used for?

In which UK city was Wallace and Gromit made?

What is a shorter word for dalliance?

(Answers on page 31)

Stargazing With Mark Willis - November/December

17th-18th November - Leonid Meteor Shower: These particles, in this case from a parent comet called 55P/Temple/Tuttle, enter the Earth’s atmosphere and then burn up. This is the fate of all meteor showers in the path of the Earth’s orbit around the Sun. The meteor shower name reveals the name of the constellation that it radiates from. As with all meteor showers, the best time to observe them is around midnight from a dark sky site, if possible.

8th December - Mars at opposition: Look East. Mars is next to the Moon. Especially good now to observe this planet as it is fully illuminated by the sun, brighter than any other time of the year. With a good telescope you will see subtle black markings and the white polar ice caps.

13th-14th December - Geminids meteor shower: The waning gibbous moon will block some of the fainter meteors this year, but it will be a good show.

21st December - December Solstice: This night will be the longest of the year and the day will be the shortest. From this point forward the

days start getting longer.

21st December - Mercury at Greatest Eastern Elongation: All this wordy term means is that you get the best chance of seeing this elusive planet. Look for the planet low in the western sky just after sunset.

17th-26th December - Ursids Meteor Shower: This is likely to be a very good show this year as there is a very thin crescent Moon, which has been very co-operative, as it will have set early in the evening.

New Moon: On 23rd November and 23rd December 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 any questions.

www.chelmsfordcommunityradio.com mark.willis@chelmsfordcommunityradio.com

Wildlife Corner - By Nick Green

According to the Meteorological Office, October received more unsettled, mild weather (1-2oC above average) with welcome rainfall.

The fieldfare is a common winter visitor and passage migrant. This Palearctic aspecies breeds from SE France, the Low Countries, Denmark and Norway in the west, to Upper Yenisy and Amur in the east. Typically, it’s found in farmland and cultivated land where it breeds in orchards, forest edges and hedgerows.

A common migrant with three-figure flocks a regular feature in October and November, maximum numbers vary. The ‘chack-chackchack’ calls are usually heard first. Sexes are similar with this longtailed, stocky thrush, grey rump, black tail, yellow on bill, red-brown back. Underparts are heavily spotted with a musty yellow breast

Selected October Highlights

Dragonflies: late common darters may still be seen near water. Birds: The Naze: a barred and several yellow-browed warblers.

Abberton Reservoir: 17 spoonbill, 11 cattle egret, 22 spotted redshank, wood sandpiper. Old Hall Marshes RSPB: red-necked phalarope. Canvey Point: Cory’s shearwater, roseate tern. East Tilbury: still 3 stone curlew.

Nationally, some very rare North American species have been recorded. Shetland Isles: least bittern (first for Britain). Isles of Scilly: Blackburnian warbler (fourth for Britain).

Fieldfare (copyright: Glyn Evans)

30 minutes Sir Kier Starmer