The City Times - October/November 2020

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The City Times

Including: Boreham, Broomfield, Danbury, Great Baddow, Maldon, South Woodham Ferrers, The Walthams and Writtle 10000 copies distributed monthly Issue Number 84 - 15th October - 19th November 2020

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City Times Intro Hello readers, Welcome to this latest edition, we hope you are safe and well?

We would love to hear from you about what you have been up to and what bits you like best about our magazine. All of the contact details are below.

Remember you can view the magazines (this one and the Moulsham Times) at www.issuu.com/itsyourmedia.

It is great to see the Ideas Hub have a new venue, have a look at their article on page 18 and if you are interested in advertising contact Nick (details below).

Stay safe!

Regards Paul & Nick www.thecitytimes.co.uk | www.moulshamtimes.com Advertising Editorial Nick Garner Paul Mclean 07970 206682 01245 262082 / 07595 949701 ads@itsyourmedia.co.uk editorial@itsyourmedia.co.uk

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

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City Times Food Eat your Greens - by Lisa Whittle

You may have been told when you were little to eat your greens up to become big and strong! There is actually lots of truth in this old adage and a key reason is the high levels of magnesium in the chlorophyll that makes the leaf green. What you probably weren’t told is that greens, such as kale, spinach and broccoli, help you feel relaxed and happy because of the high magnesium content.

Magnesium is used in an astounding 700-800 different enzyme reactions in the body - that’s 700-800 different chemical processes going on in you right now. Such things as keeping your muscles and gut relaxed, calming your nervous system and adrenals, releasing energy in every cell and making neurotransmitters, such as the one for feeling happy and content called serotonin.

It also helps with hormones, both male and female, and has a key role in helping to balance blood sugar and combating ‘insulin resistance’ when the body cells can’t take up glucose as well as they should. It can help with osteoporosis and ensuring strong bones because it helps the body’s proper use of calcium.

I’ve suggested to many stressed people over the years that magnesium could help them, also those who have trouble sleeping.

But maybe magnesium deficiency or having a sub-optimum level of magnesium is more widespread than I realised - some sources say 80 per cent of the population would benefit from more magnesium.

One of the reasons for this is sadly that the soil is depleted in magnesium because of intensive farming methods that do not return magnesium to the soil that growing crops have taken out. We have had around 70 years of this now, so current generations could potentially be getting far less magnesium through their food than their grandparents.

Could this be part of the reason we are seeing so much stress and stressed people around us in today’s world? When the body needs magnesium we feel more stressed and irritable, our muscles can feel more tight and jumpy and twitchy and maybe even have heart palpitations. To make things worse, common stimulants that we can reach for when stressed such as caffeine and excess sugar take further magnesium out of the body…

So how can we get more magnesium into us? Well, eating green, leafy vegetables such as the dark green forms of cabbage like kale and cavolo nero - both coming into season now - are excellent.

Spinach too (remember Popeye)! tEating organic is worth it, because with organic growing you know that the soil the vegetables have been grown in has been respected and magnesium and the many other minerals we need have been replenished. Magnesium is a water soluble nutrient but it’s not destroyed by heat - in fact, some heating can make it more available for our bodies to absorb. This means steaming your green veg rather than boiling makes a real difference to magnesium levels and roasting and oven cooking works too.

Avocados are also a good source of magnesium. An avocado plus spinach with some cucumber and parsley (maybe celery too) and the juice of a lime or lemon all blended into a green smoothie is a rich source of magnesium. They are known to be so good for you that there are books specialising in just green smoothie recipes - for example; 10-Day Green Smoothie Cleanse: Lose Up to 15 Pounds in 10 Days! by JJ Smith or The Green Juicing Recipe Book by Carey Avalon. Nuts and seeds are another great source of magnesium and

make a healthy alternative snack or addition to yoghurts or salads.

Put washed kale on a baking sheet in a low heat in the oven for a few minutes until its dry and crisp to give you the healthiest, magnesium-loaded crisps ever… To add more flavour, coat in olive oil and add salt, chilli, lemon or whatever takes your fancy before putting in the oven You will also find dark chocolate listed as having a high magnesium content. This is true, but bear in mind that its stimulating effect releases the stress hormone adrenaline in your body which means you lose magnesium at the same time as gaining it. I know for me the net result from dark chocolate is a loss rather than a gain - I end up more twitchy and grouchy than I was before!

Dr Carolyn Dean, a medical doctor and naturopath, writes passionately about the benefits of magnesium and her book The Magnesium Miracle, which is a bit of a classic. She also has an informative website with free downloads at www.drcarolyndean. com. She talks about other ways to get magnesium into you such as magnesium supplements, baths with Epsom salts (which are magnesium sulphate) and also through the skin from magnesium chloride sprays, gels and creams (really worth a try for a dreamy, relaxing effect - great before bed or a stressful event).

Green smoothies, such as this one with parsley, spinach, cucumber, an avocado and lime juice blended up, make a great source of calming magnesium

Magnesium supplements come in different forms. Magnesium citrate is one of the better absorbed ones, but one of the effects of magnesium supplements for sensitive guts can be loose bowels.

If this is a problem for you go for liquid magnesium supplements labelled ‘nano’ or ‘pico’ as these are so well absorbed they won’t cause a problem. lisactfood@gmail.com

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Panthera PA - Local Chauffeuring Service From the age of 14, I worked as greengrocer after school and at weekends in the small village of Ingatestone, where I had to learn to deal with all customers requests.

For 5 years that was the only job I thought I could do. It taught me greatly how to converse with and enjoy the public. After a family friend offered me a job as a trainee in office product engineering, I then embarked on a journey I thought not possible.

Repairing photocopiers and fax machines was a complete game changer. After spending a year in workshop training I was put out on the road. I felt like an emergency service; if customer machines broke down I had to get there asap to get them copying again - a different level of stress from the greengrocer world, but again I enjoyed the interaction with different kinds of people.

In 1996 I was offered a job as a service manager in a new line of business for a sales company that was new to them - they wanted to start servicing and maintaining their equipment, large format printers somewhat larger than your average photocopier! It was a success and I spent the next 16 years working with the same company. In 2012 I was offered by the company to Go it Alone and contracted me to look after the complete service base - I felt rather honoured. I started my limited company and here I am now still directing my business. It has been a joy being able to provide all the customers my personal professional services.

Working from home has seen me not going out on the road as much, so I wanted to include into the business more personal services so that I could meet-and-greet people the way I have been used to, so I have embarked on the private hire luxury chauffeuring road. It fits perfectly in line with the current business and allows me to be taking care of customers requests in my local and surrounding areas. Oddly enough, I still miss the busy bustle of the greengrocers, especially at Christmas, but I’m sure I wouldnt be able to keep up the pace, that was a long time ago!

www.panthera-pa.co.uk Alternatively Call or Message on 07973 258463

Jamie - www.panthera-pa.co.uk

Healthy Indian Meal in a Box Farefresh is a brand new concept in the Chelmsford hospitality industry. Rupa started the business from home a year ago having spotted a gap in the market, having previously run restaurants and hotels.

From a very early age Rupa has been involved in cooking; this became a hobby and with time it has developed into a passion.

Rupa likes coming up with new ideas and being innovative; cooking is an art that can be discovered, improved and personalised. The Farefresh idea came about when Rupa was hosting a party and realised how he could save time in the cooking and still prepare fresh food with robust flavours and textures using the finest ingredients from scratch.

There are two choices within the Farefresh concept. You have a choice of ordering, takeaway cooked meal ready to eat, or takeaway prep-meal which you cook yourself (a delivery box of fresh ingredients with instructions - 10-20 minutes and dinner’s sorted).

The menus are healthy with less salt, butter, vegetable ghee and oil.

Farefresh uses a handful of spices to bring out the natural robust flavour of the ingredients.

From poultry to peas, it’s all fresh produce - not frozen. Ingredients are sourced locally where possible, and there is also tailormade menu availble if you give enough notice (at an additional cost).

Go on, try something amazing - you’ll know when it it’s Farefresh! www.farefresh.co.uk Please let our advertisers know you saw their advert in The City Times

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Nick’s Music and Ramblings Hello how are you and those who are near and dear to you? While my articles have always been in two parts before (‘ramblings’ and ‘music’), they will now blend into each other.

So another month has gone by and more changes again - are they working? Let’s hope so as the sooner we can get out of this the better. This year is one we will never forget, I am sure of that. Here’s to staying well and staying safe and helping and supporting all those around us who need it. It is a time to forget the arguments, feuds and fighting and think about helping and saving us and the planet.

As I am writing this I have just heard the sad news of the passing of Eddie Van Halen, one of the greatest guitarists ever, who I had the privilege of working with in 1978 when they opened for Black Sabbath - ironically on the Never Say Die tour. Eddie would have been about 23 at the time and I remember that they were really nice guys.

It was their first time in the UK too. I will always remember that while on their tour bus their favourite cassette (yes first time around for cassettes) was the Dave Clark Five. It actually took me and others by surprise - ‘listen to those drums’ they said, and yes I got it then.

One of the highlights of the tour for me was at the soundcheck at the London Hammersmith Odeon as Sabbath’s guitarist Tony Iommi jammed with his best mate Brian May who had turned up with his guitar. Eddie joined them too. It was a treat for all of us there, sadly not recorded of course. It reminded us all just how great Eddie was and he is a very sad loss indeed. I feel personally that Eddie was as much of an influence as Hendrix. A humble man, he just did what he did and blew us all away. RIP EVH. I remember the time I was working with Ronnie Lane’s Slim Chance.

For those who do not know him, Ronnie Lane was the bass player for the Small Faces and the Faces as well as being the main songwriter for both. He sadly lost his battle with multiple sclerosis in 1997.

Ronnie worked with many of the greats and was loved by all. I was working with Gallagher and Lyle at the time who also became the Slim Chance band when Ronnie started Slim Chance. We stayed in Wales to rehearse on Ronnie’s farm and all stayed in caravans.

He and his wife Kate were two beautiful people who were like real gypsies with a hippie attitude, which is funny as his past bands were very much part of the mod scene.

Anyway, I was on the side of the stage (I can’t remember where) while the band was playing. Ronnie’s dad was there with me and he turned to me and said: “You know what, I said to him as a lad to get a proper job, become a lorry driver - lucky he never listened to me.” We both laughed and I have never forgotten it as a small part of my privileged life. I was very lucky where I grew up, spending my youth in and around Beckenham and Bromley in Kent. I will tell you more tales in future editions. I am also writing such stories in the Moulsham Times, so if you want to read them just go to www.issuu. com/itsyourmedia.

It’s good to hear that this year’s pantomime is going ahead, although with only a third of the normal capacity of the Civic. Good news too that (as you can see from the front page) the Ideas Hub has a new home thanks to The Meadows Shopping Centre in Chelmsford. I am sure many have missed it - what a great job Edith and her team of volunteers do for us all.

A couple of new independent businesses have opened. In Baddow Road we have a new Italian restaurant called Authentico which is owned by Polignano delicatessens, which I have to say is a fave of mine. In Moulsham Street we have a new tea room called Loubees, and yes this is ‘proper’ with real cream teas and homemade cakes!

They are opposite the Hop Beer Shop - you may remember them from Hanging Gardens garden centre just outside Writtle.

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I have been to see another live music show at the Venue, which many will remember as Riga, part of the Cricketers in Westcliff-on-Sea. I went with my mate Trev to see Kimberley Rew with Lee Cave-Berry and Tony Hills playing a full set to a socially distanced audience - they were great. Kimberley, who formed Katrina and the Waves as well as writing all the material, also wrote The Bangles’ hit Going Down To Liverpool, and he continues to write and play music to this day. It’s sad that there weren’t more able to attend, as it was only £5 entry people shout out for it but do not come out and support it sadly.

With Black Frog we are continuing to put on live shows online for a small charge (which helps to support the artists) to entertain you. We are looking at finding somewhere - maybe like the Venue - where we can actually put on live shows and stream them at the same time, so opening them up to everyone around the globe. Please follow us on social media and see the advert in this publication for details - our QR code takes you to all our relevant pages.

I myself am continuing to write new tunes and putting them out to my friends to contribute and write lyrics for, and I am being stunned at what is coming back. I have to say I am getting quite excited, so keep your eyes and ears open for Yes It Is. I have also booked a new show for 2021 with Wille and the Bandits playing at Chelmsford City FC on Friday 23rd April. We really do hope that nothing will hinder it as it has been too long since Wille and the band played for us in Chelmsford and we are really excited to have them return.

Black Frog Bands: For all the info and links go to www. blackfrogbands.co.uk Its Your Music: www.facebook.com/itsyourmusic The Isolation Festival Facebook: www.bit.ly/3cDoCYW YouTube: www.bit.ly/3dEG4wK My new band page: www.facebook.com/yesitis

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City Times Gardening I just love this time of the year for the changes in garden interest and colour.

It’s that time of year for a good number of trees, shrubs and perennials to really come into their own. Whether it be autumn leaf colour, fruit, seed heads or the revelation of a superb plant form, autumn can be just as exciting as any other season.

Here are just a few of my favourites: Trees for the Domestic Garden (Both Under 12m) • Prunus serrula - a round-headed small deciduous tree, the trunk has lovely coppery-brown young bark. The leaves will turn yellow in autumn.

• Amelanchier lamarckii is a tree of open habit, with bronzetinged young leaves turning orange and red in autumn. In some years fruit is red to dark purple-black berry.

Shrubs • Callicarpa bodinieri var. giraldii ‘Profusion’ is a medium-sized deciduous shrub of upright habit to 3m in height. At this time of year berries are produced which are 4mm, violet-purple, in compact clusters.

• Hydrangea quercifolia is a spreading deciduous shrub with large, deeply lobed leaves turning red and purple in autumn.

The dried clusters of cone-like panicles look great when the frost hits them.

• Euonymus europaeus ‘Red Cascade’ is a large, vigorous, deciduous shrub to 3m, with oval leaves turning bright red in autumn. Fruits are bright rose-pink, 2cm across, opening to reveal orange seeds.

• A. grandiflora is a medium sized semi-evergreen shrub to 3m with arching branches, bearing small glossy oval leaves and clusters of pale pink, slightly fragrant flowers.

Perennials • Anemanthele lessoniana pheasant’s tail grass (syn. Stipa arundinacea) forms a fountain-like clump of slender evergreen foliage which emerges green, but develops irregular yellow, orange and red spotting and streaking.

• Physalis peruviana is the Cape gooseberry with edible, orange berries. each enclosed in a papery, lantern-shaped husk.

Jobs for the Next Few Weeks: • Take a trip to your local garden centre to check through spring flowering bulbs. Be vigilant when purchasing loose bulbs that they aren’t soft or have mildew on. Furthermore, if selecting bulbs wear gloves as some of you may react. This is especially true when checking out hyacinths, so avoid touching your face afterwards (for me I tend to react with a skin rash).

• If the ground is not too wet, continue with bed cultivation.

Incorporate well-rotted organic matter to improve soil structure - or at least add it to the surface. Soil organisms will drag material down into the soil and break it down. Water holding capacity will be improved as a result.

• Clean through patios in readiness for the winter/spring; sweep up leaves, rationalise your pots and spruce up remaining containers. Don’t forget to scrape through pathing joints to remove weeds and moss.

• Continue to dead-head Dahlia and Chrysanthemums cvs. This will remove possible rotting and potentially still encourage a few more flowers. Watch dahlias as we go through the month. Allow at least one good frost to cut the plants down before lifting and storing over the winter period.

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Lastly, check out this link for other jobs for the garden as we move through October www.rhs.org.uk/advice/in-month/october.

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.

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Chandler’s Bathroom Showroom Is Bigger & Better Than Ever!

Extended and Refitted Here at Chandler Materials, our newly reopened bathroom showroom is bigger and better than ever before and we’re excited to share the amazing ranges we have in store for you! But there’s more - we are so pleased and proud to announce that we are now able to offer a 3D Computer-Aided Design (CAD) of your dream bathroom, thus removing the guesswork from your design dilemmas and helping to bring your options to life. It really couldn’t be simpler to reimagine the possibilities of your new bathroom.

Helen Harman, Bathroom Showroom Manager, says: “I am over the moon with how our new and improved bathroom showroom has turned out! It makes me incredibly proud to welcome visitors into the showroom. My team and I look forward to welcoming you soon.”

With most people being unable to holiday abroad this year and the cost of moving house rising, more and more people are choosing to renovate their homes. With bathrooms being one of the most popular rooms to update, upgrading rather than upscaling can also be a great way of saving money in such uncertain times.

Current Trends There’s simply no way of denying it, the dark nights drawing in may turn your attention to the comfort of slipping into a hot bath for a long soak after a hard day. Roca has this covered with their Carmen range which boasts a classic, vintage look with a modern twist. However, if modern is really what you desire, Merlyn is oh so deliciously on-trend with their range of frameless

shower enclosures. Their new black frameless shower kit fuses style and elegance with practical functionality. Complete the look with matching black accessories and benefit from a lifetime guarantee what’s not to love about it!?

Transforming a bathroom with one product may sound far-fetched, but it’s possible with products such as Nuance Panelling. An already award-winning bathroom wall panel system created for showers, wet rooms and around the bath. The panel replaces traditional tiles, to give a striking look to your room. The designs are not just beautiful to look at but uncompromisingly high performance and easy maintenance too, as it’s uniquely fitted without extrusions and 100% waterproof guaranteed. With so many different designs available, both traditional and modern, there’s a pattern to fit every taste and every current bathroom style.

Whether it’s replacement products or a full renovation you have in mind, you can’t help but be inspired by the ranges we have available.

For inspiration and free advice chat to our friendly, knowledgeable staff and book in your appointment to view our new bathroom showroom today at Chandler Material Supplies.

91 Widford Road, Chelmsford, CM2 8SY 01245 352 650 www.chandlermaterials.co.uk

Continuing on the black theme, these statement pieces from Burlington are named after a gemstone that is found along the shores of the British coastline called jet. Burlington Jet is a striking bathroom collection and is in itself traditional shaped bathroom ware unapologetically reimagined. With contrasting high shine brassware and further accessories which are also available to complete the collection, you’ve never seen anything like it. Simply pure, striking glamour.

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Do you need a new website?

Below are a few of the websites we have designed and built!

We also design and supply: business cards flyers roller banners brochures In fact, almost anything that is printed!!

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St Clare Hospice Coffee Morning at Old Park Meadow

The team at Old Park Meadow Natural Burial Ground are delighted to have raised £260 for St Clare Hospice at their recent fundraising takeaway coffee morning.

The outdoor socially distanced event was supported by families who have loved ones laid to rest at Old Park Meadow but also by those wanting to find out a little more about the natural burial ground whilst supporting such a wonderful charity.

The team would like to thank local coffee shop The Stores in Great Waltham for donating their delicious cake and to Premier Crew Hospitality and The Rose Garden florist in Dunmow for their generous donations to the raffle prizes.

Next year the team hope to be able to organise a much bigger event! If you would like more information please call them on 01245 806 332, email info@oldparkmeadow. co.uk, or call in to see them - they are behind the Butchers Arms pub at North End between Great Dunmow and Chelmsford, CM6 3PL.

Helen Rollason Cancer Charity Launch New Website!

Helen Rollason Cancer Charity are proud to announce the launch of their newly designed website at www.helenrollason.org.uk. The new site features a modern design, improved functionality and easy access to essential information to help people access our cancer support.

Helen Rollason Cancer Charity Chair of Trustees Ben Schneider explains: “Our goal with our new website is to provide our visitors with an easier way to learn about our services. Our design is more modern and intuitive. With this new look, we wanted to make the user experience as simple as possible.

of information for those who are wishing to use our cancer services, donate to the charity and in general learn more about our charity. We will be adding to our new site in the coming months, so watch this space for some more exciting new updates!”

Visit www.helenrollason.org.uk to see the new look website for yourself!

The new site is easy to use and navigate, and we now have a clearer structure featuring a drop-down menu on the top of the page for a streamlined experience. We will be constantly updating our content with helpful information, articles, newsletters, charity news and client stories.”

Helen Rollason Cancer Charity CEO Kate Alden said: “I’d like to say a personal huge thank you to our friends from Cognitran; Jay, Tony, Dennis and Alan, who give up their time and energy during lockdown to make this possible.

“We hope visitors will enjoy the website’s fresh look and easy to access information. We wish to establish this website as a source www.issuu.com/itsyourmedia

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City Times History

Chelmsford in the Second World War (Part Five) - by Stephen Norris This month’s article on the town during the Second World War looks at some further aspects of life in Chelmsford during the period.

As in the whole country, rationing was introduced much earlier in Chelmsford than it had been during the First World War and an infrastructure was already in place. Food rationing was introduced on the 8th of January 1940 with food only able to be bought using ration books. 42,000 people registered for butter, 42,500 for sugar and 40,500 for ham in the town. In May 1941 rationing was started for clothing. Fish, fresh fruit and vegetables were not rationed although they were in short supply. Bread was not rationed until 1946 - after the war had finished. As in the WWI, a Food Control Committee was set up in 1939 with councillors, trade unionists and two women.

Eventually pressure told and women gained greater representation on the committee. Also as elsewhere, Chelmsford had by all accounts a flourishing black market. In 1942 for example a farmer and a grocer were fined £5 for supplying six tins of fish without complying with the Ration Conditions Orders and in the same year a Chelmsford trader was fined £30 for selling tea and soap without receiving coupons.

In July 1943 a café owner was given a 6 month jail sentence for acquiring an excess quantity of rationed goods. Of course, it was much easier for people to get food in rural areas.

Everybody was expected to ‘Dig for Victory’ and there was a big return to using allotments in both the town and rural areas, though Chelmsford had less of a tradition for allotments than other Essex towns such as Colchester. Peggy Bradley’s father in Beehive Lane refused to use the local milkman after a disagreement, so he bought a cow and kept it on the grass verges near the house, even building a cowshed. Jean Roberts found the shopping terrible with just not enough food to buy. Meals had to be planned and everything had to be eked out. There was no fresh fruit but lots of carrots.

Early on in the war the authorities recommended that Chelmsford should have three communal feeding centres, or ‘British Restaurants’ as they became known. The first such restaurant opened in Moulsham Street in March 1941. The Mayor enjoyed beef, two vegetables, apple tart and a cup of tea. 136 could be seated for a three course meal at one sitting for one shilling each and 1,450 meals were served in the first week. In October 1942 the Ministry of Food told the council that their second restaurant in Rainsford Lane was the best in the country both for its menu and the quality of its food. The third restaurant was in Tunman Mead, off Victoria Road.

After increasing pressure the restaurants were opened for evening meals and on Saturday and Sunday. In June 1942 the Rural District Council opened its first British Restaurant in Great Baddow after previously saying they were unnecessary. It concentrated more on cash and carry meals. The council soon opened another in Writtle.

Sybil Olive remembered eating at a British Restaurant when she didn’t eat at the Crompton Parkinson canteen and described them as ‘cheap and cheerful’. All the British Restaurants more than broke even. and with severe austerity and rationing after the war they were kept open for several years. Both VE Day and VJ Day saw a number of parties at the restaurants.

As elsewhere women played a vital role during the war. Eventually there were over 2,000 Women’s Land Army members in the whole county with many of them helping with wheat growing and other farming around Chelmsford. There was still a shortage of land girls in villages like Roxwell, with not enough of them to replace the farm workers who had left for the war. Despite the opposition of the Chief Constable, the county started recruiting for the Women’s Auxiliary Police in August 1941. A Mrs Hurley joined the Auxiliaries during the war but was allowed to only do office work. Of course, the emergency food canteens and first aid posts couldn’t have been manned without women in the town giving up a great deal of their time.

The main contribution of the women in Chelmsford during the war was in the big works, which couldn’t have produced the munitions, switchgear, radios, radar equipment and ball bearings etc that made

such an enormous contribution to the war effort without them.

Restrictions on middle class married women working was one of the first strictures of society to be removed. Hundreds of mainly single young women were directed into the area but there were also a great many local women who had their first experience of paid work, and being at work did a great deal for their sense of independence. In March 1942 a deputation of women converged on the Shire Hall demanding ‘Nurseries Now’ for their children - four months later three nurseries were being prepared. Jean Roberts, later to be Mayor, was chair of the Chelmsford Women At Work Committee (CWAWC), an effective pressure group for this and other matters, including school meals. The CWAWC had conspicuously less success when they petitioned the council to provide play centres for school children after school hours. It was argued that this would mean some mothers could evade their legitimate responsibilities. The Women’s Voluntary Service played an important role in the smooth running of the nurseries, providing voluntary workers, materials and equipment. By 1942 there was a steady influx of women into the town.

In March 1943 a further 200 were directed into the town, leaving the Billeting Officer only a few days to find them quarters. These women were often blamed by the Bishop and others for the increased amount of ‘boozing’ and other lax behaviour by women in the town.

Working in the big Chelmsford works certainly opened the eyes of some middle class Chelmsford women. Jean Roberts was unusual in that she had taught in Ealing before the war using her maiden name, whilst married. Needless to say the arrival of her first child more than two years after she started teaching caused a bit of problem! She moved to Chelmsford when her husband got a job at Marconi. She didn’t have to register for work because of the baby, but volunteered for part time work at Marconi while a friend looked after the baby.

Her job was to grind down the crystals for radio sets and then test the frequency. The only training she and her fellow workers were given was a brief demonstration of a micrometer. Chatting was not encouraged - ‘even the walls have ears’. There were a wide range of people on her bench and some of the working class girls tried to deliberately upset the middle class women with their coarse language and ‘low sexual talk’. Men were only there in a supervisory capacity. Marconi’s didn’t have a canteen so Jean had to eat at a British Restaurant. Joan Taylor worked an 11-hour day six days a week at the Hoffmann factory.

Men working in Chelmsford’s big factories during the war did not have an easy life either: long hours were usually followed by some kind of ARP work. Kenneth Smith worked at the Crompton factory, working on lathes making components for switchgear for electric motors.

He worked from 7.30am to 5.30pm during the week as well as on Saturday mornings. Ray Knappett remembered when the whistle blew for lunch at Marconi and Hoffmann and a phalanx of cyclists would come down New Street and into the town. When Bill Wilson was taken onto Hoffmann’s night shift, he thought he could work as a builder during the day, as well as his 12 hour shift and a two hour journey to and from Thundersley. Not surprisingly he fell asleep at his bench several times.

At the start of the conflict the treatment of conscientious objectors (COs) was better than it had been during the WWI but attitudes soon hardened and ‘conchies’ found they experienced increasingly tough conditions in the town. They had to register as a CO rather than enlist at the town’s employment exchange and this was apparently a very unsettling experience. A CO such as T Brown, who wouldn’t take a life, but would carry out work to save lives in the medical services, found that he was treated reasonably tolerantly however. In July a motion that the council should not employ any COs was only very narrowly defeated. Pressure from those inclined to persecute them persisted and in 1941 the County Council decided not to appoint any further COs. 21 cases of COs already employed by the county were to be considered on their individual merits. The editor of the Essex

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Chronicle was firmly against them working on either council and the local courts increasingly came down hard on COs who breached the terms of their registration, for example one who refused to do ambulance work. A Salvation Army insurance agent was given three month’s imprisonment for refusing to be conscripted and Jehovah’s Witnesses were frequently jailed for refusing to co-operate with the war effort. In June 1942 one was imprisoned for three months for refusing to start work as a farm labourer, which was in the terms of his registration as a CO. Later on there was a great deal of comment about ‘conchies’ who received double rations to perform their farm work. ‘Don’t class the ordinary agricultural worker with those swine’ was one comment. Percy Bennett was a trade unionist who had trained as a fire officer before the war. As a supporter of the peace movement he ‘could not take a gun to anybody’. He was allowed to continue in his peaceful occupation.

One area in which the people of Chelmsford did excel at during the war, was fundraising. They certainly did not agree with the Ipswich MP who felt that the plethora of ‘War Weapons Weeks’ were a gigantic swindle, because what mattered was whether the country had the materials and labour to build the aircraft, corvettes etc, not whether there was enough money. In truth, the fundraising exercises were, as much as anything, designed as morale boosting exercises.

In November 1940, a Chelmsford War Weapons Week raised a quarter of a million pounds, which according to the local papers compared well with similar sized towns elsewhere in the country.

A Save For Victory week in April 1941 was aimed at increasing the National Savings and encouraged the setting up of street savings groups. In February 1942 a new Weapons Week was designed to raise £240,000 for two corvettes, but over double - £530,000 was the outcome; the second highest in Essex. During July 1943 a Wings For Victory Week raised £750,000, enough to pay for a Lancaster bomber. A Salute the Soldiers campaign raised almost a million pounds with the money earmarked for the Essex Regiment.

Chelmsford also contributed freely to the various salvage weeks.

During a book week in April 1943, 213,000 books were collected, well over three times the 65,000 target. Two and a half thousand of these were donated to blitzed libraries, 1,000 given to children and the rest sent for recycling.

As elsewhere, going to the cinema was the staple form of entertainment for ordinary people. The cinemas were opened for the first time on Sundays in July 1940. Towards the end of the war there was concern that children were going to the cinema too much.

Dance bands like the Altona Brass Band were kept busy playing in a variety of venues, including the Corn Exchange, the hub of entertainment for soldiers. In July 1943 an all Essex Dance Band Championship was organised in Chelmsford under the auspices of the Melody Maker. 1942 saw rhythm clubs open at the Cricketers in Moulsham and the Three Cups. In the same year a garrison theatre opened in the town for all members of the forces, with all the 650 seats priced at one shilling. The town’s big factories had visits from top ENSA entertainers. In 1943 the American Red Cross set up a club for American Soldiers in the upper rooms of the Saracen’s Head Hotel - 150 local women volunteered to be hostesses there! When interviewed by the Essex Chronicle, 32 out of 40 American soldiers said they liked the town.

Apart from concern about the amount of drinking in the town, people - including Bishop Wilson - were worried about the behaviour of young people. Wilson thought that the under 21s should be banned from pubs. Those on the bench found that they were increasingly dealing with juveniles of 17 and under. A lack of male role models at home because of the war and the disruption to education were seen as two of the causes of the increase in crime carried out by children. As in the rest of the country, youth centres were being suggested as a solution by the end of the war.

The final two articles in this series on the effect of the Second War on Chelmsford will deal with mainly the bombing on the town.

Canon Tom’s E-Pistle

Hello everyone. I’m not usually one to be wound up by the things I read in the national newspapers or hear on the telly, but I have to say, I find it hugely annoying that we keep hearing ‘Christmas is cancelled’ all over the media.

Christmas is not cancelled - it will happen, despite what the doomsayers and negative thinkers would have us believe. Of course, it will be very different this year than what we have come to view as normal, that doesn’t mean it won’t happen though.

Goodness me, there’s enough to feel negative about at the moment without people trying to make us feel worse!

How is it that big media misjudges or underestimates us so badly?

Don’t they know how imaginative and inventive people can be? Surely some of the amazing things we’ve seen this year are proof enough that we can always find a way to rise above adversity. Why can’t they try to look to the positives and find the hope even in the current

situation?

I know that for a lot of us Christmas this year will be harder in many ways, but I think some of that depends on what we think Christmas is really about. If it relies largely on how much we can spend on gifts, what we might get from other people, or how much food and booze we are able to consume, then sure, it looks like things could be bleak. However, if Christmas is about spirit, about our desire to look for the best in people, to be caring, considerate - even, dare I say, loving - then we have cause to be more positive.

What about revisiting the central story of Christmas? How about spending a bit of time exploring the birth of Jesus again - something which many of us may not have done since we left school? How about a visit to church, either in person or online to hear again the wonderful readings which tell of how the birth of a child can bring so much hope and joy to the world, even one in the grip of a pandemic?

Tom

If you have an interesting article you wish to share, please email paul@itsyourmedia.co.uk www.issuu.com/itsyourmedia

Page 15

City Times Finance COVID-19 and Your Money: 5 Questions to Ask Yourself About Your Pension Savings

It is fair to say that 2020 has been an extraordinary year for all of us, but that does not mean that we should stop thinking about ‘here and now’ - retirement is a reality for many and it’s important that we are all aware of the bigger picture and what to look out for when making decisions if you are over 55.

1. How Much Do I Have?

The State Pension is currently about £175 a week - unlikely to be enough for most people. It is your private pension savings that are designed to provide you with income that should ensure comfortable and secure retirement. Depending on the level of your savings and which withdrawal strategy you adopt, avoid the temptation to start spending early and run the risk of running out of money later on.

2. How Long Do I Have?

We cannot predict our life expectancy but as a rule of thumb, you will spend on different things in a different way if you expect to live for another 40 years than if your life expectancy is 10 years. Don’t underestimate your longevity and overestimate your pension pot provision.

3. How Much Do I Need?

Your pension savings should absolutely meet your needs and beyond. The pendulum is always swinging - you may need less if you are mortgage-free, but way more if you require later life care. Keep reviewing your retirement provisions on a regular basis.

4. How Much of a Risk?

Typically, any pension savings yet to be withdrawn stay invested, meaning that their value fluctuates. Do not dismiss your investment strategy - it is not set in stone and must be monitored.

If you experience major change in value downward, contact your

independent financial adviser - this is not the time to DIY-it.

5. How Much of a Tax? Taxes in their many guises are inevitable; currently your standard personal tax-free allowance is £12,500, so any income received, classed as ‘earned income’, from your pension pot in excess of this will be taxed at your marginal rate. Tax legislation changes frequently so don’t get caught out,keep an eye on income tax rules.

To sum up, even in the last quarter of 2020, do not lose sight of what matters most - you, your future and that of your loved ones. We are always happy to listen to your concerns and guide you through the retirement planning maze. Your largest assets are probably your home and your pension - make sure to maintain both to the same high standards.

Silvia Johnson BSc(Hons) DipPFS EFA CertCII (MP) is a Director and Independent Financial Adviser at Royale Thames Wealth Ltd. 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.

Storage Solutions for Small Kitchens - Advice from Our Senior Kitchen Designer, John Martin Floor to Ceiling Larders: A good idea for small spaces, these handy units allow you to keep dry goods all in one place. Some new larders available from our suppliers contain shelving as well as personalised drawers to make them practical as well as beautiful.

Corner Solutions: There are many different and clever corner solutions available. We love the Ninka from Hafele, but also revolving carousels, magic corner units and le mans corners are very popular with our clients for ease of use and easy to reach contents.

Wine Fridges: These often drop off the wish list when space is limited.

Instead of using vital space in your normal fridge, why not opt for a slim-line wine fridge so your favourite tipple is always close at hand and at the perfect temperature?

Integrated Kitchen Bins: A great way of giving any kitchen a sleek look and perfect for decluttering - especially useful in a compact kitchen that wouldn’t have the floor space for a freestanding bin or two.

Space Saving Sinks: These can feature a chopping board that slides over the sink to give you extra food preparation space. Clever compartments to the sides can also allow you to wash and store vegetables so they are ready to use. Once finished, slide back the board to reveal the sink!

Our showroom in Navigation Road, Chelmsford, is open from 10am 4pm 7 days per week. www.regalkitchens.co.uk Page 16

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Please quote M&S

Record Store Day Is Coming!

Record Store Day 2020 is the busiest day of the year for Chelmsford’s only independent record shop, Intense Records under the arches by the bus and train station. The event grows year on year with a queue of customers lining up by the viaduct.

This year due to the pandemic RSD has been rescheduled from its regular spot in April and split into 3 dates (or drops): The final drop is coming up on October 24th to reduce the amount of queuing on any one particular day.

We will be open from 8am-5pm, then all the releases become available online from 6pm. For those that can’t make it on the day, Intense will also be opening up on Sunday the 25th from 10am-4pm.

There will be hundreds of limited edition releases catering for every taste and genre, and on the third drop we have Alice Cooper, Daft Punk’s Tron Soundtrack remixes, Eminem (Slim Shady), Miles Davis, Austin Powers soundtracks, Suede, The Specials, The Rolling Stones, Hospital Records and a deluxe 17-LP Clutch box set.

You can check out the full list of release on www.intenserecords.com and also submit your wish list there too.

For more info pop into Intense Records, 33/34 Viaduct Road, Chelmsford CM1 1TS (under the arches by the bus station).

Alternatively, call them on 01245 347 372 or check their website at www.intenserecords.com. www.issuu.com/itsyourmedia

Page 17

Cool to Be Kind Launches the Rucksack Project 2020 on World Homeless Day – 10th October 2020 Rough Sleepers need your help more than ever and this year we have teamed up with several other rough sleeping support groups to launch this year’s Rucksack Project. We hope that with the involvement of Sanctus, The Seventh Day Adventist Church and Chelmsford Community Church, this will be our biggest and most successful appeal to date.

Over the last 5 years, with the amazing kindness and generosity of both individuals and local organisations (including local schools, scout groups and many more) we have distributed over 1,000 rucksacks to rough sleepers in Chelmsford, the south east and London.

We began by encouraging people in our community to fill a rucksack with items that would benefit a rough sleeper in the winter months and give it to us to directly distribute to them. This has grown so much and we now have a storage facility in Chelmsford where we store everything that has been kindly donated to us before redistribution.

You may have items around your home that you no longer need. You may also be able to find some good bargains in charity shops and pound stores. In light of the Covid crisis we have added a couple of extra items. Please contact us on our Facebook page (Cool to Be Kind) or email: brian@c2bk.co.uk.

So, if you would like to put a rucksack together, these are the things

we suggest you include: For Winter • A sleeping bag.

• A fleece or warm coat.

• Thick socks.

• Underwear.

• Gloves.

• Wooly hat.

• Non-perishable food, such as cans of soup (with ring pulls) and cereal bars.

• Deodorant.

• Wet wipes.

• Toothbrush and paste.

• Face masks.

• Hand sanitizer.

Where Do I Take My Rucksack?

Simply contact us on our Facebook page (Cool to Be Kind) or email: brian@c2bk.co.uk and we will arrange drop off or collections.

The Art Place - Now Open The Art Place is an exciting new community creative space opened in the heart of the city by Ideas Hub Chelmsford and supported by the community.

The Art Place is in Chelmsford’s Meadows Shopping Centre who kindly provided the space for this amazing project. The space offers a professional art gallery for artists to showcase and sell their art and for Chelmsford residents to admire the wealth of local talent. It also provides a co-working creative space for artists, for just £5 a day.

There is also a workshop area for both community creative workshops and for artists to run their own workshops.

Local craft makers can hire shelves to sell their items in The Art Place shop, including a range of eco-friendly, handmade, local, upcycled and/or vegan products.

The Art Place is a true community project, by the community for the community. An army of local people spent their free time creating this new community facility. We must thank contributions from Deborah Aloba from affordablelawforyou.co.uk, Mick McDonagh from High Chelmer, Goodgym for helping us move, Steven from www.facebook. com/sevencharmsdecorating, and MT Electrical Contractors.

The Ideas Hub, coordinates and manages The Art Place. The Hub is a registered charity started in 2012 whose objective is the well-being of Chelmsford residents. It runs community creative spaces, projects for children in and out of schools, and organises local festivals. This new space is an exciting next step, having moved from High Chelmer and then Chelmsford Library.

For more information, please go to www.ideashubchelmsford.org or contact theartplace@ideashubchelmsford.org, or call 07880 990 443.

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City Times Well-being

Therapy - by Chelmsford Therapy Rooms A popular issue we are approached about as therapists is making and breaking habits.

Wanting to stop smoking/lose weight or wanting to create and maintain motivation to go the gym or look for a new job are all things we have been approached with. Why are habits such an issue for people? Many of us have all the best intentions but the power of a habit stops us from pursuing these intentions and turning them into positive actions!

A habit is an action performed over and over again by the subconscious mind because it believes the action to be of benefit to us. Habits are also designed to save time and ‘thinking energy’.

The action of driving a vehicle is a habit because most of us don’t consciously think about gear changes etc, we’re too busy looking out for hazards and perhaps looking where we’re going if driving in an unfamiliar area. Changing a habit is much more difficult than creating one. Such habits as eating chocolate for comfort or smoking when stressed are hard habits to kick because the subconscious has attributed an emotional connection to the action it believes is still of benefit. Most habits are run straight from the subconscious and this is why hypnotherapy is an effective treatment method. Habits such as hair pulling, thumb sucking, excessive consumption of food, alcohol or cigarettes are some of the main reasons why people seek hypnotherapy. A habit is a good method for the subconscious to use to relieve stress because not only does performing the habit make us feel secure, it is also a way of quick problem solving. Our subconscious will search its archives for a way to avoid a difficult situation.

Unfortunately, self-defeating behaviours can become habits. When someone comes to a therapist wanting to stop smoking, the first thing we might want to find out is why they started smoking in the first place. This gives us some of the reasoning behind why the subconscious wants to hang on to it; for example, if someone started smoking when they joined a new group of friends so they would fit in, the client might subconsciously want to continue the habit just in case they might feel insecure if they stopped. Even if none of the client’s friends smoke now, the belief has been reinforced over time by consistently performing the habit. Next we need to find out why the client doesn’t want to smoke anymore, what’s their motivation? For example, if the client needs to stop smoking for health reasons, we might heavily lean the hypnotherapy session towards this element.

We also need to know the habit more in depth, so how, when and where the habit manifests itself. Does the client religiously smoke a cigarette on the way to the train station everyday? This might be a hard action to reverse, habits make us feel secure so not smoking a cigarette on the way to the train station could feel very odd at first.

Importantly for the treatment of habits, the client must identify certain elements of their habit (how it began, when they perform it, what benefit they believe they gain from performing the habit) and realise it is their responsibility to change it. The client must recognise and accept the fact that their habit is no longer useful. I believe if you don’t want to stop the habit then you won’t. This I suspect is why so many people claim they can’t stop a habit, or why no matter what they try, nothing works. The hypnotherapy content should focus on the benefits of no longer continuing the habit and the client must realise they no longer need to sustain it.

I have heard of a method of forcing a person to engage in a habit to the extreme in order to put them off - for example, parents, on finding out their child smokes, threatening to make the child smoke 50 packs of cigarettes all at once to make the child sick of smoking.

In a therapeutic setting this wouldn’t be possible as it is unethical and puts the patient’s health at risk. A therapeutic example of this method would be for a client presenting with a nail biting habit biting

their nails in front of a mirror. This supposedly causes the client to become more vividly aware of their actions and the sensations attached to it. Personally I wouldn’t use this method because firstly I don’t think it’s very ethical and secondly, it really depends on what the habit is!

Remember, any action can become a habit including positive ones, so for example if you want to get fit it’s a good idea to exercise at the same time on the same days for the same length of time. Your subconscious should eventually become used to you performing this habit, so if you weren’t to exercise when you normally would it would feel as if you should be exercising. I wouldn’t like to say how long it takes to create a habit because everybody is different. What I will say though is if you were to say ‘I’ll exercise 3 times this week’ but don’t set any actual days, you’d be surprised at how easily you forget to exercise. If you were to put in your diary that you exercise every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 8am for 30 minutes you’re creating meaning for the event by linking it to things you already recognise (the days of the week). This means your subconscious and your conscious mind are much more likely to remember to exercise.

Also, a habit is created and maintained when the subconscious believes there is a benefit for you. So as soon as you feel the benefit, even if you’re just really proud of yourself for exercising in the first place, reinforce this feeling over and over so that you start to link feeling good/positive etc with exercising.

Chelmsford Therapy Rooms has a range of therapists that help clients both online via Zoom or Skype/ Some of the therapists are now working face-to-face again. Therapies on offer range 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.

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City Times Fitness

Yoga Practice at Home Part 5 - by Mandy Haynes

Hello everyone, we have now reached the final section of our home practice series! If you have been following the series you will have put together a well-rounded practice with the movement meditation, lunge sequence, standing and balancing poses, and now we come to our closing sequence. In this part of our practice we are looking to slow everything back down - our heart rate and our breath - and prepare the body and mind for the final relaxation in Savasana.

As you move from Mountain Pose to then come to sit on the mat, it might be useful to have a cushion or two and a blanket.

Head-to-Knee Pose Sit with both legs out in front of you (you could sit on a folded blanket to help tilt the pelvis forward) and then bend your right knee and bring the sole of the foot to rest on the left inner thigh and let the knee drop out to side (you could prop a cushion under the knee if it doesn’t reach the floor). As you inhale, flex the left foot, press the top of the thigh down, lengthen the spine and raise your arms either side of your head. Rotate your upper body slightly so you are facing the left leg and then fold forward from the hips as you exhale. Keep your spine long, chest open and shoulders relaxed. Place your hands down, framing your left leg, or take hold of your ankle or foot. Stay for 5 to 10 breaths and then inhale as you come out of the pose.

Half Lord Of The Fishes Pose Lift your right knee and place your right foot on the outside of your left leg. Either bend your left leg and place the left foot on the outside of your right hip or keep the left leg extended. As you inhale, lengthen your spine, place your right arm behind you, extend your left arm up.

As you exhale, twist your body to the right, hugging your knee with your left arm, or hooking your elbow behind your left knee. Keep lengthening your spine on the in-breath and twisting from the belly on the out-breath. Stay for 5 to 8 breaths. To come out of the pose,

come out of the twist as you exhale.

Repeat both poses on the other side (right leg extended).

Put some cosy socks on and come down onto your back and bring your knees into your chest. Either wrap your arms around your legs (giving yourself a well deserved hug) or place the hands onto the knees and gently rock the back from side to side to ease out the back. Release your feet to the floor and get your blanket - make sure that you’re warm and comfortable.

Savasana Extend the legs out along the mat a little wider than hip-width apart and then let your feet and ankles relax out to the sides. Let the legs be heavy on the mat and allow the pelvis, hips and buttocks to relax.

Feel your back widen and lengthen out along the mat and give the shoulders a little wriggle down away from your ears. Let the arms rest down by the sides of your body with the palms turned up to the ceiling and the fingers gently curling in. Find length in the back of your neck, let your eyes close and relax in pools of darkness beneath your eyelids (an eye pillow would be lovely here). Soften your forehead, let go of your jaw, let there be space between your upper and lower teeth and let the tongue be loose in the mouth. Take a deep breath in through your nose and then sigh the breath out of your mouth before closing the lips and allowing the breath to find it’s natural rhythm. Let your body rest and your mind be still. Enjoy!!

A guided meditation or relaxation can be really useful in helping you stay present during Savasana, so keep your eyes peeled for one coming to these pages very soon! I also use them in my classes at Hummingbird PY so if you’d like to join me, you can book at www.hummingbirdpilates.co.uk.

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A Year in the Life of the Mayor Although all civic events continue to be cancelled or postponed, I’m still receiving a steady stream of invitations to support local organisations either in socially distanced person, or virtually. During the summer holidays staff at the Froebel inspired nursery, Apple Bay, at Newlands Spring Primary School, dedicated their time to transforming the classroom and garden space into an inviting and educational oasis for the pupils. This nursery offers wraparound care for children in the local community. Early Years Teacher Jessica Holme explained that the Froebel principles include respect, connectedness, creativity and positive relationships when I was invited to open the new nursery ahead of the children returning.

In September, Essex Dance Theatre invited the whole mayoral party to an outdoor, distanced dance performance on the field behind their building. The dancers were brilliant and it was good to see live dance with creative choreography to keep them apart at all times. This was the first year that the dance school couldn’t take their performing group to Devon to tour local schools, which was such a shame when they’d been rehearsing so hard - this was an opportunity to perform in front of their families and us; a thoroughly enjoyable evening.

Scavenger Hunt which started in the Cathedral grounds. There are many more interesting videos online - well worth watching.

I was delighted to visit Margaretting Primary School to present Melissa Bryan with the Silver Teacher of the Year Award; what a fantastic achievement to recognise the difference she makes in young people’s lives. Congratulations.

Another delightful visit was to the newly reopened YMCA Nursery where we met staff to discuss the safety measures in place and the Deputy Mayor read We’re Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen to the children: ‘We’re not scared’ seems a good message at the moment.

At the end of September I was invited to formally open City Electric Vehicle Engineering (CEVE) in Montrose Road where I spent an interesting hour looking at the electric vehicles and declaring the company open for business.

It made a lovely change to be offered tea and cake at a Macmillan Coffee Afternoon at Roswell Primary School where the Year 5 were on hand to serve the wide range of lovely cakes and collect donations.

They were very strict with Covid guidelines and a grand total of £220 was raised for this very worthy charity. Well done to everyone involved.

Take care and stay safe.

Please contact mayors.office@chelmsford.gov.uk if you’d like a mayoral visit.

Rivermead Rotary Club meet at The Hive Café in Oakland’s Park and have generously donated a glass panel to the Chelmsford Museum placed at the entrance of the café to honour key workers for their hard work and sacrifice. Thank you for inviting me to ‘officially’ open a window! (See the Rotary article on page 25 for more information and a photograph).

Cllr Jude Deakin Facebook Mayor of Chelmsford Twitter: Chelmsford Mayor Instagram: chelmsford_mayor

It’s been a pleasure to meet members of Danbury Coronavirus Volunteer Group to present them with badges and certificates from Chelmsford Centre Supporting Voluntary Action to thank them for all the work they have done and continue to do so. Well done to everyone who has helped out during this difficult time. I’ve been inspired by the community spirit shown by local volunteers in helping their neighbours.

Chelmsford Community Radio’s Carl Spaul interviewed the Deputy Mayor, Cllr Linda Mascot and myself in the Mayor’s Parlour at the Civic Centre. It was an opportunity to speak about my charities (Sanctus, Helping Hands Essex, and Mind) as well as the challenges of being Mayor during the COVID-19 pandemic. We had so much fun, we’re going to do a mayoral podcast! Details to follow next month.

The Heritage Open Days were online this year. I filmed a video touring the mayoral and council chambers and was delighted to open the Page 22 www.chelmsfordthecitytimes.co.uk

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Page 23

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Rotary’s Permanent Recognition of NHS & Keyworkers In unison with the general public, Rotary recognises the tremendous contribution of keyworkers during the COVID-19 pandemic. The rainbow initially just embraced NHS staff, but soon came to be recognised as a symbol of thanks to all the many other categories of staff ranging from delivery drivers and supermarket staff through emergency service workers to public transport staff and all supporting those shielding and self-isolating.

represents Rivermead Rotary. The concept was not about producing a complicated or abstract work of art, but about capturing the simple message of hope and thanks. It replicates what in many cases, were the naive pictures painted by children in lockdown and displayed in the windows of their homes. It connects and links into the initial feelings of Chelmsford and the nation who came together at a time of uncertainty and crisis.

Chelmsford Rivermead Rotary Club decided that Chelmsford’s keyworker efforts deserved a permanent commemoration. Brian Jeapes, husband of Rotarian Julia, offered to design and make a stained-glass panel based on a simple stylised rainbow. This had come to be seen more and more, nationally recognising the efforts of keyworkers and serving to remind us that there is hope and light to follow these dark times.

The glass panel represents the fears and optimism for what the outcomes might be in strange, life-changing times. The rainbow symbol conveys shared hope, thanks and gratitude to so many in our public services who risked so much and who continue to work to keep us safe. It commemorates the people who did not survive and the loss we now feel for them and the life we had before COVID-19.

Julia Jeapes said: “My generation was born into a world that had eradicated most major diseases. Cancer seeming to be the major hurdle to overcome in the western world. There was an expectation that we can be cured or protected from most infections.

“A free and easy way of life, in terms of socialising with friends and family, shopping, days out, travel to anywhere and attending events and theatres were taken for granted. Then suddenly it stopped! Life changed and within twenty-four hours of lockdown our streets were empty and everything we knew before COVID-19 hit, changed. The world became very local to your own house and contact outside of this was only possible via technology.

“Panic buying made toilet paper and staple foods, like meat, flour and eggs almost impossible to find. Shops had to impose rationing to prevent people stockpiling, and social distancing with long queues and restricted entry.

This panel has now been installed above the entrance door to The Hive Café at the Chelmsford City Museum in Oaklands Park and was dedicated by Mayor Councillor Jude Deakin on 23rd September. The Covid restrictions limited the number of people who could be present.

In normal circumstances the Rivermead Rotary Club holds its weekly breakfast meetings at the Hive so this memorial is especially appropriate.

Mayor Deakin said: “I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our NHS staff and other keyworkers for the amazing job they continue to do as we live through this pandemic. The residents of Chelmsford owe a large debt of gratitude to those who care for our sick and elderly, educate our children and keep vital services running.

I’d also like to extend my thanks to all the families of our keyworkers.

We cannot underestimate the importance of their support, which should not go unrecognised.”

Brian Jeapes, who created the COVID-19 Glass Panel, is a retired Essex Police officer who has lived and worked in Chelmsford for most of his life. Brian was inspired by what he learned about Rotary and how the organisation supports numerous and varied charitable causes. The panel came about from the profound effect that the pandemic had on all the individuals in the club, the people across our country and the world affected by the disease and the measures to curb its progress. As a group, the club wanted to capture the change in our lives and how individuals responded. The inspiration was the backdrop of rainbows seen in every street at the height of the fight against the coronavirus. The blue running through the picture www.issuu.com/itsyourmedia

“On the daily news updates we heard of huge numbers of the infected and those dying from the disease and were told what we should or could do to stop its spread and devastation.

“Then the rainbows started to appear. I don’t remember how it started, but like the Thursday night National clap for the NHS, it took on a life of its own with houses displaying their thanks and a rainbow.

Children painted stones and chalked rainbows on pavements and walls. Posters were produced and tee shirts printed. It has become the symbol of this time in our history and still lingers, as does the virus.

“Whilst Covid had not yet been defeated and the world is still seeing huge increases, we are coming to terms with our new normality. That means uncertainty with lives and jobs still under threat. Ironically like the rainbow the future and a cure are still illusive. The rainbow has become the country’s flag to provide hope thanks and unity in unprecedented times.”

This is just one example of Rotary in action. Besides the five clubs in Chelmsford, there are several within a radius of 15 miles, including my own club based in Dunmow. We are all working to improve the lives of our fellow men and women even in these unprecedented times and would be pleased to hear from anyone who would like to get involved. Please call me for details on 01245 260 349.

Stan Keller

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City Times Fun

Spot the Difference - 10 to find(answers on page 31)

Page 26 www.chelmsfordthecitytimes.co.uk

Quiz Time - by John Theedom 1.

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In which sport is the term basho used?

Before the euro was introduced, which country used the pfennig?

What would you do with a sloop?

Which bird can swim but cannot fly?

What was the name of the owner/ Captain of The Mayflower?

What was Alfred Lord Tennyson well known for?

Which is the Queen’s favourite breed of dog?

What is the more common name for the herb, cilantro?

Aviemore is most famous for what pastime?

Which is the longest river in the UK? What are you doing when you ‘genuflect’?

Where would a mangrove tree normally grow in the wild?

The Ministry of Silly Walks is a sketch from which TV comedy series?

The city of Norwich is on which river?

What is the name for the dimple in the bottom of a wine bottle?

Which pop idol starred in the musical Half a Sixpence?

Which country has recently broken away from the Commonwealth?

What is the name for a word that reads the same backwards as forwards?

What colour are the flowers of the Camellia?

Where in your body is the zygomatic nerve?

21. What is a more common name for a salver?

22. How old was the musician Jimi Hendrix when he died in 1970?

23. What is the meaning of the word lam?

24. How many valves does a trumpet have?

25. Sir Terence Conran died in September 2020 - which well known chain of shops did he found?

26. If you found a scallion in your meal, what would you expect to see?

27. A simple name for a barrette is what?

28. Who is the MP for Braintree?

29. Where in the local area is the Chain Home Tower?

30. Which two present the TV quiz show Pointless?

31. At which racecourse is the Oaks run?

32. Who was the creator of the character James Bond?

33. Which fruit can be cantaloupe or honeydew?

34. In which country does the Calgary Stampede take place?

35. Who is the male character who heads up the TV programme 60 Minute Makeover?

36. In the TV advert, what do the initials SCS stand for?

37. A yawl is what kind of transport?

38. In which year did the UK make it’s final payment to the USA for the WW2 loan?

39. The Blue Meanies were the enemy of the Beatles in which film?

40. Where in London is there a bronze statue of Charlie Chaplin?

Answers on page 31

www.issuu.com/itsyourmedia

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Chelmsford Window Gallery Presents...

Window Gallery - Broomfield Road, Chelmsford The Window Gallery Chelmsford was set up in June 2018 to give local artists a space to display their work. We usually host a new exhibition of local art in our window every month but as a measure against the spread of COVID-19 will be hosting virtual exhibitions until further notice.

What’s the best thing about being an artist?

“The process and finishing.”

What superpower would you have and why?

“Time travel. I’d be able to see early Queen and Jean Michel Basquiat shows and clean up at the bookies.”

Featured Artist October 2020 Name: Paul Vickery

Upcoming Exhibitions November - Masaki Kono www.windowgallery.org www.facebook.com/ChelmsfordWindowGallery

The Art Place

An exciting new art space in Chelmsford, Meadows Shopping Centre The Ideas Hub Chelmsford team are providing a gallery, maker space, artist studio, shop and workshop area as well as a venue for cultural and community interactions. Find them in all the usual places online by searching The Art Place Chelmsford.

See page 18 for more information

When did you start making art?

“I’ve always dabbled but only started painting regularly when I moved to Chelmsford about 13 years ago. It’s accelerated in the last two years.”

What sort of art do you create, and has this changed over time?

“In the main it has been aggressive, figurative painting, but it’s always nice to experiment with tighter, more controlled work once in a while. More recently I’ve been working on a series of abstracts and text related paintings. I like Gerhard Richter’s approach - he does the lot; photorealism, abstract expressionism, minimalism, pop art...”

What inspires you?

“Watching documentaries on artists such as Sean Scully, Howard Hodgkin and Frank Auerbach. James Kalm’s half-assed video blogs on the New York art scene are inspirational too.”

What do you do if you’re not inspired?

“Work through it. I mainly paint at the weekend so I’m fairly miserable if I let one pass without anything to show for it. Failing that there’s always James Kalm.”

Where do you practice art?

“My shed. Freezing in winter!”

How often do you create?

“Weekends, but I’ve stayed at work in London during the week since March so sometimes I’ll do something in the evenings there... still cold in winter!”

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www.chelmsfordthecitytimes.co.uk

Charity of the Month - Essex Youthbuild Essex Youthbuild is a construction training centre based in the heart of Chelmsford and working with young people aged 11-19 years old.

Background As a registered charity, our aim is to develop the aspirations of young people aged 14-19 years old by delivering construction skills reflective of the construction industry and meeting the requirements of the employers.

The skill gap within the construction industry bears a strong correlation to the limited options for young people during their early education. We aspire to reduce this by engaging with younger people at an earlier stage.

a Level 1 Award, Certificate, Extended Certificate or Diploma, which prepares them to progress to Level 2 within a college or have a better chance of gaining an apprenticeship or job.

English and math are delivered predominantly up to Level 1, however where a learner has the ability to achieve Level 2, we will encourage and work with them to gain this qualification.

CSCS Programme Construction Skills Certification Scheme (UK). Attendees to this course will gain a CITB qualification and on successful completion of the CSCS test, the applicant will receive their Green Labourer’s Card.

This programme is a bolt-on for the 12-week programme, but we also run it as a stand-alone programme for young people 16+ wishing to gain this qualification and support their journey towards working on a construction site.

Trade Club Funded by BBC Children in Need, Trade Club provides an opportunity for young people 11-16 years old to experience a range of construction trades in a safe, friendly and fun environment. It is very popular with the children in the local community. The club runs once per week on a Wednesday evening 5.30pm-7.30pm, term-time only.

Funding As a charity, we are reliant on funding raised through applications made to organisations such as the Lottery, Children in Need, and Jack Petchey Foundation to name a few. The Essex Community Foundation are also very proactive in supporting us, awarding grants as a result of donations from several sources.

Donations We have formed a good relationship with local trade centres and DIY stores as well as trade manufacturers who have generously donated material and monies to us as.

These are a few of our recent donators: Magply (insulation and weatherboard) SEH BAC Windows and Conservatories, Daw Heaths Timber (wood) and Tool Station.

Essex Youthbuild Limited provides a service to schools, catering for young people 14-19, introducing them to new skills not delivered at school. Integrating our deliveries with the schools, young people broaden their knowledge and skills in construction. Our ethos is to inspire young people through carpentry, bricklaying, maintenance (plumbing, tiling, painting and decorating) and encourage them to consider other trades in the industry such as plumbing, heating engineering or electrical engineering. We also educate them on the different types of careers in construction, such as site managers, project managers, quantity surveyor, amongst a host of other choices, explaining the route towards gaining the required qualifications.

As a charity, we are always open to monetary and material donations.

Contact and Enquiries If you have any queries don’t hesitate to email us at admin@ essexyouthbuild.co.uk, or call us on 01245 264 177. We are located at Unit 8, Hoffmanns Way, Chelmsford, Essex CM1 1GU, and are open Mon-Fri 8.30am-4pm.

One of our primary aims as a charity is to support young people who are no longer in mainstream education and give them the opportunity to develop skills and confidence, alongside developing their career aspirations. We work with Pupil Referral Units (PRU) Youth Offending Services (YOS), social workers and other external agencies such as the job centre, to help young people categorised as NEET (Not in Employment, Education or Training) to set and achieve goals that once seemed beyond them.

12-Week Programmes We run a 12-week programme throughout the year for NEET, 16-19year olds which consist of: • Vocational courses • Functional skills math • Functional skills english All the above courses cater for learners from Entry Level 3. The vocational courses in construction will enable learners to achieve www.issuu.com/itsyourmedia

Page 29

Stargazing with Mark Willis - October/November Venus: Breaking news! The fact that phosphine has been found 55km high in the Venusian atmosphere is not a claim that life definitely exists there. If this phosphine is really a signature of alien biology, we can send a space probe to find out for sure. All the same, very exciting news! To observe Venus, look west just after sunset.

Venus will only remain visible around 2 hours after sunset. It’s very bright, so you can’t miss it.

Mars: Don’t forget to take advantage of the planet’s current brightness due to it being the closest it’s been to Earth since 2003!

Although Mars reached ‘opposition’ on 13th October and it is now moving away from Earth. Viewing Mars will though remain excellent for some time. Through the right kind of telescope it is very possible to see surface features on Mars. The really big ones!

21st October: The Orionids Meteor Shower. An average shower, 20 meteors per hour, The Orionids are the dust grain remnants of none other than Comet Halley!

25th October: Don’t forget to put your clocks back!

11th -12th November: Northern Taurids meteor shower. Although only 5 to 10 showers per hour, it is one of the finer meteor shower displays, known for its bright fireballs. This year is particularly good, as there’s no bright moon to spoil the show!

New Moon: On 16th October and 15th November 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.

Email me with any questions at the email below.

I normally present LiteBites every Tuesday at 12 midday on Chelmsford Community Radio on 104.4 FM and online throughout the world. Sadly, I am in the vulnerable group. I hope to return to the airwaves as soon as I can. www.chelmsfordcommunityradio.com Twitter: @WillisWireless mark.willis@chelmsfordcommunityradio.com

To view both our magazines online visit www.issuu.com/itsyourmedia

About CCR... Chelmsford Community Radio Chelmsford Community Radio broadcasts on 104.4FM to the city and surrounding areas as well as online via www. chelmsfordcommunityradio.com or your smart speaker.

A not-for-profit organisation run by volunteers who are passionate about providing a truly local radio service and platform for Chelmsfordians, embracing our diverse culture, promoting community events and helping hundreds of talented performers from our area to be heard.

Eco-cast October so far has seen the release of Eco-cast Episode 2.

A green podcasting project supported by the Essex Book Festival Manifesto and Essex 2020.

Our takeover team (young volunteers) have been out and about in the city talking to retailers, local organisations

and members of the public investigating how our community is trying to tackle climate change and reduce our carbon footprint.

Students from the Chelmsford Drama Centre also read some of the Earth Poems sent in to Chelmsford City Council.

You can find episode 2 here: www.mixcloud.com/chelmsfordcr/ecocast-episode-2. Episode 1 can be found here: www.mixcloud.com/ chelmsfordcr/eco-cast-episode-1.

To take part in our Eco-cast project or enquire about any of our other shows, please get in touch on via the contact form on the website.

Listener Survey During the month of October 2020 we want your help to tell us what you think of CCR by filling-in the Chelmsford Community Radio listener survey. It only takes a few minutes to complete the survey on our website at www.chelmsfordcommunityradio.com. Your thoughts will help shape local programmes made in your city and broadcast on Chelmsford Community Radio live from Chelmsford.

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Classifieds Quiz Answers 1.

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Sumo wrestling Germany Sail - it is a yacht Penguin Christopher Jones Writing poetry Corgi Coriander Winter sports Severn Kneeling In a swamp Monty Python’s Flying Circus The Wensum Punt Tommy Steele Barbados Palindrome Darkish red Face

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Tray 27 Beat or thrash Three Habitat Onion Hairpin James Cleverly The Marconi site at Great Baddow Alexander Armstrong and Richard Osman Epsom Ian Fleming Melon Canada Peter Andre Sofa Carpet Specialist 2-masted yacht 2006 The Yellow Submarine Leicester Square

HIGHWOOD ROOFING • roof/chimney repairs • new roofs/flat roofs • facias & soffits/guttering NO JOB TOO SMALL very competitive rates!

All work guaranteed 07711606561/01245 422804

Advertise on our classified page for just £25 + VAT per issue.

Spot the Difference Answers

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