Welcome to The City Times October/November edition.
Next month’s issue for November/December will be the last full edition before Christmas, so if you have an event or are advertising for Christmas, then this will be the issue for you!
If you would like to publicise your business or event in our What’s On section, please 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
Advertising
Nick Garner 07970 206682 ads@itsyourmedia.co.uk
Editorial
Paul Mclean 01245 262082 / 07595 949701 editorial@itsyourmedia.co.uk
Well, this has been quite a month that will never be forgotten. We buried our late Queen and we now have King Charles lll as our monarch. I did watch the funeral and I have to say in my book no one could have done it like us - what an event; I would go so far as to call it the greatest show on earth. Adding to this, we now also have a new prime minister.
Well, the nights are beginning to draw in now and the leaves are turning and rain has returned and the wind has been blowing... What delights do we have in store for this winter? Let’s just hope that it is mild so we can keep our energy costs down, I have kept my heating off so far and have just put on more layers, plus an extra layer on my bed. As I am writing this, it isn’t cold though and skies are clear blue. I quite like days like this except that it gets dark so early and soon the clocks will go back as well causing it to get dark in late afternoon... I am not a fan of that at all!
I have had a birthday and next year is another big one. Even more scary is that my daughter has just passed her mid forties and my son is almost fifty! l find this does make me reflect on where the years have gone. I am now the same age as my dad when we lost him just over thirty years ago and it does make you think. My granddaughter has done her work experience and next year is her exam time, and my grandson has to start to think about what course he wants to take in life and what exams he wants to study for. They do say as you get older that time passes by faster (I wish it didn’t). In my mind I am still a youngster, it is just that the body does not want to play ball as I now get all these aches and pains, which I do my best to battle without the use of medical drugs. I have given up most things, like meat, and over fifty years ago l stopped smoking - and all illegal drugs I stopped thirty years ago. I also stopped drinking alcohol over two years ago. I must say I don’t feel too bad and will never go back to any of themand I can still be as annoying as ever, some would say, but do I care? Do I heck as like!
Those of you who know me will know that I am an old hippie with hippie values. I care about the environment and our planet and the way we are destroying it for our own greed. We must consider all human and animal life and the plants and our resources in and around our planet, as it will continue to disappear if we continue with our barbaric, bombastic ways...
We must become more positive and look forward and try to put a happier face on things, as all this doom and gloom is no good for any of us. I just want a planet that is alive for our future generations that have learn to love and respect what we have. So, onwards and upwards and here endeth my preaching about this.
Music is my life and has been for over fifty years and I love all types of music, and as many will know I love to play as well as put gigs on and listen to music. The other week, I was pleased to get to play at a rock and blues festival with my friends Jan Jackson, Connor Selby and Reg Patten. Wow, it was fun to play a full set with these fine musicians and have people say they loved us. I do get to play on other occasions, like with the One Tree Hillbillies, and the other Friday I put Spike on at Chelmsford Social Club, the founder and original from The Quireboys, and he invited me up to join him for two numbers during his second set - that was great fun. Spike had Chris Heilmann with him on lead acoustic guitar too. They all said they loved it, so thank you guys for inviting me. The week before this we had Lindisfarne play to a packed house. They played all of their hits of course and much more spread over two sets. Besides the great music, they were lovely people as well and an act we definitely want to get back to play again.
We have the great Albert Lee playing on Friday 14th October and I think we may still have a couple of tickets left - just send me a text or call 07508 496 411 to reserve yours. On Saturday 15th October at the Orange Tree in Lower Anchor Street, Chelmsford, I am bringing back my good friend Dave Sharp to play. Dave was one of the founding members of The Alarm. This will be a free show and kicks off at 8.30pm - don’t be late, as we expect it to be rammed.
To see the stunning line-up we have coming up at the Social Club for the rest of the year, see the advert in this mag or visit us online (all details are below), or you can look out for our flyers that are all over town in various places.
I was at the Hot Box the other evening for a songwriter’s night run by The Jackson Line and Georgie - and what a great night it was as well. Dave and Denholm, who own and run Hot Box, have wanted me to put a show on for a long time and I have wanted to do it - t was just a case of finding the right act and the right date. Well, we have finally got there, so on Monday 28th November I have booked none other than Matt Woosey, all the way from Germany. Matt is outrageously great as singer-guitarist and songwriter, so do come along to this.
On Sunday 30th October we have a very special event to celebrate the life of our very good friend Claire Hamlin. The night will feature some of Claire’s old band mates, including The Slammers, The Alley Cats, The Kingsmen, and Steve English who will also be playing a set as well as fronting the excellent house band. We think we have some of the best boogie players in the country playing on the night. We also have Todd Sharpville playing and who knows who else will be joining in to celebrate and remember Claire. The night will also raise money for two great local causes which are very worthy - Farleigh Hospice, and The Helen Rollason Cancer Charity. Then on Monday 24th October, the One Tree Hillbillies will be retuning to The Orange Tree.
I have been to Southend a couple times in the past mnth to see Elles Bailey, who opened for Don McClean - yes, he of American Pie fame! He was very good, but Elles and Joe (her guitarist) were both excellent too. I returned to The Cricketers in Southend the other Sunday to see Borderline Music, who opened for Los Pacaminos. They were superb too - it was mainly a set of covers, but certainly not the ones you would expect.
My page is running out - I keep running out of space to update you on what I have lined up for 2023 so far! So here are a few quick names (dates and info to follow): Nine Below Zero, The Orbison Project, The Verity Bromham Band, Martin Turner (ex Wishbone Ash), Some Kinda Wonderful (Stevie Wonder), Clearwater Creedence Revival, Bamboozled, Voodoo Room, Chris Jagger (brother of Mick), Who’s Next, Gerry McAvoy’s Band of Friends and Totally Blondie... That is it to date, and these acts are in order of appearance too.
Do please remember to check out the What’s On guide in here as well. Please remember too that if you know of anything happening or want to comment about anything, then let us know by email.
It would 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’re interested in advertising a business or event please contact us at ads@itsyourmedia.co.uk, or if you have an event, a comment, or an article that could be of interest then please send to editorial@ itsyourmedia.co.uk and we will reply to you as soon as we can.
For all Black Frog Presents updates and shows at the Chelmsford Social Club or The Orange Tree, check out www.linktr.ee/ BlackFrogPresents, or scan the QR code on our poster in this magazine. You can also pre-book for a paid show with a text or call to 07508 496 411 and then pay cash or card on the door at the advance price.
Vitamin D
Now we are past the equinox it is a good idea, living in this country, to start supplementing with vitamin D. We get most of our vitamin D from sunshine and the sunshine is too weak or infrequent after this time in the year to help us make enough.
Taking it daily right through until the end of March is a good idea to support your immune system, heart health and your bone health and even mental health (lack of vitamin D can be a cause of depression). There are foods that you can get it from - such as oily fish like sardines, mackerel and salmon, also from egg yolks and full fat milk - but the levels in foods are far less than we get from the sunlight hitting our skin in the warmer, brighter months of the year.
To supplement, take vitamin D in the D3 form, in a dose of around 4,000ius a day. Both capsule and liquid forms are available. Deficiency of vitamin D is thought to be common to varying degrees with the elderly, and those with darker skin colour thought to be most at risk. If you live your life mainly indoors then you are also at risk. One billion people worldwide are thought be deficient in vitamin D, especially in winter. I used to get an allergic reaction to my mascara every December, which seemed rather mysterious until I realised there was a link to the darkest time of the year and low vitamin D. Allergies are linked to the immune system and as soon as I started helping my immune system with vitamin D, my seasonal allergy went away.
Another seasonal factor worth considering is how it is harder to digest raw foods in the winter months when the sun’s power is weaker. I was told by a colon hydrotherapist some years ago that she used to see the difference in effectiveness of people’s digestion between summer and winter - salads can remain partially digested and ferment in our intestines and she used to see this evidence. What is full of goodness on our plate may not be effectively digested and absorbed. Cooking vegetables and eating warm food in the winter is naturally warming and satisfying - we are drawn to hearty soups and stews as the evenings draw in, and we should trust our instincts here. The Chinese medicine of food energetics particularly supports this way of thinking, and in China there are four very distinct seasons. Over 10,000 years, Chinese medical practitioners observed the effect of the changing seasons on our bodies and on our health and came up with such advice for optimum health in the colder, darker months of the year.
Raw food diets are great in the summer months and if you live in Southern California with its year round sun!
A new law came into force for supermarkets on October 1st - they are no longer allowed to specifically ‘promote’ unhealthy food, such as cakes, biscuits, crisps and sweets with a high fat, salt or sugar content (so-called HFSS foods). So you will no longer see such foods on the end of aisles in ‘promotional’ arrangements, or next to the tills, or by the entrance to shops either. They can only be kept in their specific aisle. The idea behind this is that you have to specifically seek out these foods if you want them - there will be less chance of impulsive temptation!
This has got to be a good idea in my opinion as these foods are scientifically known to have a negative effect on health. It is also known that food promotions are effective at influencing food preferences, particularly for children. The move is part of a government anti-obesity strategy and next year will include no multibuy promotions on HFSS foods and restrictions on advertising.
The date marks on fresh food - ‘Best Before’, ‘Sell-By’ and ‘UseBy’ - have always held some degree of confusion as to what they all actually mean, but in stark contrast you may have noticed many supermarkets - Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Morrisons, Marks and Spencer to name a few - have moved away from any kind of date for packs of some fruits and vegetables in the last few weeks. The move is to help reduce food waste, both in the supermarket and the home. Apples, bananas, potatoes, cucumbers and broccoli are among the most wasted foods and removing ‘best before’ labels on these alone is thought to reduce waste by 50,000 tonnes a year. Supermarkets will still have their own coding for stock rotation purposes, but it will no longer be legally binding.
It is hard for supermarkets to accurately estimate in advance when a fruit or vegetable will have gone off and not be fit for consumptionthere are too many variables, such as how ripe the fruit or vegetable was when it was picked and what temperatures it has been subjected to in transit and the warehouse - and the weather is part of that. Supermarkets have been forced to be cautious with the dates, meaning food gets thrown out needlessly when it is past its sell-by date but actually still ok to eat.
When I first thought about this, it felt a little scary to be thrown back on our own initiative as to whether something is fit for consumption. But when you think about it, loose fruit and veg don’t have a date anyway, do they? We managed before sell-by dates were invented by Marks and Spencer in 1973, and we will soon find our way in this new and very sensible normal…
New look ‘dateless’ packs of veg
Mad World Fancy Dress costume hire and party superstore has come to Chelmsford!
With three other superstores, 2 based in London and one near Gatwick, Mad World has continued to expand opening a further retail outlet in this great city. Being part of four superstores, and a huge warehouse full of stock, we have access to over 60,000 costumes available for hire and a large selection of accessories for sale.
With a convenient location based at 17 Victoria Road, and car parking just yards away, plus a pedigree of over 50 years experience, Mad World provides value for money and a name you can trust. We are considered to one of the largest fancy dress and party related business in Europe.
Our list of celebrities that have frequented our shops are legendary including royalty, TV, stage celebrities, and Joan the tea lady!
Shake off those problems, make sure that you dress up, put some make on, entertain the kids and have some Halloween fun. Mad World specialises in Halloween and our selection of appropriate costumes and scary make-up makes us a market leader.
Our fabulous staff will be appropriately dressed in Halloween costumes - but don’t be scared, they’re quite normal, (most of the time!). Visit our superstore and get some scary ideas; Julia, our Manageress, will be more than happy to assist and welcome you.
Please see our website at www.madworld.co.uk for our extended opening times over the Halloween period.
We can transform you into a witch, ghost, goulies or whateveryou wish to be!!
So fly to MAD WORLD on your broom stick and book your Halloween costume and accessories now!
If you are trick or treating and want to scare your neighbour, a loved one, or even a stranger with false blood, horrow masks, and devilish costumes then its got to be MAD WORLD!
It’s been a busy few weeks in the garden, and if the good weather holds out, I think I’ll have completed a number of soil cultivation tasks with my RHS Level 2 Practical students.
Just this week we were even able to spend time developing seed beds for producing hardy annual displays, a lawn from seed or turf, and a perfect area for sowing and planting vegetables. This has all been because the soil has been a little drier than usual. If it’s too wet, then we have the possibility of compacting the soil and creating areas of poor drainage and reduced or erratic germination and poor plant growth. In this case leave alone until the
conditions are right.
Creating a Seedbed
Lightly fork over the site breaking up any clods as you go with a fork. Using a landscape rake (this is much broader than the usual small headed metal rake) work the soil and spread to create an even, level surface. We’re looking to develop a crumbly, friable tilth. Take care that you don’t over rake. If the soil becomes ‘dusty’ it will be likely be eroded and or washed away. The worst-case scenario would be that a cap develops. This is a layer or crust of compacted soil particles formed at the soil surface which may restrict water and air movement and seedling emergence. The problem with a cap is threefold:
1. A soil surface cap can restrict the emergence of seedlings which results in poor germination rates.
2. Water will run off rather than penetrating the soil and this causes soil erosion, which can expose plant roots or wash seeds or seedlings away, which results in poor growth.
3. Restricted gaseous exchange from the soil results in lack of oxygen, reduced respiration rates and poor growth.
Once the site is level, consolidate the soil by lightly firming it with the soles of your feet. You’re going to assume a shuffling position and work methodically across the site. This removes excess air pockets and improves capillary action. Water will be able to then move up through the soil to improve seed germination and plant growth. Using a landscape rake again, lightly rake to lose your footprints and return site to a level crumbly tilth. Any stones or debris on the surface could be hand picked or flicked off with the small headed metal rake.
Finally, a base dressing feed could be applied according to what you are growing. For example Growmore at a rate of 100g/m2, or blood, fish and bone at 70g/m2 may be lightly raked in for a hardy annual boarder.
Once the process has been completed, it is tempting to sow straight away, especially for annual borders or a lawn from seed. This can result in an explosion of annual weed seedlings which will complete with your choice plants. Try and leave the plot for a couple of weeks to create a ‘stale seed bed’: The weed seeds will germinate and grow and the seedlings can either be killed off using a contact herbicide such as acetic acid or chopped through by shallow hoeing, disturbing the soil as little as possible. The grass seed or hardy annuals can then be safely sown in weed free ground.
Check out this link for creating a hardy annual border: www.rhs. org.uk/plants/types/annuals-biennials/sowing-autumn. For other gardening tasks this month, check out this link: www.rhs.org.uk/ advice/in-month/october/jobs.
For any gardening tips please contact Tom Cole, Horticultural Lecturer, Capel Manor College, Bullsmoor Lane, Enfield, Middlesex, EN1 4RR, or by email at tom.cole@capel.ac.uk.
Trade body The Kitchen, Bedroom, Bathroom Specialists Association (KBSA) held its annual conference with the winners of its 2022 Designer Awards at the Belfry on September 27th to 28th under the theme of Engaging MindsEmpowering Success. There was a variety of speakers from the housing industry, the metaverse, and performance psychology.
Regal Kitchens, based in Navigation Road in Chelmsford, scooped the highly sought after Customer Service Award which was collected by Business Development Manager, Emma Mcloughlin, who says: “This is a wonderful surprise, we are very pleased to have been given this accolade. The fact that it is based on testimonials left by our happy clients means the world to us - because, Client is King.”
National chair of the KBSA Richard Hibbert said: “The standards this year were extremely high, reflecting the outstanding talent amongst members that we can all be proud of.”
Founded in 1978, The KBSA is the only trade association operating specifically for KBB industry, and represents independent kitchen, bedroom and bathroom specialists.
Why to Use a KBSA Member for Your Home Improvements
• Confidence that you are using a reputable and reliable company.
• Satisfaction that your chosen company meets the stringent membership criteria required by the KBSA.
• Quality in the service, design and installation of your home improvement project.
• Security in the knowledge that your money is protected.
• Delight in the end result!
Regal Kitchens showroom is situated at 2 Navigation Road in Chelmsford and is open 10am - 4pm 7 days per week.
www.regalkitchens.co.uk
Chandler Material Supplies is a third generation family-owned builders’ merchant operating out of a 3-acre site in Widford, Chelmsford. We are renowned for stock reliability and service, combining the range of prices of a major supplier with the friendly service of a local merchant.
We pride ourself on our customer service - whether it be for advice or product information, our friendly knowledgeable team with over 450 years’ experience are always ready to help, regularly going the extra mile to help things run smoothly.
On-site, we have a walk-on landscaping display featuring porcelain, sandstone and concrete paving as well as composite decking and decorative aggregates, so you can touch and feel the product as you imagine them in your own outdoor space. We also have a weatherboarding display area, so you can see the colours available to transform the outside of your home with Cedral.
Our Bathroom Showroom features the latest trends from brands such as Merlyn, Roper Rhodes and Burlington for you to start designing the bathroom of your dreams. You can also make the most of our 3D CAD design process, so you can really see your bathroom come to life.
On-site, we also offer a paint matching and mixing service - choose from thousands of colours to bring some colour to your indoor spaces. As well as this, we also have all the necessary decorating accessories to make life as easy as possible!
Our specialist plumbing team are waiting for you at their dedicated counter to help you with all your needs.
If you can’t make it in to see us, our website, www.chandlermaterials. co.uk, features over 5,000 products - so it’s easy to find what you’re looking for and place your order today. Goods can be collected from our branch or delivered to the local area for free by our friendly delivery team.
Whether your project is big or small, we can help with it all. Contact your local one-stop shop today to see what we can do for you.
Chandler Material Supplies, 91 Widford Road, Chelmsford, CM2 8SY - 01245 352 650
However you want to improve your home this winter, Chandler Materials is the one-stop shop for everything you need both inside and out.
Landscaping materials including decking and paving to get your outdoor space looking great.
Painting and decorating – you’ll be sure to get the colour you want with our on-site paint mixing service.
Bathroom showroom with FREE 3D CAD designs to get your dream bathroom – why not take a 3D tour of our showroom at www.chandlerbathrooms.co.uk
Trust a local company supplying quality building materials to the trade and public for over 70 years.
Pop in to 91 Widford Road, Chelmsford CM2 8SY
Visit us at www.chandlermaterials.co.uk
Call us on 01245 352650
*Terms & conditions apply. See website for details.
That is a question you should be asking yourself, especially if you have been concentrating on planning for your retirement and ensuring you have enough in savings to achieve your financial goals.
However, even the best laid plans can veer off course occasionally and this is where planning for the unexpected helps.
Asking some of these questions may help you to create a backup plan:
• Are my dependants financially secure if something were to happen to me?
• Would I have enough to live on if my partner were to pass away first?
• If my investments were to experience an unexpected long-term drop in value, are there other sources of income to draw from?
• Would I be able to offer financial support to children or grandchildren if required?
• How would I afford care if I needed it?
• Would I lose any valuable employee benefits (such as Death in Service or health insurance) when I stop working? Do I need to replace these?
Taking the time to consider how unexpected events could have an impact puts you in a better position to respond to them should they happen. You’ll benefit from the peace of mind that your finances are ready for the unexpected.
Practical steps:
Make a Will
Making a will means that your money and assets go your chosen beneficiaries on your death. It can help you to provide for you loved ones, and you can leave assets to an unmarried partner.
If you do have a will, review it regularly to ensure it’s up to date and reflects your wishes.
Putting an LPA in place allows you to choose trusted individuals to manage your affairs should you no longer have the capacity to make your own decisions.
There are two types of LPA - Health & Welfare and Property & Financial - ideally you should have both for complete peace of mind.
Under current legislation, you, as an individual, can pass on an estate worth up to £325,000 without Inheritance Tax liability. If you leave your home to your children or grandchildren, the threshold can increase to £500,000. Importantly, most pension pots sit outside of your estate and would be free of Inheritance Tax. The rules are complex and it is recommended to seek professional advice.
We can advise you on wills, powers of attorney, and estate planning, so please get in touch if you need help with these matters.
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
07908 109 741 / 020 8720 7249
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.
America supports big historical events with tickertape. Britain supports big historical events with national traditions and unrivalled pageantry. The recent death of Queen Elizabeth II released a massive emotional outpouring of sadness throughout the country, the like of which has not been seen or experienced since the coronation of Queen Elizabeth in 1952.
However, for those of us of a certain age, the funeral of our World War 2 leader Sir Winston Churchill in 1965 came very close. Who could forget watching his coffin being carried down the Thames on a barge? When passing London’s docklands lined with cranes, we gasped as the crane drivers dipped their jibs in silent respect.
We Brits are living in a country that is teetering on the edge of Third World status and is in a huge mess, the sordid details of which are etched on the brain of every citizen in Britain. That we have extracted from the dustbin of our country the very best of our traditions, pageantry and organisation, every sinew of which is showing the rest of the world how we Brits respond to adversity and, in particular, to the death of a much loved and respected Queen Elizabeth II.
Time and time again we prove that no-one does pageantry better than the Brits.
There is a parallel between the death of Queen Elizabeth II and the death of Queen Victoria. Queen Victoria was not far behind our own queen in longevity. She lived for 81 years and reigned for 63 years, 7 months and two days. She died in 1901 but had planned her funeral arrangements before her passing. In 1897 Queen Victoria had left strict instructions relating to the service and ceremony many of which set a precedent for state funerals to this day.
Despite spending her life after her husband’s death dressed in mourning black, she ordered her funeral to be a white funeral. As a soldier’s daughter and head of the army, she wanted the procession and funeral to be full military service. This meant that her coffin would be carried by gun carriage. However, there was to be no public lying in state. Unlike Queen Elizabeth II, Queen Victoria was not a people person, although her subjects lined the procession route, it was nothing like the hundreds of thousands paying their respect to Queen Elizabeth.
Before being placed in her coffin, Queen Victoria was dressed in a white gown and her wedding veil. She had asked for family mementos also to be placed in her coffin, such as her late husband’s dressing gown and a plaster cast of his hand.
Queen Victoria died in Osbourne House on the Isle of Wight in 1901. Her body was taken to Gosport in Hampshire and then by train to Victoria Station in London, then to Paddington Station in London from where the coffin was conveyed to Windsor and placed in St George’s Chapel in the castle. Not quite the same travelling of the length and breadth of Britain achieved by Queen Elizabeth II’s coffin.
Though it would have been nice for Queen Elizabeth’s coffin to be carried in a British hearse rather than in the German Mercedes.
Jack and the Beanstalk, the GIANT spectacular family pantomime, roars into Chelmsford Theatre in association with One From The Heart from Friday 2nd December 2022 until Sunday 8th January 2023.
This traditional pantomime of a classic adventure story promises to enthral and excite audiences of all ages.
Meet hapless Jack, his mother the dame and their beloved cow as they discover a handful of magic beans and a larger-than-life beanstalk that is inhabited by a ferocious giant! Fee, fie, foe, fum, you’ll want to join in with all this fun!
Don’t miss your chance to see this much-loved pantomime with outstanding singalong songs, glitzy costumes, hilarious jokes, amazing dance routines and a HUGE helping of magic - all that audiences have come to expect from pantomimes at Chelmsford Theatre.
For tickets, visit chelmsfordtheatre.co.uk, or phone the Box Office on 01245 606 505.
Photos taken at Hyde Hall, Chelmsford.
Are you an adult or young person who cares for a family member in the home? Check out our services below to see if we can help. We support young carers with support in schools and a youth clubs across Essex.
Our Keeping Active & Active Minds groups are run in Dunmow, Harlow and Epping for older people with mild to moderate dementia who will benefit from physical and mental stimulation and fun.
The Maldon Day Care Centre offers a safe and fun place for older adults so that their carer can access some time off, it includes lunch and activities.
We offer counselling, a free and confidential service for carers.
Our befriending service can be
accessed by unpaid family carers, older people and people with a mental health issue. The email address to contact this service is, essexbefriends@affc.or.uk.
The Carer & Family Response Service operates in Chelmsford to assist carers in finding our information and signposting them to resources. This service helps the whole family find solutions.
We rely on grants, donations and fundraising - please do contact us if you can help with any of these. It means we can support more carers in Essex. We are also looking for volunteers to join our team; the work is rewarding and fun and can be flexible to suit you.
Visit our website for further information at www.affc.org.uk. You can aslo visit our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ actionforfamilycarers for news and stories
Action for Family Carers info@affc.org.uk
Chelmsford Library has something for everyone in the next couple of months. Check out our website or social media for details of all our regular activities and clubs. We’ve got some brilliant half-term events for children...
We’re Not Slimy!
Come along on Saturday 22nd October to meet some friendly snakes and reptiles! Join in with free craft activities, colour in some creatures, have a go at a snake wordsearch and find the reptiles hiding in the library! This event also includes a paid element which involves learning about - and handling - some reptiles! The session is open to all ages. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Booking required.
On Wednesday 26th October, 10.30am - 12 noon, come and join the
brilliant Ann Dale and take part in her fun science experiments! Open to all children and no need to book - just come along.
On Thursday 27th October at 11am, Hayley will be delivering an exciting storytime and drawing workshop. Suitable for children aged 5+.
Other regular activities include Rhymetimes, Blockbuilders, Pens and Puzzles, Work Club, Family History, Learn My Way (computer course), Tablet Taster sessions (help with your iPad or tablet), and lots more!
For full 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 - all details are on our website. Details of new events are regularly added, so keep in touch!
Charles David Casson has attained the high standards necessary to be awarded with the property industry’s most prestigious mark of excellence. Every year, a rigorous assessment is carried out of every estate and letting agent in the country. There are 15,000 estate agencies and each one is assessed for property marketing, customer service and results, including how quickly they sell or let and percentage of price achieved compared with other agents in the same location.
The very best agents are listed on The Best Estate Agent Guide - a website for landlords and sellers to help them choose who to sell or let their property.
letting agents that made the grade in their are by visiting bestestateagentguide.co.uk, or by looking out for the distinctive winner’s marks.
For further information, please contact us on 01245 835 859 or visit www.charlesdavidcasson.co.uk.
On Wednesday 21st September, the results of this year’s assessment were announced at the Best Estate Agent Guide Awards, and Charles David Casson was among those recognised.
Charles David Casson was delighted to be recognised for their dedication to providing the very highest levels of service. Matt Baldock, one of the company owners commented: “My brother and I are Chelmsford boys who started this company from scratch so to be recognised as one of the best sales and lettings agents in the country is an incredibly proud moment and a true testament to how hard our team work for our clients.”
Home movers and landlords can search for those estate and
October
Friday 14th
Black Bull - Shakey’s Sessions: The March Fleet + Teresa of Calcutta + Barton Young
Chelmsford Social Club - Albert Lee and his band
The Courtyard (Baddow Road) - Happy Days (live music & DJs)
Hot Box - Louise Parker + Joey Clarkson + Ben Selleck
RAFA Club (Hall Street) - Chair Yoga
Saturday 15th
All Saints Church (Writtle) - Essex Police Band in concert (7.30pm - tickets £10 - call 01245 422 023 or 699 782)
The Courtyard (Baddow Road) - Happy Days (live music & DJs)
Hot Box - Nero Kane + Teiger
Orange Tree - Dave Sharp (The Alarm founding member)
RAFA Club (Hall Street) - Coffee morning (10am to 1pm)
South Hanningfield Village Hall - Harvest Supper (call our bookings line 07396 546 050 or email shvhall@gmail.com)
Sunday 16th
Central Park - Chelmsford Marathon and Half Marathon
Hot Box - Jazz Sundays with Zak Barrett and friends
Monday 17th
The Clay Pigeon - Bingo night
Hot Box - Chelmsford Chess Club night
Tuesday 18th
Widford Village Hall (turn left at Chandlers) - Country Dancing (barn dance - 7.50pm - £2 - 01245 475 660)
Woolpack - Quiz
Wednesday 19th
Hot Box - Independence
Trinity Methodist Church - National Trust: Tony Tuckwell, The Only Coastal Walk is Essex (7.45pm)
The UB - Pub Quiz
Woolpack - 80s bingo
Thursday 20th
Hot Box - Kid Hyena
The Clay Pigeon - Poker night & quiz
The Lion Inn - Chelmsford Comedy Club
Friday 21st
Chelmsford Cathedral - Earth Sounds: World Music Concert
Chelmsford Social Club - Police Dog Hogan + Bob Collum.
The Courtyard (Baddow Road) - Happy Days (live music & DJs)
Hot Box - The Meffs
The Oddfellows Arms - Oink!
RAFA Club (Hall Street) - Chair yoga
The UB - The Dirty Wafer
Saturday 22nd
The Courtyard (Baddow Road) - Happy Days (live music & DJs)
The Globe - Hugsta & Chinzano’s Soulful House Party
Hot Box - BOPS + Dharma Hounds
Intense Records - Back to the future Jazz: DJ’s Sally Can’t
Dance & Dr Funkendick (12pm - 6pm)
The Orange Tree - Punky Reggae Party
Sunday 23rd
The UB - Jazz Sessions
Monday 24th
The Clay Pigeon - Bingo night
Hot Box - Chelmsford Chess Club night
Hyde Hall - Zoolab Mini Beast Sessions
Orange Tree - One Tree Hillbilies
Tuesday 25th
Widford Village Hall (turn left at Chandlers) - Country Dancing (barn dance, £2 - 7.50pm - 01245 475 660)
Wednesday 26th
Woolpack - 80s Bingo
Thursday 27th
Hot Box - Hot Haus Horror Show
Friday 28th
Chelmsford Social Club - The Small Fakers + The Veras
The Courtyard (Baddow Road) - Happy Days (live music & DJs)
RAFA Club (Hall Street) - Chair Yoga
Saturday 29th
The Courtyard (Baddow Road) - Wonderland Halloween
Gardeners - Shakey’s Sessions: Age of Discovery + Myopia + Adam Nichols
Hot Box - Jar Records: Papa Shango + Dirty Donations
Jump Street - Monster Bash for Halloween
The Oddfellows Arms - Brit Invasion
RAFA Club (Hall Street) - Coffee morning (10am to 1pm)
Woolpack - Rewind
Sunday 30th
Chelmsford Social Club - Celebrating the Life of Claire Hamlin (noon to 10pm)
Hot Box - Jazz Sundays with Zak Barrett and Friends
Monday 31st
Ghost Walk - See www.chelmsfordcivicsociety.co.uk
The Clay Pigeon - Bingo night
Hot Box - Chelmsford Chess Club night
November
Tuesday 1st
Woolpack - Quiz
Wednesday 2nd
Hot Box - Control Voltage: Electronic Music Open Mic
Rettendon Lodge (Battlesbridge) - Belvedere Jazz & Music
Supper Club: ‘Ella, Billie & Beyond’ Joanna Eden Quartet (7.45pm - to book phone Phil on 07850 607 075)
Woolpack - 80s Bingo
Thursday 3rd
The Clay Pigeon - Poker night & quiz
Hot Box - Resonance Open System
Friday 4th
Chelmsford Social Club - Malcolm Bruce + Jay Stapley
The Courtyard (Baddow Road) - Happy Days (live music & DJs)
The Fleece - Blue Mantis
Hot Box - The Recreation + The Famous People
Kings Farm (Margaretting) - Drive in Fireworks
RAFA Club (Hall Street) - Chair yoga
Saturday 5th
Admirals Park - Chelmsford Round Table Fireworks
Chelmsford Cathedral - A Sea Symphony
The Courtyard (Baddow Road) - Happy Days (live music & DJs)
The Fleece - Electrum
The Globe - Shakey’s Sessions: Greebo + more tbc
Kings Farm (Margaretting) - Drive In Fireworks
RAFA Club (Hall Street) - Coffee morning (10am to 1pm)
Monday 7th
The Clay Pigeon - Bingo night
Hot Box - The Asteriod No.4 + Magic Shoppe + Magic Seas
Tuesday 8th
Widford Village Hall (turn left at Chandlers) - country dancing (barn dance, £2 - 7.50pm - 01245 475 660)
Woolpack - Quiz
Wednesday 9th
Trinity Methodist Church - National Trust Talk: Graham Parker, Earnest Doe & Sons: 100 Years of Trading (7.45pm)
Woolpack - Quiz
All events are correct at time of going to press. Please check with the venue for updates
Wednesday 9th
Hotbox - The Big Music Quiz
Woolpack - 80s Bingo
Thursday 10th
Hot Box - Snakes Don’t Belong In Alaska + Nine Moons
The Lion Inn - Chelmsford Comedy Club
Friday 11th
Chelmsford Social Club - Julie July Band (Sandy Denny) + Dandelion Charm
Christ Church - The First Broadcast (see advert page 15)
Hot Box - EMjay Sessions Presents: Sweet Crisis
The Fleece - Recharged
Saturday 12th
All Saints Church (Writtle) - The David Pickthall Big Band in concert (7pm - tickets £10 - call 01245 422 023 or 699 782)
The Fleece - High Frequency
Hot Box - Life and Soul presents: Groovetopia
Wickham Bishops Village Hall - Wickham Bishops Jazz Club: Simon Nelson and Dixiemix (7.30pmwickhambishopsjazzclub@gmail.com)
Sunday 13th
Hot Box - Jazz Sunday with Zak Barrett and Friends
Monday 14th
Hot Box - Chelmsford Chess Club night
Tuesday 15th
Old Court Theatre - Be My Baby
Widford Village Hall (turn left at Chandlers) - Country Dancing (barn dance, £2 - 7.50pm - 01245 475 660)
Woolpack - Quiz
Wednesday 16th
Acanteen - Wi-Fi Wars
Old Court Theatre - Be My Baby
Rettendon Lodge (Battlesbridge) - Belvedere Jazz & Music
Supper Club: TJ Johnson & Al Nichols (7.45pm - to book phone
Phil on 07850 607 075)
Woolpack - 80s Bingo
Thursday 17th
Acanteen - Magic Mike Tribute Night
Hot Box - Rad Pitt + Eat Your Own Head + We Punch Tigers
Old Court Theatre - Be My Baby
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 (see article on page 30)
Chelmsford Social Club - Undaunted + Radar
Clay Pigeon - Blazin Aces
The Fleece - Lithium
Old Court Theatre - Be My Baby
Sunday 20th
Hot Box - Live at Hylands Open Day
If you love vinyl, then you will be well aware of Record Store Day, when artists and bands release special limited edition records, with vinyl junkies queuing round the block outside their local record shop. Record Store Day’s very own ‘Black Friday’ event falls on Friday 25th November 2022 and Intense Records in Chelmsford will be taking part once again.
This year, Intense will be stocking a whole host of exclusive releases from various 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 much more!
These rare and in-demand titles will be available on the day instore, so make sure you get down to Intense early before they sell out!
If you can’t make it on the day, they will be listed on the Intense website the following morning; check out www.intenserecords. com.
Intense Records can be found just round the corner from Chelmsford train and bus station under the arches. For more info, contact them on 01245 347 372 or pay them visit at 33/34 Viaduct Road, Chelmsford CM1 1TS. Search for them on Facebook for updates - search ‘Intense Records’.
A local environmental group is one of four finalists in the environmental section of this year’s BBC Essex Making a Difference awards*. The environmental group (teg for short) was founded almost 40 years ago and is based in the two parishes of Great Baddow and Galleywood. It has around forty members, of whom about half are active volunteers. The aim of the group is to conserve and improve the natural local environment. Over the years members have planted new hedgerows, created a nature reserve in Baddow Hall Park, constructed and repaired footbridges and gates on the many footpaths in the area, cleared a stream from vegetation, and most recently transformed church land next to St Michael’s in Galleywood into an open learning and meeting area for both church and community groups.
There are two main groups of volunteers, one meeting every Wednesday morning throughout the year, the other each month on a Sunday afternoon. The Wednesday group is mainly concerned with construction work; it has for example recently replaced two footbridges on Parklands Farm in Galleywood, but its major current project is on St Michael’s Church land which had become completely overgrown with laurel. Over the past two years the vast majority of the laurel has been cleared, allowing space for over thirty native tree species to flourish such as oak, beech, pine, field maple and holly. Teg members have planted a mixed perimeter hedge to infill amongst the existing hawthorn, erected a hurdle willow fence along the boundary with the allotment area, installed new gates to provide access with wood chip laid to create pathways through the area to the old racecourse and to the church graveyard. The project is timed for completion at the 150th anniversary of the church in the autumn of 2023, when volunteers will erect a cross at the apex of the land facing the cross roads at The Eagle. The Wednesday group has also worked with schools to improve their wildlife areas by, for example, helping to create outdoor seating, and they are currently restoring a pond.
Each year in late January, teg surveys local footpaths to produce a snagging list of tasks which is submitted to Essex County Council as the responsible authority. Approved remedial work is then carried out alongside regular routine clearing of footpaths, which includes not just the removal of bramble and weeds, but also of fallen trees and branches. Waymarker posts are checked and repaired or replaced. Ramblers and dog walkers in the area are thus able to enjoy the local environment knowing that footpaths will be clear of obstruction, clearly signed and safe to use.
The Sunday group is mainly concerned with hedgerows and tree planting and maintenance. At the millennium, the group applied successfully to the then Chelmsford Borough Council for a grant to plant a mile of hedgerows at local schools. The largest and most dramatic of the hedges was at Great Baddow High School, where with the help of staff and pupils, the grey metal security fencing around the school playing fields has become, over the 20 years since the planting of saplings, a green surround providing a rich habitat for wildlife and flora. Other smaller hedges have flourished and reached maturity at Meadgate and Beehive Lane Schools. Currently volunteers looks after recently planted hedges or copses at the Equestrian Centre in Beehive Lane, at Jubilee Copse on Parklands Farm, Galleywood, and notably at Luxfield, an area of greenery off Vicarage Lane in Great Baddow which is owned by Great Baddow Parish Council. In the past year in co-operation with the parish council, members have helped to plant some 600 daffodil bulbs on roadside verges leading into the village and, to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum
Jubilee, about 200 saplings in the local recreation ground.
The Sunday group is always open to suggestions about how the local environment can be enhanced. They were for example happy to respond to a request by Chelmsford Foodbank to dig over a plot of land at their HQ in Beehive Lane. The potatoes grown there will be used to supplement the food parcels offered to those in need with fresh produce.
Volunteers are always welcome - all they have to bring is enthusiasm and a concern for the environment. Tools are always provided and there is no membership fee. Teg is supported by grants from the two parish councils and Essex County Council, which enables the group to maintain a range of suitable tools and equipment. If you are interested in joining teg or would like to know more, including finding out about our social programme, please contact Asa Pamphilon, our secretary, on asaros@hotmail.co.uk or on 07534 414 518.
*The overall winner was to be announced at the awards evening on September 8th, but this event had to be postponed because of the Queen’s passing. A new date is yet to be announced. The other three finalists are from Brentwood, Manningtree and South Essex.
Essex Therapy Dogs sprang into life just a year ago on the 21st November 2021.
The brainchild of Founder and Chair, Tina Jullings, the not-for-profit organisation currently has over 100 members (and 115 dogs), with the numbers continuing to grow.
Essex Therapy Dogs was launched by a handful of passionate members who believe that therapy dogs can bring significant benefits to a range of emotionally challenging situations.The simplicity is that the dogs bring comfort, help and support to people who need it.
What are the benefits of dog therapy for mental and physical wellbeing?
There is considerable research that shows dogs can help people feel calmer, provide comfort and soothe emotions, reduce boredom, lower anxiety levels, decrease agitation in people experiencing dementia, reduce loneliness, bridge communication gaps (everyone loves talking to their pets), as well as decreasing the feelings of depression.
The research also outlines many benefits for physical health. Petting a dog can help people to physically relax, it stabilises blood pressure, it can also reduce the risk of heart disease, heart attacks and strokes.
Stroking a dog can also help improve cardiovascular health, slowing the breathing of people who may be anxious, diminishing physical pain, which may also reduce the need for pain killers. Dogs can also help people release many mood-boosting hormones and decrease the harmful stress hormone, cortisol.
Where do the dogs do their good work?
The dogs visit establishments all over Essex, which includes care homes, day centres, dementia day centres, schools, Southend Airport, brain injury units, secure mental health units, hospitals, hospices, etc. They also provide 1-1 support for people who wish to meet up for a dog walk, as well as (under certain circumstances) visiting people in their home. The dogs have helped students with their transition to starting university, as well as those experiencing pre and post exam nerves. Schools use the dogs to provide emotional support for some of their pupils and they are also used to help children become more confident when reading. It’s much easier reading to a dog than an adult - a dog is non-judgemental!
The dogs also visit the charity Essex Dementia Care, where they spend time at the activity day centres. Some of the clients can be at the later stages of dementia and be more withdrawn. People light up when they see the dogs and will quite happily chat to them, often reminiscing about family times when they had a dog themselves.
The dogs also go into Southend Airport to help anxious passengers. The idea is to help reduce anxiety and stress levels for flyers before boarding a flight. The time spent with the dog in the airport lounge helps to keep these passengers distracted by stroking and cuddling the dog. The dogs are often invited to join passengers on their flightbut sadly, this isn’t possible!
Who are the Essex Therapy Dogs team?
The Essex Therapy Dogs team are a passionate group of people who voluntarily give their time to make everything work. Founder Tina Jullings leads the team, with Lorraine Joy as the Membership Secretary. Claire Taylor is Treasurer, and Cathy Adams is the social media expert and Mandy Johnson is the Team Secretary.
The group also have area co-ordinations in Colchester, Braintree, Southend, and Chelmsford who meet up with prospective new members to assess their dogs. There are also monthly dog walks in these areas as well.
Thinking of joining - what makes a good therapy dog?
Dogs are assessed on their temperament and ability to walk nicely on the lead, not jump up and take treats gently. The dog should be at least a year old and be of a calm and friendly nature. They should also be fully vaccinated.
Essex Therapy Dogs have dogs of all breeds, there are big and small ones and some are rescues. There are pure, mixed, and designer breeds. They just need to be calm and be able to cope with lots of fuss.
What does becoming a member of the Essex Therapy Dogs team involve and how much does it cost?
Members should ideally be available to visit an establishment for an hour each week (this can be flexible). There is a membership fee of £20 a year for one dog/one owner, or £25 for more than one dog/ owner. For this, members receive a membership pack which includes £5m public liability insurance, an ID badge, sew-on badge and a kerchief for your dog. There is also an online shop where members can purchase polo shirts, bags, and jackets at reasonable prices.
If you are interested in finding out more, either to join or request a dog visit, please complete the form on the Essex Therapy Dogs website at www.essextherapydogs.co.uk. Essex Therapy Dogs can also be found on Facebook and Instagram.
If you have a dog who you think is suitable and have a little free time, why not get in touch?
‘The Kaiser of Essex Sport’ - the quote refers to Robert Cook, who bestrode Essex and Chelmsford sport like a colossus in the late Victorian and Edwardian period both as a participant and a very able administrator. He was given this nickname by the Bishop of Colchester who was a keen supporter of Essex sport.
Chelmsford was the centre of much thriving county sport, including athletics and cycling as well as football, cricket and other sports. These were all mainly the preserve of the well-heeled upper middle class amateur. By the First War however, all the big local firms had their own sports days and teams for individual sports. The inter-firm sports days had also been well established. By the incorporation, the town and surrounding villages had not only a variety of football and cricket teams, but lawn tennis and cycling were well established, with boxing, swimming and skating also well followed. Quoits had also been practised in several local public houses, and by the end of the century, hockey was popular with both sexes. Rugby however didn’t get established in the area until after the First War.
By the Second War, Chelmsford had a professional football club - and if it hadn’t been for the war this club might have gained entry to the football league. The 1930s of course saw Chelmsford City’s famous cup run, which as it turned out was the apogee of its fortunes. Although Essex County Cricket Club had been formed in the county town in 1876, county cricket was not played in the county town until well after the First War. Although a Chelmsford cricket week was well established by the Second War, cricket in the county town did not gain uniformly large crowds and wasn’t a sound financial proposition before the Second World War.
Robert Cook was born in 1858. His first love was boxing but soon turned to cycling and he was riding a boneshaker at the age of 10even a compound leg fracture couldn’t dissuade him from following the sport. His organising genius at the young age of 21 saw him call together the cycle clubs of Essex for a cycle meet. This led to the first county cycling championship in the country in 1882. From 1885, meetings were held at the New Street Cricket Ground which belonged to the Bishop of Colchester and was known for being a very fast grass track. The organisation became the Essex County Cycling and Athletics Association.
In addition, Cook played every county football fixture from 1883 to 1889 as well as playing cricket. He was Secretary of the County Football Association for over 20 years. As a Vice President of the Football Association, he became a figure of national importance, and in later years he took up more leisurely sporting pursuits and won several regional billiard titles. He also became a town councillor. Cook was only 50 when he died in 1908 and was buried in Writtle Road Cemetery. On his gravestone, under a tall Celtic Cross, is a bike, a cricket bat and ball and stumps, a football and two laurel leaves. Supporting the cross are two sorrowful athletes. The inscription reads:
The pioneer of Essex athletics
Founder of Essex County Cricket and Athletics Associations
A real friend
An exemplary freemason
He ran well the race that was set before him
The West Essex Bicycle Club had been established at the Shire Hall in 1875, and it was almost exclusively upper middle class in membership because of the cost of the machines. The club included members of leading families such as the the Bolingbrokes, the Wenleys and the Wrays. Fred Spalding junior was known as one of the fastest cyclists in Essex as was Cook himself on his ‘Xtraordinary Challenge’. Cook led an annual torchlight procession through the town. The club collapsed in the 1880s, but was later revived as the West Essex Riding Club with its headquarters at the Kings Head.
Cycling was marked in the town, like hockey, by the participation of
women. In 1897 the Chelmer Cycling Club was formed in Springfield, and by 1906 a cycling club had reformed in Chelmsford, which was also open to women. These were eventually to merge after the Second War. Herbert Pash, the son of JB Pash, was heavily involved with the Essex Cycling and Athletics Association, first as a renowned athlete himself then as an administrator. By 1891 the 10th annual race meeting of the Essex County Cycling and Athletics Association was held on the cricket ground at New Street. Events included a two mile walk, a two mile bike ride, a one mile open bike handicap, a five mile bike handicap, a one mile flat championship race and a half mile steeple chase handicap race. By the early 1900s, these county championships had grown further, so that according to the Chronicle the town was the sporting centre of Essex: ‘Marquees, sideshows and miles of bunting decorated the grounds and a uniformed ladies band supplied martial music.’ A crowd of ten thousand was not unknown. ‘After the racing the competitors, officials and notables adjourned to the Shire Hall for dinner.’
A separate athletics club in the town didn’t exist until 1934, even though there were a great many athletes in the town. Although they wouldn’t admit to it, by this time all the big firms employed athletes to win the inter-sport championships. Ray Fullerton for example, was head hunted by Marconi to compete in all the sports events. He clocked on and off and then went off to train. Fullerton was the instigator of the Chelmsford Athletics Club borrowing two huts that were situated by the Marconi masts, which were being dismantled. The huts were moved to a site close to Marconi’s sports ground and the new club was the first in England to have its own clubhouse.
The lack of a separate athletics club in the town until 1934 was because of the pre-eminence of the local works sports clubs. These were essentially very different to the genteel upper middle class sporting activities elsewhere in the town. Prior to the 1880s, the only firms large enough to have organised sporting and social events were Eddington’s, Coleman and Morton and the local breweries, particularly the one at Writtle.
By the end of the century however, each of Chelmsford’s big three firms had well-established sporting and social clubs. Crompton’s Arc Works club had 300 members by 1892, and by this time the firm had had cricket and football teams for at least 10 years. In 1891 the Arc Works held its first cross country run over 8 miles with 11 runners competing. Crompton for many years had the only squash court in the town. The Colonel himself played squash until he was 90! The firm held its first annual sports meeting, and by 1894 this was well established at its Wood Street ground. By 1911 Christy’s, Hoffmann and Marconi had their own sports days as well as a United Works sports day.
The Hoffmann Sports and Social Club was founded in 1905 and by the Second War had thirty sections. Its sports ground was opened in Rainsford Road in 1919. Marconi’s sports ground was originally in Waterhouse Lane before moving to Beehive Lane. In 1937, the Hoffmann Works Football Team had successful runs in both the Amateur Cup and FA Cup. Over 3,000 turned up to see Hoffmann play Ipswich Town.
Since 1985 the one single project which brought together Rotarians from right across the globe has been its End Polio Now campaign. At the time, there were one thousand new cases every single day spread across 125 countries, and from the determination of one Rotarian in the Philippines the idea that polio could be defeated took off. Bear in mind there has only been one disease that has been eradicated ever and that was smallpox, so this was a daunting task to say the least. Rotary made a promise to the children of the world. It would carry on helping to finance the vaccination programme, give hands-on voluntary service to implement the immunisation scheme and lobby governments for aid until there was not a single case left in the world and no more children would ever be paralysed or die from this preventable disease.
It’s been a long, hard road and Rotary alongside its partners is winning, but like all long-term projects there are setbacks and peaks along the way. In 2014 India was declared non-endemic which was huge progress and a year or so back Nigeria was also certified clear of new polio cases and that meant the entire continent of Africa had no endemic countries.
discovered the poliovirus in sewage works in Beckton in the east of London. Scientists believe the virus originated from someone who was immunised abroad with the live oral polio vaccine which hasn’t been used in Britain since 2004. The Beckton Sewage Works is the largest in Europe and serves nearly four million people, so the potential for a disaster was real. Thankfully, no actual cases of polio have since been reported, but the threat is there and protection by immunisation was stepped up in the UK as a result. Vaccination has always been a priority in the UK but coverage had dropped in recent years, partly due to coronavirus restrictions and school closures, to 92.6% for children aged one. However, the teenage booster given at the age of 14 had fallen further to a low of 71% and this is being addressed as a matter of urgency along with other childhood vaccinations which cover diphtheria, tetanus, hepatitis and measles.
Apart from the London scare, there has also been a similar occurrence in New York and actual cases in Malawi and Mozambique, so the fight needs to continue. Fortunately, the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) of which Rotary International is a partner, is developing new oral vaccines more genetically stable, and there are encouraging signs that the 370 million doses already administered are being effective in combatting the virus. What is probably less well known about polio is the effect it can have on surviving polio victims in their adulthood. This is known as Post Polio Syndrome and can cause difficulty in breathing, muscle weakness and tiredness and can come on many years after they first contracted polio.
October 24th is World Polio Day and all around the country Rotary clubs will be organising fundraising and awareness events to bring the End Polio Now ampaign to the fore. There is no alternative but to finish the job and rid the world of this awful disease once and for all. If you would like to help or find out more about the End Polio Now campaign or indeed any aspect of Rotary, please visit www. rotary1240.org or call me on 01245 260 349.
Stan KellerTo date Rotary, working with communities across the world, has donated somewhere in the region of $2.1 billion. The will to keep on giving vast sums of money to end polio was starting to be wearing on Rotary clubs, but there was always the worry that polio, being such a virulent disease, was just a plane ride away from someone carrying the germ from one of the remaining countries where polio is still prevalent. The two endemic countries left are Pakistan and Afghanistan and whilst the number of cases in each of these areas is now thankfully very small, the risk still exists. Whilst we may have achieved 99.9% success it is apparent that the virus could spread like wildfire if efforts were relaxed. We have seen what happened with COVID-19, so there is no room for complacency.
So it was with great alarm that in June this year the UK Health Security Agency
Yoga therapy feels like a relatively new term on the block, but its need is ever-increasing. Hummingbird Yoga & Pilates Studios offer yoga therapy sessions with one of their fabulous yoga teachers and qualified yoga therapist, Vikki.
‘These sessions have been outstanding. Vikki is professional but also caring and compassionate. She demonstrated a broad knowledge and expertise with regard to the physical and mental benefits of yoga. She particularly focused on my breathing and offered me strategies to help manage my stress as well as helping with my lack of energy and troublesome sleep patterns.’
‘I have noticed a reduction in blood pressure and heart rate over a prolonged period. My stress levels have reduced and I now have tools that help me during times of stress to feel calm. Vikki is very calm and engaging and has made these sessions a positive experience for someone who would not previously have considered yoga.’
‘I have seen so many specialistes and this is the first time I felt heard.’
Yoga therapy brings together the ancient science of yoga with modern medicine, neuroscience and psychology; it is the use of specific, individualised yoga practices to help improve physical or mental health conditions.
Within a yoga therapy session practices are client-centered and tailored to meet an individual’s needs, taking a holistic and integrative approach to health. These practices usually include a combination of movement practices, breathing techniques, meditation and relaxation depending on needs. Mindful listening, hearing what someone is saying rather than what you think they’re saying based on your own experiences, is a huge part of yoga therapy also.
It can provide benefits for a host of conditions including:
• Anxiety.
• Depression.
• Insomnia.
• PTSD.
• Heart conditions.
• Respiratory conditions.
• Cancer.
• Long Covid.
• Back pain.
• Musculoskeletal conditions.
• Arthritis.
• Osteoporosis.
• Fertility issues.
• Symptoms related to menopause. Yoga therapy can be offered alongside other medical treatments or complimentary therapies, and no previous experience of yoga is required.
Vikki offers yoga therapy sessions at Hummingbird on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
To book a session, or to arrange a free 15 minute Zoom consultation, please contact Vikki on vikki@yogawithvikki.co.uk, or 07787 555 777.
‘Learning how to help myself to hopefully prevent this condition from worsening has truly been a gift. Not only has Vikki taught me practices, she also helped me mentally and emotionally manage my pain.’
Construction training for young people in 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.
Could you have a chat and a cup of tea with a lonely person in Chelmsford? - Age Well East
Do you have 1 hour spare a week? Could you support someone by calling them for a chat, or meeting them for a walk or cup of coffee? Just a small bit of your time could make a world of difference to someone who has no one else.
Are you friendly, patient and happy to chat with women from other cultures?
We are looking for volunteers who are kind, patient, able to listen and encourage others. No experience is necessary, just a neutral English accent and an enthusiasm to talk with, and support, other women in a team environment.
A local charity is looking to engage a secretary to ensure the smooth functioning of their board of trustees. In summary, to be responsible for:
• Ensuring meetings are effectively organised and minuted.
• Maintaining effective records and administration.
• Upholding the legal requirements of governing documents, charity law, company law, etc.
• Board communication and correspondence.
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.
Can you spare a couple of hours on your Tuesday lunch break? Are you kind, patient, and able to drive?
We need cheerful, helpful volunteers with their own car to safely drive elderly people to and from a weekly lunch club in Great Baddow, Chelmsford.
We offer riding and driving to 130 disabled children and adults 6 days per week. Many of our riders have severe and complex needs and may require up to 3 volunteers to help them enjoy the benefits from their ride.
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.
We’ve been introducing people from our team each month and this time is the turn of Michelle Durant who works for Chelmsford Community Radio doing community outreach and fundraising.
Hello everyone… How to begin. Well I like to say that I’m a passionate anorak (lol). I absolutely love radio, especially the wonderful way it brings people together. I got into radio the summer of 1991, I’d finished my GCSEs and was into an extended break before starting college. I was 15. I liked to ride my bike around North Weald and one weekend rode up to Epping to visit a fête at the Spencer Close facility which stood in the grounds of St Margarets Hospital.
There was a man playing records at the fête, and having spent all my pocket money I pretty much made a nuisance of myself asking him to play Kylie songs (I was a huge Kylie Minogue fan). I remember he was quite bemused and encouraged me to have a go at playing them myself. I became quite occupied with it, spent ages there and discovered that he was Chairman of Radio Forest, the Hospital Radio Station.
I got the guided tour of the studios and soon was granted permission to join up as their youngest member at the time. I learned much coming in to help the request show teams and eventually progressed to my own show. I was quite obsessed with it. My volunteering also went towards some of my silver and gold Duke of Edinburgh Awards. I spent seven years as part of Radio Forest and was quite sad to be moving away after that, but my circumstances meant it would have
been too far to travel to as I didn’t drive.
A couple of years later I joined Basildon Hospital Radio and then Gateway 97.8. By this time I was a mum and worked my volunteering around the children. I started a radio club at my kids’ school in 2011 which won an award, and it started a new interest in teaching radio skills.
By the time I’d achieved my Diploma in Teaching in the Lifelong Learning Sector, I had joined Chelmsford Community Radio. I used to do the 90s Mixtape show which is currently being hosted by Paul Mclean. I have also had two lovely years of presenting Good Morning Chelmsford four mornings a week. Alongside this I have become more involved in supporting the station with the fundraising and community engagement.
I’m very proud of my radio family and all the great work that we do in the Chelmsford community. Even though at the moment, I’m not in front of the microphone so much - I am working very hard to keep the station afloat financially, which in the current economic climate is especially difficult to do. I am so passionate about our station and I cannot imagine what I would do if it wasn’t here. We help people find a creative outlet to deal with mental health and well-being, we provide a platform for countless local organisations, charities, performers and businesses. And we keep developing brilliantly talented (and award nominated) broadcasters young and old. What we do is pretty much a vital service.
Part of our funding comes from running radio training, workshops and courses. I lead the newly established Year 5 Radio Club in Baddow Hall Junior School and am working towards setting up more. I have a handful of commissioned and funded workshops organised but would welcome more enquiries. Please do get in touch with me for more details of these or if you have any enquiries regarding how you could help with our fundraising - email me at michelle.durant@ chelmsfordcommunityradio.com.
www.chelmsfordcommunityradio.com
Welcome to the second part of the Embellishments series of articles.
There’s nothing better than a bit of glitz and sparkle to lift your cards or layouts from ordinary to sensational! Gems and dots come in all sizes and colours. I particularly like the pearl gems on cards as they add that extra touch of elegance. On my pages and layouts, I would favour enamel dots in the same colour but in three different sizes to add a bit of interest picking up on one of the main colours of the page. You can bunch them up, line them up or scatter them at random. Incidentally, randomness is actually a lot more difficult to achieve than you might think: you have to think of different levels and lines. Gems and dots, like most embellishments, are best used in odd numbers.
A blast from the past! I haven’t used brads for quite some time now and while writing this article I was looking at some albums pages I made over the last few years and rediscovered this little piece of embellishment! They are great in corners, or in a line at the top of a page. They are also very useful securing other embellishments to the page, especially with velum. They only thing to think about with brads is that they do go through your page. It’s not so much a problem in scrapbooking, but it can present some challenges in card making as you will definitely need some mounting card to cover the split pins at the back.
Paper or velum die cuts usually come in assorted packs of a variety of items all cut out for you. From shapes to flowers, from labels to
For many people, Halloween has become a wonderful time to party and celebrate with family and friends as the nights get darker and the days henceforth grow colder. Samhain though traditionally is a time for honouring our loved ones and those that have passed on into the realm of spirit.
It doesn’t harm to blend traditions and I see no harm in having a little fun dressing as ghouls whilst also finding a way to honour that which has passed. A simple way of doing this is to set up an altar within your home. An altar is a special sacred area that we use as a way to honour our loved ones or gods and goddesses depending upon belief. For Samhain, you could decorate a small area such as a book shelf or coffee table, placing items that honour the elements (Earth/ Air/Water/Fire) and then some beautiful photos of loved ones that have passed. Add some candles (Fire), your favourite incense (Air) and you are good to go. Light your candle daily and take a moment to think of your loved one and give thanks for their part in your life.
As the veil draws thin between our world and spirit, this is the perfect time to work on our communication with them. I like to seek guidance from spirit via Tarot and Oracle cards. I offer this as a service via Facetime/Zoom as well as in person every Wednesday evening at the Bay Horse Pub in Chelmsford.
To celebrate Halloween and the thinning of the veil, I shall also
sentiments, they are a fantastic way to jazz up a page (or hide a mistake). They are great when creating different layers, especially in cluster embellishments on a corner of a card or photo. Very useful and cheap too!
Whilst the wood embellishments have been used for a long time, the hard acrylic embellishments is a more recent trend. Both come in different sizes, shapes and colours. The wood embellishments are more versatile as they can be inked any colour you want. However the hard acrylic decorations have that glossy sheen. They can include sentiments too. A bit more expensive than the simple paper or velum die cuts, they provide a 3D dimension to your cards and layouts that draws the eye to them. They are therefore fantastic at lifting a specific moment in time or idea that you want to come across.
If you want to have fun using embellishments, why don’t you join us in our monthly Craft Days at Highwood Village Hall, near Chelmsford? Check out the website at www.scrap-circle.co.uk for more details and booking forms. Next crafting days this year are on Tuesday 25th October when we will be making Christmas cards with the challenge of making 12 cards from 2 pieces of papers, then on Saturday 26th November we will be making a winter scrapbooking page, and on Saturday 17th December we will be making a photo calendar for 2023.
Happy crafting!
be available Monday 31st (please book direct with me to avoid disappointment - 07909 078 030)
Tarot/ Oracle Price List
3 Card spread: £10
6 Card spread: £20 Love spread: £25
Shaman spread: £25 Wheel of the Year spread: £40) 12 cards.
All readings are channeled and charged using reiki as I find this provides the most accurate results.
Covid has affected each and every one of us who organise various local club meetings. To some degree, many of us have learnt new skills in communicating with each other via Zoom, so have been able to carry on meeting. Now, we can meet face-to-face.
Brentwood Writers’ Circle is fortunate in having a superb editor in Julie Gowers, who produces our monthly newsletter Write On which encompasses our website www.brentwoodwriterscircle.com. This outlines what some of our members have achieved in the publishing world and brings us all up-to-date regarding competitions and news of the latest help and advice available to all writers, both new and professional.
Speakers are of great importance to us and we enjoy listening to their writing experiences - all so useful and inspirational. Showcasing is also an important part of our monthly meetings and it is interesting to learn about the topics and ideas that our own BWC members are working on and which, hopefully, will one day be published either in books, magazines or online articles. Visitors will now be invited to come along to Brentwood Writers’ Circle initially free of charge for first visit and receive a warm and friendly welcome.
One new face on Saturday was Chelmsford-based Paul Reyland who brought along his newly published book entitled Marconi’s Wireless Telegraph Stations in Essex. This book, co-written with Paul M Hawkins, is hot off the press from New Generation Publishing. Numerous books have been written over the years about the life and times of Guglielmo Marconi (1874-1937) whose link with Chelmsford is displayed on every town sign as one approaches our city. Blue plaques and a statue of the great man are evident all around us.
The year 2022 marks the centenary of the first wireless broadcasts
to the general public of news and entertainment, initially from the Chelmsford-based factory, but then leading to the establishment of the BBC. Both coauthors Paul Hawkins and Paul Reyland were former radio engineers. Hawkins worked at Dorchester Radio Station, then Goonhilly, followed by Bearley Radio Stations, Reyland, a radio engineer was employed at Brentwood Radio Receiving Station in 1965 before being transferred to Ongar Radio Transmitting Station at North Weald.
Their book, although a little technical, follows the history of Marconi’s work in the UK and promises a fascinating read with rarely seen illustrations, particularly for Essex folk who lived as residents in Chelmsford, Brentwood, Ongar and North Weald. Wonderful memories will be revived. The book costs £8.99 from Amazon or directly from paulhawkins1951@btinternet.com.
Who was Britain’s first prime minister?
When did Tommy Cooper die?
In which European country is the city of Maastricht?
What sort of creature is a mustang?
At which island does the Cowes Regatta take place?
How did the racing driver Graham Hill end his days?
Who had a number 1 hit with Answer Me in 1953?
Who or what is an elegist?
Which town in the Manchester area was famous for hat making?
What is a cantrip?
If you are prosaic, What are you?
Most of us recently have seen a catafalque, what is it?
In WW2, Who was known as the Angel of Death?
When did Roy Orbison die?
In place names, what is the meaning of the word ‘tye’?
Which Scottish island gives it’s name to a style of knitting?
Where are staves most commonly used?
What was composer Chopin’s first name?
Kelvedon Wonder and Little Marvel are types of what?
The letter ‘O’ is on which row of the keys on a typewriter or computer?
Which 2 animals are featured on the front of a British passport?
For what was Capability Brown famous?
According to the nursery rhyme, who met a pieman going to the fair?
Which clown is Bart Simpson’s idol?
What word can follow ‘Clay’, ‘Racing’ and ‘Wood’?
What did the ‘T’ stand for in ET?
In the world of travel, what do the initials ETA stand for?
Would you eat, play or sit on a sitar?
What is a popular name for the flower antirrhinum?
Which car maker produced the Hornet model?
What is the salary paid to a clergyman called?
Which black and white bird is usually accused of stealing?
What colour is cochineal?
Which famous TV chef has a wife known as Jules?
What are the 2 main ingredients of a ploughman’s lunch?
What type of animal does BSE affect?
Which Aussie sang ‘Come on baby, do the loco-motion’?
In which city is Tiananman Square?
The characters Fletcher and Godber appeared in which TV series?
How would 14 appear in Roman numerals?
(Answers on page 31)
Most people have heard of the National Trust and its magnificent work in saving and protecting valuable countryside and buildings in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. With more than 5 million members, it is the largest conservation organisation in Europe. Sadly, few will have heard of the Chelmsford and District National Trust Supporters Group which has thrived for 50 years and now has 250 members. The group meets monthly; during the darker months it holds talks and similar events in a theatre in our city, and at other times of the year it organises coach trips to places of interest. It also has an autumn 5-day coach holiday, occasional trips to London and other events.
We have just returned from a holiday in Birmingham, England’s second city (is Chelmsford the first!?) where we saw the magnificent new library, the very modern tram system which connects the city with the Black Country and Wolverhampton, the Commonwealth Games bull and so much more. One of the more striking sights was the Golden Boys statue off Broad Street celebrating three engineering entrepreneurs (Matthew Boulton, James Watt, and William Murdock) who were instrumental in spearheading the Industrial Revolution and the effective creation of Birmingham as the workshop of the world.
Contrasts were made with Chelmsford’s treatment of its engineering heroes, who in their own way gave a similar stimulus to the development of Chelmsford from a market town to a centre of engineering excellence and shopping, as well as a prosperous
commuter town. Of course, we do have a reasonable statue of Marconi, but he is hidden away in a car park behind the bus station, and plenty of blue plaques for other heroes.
Why not have a statue of our own three ‘Golden Boys’ in a prominent position in the city centre? To start the debate, I suggest Marconi, Crompton and Hoffman. Of course, there are others who deserve to be celebrated but this trio is a start -and why not a trio of Chelmsford Golden Girls?
The final coach outing of the year was to Emmetts Garden (NT) and Chiddingstone Castle in Kent. Our last evenings meetings for 2022 will be on Wednesday 9th November when Graham Parker from Ernest Doe will give a talk on this iconic Essex business, and on Wednesday 14th December when dialect coach/filmmaker and historian Charlie Haylock will share the secrets of filming The Dig, the renowned film about Sutton-Hoo Anglo Saxon hoards. Both meetings will commence at 7.45pm and will be held at Trinity Methodist Church in Chelmsford. There is a small entry charge.
Anyone interested in helping to conserve our beautiful countryside and heritage and meeting some pleasant people with similar interests are welcome to join us on these activities.
Maurice Austin Chelmsford and District National Trust Supporters Group
21st October: Orionids Meteor Shower. At its peak, up to 20 meteors are visible every hour.
4-5th November: Taurids Meteor Shower. The Taurids are an annual meteor shower, associated with the comet Encke.
4th November: Moon near Jupiter. Looking above the eastern horizon, they will then reach their highest point in the sky at 21:00, 36° above your southern horizon.
9th November: Uranus at opposition. Uranus is rising in the east at sunset and is visible all night. Uranus remains in the evening sky through March of 2023. Although a very faint naked eye object, best seen through 7x50 or 10x50 binoculars.
10th November: 9pm - Moon near Mars. Looking east, Mars and the Moon have a close encounter on the morning and evening of 11th November. 7x50 binoculars will render a lovely view of this pair.
17-18th November: Leonid Meteor Shower. As the comet follows its path around the sun, it leaves a path of tiny debris. The cometary debris enters our planet’s atmosphere at speeds of up to 70 kilometres per second, vaporising and causing the streaks of light we call meteors.
29th November: 6pm. Moon near Saturn. Looking due south, you will see the Moon with the planet Saturn on the right.
New Moon: On 25th October and 23rd 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.
As usual, email me with any questions.
www.chelmsfordcommunityradio.com mark.willis@chelmsfordcommunityradio.com
Chelmsford Singers will be joining forces with the Chelmsford Cathedral choir, four renowned soloists and the Chelmsford Sinfonietta, under the direction of James Davy for a concert in Chelmsford Cathedral at 7pm on 19th November to commemorate St Cecilia’s Day.
This concert is an extravaganza only undertaken once every three to four years by the choir and has to be experienced to be believed!
After a first half comprising Britten’s Fanfare for St Edmundsbury, Howells’ A Hymn for St Cecilia and Bach’s Missa in F Major, the second half is given over to a performance of Alec Roth’s A Time to Dance. This is a lush, exciting work celebrating the times and seasons of human existence. Divided into four sections - Spring Morning, Summer Noon, Autumn Evening and Winter Night - with a wide range of texts taken from poetry, the music is melodic, accessible and pleasingly harmonised. It is a contemporary work of real character and energy which deserves to be more widely known.
Soloists will be Elizabeth Weisberg (soprano), Carris Jones (alto), Adam Tunnicliffe (tenor) and Greg Skidmore (bass).
Tickets are £20 adults and £5 for under 16s and can be purchased from chelmsfordsingers.co.uk or by ringing 07876 686 611, or from
choir members or on the door.
Refreshments will be served at the interval.
James Davy is the organist and Master of the Choristers at Chelmsford Cathedral and has been director of the Chelmsford Singers since 2012.
There will be a collection at the interval for Kids Inspire, a local charity who provide mental health and trauma recovery support for children, young people and their families.
Sir Robert Walpole in 1735 15th April 1984, aged 63 Netherlands
Horse Isle of Wight
Killed in an air crash
Frankie Laine
Person who writes mournful works
Stockport
A witch’s spell Lacking imagination or originality
Support for a coffin, (as used for Queen Elizabeth II)
Josef Mengele
6th December 1988, aged 52 Trough for washing ore
Fair Isle
In the making of wooden beer barrels
Frederick Pea
Top row of letters
Lion and unicorn
Landscape gardening
Simple Simon
Krusty the Clown
Pigeon
Terrestrial
Estimated Time of Arrival
Play, it is an Indian stringed
instrument Snapdragon
Wolseley Stipend
Magpie
Red
Jamie Oliver
Bread and cheese
Cattle
Kylie Minogue
Beijing, China
Porridge
XIV
