The City Times - September/October 2019

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Issue Number 71 September 12th - October 17th 2019

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CT Welcome Hello readers,

Welcome to the September/October edition.

Summer is virtually over, but there are still lots of events happening across our city and beyond; check out pages 12 and 13 for listings for the next month!

Please remember to tell our advertisers that you saw them in this magazine.

Enjoy your month!

Regards Nick & Paul www.thecitytimes.co.uk | www.moulshamtimes.com

Editorial Advertising Paul Mclean Nick Garner 01245 262082 / 07595 949701 07970 206682 ads@itsyourmedia.co.uk editorial@itsyourmedia.co.uk 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 Printwize.

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Page 3

Chelmsford Slimmer Meets Football Star After Scoring 8st 1lbs Weight Loss

A 38-year-old slimmer from Chelmsford has made the semi-finals of a competition to find the UK and Ireland’s top male slimmers.

Peter Holmes was one of 37 men to win a place at the semi-finals of Slimming World’s Man of the Year 2019 competition after losing an inspirational 8st 1lbs. It was there that he was congratulated by the former England, Leicester City and Liverpool striker Emile Heskey.

“Since joining the group and seeing the weight on the scales drop each week, I started to think about how active I was. I’ve since taken up going to the gym, swimming, cycling and running and I feel great for it. I would love to run a marathon in the near future. Getting to meet Emile was brilliant too. I never imagined I would be part of a slimming competition when I first set out on this journey, let alone meeting someone like Emile Heskey - it’s incredible!”

Peter, who slimmed from 22st 13.5lbs to 14st 12.5lbs at the Broomfield Slimming World group, says he knows how difficult it can be for men to admit they are unhappy with their weight and that it can be even more difficult to have the courage to do something about it.

Peter says: “I’m so glad I took that step to find my Slimming World group. I took inspiration from my mum Janet, who has been a member of Slimming World since 2013, losing 5st 7lbs in total and achieving her target. Joining the group was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.

Slimming World’s Machobesity Report revealed that while 95% of men want to lose weight, mainly for health reasons, men typically keep weight worries to themselves for more than six years on average. Once they set their mind to it though, men do seem to be good at slimming down. On average men lose an impressive 5.7% of their body weight in three months at Slimming World, while women lose 4.3%.

Peter continues: “Before I walked through the doors of my Slimming World group, I’ll admit I was nervous that I’d be the only bloke in the room - I wasn’t though. And, even if I ever was, it didn’t matter because everyone there is so supportive. The hints, tips and recipe ideas kept me motivated even on the weeks I felt I was struggling. In fact, they were the weeks I needed them the most. The members and my consultant Victoria really kept me focussed on my goal.

“When I thought about losing weight I thought I’d have to cut out all of my favourite meals and go hungry, but I couldn’t have been more wrong. I eat just as much as before, if not more. Steak and chips, cooked breakfasts and my favorite beef and potato curry are all still on the menu, I’ve just had to make some simple swaps like ditching the olive oil or butter in favour of low-calorie cooking spray and swapping white bread for wholemeal.

Emile, who gained over 60 caps playing for England, was blown away by the achievements of the men he met at the competition. He says: “As a footballer, being fit and active has always been at the forefront of my mind and I know how much effort and dedication it can take to stay healthy - both mentally and physically. It was a pleasure to meet Peter and hear about his transformation - it’s hard to believe that he ever had a problem with his weight.

“I think it can be hard for men to admit they have a problem with something and then seek the help they need to fix it. It’s not an easy thing to do, so hats off to Peter because he has a healthy life ahead of him now.”

Victoria Darnell, who runs the Broomfield group that Peter attends, says she is very proud of her super slimmer: “A lot of people think that slimming clubs are female only zones, but that’s not the case at all and Peter is proof of that. There are now 60,000 men attending Slimming World groups, and we understand that men need just as much support as women to slim down and improve their health.

Absolutely everyone is welcome at Slimming World and I hope Peter inspires lots of other people in Chelmsford - male or female - who’d like to lose weight to take that step and join our group at Broomfield Village Hall or call me on 07823 441 198 - there’ll be a warm welcome waiting for you”

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MONDAY Millennium Community Centre, Recreation Ground, Baddow Road, Great Baddow CM2 9RL 9:00am, 11:00am &1:00pm, Lucy 07801 433626 CONSU NEW CONSULTANT 16TH SEPTEMBER Millennium Community Centre, Recreation Ground, Baddow Road, Great Baddow CM2 9RL 5:00pm & 7:00pm Keeley 07930 231386

WEDNESDAY Church Of St Augustine Of Canterbury, St Augustines Way, Springfield CM1 6GQ 9:30am and 11:30am Emma 07887 692906 Writtle Community Association, Longmeads House, 12-14 Redwood Drive, Writtle CM1 3LY 3:00pm, 5:00pm and 7:00pm Jennifer 07792 516866

Boreham Village Hall, Main Road, Boreham CM3 3JD 5:30pm and 7:30pm Springfield Bees Preschool, Perryfields School, Lawn Lane, CM1 7P 7PP Marie 07988 426728 5:00pm and 7:00pm Springfield Park Baptist Church, Angie 07814 992628 Springfield Park Road, Springfield CM2 6EB Hatfield Peverel Infant School Church Road, Hatfield Peverel CM3 2RP 5.30pm and 7:30pm Angie 07814 992628 5:30pm and 7:30pm Marie 07988 426728 St Michael's Church of England Junior School, Barnard Road, TUESD TUESDAY Galleywood, CM2 8RR Newlands Spring Community Hall, 7.30pm Dickens Place, Chelmsford CM1 4UU Lena 07939 675034 9:30am Jennifer 07792 516866 THURSDAY Millennium Community Centre, Broomfield Village Hall, Recreation Ground, Baddow Road, 158 Main Road (behind Angel Pub), 9R Great Baddow CM2 9RL Broomfield CM1 7AH 9:30am 3:00pm, 5:00pm and 7:00pm Samantha 01245 266442 Victoria 07823 441198 Millennium Community Centre, Recreation Ground, Baddow Road, Great Baddow CM2 9RL 3:30pm, 5:30pm & 7:30pm Samantha 01245 266442

North Springfield Baptist Church, Havengore, off Pump Lane, Springfield CM1 6JP 5:30pm and 7:30pm Victoria 07823 441198

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THURSDAY Newlands Spring Community Hall, Dickens Place, Chelmsford CM1 4UU 5:30pm and 7:30pm Jennifer 07792 516866 Moulsham High School, Brian Close, Chelmsford CM2 9ES 5:30pm and 7:30pm Emma 07738 278911 FRIDAY The Church Of Ascension, Maltese Road, Chelmsford CM1 2PB 9:15am and 11:15am Samantha 01245 266442 Fit n Fab Studio, Village Square (Near Asda), Chelmer Village CM2 6RF 5.30pm Emma 07887 692906 SATURDAY Springfield Park Baptist Church, Springfield Park Road, Springfield, CM2 6EB 8:30am and 10:30am Emma 07887 692906 　

Consultant opportunities available, please contact Marie on 07988 426728 for details

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Page 5

Nick Garner’s Music Music and Ramblings

Chelmsford Arts & Cultural Festival We have just attended the Culture in the Park event in Oaklands Park where we engaged with the public and got the most fantastic response with people wanting to get involved with the 2020 festival as well as those who seem to be excited at our plans for the festival, which will be held from 19th to 28th June.

We are at present looking for a couple of people who may be interested in becoming trustees of the charity, and we are also looking for more volunteers to help - in no matter how small or large a way. Plans for 2020 are moving ahead, but it is hard to disclose all we have planned at present - except for our parade which we want to become the Chelmsford Carnival again, as we think this would be very fitting to be part of the festival celebration. We want it to be big, and our plan is that it will take place on the Sunday 28th June. For this, we are looking for groups small and large, businesses, schools...

In fact, anyone and everyone. We want the biggest, most colourful fun parade our city has ever seen to celebrate Chelmsford and Essex and show everyone outside how proud and great we are and that they should come and visit us!

All the contact details are below if you are interested in any of the above.

Music & Ramblings Well another bank holiday is over, the school holidays are over and would you believe, autumn is on its way?

There has been lots going on at the tail-end of this summer, and there is still lots more to come in and around the city. The Compasses in Broomfield Road, having now been taken over, is fast becoming another great pub and venue to play in, and I think they must have the biggest room of any music pub in Chelmsford, so go check it out and enjoy their hospitality. See the listings in this publication for what they have coming up.

a good while about Vicky.

Saturday 7th September will have seen the first 80s Let’s Rock Retro Fest in Hylands Park, with Status Quo, Tony Hadley, Go West, Jimmy Somerville, Nick Heyward and many more performing. On Saturday 14th September at the Bay Horse, the first Barhouse Festival will be happening. This is not a free event - you will need to purchase tickets, just so you know.

On Friday 13th at the UB, we have the legendary rock band, Strangers Know More. You will very rarely find them playing a venue like this and they will rock the joint - you will not want to miss this. On Saturday 14th September it’s The Half Way to Paddy’s Day celebration with Barry Owens opening from 5.30pm to 7.30pm and then the mighty Medicine (Celtic rock) from 9pm to end the night. Remember. all of the music at the UB is free, as are most of the pubs in the area.

We have more coming up with Lizzie B on the Sunday and then on Friday 20th September yet another legendary 70s rock band SNAFU, with original member Bobby Harrison who was also in Procol Harum.

Again, this band do not do gigs like this normally, but the UB is very lucky - they want to play there. Micky Moody of Whitesnake also came from SNAFU too. To find out all the other great live music that is happening at the UB, go to the What’s On pages in this magazine or search for the ‘United Brethren’ on Facebook.

There is always lots going on in and around the city, with Bassment getting back into live music and with the regular Blues Jam on the first Thursday of each month. Sadly, we hear that the Fleece is cutting back on live music but there are a couple of other places in the west end of the city like Hotbox in the viaducts, and Transition at the rear of the Ale House - and The Railway Inn too, who I know on Sunday 29th September have BBC Essex there from 9am to 5pm. You can just turn up and they will see if you have a face for radio! Really, go along and see if you may have an opportunity to get involved in radio - I may even go myself.

As well as these venues there are others like the Racecourse, Hideaways and of course Chelmsford City Football Club where you can see some of the biggest acts from yesteryear. The next act at the football club is on Friday 18th October - 70s kings of British Soul, Kokomo, still with seven of the original ten members in the band. You can find details for this show and many others in this magazine, or go online and search the different local pages.

We have just had UB Fest and I wrote my review in the latest Moulsham Times which you can also read online at www.issuu. com/itsyourmedia. On bank holiday Monday, I also helped out with a little festival at the Little Green Dragon micro pub in Green Lanes, Winchmore Hill, London. This was done in memory of Vicky Martin, who had had the idea to do this event for charity. We set up two small stages, one on the pavement in the front and one in the tiny back garden. It was fantastic, with a varied and very talented group of acts, including Jamie (Jamie Williams & the Roots Collective) and I and the Delta Ladies duo. Just over £650 was raised as well to go towards a defibrillator and the homeless.

At the end, a guy who at the time I did not know turned up when we had finished the music and got out his guitar in the back garden and started to play and sing - he was very good, he came to his third song and dedicated it to Vicky and went on to play and sing He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother - I got it all on film thankfully. I said to Landlord Richard afterwards: “that was great who is he?” He said he is a regular, Pete Howarth the lead singer of the Hollies I said: “blimey, no wonder it was stunning then!” I spoke to Pete afterwards, he said that sadly he was just getting to know Vicky before she died. We spoke for

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

Please check out the links below and please ‘like’ our pages on social media and help us by inviting your friends to ‘like’ our pages as well.

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

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CT Gardening - by Tom Cole

An herbaceous perennial is a hardy plant that never becomes woody and lives for a minimum of three years (usually much longer). Some plants included in this group are evergreen; eg, Hellebore, Bergenia and Euphorbia. Others die back to ground level each winter and regrow the following spring, eg, Aster, Helenium and Echinacea. For me, they are the best plants to collectively help spread the interest in a garden or container for twelve months of the year, adding colour and interest to the garden. They require regular maintenance and when time and labour is not available, this type of planting should be kept to a minimum. In this case, trees and shrubs could then provide colour and interest.

As a ‘must-see garden’ this year, we are blessed in Essex and the surrounding region with a myriad of places to explore. Here are just a few of my favourites: • • • • •

RHS Garden Hyde Hall: www.rhs. org.uk/gardens/hyde-hall The Gardens of Easton Lodge: www.eastonlodge.co.uk Marks Hall Gardens and Arboretum: www.markshall.org. uk The Beth Chatto Gardens: www. bethchatto.co.uk Barnards Farm: www. barnardsfarm.eu

At this time of year, after visiting gardens for inspiration and gathering numerous plant lists, it’s an ideal moment to plan for future colour by removing unwanted or poor specimens and introducing new plants. Once you’ve established the border or a range of containers, herbaceous borders and their plants will require the following forms of regular maintenance:

Fertilisation An annual application in spring of a balanced fertiliser such as Growmore at 100g/m² or blood, fish and bone at 70g/m²

Weeding Regular weeding will be required, particularly in the spring and early summer.

Staking This is best carried out before being needed. Materials used range from pea sticks, or lengths of hazel coppice, to bamboo canes and metal linking stakes. Staking should be as unobtrusive as possible to allow the natural form of the plant to develop and should be 1530cm shorter than the ultimate height of the plant.

Division Herbaceous plants require regular division to keep them floriferous and healthy. This is carried out in the autumn or spring.

Irrigation Irrigation may be necessary in prolonged dry periods or when plants are establishing. Ground level irrigation systems, such as porous pipes, use water efficiently and do not damage flowers and foliage. As with all irrigation a thorough soaking is preferable to a light sprinkling in order to encourage plants to develop deep root systems.

Dead Heading Dead head where possible as this will encourage a longer flowering season.

Pests and Diseases Monitor and treat pests and diseases accordingly. Commonly occurring problems include aphids and powdery mildew.

01245 422804/07711 606561

Mulching An annual application of a layer of leaf mould, well rotted farmyard manure or garden compost helps to reduce weed seed germination and conserves soil moisture and improves soil structure.

Lastly... We still have a few spaces on a number of horticultural courses this year.

For RHS Level 2 Certificate in Practical Horticulture, email christina. lavelle@writtle.ac.uk for information on availability of days and times.

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For RHS Level 2 Certificate in the Principles of Horticulture (1 year, day release), RHS Level 2 Certificate in the Principles of Plant Growth, Propagation & Development (September - February), RHS Level 2 Certificate in the Principles of Garden Planning, Establishment and Maintenance (Starting 14th February - June 2019) and for RHS Level 3 Certificate in Practical Horticulture, email tom.cole@writtle.ac.uk for information on availability of days and times.

We also offer a very comprehensive range of full time and short courses in landscaping, design and garden maintenance. Follow this link for further information writtle.ac.uk/ShortCourses.

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

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Page 9

Autumn Detox - by Lisa Whittle

You may not associate autumn and the back to school season with detoxing - spring is more the convention for this activity. But in fact, it’s as we head towards each equinox (March 22nd and September 22nd the days of equal length of day and night) that the body is most open and willing to detox. According to naturopaths, the rapidly changing light levels at this time of year are stimulating subtle changes in the body and a detox can work with it, enhancing its effects, for the benefit of your body. So autumn is just as effective for detoxing as is spring.

Why Bother Detoxing Though? and What Is It Anyway?

For many, the holidays are over and you may be returning to normal routines. Perhaps there have been some food excesses and indulgences over the summer… Maybe you know you’re just not feeling as fresh and on form as you’d like to. Detoxing can help you feel healthier, have more energy, feel lighter and brighter and it can kick start healthy routines to help you maintain this. You may even loose a little weight.

Detoxing is about sticking for a while to simpler foods and lifestyle that do not tax our body in anyway. This gives our body the spare energy and capacity to throw out any old accumulated toxins. Where might these toxins be hanging out you may wonder? Well, your liver can be one place. Your liver is your major organ for detoxing and when we give our liver a rest, it can detox our whole body more easily. The large intestine too is important - think of the accumulated debris that can form in a clogged up pipe - by cleansing this the body’s waste can get away more easily without being ‘reabsorbed’ into the bloodstream. When these two parts of the body are optimally functioning, then every one of our 50 trillion cells can keep themselves free of toxins too.

So lets get down to how to do it. Detox methods vary from the hardcore to the lighter touch. But here are the basics: Firstly, we need to return to my favourite subject - drinking water. Making sure you are optimally hydrated is important and all times, but especially important when you are aiming to help your body detox. Aim to drink 2-3 litres a day, depending on your body size, on top of any other liquids you may be drinking.

If you don’t do this normally, beginning to drink enough plain water a day can help your body detox by just doing this alone - and give you more energy and help you feel lighter.

Then there’s cutting out caffeine.

Caffeine artificially stimulates the ‘fight and flight’ stress response, flooding your system with adrenaline. Many people think they need it to keep

going, but the reality is caffeine is like taking out an energy loan from your body’s own energy and there’s payback to be made. When you drink regular caffeine you will in fact feel more tired than if you didn’t.

When you stop caffeine it is likely you may feel tired for 2 or 3 days and there may be the caffeine withdrawn headache - anything from a mild to severe. Painkillers don’t really help it, but chamomile herbal tea can take the edge off. After the 3 days you will feel amazing…

Then there is sugar… Best keep off this in its refined form for a detox.

Many people are intolerant to wheat, perhaps without realising it, bread in particular - there is something about that combination of wheat and yeast that is hard to digest, leading to bloating and discomfort for many. So best keep off this too during a detox.

I would also add to the ‘don’t eat during detox’ list milk-related products - milk, cheese, cream and yoghurt - and red meat. This is because again, many people can be intolerant to cow’s milk without realising it and red meat can be difficult to digest.

Don’t eat too much in one go. Its rather like over-filling the washing machine - your clothes don’t wash properly. Your digestive system can’t digest properly if you over fill it and you may end up with rotting, fermenting undigested food in your intestines. We’re all for giving your body a rest here afterall. And while we’re on that subject, get some extra sleep during a detox period. You may be feeling a little more tired than usual, so comfort yourself with some warm detoxifying Epsom salt baths (2 or more mugs of Epsom salts in the bath) followed by an early night.

And how could I forget, no alcohol of course - for the duration of the detox.

Do eat plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables though, especially raw. Plenty of salads and fresh juices and smoothies are going to help your liver let go of toxins and revive itself. In fact, some more hardcore forms of detoxing involve drinking only juices or smoothies see the work of Jason Vale, for example his book, 7lbs in 7 Days. Another book I’d recommend wholeheartedly is Ross Bridgeford’s The Alkaline Reset Cleanse, which is also a 7-day reboot of very healthy eating.

You may wish to enhance your detox with some herbal help. Whether this is as simple as some quality herbal teas, such as Pukka Cleanse or Detox that you’ll find in the supermarket, or others containing fennel or dandelion, or more heavy duty herbs such as the range by Blessed Herbs stocked, for example, by Blue Herbs (www.blueherbs.co.uk) - there is a wide choice available. Other standalone supplements worth a try are Liquid Chorophyll - take a few drops a day in water (I have tried the brands Nature’s Sunshine and Now, which is stronger); wheatgrass powder (or capsules) or fresh and raw juice-it-yourself wheatgrass if you are brave! Nature’s Sunshine does a bespoke herbal supplement pack for detoxing which is good, and there is also Forever Living’s Clean 9 programme of diet and supplements, but this is controversial as it is very low in calories.

Last but not least, aloe vera juice is a soothing and cleansing for the digestive tract and I personally love the taste, especially the brand Pukka.

Good luck!

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What’s on in the Area September Friday 13th Bassment - Bassment does the 80s: Swazye Nights Civic - The Real Swing The Golden Fleece - The Strides Hotbox - Thee Telepaths United Brethren - Strangers Know More Saturday 14th Bassment - Club night The Bay Horse - Barhouse Festival CCFC (home) - Chelmsford City v Chippenham Town Civic - Soul Train Cramphorn - Let There Be Light! The Musical Compasses - Chelmsford’s Finest: Matt Love & Paul Dupree The Golden Fleece - 6 String Makeover Transition - Patina Audio Café Presents: Resonance United Brethren - ½ way to Paddy’s: Medicine & Barry Owens Sunday 15th Cramphorn - Graffiti Classics Cressing Temple Barns - Cressing Folk Festival Star & Garter - Open mic/jam United Brethren - Playing for Keeps (4.30pm) Monday 16th Chelmsford Library - Other Halves Dementia Support (coffee) Danbury Sports & Social Centre - Strictly Solo (learn how to dance, 9.15am & 11.15am) Nationwide Christian Trust (Mulberry House, Chelmsford Road, High Ongar, CM5 9NL) - Time out with God (10am) Transition - Yoga for Everyone Tuesday 17th The Black Bull - Free pool Boreham Village Hall - Ballroom and Latin American Dance (classes for beginners & improvers - www.danceasy.co.uk) Moulsham Mill - Open Meeting: CRACL - The Chelmsford Rivers and Canal Link (7pm) Transition - Power Yoga Wednesday 18th Civic - An Evening of Magic Danbury Sports & Social Centre - Zumba class (10.45am) Golden Fleece - Karaoke Nationwide Christian Trust - Lunchtime Special (Mulberry House, Chelmsford Road, High Ongar, CM5 9NL) Springfield Hospital - The Mid Essex Osteoporosis Support Group (Medical Update by Dr Srinavasan) Transition - Mindful Yoga Chelmsford Thursday 19th Bassment - Alien Nation Live Showcase: Repair to Ruin + Last Known State + Unit 33 The Black Bull - Half price on main meals all day Civic - An evening of the very best of Pink Floyd The Golden Fleece - Quiz night Friday 20th Bassment - Club Night Cathedral - Lunchtime concert The Golden Fleece - The Hit List Hotbox - The March Fleet + Zen Motel + Magic Seas Transition - Cosmic Sound Bath United Brethren - SNAFU Saturday 21st Bassment - End of Summer Party Civic - Mercury -The Ultimate Queen Tribute Cramphorn - Seeing is Believing Cricketers - Super Soul Saturday Hotbox - Sunscream + Speed of Life + DJ Black Chapel Transition - Patina Audio Café Presents: Resonance United Brethren - Bob Vegas & the Honywood Big Sound Page 12

Sunday 22nd United Brethren - Lyz Le Faye (4.30pm) Monday 23rd Danbury Sports & Social Centre - Strictly Solo (learn how to dance, 9.15am & 11.15am) Hanging Gardens Nursery (Writtle) - Other Halves Dementia Support Transition - Yoga for Everyone Tuesday 24th The Black Bull - Free pool Boreham Village Hall - Ballroom and Latin American Dance (classes for beginners & improvers - www.danceasy.co.uk) Civic - Evita (CAODS) Transition - Power Yoga Wednesday 25th The Chichester Hotel (Rawreth) - Belvedere Jazz & Music Club: Jonathan Vinten Trio (£12.50 admission) Civic - Evita (CAODS) Danbury Sports & Social Centre - Zumba class (10.45am) Golden Fleece - Karaoke Transition - Mindful Yoga Chelmsford Thursday 26th Bassment - Asylum Takeover: Jellyfish & the Milkmen + Palps + Slumber The Black Bull - Half price on main meals all day Civic - Evita (CAODS) Cramphorn - Vox Lux (15) The Golden Fleece - Quiz night Hideaways - Bobby Wilson, Stefan Taylor & The Signatures Nationwide Christian Trust - Christian Ladies Day (10am) (Mulberry House, Chelmsford Road, High Ongar, CM5 9NL) Friday 27th Bassment - Club night Civic - Evita (CAODS) The Compasses - The Skafonics The Golden Fleece - Frog on a Rocket Hideaways - Black Sun + State of Millenia United Brethren - The Undiscovered Covers Band Saturday 28th Barista - Local Life Discoteque: Brandon Block Bassment - Jar Records live showcase Civic - Evita (CAODS) CCFC (away) - Eastbourne Borough v Chelmsford City The Golden Fleece - Choice Millenium Centre (Great Baddow) - Other Halves Dementia Support (ploughmans lunch) Transition - Patina Audio Café Presents: Resonance United Brethren - Paul Dupree’s DJs night Wickham Bishops Village Hall - Patchwork and quilting exhibition Sunday 29th United Brethren - Roy Mette (4.30pm) Wickham Bishops Village Hall - Patchwork and quilting exhibition Monday 30th Danbury Sports & Social Centre - Strictly Solo (learn how to dance, 9.15am & 11.15am) Transition - Yoga for Everyone Nationwide Christian Trust (Mulberry House, Chelmsford Road, High Ongar, CM5 9NL) - Time out with God (10am) Hanningfield Reservoir (café on the water) - Other Halves Dementia Support (lunch) Unit 16 (Ekersley Road, Chelmsford) - Judo class (1st lesson free - tel: 07768 364 435)

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

October Tuesday 1st The Black Bull - Free pool Cramphorn - Red Joan (12A) Widford Village Hall - Natty Chatty Ladies Club (1.30pm) Wednesday 2nd The Chichester Hotel (Rawreth) - Belvedere Jazz & Music Club: Blue Harlem Septet (£15 admission) Danbury Sports & Social Centre - Zumba class (10.45am) Hotbox - The Kundalini Genie Transition - Mindful Yoga Chelmsford Thursday 3rd Bassment - Blues Jam The Black Bull - Half price on main meals all day Cramphorn - Mari (12A) The Golden Fleece - Quiz Orange Tree - Beer festival Friday 4th Acanteen - Comedy Club Bassment - Shakster Records Live Showcase: 3 Foot High + 5 ’n’ Drive Cathedral - Lunchtime concert Central Park - The Bg 90s Festival Civic - The Pasadena Roof Orchestra (50th Anniversary Tour) Cramphorn - Apollo 11 (U) The Golden Fleece - Cadence Hideaways - Toploader Hotbox - The Family Dog + Happninboy Orange Tree - Beer festival United Brethren - Paolo Morena Saturday 5th Alehouse - Record fair Bassment - Shakster Records Live Showcase: Broadway Clash + Torque Armada Civic - Lipstick on your Collar The Compasses - Jake & The Swiftbeats The Golden Fleece - Man v Machine Orange Tree - Beer festival Transition - Patina Audio Café Presents: Resonance United Brethren - Steve Hooker Trio Sunday 6th Cramphorn - Chelmsford Jazz Club - Derek Nash (sax), Dave Newton (piano), Geoff Gascoyne (bass), Emiliano Caroselli Hotbox - SeRvo (+ support tbc) Orange Tree - Beer festival United Brethren - Undiscovered Duo (4.30pm) The Woolpack - GC’s Jazz Club: Richard Exall (saxophone) & Graeme Culham Trio (8pm - free admission) Monday 7th Danbury Sports & Social Centre - Strictly Solo (learn how to dance, 9.15am & 11.15am) Nationwide Christian Trust (Mulberry House, Chelmsford Road, High Ongar, CM5 9NL) - Time out with God (10am) Transition - Yoga for Everyone Tuesday 8th The Black Bull - Free pool Boreham Village Hall - Ballroom and Latin American Dance (classes for beginners & improvers - www.danceasy.co.uk) Cramphorn - Tolkien (12A) Transition - Power Yoga Wednesday 9th The Chichester Hotel (Rawreth) - Belvedere Jazz & Music Club: Celebrating Hoagy - Chris Ingham Quartet (£12.50) Civic - Dreamboys (18+) Danbury Sports & Social Centre - Zumba class (10.45am) Golden Fleece - Karaoke Transition - Mindful Yoga Chelmsford United Brethren - Joe Anderton’s Open Mic Thursday 10th Bassment The Black Bull - Half price on main meals all day Civic - Voodoo Room Cramphorn - Yesterday (12A)

Thursday 10th (continued...)

The Golden Fleece - Quiz night Friday 11th Bassment - Club Night Civic - Oh! Carol: The Musical Story of Neil Sedaka Cramphorn - The Affair The Golden Fleece - The Nook United Brethren - Dave Sharp Saturday 12th Bar & Beyond - Busta Bingo Bassment - Jar Records Live Showcase CCFC (home) - Chelmsford City v Wealdstone Civic - Someone Like You: The Adele Songbook The Compasses - DJ Aubs Soul Night The Golden Fleece - Cakehole Mafia Hotbox - The Lightscopes + Setting Sons + Sean Muir Transition - Patina Audio Café Presents: Resonance United Brethren - Denny Newman Sunday 13th Civic - The Elvis Years Star & Garter - Open mic/jam United Brethren - Martin McNeill (4.30pm) Monday 14th Civic - Friendsical Danbury Sports & Social Centre - Strictly Solo (learn how to dance, 9.15am & 11.15am) Nationwide Christian Trust (Mulberry House, Chelmsford Road, High Ongar, CM5 9NL) - Time out with God (10am) Transition - Yoga for Everyone Transition - Sisterhood Healing Tour 2019 Tuesday 15th The Black Bull - Free pool Boreham Village Hall - Ballroom and Latin American Dance (classes for beginners & improvers - www.danceasy.co.uk) Civic - Friendsical Cramphorn - Kind Hearts and Coronets (PG) Transition - Power Yoga Transition - Sisterhood Healing Tour 2019 Wednesday 16th The Chichester Hotel (Rawreth) - Belvedere Jazz & Music Club: Slide by Slide - Chris Dean & Gordon Campbell Quintet Civic - Friendsical Danbury Sports & Social Centre - Zumba class (10.45am) Golden Fleece - Karoke Transition - Mindful Yoga Chelmsford United Brethren - Joe Anderton’s Open Mic Thursday 17th The Black Bull - Half price on main meals all day Chelmsford Museum - Museum Lates: Nightmares & Nibbles Civic - Friendsical The Golden Fleece - Quiz night The Lion Inn - The Comedy Club Friday 18th Bassment - Bassment does the 80s CCFC - Kokomo + 5.com Civic - Friendsical Cramphorn - In and Out of Chekhov’s Shorts The Golden Fleece - Repetoire Dogs Hotbox - The Horse Heads + Swimsuit Competition + The Penny Antics United Brethren - Ugly Guys Saturday 19th CCFC (away) - Tonbridge v Chelmsford City The Compasses - Just Jovi (Bon Jovi tribute) Civic - Friendsical The Golden Fleece - Red Leaf Springfield Church Parish Hall - Chelmsford Cats Protection League autumn sale Transition - Patina Audio Café Presents: Resonance United Brethren - Stony Road Sunday 20th Civic - Stewart Francis - Into the Punset Star & Garter - Open mic/jam United Brethren - Playing For Keeps (4.30pm)

Please send us your events for the next edition (for events between 17th October & 17th November) to editorial@itsyourmedia.co.uk

Free Business Advice Service Launched at Chelmsford Civic Centre Start-up businesses in the Chelmsford area are being offered expert advice, thanks to a new enterprise partnership between Colbea and Chelmsford City Council.

Chelmsford City Council has teamed up with long established Essex enterprise support provider Colbea to provide support services to start-up and early development businesses in Chelmsford.

Up to three free sessions with an accredited business advisor will be available, with advice covering a range of key issues including planning, finance, marketing and where to go for further help. The sessions will be held at the Civic Centre, Duke Street, Chelmsford CM1 1JE on a monthly basis.

The service is part of Connect with Colbea, which delivers enterprise support services across the whole of Essex to meet the growing demand of entrepreneurs seeking out expert business advice.

Colbea is a non-profit organisation. The service is fully funded, thanks to Colbea’s efforts to generate additional revenue and direct it back into its core funded services for early stage businesses.

Also with thanks to the sponsorship of local businesses who are committed to supporting enterprise.

Ashleigh Seymour-Rutherford, Colbea Chief Executive says: “Expert 1:1 advice for businesses of all sizes has been shown time and again to be invaluable, yet the number of opportunities to access this crucial service just isn’t meeting demand. Connect with Colbea will change that, and offer pre-start, start-up, and emerging businesses across Essex the chance to access the support that could help them become Essex’s next business success story.”

Councillor Martin Bracken, Cabinet Deputy for the Economy and Small Business at Chelmsford City Council, said: “Chelmsford City Council is committed to helping deliver a greener Chelmsford through encouraging sustainable economic growth. Starting a business is a huge step and the to-do list can seem overwhelming at first. There is a great deal of advice available online, some of which is conflicting.

“We are happy to partner with Colbea in providing these free sessions that offer advice from accredited experts on practical, relevant topics which should clear the confusion and help Chelmsford’s entrepreneurs get on the right track to success.”

To find out more or book your business advice sessions, contact Colbea on 01206 548 833 or visit www.colbea.co.uk.

Storage Solutions for Small Kitchens, Advice from Our Senior Kitchen Designer, John Martin 1. 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.

2. Corner Solutions: There are many different 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.

3. 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?

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

5. 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

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Workers Education Association (WEA)

As the Chelmsford Branch of the above association enters its 102nd year, we are still offering a variety of courses to the local community. When Albert Mansbridge created WEA in 1904 to educate the working man, little did he realise what a vast organisation it would become, offering courses across the UK. There are 30 branches in Essex, all run by volunteers.

Colchester and Chelmsford are the biggest, offering a broad choice of subjects, but many smaller branches may only meet once a week.

A large part of WEA’s work is in the community offering specialised courses in such subjects as numeracy, literacy, English as a second language and courses that enable people to get back into work. These have achieved some amazing successes.

Branches like Chelmsford offer learning for pleasure, and this term we have courses in Music Appreciation, History and Film & Media, plus a one-day school about the world of the Geisha.

We have also decided to offer a Healthy Living short course, Alternative to Stress.

None of our courses require homework, so do come along and perhaps learn something entirely new or add to your knowledge in a very friendly atmosphere. Courses are free to eligible students.

For further information and to enrol, please go to the WEA website at wea.org.uk.

01245 698 045 07939 609 732 07548 944 727 We can attend and fix emergency plumbing and heating problems as well as other projects and non urgent upgrades.

We offer boiler servicing from just £50.

All work comes with a 12 month warranty from the date of installation

• New Boiler installations • Landlord certificates • Boiler Servicing • Plumbing Emergencies • Kitchens and bathrooms • Blocked drains We are Gas Safe Registered Reg no. 545555

info@pthplumbingandgas.co.uk www.pthplumbingandgas.co.uk

Christmas Donations for GOSH Tuesday 3rd September 2019 was a busy day! Tommy Wathen and I (Emma Wallace) were driving around Essex collecting raffle prizes and donations for Great Ormond Street Hospital and Children’s Charity. This Christmas is our mission to give these kids the best Christmas EVER, and to put a massive smile on their faces.

Why are we doing this? My boyfriend was a patient at GOSH when he was born and giving something back to the hospital feels like the least we can do.

Everyone deserves to enjoy a little bit of festive magic at Christmas. There will be children fighting rare and deadly diseases this year, and this could be their last Christmas ever. We want to put a smile on their faces and give them a Christmas to remember - not one to forget!

We need your support! Anything you can do to help, we’d appreciate it! From telling the public about what we’re doing, raffle prizes to toy donations - anything. www.facebook.com/ohmygosh.christmascollection A massive thank you in advance, Tom and Emma x

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Wildlife Corner - by Nick Green

August weather was variable from hot and humid, to cool and overcast and even wet, but a hot record breaking, sweltering 30oC+ late bank holiday weekend.

The Essex Birdwatching Society (EBWS) is celebrating its 70th anniversary this September. Some 20 guided walks all over the county have been organised and all are open to the public. The objective is to engage as many people as possible and to see as many bird species as possible over the long weekend of Friday 20th to Monday 23rd September. All walks are completely free: • • • •

Friday 20th: Hatfield Forest; Holland Haven; Coalhouse Fort, East Tilbury; RSPB Rainham Marshes; Thurrock Thameside National Park.

Saturday 21st: Lea Valley; RSPB Wallasea Island; Mistley Walls, Manningtree; Hanningfield Reservoir; West Canvey Marsh.

Sunday 22nd: Walthamstow Wetlands Centre (2); RSPB Wallasea Island; RSPB Rainham Marshes; EWT Fingringhoe Wick (2).

Monday 23rd: Hatfield Forest; EWT Abberton Reservoir; RSPB West Canvey Marsh.

For times and contact details, please visit the EBWS website at www. ebws.org.uk.

Essex Selected Wildlife Highlights Butterflies in the Chelmsford area included: painted lady, ringlet, comma, gatekeeper, red admiral, peacock, large and small whites, large and Essex skippers. Return migration continued for waders and passerines breeding in Scandinavia and the Arctic. The Naze: pied flycatchers. Holland Haven: 2 wrynecks. Colne Point: dotterel.

Abberton Reservoir EWT: 2 great white and 4 cattle egrets, 2 ruddy shelduck, ring-necked duck. Old Hall RSPB: Montagu’s harrier, spoonbill. Foulness Island: hoopoe. Bowers Gifford: southern migrant hawker dragonfly. Thames estuary: Sabine’s gull, pomarine skua.

Wat Tyler CP: 8 cattle egret. RSPB Rainham Marshes: cattle egret, Caspian gulls.

National Selected Migration Highlights the east coast experienced widespread significant influxes of wood sandpipers and pied flycatchers, amongst other species. Shetland Isles: great snipe, snowy owl, citrine wagtail, two-barred crossbill (invasion continues). Western Isles: snowy owl (St Kilda). Scotland: Barolo shearwater, American cliff swallow. Yorkshire: little bustard, pacific swift. Norfolk: sooty tern. Sussex: squacco heron. Devon: black-heading bunting (Lundy). Cornwall: brown booby (first for Britain & Ireland), Wilson’s petrel, alpine swift.

Chelmsford Library News After a glorious few weeks of summer sunshine thoughts head towards the new season. Chelmsford Library has lots to offer for all generations, so bring along the family and discover the exciting things we have happening.

Saturday 28th September between 11.45am-1.15pm we are pleased to be hosting Daljit Nagra. With his distinctive voice, Daljit will talk about his inspirations, writing and multicultural Britain with intelligence and humour. Daljit is the poet in residence for Radio 4 and 4 extra. His work has appeared in the New Yorker and the Times Literary Supplement, and he teaches at Brunel University London.

This is a free event, but booking is required. Please follow us on Facebook (essexlibraries), Twitter (@essexlibraries) or visit libraries. essex.gov.uk/events for more information on how to book.

sessions are 17th September and 1st October. Staff will be there to guide you through the options. Who knows, your volunteering may change your life and others’ lives in a positive way!

Also, the whole family are welcome to come along to our Community Teatime held fortnightly on Saturday mornings between 10-30am11.30am. This is a great way to meet new friends within a relaxed environment.

Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/essexlibraries.

For more information on our events, visit www.essex.gov.uk/libraries.

Our popular Baby and Toddler Rhyme Time, held on Tuesday and Thursday mornings, returns on Tuesday 10th September at either 10.15am or 11.15am for 30 minutes of songs and stories to be enjoyed with your children.

If you are new parents, all are welcome to come along to Baby Rhyme Time held each Wednesday at 3pm. All grandparents are also welcome to these sessions. Being a new parent can be daunting, so come along meet new mums/dads in a friendly relaxed atmosphere.

Babies can be weighed in our Children’s Hub situated in the old Register Offices (opposite the entrance doors to the library). The Children’s Hub is a mine of information with professional, friendly staff on hand to help with advice and support.

To advertise in our October/November issue please email ads@itsyourmedia.co.uk

Volunteering Thinking of volunteering but not sure what to do? Chelmsford Volunteer Centre are in the library fortnightly on a Tuesday. Next Page 16

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CT History: Chelmsford During the Great War Part 1 - by Stephen Norris “Age shall not weary them nor the years condemn” This article is the first of a number on Chelmsford during the First World War: it concentrates primarily on the period up to the outbreak of the conflict.

The above quote is of course from the almost universally well known poem To the Fallen by Lawrence Binyon (1869-1945). The sombre lines of the fourth verse are spoken at every Remembrance Day service. It was originally published on the 21st of September 1914 at the start of the war. Binyon lived in Chelmsford as a boy and attended KEGS when it was in Duke Street. Binyon went on to St Pauls School, London then Trinity College Oxford. He was the son of Frederick Binyon, curate at St Mary’s Chelmsford. As well as being a poet, Binyon was a museum curator at the British Museum and an art critic. He worked with Elgar on a play about the Arthurian legends.

Although less than half a dozen bombs were dropped on Chelmsford during the first war, the town and its surrounding area were affected by the war in a wide variety of ways - besides losing large numbers of its young men - like every town in the country - to the extent that virtually every extended family suffered at least one bereavement or a member with a serious injury. The Essex Chronicle started the war publishing a full roll-call of casualties, but the lists quickly grew to such a length that the paper had to limit this to a monthly record.

There was a shortage of newsprint which exacerbated this problem and the Chronicle was soon limited to four pages per issue.

As we shall see, the area was flooded with military personnel.

Although many did not stay longer than a night or two, the thousands of soldiers put a great strain on the area’s resources. Billets had to be found for the men and horses and the men had to be kept occupied. This, and the possible likelihood - however remote - of invasion meant that the town’s authorities and those of the rural district had to be well organised. Towards the end of the war they had to exert a large amount of control on food distribution. All the big firms were involved in producing munitions and Hoffmann especially underwent a big expansion. This meant drafting in a large number of women to factory work for the first time. Chelmsford like Norwich had escaped direct targeting (with one or two exceptions), but the area was directly in the flight path of the cumbersome Zeppelins and later the German Gotha aircraft on the way to and from London.

More than a decade before the start of the first war, Chelmsford had been affected to a lesser extent by the Boer War (1899-1902).

Unlike most countries on the continent which had conscription, Britain had no large standing army. The Essex Regiment had been formed in 1881 following the union of two foot regiments, after the Cardwell reforms had led to the establishment of territorial grouping of soldiers. Both the first and second battalions, the third militia battalion and elements of the volunteer battalions, served in that war. The first battalion were honoured for their involvement with the relief of Kimberley and Paardeberg.

The Boer War was the first in which, despite problems, wireless was used. In addition, Colonel Crompton and his company were instrumental in the establishment of a company of electrical engineers. He went out with them on their first tour of duty, establishing amongst other things the use of searchlights which he had designed. Crompton also had efficient trains built for use at the front.

Chelmsford contributed to the City Imperial Volunteers, and the Chelmsford detachment of the Essex Regiment was asked to provide 110 volunteers and four officers and to hold a similar number in reserve. “They will have to be good shots; they will take the place of men in the 1st battalion of the Essex Regiment who have trained to act as mounted infantry.” Unlike the first war, the Boer War was extensively reported on by the local papers; letters from serving solders filled the pages, and from the outset revealed some of the limitations in the way the war was being fought. A Chelmsford

reservist, who was the son of the landlord of the Orange Tree in Anchor Street, wrote to his father in 1900, ‘we have only the clothes we stand up in, with an extra shirt and a pair of socks. All of our other things were left at Capetown. This will be a longer job than many people have bargained for. Things are very dear. Butter is two shillings and sixpence, beer eight pence a quart and six pence for a small loaf.’ A couple of months later a Private W Rawlinson of the Border Regiment wrote to his parents in Upper Bridge Road Chelmsford: ‘I am glad to say that I have come through another long battle, which lasted seven days; it was a most trying time. The losses in our regiment were 130 killed and wounded. I had a very narrow escape, for there were ten of us lying in a trench when a shell dropped between us, and killed a poor chap right out, but never touched any other.” At night “we were lying out in the open in just what we stood up in, for we did not even get our greatcoats, and we could not sleep as it has been bitter cold at night lately. We have had to live on biscuits, bully beef and a drop of coffee.’ He was only allowed two washes a fortnight.

From the start of the war in South Africa, Major Carne Rasch, the MP for Chelmsford, was critical of the War Office and the army system.

“As to the generals” he remarked, “the less said about them the better.” He described the War Office as “that epitome of red tapism of the one man in Pall Mall.” Rasch declared that the system provided at a “maximum cost and minimum efficiency.” Never one to hold back he said, “our guns in South Africa are outclassed and out-ranged; the cavalry are without enough horses.” The National Defence Committee “whose combined ages equalled that of Methuselah” did not meet for six months after their appointment. Rasch’s speech was a mistake and ill timed according to the editor of the Weekly News.

Certainly it was brave, appearing to go against the prevailing jingoistic tide. Four months later Rasch said he didn’t want what the Essex Regiment had done in the Transvaal to be thrown away and count for nothing. Before the end of 1900 he made another speech in which he pronounced that the whole system of army administration was “rotten to the core”. In a prophetic pronouncement he stated that red tape needed to be removed to “prevent in future wars, the repetition of the blunders that have been committed in South Africa.”

During January 1901 another detachment of Electrical Engineer Volunteers was selected for service after the previous one under Colonel Crompton’s command had returned home the previous month. The City Imperial Volunteers also returned home to Chelmsford and ‘the heartiness of the welcome could not be matched anywhere’. The need for more volunteers led to a recruiting office being opened in Chelmsford and the Weekly News reported that recruiting ‘has since been proceeding briskly’.

In April 1900 the Weekly News published a Chelmsford man’s story about the siege of Ladysmith. He was the son of a Tindal Street furniture dealer. ‘Of course there have been many escapes and I have been twice hit by spent bullets from shrapnel but without piercing the skin thank God. Our beef has run out and we are now living on horse flesh served up as follows - 1st pure joints of horse meat, undisguised; 2nd minced meat, much disguised; 3rd soup, disgusting; 4th sausages, revolting. But we don’t live to eat but eat to live, consequently we hold our noses, shut our eyes and get it downstairs as quickly as possible. God send the relief quick or the Boers won’t have much to shoot at.’ Three weeks later he wrote ‘Today has been a joyful one. About 5pm two heads came over a hill to our south and then two more, till at last about 400 men mounted could be seen right along the hill and then we could see they were colonial troops. Needless to say the cheers were deafening and continuous.’

Fund raising was common in the war, again a precedent for the later world conflict. In February 1901 a concert was given at the Shire Hall in aid of the Chelmsford division of the Soldiers and Sailors Families association. The Boer War established the need for a drill hall in a town like Chelmsford; a place where volunteers could train and

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relax. This was to be built on a site on Market Road and was to cost £3,000, and within just three months £2,000 was raised by events at the Shire Hall and elsewhere. Lord Roberts, the Commander in Chief of Essex Regiment, opened the hall in Chelmsford 1904. The immediate commencement of a gym class twice a week at the hall reflected the widespread concern at the fitness levels of the soldiers who went to South Africa. A large recreation room was set aside for corporals and privates. In an era when memorials were still unusual, some of the money left by Rasch was used to erect a memorial to those who died in the Boer War in 1910.

From 1902 to 1914 the first battalion of the Essex Regiment served in India, Burma and Mauritius, while the second battalion stayed at home. Large scale reforms in 1908 saw the volunteers absorbed into the territorial force and the militia into the special reserve. At the outbreak of war in 1914 the 3rd Special Reserve Battalion was based at Warley and the 5th Territorial Force was based at Chelmsford.

During the war, the regiment as a whole provided thirty infantry battalions, receiving battle honours at Le Cateau, Ypres, Loos,

Somme, Cambrai, Gallipoli and Gaza.

Stephen currently offers the following talks about the history of Chelmsford to local organisations: 1. 4 QI Chelmsford MPs. 2. The Suffragettes in Chelmsford.

3. Chelmsford Lives, Memories of Chelmsford 1940s - 1970s (snippets of interviews with local people plus 100 photos in the background, for the Friends of Chelmsford Museum).

4. The Hoffmann Company in Chelmsford.

5. Life in the Wood Street Workhouse: The Chelmsford Poor Law Union 1835 - 1871.

6. The Poor and Society: The past 60 Years of the Chelmsford Workhouse and Infirmary.

7. QI Chelmsford Councillors and Mayors (in preparation).

For more information or to book Stephen, please email: stephen754norris@btinternet.com.

Friends Welcome Reopening of Museum Galleries

Publicity accompanying the grand reopening will have made many readers aware that the new galleries in the Victorian house at Chelmsford Museums are now open to the public. They were reopened on 19th July after being closed for two years. The Mayor of Chelmsford, Councillor Bob Massey, cut the red tape watched by museum staff along with individuals and representatives of organisations that have supported the renewal project. They included committee members of the Friends of the Museum and their guests.

Like the Hive Café, which opened at the museum in February, the new galleries have proved to be an instant success. Numerous visitors, particularly families taking the opportunity provided by school holidays, have been enjoying the experience. The new displays enable the story of Chelmsford to be discovered from its earliest origins through to the present day. Interactive panels, video installations and atmospheric audio assist in bringing the city and its wider region to life.

There is much to see including familiar objects and many that are new. There is the rare, recently acquired, early Bronze Age gold diadem from Little Baddow, discoveries from the Roman settlement that was located in Moulsham, rich objects on loan from the British Museum that came from the Saxon Broomfield burial, and finds and documents which explore medieval Chelmsford.

Digital technology which enables the exceptional 1591 Walker Map of Chelmsford to be overlain with and compared to later Ordnance Survey maps is proving to be very popular. As also is the replica of the Marconi radio room from the Titanic created by Ted Sinclair.

With so much to see and do a visit to the museum is highly recommended. There is also an ever-changing programme of activities (see chelmsfordmuseum@public.govdelivery.com). Also if industrial Chelmsford interests you, why not take the opportunity to visit Sandford Mill where the museum stores its industrial collection?

There are two coming open days at the mill when the Friends

will be providing volunteer support and catering assistance. On Saturday 21st September between 10am-3pm, the mill is one of the Chelmsford sites being opened specially as part of Heritage Open Days 2019. It will be possible to visit the store, speak to staff and volunteers who care for the finds, chose to join a guided industrial tour of the building or, alternatively, a nature trail tour of the site. For further information about all sites that are opening and to book see www.chelmsfordcivicsociety.co.uk.

Following previously successful events, at Braintree Museum and Wat Tyler Country Park, Chelmsford Museum is hosting the third Essex Industrial Heritage Fair at the mill between 10am and 4pm on Saturday 5th October. This is an opportunity to see displays and meet representatives from over 20 Essex organisations with an interest in industrial heritage, listen to short presentations (topics for which include the Chelmer and Blackwater navigation, Critall houses, Chelmsford water supply, Marriage Millers and British broadcasting), see the industrial collections, and to possibly take a canal boat trip.

For further information email essexiag@gmail.com or see the advert below..

Talks The Friends AGM will be held at the museum at 2pm on Thursday 26th September. It will be followed by a talk Chelmsford Museum: The New Displays Phase Five: A Culmination of a Career, given

by Nick Wickenden who is soon to retire from the museum service. The first autumn talk will be on 10th October when Jennifer Rowland will talk about John Ray, Father of Natural History. These talks are at the museum, refreshments are served at 2pm and the talks start at 3pm. The cost is £7 for non-members who are welcome.

Love your museum, be a Friend.

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Therapy - by Chelmsford Therapy Rooms Hi everyone, Jenny here! Something I get asked a lot in hypnotherapy is will hypnosis help me with negative thoughts? The answer to this question can be complex because it depends on what is causing the negative thoughts. Hypnosis can help you get to the bottom of what is driving you to think in this way, but in addition to this you can use certain techniques to help you get out of the habit of thinking negatively.

Thinking in a certain way becomes habit for most of us. Once we’re in a habit, your unconscious mind keeps performing this habit because it thinks the habit is beneficial to you. Even if you don’t want to think negatively (who does?) your unconscious mind might believe it’s doing you a favour. For example, we could think negatively to stop us from doing something, therefore negating the risk that we ‘screw up’ and make a fool of ourselves. In this article I want to look at negative thoughts more closely and give you some coping techniques to help you deal with negative thoughts.

Everyone suffers from negative thoughts from time to time, but sometimes they can pounce upon you for no apparent reason and you end up obsessing over them and dragging yourself further and further down the spiral into a black hole of negativity, sadness and depression.

The thing to remember is that these are your thoughts; you have the power to interrupt them. You have the power to stop them. The reason these thoughts are so unsettling, other than the fact they are negative, is because when they seem to take over you it can feel like you have no control over your own mind.

Don’t despair! You can be in control of your own thoughts, it just takes practice. The reason you feel so out of control is that the thoughts have begun to appear out of habit, it’s not so much you can’t control what you think, it’s more the fact you think in a certain way because your unconscious has been conditioned to do so to such a point it is a well ingrained habit.

The very good news is that you can break this habit - you are the master of your conscious thoughts and if you don’t want to allow yourself to think in a certain way anymore you can train yourself to change the way you think. Below are examples of situations where negative thoughts occur and some suggestions on how to cope with them: You’re engaging in an activity that doesn’t require much conscious thought, so you automatically start thinking negatively about certain situations or worrying about things and before you know it you’re in a pit of despair sometimes having no idea what the first thought was in the first place. This is a classic situation where your unconscious has taken this opportunity of quiet in your conscious brain to rudely interrupt and remind you of all the things you’ve been worrying about, or it gives you things to worry about.

Something happens, maybe you make a ‘silly mistake’ or you feel ill or maybe you have been asked to perform a task and suddenly you feel distinctly negative. Immediately the self degradation begins, you convince yourself you’re not up to the job, you worry you’ll never be able to perform the task/finish the task/start the task, the negative thoughts fill your brain and you begin questioning life itself and what the point is anyway - and of course, that familiar pit of despair beckons… This again is your unconscious intervening with negative thoughts but for a different reason. This time your unconscious has picked up on a self-esteem issue and its trying desperately to ensure you don’t perform the task you unconsciously are so petrified of failing at and looking completely useless!

Give yourself a moment to register what is happening. This interrupts the habit that has been formed. It allows you to regain control of your conscious thought and stops the flow of negative interrupting unconscious thought. Eventually this will become a new habit, and when used in conjunction with the second step, will serve you as a fantastic coping mechanism in various life situations.

Step Two: Once you have stopped, next you need to take a step back.

Ask yourself: ‘Do I really need to worry about this?’ Take a few deep breaths and assess the situation. This is aimed at bringing your mind and body reactions back into reality. Stress is stress, even if it is caused by negative thought patterns, your body will tell you physically when you are stressed. This is why many people suffer with feeling ill, light-headedness or a feeling of being off balance just before feeling anxious or as a result of it.

Step Three: Once you have assessed the situation and realised that you have no need to worry, you can organise your thoughts into a positive and constructive solution led pattern. So for example you may want to carry on with your previous activity or you may decide to do something completely different. As you come back into reality of the situation, take stock. The pressure you felt to begin with will become less as you prepare yourself using the courses of action described above. These steps, when engaged in over and over again, will eventually become so ingrained you’ll do it automatically. As you feel less and less stressed by the negative thoughts, they themselves will wane.

Following these steps at first can be extremely hard, but remember, these negative thoughts come flooding into your brain so readily it has become automatic, ie, a habit. Habits are much easier to create than to break. Therefore all we are doing is creating a new, more beneficial habit that your unconscious will take on automatically because: A. That’s the way your brain is built because it makes our lives easier. Driving a car is one huge habit!

B. If you feel better from a habit your unconscious will take it on.

Habits are formed because our unconscious believes they are of benefit to us, so once it becomes obvious that your positive habit is much more beneficial than the negative one, the positive one will win out.

The important thing to remember is, don’t give up. Don’t give in to the negative, it might seem incredibly hard now but it will get easier.

Jenny Hartill is a therapist and owner of Cloud9 Therapy and Chelmsford Therapy Rooms. She is a counsellor and hypnotherapist and can help with a multitude of issues. Please see the therapist list on the website at www.chelmsfordtherapyrooms.co.uk, or you can email info@chelmsfordtherapyrooms.co.uk or call 0330 100 5162 to enquire about an initial consultation. Alternatively, Jenny’s own company website is www.cloud9-therapy.co.uk, her email is info@ cloud9-therapy.co.uk and her telephone number is 07507 307 170.

There’s a simple method of dealing with this:

October/November Issue Deadlines: Articles - 2nd October Artwork - 10th October

Step One: Firstly you need to just stop. Stop everything. Physically stop if you are moving. Throw a spanner in the works. Stop the cycle.

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Foundations and a Foot to Our Earth - by Erica Foulds The sun has definitely started to go to bed a bit earlier now, dare I say it I considered getting out a pair of long cosy pajama bottoms the other evening, but the silver lining is that the studio is looking so beautiful in our evening classes as the orange sun sets over the roof top of the neighbouring barn, bathing us in the last moments of warm summer evening sun as we exercise! I hope you have been loving trying out the exercises in each article of this series, but if you are new to these articles, Hummingbird Yoga and Pilates has two articles each month sharing with you some wonderful tools to help you find wellness, relaxation, and discovering a stronger physical body and mind.

I have been working on a kind of journey of discovery with my articles for the past 8 months; looking at the body from head to toe, seeing if there are any body parts or joint niggles which simple daily exercises could help with. We have reached the final part of this series landing us on our feet quite literally. Our feet, ankles and the muscles leading to and around the knees.

We looked at hips and thighs in the last edition and talked about the quadriceps and hamstrings. These muscles run vertically down the legs and they both end at and around the knee, they allow movement from this joint and equally create stability around this joint for all weight bearing activities, from walking whilst shopping, jumping off a bus to running - in any context! Therefore, there is a significant relationship between the hips and knees. When one is injured and not working effectively, the other can easily be affected too. It is very common that a knee issue or niggle will result in a referral from a physiotherapist to pilates due to the fact we work specifically on strengthening weak hip muscles. If there are issue with the glutes not providing effective support to the top of the leg, when we put excessive and regular strain through the body, eg, running without correct technique, the knee could become injured. Equally so, the biggest muscle that runs down the back of our lower leg is the calf (or gastroscnemius) which joins right down to the achillies and peroneal tendon which are heavily responsible for ankle and foot movement.

When the calf muscle or ankle tendons connecting between the knee and ankle aren’t strong, both joints can be affected.

challenges we can make and master. We will also give over a whole session dedicated to exploring your spinal and joint mobility aiming to leave you moving more freely and feeling relaxed, not forgetting the chance to have pure me-time, maybe a massage, or just some wonderful time to yourself.

All details on our classes and retreats at Hummingbird Yoga and Pilates can be found on our website; you can book and pay online with our easy to use booking system! www.hummingbirdpilates.co.uk info@hummingbirdpilatesyoga.co.uk 01245 422 556

Jane Head Fitness Celebrates 30th Anniversary On 5th September 1989 local girl Jane Head started up an aerobics class on Tuesday night in Great Baddow Parish Hall.

Inspired by Jane Fonda and kitted out in leg warmers and belted leotard, Jane started a class that is still running today and celebrated 30 fittastic years at a party on 3rd September 2019. Pictured below are Jane’s longest standing Tuesday-nighters receiving their Oscars.

For more information call Jane on 01245 475 543 email janeheadfitness@aol.com

Keeping our ankle and feet strong is often last on our list of exercises when we think of what to do, but they are the first part of our body to shock absorb, they balance us, they feed back to the rest of our body about the surface we are standing on, so they deserve some respect and time!

Here are some great fail-safe and easy ways to hit those lower leg muscles: •

• •

•

Standing Calf Raises: Stand facing a wall with hands on wall to support or a chair to hold on to, feet hip width apart, rise up on to the ball of the foot, heels as high as possible and slowly down.

This may feel easy, but do 20 without a rest and you’ll feel the effects. Why not then progress? Stand side on to wall, one hand on wall, lift one knee so foot is 6 inches off floor, do the raises with one leg for a minimum of 10 without stopping!

Calf Stretch: Facing a wall, one foot steps approx 2 foot behind the other, front knee bent, back leg straight, pressing hell to floor, hold for 15 seconds.

Walking Lunges: Hands at waist, keep torso upright, take a big step forward, bend both knees to sink towards floor, front knee should bend towards a 90 degree angle but DO NOT let the front knee shoot over foot creating a too sharp angle at the knee. Walk into the next step again, repeating the deep lunge movement.

10 Deep Lunges: 5 per leg will give you a great ankle and knee challenge.

Left to right: Becky Laidler (24 years), Jackie Batson (22 years), Frankie Stevens (29 years), and Jane and Gill Pym (24 years).

I’m excited to announce that I will be running a pilates retreat at Hummingbird on October 27th. The retreat will offer an exciting mix of energetic exploration, how equipment can add fun and different dimensions to your pilates training, revisiting some of the basics and consolidating the foundations of your practise, seeing what Page 22

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Vinyasa Flow Yoga - by Mandy Haynes If you were to look at the class schedule at your gym or yoga studio, you could easily end up confused by the number of different classes and styles on offer; ashtanga, hatha, vinyasa flow, lyengar, restorative, hot yoga... the list seems endless! It may take a while to find a style and teacher to suit you, but there are a myriad of benefits to yoga whichever you choose!

My style of teaching has changed in the three years that I have been teaching yoga. Over the years, as a student, I have tried the odd hot yoga, restorative and ashtanga classes, but primarily attend vinyasa flow and hatha classes and so my teaching leans in the same direction.

My teacher training with cam yoga focused on hatha yoga and so to begin with, this was the style I taught. After a short while that evolved to a style I was calling hatha flow, which meant that I could combine both the holding of poses used in hatha to create strength and flexibility and use the flowing nature of vinyasa flow to add creativity.

Nowadays I generally only teach vinyasa flow yoga. I love to plan classes that are creative and flowing. Sometimes I will base a lesson on particular area of the body, such the arms or thighs, other times it may be around a set of poses such as balances or twists. The joy of this style of yoga is that as long as it flows well between poses, there are no limits to what you can include in your class! I also personally find that through the movement of the body, I am more easily able to let go of my thoughts and be more present.

Here is what we at Hummingbird Pilates Yoga have to say about what you expect from a Vinyasa Flow class.

Vinyasa can be translated as ‘arranging something in a special way’ - such as yoga poses that are arranged in a flowing sequence. In

vinyasa flow, each movement is synchronised with the breath to flow from pose to pose. Creatively using variations of sun salutations often form a basis for this style of yoga.

Yoga translates as union - which is often referred to as the union of the body, mind, breath and spirit. Through a vinyasa flow practice, moving with our breath can help to get us out of our heads, where many of us spend much of our time, and bring awareness back into the body - the synchronisation of the breath and movement creates this union and can help quieten our normal ‘mind chatter’.

The physical benefits of this creative practice can be great; the use and movement of the body can build both strength and flexibility whilst creating energy and a feeling of space within the body. Each body is wonderfully unique and different, so these classes will have options for ways of moving to help you find a way that feels right to you - this may change at different periods in your life or on a day by day basis.

At Hummingbird we have different styles of vinyasa flow on offer; so whether you’re looking to work through some basics for beginners, practice by candlelight, wake up on a Saturday morning or move mindfully, we have something for everyone.

Mandy and Vikki both welcome pregnant women who have previous vinyasa flow experience.

We would love to see you in a class - take a look at our website to find out more about all of the classes we have on offer. www.hummingbirdpilates.co.uk

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Spot 10 Differences (answers on page 31)

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Quiz Time - by John Theedom (answers on page 31) 1. What’s the meaning of the word catechism?

2. Who is the sculptor who created the Angel of The North?

3. When did The Beatles produce their first record Hey Jude on the Apple label?

4. What is an abacus?

5. What type of window is a luthern?

6. After who or what is Evian water named?

7. What or where is sheol?

8. What is invar?

9. In music, what is a breve?

10. What type of mammal is a waterbuck?

11. What does a sommelier do while at work?

12. Who in the mid 70s had a hit with 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover?

13. What is the length of an Olympic size swimming pool?

14. In WW2, which aircraft was known as Stringbag?

15. How old will Prince Andrew be on his birthday in February 2020?

16. What is a naevus?

17. What year did the US actor Donald O’Conner die?

18. What is the definition of the word frigorific?

19. Who was the first woman in space?

20. What is the capital of Malta?

21. Nike is the Greek goddess of what?

22. Who is the singer of the famous song Non, je ne regrette rien?

23. What do the initials ASOS stand for?

24. How many Olympic gold medals has Seb Coe won?

25. On which type of object will you find the initials ISBN? 26. Which river runs through St Ives, Bedford and King’s Lynn?

27. What is the capital city of The Republic of Ireland?

28. What does the term pedagogical relate to?

29. In medicine, for what is pyrosis the technical term?

30. From the show Evita, what was Juan Peron’s nationality?

31. What would you do with kimchi?

32. What is pecorino?

33. How did TV presenter Roy Castle die in 1994?

34. What or where is hoki?

35. Nixing is doing what?

36. Where will you come across a ‘haha’?

37. In the pop song by Tears For Fears, what did everyone want to rule?

38. What is the shaft of a feather called?

39. What is the colour of the tongue of a chow dog?

40. In the world of wine, what are the three styles of port?

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Local Arts for Arts Sake - by Kenneth Louis Shepherd A couple of months ago I spoke with sadness of how I regret that such a prestigious city as Chelmsford did not contain an art gallery. I have since learned that the town of Milton Keynes does have such a place in which 25,000 original works of art are displayed.Why them and not us?

From now until September 22nd they have an exhibition of the works of the controversial Portuguese artist, Paulo Rego, who is now 84 and lives in London. I find her works interesting, though unlike those of Lowry I would not want to place them upon my bedroom wall as they would give me nightmares. She is very political and a keen supporter of the women’s liberation movement. Her portrait of the blubbery Portuguese fascist dictator Antonio de Oliveeria Salazor vomiting over his homeland is appropriate. Imagine that upon the wall of your dining room! If I gave a suitable title to her untitled ‘Number 5 1998’ it would not be printable upon these pages.

‘A Dog Woman’ frightens me more than any dog or woman ever has.

As a result of the situation in Chelmsford, we have to seek quality artworks wherever we can find them. There are various places in this area, and though they serve a very useful purpose and some may call themselves galleries, they are in fact shops that sell and display works of art.

Some are better than others. The only thing that I have against the excellent Haywards Gallery in Maldon is that to my mind the misuse of the word ‘Gallery’. I have spoken of this place in a previous issue of this magazine. The Moulsham Street 43 Gallery is excellent in providing a useful efficient service. I have made purchases there and always found this to be the case. The relatively new shop in Bond Street called Whitewall is very upmarket, but when I called in there I have found them to be very helpful. This is in spite of the fact that they were aware of the fact that they knew that their stock was well above my personal budget - though I do not think that the works there are overpriced. They kindly agreed to place material which relates to the books which I have had published upon their premises.

I was surprised to learn that they were a part of a chain of stores, as one does not expect to find such personal service in such a place.

recently, as many such works as they could possibly display in such a small area. I noticed recently that they are no longer there and so I presume that they have been sold to the benefit of the artist.

A small collection of artworks are to be found in the Chelmsford Museum. There are original works by local artist Edward Bowden who was born in Braintree and lived in Great Barfield. We also have a work by Grayson Perry, the internationally famous modern artist, plus pottery items created by the highly regarded potter named Joanna Constantinidis.

There are many artworks in the Essex Records Office too, but sadly these are only available by appointment.

There is an art gallery in Colchester called First Site, though I am disappointed that so much of the space is taken up with a restaurant!

I hope that you enjoyed reading this piece and that it will motivate you to seek out artworks wherever they are locally.

Send your events to editorial@itsyourmedia.co.uk for inclusion on to the listings page!

From September 6th to October the 3rd they have acquired a rare selection of paintings, drawings and graphics by LS Lowry, and I look forward to viewing them. He is a personal favourite of mine and I once visited the art gallery devoted to him in Salford. Two of the original artworks I purchased at 43 Galley relate to his style. They are by an artist named Neil Furguson and I am delighted with them.

Fortunately, various shops in the area display works of art, some of which are for sale and some which are not. I have spoken of those in the Co-op Quadrant store before and I applaud their efforts.

Bars also provide this service, and I plan to visit pubs throughout the district to research this. The tiny Tap Room in Maldon had, until

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less developed countries. Children as young as three are responsible for getting themselves ready to go to school after their parents have left for work. Their walk to school - across snake-ridden marshes - can take an hour. Children who go to the Brightlingsea Academy are often malnourished. When a child is given a place there this allows the parents to go out to work knowing their child is safe and taken care of and means they can work to support the family.

This is just one school where Rotary is actively helping education.

In Essex, Rotary clubs have been giving Dictionaries4Life to year 6 pupils at lots of schools. These illustrated dictionaries stimulate an interest in language, books and reading and for some of the less well off pupils, it is the first book they have ever owned themselves.

A bit of a mouthful, but officially that’s what the focus is on in Rotary circles during September. Whether this came about because that’s when schools return from their summer breaks or for any obscure reason is unknown but, nevertheless, it concentrates the mind to look for ways of helping children - and adults - to improve their reading skills. This applies equally to local education and on a more global scale where education opportunities are often very limited.

Another area in which Rotary is actively involved is schools for children with special needs. There are a number in Essex, including Columbus and Thriftwood in Chelmsford, and it is an ongoing commitment from Rotary to provide support so that these schools can provide special extra facilities for the pupils.

One initiative of which local Rotary clubs is especially proud is Rotary Young Leadership Awards (RYLA). Students aged 13-17 arrive for weekend activities centred around a formal assessment of their leadership skills and knowledge. All the necessary educational material is provided by Rotary free of charge and is delivered by Rotary members who have the relevant experience of teaching, training or senior commercial/industrial experience and endorsed by the Institute of Leadership & Management (ILM).

Students use their skills to work in teams to devise and execute a project locally to the benefit of the school and community and come to Danbury Outdoor Centre to tell us all about it.

One such project with which the Chelmsford Rotary clubs are happy to assist is the charity Porridge and Pens, run by a remarkable young lady in Chelmsford. After a visit to Ghana some years ago where she saw the paucity of education facilities, particularly for girls, Jemma Williams decided to build a school called Brightlingsea, as that is where she was from. She used her own money and now the school has 10 staff and 120 children. On the same day that she gave a talk to Rotary at Writtle College her school was opening a library.

No stopping Jemma, and through her girl power project she has increased the age group she can help to 14, when girls are eligible for free education in Ghana. Apart from education, the children receive two meals a day so are very keen to attend. She has also introduced Hungry Babies scheme which provides formula milk for mothers at the Mother Teresa Orphanage to ensure the babies are properly nourished. If all this wasn’t enough, two other projects are Fruit Drop to provide fresh fruit daily to sixty children at the All Nations Charity Home, and Under the Net to help prevent malaria.

In the UK we really do not understand the difficulties faced in other

Activities at this year’s event included orienteering, a bridge build, obstacle course and the ever-challenging but popular aerial runway.

The screams of the students were a delight to hear, but before long they were 50ft up and navigating the course blindfolded having learned to trust themselves and the rest of the team!

Marking is on an individual basis and not in teams. Over 85% were awarded a pass grade and gained their level 2 City & Guilds Awards which is the equivalent of a GCSE pass, with many gaining merit or distinction grades to further enhance their qualification. Rotary is now looking for entries from schools for the 2020 programme which will be held on the weekend of 25-26th April. Participants on the course benefit by being able to include it on their CVs as employers and universities are very impressed by the award.

This month, the theme is education and literacy, but whatever the monthly focus, Rotary gives us a chance to reflect on the needs of the community. If you feel that this is something that you could put your weight behind, then please contact me for details either by phoning 01245 260 349 or emailing me at communications@rotary1240.org.

More details can also be found on www.rotary1240.org.

Stan Keller

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Stargazing with Mark Willis - September/October 20th September (20:15): Looking due south, Saturn and Jupiter are in the sky. Start looking at 20:15 to ensure that you don’t miss the ISS (International Space Station, Zarya) at 20:20, which will rise above the horizon. Its movement be very noticeable. Saturn on your left and Jupiter on your right, the ISS, as it slowly gains height, will sweep to your left.

Taking these planets in turn, Saturn is the more distant. If a beam of light was sent from Saturn, it would take around 1 hour 18 minutes to arrive at Earth. Jupiter is that bit closer, with their light beam taking just 36 minutes.

23rd September: The Autumn Equinox has an equal duration of night and day. Equi = equal and Nox = night. 24th September will have a shorter day and longer night.

Van Allen Belt: A number of people have written to me asking about the claims made that it is impossible for astronauts to break through the Van Allen Belt. First off, I should explain what the Van Allen Belt is. It is a zone of energetic particles, most of which originate from the

solar wind. These particles are captured by Earth’s strong magnetic field. It is true that this radiation is deadly.

This Moon landing conspiracy theorist claim was based on the idea that the astronauts would journey through this deadly radiation. In much the same way that I can enter a room full of deadly gas, survive long enough to open the window, turn off the gas and emerge from the room with no lasting effects on my health.

New Moon: On 28th October and 26th 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 any questions to mark.willis@ chelmsfordcommunityradio.com.

Mark Willis presents Willis Wireless at the new time of 12pm every Tuesday afternoon on Chelmsford Community Radio on 104.4 FM and online at chelmsfordcommunityradio.com.

Twitter: @WillisWireless

Chelmsford Creative Collective - Paul Macklin Chelmsford Creative Collective (CCC) is a group of friendly, local creatives. We have an active Facebook group where we share events, discuss collaborations and support each others creative endeavours.

We meet on the last Tuesday of the month at a local pub. Please check Facebook or email chelmsfordcreativecollective@gmail.com for details. Everybody is welcome for a drink and a chat!

Who or what inspires you to be creative?

“Art inspires my art. I see art in everything. In the décor of a restaurant, in the language of a show, in the fabric of someone’s clothing... I borrow elements from the things I see and try to apply it to my own art. Most of my inspiration comes when I’m abroad or having some very rare down time.”

Tell us about your most recent project.

“Party Quest is my new business. It is an escape room inspired children’s entertainment and education company that allows kids to take part in immersive stories. I created the characters, wrote the stories, made the puzzles, built the sets and designed the artwork.

It gives me a lot of creative freedom to make a whole production the way I’d like it, plus I’m hoping it will help to support me financially as I pursue other creative outlets.

“Also I’m busy teaming up with other local creatives to make a music video for my alt-rock studio project - Atlas Lake. Hopefully this will encourage more support for my music.”

Who are you and what do you create?

“My name is Paul Macklin and I am an (award-nominated!) actor, artist, author, and musician. As long as I’m working on something I’m pretty happy. I’m usually involved in some sort of theatre production around the county, but when I’m alone I work on my poetry, my music, or any other number of projects I have on the go.”

How would you describe your working process?

“I quite like to talk projects out. So I borrow people to hash out ideas until they’re bored of me, or until I have the ideas straight in my mind.

I like to segment ideas until they are in suitable categories and all planned out properly. Then I go at it guns a-blazing until I remember to eat or sleep!”

What does Chelmsford Creative Collective mean to you?

“I frequently consider leaving Facebook and other forms of social media because watching other people all the time means I’m comparing my life to theirs. But I love that groups like Chelmsford Creative Collective exist so that you can engage and even meet with other creatives - for friendships or for work.”

You’re stranded on a desert island with three items of your choice what would they be and why?

“A knife, a spile, a (big!) box of matches.

“Why? Because I might be a creative but I’m also very pragmatic! And it’s amazing what you can create with just a few items like that.”

October 5th - November 1st: Matthew Brazier exhibition November 2nd - November 29th: Skateboard exhibition November 30th - January 3rd: Flipping Zombies exhibition

Are you creative? Would you like to create our Kids’ Page each month consisting of puzzles, etc? Email paul@itsyourmedia.co.uk if you are interested.

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Quiz Answers 1. Question & Answer summary of religion 2. Sir Anthony Gormley 3. August 30th 1968 4. Something you can count on 5. Dormer 6. A French city 7. Abode of the dead 8. Iron alloy 9. A long note 10. Large antelope 11. Serves wine 12. Paul Simon 13. 50 metres 14. The Fairy Swordfish 15. 60 16. Birthmark 17. 2003 18. Causing cold, chilling.

19. Valentina Tereshkova, in 1963 20. Valetta 21. Victory 22. Edith Piaf 23. As Seen On Screen 24. 4

25. A book (International Standard Book Number) 26. The Great Ouse 27. Dublin 28. Teaching 29. Heartburn 30. Argentinian 31. Eat it, it is a Korean dish

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Italian cheese Lung cancer Edible seafish Cancelling A sunken ditch with a fence in it The world Quill Blue Ruby, tawny and vintage

Spot the Difference Answers

Page 31

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