Moulsham Times December 2013 by Itsyourmedia

After reading me please pass on to a friend or place in your recycling.

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Issue Number 12 - December 2013

MT /welcome

Well here we are at issue number 12! One whole year of Moulsham Times, we certainly hope you have enjoyed the first year of the magazine. We have had a few requests from readers about us and who we are. So here goes! Nick: my background has been varied from being a fund raising manager for charities to running my own businesses over the years, along with over 40 years off and on in the music business. Now I co-run this magazine and Chelmsford The City Times which I thoroughly enjoy, as well as promoting and putting on live music in the city and further afield. I also play harmonica with Jamie Williams & The Roots Collective. We are about to release our third cd. Paul: my background had always been sales based until I began working for myself 4 or so years ago. I set up my own web design business and I am lucky to have some good technical people around me to build and design the web sites. My main interest outside of work is photography, mainly wildlife and music. We are both immensely proud of this and The City Times magazines and hope they can continue for many years to come. We get some great feedback from the readers and advertisers and would like to thank all and wish a happy festive season to all. Nick & Paul

Roots Collective live at the Globe. Come and join for a fun filled night. Then on Sun 22nd a little further afield at JJ’s at Festival Leisure Park in Basildon, it is the mighty Blockheads with Eddie and the Hot Rods. That cannot fail to be a great night for all.

Wow Christmas is upon us and another year is almost gone. What a year it has been with lots of great live music all over our city. Well done to all the promoters and venues and all the acts - and all of you for helping to keep it live. I have just put on my first live night at the Bassment since it reopened and what a night, with two great acts. Firstly, the legend that is Tim Aves preformed a stunning solo set to rapturous applause, thank you for playing. Then we had, for the first time in Chelmsford, the awesome LaVendore Rogue, what a band, fantastic. What a set, with Joel Fisk on guitar and vocals, JoJo Burgess on vocals, (what a voice), Stephen ‘Cupsey’ Cutmore on drums and Warren Lynn on keyboards. Keep your eyes and ears open as these guys are going places and only to the top. So what next you may ask? Well for me it is a great month ahead of live music. First on the 18th Dec at the Bassment we have the incredible Cherry Lee Mewis, best described as Rockabilly Blues and a great band they are as well plus support from the wonderful Lexie Green. A night not to be missed. Then on Thursday 19th what and honour to be putting on the great Wilko Johnson at Evoke with the Ben Smith Band supporting and DJ Darryl Butcher (see the advert above). Sat 21st it is us - Jamie Williams and the

So now it will be onwards and upwards for 2014 to be Chelmsford’s biggest year yet of great live music. Thanks to Blues in the City, Evoke, Asylum, Shakey, Star & Garter, The Fleece, Black Bull, Terry Crouch, Wheatsheaf, Civic Theatre, The Fling, Bay Horse, The Ale House, Woolpack and anyone and anywhere else that is putting on and supporting live music. To find out more join our FB page: facebook.com/bluesinthecitychelmsford Or our website: bluesinthecity.co.uk By Nick Garner

From the House by Simon Burns MP ‘Safe and Sound Campaign’ There has been a rather interesting campaign which has come to my attention in the past month. The “Safe and Sound” campaign which was established earlier this year by the Guide Dog Foundation. This campaign aims to highlight the new found dangers of electric cars to those who are dependant on guide dogs. With the increasing fashion for ecofriendly transport, there has been a noticeable rise in the use of electric vehicles, vehicles which cannot be heard until they are less than a second away from the pedestrian. Research by the TAS Partnership shows that electrical and hybrid cars were involved in 25% more collisions causing injury to pedestrians between 2010 and 2012. It has been argued that these electric and hybrid vehicles present a risk to those who have functioning sight, due to the lack of warning they provide. However to a visually impaired person these vehicles and their lack of warning could be lethal. The main goal of the “Safe and Sound” campaign is to bring in mandatory sound generators into these electric and hybrid vehicles as soon as possible. It is the hope of the campaign that these sound generators will alert the visually impaired of the vehicles proximity and direction of vehicles on the road. There has been some progress in this matter, and in February this year Members of the European Parliament voted for an amendment to the EU regulation on the sound level of motor vehicles to make acoustic vehicle alerting systems mandatory for all quite vehicles. This amendment is now being negotiated by the European Commission, European Council and the European Parliament. The Government’s stance on the issue is still under consideration. However, the Government does understand the real concerns that the visually impaired and other vulnerable road users have about the potential hazards of these very quiet vehicles. The Government is hoping to establish itself as a leading market for ultra low emissions and is committed to promoting safety systems where there is evidence to support it. Government research has suggested that there is no increased risk to pedestrians and the accident rates for electric and hybrid vehicles are broadly similar to that of standard motor vehicles.

THE WOOLPACKS FIRST XMAS MINI BEER FESTIVAL From Friday 27th to Sunday 29th December With 18 real ales as well as ciders and perry.

In addition to our usual 8 ales we will have 12 guests which will mainly be Christmas ales & Winter Warmers. Food will be available each day and we are aiming to provide entertainment each evening although if its too cold the beer will have to be indoors leaving no room for entertainers. 23 Mildmay Road, Chelmsford, CM2 0DN - 01245 259 295

MT / therapy by Jenny Hartill

Anxiety is something we all experience. Without it, we wouldn’t be able to recognise when a situation is potentially dangerous. It’s designed to keep us alive but unfortunately our bodies haven’t caught up with our brains so sometimes we feel anxiety for situations that are not life threatening and this can become a major problem in life. Anxiety is something I myself have suffered from, not the normal levels of anxiety but the kind of debilitating anxiety that can lead to other problems such as depression. Luckily I had counselling and learned the coping mechanisms I needed to recover, in this article I want to describe the nature of anxiety and share some of these coping mechanisms as well as describe how anxiety can become a disorder and the reasons why this can happen. Realising the difference between normal levels of anxiety and abnormal levels is extremely important, it can mean the difference between a happy life and a life feeling trapped in a pit of anxiety and despair. Most of us feel anxious in situations we are supposed to, for example feeling anxious about a driving test, in exams, if we feel threatened etc. Sometimes though we feel threatened in situations that we don’t need to. Anxiety is a direct emotional reaction to us feeling vulnerable. Different situations will have different effects on people because we’re all individuals – what one person views as a problem another person wouldn’t. However, there are situations that will make most of us feel vulnerable. These are situations where our basic needs are threatened. Abraham Maslow developed the Hierarchy of Needs, they are (most basic needs listed at the bottom of the triangle):

The more basic the need, the more we feel vulnerable. For example, you’d feel more anxious if you couldn’t breathe than if your confidence had been knocked by something. An anxiety disorder can arise when one of the basic needs has been threatened consistently. This could be for example that in a social situation you have consistently had your confidence and self esteem threatened, perhaps you feel you made a fool of yourself once and then expected to do so over and over again, or someone kindly reminds you of the incident numerous times, this could lead to social anxiety. Generalised Anxiety disorder is a debilitating condition and although many sufferers believe they are alone in their suffering, this condition has seen an increase as we are faced with more and more stressful situations. This is the anxiety disorder that I suffered with; I can honestly say it was like living in my own personal hell for a couple of years. I was constantly anxious, I never felt “normal” or “calm”, everyday was a cycle of anxiety, anxiety attack, panic attack, anxiety, anxiety attack, panic attack etc. One day I had experienced 4 panic attacks on my way to work, I was in an absolute state physically (headache, feeling sick, dizzy, exhausted) and emotionally (upset, depressed, etc) and I had convinced myself (on a daily basis by this point) that I was going to keel over and die for no apparent reason or that I had some sort of undiagnosed heart condition because I was experiencing heart palpitations so much. Then of course there are the self-defeating behaviours that develop as a way to cope, mine was to drink my way through it. Frankly, I’m unsure how my liver and kidneys survived that particular section of my life! The

physical symptoms got worse as well, the tensions headaches, chest pains, other muscle pains in the neck and back, I developed IBS and sometimes would tremble because I was on edge constantly. Finally, I called a counsellor. In a therapeutic setting diagnosis for this condition is given after the sufferer has been experiencing the following symptoms for at least 6 months: Excessive anxiety and worry about a number of activities, finding it difficult to control the worry, anxiety or worry also associated with 3 or more of the following physical symptoms: fatigue, impaired concentration, impaired sleep, muscle tension, irritability. The focus of the anxiety or worry must not be the result of another disorder such as OCD or PTSD or be the physiological effects of medication, drug abuse or alcohol abuse. GAD affects sufferers mentally, socially and physically. If you think you may be suffering or are beginning to suffer please call a counsellor, you may feel like you don’t know how to feel “normal” anymore but with the right therapy you can find the root of your anxiety and deal with it – you can feel normal again. Don’t suffer in silence, you are not weak or weird. Think about it this way, isn’t it worse to suffer in silence than get the help you need? The nature of anxiety is that it begins to take on a personality of its own after a while. Anxiety works not just on emotional and physical vulnerability, but psychologically on the expectation that you will feel anxious in a certain situation. There are many coping mechanisms that can help you, here are a couple: Firstly, take a step back. Your anxiety is a prehistoric function of the brain to keep you alive, if you truly have nothing to feel anxious about you need to remind yourself of this. Appeal to the prehistoric part of your brain, and talk yourself through it. Look around you; are there any sabre tooth tigers about to attack? Are you in a swimming pool of hungry sharks? How likely is it really that the plane is going to crash? You need to give yourself some perspective, then talk yourself through it, and encourage yourself that you will be ok. Take control of your thoughts, convincing yourself of the worst is not going to help! Another method for dealing with anxiety is distraction. This works best when you can engross yourself in something completely, the more you concentrate on the anxiety the worse it gets. Do you have a favourite piece of music? Concentrate on every bit of the song, every lyric, every drum beat, allow yourself to be involved on a deeper level. There is a coping mechanism that is the opposite of this. Everyone is different so you have to find the right approach for you. This coping mechanism involves talking yourself through the anxiety, but reminding yourself of how you feel. “Oh yes I recognise this symptom, there go the butterflies, now I’m starting to feel a bit sick, I’m starting to panic but that’s ok because I’ve felt like this before and I know how I’ll feel, yep I recognise those heart palpitations”. The aim of this is to encourage you to feel more secure in your anxiety, so rather than being afraid of it, the anxiety is something you’re familiar with. I hope this article has been of some help. Anxiety and panic are similar but different so next time I’ll talk about panic attacks and disorders and explain the difference. The coping mechanisms are similar, but there are a few different elements that work better with panic attacks.

The Vicar of the Moulshams “Less is more”

Apparently, most of us make up our minds whether or not we’re going to stay with something within 8 seconds of, say, hearing a piece of music, or watching a movie, or seeing an advert, or reading something somewhere. Media professionals call it the soundbite. They know they must grab our attention immediately. Hence the expression, ‘less is more’. Technology today allows us to do a multitude of things simultaneously. This is called multi-tasking. In some ways it is a good thing. We may even call it progress. But this concerns me on two levels. First, having such capacity puts us under pressure to do more and more in any given timeframe. Then we kid ourselves that multi-tasking saves us time, but that is a myth! Because what happens then? We simply cram in more things to do! And when that happens, before we know where we are there is no time left for family or friends or leisure, which is my second worry. So here’s a thought: how about we apply the ‘less is more’ theory to our own practices, starting with Christmas? For instance, we could make a conscious effort to reduce whatever normally fills our time in order to make ourselves more available to those we love and live with. This way, we would be giving our nearest and dearest one of the greatest gifts of all – ourselves – our presence. Perhaps you don’t see yourself as a gift but I bet your nearest and dearest do. And if you don’t believe me, just remind yourself of the last time

someone gave you their time and really listened to you. Now that’s a gift worth having. It’s a gift you can give to someone else, too. It’s a gift that doesn’t cost anything except time. Christmas does not have to be about spending money we haven’t got on things people neither want or need.

Christmas reminds us that Jesus, the Son of God was born for us. Those who knew their scriptures recognised Jesus as the Saviour promised long before and this still holds true for us today. Christians believe that Jesus is God’s gift of love to all humankind. Christmas then is God’s invitation to us to open our hearts and to receive God’s gift of love for ourselves – afresh – or even for the very first time. And then to share God’s love with one another. If you are staying local this Christmas, do come and join in the Christmas celebrations with us – we would love to see you (please see below for service details or visit our websites for more information). Meanwhile, I wish you and yours a wonderful Christmas and New Year, in the hope that you may spend some quality time with those you care about. St John’s St Luke’s Christmas Eve Crib Service 4.30 pm 4.00 pm Christmas Eve Midnight Mass 11.30 pm 11.30 pm Christmas Day Family Service 10.00 am 10.00 am www.stlukemoulsham.co.uk, www.stjohnsmoulsham.org.uk

Here is our competition winner before and after their make over.

All at The Strand would like to wish our customers a happy Christmas and great new year.

MT /gardening

Thanks to all that came to the college Information Event on Wednesday November 6th, we were rushed off our feet… thanks for keeping us busy! For our next batch of events: 4th December (6:00 – 7:30pm) Providing information on all courses the college offers, or the Higher Education Open Day on Wednesday 11th December (10:30 – 3:00pm), go to www.writtle.ac.uk to book your place online (or just turn-up). As November is a good way through I thought I would just look at climbers this issue. These fabulous plants need regular pruning in order to promote flowering and maintain both form and habit. The timing of pruning is crucial. If a plant flowers before June it flowers on previous season’s wood and therefore should be pruned immediately after the blooms fade; the wood that develops after pruning in the summer and autumn will flower the following year. If it flowers later in the year it flowers on this season’s wood and should be pruned in early spring to allow time for the flowers to develop.

Two key plants that I always get asked about are wisteria and clematis. It can be a little confusing with both but here are a few simple steps to success that would be worth following. The pruning of wisteria encourages flowering and keeps size in check. Formative pruning in the first ten years is important to develop the shape of the plant. A permanent framework should be developed, the laterals being tied in along strong horizontal wires. I would advise pruning this particular plant twice a year – once in the winter and again in summer. The aim of winter pruning is to encourage flowering spurs to develop. This is achieved by shortening the sub-lateral shoots back to four buds. These will be long and whippy looking. These four buds will develop into flower panicles in the spring. Dead, diseased and damaged wood should also be removed. This is a job that can be covered now or most certainly before bud break in the spring. For summer pruning it is much the same, however, this time the whippy stems will be clothed in leaf. Cut back this growth to 2-4 leaves…and again this will further develop flowering areas and keep the form under check. With clematis it may seem like a minefield… but needn’t be. These super plants are divided into three groups for the purposes of pruning. Group 1 - early flowering clematis such as Clematis montana, C. alpina, C. armandii, C. macropetala and their cultivars are fairly vigorous and require a large area in which to grow. They flower on previous season’s wood and require little or no pruning. They can be pruned hard as a renovation measure but are not guaranteed to survive this! Group 2 - large and often double flowered clematis such as C. ‘The President’, C. ‘Nelly Moser’, C. ‘Niobe’, C. ‘Vyvyan Pennell’ flower on both this and last season’s wood. They have two flushes of flowers, in June/July and September/October. In February cut all stems back to the first pair of healthy fat buds and remove dead, weak or damaged stems. Group 3 - late flowering clematis such as C. ‘Jackmanii’, C. ‘Hagley Hybrid’ C. tangutica and C. viticella flower on this season’s wood. This group is easy to prune, cut back to a bud 15 - 30 cms above soil level in the spring before new growth commences. Good luck and happy gardening! For any gardening tips why not contact Tom Cole, Head of Faculty for Land & Environment, Writtle College, Chelmsford, CM1 3RR by post (including a SAE) or by email at tom.cole@writtle.ac.uk

FROM COUNTY HALL

by Cllr. Dick Madden Summer is now defiantly over. There is even talk from media weather forecasters of potential snow this week. So as the cold weather and winter gathers around us, please will you consider your neighbour who may live alone and maybe frail, let’s all ensure our communities keep an eye on each other by supporting each and everyone.

To keep warm we can put on another jumper but for me, yes, I am still attending Slimming World. Having lost another couple of pounds this year I have now nearly lost two stone. Do I feel the cold? Yes I do, so I put on a couple of jumpers. It’s taken me a year to lose what will be two stone by the end of the year, so in the New Year I look forward to all the new members of our community who will set off with the best intentions, go on come along, it is fun as well. Recently, I have been asked by several residents, “now that you are a member of the Essex County Council Cabinet and responsible for families and children, what does that mean? What do you do?” I am accountable as the elected member of Essex County Council to monitor and speak on behalf of the public of Essex for safeguarding of children. This includes ensuring the delivery in our communities of children centres and supporting children with disabilities and their families. I also represent looked after children, (these are children in care), and those children who are fostered, adopted and in the process of leaving care. I work with

Gallery 43, Art, Framing, Sculpture, Ceramics & Gifts in Moulsham Street. Gallery 43 has been established and run by Michael Adams since 1985. Michael says “people are often intimidated by setting foot in galleries but after all they are just a shop selling pictures”. But he appreciates that buying a painting can be very difficult as there are so many factors to consider. For example, will it fit in with my decor? Or where is it designed to hang? Will it be too big or too small? Are the colours and image correct? With that in mind you can buy a painting at Gallery 43, take it home and live with it for up to a week and if you decide it is not right for you or where you were going to hang it, then they will give you a full refund. making buying a picture a risk free purchase. “Seeing a painting in situ is often the best way to view it and see if it is right for you” adds Michael. As well as selling pictures, Gallery 43 offers a full framing and restoration service along with selling sculpture, ceramics and gifts.

the police commissioner, the chief constable, social care, the unitary authorities of Southend and Thurrock and the head of the probation service in developing and monitoring our joint response to domestic abuse for the whole of Essex. Also with the Head of Probation Service and other agencies I sit on a youth offending board. Am I busy? Of course, but in my role of representing families and children, though very challenging, I do enjoy my role, which though demanding can be very satisfying. I particularly enjoy meeting the members of the Children in Care Council, who share with myself and other members of the Council their aspirations and development, from being in care to attaining adulthood and their onward progression in our Essex community. It is a trully rewarding experience. I have shared with you a brief summary of my role as a Cabinet Member in Essex County Council but I fully recognise that a priority is my representation of you in our community. As I have indicated on many occasions, if you have any matters that I can assist you with regarding services delivered by Chelmsford City Council and Essex County Council, do not hesitate to contact me on email at dick.madden@chelmsford.gov.uk or dick.madden@ essex.gov.uk. My mobile no is 07837 504745. BE SAFE and BE WARM - Dick Madden

MT /cookery Christmas Is Coming

In September this year friends of ours, Anna and Mac, took on a pub with their two dogs Stan and Olive in Stockton, Wiltshire. Nic and I had a brilliant weekend away with Anna and Mac at their pub, not too far away from the stones, sorry, Stonehenge, slipped into local talk, and Salisbury is just fifteen minutes drive away. The surrounding area is great for walkers and cyclists with the Wiltshire valley cycle route passing the front door of the pub - and it is very popular. It is well worth popping in for lunch or dinner if you are in the area, they have an excellent menu, local produce, locally sourced game and good selection of real ales. It has a very warm and inviting atmosphere, only don’t go on a Monday as it’s closed. Their Christmas menu sounds amazing and we will be heading back soon to try it. With Christmas day looming some people become full of dread, here are just a few things that may help. Homemade mince pies can be made early in the month and produced on the day. Shortcrust mince pies 8oz plain flour. 8oz butter (cold straight from fridge). 2oz caster sugar. ½ tsp salt. 2 eggs. 2 tbsp of ice cold water. Mince meat, egg wash and granulated sugar.

Place plain flour into a mixer, add butter cut into small cubes, try not too touch to much with your hands as this will melt the butter. Add sugar, salt and mix together until you have breadcrumb like consistency, (you can use a mixer). Then add a beaten egg and water. Combine together, wrap and place in fridge for half an hour. Prepare muffin tins for really good deep mince pies, cut pastry in half and roll out to a thickness for bases. Cut out and line the muffin cases, add mincemeat and egg wash the edges. Cut out some lids to lay on top and slightly press down. Wash with egg, sprinkle with sugar and bake for 15-20 mins at 170c. Leave to cool and store in freezer for the festive day. You can also use apple, cinnamon and sultanas filling. Christmas Day ideas Meats and poultry can be prepared and cooked early on the day or the day before, wrapped in foil and sliced all ready to rock ‘n’ roll. Yorkshire puddings, gravies, homemade stuffing with a twist for Christmas can all be prepared early. I would say that trying new recipes at this time is probably not the best idea on the special day, but a few peripheral dishes can add to your lunch. Easy starters & soup Smoked salmon & clementines Smoked salmon and clementines are an easy option, but very

tasty. Strips of salmon, clementines sliced thinly and a light salad of watercress and rocket juice of lemon salt and pepper piled on top. Carrot, ginger and coconut soup (4 persons) 5 medium carrots peeled and diced small. ½ medium onion diced. 2 medium potatoes diced. Knob of butter. Vegetable stock. 1 tsp of dried ginger powder or a small chunk of fresh ginger (grated). 2 tbsp of desiccated coconut. Dash of double cream. Salt and pepper to season. Croutons (optional). Dice the carrot, potato, ginger and onion. Heat butter in saucepan and add diced vegetables and cook gently for 4-5mins without colouring vegetables. At this time add vegetable stock, this will be around a pint and bring to the boil. When it has started to boil you can take it down to a simmer for 20-25mins or until tender, keep an eye on the thickness of soup, add coconut. Blitz in a blender, season to taste and add a glug of cream to finish off the soup. Turkey lemon, parsley, and garlic butter This is a neat tip to keep your turkey nice and moist, as it often becomes quite dry. Combine together the zest and juice of ½ a lemon with parsley, garlic and butter, enough to cover the turkey over and under the skin of the breast. You can do this by lightly putting fingers under skin on breast. Roast and baste regularly as you would normally do. Sage, onion & mushroom stuffing (for six people) Good knob of unsalted butter. Drizzle of rapeseed oil. 2 Onions finely (chopped). 1 clove of garlic (grated). Good handful of mushrooms (finely chopped). Fresh sage (finely chopped). Fresh white bread crumbs 2 to 3 slices. Cheese slices (Cheddar). Fry onions in the oil and butter until translucent, add mushrooms and garlic making sure not to colour the onions. Add the sage to the pan and fry for 2mins then add the bread crumbs and mix together, you may need an egg to combine. Once cooked put into ramekins and add cheddar cheese on top. When required put in oven for 10-15mins or until bubbling and coloured. Have a great Christmas… By Andy Starling

The Moulsham Times is printed by www.graphic-impressions.co.uk Due to the Christmas holidays the next Moulsham Times will be delivered in the first week of January 2014.

MT /Moulsham Street What a fantastic turnout for the Moulsham Street Christmas Festival and the weather was dry for 99% of the day. Nipper and his festive sweater.

The Jâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Hospice collecting.

The card man

Cllr. Dick Madden tests the snow dome with a copy of the Moulsham Times.

Christmas carols were sung.

Punch and Judy.

Stilt ladies.

Farleigh Hospice

Jakob Deist www.calgaryuk.tumblr.com

Christmas cart at The Lemon Tree Paolo Morena www.paulmorena.com

The Mayor and Mayoress

www.degoni.co.uk

MT /history

by John Power - The Evolution of Christmas.

Chelmsford has an obscure connection to the evolution of Christmas that goes back to Roman times. It comes in the shape of an octagon, that lies beneath the roundabout on Parkway that once took its name from the original Art Deco Odeon cinema that faced onto it. The outline of ruins were discovered there during the excavations accompanying the creation of the pedestrian underpasses for the roundabout. These were all that remained of the Temple of Sol Invictus, a cult that arose in Syria but which had its deity adopted into the pantheon of the Romans. Marcus Aurelias Antonius, was stationed with an army of occupation in Syria before he became Emperor in 274 C,E. and was made High Priest of Emesa and Elogabulus whilst away on active service. When he returned to Rome he brought his priestly status with him and the cult became that of the Conquering Sun, or Sol Invictus, and which became very popular amongst the military personnel. Chelmsford had been only a stopover post between London and Colchester before Boudicca’s Revolt in 60 C.E. From then on it became fortified and grew in status to include a temple. In the Roman calendar, 25th of December was Dios Natalis: the feast of Sol Invictus, and that lasted into the reign of Constantine, who legitimised Christianity as the state religion. Before that, the early Christians had celebrated Jesus’ birthday on the Spring Equinox, on the junction of the zodiacal signs, Aries and Pisces, that formed the stellar backdrop to the Sun’s movement at the equinox, and used the sign of the fish as an early symbol of their community as the Age of Pisces replaced the Age of Aries, and they became ‘fishers of men. ’Constantine also began the custom of SUNday, the day of rest, and of course Jesus was referred to as the Light of the World and easily grafted onto Solar cults. It was not until the 4th Century that Jesus’ birthday was declared to be 25th December. In concert to Sol Invictus, Rome had also adopted the Persian cult of Mithras (another ‘virgin birth’: either from a tree or egg in different versions of his legendary nativity) into its pantheon in the 1st to 4th centuries. Mithra or Mitra is an Indo-Iranian deity, mentioned first in the Hindu Rig Veda. He is shown in Roman iconography feasting with the Sun and the cult was closely related to that of Sol Invictus. Again the Mithraic New Year, Natalis Invicti, was celebrated on 25th December. There was a Mithras Temple excavated in London in 1954, which shows how important he was during our Roman Occupation, as the only other temples discovered in London have been those of Isis, adopted from the Egyptians, and who with her son Horus was the prototype mother and child icon which the Mary and baby Jesus of Christmas family scene imagery supplanted; and a Temple of Jupiter the benevolent head of the Roman pantheon and model for the New Testament God, as opposed to the cruel and jealous (of other Gods, so not a model for monotheism) tribal God of the Old Testament. The Roman calendar was revised to take into account the additional quarter of a day to add to the 365 previously used from the reign of Pope Gregory. Supplanting the Gregorian calendar was the Julian calendar, after the change during Julius’ reign. By back counting ,this meant that the year referred to as 0 AD became 6 BC, an unlikely year for Jesus birth year, but actually more accurate in terms of the Sun’s apparent motion around the band of the sky known as the ecliptic every year. While the backdrop the zodiacal constellations are used to measure the movement of the solar orb. There was the rare conjunction of two

slow moving planets, Saturn and Jupiter, and another planet in the sign of Pisces in 6 BC in the Julian calendar that we still use. Persian Magi would have been aware of the symbolic significance of this, and I assume that that was the ‘Bethlehem Star’. Despite the Roman efficiency when it came to bureaucracy, there is no record of the census referred to in the bible at the time of the Nativity, so no accurate dating has really been possible. That conjunction may offer one. Even in the Bible it says that there was no room at the inn, so the family stayed in a house, but as there was no cot a manger (a frame containing straw for animal feed) was used. That manger got the whole nativity scene moved to a stable for the ‘winter’ indoor archetype for mother and child and the rather large guest list that would perhaps not have been too welcome to the helpful householders. The Roman midwinter festival was a long drawn out affair that pre-dated Mithras or Sol Invictus, but which later encompassed them. It was known as Saturnalia and lasted from 30th November until the 2nd February. During this period the roles of citizens and slaves for the rest of the year were reversed, like masters serving slaves at table, and a mock king ruled throughout the season of hedonistic excess. Gifts were given by the wealthy to the poor - a tradition that survived into Boxing Day, when apprentices were given boxes of goodies by their masters, and gift giving generally in imitation of the gifts brought to the Nativity by the Magi. Old Saturn survives at New Year as Old Father Time, as he harvests the old year with his scythe. By the time the Normans had invaded this country the Lord of Misrule had evolved from this as the character of the season, and boy bishops were elected from choirs, perhaps to celebrate that St Peter never was the first, (or ever), Bishop of Rome, as this had been Prince Lineas, son of Caractacus, a British Chieftain, who had opposed Rome, so who’s son took a peacemaking role. Pieter was a Gnostic deity who guarded the gates to Heaven. The similarity of name gave Jesus’ misogynist (according to the Gospel of Philip) follower’s transfer of role easy. It was the 9th Century before the Midwinter Festival was referred to as Christmas. Medieval carols and Nativity plays date from the 15th century. Father Christmas makes his first appearance then, but only as a minor character in Mummers Plays. His origins are European. The Viking Boar’s Head was the forerunner of the turkey, which was not introduced until 1573 and American explorers had brought it back from it’s native land. Hot ale with eggs, spices and apples were the forerunner of punch, introduced by Puritans in the 17th century. The Yule Log was also Viking in origin - part of the Germanic tree worship cult. As was the idea of bringing a tree and evergreen decorations into the house at midwinter to appease the nature spirits for the New Year. During the Puritan commonwealth carols were forbidden and Christmas was banned in 1644 Greenery was removed by the soldiers of the New Model Army. In the emerging United States, Christmas Day was made a fast day by Pilgrim Fathers and their descendants, until 1836. With the restoration of the Monarchy, Charles II brought Christmas back too and pantomime was invented. The role reversal of dame and principal boy harked back to Saturnalian role reversals. By 1841 the whole idea of Christmas was in decline and the magazine Punch suggested the return to giving, as to the Victorian poor. That included the famous dinner in the poor houses which gave rise to the poem telling the authorities where they could stick it, although Dickens’ book ‘The Christmas

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Carol’ provided a moral tale which gave the idea some popularity. Prince Albert imported a tree from his native Germany. erected it and decorated it as a Christmas Tree in the tradition of the Germanic tree worship, along with holly, ivy and mistletoe, that have survived as central to the festival to this day. Christmas cards made their first appearance in 1844, while paper hats revived the medieval Feast of Fools and hence Saturnalian reversals. Christmas puddings developed out of plum porridge. Santa Claus, St. Nicholas of Dutch and German settlers in the U.S., found their way back to Europe by the 1890s, but Santa was more of a Jovial (Jupiterian) character than grim old Saturn who was only left with New Year. In Holland, New Year is a time of ghosts and demons, rather like our Halloween. Norse God, Odin, was a Germanic gift bearer, adding that tradition to the Magi’s gift bearing idea and the notion of giving at midwinter generally. In Italy, Belfona was a good fairy who filled children’s stockings. She may well be one version of the nature sprite who wound up on top of the Christmas Tree. Twelfth Night is on the 5th January when traditionally the trees and evergreen decorations were returned to nature and the thin veil of Christian myth draped over the old midwinter festivals is put away again for another year. Saturn’s rulership of January and February reminds us it’s time for a couple of months of hard work before the nights begin to noticeably shorten.

Serving food in Chelmsford since 1950 Robinson’s traditional fish & chip shop in Moulsham Street has recently undergone a refurbishment by Emstrey Carpentry and is now far more of an all-round eatery and take-away outlet that even offers WiFi. Forth generation family owner Paul Robinson and his team have grown the business into a fully fledged catering operation that these days supplies buffets for all occasions. What’s more, they recently won and secured the preferred supplier status for Chelmsford City Council, specialising in business lunches, to name but one organisation from the wide range of business luncheon clients who consistently choose Robinson’s innovative platters. The exhaustive choice of food on offer ranges from jacket potatoes, fresh sandwiches and wraps, salad cart, fish, chicken, chips, pies, sausages in batter etc. “You know where you get it best,” says a very happy Paul!

Robinsons - 168/169 Moulsham Street - 01245 355 792 www.robinsonscatering.com

Rotary’s Leading Role in Philippines Disaster When disaster strikes, Rotary is right in the frontline providing much needed aid. Rotary clubs from all over the world have rallied in support of the disaster in the Philippines after typhoon Haiyan struck causing so much devastation to property and loss of life. In the immediate aftermath, drinking water is the main priority and Rotary is sending fresh water through its Aquabox scheme, Lifestraws and Water Survival kits in addition to Shelterboxes. On all levels clubs become involved. The five clubs based in Chelmsford sent Shelterboxes to the area at a cost of £590 each and because it is being co-ordinated through the Rotary club of Mandaluyong in the Philippines we know the people most in need are receiving the much needed emergency equipment as quickly as possible. One of our volunteer local members is on the ground there helping to distribute these essential life saving aids. It is probably true to say that every Rotary club in our district is participating in sending aid. You will have seen Rotarians collecting money in the town centre and at supermarkets as the size of the tragedy unfolds. To date, and at the time of writing we are only just over a week after the disaster struck, clubs in the District of Essex including Bishop’s Stortford have raised about £40,000. Some of this money has come from the clubs’ previous fundraising efforts in readiness for the next world disaster relief call. The Shelterbox charity is now recognised as one of the primary sources of disaster aid. This was set up by a Rotary club in Cornwall. A Shelterbox contains water purification tablets, a tent for ten people, toothpaste, soap and other items needed in an emergency situation.

of homes, hospitals and the infrastructure to help the people of the Philippines get back on their feet. If you would like to donate please send cheque made payable to RIBI Donations Trust at the address at the end of this article. I know there are so many calls on the generous nature of the British but we realise how fortunate we are to live in such a temperate climate and so relatively affluent.

If you would like to know more about becoming a Rotarian to help local and international projects please visit: www.chelmsfordrotary1240.org or call me for further information. Stan Keller – 01245 260349 (office). Address for donations to the RIBI Donations Trust:

It is obviously a massive logistical problem to distribute food and shelter before any rebuilding can start but through Rotary’s Donation Trust we can think about beginning the reconstruction

Graphic Impressions, Springfield Lyons House, Springfield Lyons Approach, Chelmsford CM2 5LB.

Do you Think your Job is Important?

have to identify the CPP (Central Pick-up Point), and then I have to calculate the MER (Most Efficient Route). Once this has been approved by the MTE (Mousham Times Editor), I get on my way. Thanks to the extensive training programme, I am qualified in the art of ILB (Identifying Letter Boxes) so I can easily carry out my job using the OTF (Open The Flap) techniques. I also have to cope with the large number of different FGCs (Front Gate Catches).”

I deliver the Moulsham Times each month, and at a recent social gathering, I started to talk to someone whom I had not met before. We did the normal stuff, you know, how do you know the host, where are you going on holiday.... then we got on the next favourite topic. He asked me what I did for a job. I told him that I delivered a local magazine and he looked a bit bored. When I politely returned the question, he said he was the SFC with the DOE in the city. Well, I was impressed. Me just a delivery boy and him an SFC. No wonder he wasn’t too interested in me. I later found out he was a part time “senior” filing clerk at a local Chelmsford school. This got me thinking, perhaps I should beef up my job with some TLA’s (Three Letter Acronyms) when I am next asked at a party. A few weeks later, there I was again, first time meeting, host, holidays and then, here goes, what do you do for a job? I explained that I was an MDO (Media Delivery Operative) in the city. I did not give him the benefit of the explanation. Now, there is a bit of a risk of being found out early in the conversation, but I have found that if you say the letters with confidence, most people will think that they should know what the letters stand for and will be ashamed to ask.

By this time I’d got him hooked. “Are there any issues with the job?”, he asks. “Well”, I replied, “there is always the danger of GFC (Getting Fingers Caught) and there is also the threat of BGD (Big Guard Dog). There are also other things to look out for, various instructions like NFP (No Free Papers), or NCC (No Cold Callers).” I always ignore that one, I am usually quite warm after walking about three miles. Then there are the health and safety issues that have to be considered. At each location, I have to check for LSS (Large Steep Steps) and take into account SDPs (Slippery Drives/Paths) and make sure I can gain safe access to the FDL (Front Door Letterbox). After several days on the road, and when I return to head office, I have to make sure I reconcile and return the MLO (Magazines Left Over). So that’s about it really.

“Oh, that sounds interesting” he said, “what does that involve?” Music to the ears, I thought.

“What about you?” I said, “Oh I’m just a rocket scientist” he said, “not very interesting compared to a job like yours....”

“Well, it can be a bit complicated, but I will try to explain. Firstly, I

By Moulsham Times Media Delivery Operative John.

Wine Corner

Hi all, another month has gone by and I’m starting back in France again. It is, after all, the top, or second largest, producer of wine. I have just spent some time in the Loire Valley and tasted some lovely wines. This wine region is situated along the Loire river, which is France’s longest, rising in the Cevennes and finally entering the Bay of Biscay at St Nazaire over 1000 kilometres away. There are over 80 appellations along its banks, with the majority from Tours in the east to the west coast at Nantes. Pouilly-Fume along with Sancerre, both great wines, are produced further towards the south east of Orleans. Although mainly known for it’s whites, with Chennin Blanc and Sauvignon Blanc the main grapes, the reds can be very fruity. It is mainly Cabernet Franc, which is the grape blended with Merlot in the Bordeaux region. Legend says that wine making started in the first century by, guess who? Clue, they lived in monasteries! There are lots of actual caves along the banks of the river near Saumur, and amazingly people still live in them. It is strange to be walking beside steep slopes and come across a front door, a window and even a garage set back into a cave. They also, of course, use these as wine caves and several producers have premises here.

white choice would also include a nice Burgundy. So have a great time and remember there are only about 390 days to Christmas 2014! Bin end chuckles. I was sat in a restaurant the other day and got hit on the back of the head with a prawn cocktail. I turned round and this bloke shouts “that’s just for starters!” I had an addiction to the Hokey Cokey. But I’ve turned myself around and that’s what it’s all about. Keep calm and carry on drinking, in moderation. Have a great Christmas.

We stayed, for a while, in a village called Concourson-sur-Layon, which is just south of Anjou. It is a small place with just a truck stop cafe and a bakery, but more interestingly, it is surrounded by over twenty vineyards - several with caves - within walking distance. So plenty of chances for tasting. One of the wines from here is a sweet wine which is very nice chilled. It is called Cotaux de Layon. Very nice with a dessert or if you are less keen on dry whites. We also stayed at a village called Montsoreau, which is right on the river and has its own chateau. It has a few shops including a tabac, which is also a bar. When they served their light red wine, it came straight from the fridge, just like they do in Italy, lovely. Another nice white from the area, is Vouvray. They also produce Muscadet, usually a very light white.

I was sat down the other day thinking about a few imponderables. Why is it, for example, that the more expensive the car, the less likely it is that the indicators work or that the headlights will come on in poor visibility? Why is it that the handrail on escalators always runs at a different speed to the stairs? I often end up almost horizontal by the time I get to the bottom! Another thing, why is it that anybody who has ever photographed the Loch Ness monster or a UFO, always has the most rubbish camera you could buy? I don’t know, perhaps nobody else worries about these things. Just popping to Spain now. Rioja, is a good wine from the north of the country and is mainly, but not totally, the Temperillo grape. Other grapes used include Garnacha (Grenache in other parts of the world) and Mazuelo. Wines have been produced since the early 1100’s, but I won’t mention who did most of the cultivation in those early years, as it must be getting boring now. Most people have heard of Rioja reds, but they also produce a nice dry white, so why not try one out with your friends when you next meet. I cannot remember being disappointed by a Rioja. Just one more thing, as this is the last edition before Christmas (scary isn’t it?), remember to get one or two special wines in to accompany the turkey. I quite like to have red wine with the main course, something like a burgundy, tasty but not too heavy. My

en our ov y e v a H y d read cleane as! for Xm

To advertise in this magazine or our sister magazine Chelmsford The City Times please email ads@itsyourmedia.co.uk

Local Sports Facilities on your Doorstep! Dovedale Sports Centre has been operating in Old Moulsham since 1974.

Over the past 40 years we have been proud to provide a centre for the community to enjoy. Our friendly and personable atmosphere provides a great place for local residents to enjoy their leisure activities. The excellent facilities we have on offer include: • 5 badminton courts • 3 squash courts • 5-a-side football • Fitness suite • Activity room/dance studio We pride ourselves on providing a warm welcome to all and the fantastic range of sports and activities on offer means there really is something for everyone: • Badminton • Squash • Fitness suite • Vast range of exercise classes including: circuit training, yoga, pilates, zumba, balance & tone, forever fit, legs, bums & tums, booty camp and many more! • Children’s school holiday activities such as trampoline, gymnastics, archery, Action Hero, Artfull Splodgers, tennis, go karts, stuntman, Battle Ages Adventure, Mad Science and many many more. • Term time children’s courses such as gymnastics and badminton • Adult badminton courses • Flamenco dancing • Martial arts including karate, tae kwon do, judo & aikido • The longest running 5-a-side league in Chelmsford • Netball • Basketball • Football • Short tennis • Table tennis Join our Leisure Plus card scheme and choose to take part in activities on a pay as you go basis or take advantage of one our

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great value multi-site monthly membership options. Visit www. chelmsford.gov.uk/leisureplus to find out more. Also this month we are accepting new teams into our very popular 5-a-side football league that takes place every Sunday. This is Chelmsford’s oldest 5-a-side league so enter a team today! Visit Dovedale Sports Centre today, we look forward to seeing you soon. Dovedale Sports Centre, Vicarage Road, Chelmsford, CM2 0JQ. Tel: 01245 605685.

MT /business

Award for The Home Partnership The Home Partnership recently won an award at The Negotiator Awards. Once a year awards are presented to firms that stand out for various achievements: • The first year we were awarded best independent estate agency nationally. • The second year we were awarded best marketing team nationally. • This year we’ve been recognized for our work within our community.

We sponsored an Easter egg hunt at Easter for a local residential home for the elderly.

We did a sky dive in May of this year where the whole team jumped out of a plane falling 35,000 feet.

We’ve sponsored various school fetes and school activities. We sponsor an adult football team and provide their kit in addition to an over 11s local football team.

We managed to raise lots of money for Clic Sargent which is a children’s cancer support charity.

We held events for Children in Need and Comic Relief and Movember where all our staff were involved.

New Year’s Resolution – Fit in 2014!

two groups will part with a distinct difference in ‘ATTITUDE’.

After 15 years working with hundreds of people within the health and fitness industry, I can reflect back and very simply split people into two distinct categories. Those who tend to achieve their resolutions and goals and those who don’t. What separates these two opposing groups is not financial prosperity, opportunity, geography, education or even the training they undertake. The one thing that really separates the two groups can be summed up in one word ‘ATTITUDE’.

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I will be more specific. I meet people nearly every week who have an idea of what they want to achieve (sometimes a very precise idea). That could be losing a certain amount of weight, dropping to a certain dress size, losing their belly, fitting into a pair of jeans, competing in a sporting event, totally reshaping their body or even improving their health for medical reasons. This is where the

The ‘ACHIEVERS’ will usually have the view that they will tell me what they want to achieve and be prepared to listen to my feedback and within reason do ‘WHATEVER IT TAKES’ to get to their goal. SIMPLE! How many times per week do I need to train? What do I need to eat and drink? What should I avoid eating and drinking? How much cardio’ do I need? How much should I rest? This ‘ATTITUDE’ starts from the basic ‘DECISION’ that you WILL reach your goal. It may take 8 weeks when you originally wanted it to only take 6 (but you don’t give up and consider yourself a failure at week 6!) The second group, let’s call them the ‘NON-ACHIEVERS’ come to me with a very different ‘ATTITUDE’ and view. They have an idea of what they want to achieve (this in many cases is more rigid, detailed and precise than the ‘ACHIEVERS’ group) BUT they will also have a very clear and rigid view of what they are ‘PREPARED TO DO’ to reach their goal. “I really want a 6 pack (usually men!) BUT, I am not prepared to stop drinking beers with my friends.”“I really want to get in shape for a wedding (usually women!) BUT, every Friday is our girls night out and we always go out for a meal and end up drinking too much!”“I really want to regain the body and fitness I had 10 years ago (men and women) BUT, can only train twice a week due to work commitments and HAVE to have a glass of wine every night with my dinner to unwind.” The secret to achieving more of your goals more of the time and to sticking to your New Year’s Resolutions is to remove the BUTS! The Success Shift is shifting your ‘ATTITUDE’ from “this is what I am PREPARED TO DO” for a specific result to “I will do WHATEVER IT TAKES to reach my goal” If you are stuck in the ‘PREPARED TO DO’ category, be prepared to downsize your goals and achievements considerably. It’s an old cliche but very true: you will only get out what you are prepared to put in!

Ideas Festival 2013 Was a Big Success There were more than 60 Ideas Festival events all based on the theme, Imagine. The Festival brought the people of Chelmsford together to discuss how our city can be a better place to live and work.

place in the High Street and was supported by Chelmsford Star Co-operative Society. Transition Chelmsford hosted a range of associated events, including a local food mapping exercise, in the

Leading Change and Chelmsford’s Heritage The Festival hosted 15 events on leading change. Wednesday was Academy of Urbanism day, where we addressed the question as to ‘why does local place matter?’ and what would you do if you were elected Mayor for a day. Thursday evening saw a real buzz of activity at Anglia Ruskin University. Nearly 200 people gathered for three events running concurrently: Ben Cowell, Regional Director of the National Trust screening of the film ‘Project Wild Thing’ led to a panel discussion on the benefits of nature for our children; the University gave a presentation on Chelmsford’s industrial past; and Robert Hutson, architect, unveiled a visionary proposal for a revitalised riverside leisure complex. History and heritage figured prominently throughout the week. This started with Essex Record Office’s fascinating introduction their archive. Geoff Bowles, from Sandford Mill Museum, ran a popular workshop on Marconi’s wireless telegraphy in the main library that saw children learning how radio works from Marconi veterans. The Marconi Heritage Group was inundated

The aspiring mayors for a day High Chelmer Ideas Hub. Simon Mouncey, from Moulsham First, led a session on what getting around Chelmsford could look like in the future. The Imagine In Print team’s creativity moved the public to poetry in the library and led to a brilliant 3D perspex poetry installation and reading in the High Chelmer central atrium. The festival ended with a packed itinerary of health and well-being activities, including four talks in the Ideas Hub as well as the sensory wall for kids at the main library. Leonie Ramondt - festival director Malcolm Noble - chairman Changing Chelmsford All photos taken by Jane Lloyd We are grateful to our partners and sponsors, in particular: Chelmsford City Council Anglia Ruskin University High Chelmer

with enquiries over their exhibition on ‘Marconi then and now’. Manoah Smiley, from Changing Chelmsford, gave an insight into the fight for racial equality. Barry Shaw, from Changing Chelmsford, brought participants up to date with progress on the Heritage Triangle. The tour around Marriage’s Mill was fully booked in the first week. Food, Kids and Well-being It was half term week so there were lots of activities for kids. Polly Boardman from Genesis asked children to create their personal stories at a ‘fun and interactive workshop’. The National Trust took children outdoors onto Bell Meadow, to try as many adventure activities as possible ‘before they reach 11 and ¾’. Sustainability is one of our core values. Thus Changing Chelmsford’s Pam Swaby organised 25 local producers in a food fair and market. This took

Diary of a Young local Performer by Ami Aged 11 On 2nd November, a film I acted in called ‘The Boy with a Camera for a Face’ made its world premiere at Razor Reel in Bruges and won the Melies d’Argent for best short film which I was thrilled about. I had my induction workshop for my new agent which included drama tuition and assessment, camera technique, a catwalk session, audition preparation and a photographic sitting which went really well so I am going to be put forward for all types of commercial work. A few months ago, I was in a music video for Helen Austin and the producer contacted me to be in another video so I am waiting for the details. That’s why I work hard at whatever job I do because if a producer or director likes working with you, it can lead to other jobs. This month I have auditions and performances to prepare for – I attend drama club so I am auditioning for the school production and I attend Rock Choir so hoping to be singing at Chelmsford Cathedral. I am doing a reading at the District Guide Carol Service at St Luke’s Church on Sunday 8th December so I have been practising my lines for it. Next year, my Theatretrain group are going to perform Honk! which is a musical adaptation of the Hans Christian Andersen story The Ugly Duckling, so I am starting to prepare for my audition for one of the lead roles. Last Christmas, one of my presents was a candle making kit. I enjoyed making candles so much that I set up a business called ‘Ami’s Candles’ so that I can earn money to go to a performing arts college when I am older. I am busy making lots of Christmas candles to sell as gifts at craft fairs and at my online shop www.AmisCandles.etsy.com.

Remember to look out for Chelmsford The City Times from 13th December or view at thecitytimes.co.uk

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MT /community

Moulsham Junior School is 75!! Birthdays are a special time for anyone, no matter how old. But for children and adults alike it was even more special to share in an enormous celebration for our school. Moulsham Junior School was 75!! There was a week long celebration, full of activities which were thoroughly enjoyed by staff, pupils and ex-pupils.

The preparations to make the birthday week magical had begun even before the school holidays and between The Past Pupils and Mrs Hughes; a week of excitement was beginning to unfurl. It was planned that the Moulsham Museum would be open to the whole school across the birthday week, cakes were ordered and some particular members of staff were already planning their outfits. Across the week classes visited the museum that had been set up by The Past Pupils and discovered what it was like to be a pupil at Moulsham throughout the decades. It made some of our pupils realise how lucky they are to be at such a lovely school in the 21st century rather than the 1940s. After having such an amazing opportunity I know that children produced some lovely writing, cards and art work.

Later that day Mr Kemp, Mrs Kathleen Boot and Mrs Hilary Balm came in for a very special assembly. They presented the school with a beautiful framed picture of the opening of the school which will take pride of place in our museum corridor. In addition to this, they provided the shields to allow us to continue the very popular Past Pupils Award for the next 5 years. During assembly we sang Happy Birthday and blew out the candles on our very wonderful Moulsham cake that was made by the talented cook at Oaklands Infants. As a finale, on the Friday every child in the school was treated to piece of yummy birthday cake. I think it’s the quietest start to break time I have every heard! The weather was kind to us and the whole school was able to gather outside to celebrate together, raise the school flag and sing the school song. We owe a huge debt of gratitude to the past pupils who made our celebrations more than just a party but also into a unique handson learning experience which the children at Moulsham will not forget (and hopefully will become part of in the future). I have planned my outfit for the next birthday celebrations and can’t wait now for our 80th Birthday. Mrs Moores Deputy Head

On the Thursday children and staff came dressed from a decade in the last 75 years. Brilliant photographs were taken and I cannot wait to see the ‘amusing’ display which will be in the school. Some past pupils came in to share their memories with classes across the school and I think that the amount of ‘openmouthed but silent’ children and staff demonstrated just how entranced they were by the stories. We were also delighted to have with us Mr Brian Emmett, a former pupil of the school whose first day at school was the day it opened in 1938.

Brand New Women’s Institute

As a group of friends and neighbours in the local area, we have decided to set up a brand new Women’s Institute! The main aim is fun, friendship, education and community! Meeting like minded women in your area. We may surprise you as a group, offering lots of different fun ideas for our monthly meetings, which range from crafts, pampering, education, discussions and debates. All can be enjoyed over a drink and nibbles with friends! We already have a wide range of ages, backgrounds and interests, hoping to make for a diverse exciting new group! Meetings will be held at the back of the Cricketers pub, Moulsham Street, Monday evening once a month from 13th January 2014! So why not pop along and see what we’re all about. Watch this space for posters to be appearing in Chelmsford soon with more information! By Thea Gaunt

Moulsham Lodge Community Trust - MLCT

As reported in the last issue of the Moulsham Times, we are here for the benefit of the local community and want to improve the lives of the residents by providing a range of activities for all ages. To do this we need help - we need volunteers willing to take on a range of roles. If you think you can help in the five main areas below please contact the lead trustees identified below. We are also planning a large event towards the end of next summer and are looking for people who have experience of event planning/ management – is this you? General Admininistration Support. We need someone to organise us and keep on top of the administration of the office, which is a virtual office at the moment until we get a permanent facility. Minute taking is a vital part of our records, so if you have this skill as well it would be ideal. Business Plan/Legal Group (charity experience desirable) The Business Plan has been core to our success so far, providing the evidence and support for the viability of the project. We now need to update it in line with current plans and expectations. Particular focus will be on the financial planning and forecasting. Contact Mark Springett T:01245 351040 - M:07411 808731 Email: mark.springett@mlcc.co.uk Grant Finding Group This will involve bid writing and approaching grant giving trusts and the National Lottery, also investigating other forms of raising money for larger projects.

Contact Ros Webb T01245 469362 M:07757 600476 Email: ros.webb@mlcc.co.uk Marketing Group This group will look at publicity, media and advertising and will include the newsletter and website as well as liaising with the local press. Contact Linda Mascot T:01245 250892 M:07916 594123 Email: linda.mascot@mlcc.co.uk Local Fundraising This group is all about raising money to fund the running and administration costs of the trust. Most of the costs associated with the initial planning application will come via this group. For example, we will be looking at local events where you can take part and have fun. Lorna Fuller T:01245 290277 M:07934 694040 Email:lorna.fuller@mlcc.co.uk Correspondence can also be sent to 5 Waltham Glen, Chelmsford, CM2 9EL FAO - MLCT The success of the trust is dependent on volunteers in the community. It is an exciting time for the trust, as the next year will be the start of many new projects and activities and being involved can make all the difference. Mark Springett Deputy Chair MLCT (Cllr for Moulsham Lodge)

We have a growing interest in local issues by local people. We are also talking with Moulsham Lodge Community Trust to see if together we can have a louder voice for every one across the Moulshams: Old Moulsham, Moulsham Lodge, and Tile Kiln. Listen out for more details. Thanks to Dick Madden for bringing us together. Concerns continue about home security. See our poster in this article for more information about how you can let us know if you are you’re interested. Now the darker afternoons are with us – coupled with the run-up to Christmas – make sure your home is secure. Visit our website for advice and links that will help you. Fundamentally, ALWAYS LOCK windows and doors, and try to avoid giving the impression that no-one is at home when you’re out at work etc. You can buy plug-in timers for lights, for example. Recently, the newspaper published a checklist of home security items, and we have placed this on the MF website – check our website for more information. Also, check out the Chelmsford Neighbourhood Watch website. If you’re interested – or inquisitive – about Neighbourhood Watch and how we might strengthen watch activities across Old Moulsham, get in touch. In the New Year we’ll be running further information on Neighbourhood Watches across Old Moulsham, so watch this space. In the meantime, check out our website. www.moulshamfirst.org.uk

The Wonderful Wizard of OZ (Offspringers) Batten down the hatches and hold on tight, be ready for a whirlwind of a ride. For the next few months I will be writing a short piece along with thoughts from the cast of local children’s amateur dramatics group, Offspringers. Here we will keep you up to date on how the show rehearsals are progressing. You will gain an insight on how a show is put together along with the ups (and hopefully no downs) on the actors progress with singing, dancing and acting. If you know any young person(s) who may have an interest in drama this could be of interest to them to see what it is all about. The show’s directors are a talented and enthusiastic pair, Mat Smith and Mel Smart, both whom have an abundance of experience in the theatre and working with young people. By Dee Patel

If you wish to write to us please send your letters to letters@moulshamtimes.com

MT Letters Dear Sir Moulsham Lodge Shops Those of you who visit the Moulsham Lodge shops in Gloucester Avenue will be only too well aware of the large potholes in the car park. Shop owners have been complaining about these to the site owner for some time, apparently, to no avail. There’s also a petition, which now has over 200 signatures. During a recent visit (in early Nov.) I spotted a person with a clipboard, talking to two of the shop owners. Having spoken to him, I learnt that he was surveying the site on behalf of the site owners. He didn’t make any promises but, hopefully, we can now look forward to something being done about this before things get even worse. An apparently unsolvable issue, however, is the insufficient car parking space. This wasn’t a problem when I first moved to the estate some years ago. There’s talk of marked parking bays; not sure how this will help. If any readers have any other workable suggestions, I’m sure they will be most welcome! Vic Bojan

MT /Classifieds www.rhythmtots.co.uk

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Mildmay Road ￡285,000

Fully detached family house Three bedrooms Lounge/dining room Attached garage & parking

Older style end terraced house Fitted kitchen/diner Three bedrooms Detached garage & parking

Property of the Month Goldlay Road ￡550,000

• Victorian character detached • Spacious entrance hall • Luxury kitchen/breakfast room • Three double bedrooms • Two reception rooms • Re-fitted family bathroom • Off O road parking • Attractive garden with summerhouse

Vicarage Road ￡450,000

Belle Vue ￡215,000

Upper Bridge Road ￡140,000

D ED L R SO QUI W E O N RR LA I M SI • Victorian semi detached house • Three bedrooms • Many original features • No onward chain

Victorian terraced cottage Cul-de-sac location Two bedrooms • No onward chain

Ground floor maisonette Two double bedrooms Allocated parking space Garage