Moulsham Times June 2015

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MT Welcome Dear readers,

Welcome to our 30th issue, two and a half years of Moulsham Times - amazing. We would like to thank all of our writers and advertisers for your support and work over all of the issues so far and to all of you who read and (we hope) enjoy The Moulsham Times. Without you the magazine would not exist!

This month, look out for another quiz; this time about Essex (page 5). This was kindly sent in by John Theedom. We also have another competition on page 11 to win tickets to see The Rubettes at Chelmsford Social Club.

After the sad loss of BB King on 14th May, a man who probably inspired more guitarists than anyone, Nick’s Blues in the City have decided to put on a special tribute event on Sunday 31st May at The Bassment from 4pm to 9pm and has lined up some amazing musicians from across the UK. See page 8 for details.

We had a good response to our 3foot People competition and all winners will be notified over the next few days, so look out for the email. Remember also to get your tickets for The Fling Festival from www.flingfestival.co.uk. Also this month is the Walthamstock festival to raise funds for local charity on Saturday 27th June fingers crossed for some good weather, as there is also the Leigh Folk Festival over the same weekend, which is the biggest free folk festival in Europe.

And lastly please check out the appeal on page 24:

SOS MARCONI HALL STREET Regards, Nick & Paul

We also welcome back Simon Burns MP and councillor Dick Madden as contributors, who both won their respective elections.

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Disclaimer: It’s Your Media publish the Moulsham 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. Reg Co No. 09154871. Printed by Imagery UK.

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Dan’s Update: One of My Favourites in Southeast Asia - You Can Follow Me at: www.danskeates.com The last month has been one of my favourite in Southeast Asia.

Indonesia (other than Bali) is way off the beaten track compared to the other countries in the region. Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam and even Myanmar are set up for tourism and attract millions of visitors every year.

Indonesia with a population of over 250 million is the 4th most populated country in the world, where over 200 million people are Muslim (the largest Muslim population in the world) and over 700 languages are spoken. Indonesia spreads itself over 17,000 islands that lie along the equator, with over 150 active volcanoes, jungle, lakes and a massive coast line. It’s an amazing country to travel in.

travellers who wanted great surfing conditions. After that, it was just me and the locals again.

One of the highlights of my trip - and certainly Indonesia - was Mount Bromo; an active volcano that sits on a plateau at 2,100 metres high in the mountains. I still had motorbike problems and wasn’t sure if I would get there. I ascended to 2,500 metres through the clouds and

I met Lyndon Poskitt, also from England, at the port in Malaysia, from where I was shipping my motorbike to Indonesia. Lyndon was doing the same. We travelled together for 10 days through Sumatra, the largest island - and Java, with nearly 60% of the population making it the world’s most populated island.

then dropped 400 metres down onto the Sea of Sand, a sand plateau that I had to ride across to get to Mount Bromo. I climbed the volcano and looked down into the crater with smoke bellowing out. Wow. After 21/2 weeks and 2,500 miles, I arrived in Bali. I could have been in any mayor tourist beach resort. Bali is beautiful, really beautiful and whilst it’s Indonesia, it’s not the Indonesia I had already been travelling in. Travelling outside Bali around Indonesia wouldn’t be easy without the freedom of a motorbike, but it’s got to be on everyone’s list of ‘must visit countries’ if you like adventure.

I’ve now had my motorbike fixed and am heading to many more smaller and remote islands as I venture further east.

Lyndon is a great bike rider having completed the Dakar Rally in 2013. I followed Lyndon as we rode down through Sumatra, Lyndon takes mainly dirt roads at speed so I had to push myself to keep up with him, I loved the experience.

It took a week to ride the 1,500 miles through Sumatra mainly off-road through dense jungle and over mountains.

We stopped at Lake Toba, the largest lake in Indonesia, it’s over 100km long and 900 metres high up on a mountain.

We crossed the equator in the pouring rain and eventually saw the Indian Ocean on the south coast.

The following week, we took a ferry from Sumatra to Java at a staggering cost of £2.50 and instantly experienced the increase in population density, the roads were so busy, possibly the most crowded and dangerous I have ever experienced. With this in mind we avoided Jakarta, the capital city and all main roads, we again headed to the mountains and local roads which were really empty and quiet. I had some motorbike problems and Lyndon had to be in Australia for an international motorbike race so we said our goodbyes and I slowed down.

For the next week I slowly crossed mountain after mountain, followed the coast and experienced the lovely Indonesian hospitality. After 12 days in Indonesia I hadn’t seen one other westerner or tourist, just as I like it. Everywhere I went and everywhere I stopped, people would come over to talk, offering me food and drink. Many people spent many hours helping me find solutions to my bike problems, I was made to feel so welcome. I eventually found a small town by the sea where there were a few

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Quiz Time - How Well Do You Know Essex?

Many thanks to John Theedom of Old Moulsham for this month’s quiz. If you would like to submit a quiz please email: editorial@itsyourmedia.co.uk.

1. What is CPRE? 2. Which village won Village of The Year award in 2014?

3. What is the church of St Andrews at Greenstead famous for?

4. Where does the Essex Way start and finish?

5. Which year was Canvey Island flooded?

6. What was ‘A Hundred’?

7. Where does the Chelmer and Blackwater Canal start and finish?

8. What is the Roman name for Chelmsford?

9. Thaxted Guildhall was for which guild?

10. What is Billericay historically most famous for?

11. What is the famous ceremony that takes place at Dunmow?

12. What happened at Tilbury in 1588?

13. Name two Hedinghams?

14. What year was Harlow started?

15. What is the Naze at Walton-on-the-Naze?

16. Who created Canvey Island?

17. In Essex dialect, what is a Billy Wix? 18. Who was Fred Spalding?

19. Where is Wilson’s Corner?

20. Where does Jumbo live?

21. What is Felsted known for?

22. Which royal stayed at Horndon-on-the-Hill?

23. During Which war was Hylands House used as a hospital?

24. Where in Essex will you find a palace?

25. Where was the Essex Industrial School located?

26. What was manufactured by the Bentall Co in Heybridge?

27. Where was there a racecourse that surrounded a church?

28. Where, off the coast, are armaments tested?

29. What is the saffron in Saffron Walden?

30. Which food is Colchester famous for?

31. Where is the Mud Race held each year?

32. Where is the most-photographed village?

33. What kind of sanctuary is situated at Nazing?

34. Which river runs under Passingford Bridge?

35. Where will you find Payecocke’s House?

Please see page 31 for the answers.

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General Election 2015 by Simon Burns MP Whilst the General Election may already seem like a distant memory to many, I would like to thank everyone who voted for me on the 7th May as the Member of Parliament for Chelmsford.

supporting local businesses.

I consider it a great privilege to serve as the city’s MP, representing its interests in Parliament, assisting my constituents with their problems and attending events supporting the wonderful array of voluntary and charity work which takes place and

During the course of the campaign, I knocked on doors across the constituency morning, afternoon and evening 6 days a week and according to my pedometer which I wore especially for the duration After two months away, I return to my monthly column for the Moulsham Times.

I am sorry I have been unable to submit articles to the Times for the past two months, but I have been campaigning to be re-elected as a Chelmsford city councillor representing the city and Old Moulsham areas. I felt it was not right for me to submit articles whilst the election campaign was on-going, as I did not want it perceived by other political candidates that I had an unfair advantage to them.

The end result is that I have been re-elected to represent our local area on the city council and as I always state, I will represent all residents, irrespective of your political position.

Now that all the elections are over and the political landscape has changed, so has the weather, as we come to the end of spring and enter, hopefully, into a glorious summer. As the damp weather and cold disperses, you will note around our estates winter potholes in our roads are being filled, while some poorly maintained roads are to be resurfaced. This is positive action, however the matter of uneven pavements in our areas is a subject I have been discussing with the ECC Cabinet Member for Highways Maintenance. Again, over the coming months we will see some of our pavements being improved.

If you are concerned about specific defective pavements let me know and I can refer the matter to the necessary department at County Hall. I have in the past reported all the defects that I have been informed about and highway inspectors always inspect and assess the respective risks of each defect, so the more serious are prioritised.

Yesterday I attended Chelmsford Cathedral with the Lord Lieutenant of Essex and other dignitaries. I took part in a service of thanksgiving to Essex Police celebrating its 175 years of existence.

As you may be aware, I served 40 years in Essex Police and with some pride I took part in the celebratory event. It’s interesting, when I joined the police service in 1969, police radios for officers had only just been introduced and technology was very limited. Move on now nearly 50 years and communication is now available 24 hours a day, examples are mobile phones, email, websites and

of the campaign, I clocked up what I thought was a rather impressive 297,432 steps which totalled 128.4 miles!

I spoke with constituents about the issues which were of concern to them and am deeply humbled to have received such confidence from the people in Chelmsford who returned me to Westminster with such an increased majority. I would, however, like to stress that I am the MP for the whole of Chelmsford so even if people did not vote for me, I will still work to the best of my ability to assist them should they ask for my help.

Over the course of this Parliament, I will continue to campaign vigorously on your behalf on matters such as improved rail services from Chelmsford to Liverpool Street, support the local NHS and Broomfield Hospital and the chancellor’s economic policies which have contributed to such a dramatic fall in unemployment in the last 2 years.

Thank you once again and I look forward to the next five years. so on, hence the demands on the police are significantly greater than when I joined many years ago. The reason I make this comment is I believe our police service continues to do a valuable job in sometimes challenging circumstances. Happy 175th birthday to Essex Police!

Whilst I have been away, there have been no further grandchildren, but hot off the press this week, the youngest - baby Oliver - has taken his first steps. This means as we start the summer period of family barbeques, Oliver will join the ranks of the grandchildren’s football team which becomes more skilled each summer.

BE SAFE - Dick Madden

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Music News by Nick Garner It is on a very sad note that I start this month’s article with the passing of two kings. First was Ben E King on the 30th April, best known for co-writing and singing Stand By Me and as one of the principal singers of The Drifters. Then we sadly lost BB King on 14th May. He influenced so many guitarists from Jimi Hendrix and Eric Clapton to Stevie Ray Vaughan with his famous Gibson guitar called Lucille and for songs like The Thrill Has Gone, Lucille and Sweet Sixteen. He was also voted at the third best guitarist ever in Rolling Stone, an honour so richly deserved.

In honour of the great man, I have organised a special BB King tribute/jam at The Bassment in Wells Street, Chelmsford on Sunday 31st May from 4pm to 9pm and I have got many great players coming from all over who want to take part, so this, I am sure, will be a great and fitting tribute. As I am trying to write this article, great musicians are messaging and saying that they want to be part of this celebration - I am honoured. There is a small entry charge of just £3 to help pay some expenses and help towards our chosen charity, Remus Horse Sanctuary.

Last Wednesday night’s event for Blues in the City was great. We played the support (Jamie Williams and the Roots Collective stripped back) and we did very well playing songs we have not played as a trio before - we pulled it off. Next on stage were the great Bad Influence Duo, who are Valerie Lee Hayes and Richard Hayes. Val’s amazing voice and rhythm guitar playing and Richard’s lead and slide playing amazed the crowd, who remained silent wanting to hear every note played and sung by this great duo.

Next month on Wednesday 10th June it’s the girl’s night and what a night, with Lexie Green (who you may have seen last year) and Sheri Kershaw, who played on our Essex Delta Blues Day. Both will have their bands with them so you will be in for a great night.

June sees that start of the summer festival season, starting with the Red Rooster and Stow Blues Festival just outside of Essex.

We are headlining Stow Blues as the whole band on Sat 6th June.

Then towards the end of the month, we have Walthamstock and the Leigh Folk Festival. As we go into July, there is the 3foot People Festival (which is now sold out) and then on 4th July, The Fling, where It’s Your Media will be hosting a stage for the second year starting with a blues jam (jammers must pre-book), the winners of Essex Undiscovered, Arcaves plus Penguin Party, Papa Shango, Sound Mirrors, Happenin’ Boy, Mike Rasmussen, The Blues Spiders, Rostock and headlining from last year, the fantastic Pie Face (Faces and Small Faces tribute band).

There are many other great events taking place, including The Rubettes playing at the Chelmsford Social Club on Saturday 13th June - I am sure this is going to be a fun night. (see page 11 for a competition to win tickets).

So remember, to find out what is on where and when, pick up your free copy of Chelmsford The City Times today with our comprehensive what’s on guide in it.

As ever, help to keep music live by going out there and watching and enjoying it. www.bluesinthecity.co.uk Facebook: bluesinthecitychelmsford Twitter: Blues in the City1

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MT Gardening The Kitchen Gardener Continue to pinch out the side shoots of cordon tomatoes. This conserves energy and re directs it where the flowers/fruits are forming.

Deadhead herbs unless collecting seed for future sowing or use as a seasoning. Simply use shears on plants such as thyme, oregano and marjoram. Plants will continue to send out new lush sappy growth and maintain a compact form. If collecting seed, clean and store in paper packets in a cool, dry and dark place.

Sow beetroot, calabrese, kohlrabi, oriental greens and salad onions.

Dig in early sowings of green manures before they flower. These are ideal for improving soil fertility for subsequent crops and for keeping soil erosion and leaching to a bare minimum.

frequently used hand tools, and it’s easy to carry around the garden. Keeping all your tools together will save you many a trip to the garden shed.

When you rake, put your leaves in plastic bags, and let them compost there. This method saves the trouble of turning a compost pile, and once the leaves have composted, it’s easy to take the bags to the desired spot and spread the compost around. To start the compost process, squeeze the air from the filled bags, poke holes in them to make sure air can reach the leaves and add some water.

Sow endive, oriental and winter salad leaves, radishes, spinach, spring cabbage and turnips.

Be vigilant throughout the summer period for blight on main crop potatoes, spraying where necessary. Infection can be reduced by earthing up deeply. If the haulms start to show symptoms, infected leaves should be removed as soon as they begin to die down. The following show good resistance: ‘Cara’, ‘Estima’, ‘Kondor’, ‘Maris Piper’, ‘Pentland Crown’, ‘Record’ and ‘Romano’. Spray with a copper based fungicide.

The Lawn Continue to add combination weed, feed and moss killer products but always remember to read the manufacturer’s guidelines carefully.

These compounds contain growth regulators that persist in grass clippings. If added to the compost straight away and used before the year is out as garden mulch, there could be growth problems for your choice ornamentals. Let the clippings rest in a separate pile for up to eight months before incorporating into general garden compost.

If the weather becomes too hot, reduce the height of cut. This will conserve water and keep the lawn relatively green in appearance.

Try not to turf or seed lawns at when water is a limiting factor. The best time to seed a lawn is April/May and again September/October.

Although technically, lawns can be turfed at any time of the year, it would be easier on you to do this when the ground is not frozen, turf is freely available and there is adequate water supply (not in hot weather).

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.

The Flower Gardener Dead-heading bedding plants on a regular basis to promote more flowers reduces pest and disease problems, maintains a more compact plant and therefore increases the seasonal interest.

Continue to tie in sweet peas for cut flowers; remove flowers just before their prime cleanly from the main stem, remove tendrils and tie the stem to the framework with garden twine. Keep well watered.

There is still time to sow spring bedding plants such as Erysimum chieri (wallflower), Myosotis alpestris (forget-me-not) and Primula cvs ready for planting out this autumn.

Continue to provide support to taller herbaceous perennials using link stakes and or brushwood.

Cut down by half Clematis viticella cultivars to get another smaller flush of flowers later this summer.

Timesaving Tips With the busy lifestyles we all have today, it’s hard to get around to all the necessary garden tasks. Here are two tips that may make those chores easier:

Moulsham Times

Keep your tools in one place so they’re easy to get to. A plastic water butt works well as a storage bin for a selection of your most 10

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Shaad Under New Management Under New Management

Sunday - Thursday Buffet Only £11.95 Seafood £2.50 extra

The Shaad Indian restaurant in Moulsham Street is under new management with a familiar face. Chef of 8 years, Sona Miah, has recently taken over the established restaurant with new manager, Shahin Miah. The relaunch has included offering special nights like the recent Fish Banquet Night over the bank holiday. They plan a number of special nights throughout the year.

The Shaad will be offering a buffet Sunday to Thursday with a regular menu on Friday and Saturday nights.

Sona, who has been a chef for 20 years, is keen to keep up the quality of food that Shaad has become known for.

Shahin, the new manager, Chef’s and house specials extra has joined - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Sona from a restaurant in Stratford. He said: “Sona and myself have known each other for many years and I could not turn down the opportunity to join him in this venture to run the front of house for the restaurant. We look forward to welcoming diners to our voucher must be presented when ordering restaurant.”

Voucher £5 off when you spend £30 or more on Fridays and Saturdays inc takeaways

Why not use the voucher in the advert opposite to try out Shaad!?

Win a Pair of Tickets to See the Legendary Rubettes

Win a pair of tickets to see the legendary Rubettes featuring Bill Hurd live in concert in Chelmsford on June 13th (2 pairs to give away).

Simply text ‘Rubettes’ to 07949 204734, to be entered into the prize draw.

The Rubettes, famous for their smash hits in the ‘70s and early ‘80s including number 1 chart topper, Sugar Baby Love, come to Chelmsford to perform a full 90 minute set as part of a fundraiser for a wonderful cause.

Event organiser Ben Whitehead shares a similar name with the chap who the fundraiser is in aid of: Ben White suffered a terrible accident late 2014 which has left him paralysed from the waist down. The aim is to raise some money to assist him in the renovation of his home to make it habitable with the lifelong disability he now has.

Ben Whitehead added that this is going to be an amazing night, with tickets now on a special offer available from www.sbcproductions. co.uk with booking fees scrapped right up until show time and a 20% discount applied.

The Rubettes featuring Bill Hurd, will be supported by the UK’s number 1 Status Quo tribute act, who will be getting the crowd into party mood before The Rubettes featuring Bill Hurd take to the stage.

This will be a night to remember, so book your tickets now to avoid disappointment.

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Mind Body and Spirit Charity Festival Returns To Chelmsford For the second year running, the ever-popular Mind, Body and Spirit Festival will be taking place in Chelmsford. The organiser, Chris Cozens of Life Arts, along with Paul King and the European Buddhist-Hanmi Association, are hoping that this year’s not-for-profit event will help raise much-needed funds for the Helen Rollason Cancer Charity.

The festival is taking place on Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th June, 10am till 5pm at the Marconi Social Club in Chelmsford.

During the weekend, visitors will find the venue packed with complementary therapies, stalls, spiritual guidance, health advice, meditation space, workshops, and healing music. Last year’s event was a huge success, but this year’s promises to be bigger and better with even more stalls, performances, talks and experiences that are truly inspiring.

What’s On At The Chelmsford Mind Body and Spirit Charity Festival!

Skincare Instant Youth Tips, Faery Magic, Demonstration of Spiritual Surgery, What is Reiki?, Connecting with the Goddess and Relax, Revive, Thrive. That’s not all though, there will be plenty more!

Sacred Spaces: The Buddhist Empowered Space has a special kind of healing calmness and is not to be missed! There are free 20 minute sessions throughout the weekend, where visitors can just come in, sit down, close their eyes and feel the stresses of everyday life melt away in this special place.

The Heart Behind the Festival

Spiritual Guidance: Amongst the personally selected readers in The Readers Room are international mediums, clairvoyants, a signature graphologist and psychic astrologer, as well as rune and angel card readers. Choose your favourite for spiritual, soul and astrological guidance.

Health and Therapies: The festival includes free spinal checks from a chiropractor, facial massage from holistic healers, spiritual surgery, Reiki treatments, head neck and shoulder massage, reflexology, hot stone massage, Indian head massage and crystal healing.

You’ll find over 70 stalls, 24 workshops and talks and a wide range of stage performances - that’s a lot to pack into two days! We can’t possibly fit the whole range of exciting events and happenings on this one page, so here are some highlights…

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Chris Cozens has been organising Mind Body and Spirit Events since 1999 and ensures all exhibitors are selected by merit, integrity, experience and professionalism. The result is a fabulous programme of events in once space, but that is not all, it is also about giving - not just to the visitors, but to charity too…

“I admire so much Helen Rollason and the charity that is her legacy. They work with complementary therapies in a similar way to me, so to support this charity is very close to my heart and touches the soul. Like so many of us I have lost people close to me due to cancer. Fifteen years ago, I worked with my first cancer patient. Desperately needing something for herself, she found being treated with Indian head massage and infused with Reiki, in her words ‘gave me peace, space and relaxation.’ I have always felt it a great honour and privilege to have been part of that experience and those moments have stayed with me ever since.”

Whether you want to learn a new skill, enrol on a course, talk to someone about healing, life coaching, spiritual guidance, natural therapies, clairvoyance, meditation or buy gemstones, organic skincare or art - you can find it the Mind, Body and Spirit Festival, an energising - enlightening and positive experience for all!

Workshops and demonstrations: The festival kicks off with a live demonstration of the new Aura Video system, and there will be some inspirational and talented speakers present throughout the weekend. Saturday’s itinerary includes: Introduction to Herbcraft, Powerless or Powerful, the Choice is Yours, Washing and Detoxing with Natural

Resources, a Mediumship demonstration and Crystals and Their Connection with Children. On Sunday you can catch clairvoyant demonstrations and talks on Top

is performing, creating sounds with beauty and depth to enhance spiritual awareness and transformation. Her album, A Hundred Thousand Angels, has sold over 100,000 copies worldwide! There are plenty of other acts to entertain and relax visitors with their unique melodies, using voice, guitar, flute, mandolin, drums, piano and saxophone.

Entrance: 1-day pass - £3.50 adults, £2.50 concessions, 16s and under free (accompanied).

2-day pass - £5 adults, £4 concessions, 16s and under free (accompanied).

Stalls: There will be plenty of fabulous stalls to browse including coven crafts, natural eco washing and homeopathy, natural wellbeing products, raw crystals, angel pendants, original textile silk and batik jewellery, fossils and amethyst geodes, tarot cards, and jewellery.

Performances: The colourful and lively Kula Tribal Belly Dance will be appearing. World renowned singer, songwriter Lucinda Drayton

Visit: www.lifearts.co.uk for a full weekend programme guide.

MIND BODY AND SPIRIT FESTIVAL IN CHELMSFORD SUPPORTING HELEN ROLLASON CANCER CHARITY - Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th June, 10am till 5pm each day at the Marconi Social Club, Tydemans, off Beehive Lane, Chelmsford CM2 9FH.

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The Fling Festival 2015 - a Unique Summer Festival The Fling Festival, a unique summer festival of live music, cabaret and curiosity, will once again welcome adults of all ages to the glorious surroundings of Hylands Park in Essex on Saturday 4 July from 12noon.

This year marks the festival’s seventh anniversary and sees the exciting addition of camping; allowing festival goers to continue this exclusive party with alluring late night entertainment and Sunday morning activities.

Headlining this year’s musical feast will be the world-renowned Dub Pistols and the ‘best brass band working out of Britain!’ Renegade Brass Band, who combine eight horns with two percussionists, scratch DJ and live MC, to bring their raw brass sound and high-energy live show to The Fling Festival 2015. Working with Continental Drifts, Congo’s Kasai Masai will be bringing their special African flavour and the festival also welcomes Essex’s

Leddra Chapman. BBC 6 Music’s Shaun Keaveny will also be making a very special DJ set appearance in The Bassment tent.

Noise, Papa Shango, The Penguin Party, Bakerside and 12 piece group Nat & The Noise Brigade.

The Comedy Club Ltd will bring their riotous line up with some of the best comedians on the UK circuit. Featuring Joey Page (as featured on Never Mind the Buzzcocks), plus winner of the New Act of the Year Award 2013, Paul F Taylor and comedy acoustic rock/pop mashup band Rayguns look Real Enough. This year’s lineup is as hilarious as ever.

All of this plus an abundance of regional talent across four music stages, including Little Donkey and The Midnight Barbers, ukulele group D’Ukes, Kubricks, Band of Fools, Tall Dark Friend, Ady Johnson, Animal

The Fling Festival isn’t all about the music, with hundreds of comedy, cabaret, poetry, dance, side-shows and other performances taking place across the day. Other acts already confirmed include Buffalo Tank who will present a world of wonders with Mosschops and Sidewicket, Bam Bam Boogies & Team Traceur, Burlesque Jems, Afro Brazilian arts and culture, Eddie Muir, Tabitha Tease, Aylmer the Singing Worm, Fairyland Trust, Make Do & Mend and The Moustacheo Club, The Elation Station, Millie Dollar, Footprint Theatre Company, Imagination Station Puppets and Jo Peacock’s Horse World to name but a few.

Limited camping is available for £19 for those who have purchased a standard or VIP festival ticket. From 11pm, get a drink from the bar and head to the festival’s infamous silent disco.

Alternatively, grab a scrummy midnight snack (from one of our fabulous latenight caterers) and settle down to enjoy a night of storytelling, acoustic music and other special shenanigans. On Sunday morning, The Breakfast Club is open, and we invite campers to join in with The Sunday Stretch, with yoga and other activities to be confirmed.

Tier 3 Tickets for The Fling Festival are available from £26.50 (standard) and £37 (VIP). Add camping, including late night shenanigans and Sunday activities from just £19 extra via the Festival Box Office on 01245 606 505 or via www.

FlingFestival.com.

For up-to-date festival information, visit www.FlingFestival.com, like The Fling Festival on Facebook and follow @ FlingFestival on Twitter.

The Fling Festival is produced by Chelmsford City Council Cultural Events Team with support from Essex & Suffolk Water, High Chelmer Shopping Centre, First Group, The Printing Place, The Essex Chronicle, BBC Essex, 1159 Productions, The City Times, Sshhh Events and Dancing Giraffe. The Fling is also kindly supported by The Bassment, Bella Rose Events, The Comedy Club Ltd and Heybridge Creative.

MT Baking by Alison Motley The Tour de France, Secret Ingredients and Boozy Bakes.

Future themes were eagerly discussed in the meeting with some great suggestions.

Who doesn’t like cake?

I for one could happily eat it for breakfast, lunch and dinner (with a cake snack in between) and rather sheepishly must confess that I have done so on occasion!

Why the name Clandestine Cake Club? Well, each meeting is held in a different venue, which is only announced shortly before the date, adding a little mystique to proceedings. Our venue for this meeting was the Ideas Hub on Market Square. We had a lovely big table to spread out on (literally after eating so much cake!) and enjoyed listening to the neighbouring didgeridoo

different and all of them were utterly delicious. Most of all we had a laugh and ate a serious quantity of cake.

My thanks go to Nicola, who organises the local meetings and to all the lovely ladies who made me feel so welcome. Take a look at www.clandestinecakeclub. co.uk for more information.

Lyn kindly agreed to let me use her wonderful recipe for a summery strawberry shortcake for this month’s column. It’s taken from The Clandestine Cake Club Cookbook by Lynn Hill, £20 (Quercus).

Each event has a theme, which actually makes it easier choosing a cake to bake and leads to all sorts of creativity.

Our theme for this meeting was Delia v Mary, with Delia outbaking Mary by 5 cakes to 3.

Previous themes have included www.moulshamtimes.com

1. Preheat oven to 200ºC/fan 180ºC/gas 6. Grease and line a 20cm round, loose-bottomed cake tin.

3. Add egg, milk and vanilla and mix until combined. Do not overwork. The mixture will be quite sticky but do not be tempted to add any more flour.

Clandestine Cake Club (or CCC) members bake and bring along a cake to meet up with other cake fans. All cakes are cut up and shared during the meeting and at the end when you feel you just can’t manage another slice, any remaining cake is shared out and you leave feeling slightly sickly and with a smorgasbord of cake in your cake tin.

As with any club, there are rules.

Members must provide a large cake that can be cut and shared and no brownies, cupcakes, pies or tarts are allowed. As Lynn explains: “There is interaction and conversation as soon as you begin to slice a cake that you don’t seem to get when you pick up a cupcake etc.”

Filling: 350g strawberries, hulled and chopped in half 1 tbsp icing sugar 300ml whipping cream 1 tsp vanilla extract or the scraped seeds of 1 vanilla pod

2. Sift flour and baking powder into a mixing bowl and stir in sugar. Add butter and use your fingertips to rub together until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs.

So it didn’t take much to persuade me to attend the local Clandestine Cake Club meeting last month.

Lynn Hill set up the CCC in 2010, with the first event held in Leeds. The idea was simple: to encourage more people to get together for a chat over tea and cake. There are now local clubs all over the UK and further afield and the Clandestine Cake Club recipe book was published in 2013 with a second one due out later this year.

1 large egg 100ml milk 1 tsp vanilla extract or the scraped seeds of 1 vanilla pod caster sugar, to sprinkle

4. Put the dough into the tin and use your fingers or the back of a spoon to gently press it to fit the tin. Bake for 20 - 25 minutes, until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean. Remove from the oven and turn out on to a wire rack to cool. Sprinkle over the caster sugar while warm.

workshop when our meeting ran over. Past events have been held in pubs, cafes, village halls and even the park.

Best of all, there are no membership fees and the CCC is totally non-competitive. There is no judging of cakes and no worrying about soggy bottoms, every cake is oohed and aahed at and then happily demolished!

I came away buzzing, it was great fun to spend time with like-minded people (or perhaps it was the sugar overload!). The conversation flowed as everyone has a common interest and it was easy to discuss ingredients, share recipes and own up to our cake disasters! Every cake was

Strawberry Shortcake Serves 6 - 8.

Strawberry shortcake is an American classic, but here I’ve given it a British twist by adapting a scone recipe from one of my mother’s old recipe books. It’s a perfect summer treat. As with scones, this is best eaten on the day it is made, but it will keep for a day if stored in the fridge. Be generous with the strawberries - why not serve some extra on the side to mop up any leftover cream?

280g self-raising flour 1 tsp baking powder 50g caster sugar 85g butter, chilled, cut into small dices

5. Make the filling by mashing half the strawberries with the icing sugar in a small bowl.

Cover and leave in the fridge to marinate while the cake cools.

Whip the cream until thick, then add the vanilla and whip until soft peaks form.

6. Once the cake is completely cool, slice in half horizontally and spread the mashed strawberry mixture over the bottom layer, including any juices. Then place the remaining strawberries around the top edge of the cake, cover with the cream, then top with the other cake half.

I would love to hear from you readers with any suggestions and ideas for recipes you would like to see, or any hints and tips. Drop me an email at: motleybakes@aol.com.

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What Do Coaching Clients Want? by Mark Roberts Coaching is first and foremost about facilitating change and it can only be achieved with the client’s consent. That might sound a bit odd at first because you may imagine that if the person has sought coaching then they must be consenting to it.

The truth is that people turn up for coaching for a variety of reasons and in some cases they have been sent for coaching by an employer seeking change in their employee.

This is not the best-case scenario - as a coach I want them to succeed, because if they have success, I also succeed. For my part, I would not take on a new coaching client unless I was satisfied that they were fully committed to the process.

The key point about coaching is that it is about the client achieving change that is desired by them and this is where coaching always gets really interesting: In a lot of cases clients do not know what they actually want. You may think that this is slightly bizarre, I mean why

would anyone seek personal coaching without knowing what they want to achieve? If you take a few moments to think about this and start by asking yourself what change you would like to make in your own life, the answer to this conundrum becomes glaringly obvious as soon as you try to answer the question.

It is my experience that the answer generally comes out in the negative form of ‘what is not wanted’. As a coach, I hear this all the time, because most of us are able to identify what we don’t want. I will often ask a client: “what brings you to coaching?” Ninety-nine times out of a hundred the client will come back with something like: “I am not happy with…” or “I want to stop living my life this way…” Very few present themselves to me with clearly thought out objectives. Many of the clients that I have coached have been unable to tell me what they actually wanted to achieve.

In truth, we all experience this type of thinking as part of the human condition - it could be described as normal everyday thinking. My work as a coach enables me to help clients raise awareness about this particular type of negative habitual thinking. With effective coaching, clients begin to recognise that they always have a choice and learn to recognise when they are trapped in a negative thought spiral.

When a client understands that they have choice, it is a powerful gamechanging moment; possibilities abound as they start to realise they have the power to choose their own future. Then the coaching can really begin…

For more about Mark Roberts, visit his Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/ intelligentlifestrategies.

If you would you like to write for any of our magazines, or have a one-off article to send us, please email: editorial@ itsyourmedia. co.uk

The Orange Tree - Pub of the Year Again The Orange Tree in Lower Anchor Street has been awarded the accolade of being the Pub of the Year 2015, repeating last year’s success. The Competition is a national one run by CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale, with Chelmsford and Mid-Essex branch winner The Orange Tree being judged by members of other branches as well to find the Essex Pub of the Year.

The categories for judging are: • The quality of the real ale and cider • Atmosphere/style/decor • Service/welcome • Community focus • Sympathy with CAMRA aims • Overall value

cider. With darts, Thursday curry night, a weekly charity quiz and a Burn’s supper in January, there is plenty to keep the customers satisfied. Whether you choose the saloon, public bar or the patio, you are sure of a great choice and welcome from landlord Mike Collins and his friendly team.

By Claire Irons, Publicity Officer Chelmsford and Mid-Essex CAMRA.

As well as always having the award winning Mighty Oak Oscar Wilde Mild, you can choose from several ales ranging from golden, bitter and another dark one such as a stout or porter. Beers are served direct from the casks behind the bar, as is at least one real

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17

Essex Rock Histories

The Graham Bond Organisation

The name Graham Bond is unlikely to mean anything to anyone under the age of fifty, but the musicians that passed through his rhythm and blues bands were linked to some of the most prominent groups of the 1960s. There were three groups that served the function of providing early training grounds for the most talented musicians of the post beat boom era created by The Beatles and other groups that grew out of the wake of the Merseybeat sound. Firstly, there was Alexis Korner’s Blues Incorporated who themselves had grown out of Chris Barber’s Jazz Band and his interest in American blues music. Bond and all the musicians he fostered, played with Alexis at one time.

Korner’s harmonica player, Cyril Davis, was the man who taught Mick Jagger to play harmonica. Jagger, Keith Richards, Brian Jones and Charlie Watts all did stints sitting in with Alexis and his band before The Rolling Stones emerged.

The second band where ‘60s blues musicians cut their teeth was John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers. John came from Manchester, but it was when he arrived in London that blues purists were drawn to join his ever changing lineup to make a name for themselves. The biggest purist, when he first arrived from the commercially successful and - he thought - thus compromised Yardbirds, was Eric Clapton. When Eric left to form Cream in 1965, he was replaced by Peter Green, founder of Fleetwood Mac and already known for his work with Van Morrison’s Them keyboardist Peter Bardens in the Peter Bs and Rod Stewart/Beryl Marsden’s Shotgun Express. Peter Green in turn was replaced by Mick Taylor, who became a Rolling Stone.

Both the aforementioned seminal groups were largely guitar orientated, with occasional brass horns playing a less important role, but Bond’s breakaway group from Korner was formed of musicians with a jazz background. At first, after the split, they were known as the Graham Bond Trio (although that should have been ‘and His Trio’) which consisted of Bond on keyboards and vocals, Jack Bruce on bass, Ginger Baker on drums, and John McLaughlan on guitar, whose style was of modern jazz improvisation which led him to form his own Mahavishnu Orchestra with shades of Eastern mysticism thrown in.

When John left later in 1963, he was replaced by Dick HeckstallSmith, also from Alexis Korner’s Blues Incorporated, on multiple saxophones. The band changed its name to the Graham Bond Organisation. Whereas the Blues Incorporated stream of musicians had arisen out of London’s Marquee Club in Oxford Street, a style of Rhythm and Blues centred around another nightclub, The Flamingo in Wardour Street, with jazz routes, exemplified by Georgie Fame’s Blueflames and Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band, featuring not only keyboards and rhythm section but large brass sections too. The Bond Organisation straddled the gap between the two styles.

Bond himself had previously been an alto sax player from 1960, in Goudic Charles Quintet, then the Don Rendell Quintet. He was born in Romford in 1937. His father was a lorry driver, it later emerged, and his single parent mother, as was usually the case in those days, put him up for adoption via a Dr Barnado’s home. He went to school in Gidea Park and discovered his talent for music. In later life, he became obsessed by the Western Quabalistic Magical Tradition and came to believe that he was an abandoned son of Victorian occultist, Aleister Crowley. Posthumous investigation revealed his true parentage to be otherwise.

Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker became best known for their teaming up with Eric Clapton to form Cream, a trio melding jazz improvisation

with traditional blues songs plus those penned by Bruce and poet Pete Brown. Baker was replaced on drums by John Hiseman who went on to form a heavily brass sectioned outfit called Colosseum with Heckstall-Smith on saxes - often two at once - and Chris Farlowe on vocals, whose band had been The Thunderbirds and who recorded later, with Mick Jagger’s support, on his manager Andrew Loog Oldham’s Immediate label, scoring a couple of chart successes with his deep soulful voice. Colosseum unashamedly used numbers from Bond’s repertoire, even songs that he had written.

Jack Bruce had often squabbled with Ginger Baker and left Bond before Cream formed, doing short stints in Mayall’s Bluesbreakers and even the chart successful Manfred Mann. Baker again teamed up with Clapton and soulful singer and keyboardist Steve Winwood from the Spencer Davis Group and Traffic, along with Rick Gretch from Leicester band, Family, to form Blind Faith.

Despite the musical expertise, Blind Faith lasted less than a year and only produced one album.

Bond was an innovator who built one of the first electric pianos and was the first musician to embrace the new technology of the day, in the form of the the Mellotron, a keyboard organ with earliest tape recorded sounds that made it possible for one person to create a whole orchestra and which developed into 21st century synthesisers.

He demonstrated it on cult ‘60s music TV programme, Ready, Steady Go in 1965. Like so many musicians, he suffered poor management and understanding from record companies, who failed to see that there was an underground club culture which was emerging, which paid little attention to the top twenty singles charts. His massive build was never going to make him a popular figure with teenybopper girl fans. He knew his own worth and was often frustrated that he never received the recognition he deserved. Combined with the effects of drink and drugs, it even lead to nervous breakdown. His first album, Sound of ‘65, featured mostly studio recordings of his stage act and lacked the sparkle of the live performances. There was even a ballad cover of a movie theme, Tammy, that was used as a single and which missed the mark with his audience completely. Also in ‘65 was the Organisation’s second album, There’s a Bond Between Us, with more studio recordings of live material, but featuring the Mellotron.

A Live at Klooks Kleek album did actually manage to catch the stage performance sound. Solid Bond, a double album, was recorded with guest musicians in ‘66 but was released later after tussles with record companies.

By 1967 there had been a seismic change in underground music as the psychedelic era kicked in and suddenly Bond was old hat, so he pulled up sticks and went to camp out in America, where he did

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session work with Harvey Mandel and creole voodoo man, Dr John. Whether it was Dr John who ignited Bond’s interest in ‘magick’, or just caused him to re-examine an earlier interest in the English strain of the occult, we will never know, but 1968 saw him release an American album, Mighty Graham Bond, which included Egyptian invocations, and in ‘69, Love is the Law, a catchphrase of Victorian Magus Aleister Crowley. Back in England with a wife, Dianne, and fronting a lineup called The Graham Bond Initiation, this trend became full flood as he released Holy Magick in 1969 with a cover replete with magical symbols and pictures of Bond in magical postures at ‘power centres’ of the British Isles. The lyrics reflected magical matters, and one side was a single track, with Bond returning to saxophone, for yogic breathing, and intoning Egyptian and Atlantean invocations to ‘build an astral temple of protection around the listener.’

The Initiation lineup soon followed this with We Put Our Magick On You. In 1971 the Mighty Graham Bond was released in the UK as Graham Bond in America.

Post-psychedelic mysticism had spawned groups like Black Widow - who were advised on there stage act by witch leader, Alex Saunders - and the less authentic Black Sabbath. The term Roccult had been coined, but the trouble was that occult paranoia was so ingrained in the media and Hollywood that no-one wanted to know and Bond’s great, if somewhat delusional, plans for his music flopped. In 1970, to make a living, he turned to old mate Ginger Baker, who was by then running an outfit called Ginger Baker’s Airforce for work, then briefly did the same in The Jack Bruce Band as Jack also cashed in on his post-Cream fame and he finally teamed up with Cream lyricist and poet Pete Brown in Bond and Brown after Brown’s Battered Ornaments was reconfigured. They recorded Two Heads Are Better Than One (which failed to impress anyone) and in 1973, fuelled by musical and marital failure and drink and heroin dependency, he was hospitalised as a result of a breakdown. Upon release he was involved with a folk rock duo that they called Magus, but whether they would have created any interest became only a matter for speculation, as the mighty Bond wound up under the wheels of a tube train at Finsbury Park station in 1974 at the age of 37. Owing to the depression he suffered as he went out of fashion with the music buying and supporting public, it was assumed to be suicide, but no one knows for sure if he fell by accident or not. He carried a lot of weight and although thought to have been clean of heroin, had experienced many forms of intoxication that might have contributed to such an eventuality.

Long John Baldry, who had worked with Bond in Alexis Korner’s Blues Incorporated before forming his own breakaway group The Hoochie Coochie Men and subsequent bands with Rod Stewart, added a further possibility into the pot when he said in the News of the World that he had lived in a house that he thought was haunted and knowing of Bond’s interest in the occult, had asked him if he could exorcise it. Bond turned up with some acolytes and did what was asked of him. Baldry said that after that there were no signs of hauntings in the house, but it seemed to him that afterwards Bond himself was possessed! www.moulshamtimes.com

19

MT Therapy by Jenny Hartill After harping on about self defeating behaviours and addiction for the past few months (ok maybe longer ;-)) today I am finally going to change subject!

I want to tackle an issue that is most probably one of things people never really talk about, are too embarrassed to talk about, or simply don’t know how to talk about it. That is the subject of psychological abuse.

Personally I believe that the term psychological abuse can be attributed to all kinds of abuse. The reason being that if anyone is abused in any way, at any age, it will have an emotional and psychological impact on the person. The very act of abusing someone - whether physically, mentally, environmentally, emotionally or verbally - makes the person feel negative. Even if the abuse begins at such a young age they don’t realise that it is wrong and it becomes part of their life-script, eventually they normally realise that the abuse was wrong as they grow up and discover that not everyone was treated like they were. Sometimes people abuse others using the excuse that they are ‘toughening them up’ and ‘preparing them for the real world’ - even in this case I believe the abuser is still gaining something else from it, even if on a level where they believe they are doing the right thing (perhaps because they were treated this way and believe this is how to parent, for example). They are usually living in an external (social) environment where abuse is seen as negative, so they must know on some level that what they are doing is wrong. Also, if they were abused as a child, they may remember how it made them feel and I think most would agree that no emotionally sound, welladjusted person would want to make anyone else feel negative.

There are many different types of abuse perpetrated by many types of people and these are usually people who occupy positions of power.

Even in the school playground, a bully will pick on someone they see as more vulnerable than them, someone they know will not stand up to them and threaten their position of power. Abuse can happen in many places: • • • • • • • • •

In the home In residential homes In nursing homes In hospitals In any type of day care or boarding care In schools In houses of friends or family By a therapist, counsellor, or other healthcare professional towards their client At work

Abusers can be anyone: • • • • • • • • • •

A partner or spouse A parent or step-parent or in-law A sibling Another relative A friend A neighbour A professional (teacher, doctor, lawyer etc) Someone the person is caring for A stranger A work colleague or boss

have a very warped view of how to gain love and trust. So, to start with, I’m going to explain some of the theories connected with child abuse: Psychological theories focus on the instinctive and psychological qualities of those who abuse. It is abnormalities within the individual abuser that are responsible for abuse. For example, abusive parents may themselves have been abused in childhood. Attachment theory derives from the work of Bowlby (1951) who carried out studies into the nature and effects of maternal deprivation on young children. He theorised that any significant separation of a child from the mother in the first five years of life could lead to a variety of psychological and social difficulties in later life, since proper bonding and attachment to the mother was crucial if a child was to benefit from physical protection and psychological security.

Psychodynamic theory claims that abuse and neglect are associated with maternal deprivation. The primary carer, who has often suffered abuse herself, displays a lack of empathy, sensitive awareness and response to her child.

Learning theory stipulates that behaviour is shaped or learned by the interaction of an individual with his or her environment. Child abuse is, therefore, the result of having learned or experienced dysfunctional child care practices, or not having learned functional child care practices.

Cognitive approaches merge to a large extent with modern learning theory approaches. The essential feature of cognitive theory is that the way people perceive, order, construct and think about the world is an important key to their behaviour. Lack of parenting skills, to cope with particular stages of their child’s development, leads to patterns of child maltreatment.

Social psychological approaches fall between focus on the individual and focus on broader social factors, they focus on the dynamics of the interaction between abuser, child and immediate environment.

The feminist perspective has had a huge impact on practice. This perspective sees abuse as an extreme example of institutionalised male power over women and children, ie men sexually abuse children as a means of exerting power and control. Feminist commentators have provided a challenge to assumptions which equate abuse with maternal deficiencies, confuse the term parent with mother and lead professionals to ignore male caregivers.

The reason I wanted to reference some of the theories relating to child abuse specifically is because many people assume that an abuser must have been abused in childhood. However, although many abusers may have suffered abuse in childhood, personally I believe there are many other factors that contribute to why someone will become an abuser. I believe that anyone who is an abuser must have a reason to abuse. They have something to gain from it. The main thing they gain is power over the other person. Therefore, logically that would lead me to believe they themselves feel powerless and this is their way of regaining their power. This is a major factor I would bear in mind if a client suffering abuse came to me for therapy.

One cannot assume the person’s abuser had a terrible childhood and this is their reason for abusing them. I also cannot assume that the client has been abused in childhood and this is a continuation of a previous pattern. People can be abusers or be abused at any time in their lives. For example, ‘elder abuse’ exists and the individual may never have suffered abuse in their lives until old age.

The one thing that all types of abuse has in common is that it destroys the trust that the person has with the abuser. Even though we are born to naturally trust our primary care givers, as we grow up we try to earn trust from others and so we do things to gain their As I’ve run out of word count, I’ll continue looking at the subject of attention and love. However, this can be substantially changed abuse in my next article. Until next time folks! forever if someone tries to take advantage of this, for example if someone sexually abusing a child tells them they are ‘special’ and If I can be of any help or if anyone has any questions, please feel they cannot tell anyone, the child may keep quiet because they fear free to contact me via my website: www.counsellinginchelmsford. they will lose the trust of the abuser. The child may then grow up to co.uk.

20

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A Sense of Place Musicians and composers have often encapsulated the feelings and sense of places within their music and songs. Waltham Singers will bring together a fascinating collection of such in their summer concert at Great Waltham Church on 20th June, 7.30pm.

Centre piece of the evening will be the first ever performance of Songs of Home by local composer, Jeffery Wilson. This beautiful set of six songs includes I din Knaow, a tale from our very own Essex, written (and sung!) in our rapidly disappearing real Essex dialect. Amongst others it also features an old folk song, Bushes and Briars, which hails from Ingrave, near Brentwood. Waltham Singers are proud to have the privilege to work with Jeffery and we hope you will also enjoy listening to the wonderful harmonies in this new piece.

The concert program includes Elgar’s Six Songs from the Bavarian Highlands, a charming set of songs using words by Mrs Elgar recalling their holiday together in the mountains. Incorporating a waltz-like Bavarian dance, a soothing lullaby and ending with the joy of triumphant hunters, this collection has something for all musical tastes.

The choir will also perform the fascinating The Kestrel Road by Peter Maxwell Davies, which uses the poetry of George Mackay Brown to bring to life the scenes and folklore of the Orkney Isles. Closer to home will be the lively Songs and Cries of London Town by Bob Chilcott, which will feature upper choir voices from the New Hall School Fibre Optics Choir.

There’s perhaps no better way to spend a mid-Summer’s evening than listening to high-quality live music performed locally and we would dearly love your support. Tickets cost just £13, with £11 concessions and £5 under 16s. Call Kate: 07808 584826 or visit: www.walthamsingers.org. uk for more info.

Waltham Singers is a mixed classical choir of 90 plus members rehearsing weekly at St Cedds in Moulsham, and performing in and around Chelmsford.

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21

Wine Corner

Hi everyone, hope you are OK and that you are taking advantage of the longer days of late spring. I do wish someone would tell the weather that is should be warmer than this though.

Something a bit different this month. I attended a wine tasting the other day run by the Essex Wine School. This particular session was an introduction to wine tasting by Neil Bull. Neil has achieved a level 4 diploma after studying with the Wine and Spirit Education Trust, (WSET) and this means that after the diploma, he returned to the WSET and became an approved programme provider, which means he is one of only 500 people round the world who is qualified to teach these courses up to and including Level 3. To me, he lives the the dream. After 30 years working in the city as a trader, he studied wines and spirits and after reaching his aim of level four, stepped out of the rat race to teach others about his passions; wine and spirits.

The event was held at the Anglia Ruskin University in Chelmsford (he also uses venues in Colchester and is soon to expand further with courses in Brentwood). Some of you might feel a bit daunted about attending an event like this, maybe feeling that you don’t know enough to turn up. Worry not, Neil makes the art of learning a very pleasurable and enjoyable event, including clear explanations about the wine-making process and the reasons different wines taste different, or sometimes why wines made from the same grape can taste different. This was made clear when the wine started to flow, with two Sauvignon Blancs, one from the famous Marlborough region in New Zealand, the other a Pouilly Fume from the Loire Valley in France. Both lovely wines with similar but different tastes. I liked both, but I preferred the French one.

The atmosphere was very relaxed with everybody joining in, discussing the various tastes, with Neil chipping in to explain why we were tasting what we were. We also tasted a wine from Alsace. As I have mentioned before, this region is on the Franco-German border and is similar to some German wines.

If you enjoy wine and would like to know more about how it’s made and how to appreciate the different tastes of a wide variety of wines, this is for you. It is a great evening out. I am sure you will enjoy the course and go home feeling more confident about tasting wine and getting the best from each bottle, as well as being more confident joining in with wine discussions at a dinner party.

You can see all of the courses by visiting www.essexwineschool. com, or contacting Neil on 01371 267260.

I’ve been thinking again, and you know what that means. Have you noticed that some signs don’t have have punctuation marks and this may cause confusion. The sign the lollipop person has outside the school states stop children crossing. Why, then, do they spend there time rushing in and out of the road to help children cross the road?

What about slow children crossing. Does this mean that if the child has a good turn of speed, they have to cross somewhere else?

I was reading recently that this year included a record number of supermarket own brand budget wines that received medals. The medals are awarded by the International Wine Challenge (IWC), where a team of experts ‘blind taste’ wines that are entered. The bottles are put into tasting bags which carry a unique number for identification, but does not give any hint of what the wine is.

This was followed by three reds, a Beaujolais from Burgundy, a Malbec from, of course, Argentina and finally a Rioja from Spain.

These were all very nice wines. Regular readers will know that I adore Malbec, but for me the star of the night was the Rioja Gran Reserva, a truly delicious wine. As we completed each tasting we discussed what we thought, with everyone participating. It seemed the natural thing to do and there is no real right or wrong, just interesting differences in what each person tasted.

At the end of several rounds of tastings, the wine can be awarded one of five medals: great value, commended, followed by bronze, silver and gold. The best of the gold medalists are tasted again to see which will be awarded the championship trophies. So if you are not sure which wine to buy, the medal system is a good guide to ones that the experts feel are best.

When asked about his favourite wine, Neil explained that although he has several, his absolute favourite is Gevrey Chambertin, a Pinot Noir from Burgundy. Sadly this was not on the tasting list this time!

I went to look at a new mobile phone the other day. I asked the assistant which one was best for me and he said: “that’s your call.”

The main things I came away with were that the course was a balance of learning about wine, whilst having fun with like-minded people in a comfortable atmosphere. There is, I think, still some snobbery around wine and wine tasting, but not on this course. No pretentious comments were heard and I noticed that Neil shared my views about some wine notes on the back of bottles, suggesting the the writers might be failed poets. As I have said before, I would totally share that view.

Outside of his wine courses, Neil enjoys clay pigeon shooting and is on a long term DIY project in his house in Stebbing.

He has a range of other courses, including an 8 week world of wine tour and a 4 week one on French wines. He also holds Saturday daytime courses that include lunch. I have already left Neil’s programme details around the house as a suggestion of a Fathers Day gift for that one.

Bin end chuckles

If a leopard did change its spots, would anybody notice?

Keep calm and carry on drinking (in moderation).

Deadlines for July edition Articles - 19th June Print ready art work 23rd June

One slight disappointment, though. As the course was held at the university, I thought that I may have come out with a degree in wines!

You won’t be surprised to know that I was wrong.

22

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Sign Up to the World’s Biggest Quiz Excitement is mounting as the date for the attempt to get Essex in the Guinness Book of World Records gets closer.

This fun day for all the family is being organised by Rotary clubs in the district and is aimed at getting the most people at a quiz at the same venue at the same time.

So, of course, you have to find somewhere big enough to stage such an event and what could be better than Roots Hall, home of Southend Football Club, who are having such a successful season. By the date of the quiz, they may have secured promotion either automatically or via the play-offs, so fingers crossed that it will be good news all round.

We need to get 2,500 people to participate to beat the record.

Everyone loves a quiz, so the Rotarians behind the attempt are optimistic, but with that number of people it needs people to book in advance rather than just turn up on the day. What day is that?

Saturday 6th June - and the time of the event has been fixed at 12pm to 4pm to give people coming from all over Essex time to get there comfortably but still have the late afternoon and evening to enjoy the rest of the day by the seaside.

Because it’s a family day, tickets have been priced at just £2 each!

Where else can you get a whole afternoon’s entertainment for that price? The questions will have something for everyone, young and old, so it might be a good idea to bring the kids along to help, but not essential. Food outlets will be open, or you can bring your own. It all adds to the fun.

for this event are going to the Lancaster Special Needs School in Southend, a really worthy establishment doing terrific work for local children with serious disabilities. Rotary supports local, national and international projects and on the 6th June you will be able to see a flavour of what Rotary does, particularly in Essex. It is about putting something back into the community, whilst also making lots of lasting friendships. If you feel you would like to be part of an organisation that makes a positive difference to the lives of so many people, there will be members at the Big Quiz who you can chat with to give you more information about the benefits of joining.

Rotary District Governor, Stan Keller, comments: “This is absolutely a win-win day. It puts Essex firmly on the map, it benefits a terrific local charity and the whole family can join in. It is yet another way of how Rotary works in the community. We are also extremely grateful to our sponsors who ensure the money raised will go to the Lancaster Special Needs School and they are worthy of mention: Alton Garden Centre, Mercedes-Benz Chelmsford, Iain Ramsay Dental Surgery, Graphic Impressions Printers, Waitrose, Phoenix Financial Services and 77 Agency IT.” Everyone is welcome; to break the record we need adults, children, your friends, neighbours, work colleagues - anyone with a pulse. Now is the time to book.

Tickets can be obtained online at: www.rotarybigquiz.org or from any Rotary club in Essex. A list of these clubs can be found on www. rotary1240.org or email enquiries@rotarybigquiz.org, See you there!

As most people know, Rotary is a worldwide charity and the profits

ing w o h S ts Spor er mm all su

Margaret and her team would like to invite you to visit their wonderful revamped beer garden!

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23

MT Charity

SOS MARCONI HALL STREET HELP US TO SAVE CHELMSFORD’S HERITAGE

Chelmsford Civic Society are campaigning to save the ground floor of the original Marconi Wireless & Telegraphy Works, Hall Street, Chelmsford.

Our mission is to create a dynamic multi-functional space for Marconi Heritage Exhibitions, together with STEM clubs for the next generation and community space for local groups to hire.

If you would like to make a donation, anything between £5 and £5,000, will be greatly appreciated. Please visit and pledge at: www.spacehive. com/marconiscienceworx.

We have 70 days to reach our target figure and if - and only if - we can achieve it, will the sum be taken from your credit card. www.facebook.com/ marconiscienceworx twitter.com/backthebid2mt

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Why I Hate Celebrity Fitness DVDs There is little doubt that many people live in a celebrity obsessed world, the popularity of the ‘characters’ in many reality television shows is testament to this, as is the huge numbers of people who follow celebrities on social media sites.

In line with this growing celebrity obsession has been the rise of the celebrity fitness DVD. Now please do not get me wrong, I am not against these DVDs per se. In many ways I am quite positive towards them. After all, they provide people with an exercise routine that can be performed at home with very little equipment, thus breaking down some of the barriers which prevent people from exercising - ie expensive gym membership and expensive equipment. So in that sense they are great. They are also short in length which fits in with most people’s lifestyles and often expertly taught by excellent personal trainers.

So, all good there then.

So what’s he complaining about? I hear you say.

Well, my major complaint concerns the way in which they are marketed, especially the covers of the DVD. I appreciate that the covers have to be eye catching, but more often than not they are down right deceitful. Many show a ‘before’ and ‘after’ shot of a particular celebrity with the before shot being taken of an unsuspecting celebrity in an unflattering pose wearing a bikini whilst on their summer holidays; and surprise, surprise the after shot is taken in a professional studio, using the best lighting with the celebrity adopting the most flattering pose possible, thus giving the impression of the most incredible fat loss.

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Another bugbear of mine is the suggestion that the celebrities have solely followed the exercise programmes on the DVD to help them achieve their new svelte-like body. To the trained eye, it is glaringly obvious that they have obviously done some form of heavy resistant training over a sustained period, almost certainly performed under the supervision of a knowledgeable personal trainer!

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And finally, my last complaint is the misinformed views of the viewer. I often hear people say ‘oh celebrity X has the most aaaaaammmmazing body, just look at her on the front of the DVD.’ Now I have already spoken about the magic of the camera and how given the right lighting and the correct pose (and dare I mention airbrushing?) can all combine to give the impression of the most dramatic body transformation! But what must also be made clear is that the celebrities are not (to coin a phrase used in boxing) ‘walking around’ at that weight all year round as people often think. Much like a boxer preparing to lose weight for an upcoming bout, so does the celebrity in preparation for filming the DVD - and I am sure with the pressures that they are under to look ‘good’ some of these weight loss methods will be extreme and unsustainable (unlike the nutritional advice given on the DVD itself!) Once again, much like a boxer who puts on weight after a fight, you can bet your bottom dollar so does the celebrity once filming has finished!

£70

Use celebrity fitness DVDs as a tool to motivate you to exercise in the comfort of your own home. They are great for this, but do not be surprised if your ‘before’ and ‘after’ photos are not so impressive!

For balanced, evidence based fitness advice, please do not hesitate to get in touch.

Many thanks for reading,

£170

Matt www.mlrpt.co.uk matt@mlrpt.co.uk 07939 316 401

25

Kid’s Page by Alexander Aged 6.

Ami’s Diary

I’ve had a busy month. First I was offered a casting for a crisp TV commercial, but I couldn’t go as it was in London in the afternoon and I wouldn’t have got there in time without leaving school early, which I couldn’t do as I had my Year 8 exams.

Then I got a casting for another commercial at Academy Film Studio in London. It was a fun casting where there were four kids on a roller coaster and we had to scream. I don’t think I got the job as there were loads of children there. I was disappointed at first as there is an orangutan in the advert and I thought I might meet it if I got the part, but then I found out that the orangutan is made by computers, so they don’t use a real animal.

I also went to a film casting in Camden and I had to learn part of the script for a girl called Sophie. I met the writer, director and producer of the film and the producer played one of the roles in the scene that I had to act in for the casting. He asked me to play the part in several different ways and it was all filmed. There was a part of the script where the camera did a really close up shot, so I had to act very quietly but show the emotion in my face. When I did it, he said: “wow I felt that...” which I thought was really good. I’m waiting to hear if I’ve got the part as they are going to cast the dad before making a decision, as we would have to look similar. If I get the part, it will be filmed at the end of June and a chauffeur would pick me up from my house to take me to the filming location, which would be amazing!

Facts About Space (All sourced from the web) A day in Mercury lasts approximately as long as 59 days on earth.

All the planets in our solar system could fit inside Jupiter.

The moon is 27% the size of Earth.

A full moon is 9 times brighter than a half moon.

Each time you see a full moon you always see the same side.

If you could drive to the sun at a speed of 88.5 km/h (55 mp/h) it would take around 193 years.

From space, the brightest man-made place is Las Vegas.

More than 1,000,000 Earths could fit inside the sun.

Funnies How does the man in the moon cut his hair?

Eclipse it!

How do you get a baby astronaut to sleep?

You rocket!

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Have you heard about the cow astronaut?

He landed on the mooooooon!

Why did the cow go to outer space?

To visit the milky way.

Where do astronauts keep their sandwiches?

In a launch box!

How do you organize a space party?

You planet!

Why don’t aliens eat clowns?

Because they taste funny!

Where would an astronaut park his space ship?

A parking meteor!

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27

Chelmsford Co-op Makes a Big Difference to a Small Charity!

Support from local businesses can make a huge difference to small charities - The J’s Hospice, based in Chelmsford, but serving young adult patients across Essex, was fortunate enough to benefit from the support of the Chelmsford Star Co-operative Society over the past 12 months.

“These funds will make a real and tangible difference to the lives of our young adult patients. Many have conditions which prevent them from living active lives - our role is to support and empower them to live their lives to the full - however short.”

Only a year ago, after a stringent application criteria process and employee voting, The J’s Hospice fundraising team were delighted to have been selected by the society as their Charity of the Year 2014/15.

Chelmsford Star Co-op have embraced the challenge of supporting The J’s Hospice with vigorous energy with staff taking part in challenges such as The Grand Canyon Challenge, Pedal for The J’s and numerous head and beard shaves! The J’s collection tins have been placed in each store across the county, plus there have been several raffles throughout the year. The J’s Hospice ambassadors were privileged enough to attend two events at the Quadrant Store in Chelmsford that were organised by the Chelmsford Rotarians with their French themed evening and the Women’s Institute celebrating their 100 year anniversary, where over £1,000 was raised respectively at each event.

The J’s volunteers have also supported Halloween and Easter events held in Braintree Quadrant and George Yard, having the opportunity to chat with local residents and raise vital funds. Vanessa Howard, Society Marketing and PR Manager said: “Chelmsford Star Co-operative proudly supports Essex charities and we are happy that our customers can give knowing that their money is going directly to a local charity where their donation is hugely meaningful.

“The J’s don’t expect money just to come to them; they work extremely hard as a team to come up with new opportunities to assist in their fund raising activities. They are not afraid of going big and what a tall order they set themselves to put on Chelmsford’s 1st marathon! It was a huge task, but they pulled out all the stops and did it.”

The final amount raised was an amazing £38,000! Nikki Perry, Communications Manager at The J’s Hospice said:

The J’s Hospice provide hospice care, respite and support to young adults, aged 16-40 with life limiting conditions and life threatening illnesses across Essex.

Only 30% of The J’s Hospice funding comes from statutory sources, the other 70% comes from direct giving and fundraising within the community.

The J’s Hospice was founded in 2004 and began delivering its Hospice at Home service to young adults in 2010.

Please see The J’s website: www.thejshospice.org.uk for more information about hospice activities or visit www. chelmsfordmarathon.org.uk for more information about the marathon.

A Bit of a To-Do by AB Handelsson Only four people had known the contents of the wallet; the owner, the wife, the thief and the policeman that recovered the item. It had ruined each of their lives simultaneously. Inadvertently left on display in an open briefcase on the 9.32 from Bristol, the wallet was easy prey for even the most amateur of thieves. Timing was everything. The Taunton-bound train was to stop at Weston-super-Mare, Burnham-onSea and Bridgwater before reaching its final destination.

The journey was otherwise uneventful; a coffee, a newspaper and the inevitable crossword puzzle. The train slowed as it approached the Burnham-on-Sea halt - it was a long time since it had been called a station. The thief leant forward, made the dip, hiding the wallet behind his FHM magazine; very casual. There was no contact, no reason for his victim to glance up from thirteen down - a bit of a to-do.

Slowly and silently, the electrics providing merely a background hum as the engine torque gained momentum, the train pulled away. A jolt! The points ran much less smoothly than the engine. Balancing both coffee and crossword proved too much. The coffee spilled into the open briefcase on the floor. He saw it immediately. He knew the wallet was missing. He knew it had been taken. He knew it was the young man with the lads mag.

His clarity of thought was commendable. No point in trying to stop the train, he was too far down the line to make chase. A phone call; not to 999 but to the local police. He knew one or two policemen. That was one of the benefits of rural life, you could still know the butcher 28

and the baker and sometimes a policeman. He phoned his friend and explained. “Leave it with me, I have a good friend in Burnham, I’ll get him to go down straight away see if we can pick him up on the long walk through Highbridge.”

By the time he had reached Bridgwater, a phone call: “Burnham-onSea police here sir, can you come to the station straight away. We’ve picked up your man with the FHM - and your wallet. Just come into the station, I’m the only one on duty.”

A taxi and 20 minutes later he entered the police station. “Where is he?” he asked. “I let him go,” replied the desk sergeant. “Why?” “Because I’m more interested to learn why there is a picture of you kissing my wife in your wallet!”

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The Mystery Cat by Bridget Metcalfe

purr. He was delightful.

This week I’ve been sifting through some ancient files on my PC. I came across a file called Mystery Cat and I opened it.

the neighbours knew him. So, I decided to send him home with a message. I typed a tiny letter, folded it and then rolled it into a tube shape. I threaded his collar through the tube and made sure it was comfortable and safe for him to wear.

The story goes that a very charming ginger and white cat had started dropping by. Being a lover of animals, this little cat impressed me with his confidence and friendly personality.

When I opened the door, he’d be waiting for me in the garden and would hop, skip and a jump across the lawn towards me. He’d rub himself around my ankles and purr as loudly as I think any cat could

It read: “I have been sent home with this message by some people who have been feeding me recently. I keep turning up at their back door and meowing VERY loudly (sometimes for a very long time), claiming that I’m hungry so that they feed me.

He wore a collar, but there was nothing to identify his owner. His coat was beautiful and shiny, his eyes were bright and he was quite the happiest cat I’ve ever come across.

One hot, sunny afternoon I offered him a drink of water and he drank the bowl dry. The following day, I couldn’t resist and bought some little cat biscuits for him. He was so thrilled when I offered him one, and then another, and then another. Then his visits became more frequent and he would announce his arrival every morning by meowing loudly until I opened the door.

A day or two later, James came home with some cat food and we fed the mystery cat. He’d found his way into our affections, but I knew that this couldn’t continue.

I was concerned because he must have lived close by, but none of www.moulshamtimes.com

“The lady says she has never seen such a hungry cat as I eat everything and she wonders if I live locally or perhaps my owners have moved. Or, maybe I’m just always a hungry cat who likes to get fed in two houses (as many cats do). After all, this is typical cat behaviour.

“The man (I like him a lot) has asked me to ask you to phone them on (number provided) if I’m your cat. Then they’ll know whether I do have a home or not.

“They are very nice people who stroke me a lot and I have been enjoying eating out at their place most evenings. They have also been serving a fantastic all day breakfast.

“Please let them know if I belong to you.”

And then, the strangest thing happened. He never dropped by again, nor did we hear from his owner.

I did perhaps catch one last glimpse of him walking perilously but confidently along the top of a distant neighbour’s fence. He jumped off the far side and that was that. He disappeared and I never saw him again. To this day, the mystery cat remains a mystery.

29

Volatile Descent: A Detective Carter Mystery by JR Blake - Part 6 Last time we saw DS Erin Carter and DI Eric Carter uncover that DCI Maslow may know more about Stephen Jones’ death than he realised. Now, DS Carter must interview her boss in the hope it will lead her on the path to truth, and the identity of her murderer…

Erin waited patiently with DI Eric Carter in front of the laptop. They were listening to the Skype ring tone as they called DCI Maslow. He answered: “DS Carter, DI Carter. How goes the investigation?”

“Sir” Erin replied, “we need to ask you a few questions. We just interviewed the hotel manager, David Thomas. He mentioned an incident that happened 30 years ago out here on the cliffs, he says you were involved and that you could shed some light.”

DCI Maslow went grey. He leaned back in his chair and looked away from the screen. That was just like sodding Dave, don’t tell them himself, let good old Charlie do it. He was just the same 30 years ago, kept his mouth shut, hardly a help to the police. Maslow looked back at the screen.

“Around 30 years ago a group of us at university went on a walking trip, ten days hiking along the cliffs, staying in grotty B & Bs, drinking too much beer, acting like students do with the added excuse that we were doing something constructive with the hike. It was fun. Until about four days in. One of our group, a guy called Benjamin Closer, went missing. Five days later he was found dead at the bottom of the cliffs. Most people thought he’d jumped, it was common knowledge that he was a devout Roman Catholic and homosexual.

There were rumours he’d tried to take his own life before. I didn’t believe it though, not this time. He’d talked to us about it, he was still conflicted but not suicidal - at least I didn’t think he was. Anyway that wasn’t all, the coroner’s report was inconclusive. Someone could’ve pushed him off. I just had a feeling in my gut that something was very wrong with that investigation, we all did, but the coppers at the time were determined that this was just another gay, religious bloke committing suicide and they could close the case. All of us had a feeling there was much more to it. I tried to play amateur detective, I asked around, but I had twenty four hours before I had to go back to university in London.

There wasn’t much I could do in that time, and there wasn’t much I could do when I got back. When I heard Stephen had died, I knew that whatever he was going to meet me about had something to do with Benjamin’s death. Steve in particular had always insisted that Ben didn’t kill himself.”

DS Carter’s mind churned this information over. One thing stuck out at her, there were too many similarities between these two deaths. Both men were religious.

Both men had secrets.

Both men had died after falling from a height. She believed

she had just discovered her killer’s modus operandi. She needed more information: “Sir, did you find anything out in your original investigation? Anything at all that could help us?”

“I’d hardly call it an investigation DS Carter, considering I hadn’t even joined the force by then, but although I didn’t have any concrete evidence, I always suspected that the owners of the B & B we were staying in at the time weren’t telling me something. I couldn’t quite put my finger on it, but lets just say they got my detective’s spidersense going before I even knew I had one.”

DS Carter was more than familiar with what DCI Maslow was referring to. A colloquialism used by their local division, DCI Maslow was referring to the gut feeling an officer would get about a person or situation that didn’t fit with the information at hand. In other words, something was amiss and somehow the spider-sense was the subconscious trying to communicate this to the officer. Carter had been prided on her spider-sense plenty, and right now it was telling her to trust her boss and investigate the B & B and its owners. It was also telling her to send DI Carter to his local station to acquire those old files into Benjamin Closer’s death. She turned to DI Carter, this time her spider-sense was telling her she wasn’t going to enjoy the next conversation…

“DI Carter, can you go back to your station and ask for the old files on this case and the coroner’s report too. Diane can have a look at that to see if she spots anything.” She turned to her boss on the screen: “Sir, we’ll likely need to speak with you again….” DCI Maslow cut her off: “Carter I’m on my way. I’ll be with you in a few hours, I’m emailing you the details of our other friend that was with us on the trip. His name was John Wood, he fell in love with Wales when we visited and relocated there when we finished university. The B & B we stayed at was called The Rising Sun. I’ll email those details as well.”

DS Carter replied, “Thanks sir, see you shortly.” She had plenty more questions but it would be easier with DCI Maslow there with them.

“I’ll get those files on one condition...” DI Carter said to DS Carter, “come to dinner with me tonight. I know you like a lasagne and drop of white wine or two.”

DS Carter’s detective spider-sense, once again, was spot on.

Tune in next time to see what Dr Diane Looker makes of the coroner’s report and how DS Carter and her ex-husband, DI Carter, manage to get through dinner….

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Quiz Answers

20. It is a large water Looking to Earn tower in Colchester.

21. It’s famous school.

1. Campaign to Protect Rural Essex.

Extra Cash?

22. Queen Elizabeth the 2. Great Bently.

Full time/Part Time/ first.

3. The oldest wooden church in the world.

23. WW1.

4. Epping to Harwich. £ Times to suit 24. Danbury Park.

5. 1953.

25. Rainsford End, 6. An ancient area of land. £ Chelmsford.

7. Heybridge to Chelmsford (Brown’s Wood Yard).

26. Agricultural 8. Caesaromargus. machinery.

9. Cutlers.

10. Planning the voyage of the Mayflower to America. 27. Galleywood Common.

28. Foulness.

11. The Flitch Trials.

29. Crocus.

12. Queen Elizabeth prepared to defend England 30. Oysters. against the Spanish Armada.

31. Maldon.

13. Sible and Castle.

32. Finchingfield.

14. 1948.

33. Ada Cole (horses).

15. A headland (same as ness).

34. The Roding.

16. The Dutch.

35. Coggeshall.

17. An owl.

18. A well-known photographer. ads@itsyourmedia.co.uk Remember, if you would 19. Brentwood (top of the High Street). like to submit a quiz to us, please email: editorial@itsyourmedia.co.uk.

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31

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