Moulsham Times - August 2022

Welcome to the August edition of Moulsham Times

Next month is Heritage Open Days run by Chelmsford Civic Society. Perhaps pull out the centre pages and pop on your wall, as there are 40 free events, 10 virtual and 30 live events to choose from!

There are plenty of other events coming up too of couse;, pick up The City Times to see the full What’s On listings.

Please do not hesitate to contact me using the details below if you wish to advertise your business or event in the September issue. We are fairly well booked up on front pages, but can always place adverts on the inside pages of the magazine.

Regards

Paul

Advertising & Editorial

Paul Mclean 01245 262082/07595 949701 paul@moulshamtimes.com

A few weeks ago I joined students from Chelmsford College for their annual awards ceremony. I am a big fan of the college and every time I visit I am struck by the huge energy of so many students so keen to learn.

The young people I met were deeply impressive, excelling in such a wide range of subjects, from cyber security to childcare, engineering, communications, design, and forensic science. I know they will go on to do great things.

so much of our city’s role in the development of communications.

I am holding our third Apprenticeship Fair at Anglia Ruskin University on Friday 23rd September 2022. Last year’s fair was hugely successful; hundreds of students came along to meet the many businesses and organisations from engineering to accountancy, law, health, policing, and the armed forces. Our young people need a hand up after the difficulties and challenges of the past two years. I know these fairs make a real difference, and all are welcome.

Finally, for July I committed to go plastic-free for the month. By making a small change as we go about our daily life, we can help to reduce single-use plastic waste at home, work, and school.

As ever, if I can be of any assistance, please contact me by email at vicky.ford.mp@parliament.uk.

I meet recently with the District Commander of our local police to discuss the work they are doing to tackle drug dealing and county lines activity locally, especially in and around the city centre. This is a top priority for the police and they have made recent arrests.

I know that there is also a very active neighbourhood watch group in Moulsham, and the police have asked me to thank all of you who provide intelligence to the police. They also wanted to reassure people that the police will always work to protect the confidentiality of those who give this intelligence. Please do be assured that by sharing what you see, you are helping to protect others, and the information you share will not be shared in court proceedings or used without your permission.

I enjoyed a visit to the Chelmsford Innovation exhibition at ARU and I particularly enjoyed seeing the original camera used to film the Queen’s Coronation 70 years ago, which was designed and made in Chelmsford at Marconi. It was a wonderful exhibition that highlighted

MT Health: Is Running Bad for Your Knees? -

By Chris

at Forté Physical Health

Last year I was chatting with a friend, and we decided that in 2022 we wanted to have an adventure. After a little bit of research, we landed on an ultramarathon in Snowdonia.

At the time of booking it, a long run for me was 7 miles, but I diligently stuck to a plan and built my training runs up to 27 miles and improved my leg strength. This culminated in the race of 32 miles around the mountains of Snowdonia, which, as you can imagine, was a little bit lumpy!

Throughout my training plan, as I was chatting to my patients about what I was up to, the question I got asked the most was, ‘isn’t that bad for your knees?’.

Well, I am out the other side of the race now, and I am unscathed, so I thought now would be a good time to answer this question.

Before I do, let’s discuss some of the fundamentals of running. As you know, running differs from walking because there is a moment between each step where you are entirely off the ground. When you land, depending on how fast you are going, up to five times your body weight of force can bounce up into your body. This sounds scary, doesn’t it? Surely this is bad for our knees?

But then we must remember that we are born to run. We know this because we have evolved anatomical adaptations that are specifically utilised in running, like the angle of action of our glutes and a connective tissue in our neck (the ligamentum nuchae), which keeps our head stable when we are running which isn’t needed when walking. We are a species that can and should run, even despite the scary sounding physics behind it.

Thankfully the research is on my side, and there are no links between running and things like knee arthritis.

However, many people worry about their knees, and may even have had knee troubles because of running, so let’s talk about the two most important factors to prevent knee pain when running.

First up, technique. When you learn to swim, you have swimming lessons. If you play golf, you have golf lessons. But running? People just put their trainers on and go. Although we have evolved to run, modern conveniences like shoes, chairs and cars can mean we have developed weaknesses and poor movement patterns that mean our technique isn’t up to scratch.

There are many elements to good running form, but the most important one regarding your knees is where your foot lands relative to your centre of mass. Imagine watching a runner in slow motion from the side. Their centre of mass is just behind their belly button. From this, draw a straight line down to the ground, and notice how close their foot strikes to this point. In good technique, the foot strikes the ground close to this line; in bad technique, the foot reaches way out in front of the line.

When you run, and your foot swings forwards to hit the ground, focus on pulling it underneath you slightly. If you have never done this before, it can feel strange! This is normal and can take a few weeks to get used to.

By doing this, you are harnessing Newton’s law of motion: action equals reaction. If your foot lands out in front of you, the forward momentum reacts back into your ankles, knees, hips and back. If your foot lands underneath you, by the time the body has undergone its elastic spring of landing on the floor, your centre of mass is in front of the landing point. Not only does this prevent as much force from bouncing into your joints, but it also makes you more efficient because the reaction pushes you forwards, not backwards.

This may sound slightly confusing, but thankfully it is easy to teach yourself the basics of running technique by watching YouTube videos. I also recommend using your phone to film yourself, because the elements of running happen so quickly that it can be hard to feel them in real time.

The second factor we need to speak about is strength. As I alluded to earlier, the modern world makes us weak. Shoes weaken our foot muscles, favouring chairs over the resting squat weakens our thighs, and choosing to drive instead of walking reduces our fitness.

A simple formula to follow with the body is that when the load is greater than our capacity, it can lead to injury. If we don’t have the capacity in our tissues to handle the five times of body weight of force bouncing through them thousands of times in a run, this overloads them.

As a budding runner, you need at least one strength day in your week, preferably more. It doesn’t need to be in a gym, and using body weight is fine, but having a routine that strengthens your lower limb and core muscles will help you build resilience to cope with your hobby.

So if you have been wanting to get into running but have been worried about the long-term effects, you can rest assured that there is no need. If you are already a runner struggling with knee pain, you need to ask yourself - is your technique okay and are you strong enough?

In my clinic, we help people recover from aches and pains and get back to running all the time. We also offer running assessments where we film you with a special app when running outside, so if you have exhausted all avenues but still have pain when running, drop us a message at info@fortephysicalhealth.co.uk, and I’m sure we can help.

Until next time, have a healthy and happy month!

Mr and Mrs C first stumbled across Regal Kitchens when they were looking to improve their Chelmsford property in 2011. Regal helped them with the design and installation of a beautiful kitchen in painted timber with a range cooker and traditional mantel.

Fast forward to the present: When Mr and Mrs C purchased a new house in one of the villages, they quickly realised that although the kitchen was a generous size, the design was unsuitable and the cabinets were of poor quality. They didn’t hesitate in making contact with their old friends at Regal.

Looking for something different to their previous kitchen, they selected modern German handleless furniture. Contrasting white gloss with concrete fascias prevents the room from appearing too clinical, and adding LVT flooring in a rustic oak herringbone pattern adds a warm, natural feel to the room.

Placing a top spec venting-hob on the island allows plenty of food preparation space without the requirement for a bulky extractor. The Neff Slide & Hide oven in conjunction with the matching combi-oven and warming drawer, means that no matter how many guests are invited, Mr and Mrs C can always cater for them.

Internal drawers, integrated bins and a corner pull-out means that there is ample intelligent storage and everything has its place.

The icing on the cake is the Quooker kettle appliance dispensing boiling water instantly, ensuring that they always have a cuppa on tap with the bonus of keeping the quartz work surface clutter-free.

The clients have thanked the whole team at Regal for once again transforming their house into a home fit for royalty.

www.regalkitchens.co.uk

Regal Kitchens’ showroom in Chelmsford is situated at 2 Navigation Road, CM2 6HX and open 7 days per week between 10am and 4pm.

MT Gardening

After those hot few days we’ve recently experienced, it’s time to get out and about into the sun and make a few adjustments or tweaks to those beds and borders. For one thing I’ll be checking out the maintenance of a number of plants, especially all those herbaceous examples. This group of plants need regular maintenance:

Fertilisation

I apply an annual application in spring of a balanced fertiliser such as Growmore @ 100g/m² or blood, fish and bone @ 70g/m². At this time of year boosting growth with a suitable liquid feed really does help. Try the various seaweed based products out there to strengthen and enhance flower production. This year I’ve even produced a liquid tea from comfrey. Check out this link: www.rhs.org.uk/about-therhs/publications/the-garden/the-garden-back-issues/2013-issues/ november/Garden-practice-Liquid-feed.pdf.

Weeding Regular weeding will be required (particularly in the spring and early summer). Try to remove weeds as you see them - and with annuals, remove prior to flowering to reduce their spread.

Staking

This is best carried out before being required.

Materials used range from pea sticks, or lengths of hazel coppice, to bamboo canes and metal linking stakes. Staking should be as unobtrusive as possible to allow the natural form of the plant to develop and should be 15-30cm shorter than the ultimate height of the plant. At a recent trip to the gardens at RHS Great Hyde Hall, I was able to see a whole range of support systems in place, such as rose stakes and string, plus the use of hazel prunings pushed into crowns and woven into shapes over taller species.

Irrigation

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

Deadheading

Deadhead where possible as this will encourage a longer flowering season, although do consider the various seed heads that could be retained to extend the season of interest and provide a resource for wildlife.

Pests and Diseases

Monitor and treat pests and diseases accordingly. Commonly occurring problems include aphids, slugs and snails, vine weevil, grey mould, powdery mildew, stem and bulb eelworm.

Division

Leave this until the end of the growing season, although I have had great success lifting, splitting and dividing bearded irises and primula species when they have finished flowering.

Mulching

An annual application of a layer of leaf mould, well rotted farmyard manure or garden compost helps to reduce weed seed germination, conserves soil moisture and improves soil structure. At this time of year, top up where there are gaps.

Lastly, if you’ve got basil growing in various pots, keep taking softwood stem cuttings (or sowing) to increase stocks. Check out this link: www.rhs.org.uk/propagation/softwood-cuttings.

For those looking ahead, check out this sneak preview for July gardening tasks: www.rhs.org.uk/advice/in-month/july.

Happy gardening

For any gardening tips, please contact Tom Cole, Horticultural Lecturer, Capel Manor College, Bullsmoor Lane, Enfield, Middlesex, EN1 4RR, or email tom.cole@capel.ac.uk.

Deadlines for the September edition:

Articles - 17th August

Print-ready artwork - 25th August

As many will know who have read my previous articles, I love to visit our local reservoir at Hanningfield. Before you go, you have a good idea of the types of birds you will see - Canadian geese, mallard ducks... but on a recent visit I encountered a face I have never seen before. Bright pink salmon coloured feet, a mixture of brown, black, orange and striped feathers and a bright yellow eye that was made even more mesmerising by the patch of brown around it. The goose was by itself and seemed rather friendly, so I took a few pictures (shown below), and was desperate to know what type of bird it was; at the time I didn’t have a clue!

When I went to visit one of the hides with a range of drawings and types of birds listed that could be seen at the reservoir, I was unable to see one like my little friend. All was not lost though in my search to find out the species of the bird, as I had a photo in hand and a willing determination to type a very vague description into Google to try and find an answer. It took a little while but eventually I found it - the bird was an Egyptian goose.

The birds are from Egypt and were considered sacred in ancient times. They are now residents in the south east of the UK and other European countries, but that has not always been the case. In the later part of the 17th century they were brought over from Egypt as ornamental water birds to sit in the country ponds of rich gentlemen. They were popular due to their vibrant, unique feather colours and the patch around their eyes that some thought looked like they were wearing spectacles. Many escaped from captivity and are now successfully breeding without restriction.

The birds that had been brought over found it hard to breed in the UK due to a harsh change of climate and because their breeding season is in January - the coldest month in our country. Climate change has made the populations gradually increase and acclimatise to our unique weather, and where previously they were only found in the Norfolk Broads, they have now expanded across the entirety of

Norfolk and even into neighbouring counties, including our own. There are believed to be around 900 breeding pairs in the Norfolk Broads alone.

As they are not a native UK bird, some wonder if they could provide competition to our native species and cause a decline due to competition for resources like food, breeding grounds and habitat. This may not be known for some time, but as a species that is known to be territorially aggressive towards their own when breeding, they could possibly see others as a threat and wish to protect their territory.

I have learned a lot from researching the Egyptian goose and am happy that I got the opportunity to see such a pretty and unique bird in person. Now you have seen a picture and know a bit about the species, keep an eye out - you might just see one by chance as well!

Holly runs Holly’s Evergreen Dog Walks in the areas of Great Baddow and Moulsham Lodge, offering a friendly, professional and personal service for your dog. You can call or text on 07906 517 931, or email hollysevergreendogwalks@hotmail.com for enquiries and bookings.

A Unique Goose From Afar: The Egyptian Goose - By Holly Lucking

Nick Garner’s Music & Ramblings

Wow, it is very hot as I am writing this, but I am drinking plenty of water and taking things slowly. I hope you too have been careful during this first bout of record breaking extreme heat!

I checked on some friends and family to make sure they were ok and some of my neighbours too, as we don’t know what this heat might do in this country, as we have never had it so hot here before. It is now Tuesday and seems to be even hotter - last night was crazy hot.

I am currently getting ready for a family gathering with my brothers and sister for the first time in over three years, and then I am off to two of the concerts in Central Park. After that, I embark on a trip in my caravan to three festivals, which should be fun. It will be great to catch up with friends, and I hope thse festivals will be busy for the organisers.

We have just had the Fringe Festival here in Chelmsford. Sadly I did not make any of it but have had great reports about some of the events that took place - you may have noticed the large stage in the middle of the high street. I personally think we need more going on in the city to give people a reason to visit us. Our council needs to step up and offer more for people to see and give them a reason to stay here. We do not even have a tourist information in the city which amazes me.

I have not given up on my idea for a cultural, arts and multiuse centre, as we have nothing appropriate to use at present in Chelmsford l feel. Though I cannot get a meeting with either the city or county council to even put forward my thoughts.

I don’t know if you heard the letting off of fireworks at around 9.30pm during the two hottest days/nights? I find it unbelievable with the ground being so tinder-dry - someone said it would all have been verified for safety if official, including where the fireworks would land, which I find amazing as there was a breeze as well - and the fire brigade say they had not been so busy since the 2nd World War. Besides all that, what about the animals who get distressed by the noise? I think it must be followed up and the those responsible held accountable.

Music

I have to start with sad news of the passing of Claire Hamlin who battled cancer for over two years. Claire was quite possibly the best female boogie woogie keyboard player in the country and played with many of the greats. She would regularly turn up at open mics and jams in and around her home of Chelmsford. She played in many bands over the years. With the blessing of her partner of over 30 years, we will be putting on a tribute day on Sunday 30th October, where we hope many will turn up and help us celebrate her life while raising money for Farleigh Hospice and Cancer Research. More details will follow in future editions of our magazines.

We have just had our last gig for this part of the year. We will now be taking a summer break and return on 2nd September - with (the one and only) Chesney Hawkes!

Since the last edition of this publication we have had The Supernatural (celebrating the music of Peter Green), with Bex Marshall opening the night and joining The Supernatural on stage. Supernatural are an amazing band, featuring Greg Kofi-Brown who previously played with Peter Green. Others in the band knew Green too, and I am sure Peter would have loved them as their playing and interpretations of his music were fantastic. Bex opened with a solo set and wowed everyone. When she joined the boys for a couple of numbers it was just magical.

Our final show for this part of the year saw the return of The Rolling Clones who are celebrating 25 years. Rich Young opened the evening and was superb. You could see how much the audience loved his set.

It has been a few years since The Rolling Clones played for us previously, and this one was right after I had been to see The Rolling Stones in Hyde Park only a week before. I wondered how they would compare... They were great. They have the sound and the energy of the Stones just right and played for around two hours. They got the audience up and dancing and played all the classics - as did the Stones in Hyde Park. We will not leave it so long to get these guys back for another show.

I have been to see a couple of other events, one being The SharpeeZ who are back playing for us on Friday 16th September and will have Billy Boy Miskimmin on harmonicas and vocal (The Yardbirds and Nine Below Zero). This will be a double-header with The Dirty Strangers, as sadly Ben Waters has had to pull out of this show - but we are looking to get him here to play in 2023.

Take a look at my advert in this edition to see some of the acts we have lined up, including Chesney Hawkes and Lindisfarne. We are also busy booking for 2023 as well. Your best place to keep up to date is on our Facebook page or our website - all links below.

Hot Box and ourselves have a great line-up of live shows planned for Chelmsford for the rest of the year.

What us promoters and most venues across the UK really need is this: if you want to come and see a show then please book in advance if you possibly can, because if numbers are low then shows and festivals will be - and are being - cancelled as no promoter can afford to risk making a loss. For me, it is not about making money as long as I can break even, and it’s probably the same for many other promoters at present. If we cannot survive the acts will not have the venues to play, and therefore some bands will disappear as well. So it is that old adage - use us or lose us, I am afraid.

Please remember if you have any thoughts or events you would like to share, send them to editorial@itsyourmedia.co.uk and we will look to get them into the Moulsham Times or City Times for you.

If you have anything you think could be of interest to our readers for either publication, then let us know by emailing editorial@ itsyourmedia.co.uk - it may be an event or a topic of interest. Have you done anything unusual this year or are you planning something? If so, we want to know about it. Do you or know of someone who may wish to advertise with us? Please ask them to contact ads@ itsyourmedia.co.uk and we can send over full details.

Please note that you can get tickets for our shows in Chelmsford from Intense Records, Hopsters and Chelmsford 4Good - please pay cash in person. Tickets are also available online from www.wegottickets. com/BlackFrogPresents, or via our ticket hotline at no extra charge: call or text 07508 496 411 and you can then pay the advance price on entry to the show.

For all Black Frog Presents gig updates and information, go www. linktr.ee/BlackFrogPresents or scan the QR code on my poster in this magazine.

It would also be fantastic if you could share our magazines The City Times and Moulsham Times for us. We continue to publish both magazines online as well at www.issuu.com/itsyourmedia.

CCR at Chelmsford Carnival

It was great to see so many people at the Chelmsford Carnival on the 3rd July. It was such a lovely afternoon and we were very lucky with the weather. Did you spot us on the stage in Backnang Square?

Here’s just a few pictures from the day.

Thank you to Rolling Stage Hire for their support at the event, all our volunteers for coming along and the fantastic Chelmsford Festival team for organising a fantastic day.

If you have an event you’d like us to attend, please do get in touch via our website and we will put you in touch with the right people.

www.chelmsfordcommunityradio.com

Protecting Our Planet, E-Scooters and New London Road Pavements -

By Cllr Marie Goldman

Welcome to August! Summer holidays, sun and sun cream - these are my abiding memories of August in years gone by. I hope to look forward to plenty more fun in the summer sun for years to come, but sadly, none of us can take it for granted.

As the extreme heat of July showed us, the future of our planet isn’t looking as bright as it could if we all played our full part in conserving energy. We could choose sustainable methods of transport where possible, and help to protect and increase biodiversity through the use of things like environmentally friendly cleaning products, and leave the grass longer in the summer months to allow wildflowers to establish for the pollinators to feast upon.

As I type this, in the middle of the July heatwave, I worry about the future we’re creating for our children. As we see temperature records being broken across the planet - including right here in the UK - and as we witness glaciers melting and wildfires raging, it’s undeniable that the world we leave behind for the generations to come could be vastly different from the one we have all enjoyed.

It doesn’t have to be that way though. If we all do our bit, we can make the changes we need to safeguard our beautiful planet - we just need to decide to do it; and of course, some already have. For ideas about what you can do to help right here in Chelmsford, head over to loveyourchelmsford.co.uk.

E-Scooters

A few residents have been in touch with me recently frustrated about the inconsiderate - and sometimes illegal - use of e-scooters by a minority of users. Let me state from the outset that I think e-scooters are a good invention and I am generally very much in favour of them. But that comes with caveats. They must be ridden sensibly, safely and considerately, which isn’t always the case.

In Chelmsford, as most people know, we are taking part in an e-scooter trial which is now being operated by Tier (www.tier.app). These are the green and black e-scooters whizzing around the city. They are the only type of legal e-scooters, and although there are lots of other e-scooters around, these ones can be confiscated by the police and riders can, in serious cases, be prosecuted for riding them.

Residents have been understandably complaining about the use of e-scooters, including the Tier ones, on pavements that are supposed to be just for pedestrians. They have also been spotted being ridden with two people onboard, which is expressly prohibited on safety

grounds. While Tier have been responding to residents’ emails about this, the situation does not seem to be getting noticeably better.

At July’s Full Council meeting of Essex County Council, I raised this issue with the Cabinet Member for Highways, who agreed to write to Tier about this issue. You can watch me ask my question, and the response, on my Facebook page here: www.facebook.com/ MarieGoldmanLD/videos/550134793567929.

New London Road - Pavement Resurfacing

Finally for this month, I’m pleased to say that works will soon commence to resurface the pavements in New London Road. This will be from the top of Moulsham Street (near the Miami roundabout), all the way down New London Road to the junction with Lower Anchor Street. The section from Lower Anchor Street to Parkway will be done in the 2023-24 financial year.

I hope everyone manages to take some form of a break over the weeks to come. Keep well. Keep cool. Keep smiling.

Marie

Cllr Marie Goldman Deputy Leader, Chelmsford City Council City Councillor for Moulsham & Central County Councillor for Chelmsford Central

Chelmsford Boys’ and Girls’ Brigade

This term, the boys and girls brigades groups in Moulsham Lodge have been doing some different activities as part of their summer session. The younger groups took part in a Platinum Jubilee party, an evening of highland games at John Shennan Park, a beach evening, a photo treasure hunt at Oaklands Park, and an evening of crazy golf at Rascal Bay in Waterhouse Lane. The older groups took part in a tennis evening in Billericay, escaped from an escape room in Chelmsford Escape Rooms and played a couple of sessions of bowling at Braintree.

day in Twinstead (south of Sudbury) building dens, toasting marshmallows and firing a trebuchet.

The BB ended their session with their first award evening since 2019 - it was great to get the boys, parents and staff altogether to recognise the boys’ achievements.

BB and GB are taking a break over the summer and will resume again in September when there will be spaces for new joiners. If you know of any youngsters aged 5-11 years old who would be interested in joining in the fun, please contact us via enquiries@2ndchelmsford. org.uk. Further information on our activities can be found on our Facebook page, search: ‘@2ndchelmsfordgirlsandboysbrigades’.

As well as our company events, the girls got the opportunity to spend an evening with other local companies at Monkey Madness in Basildon, and the younger boys and their parents spent a fun half

MT History: The Siege of Colchester - By Henri Lewi

In the summer of 1648 during the English Civil War, the town of Colchester was besieged by Parliamentarian forces under the command of Thomas Fairfax, the Parliamentary Commander in Chief. The siege had been brought about by the retreat of Royalist forces led by the Earl of Norwich who, following a defeat in Kent at the Battle of Maidstone, had led his men from Kent through Essex with the intention of raising support for King Charles I throughout East Anglia.

Partially successful, his troop of 500 had been bolstered by the addition of numerous men from Chelmsford, Braintree and other Royalist hotspots in north Essex, commanded by Sir Thomas Lucas, who willingly joined the cause. Fairfax and his Parliamentary army and the Royalist troops under the joint command of Norwich and Sir Thomas, joined battle outside Colchester with the Royalist forces subsequently withdrawing into the town of Colchester. Here they awaited reinforcements from the Northern Royalist Army with the hope of relief and support.

The Siege of Colchester, which began on 12th June 1648. It lasted for 11 weeks until the Royalist forces surrendered on 28th August following the defeat of the Northern Royalist Army at the Battle of Preston in mid August, and thus denying the now starving besieged forces and population in the town any hope of support and relief. The defeat of the Royalist forces at Preston and the surrender of Colchester effectively ended the second Civil War that terminated the reign of King Charles I and subsequently led to his execution in January 1649.

The Civil War however, would continue for another two years whilst Charles I son (now called Charles II) would struggle and ultimately fail in achieving control of his throne. The matter was finally settled in 1651 when Charles II was exiled, and Parliament replaced the monarchy with the Commonwealth of England under the rule of Oliver Cromwell.

In 1797 what we now know as the nursery rhyme Humpty Dumpty first appeared in print in Samuel Arnold’s Juvenile Amusements with the words:

Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall, Humpty Dumpty had a great fall. Four-score men and four-score more, Could not make Humpty Dumpty where he was before.

This does poem does not relate to the large egg-shaped character that we are all so familiar with - this version of Humpty Dumpty appeared in Lewis Carroll’s Alice through the Looking Glass published in 1871, with the original poem possibly relating to an event occurring during the above mentioned Siege of Colchester of 1648.

The story that has been put forward is that Humpty Dumpty refers to a saker, which was a medium sized cannon used extensively in the Civil War and was capable of propelling a 5-pound cannon ball over 2,000 yards causing extensive damage to both ground troops and a besieged town. It was said that this particular cannon was sited in the tower of the original St Mary’s at the Walls Church (Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall) and was brought to bear and fire upon the blockading Parliamentary forces.

The story is that the cannon was toppled by the besieging forces (Humpty Dumpty had a great fall) who extensively damaged the church tower, and the Royalist forces could not lift the 1,900 pound cannon back into place (Could not make Humpty Dumpty where he was before).

Whether true or not, it is an interesting possible source of a well loved English children’s poem.

Hello, everyone. I hope you are all well and enjoying the summer weather. It’s great to be able to sit in the garden on a sunny day and relax.

Retirement isn’t so bad, and I’m sorry if you are one of the many who still have to go out to work. As I write this it has just been announced that today’s temperature is the highest ever recorded. I say just been announced, but they have been predicting this for the last week, and I have heard this ‘news’ today on every radio programme. At lunchtime, the national news talked about the unprecedented (when have I heard that word before?) temperatures, then, directly afterwards the local news told me exactly the same thing. Later, on the afternoon show, I think it was mentioned about six times in the first fifteen minutes. It was all making me feel hot under the collar!

For my first subject this month I am returning to television advertising. I have said many times that I am not on the same wavelength as some of the producers of some of these, and often cannot see the relevance of them. There is a saviour for me on television at the moment. This is the advert for HARIBO sweets. If you haven’t seen it, in each one, two adults are talking to one another; in one it’s policemen and another it’s heavyweight boxers. They are discussing adult things but their voices have been dubbed with those of small children. I just can’t stop laughing when it comes on and even have a little giggle when I buy some for the grandchildren. I know, silly isn’t it?

A ridiculous one in my opinion, was mentioned in John Theedom’s quiz recently. It’s the one where loads of people are chasing red balloons through streets and into buildings. The advert is for the National Lottery. I’ve stopped buying a ticket now. I didn’t realise that if you win all you get is a red balloon!

I don’t know how many of you use WhatsApp. For those of you who do not know (which, as I try to describe it, you’ll think I possibly am one) it enables people to communicate through the internet with phone calls, messages, photographs and the like.

stuff in the oven. My mate John asked me why I was heating fruit...

I had a big birthday in June and one of my presents came in a smallish box. When I opened it I found a chrome cylindrical item. Very smart, I thought. It did not have any instructions with it and I thought the family were testing my media skills for a laugh. Well, I’ll soon show them I thought. I carefully placed the item on the table, and was amazed that the batteries were so well concealed. So, here we go. I had heard one of the grandchildren using one of these, so I knew what to do: ‘Alexa, play Beatles hits’, I said loudly. Nothing. So I try the other one I’d heard: ‘OK Google, play Beatles hits’. Nothing. After several tries, I realised the problem - the present was a very posh wine cooler, not a smart speaker. I didn’t tell the family!

A bit of a moan now. It won’t take long. I cannot understand people who leave bits in supermarket trolleys. I’ve seen shopping lists (not too bad), sweet wrappers, half eaten biscuits and the like. What really gets me are the people who leave used face masks in the trolley. Disgusting. I suppose these are the same people who leave discarded trolleys in the parking bay to avoid walking to the trolley bay 10 metres away (or can I say 11 yards now?).

Back to the silly animal stories. Apparently, a man was arrested in the Dominican Republic and taken to the police station, where all of a sudden a dog walks in and begs the police to let him go. They felt so sorry for the man and amazed by his dog’s loyalty that they let him go. I guess the dog was a springer spaniel.

I was impressed by the NHS recently. Less than a week after my birthday I received a text telling me I could now have a COVID 19 booster jab. I went online, got it booked and it was all done and dusted within 10 days. The system seems to be working well now.

The newspaper I read has a number of full page adverts towards the back of the edition. I often skip these, but today my attention was drawn to one advertising a ‘Dambusters Exclusive Masterpiece Clock’. Apparently, it’s over six inches high. It has a very clear clock on the left hand side and a matching temperature gauge on the right. Hovering over both is a bronze model of a Lancaster Bomber. Well, that was a surprise.

Bin End Chuckles (Thanks Again, John)

My wife and I have let astrology come between us. It Taurus apart... What

I use it quite a bit, but often get caught out. The thing is, the user can create groups of people so that your message, or whatever, goes to all the members and is handy for groups like families. With my usual prowess with technology I have been known to send a message to the wrong group which can often be confusing or embarrassing. On the latest occasion I was sending a message in my family group (I thought) suggesting that my son could heat something in the oven. Unfortunately, this went to another group where the last message was saying that a member managed to get some fruit at the farm shop (yes, we have such an interesting life!). What resulted was a message about the farm shop, being followed by my message to put

Grove Road Evangelical Church

What if It’s True?

What if what’s true, you say? The testimony of over 500 eyewitnesses when they said that they had known Jesus while he walked around the land of Israel; that they knew for sure that he had been crucified by the Romans; that they knew that he was definitely dead. Nothing special about that part of their testimony, is there! But they had more to say. They said that that they saw Jesus alive again; that they walked, talked, ate and drank with him over a period of a few weeks and they were sure of this: Jesus was no longer dead.

Maybe they made the story up! But what did they have to gain from doing that? Definitely not money and fame. Rather, they became outcasts or prisoners, or even cruelly killed. They could have saved themselves by simply admitting it was all a lie, or they weren’t really sure.

But what if they were telling the truth? Then Jesus is exactly who he said he was and we must take what he said seriously. Of course, we could simply ignore these eyewitnesses and pretend it never

happened. Or we could with an open mind commit ourselves to examining the evidence, the facts, the history, and then come to our own conclusion.

Why not come and visit us and decide for yourself whether their testimony makes sense or if it is nothing but a made-up story? We would love to help you decide.

Our main meetings each week are Friday lunchtimes at 1.15pm, and Sundays at 11am and 6pm. If you would like to come along to one of our meetings, we look forward to seeing you. You will be very welcome.

Philip Loose, Pastor

Grove Road Evangelical Church (Behind Tesco Express, Moulsham Street)

www.grecuk.co.uk

pastor@grecuk.co.uk

Hummingbird Pilates: Keep Excercising on Your Holidays - By Erica Foulds

Zoom Pilates Classes and What They Look Like With Us

If any good came from the pandemic, it definitely included discovering how easy it is to exercise and keep moving without a gym, without fancy expensive kit and in the comfort of our own homes, whether that’s for our mental or physical health or plain sanity!

Within hours the word ‘zoom’ went from being a term you might use to describe a fast car to a toddler, to the life saving way we all kept connected to loved ones around the world. It personally made my world much smaller - and much bigger all in the same breath! My family dotted around SE England, down to Devon, over to New York and Washington USA, were all brought together weekly in a way we have never been before.

It also allowed me to be busier than ever continuing to train the clients I’d been working intensely with in London and outer counties, some individuals for over 10 years. In fact, they all came together in my living room on one 15-inch screen continuing to keep fit with me like nothing had changed! At Hummingbird Pilates and Yoga we got on the Zoom bandwagon within days, moving our entire schedule to online classes, and today they are more popular than ever.

I have had the privilege of being taken on some amazing holidays in the last couple of months (virtually speaking) through the Zoom screen. I have had clients in all sorts of beautiful places still logging in for their usual pilates, from a sunny palm tree-lined veranda in Spain, the turquoise sea backdrop at an Antiguan villa, an apple treelined orchard campsite in Italy, to a stunning original beamed cottage in Norfolk. Wherever you go, I could be there too!

With a maximum 10 bookings per online class, clear audio and visuals all live from our beautiful studio in Reeds Farm, Writtle, you will be fully interactive with me in case you need help with an exercise - it couldn’t be easier. You can join in without your camera if you’d rather workout incognito!

Whether you want to keep moving to keep a stiff back at bay, you’re strengthening after an injury, looking for an all over stretch or for a quick daily tone while you’re away, here is what our pilates on Zoom might look like:

You will receive your class link to your email, then all you need to do is click the easy to use link up to 5 minutes before the class starts. Once you’re in, I can help you set your screen so that you are

watching and hearing only me. We are fully interactive and there will never be more than 10 of us in the class, so we often have a chat at the start. If there are any new niggles I need to know about then there is plenty of time to share. We make sure everyone is set and of course offer the obligatory hello to all the pets or little ones in the room too! I then mute everyone ready to start (you can unmute easily if you need to ask me anything during). My classes always begin with a warm up, mobilising the joints including shoulders, hips and ankles.

No experience is necessary, but our Gentle Pilates classes work at an easier pace especially for those who need a bit more time. All our classes will work through a routine that usually covers the whole body in various positions. If you have any injuries I am happy to discuss this beforehand, as pilates can always be modified and made safe.

We work standing, often some balance, some seated, some kneeling (where safe for you) and some laying down. Our routine includes strength and stretching of different muscles and joints in different positions and I always offer progressed options for those who want a challenge.

For more ideas and explanations on the sort of exercises we do in our classes, you can refer to any previous article of mine or call us for a chat before hand!

At Hummingbird Pilates and Yoga in Reeds Farm, Writtle, we have plenty of classes for all levels and experience. You can also see me 1-2-1 first for an introduction to pilates before joining a class, whether that is in studio or just on Zoom.

To get started and maybe try an unlimited month for £45, find us Facebook or Instagram - search: ‘@hummingbirdpilatesyoga’ or ‘Hummingbird Pilates & Yoga Writtle’. Email us at info@ hummingbirdpilatesyoga.co.uk, or you can even use a good old telephone and call on 01245 422 556!

I look forward to seeing you on the mat - figuratively or literally!

Erica xx

Beginners Should Avoid

If you are just getting started in investing, there are a few things you need to learn about first.

Investing is a necessity if you want to grow your money over time. The spending power of cash tends to go backwards because interest paid typically isn’t enough to keep up with inflation. But if you are just getting started in investing and are taking a DIY approach, there are a few areas to consider - and pitfalls to avoid.

Taking the Wrong Level of Risk

Getting the balance of risk and return right can take some consideration and depends on several factors: investment goals, timescale and the requirement for income. It will also be shaped by how much volatility (the extent of ups and downs) you are prepared to accept - and this could change over time.

Take too little risk and your capital may not grow as much as you need it to. For instance, having a large weighting to low risk areas in your pension in your twenties and thirties would seem a wasted opportunity. However, take too much and you could become a victim of market volatility at just the wrong moment. This is particularly relevant for investors looking to cash in or draw upon their investments in the shorter term.

Having all your eggs in one basket might make you a fortune, but it might lose you one too.

Everyone is different, but if you are more cautious or have less time to invest, you’ll probably want to have more ‘balancing’ assets to temper stock market volatility, notably bonds representing loans to governments or companies. These pay interest to the holder and tend to provide a lower return in the long term compared to shares, but can still do better than cash. Although, it is fair to point out that recently with inflation concerns rising, they have been under pressure too. At least going forward there should be more benefit from holding both.

Diversification, owning a variety of assets whose returns are independent of each other, is the cornerstone of sensible portfolio management. Having all your eggs in one basket might make you a fortune, but it might lose you one too. Combining equities with highquality bonds is diversification at its most basic, but historically it has been highly effective.

Buying Last Year’s ‘Winners’

Investors are often attracted to top performing funds or shares. However, buying in without having any idea of why, or whether it offers value relative to similar assets, can be dangerous. In particular, don’t buy a fund just because it is top of its sector over a short time period. It is often surprising how quickly funds flip from the bottom to the top and vice versa. Consider longer term performance and, in particular, returns over discrete years to give you an idea of how the fund has behaved over time.

Concentrating too much on past performance can also create a portfolio that has the illusion of diversification where, actually you have various flavours of essentially a similar thing, rather than a mixture of components with differing characteristics. It is important to understand which assets protect you if things take a turn for the worse or you are wrong, and if you don’t have any of these then you should consider them if you are looking to limit volatility.

Short Term Thinking and Trying to Time the Market

Buying low and selling high is often the aim of market traders. However, investing is different. The objective should either be to use time and patience to multiply your wealth over a long period, or to generate an income from a capital sum. Both these aims are usually best met by staying invested rather than regularly moving in and out

of assets. To do so would interrupt the flow of income or undermine the benefits of compounding returns over time.

By all means, revisit your strategy and asset allocation from time to time, but remember that timing the market is tricky, and you need a very good reason to sell up completely. Sitting tight is easier said than done when markets are falling, but these testing periods are an inevitable and normal part of investing. They happen from time to time, but it’s hard to predict when and why. Yet in the long term, they can also present good opportunities to acquire assets as others despondently sell.

Being Attracted to the Highest Yielding Investments

Some investors are particularly attracted to investments producing a high level of income. Yet it is also a warning sign. There is likely to be a very good reason why an investment yields so much. Is it a share where the dividend is likely to be cut? For bonds, a higher yield means higher risk - there is more chance of default and capital loss. Yields are often based on past payouts and therefore may not be a good indication of the coming year’s income. In some cases, they may not be accurate at all, especially for shares, as dividends can be cut, deferred or cancelled altogether. Over the long term, it is often better to opt for a company share with a lower payout that has good potential to grow it rather than the highest immediate income.

Not Using Tax Shelters

It makes sense to take advantage of your annual tax wrappers such as ISAs. Even if this isn’t relevant to you in the shorter term your tax position may change in the future. Many investors have built ISA portfolios worth hundreds of thousands of pounds, a sizable nest egg sheltered from capital gains tax and income tax.

The 2022/23 tax year ISA allowance is £20,000 and there is no extra cost involved with investing in our ISA compared to a non-ISA investment account. As well as contributing lump sums you can add to your ISA monthly, which can help smooth out uneven stock market returns.

If you are investing for retirement, then a pension is likely to be an even more tax-efficient route as it is possible to receive tax relief on contributions of up to 45%. However, an ISA provides more flexibility to access money when needed. The tax treatment of pensions depends on individual circumstances and is subject to change in future.

Falling Victim to a Scam

Investors should always be suspicious of more obscure areas and investments that are unregulated. These could feature poor structures, high charges, bad governance and could even be scams. Be wary of any high, ‘guaranteed’ returns and always check if a business offering an investment is regulated using the FCA’s register available on their website.

Investment fraudsters will use a variety of techniques to try to take your money, including:

• Make contact unexpectedly about an investment opportunity. This can be a cold call, email, or follow-up call after you receive a promotional brochure out of the blue.

• Apply pressure on you to invest in a time limited offer, offer you a bonus or discount if you invest before a set date, or say that the opportunity is only available for a short period of time.

• Downplay the risks to your money or use legal jargon to suggest the investment is very safe.

• Promise tempting returns that sound too good to be true, offering much better interest rates than those offered elsewhere.

• Call you repeatedly and stay on the phone for a long time.

• Say that they are only making the offer available to you, or even ask you to not tell anyone else about the opportunity.

If you are contacted out of the blue about an investment opportunity, chances are it’s a high risk investment or a scam.

Scammers usually cold call, but contact can also come by email, post, word of mouth or at a seminar or exhibition. If you get cold called, the safest thing to do is to hang up and ask for their details to call them back. If you get unexpected offers by email or text, it’s best to simply ignore them.

As well as checking the FCA Register to see if the firm or individual you are dealing with, there is also an FCA Warning List of firms to avoid who are known to be operating without authorisation. If you deal with an unauthorised business, you will have no protection from the Financial Ombudsman Service or Financial Services Compensation Scheme if something goes wrong, so it is best to err on the side of caution where you have doubts.

Graham Austin, Chartered FCSI Investment Director

Graham.Austin@charles-stanley.co.uk

0207 149 6696

The value of investments can fall as well as rise. Investors may get back less than invested. Past performance is not a reliable guide to future returns. The information in this article is for general information purposes and is not a trading recommendation. Nothing in this article should be construed as personal advice based on your circumstances. No news or research item is a personal recommendation to deal.

Do I Not Like Summer! - By Ola Adamolekun

Itchy, watery eyes? I feel your pain. Itchy, red or watery eyes, runny or blocked nose, sneezing and coughing, itchy throat, mouth, nose and ears, loss of smell, earache, headache, and feeling exhausted... Constantly sneezing? Hello hayfever!

By the time you read this, we may have had the hottest day on record in the UK. Some people love the summer, but I have a love-hate relationship with this time of the year because I suffer from intense hayfever.

According to Allergy UK, as many as 30% of adults and 40% of children suffer from allergic rhinitis (the medical term for the condition) - an allergic reaction to pollen. You might start noticing symptoms in March when the tree pollen season starts. Then there’s the grass pollen season, followed by the weed pollen season which can go on into September. I start to suffer as early as January and some years I suffer right up to October.

But while Mother Nature can be cruel, she is also kind. It might surprise you to know that changing what you eat can have a big impact on the severity of your symptoms.

Some foods are naturally anti-inflammatory, so you’ll want to ensure you’re getting plenty of these in your diet. I’m a firm believer in the phrase ‘food is medicine’ so we’re going to talk about 3 foods that might help with hayfever.

Foods to add in or increase when you have hayfever:

1. Hayfever is an inflammatory condition and may be helped by including types of food that calm the inflammatory response. Top of the list are foods containing anti-inflammatory omega 3 fatty acids, which I often recommend to clients struggling with any inflammatory condition. These include all types of oily fish (like salmon, trout, sardines, halibut and cod) as well as flaxseed and walnuts.

2. Vitamin C containing foods like blackcurrants, blueberries, peppers, kale, collard leaves, broccoli, kiwis, mango, courgettes, and cauliflower.

3. Local honey also may be helpful because, although it contains trace elements of pollen, over time it may help your body become more familiar with the pollen entering your system and reduce the inflammatory response it makes.

And what about drinks? I guess the obvious answer is drink plenty of water - and in this heat that will be killing two birds with one stone. Keeping well hydrated is helpful for all aspects of health. In the case of hayfever, it thins the mucous membranes and reduces that blocked up feeling.

Green tea is packed full of antioxidants, which are helpful for the immune system generally. It has also been proven to block one of the receptors involved in immune responses.

Peppermint tea is worth trying because peppermint contains menthol, a natural decongestant that may help improve sinus symptoms - I haven’t tried this one yet, but I’m going to put it on my shopping list.

Now those people that know me may think I’m not practicing what I preach because I suffer so badly - however despite my suffering, I’m still hopeful. Roll on winter!

www.beencouragedwellness.co.uk

www.facebook.com/BeEncouragedBeStrong

Charles Stanley & Co. Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered office: 55 Bishopsgate, London EC2N 3AS.

Old Moulsham Resident Recieves Award

My name is Kathleen Tuckwell and I have lived in Old Moulsham for 38 years.

In April, the Alzheimer’s Society presented me with the People Award 2022 for all the volunteering work I have done for the society.

I was looking for volunteering work as I have retiredChelmsford Voluntary Services suggested that I try the local Mid-Essex Alzheimer’s branch. I have done many different tasks for them over the last 22 years.

Now I run Singing For The Brain (which I started as With One Voice many years earlier) and Musical Memories sessions. During lockdown we kept the groups going on Zoom.

I was thrilled to be given the award, presented by Kate Lee, the CEO of the society. I love doing the work and it is wonderful to be recognised nationally.

The Singing Chef

I am very lucky to work in a fully air-conditioned shop - we have to keep all our beautiful acoustic pianos cool so they stay in tune. It’s wonderful, especially when a talented pianist comes in and plays. This really is a dream job.

Theres nothing better than live music and i am soooooooo happy to be out gigging again.

Come and see me at The Courtyard on the 13th of August at 7.30pm for a super uplifting set before the DJs come on. This is a wicked venue championing live music thanks to Bret (who used to be at the Fleece).

I’ve also been working on a little duo called Soda and Scotch with the fabulous Kathlyn-Nicole Milne; one of the music teachers at Allegro. We’ve just made out debut performance at O’Connors, who are putting on live shows for the punters once more. Watch this space for our next gig down there and thank you Martin and Jim for having us.

Now, with the kids off school we can all enjoy some family fun in the sun - BBQs and ice creams are the order of the month!

So this recipe, if you can call it that, is goodness and a treat all in one bowl. May i present to you The Banana Split Twist

Ingredients

• Bananas

• Ice cream

• Chocolate sauce

• Cherries

• Nuts

• The twist (you got to trust me on this): A twist of salt Game changer!

If anyone is wondering why there is a toasted buttered crossaint in the photo, it’s because I had it for breakfast; no shame here!

Sarah is a singer and vocal coach based in Chelmsford and offers singing lessons to people of all ages and abilities. You can email Sarah at sarahmtfood@gmail.com, or search for ‘Sarah Beth Vocal Coaching’ on Facebook.

Bored? Lonely? Isolated? If any of these apply to you, then why not visit us on our volunteer/ work day? As with any property there is always a list of jobs to do at the Community Station, some one-off small jobs can make a difference to the running of the centre.

If you have any DIY skills and feel you could help us, please come and learn more about your local centre on Sunday the 21st August. Volunteering is so rewarding and gives you that feel good feeling plus friendship, or at least a chat.

The trust has invited local charities to join us to share what they do locally, and perhaps volunteer. During the pandemic, charities suffered not only financially but also with a lack of volunteers. Now

is the time to recover. Below you can see a couple of photos from previous volunteer events.

Chelmsford City, ECC and CVS have created 100 silk flags depicting the hidden gems of Chelmsford. We hope to be able to have some on display on 21st August.

MLCT are in the process of finalising our very own Men’s Shed for anyone with skills to make small saleable items to generate income for the centre. If you think you could help, please contact us at www. mlct.org.uk.

For details of the walks with the 100 flags, visit www.chelmsford100. org.uk. If you want a picture, flags are also on the website.

www.mlct.org.uk

07434 678 999 enquiries@mlct.org.uk

An Update From Moulsham Lodge Ward - By Councillor Rob Gisby

Well, you couldn’t miss the summer sunshine this week with records broken across the UK! It was a challenging few days for many and a stark reminder of our individual and collective responsibilities to the environment and mitigating global warming. We are warned these weather events may become more frequent, and from where I was working on the outskirts of London, I could see 6 fire sites alone - something I hope will not become a summer norm in the UK. Luckily, we didn’t see outbreaks of fire like this in Chelmsford.

Fortunately, our schools were generally able to remain open with a few adjustments and the leavers of 2022 were able to enjoy their last few days before heading on to new adventures. Congratulations to all as academic years come to an end, and best wishes for a restful summer holiday.

Many who followed - and indeed objected - to the introduction of charging at Hylands Park may remember that I was concerned that charging may present a financial and practical barrier to accessing one of just a few fully accessible play areas in Essex equipped with a Changing Places accessible facility. Whilst blue badge holders can park for free, we know not everyone who would benefit from this accessible park will be a blue badge holder. I find presenting a cost barrier to family, carers and friends of children with disabilities who should be able to play side by side in the park, very disappointing and morally not acceptable.

You may have seen that Chelmsford City Council have published some prospective schemes for the replacement of play equipment adjacent to Chislett Row here in Moulsham Lodge. Among the many valid concerns about the resiting, resizing and equipment selection

of this proposed new play area which we have requested the council reconsider, I have also written expressing my concern that again there appears to be a lack of consideration for accessibility and inclusivity, which are very much lacking in the proposed designs. Garish colours and extremely limited accessible play equipment is disappointing to see in any modern play area design. I continue to put pressure on the council, seeking the reassurance from them that residents will be listened to. So far, I know that many feel strongly that this has not been the case.

Another concern voiced by residents this month has been instances of antisocial behaviour that we unfortunately sometimes see, especially around our parks and green spaces, including the recent damage and felling of trees near Waterson Vale. The last thing that I or anyone else wants is for all young people to be tarred with the same brush when the overwhelming majority make more positive choices, but it is worrying to see what appears to be an increasing trend in antisocial behaviour and damage of our local environment.

It is more important than ever that we are talking to our young people and encouraging them to speak up when they see something with which they are uncomfortable or is not right. We all recognise that our young people have had enormous social, emotional, and practical challenges to overcome following the pandemic, and we need to have confidence in their ability to make the right choices.

As always, you can get in touch with me via Chelmsford City Council, through my Facebook Page (Cllr Rob Gisby) or via Chelmsford Conservative Association. Please do reach out - I look forward to hearing from you.

Stay safe, keep well, be kind.

Cllr Rob Gisby

As we come to end of this academic year, Mr Dominic Mulholland, previously Head of Mildmay Junior School and now to be Head of the newly formed Mildmay Primary School, reflects on the momentous year behind the school and the optimism going forward with this new school collaboration from September:

“The summer of 2022 brings us to the end of an era at Mildmay schools. After over 50 years operating as two separate schools, we will be starting the academic year 2022-23 as Mildmay Primary School. I’m taking this opportunity to look back at a very busy year and to look ahead to an exciting and challenging future for the Mildmay community.

“2021-22 has certainly been interesting times; we have, like every school nationally, had to manage the ongoing impact of COVID-19 as the nation started to embrace the Living With Covid roadmap. Legislation changed, expectations changed, absence recording changed, there were at least three new variations of the virus and, all the while, we have tried to ensure that all the children had as uninterrupted an experience as possible, given that large chunks of the previous two years had been spent at home remote learning.

“It has been fantastic to grow our schools back to their former selves, with performances, events, visits, trips, guests and a plethora of activities to reinvigorate learning for the children. It was also fabulous to welcome parents back on to the school site during the year and allow them better access to their child’s education.

“In November, the news (very secretly) broke that Mrs Bradford would be moving on to pastures new (thankfully within Bridge Academy Trust) and that it was time to consider if the two schools should become one. The idea soon gathered momentum and an official consultation leading to application to the Department for Education was launched.

Just as the consultation commenced, the junior school received ‘The Phonecall’ - you know, the one where Ofsted say: ‘Hi, we’re coming

tomorrow - can you please make numerous arrangements so that we can see every nook and cranny of your school and judge it based on our snapshot observations?’ Actually, we had been expecting it (and it was 2½ years overdue) so, put bluntly, the team at Mildmay Junior School aced it! We were finally given the official recognition as the Good school we have known ourselves to be for a long time. Shortly after the report was published, the application to amalgamate the schools was submitted and we waited for a verdict - and we waited... Each passing day being one less that we could actually work on bringing the two schools together.

“At the end of April we were advised that we could go ahead and that work could commence - and how much work it has been. It has, however, been a pleasure and we got our first glimpse of what Mildmay Primary School might be like when we celebrated the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in May with a school fête, a paper crown parade, musical performances from all the children celebrating all the decades of the Queen’s reign - over 600 children from age 3 to 11 (all dressed in red, white and blue) celebrating together was a sight to behold.

“Since then, the entire team has worked tirelessly to welcome our new starters, ensure a smooth transition for the children already at the school and develop our plans and structures in order to continue to be a focal point for the Tile Kiln (and wider) community. We are all looking forward to the challenge and opportunities that the merger presents; we are determined to retain the legacy and reputation of the two schools while building our own legacy for future generations. It really is all systems go for September 5th when the Mayor of Chelmsford will officially open the new school and our journey as Mildmay Primary School really begins.”

Having recently stepped down as a Governor at Mildmay Junior School after 10 years, I’m delighted that they received a Good rating from Ofsted and wish them well for the future as Mildmay Primary School.

mascotlinda@gmail.com

Twitter: @lindamascot

How did you cope in the heat wave?

Prolonged periods of heat are not something the British are very good at! In fact, the most common conversation I had across our week of heat was how we British are not very good at any kind of extreme - snow or sun, wind or rain. We tend to cope best when things are plodding along in the middle somewhere.

News media and social media can tend to push toward the extremes too. Perhaps it’s to get sales or shares or likes. Perhaps it’s to get noticed amidst the oversaturation of media. In the race to become

I’m not that interested in tax cuts, or getting through the heat, if I’m honest. I am interested in Jesus Christ. I’ve no idea whether you’ve ever thought about Jesus. But he comes to offer extreme love - to you. To prove it he goes to extreme lengths: he willingly dies. For you. Because he loves you. If you’ve never thought about that before, pause now. What value do you think you have in Jesus’ eyes, that he’d die for you? Extreme value.

Conservative Party leader, there was a race to propose the most extreme tax cuts!

Generally, we think of ‘extreme’ things quite negatively. But it depends on the context. For some, extreme tax cuts are a dream come true! For others, far less so - although trying to work out your own opinion on this might mean trawling through extreme amounts of news articles and policy papers!

If that’s confusing, or interesting, or anything in between, why not find out more? Get in touch - or perhaps come to our new Sunday afternoon Church4All (next on Sunday 28th August at 4pm), where we’re exploring Jesus together through story and song, craft and prayer, food and fun (the photos here are from our June Church4All). Everyone is welcome, we’d love to see you!

Tim Goodall Pastor, Tile Kiln Church

tim.goodall@tilekilnchurch.org.uk

YouTube: tinyurl.com/y24qlkvx www.facebook.com/tilekilnchurch www.tilekilnchurch.org.uk

Quiz Time - By John Theedom

What is NATO?

What was illusionist Houdini’s first name?

What was the title of Queen’s first single?

Who, where or what is a tarn?

What connects ‘bay’, ‘gardens’ and ‘towel’?

What type of creature is a grouper?

What was the title of the only number 1 hit by Charles Aznavour in Great Britain? Apart from a geographical location, what else can be a faro?

What is the origin of the slang term ‘crap’?

What is the name of the famous sea clipper preserved at Greenwich?

For what would you use ‘adobe’?

A patzer is a poor player of which game?

Which year was Prince Edward born?

When were British people first given the Asian Flu vaccine?

From what does the name Essex originate?

Which sea creature has three hearts?

What type of object can be tiger eye?

What is the anatomical name for the lower jawbone?

Which role does Jennie McAlpine play in Coronation Street?

What was the first name of Ginger Spice? If you are suffering with nyctophobia, what is your problem?

How many pedals do most modern pianos have?

(Answers on page 31)

Which word can be placed before ‘bottle’, ‘bell’ and ‘bird’?

Where is the famous dogs’ home in London?

What was the first name of the ballet dancer Nureyev?

What was the job of Margaret Thatcher’s father?

Which Beatle sang the lead vocal in the song Yellow Submarine?

Which actor was married to Madonna?

Which UK country is NOT on the Union Jack flag?

Which part of the human body is named after a girl?

Where, on a chicken is the parson’s nose?

What type of animal can be a mako? Info.cern.ch is famous for being the first what?

What is the name for a young pigeon?

In which Lancashire town did the Cooperative Society start in 1844?

From which animal do we get lanolin?

What were the first underground trains powered by?

What kind of animal is a percheron?

Which furniture company has the same name as an American president’s wife?

Who’s face was said to have launched a thousand ships?

Andy Barratt: 1948-2022 - A Memoir by John Power

When I arrived at Moulsham Junior School in 1957 after a family move from North London, we were seated in class in alphabetical order as the school year began. So fate decreed that I would make two lifelong friends with surnames of Porter and Powell, with me in the middle as a Power. Mick Porter came from the Widford end of town, so over the years I got to know others of the Widford gang, among these were Andy Barratt, a year older than us, and his younger brother Steve.

Due to some childhood illness, Andy legitimately had a lot of time off school, and in those days when truant officers were not so active, some extra time off was not too closely scrutinised. So Andy’s out of school interests were able to gain a lot of attention. Like many schoolkids, bikes were a primary interest and he - often with help from a friend, Mick Parrish - began to create hybrids from spare parts in imitation of moto-cross scramblers. Then as they grew older, more realistic looking scramblers were made by converting old BSA Bantam 125s, even if the engines powers were much less. With ample green space at the Widford outskirts of town, on-road driving licences, or the age of riders needing them, were no obstacle as they took to the fields to test or race them. After a while they were building these machines for others, and the beginnings of business careers were beginning to emerge. Mick went into the auto trade.

Andy’s mercurial brain and practical skills led to more diverse enterprises after school age, which did later include involvement with a motorbike shop at the town end of Mildmay Road, a boutique in Baddow Road (Diff City) in the Swinging Sixties, with adverts for the like of loon pants, in national papers like Melody Maker, burger vans and other catering ventures with skills learned from his family, all got a look in.

When a quiet back street pub in Hall Street run by other friends’ parents, The Speakmans, was condemned by the brewery in the early 1970s, Andy took it over with the intention of refurbishing itthen known as the Prince of Orange, now O’Conner’s Irish pub. With all the skills of the tradesmen that had grown around Andy’s mover and shaker inventive ideas, this soon began. Wines, spirits, and the emerging fashion for real ale beers, were all still being served as changes were made. A new pub game was invented that consisted of balancing on beams with floorboards up for laying cables and pipes, while negotiating through crowds of struggling drunks. The news of this new alternative kind of pub soon reached the biker community and the parking space in front of Elim Church soon boasted a long array of lovingly built and decorated bikes. Hippies at first and then punks joined the mix of the throng as the pub became the most popular pub in youth circles - a long way from the three old men and a dog hostelry it had been. Instead, rock music blasted out of speakers, or even another innovation - a video jukebox. A curious visiting friend remarked to me that it was like the intergalactic bar in Star Wars, with freakish beings of all shapes sizes and colours.

The Prince became a legendary venue that commands at least three lengthy pages of reminiscences from punters of different generations on Facebook and a yearly (covid permitting) reunion, and I doubt many pubs can claim that. The décor and building innovations, touched on earlier, always carried a sense of amusement, including a fireplace without a cowl at the roof end to suck the air up its idiosyncratic chimney passage that often blew out smoke instead. A supporting pillar turned out to be, when the O’Conner’s refurbishment took place, a builders’ prop that had been boxed in. Above this an upstairs disco was added later, where dancers remained unaware of what support they actually had! Also upstairs was possibly the country’s first unisex loo, also used for quick knee tremblers used by amorous couples while the next cubicle received the accompanying grunts and groans. The garden also often benefited from aromatic smoke when no staff were about.

Andy managed to get me involved with décor too; repainting the swinging pub sign. Then he asked me to paint over part of the frontage that had been rendered with concrete. That turned out to be a matching door and bricks painted on to surround it, while John

Cleese in ‘silly walk’ mode pushed the door open dressed in pin stripe suit and with brief case - dress not otherwise seen to be worn inside, except maybe lunchtimes, but revealing the smoke that was.

Actually inside the pub, Andy pointed to an ugly pipe, and said, ‘could you turn that into a tree trunk? I often get letters here for the Orange Tree, so put some oranges on it to help confuse things further...’

That I did with chicken wire and papier mâché. Later someone said: “You know why he got you to do that - its the down pipe for the upstairs loo, and it’s next to the kitchen where he’s going to serve food from.” After a couple of gratis pints of beer the building inspector didn’t spot it either.

The Prince went through many incarnations with different managers before Martin Havelin took it over, at first adding more murals and retaining a lot of the old clientelle. Building inspectors wised up to some of the building’s previous history and Martin had to seek help for a full refurbishment by Guinness when he chose to turn it into a psuedo-Irish bar, and by 1997 the pub became O’Conners.

Andy in the meantime has first moved his pub trade to The Queen’s Head in Lower Anchor Street to pay off a marriage settlement and downsize owing to losses at the Prince due to too many hands in the till that an audit had revealed. Still, a few murals in the garden and a calmed down version of the Prince emerged while many of the old customers continued to support the original Prince.

Beer continued to be central to Andy’s enterprises, but now with a Euro’ angle specialising in Belgium beer in Belgium in a bar called Lop-Lop, which advertised on Euro Star trains now that the channel tunnel was complete.

Back in England, imported Belgian beers featured in a new bar simply called The Belgian Bar in Ramsgate on the harbour for the convenience of cross-channel shipment. That expanded into a combined bar and restaurant run by Andy’s son in Canterbury, an upmarket venue compared to previous drinking houses, with excellent art nouveau décor. Anyone from Chelmsford was well looked after by Andy if they turned up. They would find him well respected by local business people as someone who had brought new angles on trade to the area.

By then, he had grown a beard of ZZ Top dimensions and looked for all the world like some exotic circus ringmaster, which he kind of was! The last time I visited, he drove me to his latest project in Margate, where he had taken over a whole seaside arcade and sub-let the units to alternative practitioners like yoga therapists, Tarot readers, dress makers and the likes. There was also even the smallest bar in England, which he had named The Little Prince, with room for only one person at the bar - although there was seating in the centre of the complex where you could drink after being served.

On the outside of the arcade there was beautiful, large mural Andy was pleased to show me, and he added that the council were after him as he didn’t have planning permission - some things never change! Being a friendly and amiable - rather than aggressivebusinessman he was a well known and respected member of the communities around Kent - if not the local council.

Sadly, we heard on the 7th of July that he had died, although what the cause was, then not yet known. This was two days before the first reunion for the Prince since covid, events which he’d always turned up for. This one turned out to be a wake. He was, and will be, widely missed, but will be membered fondly every year at the Prince of Orange reunions.

Quiz and Wordsearch Answers

1957 East Saxons

Octopus

Golden brown striped gemstone

Mandible Fiz

Geri

After

Morbid fear of the dark Three Blue Battersea

Rudolph Grocer Ringo Starr

Sean Penn

Wales

Iris

The opposite end to the beak (tail)

Shark Website

Squab

Rochdale

Sheep

Steam

Horse

Hillary’s Helen of Troy