MT Welcome
Hi readers,
Welcome to the February edition of Moulsham Times
This month we have a few new advertisers: The Windmill at Chatham Green, ECFS (to the right), and Chelmer Chimney Services are back. Please do check out their adverts.
Also look out for the updated plans for the Army and Navy roundabout on page 23.
We always welcome more adverts, as this is how the magazine is funded; please contact us for prices regarding advertising and also for distribution details. We can then send over all the information you will need.
Regards
Paul
Advertising & Editorial
Paul Mclean 01245 262082/07595 949701 paul@moulshamtimes.com
Disclaimer: It’s Your Magazines Ltd 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 Magazines Ltd. No part may be reproduced without the prior written permission of It’s Your Magazines Ltd. Reg Co No. 12080535. Printed by Warners (Midlands) PLC.
Chelmsford - By Vicky Ford MP
The planning applications for the new Army and Navy junction and related transport measures have now been submitted. The project took a huge step forward when we secured £68.75 million in funding from the government in November. To reduce pressure on the junction during construction the plan is to expand Park and Ride facilities first.
There is a 21-day period to comment on the applications; please do feed in your comments here: planning.essex.gov.uk.
In Parliament, I am leading a private members bill on school attendance. We have great schools in Chelmsford and school standards have risen dramatically since the school leavers of today started off in reception fourteen years ago, but across the country there has been a steep increase in non-attendance since the pandemic. More than one in five children have been missing more than ten per cent of their class time.
The reasons for non-attendance can be complex and can include barriers for children with special educational needs, mental health and anxiety. My bill will require all schools and local authorities to work together, support families, remove barriers to attendance and follow best practice guidelines.
Free childcare is being expanded to 15 hours of free childcare per week for two-year-olds from 1st April 2024. This will increase later to 9-month-olds and for up to 30 hours. This is the largest investment by any UK government in history, saving working parents up to £6,500 a year. Families with an eligible two-year-old should apply online now for their code.
Crime rates continue to decline in Essex, but last autumn in Chelmsford there was an uptick in shed break-ins and vehicle theft. I know this is concerning to Moulsham residents. The police tell me they have increased both visible and plain clothes patrols, and reports of these types of crimes have dropped more recently. Since December 23rd there have been six arrests or prosecutions in Chelmsford related to vehicle theft, and a prolific burglar was jailed for multiple incidents just before Christmas.
Police numbers across Essex are now at record levels. There is one inspector, four sergeants, and thirty-four constables in the Chelmsford community policing team - this is double the number from five years ago. I have asked the police to make sure that all burglaries are properly investigated.
I visited the Sutherland Lodge GP Surgery in the Baddow Road to see their extensive building work. There will be more consulting rooms for GPs, a bigger waiting area and improved disability access. I have written to Beacon Health Group to ask for more GP appointments at the Moulsham Lodge Surgery.
Tens of thousands of people in Chelmsford have benefited from the reductions to National Insurance that came through in January. I have been meeting with Chelmsford businesses, large in small, in advance of this year’s spring budget to make sure that their voices are heard.
Beach School
What Is Beach School?
Beach School has the same ethos as Forest School but has a focus on the coastal environment. Did you know that Essex has one of the longest coastlines of any county in England - around 350 miles? It is also one of Essex’s most valued assets for its national and international importance for nature conservation, which makes Beach School a valuable way to learn about how lucky we are to live here!
My name is Lisa and I am a Beach School Practitioner/Ofsted Registered Childminder and I grew up in Devon by the beach. I aim to improve the children’s knowledge by connecting them with nature and opening their eyes to our amazing world and hopefully inspiring them to care about the future of the earth. I believe children look after what they love.
I cover beaches, estuaries, rivers and all inland water as well as species habitats to connect children to their local watery environments through concepts such as food chains, the water cycle, geology, animal and environmental conservation, and so on. I support well-being through connection to nature which increases confidence, social skills and self esteem with hands-on learning, in groups or individually.
Children love to play at the beach and much of that play involves exploring the natural environment, being curious and discovering real life treasures.
Beach School Explorers Holiday Club is for children aged 5 (Yr1) to 12 years and includes lots of fun and interesting activities, including rock pooling, scavenger hunts, beachcombing, games, mindfulness, beach and river cleans, crafts and activities and making new friends.
For more information on holiday clubs, home education sessions, school trips and birthday parties, please get in touch. I am registered for all childcare vouchers.
www.beachschoolexplorers.co.uk
Instagram: @beachschoolexplorers
If you wish to write a letter to the Moulsham Times or have an interesting local story to tell, please email paul@moulshamtimes.com
Regal Kitchens: Where Client Is King
Unveiling the Future: Kitchen Furniture Trends for 2024
In the ever-evolving world of interior design, the kitchen is the heart of the home and is not left untouched by the winds of change. As we step into 2024, a plethora of innovative kitchen furniture trends are set to redefine the way we perceive and experience this vital space. Let’s explore the exciting design elements that promise to transform kitchens into stylish and functional havens.
Smart Storage Solutions: In the quest for efficient use of space, smart storage solutions are taking centre stage in 2024. Innovative cabinets with pull-out organisers, adjustable shelving and hidden compartments are becoming the norm. Think beyond traditional pantry spaces, as kitchens now embrace bespoke storage options tailored to the needs of the user. This trend not only maximises functionality, but also contributes to a clutter-free and visually appealing kitchen.
Sustainable Materials: With a growing emphasis on sustainability, kitchen furniture in 2024 is embracing eco-friendly materials. From bamboo and reclaimed wood to recycled glass and metal, homeowners are increasingly opting for furniture that not only looks good but also minimises environmental impact. This trend aligns with the broader movement towards sustainable living, appealing to those who seek to make environmentally conscious choices in every aspect of their lives.
Bold Colours and Contrasts: Say goodbye to the monotony of neutral tones! 2024 heralds the return of bold colours and striking contrasts in kitchen furniture. Deep blues, emerald greens and rich burgundies are making a splash, either as standalone pieces or as vibrant accents. Designers are experimenting with contrasting elements, such as pairing dark cabinets with light countertops or introducing bold patterns in unexpected places. This trend injects personality and
energy into the kitchen, making it a space for both culinary creativity and aesthetic delight.
Mixed Material Finishes: Blurring the lines between modern and classic, mixed material finishes are gaining popularity. Combining metal, wood and stone in a single piece of furniture creates a visually appealing and dynamic look. Whether it’s a kitchen island with a quartz countertop and metal legs or cabinets featuring a mix of wood and glass, the fusion of materials adds texture and depth to the kitchen environment, elevating its overall design aesthetic.
Tech-Integrated Furniture: The future is now, and the kitchen is no exception to the integration of smart technology. From touchsensitive surfaces to built-in charging stations, tech-savvy furniture is becoming a staple. Imagine cabinets that open with a touch, refrigerators with built-in touchscreens for recipe browsing and countertops that wirelessly charge your devices. This trend not only enhances convenience but also positions the kitchen as a hub for modern living.
Flexibility and Modular Designs: In a world that values adaptability, kitchen furniture in 2024 is embracing flexibility and modular design. Adjustable shelving, movable islands and collapsible tables are becoming increasingly popular. These elements allow homeowners to customise their kitchen layout according to their needs, making the space multifunctional and adaptable to various activities beyond cooking.
The kitchen of 2024 is a harmonious blend of style, sustainability, and functionality. From smart storage solutions to bold colour choices and the integration of cutting edge technology, these trends are reshaping the way we design and experience one of the most vital spaces in our homes. As we open our minds to these innovations, the kitchen becomes not just a place for culinary endeavours but a canvas for personal expression and modern living.
About Longacres
Longacres is a well established, family-run business (starting in Bagshot, Surrey in 1979), and we are one of the leading florists in the UK, with six stores in the south east of England - plus our website at www.longacres.co.uk - offering a wide variety of fresh seasonal cut flowers and beautiful bouquets and arrangements. Our range is competitively priced and we can provide flowers for all desires. We have a team of highly talented florists and can cater for any style or trend. We provide luxurious, bespoke floral arrangements along with an excellent personal service to suit your event or occasion.
No gift echoes your love better than a fresh bouquet of flowers. Choose from one of our many bouquets online, or call the store to discuss a bespoke arrangement with one of our capable team. We offer a full delivery service (both local and nationwide), and you can order in-store, online or over the phone for delivery or collection, whichever suits you best.
Our Team
We are a small team who work within Longacres Garden Centre in Chelmsford, which is when our unique floristry department was born. The department is run by Georgia, Leah and Millie and between us we have over 25 years of experience!
Georgia joined a local florist at 16 and learnt on the job. Her style of floristry leans towards classic, traditional styles. She incorporates a lot of texture and bright eye catching colours into her work. Georgia loves getting stuck into stunning top table arrangements, pedestals and garlands!
Leah trained at Writtle College, where she earned a distinction, and then went onto run an award-winning florist where she focused on large events and weddings. Leah’s style of floristry is wild and a little more unusual! She loves lots of textured foliage and natural style flowers.
Millie also trained at Writtle College, and completed her advanced technical diploma in floristry in 2022, earning a distinction. Millie loves to create cottagecore style floristry - she loves creating soft, romantic pastel bridal bouquets and stunning top table arrangements.
Longacres Chelmsford
The Chelmsford store opened in 2019 (it was previously called
Wyevale Garden Centre) and we quickly installed one of our large walk-in climate controlled flower rooms, which allows us to offer an incredibly wide range of flowers. We operate like a wholesale florist; our flowers are available to the public in bunches rather than by the stem, and we feature a number of special offers. Everything we create is made in-house by ourselves, and we always have a large display of readymade mixed, handtied, bouquets in a range of prices starting at £15. These are available every day.
If you can’t find exactly what you’re looking for, we also offer a ‘while you wait service’ - you pick the flowers you love and we’ll do the rest! We usually can whip up your bouquet in ten to fifteen minutes whilst you browse the rest of the store or treat yourself to a cup of tea and slice of cake in our lovely Greenhouse Café!
Weddings and Events
We also provide flowers for weddings and we were finalists in the Essex Wedding Awards for 2023. We start off with a casual consultation in our coffee shop to go over everything and to get an idea of what our client’s style and desires are. We know how daunting it can be for clients when ordering flowers, so we like to make sure that everything is very simple and clear for them.
We like to think our consultation process is a little different from the norm; we are a friendly bunch here at Longacres, and we really hope our clients feel comfortable with us! We work together for all of our weddings, so there is always a friendly face on hand for a chat. After the initial consultation, we create a mood board with potential colours, styles and designs. We understand that everyone has different budgets, so we will always take that into account when talking about flower options.
Floral Accessories and Workshops
All year round, we provide many different floral sundries. From vases to oasis products - we stock it. This is very handy for the DIY customers that like to create their own special door wreaths at Christmas, or buying all the necessary supplies to create their very own vase arrangements at home after learning tips and tricks at one of our seasonal floristry workshops - we cover events such as Easter, autumn, Halloween and Christmas.
Contact Details
Homelands Retail Park (next to B&Q) Cuton Hall Lane Springfield Chelmsford CM2 5PX
You can also call the floristry department on 01245 207 800 or visit us online at www.longacres.co.uk.
Please also see our advert on page 11!
At M. Lucking & Sons, we’re proud to have been serving communities of Chelmsford and the surrounding areas for over 360 years. As an independent, family-owned business we have all the regional knowledge and years of experience to make sure everything runs smoothly. We also work in partnership with Golden Charter so you have a simple way to plan ahead with a pre-paid funeral plan. Contact us today for more information and our friendly staff will be happy to help.
M.
MT Gardening
It’s the perfect time to don those cozy gloves and step into the crisp air, ready to tackle tasks that set the stage for a bountiful year ahead. From meticulous fruit pruning to nurturing the resilient winter flora, every effort now ensures a garden that will flourish in the months to come. So, let’s embrace the tranquillity of winter gardening, knowing that each carefully tended branch and patch of soil is a testament to the vibrant life awaiting us in the spring.
One key task to complete before bud burst in early spring is the need to maintain fruit tree forms and fruiting capabilities. Pruning a spur-bearing apple cultivar like ‘James Grieve’ is important for maintaining the health of the tree, promoting fruit production, and ensuring proper sunlight penetration and air circulation.
Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to prune a spur-bearing apple tree:
1. Timing: Pruning is typically done during late winter or early spring while the tree is dormant. This is before new growth begins, allowing the tree to allocate energy to the remaining branches and spurs.
2. Gather the necessary tools: You’ll need sharp and clean pruning shears, loppers, and possibly a pruning saw for larger branches.
3. Remove dead or diseased wood: Start by cutting out any dead, damaged, or diseased wood. This helps improve the overall health of the tree and prevents the spread of diseases.
4. Thin out crowded areas: Identify and remove any overcrowded branches to allow sunlight and air to penetrate the canopy. This helps prevent diseases by promoting better air circulation.
5. Identify and retain fruiting spurs: Spur-bearing apple trees produce fruit on short, stubby branches called spurs. Identify
these spurs, which are usually close to the main branches. Retain healthy and well spaced spurs while removing any weak or crowded ones.
6. Cut back long, leggy growth: Prune back any excessively long or leggy branches to encourage the development of fruiting spurs and maintain a balanced shape for the tree.
7. Head back the central leader if needed: If the tree is getting too tall or if you want to encourage lateral growth, consider heading back the central leader. This involves cutting back the main vertical stem to a lateral branch or bud.
8. Maintain an open canopy: Aim for an open canopy structure to allow sunlight to reach all parts of the tree. This promotes even fruit ripening and helps prevent diseases by improving air circulation.
9. Consider the tree’s overall shape: Maintain a balanced shape for the tree, avoiding excessively dense or one-sided growth. This not only improves aesthetics but also contributes to the overall health of the tree.
10. Clean up and dispose of pruned material: Remove and dispose of the pruned branches and debris properly. This helps reduce the risk of disease and pest infestation.
Remember that the specific pruning requirements may vary based on the age and condition of the tree, so adapt these guidelines accordingly. Regular and proper pruning will help keep your ‘James Grieve’ apple tree healthy and productive. Here are a few other spurbearing apples and pears that can be dealt with now:
• Cox’s Orange Pippin: A classic English apple known for its rich, aromatic flavour. It forms spurs and produces high quality flavourful fruit.
• Braeburn: Braeburn apples are known for their balanced sweet-tart flavour and crisp texture. They produce fruit on spurs, making them a good choice for orchard planting.
• Conference: One of the most popular pear varieties in the UK, Conference pears have a long, narrow shape with a greenishyellow skin that turns golden as they ripen.
• Williams Bon Chrétien (Bartlett): Known as Bartlett in the United States, Williams Bon Chrétien is a classic pear variety in the UK. It has a sweet and juicy flavour with a greenish-yellow skin that turns yellow when ripe.
Aside from spur-bearing apples and pears, there are tip-bearing cultivars.
Tip-bearing fruit trees produce fruit at the tips or ends of the previous year’s growth. These trees often have a more upright growth habit with fruiting occurring at the terminal ends of branches. Pruning tip-bearing trees, such as ‘Blenheim Orange’ (apple) and ‘Beth’ (pear), involves shaping the tree to encourage new lateral growth. The focus is on stimulating the growth of new shoots where fruit will develop in the following season. Thinning out crowded branches and shaping the tree to an open canopy structure is essential for proper sunlight exposure and air circulation.
Here are a few other jobs for late January/early February:
• With all this wet weather we’ve had, now is a good time to clear away soggy, collapsed stems of perennials and compost them.
• Deadhead winter pansies and other bedding regularly and remove any foliage affected by downy mildew.
• Ensure netted cloches are in place over brassicas, such as cabbage and kale, to protect from pigeons. It will also help to keep cabbage white butterflies at bay (large and small) if left on until crops mature.
• Put large leaved houseplants into the bath or shower and hose them down to clean off accumulated dust.
Tom Cole (FCIHort): online tutor for Learning with Experts, horticultural lecturer (previously Capel Manor College & Writtle University College), RHS Associate and on the RHS Speakers list. Message your garden questions to the following email address: tomcole8@hotmail.com.
Nick Garner’s Music & Ramblings
Is it already February? It must be my age as once again time is flying. I wish it would slow down as I am running out of time and have so much I still want to do and enjoy! This is the first article I have written for the Moulsham Times this year, as the last one I wrote before the end of 2023. I know it’s a bit late, but I wish you all a great year ahead. It will shortly be Valentine’s Day and the first half-term of the year then it will be Easter and springtime... It has been very cold recently, and now it’s a bit warmer again - what’s next? we have recently put up with storm Isha which was quite brutal in parts of the UK. It looks like there’ll be a few more to come. One thing has been good with the cold weather, is that I have seen a robin and a blackbird back in my garden. It has been so long since I had small birds in the garden, I just hope they stay and that other birds return before too long.
There is a change happening again in Moulsham Street as Marc, who has been managing the Star and Garter, moves on to the Odd Fellows Arms in Springfield Road. I wish him good luck and to who ever takes on managing the Star and Garter I wish luck as well. It has been doing very well, so let’s hope that it continues to do so.
Where I live at the top of Upper Bridge Road, I have seen a few roofs having had work done on them recently. It’s made me think, as I know mine could do with a bit of work on it as well... Though what we really need now is for our pot holes and pavements to be sorted out please!
It’s looking increasingly likely that we will have an election this year as all the parties seem to now be preparing for it. I for one will vote as I have always done - and I hope that you will do so too. l tend to feel that you are not entitled to say anything unless you vote, that is my opinion anyway.
I am hearing on the radio about recycling and waste collections. I must say that I think here in Chelmsford the method works. I am an avid recycler anyway, as I consider my grandchildren and when they have children - I think they will be the ones to feel the change. lt will be more likely then that climate change will start to have a real effect. We are seeing the start of it now, so let’s do our best to do what we can now. Let’s love and care for our planet.
Music
So far I have been to about ten gigs already this year and they have been busy, which is good to see. Let me tell you about some of the latest bookings I have confirmed for the Social Club and Hot Box. For Thursday 6th June I have just confirmed the return of Calum Ingram with his cello and band who are flying right now. But I must also tell you that we have had to reschedule the Malcom Bruce gig to Friday 7th June.
We have The SharpeeZ playing on Friday 5th July, then there are two shows that we advise booking early for, as we expect both to sell out pretty fast: On Wednesday 9th October we have Tim Edey & Clive Carroll returning to play a very rare acoustic duo show. In the afternoon from 2pm on Saturday 9th November we have Hamish Stuart of the Average White Band (plus McCartney, Ringo, Chaka Khan and more). He will be with Robbie McIntosh (The Pretenders, McCartney, John Mayer, Tom Jones, Talk Talk and many more). This is a very rare show. They are great mates they are playing a rare acoustic show playing The Beatles as well as their own songs and some known favourites of theirs and ours.
Robbie will also be playing with his band the night before at the Social Club. He has added Hannah Robinson to the band who brings a new dimension to them.
On Friday 21st June I have added a great act from New York; they are The Slambovian Circus Of Dreams, and if you are not sure about any act we suggest checking them out on YouTube.
We also have Take It Easy, The Classic American Rock Show, returning on Friday 23rd February with a new female member, so thay are also extending their reach now and including the likes of Pat Benatar and Janis Joplin.
In September we have Deborah Bonham, sister of the late great John Bonham from Led Zeppelin, on Friday 13th September. It has been said that she is one of the best female rock/blues/soul singers around - and we agree. We have Albert Lee back too; now in his 80th year, but still on top form. He is with us on Friday 11th October. For Friday 18th October we have The Wonder of Stevie playing the music of Stevie Wonder. This band is full of some of the best, with Derek Nash who plays sax with Jools Holland, and Noel McCalla, from Manfred Mann’s Earth Band, on vocals. Do not miss this - if you like Stevie Wonder you will love these guys.
Check out our ad in this magazine for all the other great shows we have coming up. We start on Friday 9th February with Jim Cregan and Co. Jim started with Family and also played on the hits for Cockney Rebel and spent over 20 years with Rod Stewart as co-songwriter, guitarist and musical director when Rod left The Faces - he still guests with him today. We are really excited about this year and what we have booked so far - we also have a few more to confirm.
I have booked The One Tree Hillbillies in the Star and Garter for its opening week with Marc at the helm on Monday 12th February. This will be from 8.30pm and will be free to enter.
I will write about some of the other gigs I have been too in future editions and in the City Times
Keep your eyes and ears open as there will be no doubt lots going on all over Essex. Do please check out the What’s On guide in the City Times and also go online to keep up-to-date, as hopefully 2024 will be full of wonderful magical events for one and all.
If you have anything you think that could be of interest to our readers for either publication, then please let us know by emailing editorial@itsyourmedia.co.uk - it may be an event or a topic of interest. Or have you done anything unusual or are you planning something? If so, we want to know about it. And if know of someone who may wish to advertise with us, then please ask them to contact ads@itsyourmedia.co.uk and we can send over full details.
You can get tickets for all our shows in Chelmsford at the Chelmsford Social Club from Intense Records, Hopsters and Chelmsford 4Good - please pay cash in person when you buy. Tickets are also available online from www.wegottickets.com/BlackFrogPresents, or via our ticket hotline for both the Chelmsford Social Club and Hot Box at no extra charge - call or text 07508 496 411 and you can then pay the advance price on entry to the show rather than the walk-up price.
For all Black Frog Presents gig updates and information go www. linktr.ee/BlackFrogPresents, or scan the QR code in the poster in this magazine. It would also be fantastic if you could share our magazines The City Times and Moulsham Times for us. Just go to our websites for the online versions.
adverts for my events on pages 19, 27 and 30
Baby Basic Chelmsford Celebrates 300 Baskets
We have some wonderfully community-minded people in our area, and I love finding out what they’ve been up to - especially when they’ve got a milestone or some other key achievement to celebrate. Recently I was lucky enough to be invited along to the Chelmsford branch of Baby Basics, a charity that operates across the UK, providing clothes and other essentials to support vulnerable persons and their newborn child up to the age of six months.
When I visited them, Baby Basics Chelmsford were celebrating providing their 300th basket of supplies since they were founded in 2019 by Joelle, Stephen and Juliette Mortimer with the support of Moulsham Lodge Methodist Church.
While there, I spoke to one of the outreach workers from another Chelmsford-based charity, Open Road, whose clients are sometimes recipients of the packages put together by the volunteers at Baby Basics. She told me how much it means to the often extremely vulnerable people that she works with to know that we have residents in our community who care and want to help.
Joelle and her team do a fabulous job of bringing together the donations from the community, sorting them out and packaging them up into bundles that have the ability to help safeguard the most precious, most important months in a child’s life. To have helped 300 babies in this way is truly amazing. Joelle is rightly proud of the work she and her team have done, but she had another key point to make when I spoke to her about it.
Joelle was at pains to point out that Baby Basics couldn’t do they work they do without the invaluable support of the wider community. She said that wasn’t just about donations either. She highlighted the fact that there are several local residents who spend time knitting or otherwise creating items to include in the baskets, adding that wonderful homemade quality into the mix that those of us who were fortunate enough to grow up in loving, stable and adequately resourced homes would probably have taken for granted. Joelle said that she knew the volunteers who helped in this way enjoyed doing it and that for some, it gave them a sense of purpose. She summed it up neatly by reminding us that ‘it feels good to do good’. Who can argue with that?
You can find out more about the fabulous work of Baby Basics on their national website here: baby-basics.org.uk.
Fix Our Broken Pavements Petition
In other admittedly less cheerful news, I have been contacted by several residents who have tripped and fallen on broken pavements, not just in central Chelmsford, but across the city. I have had some limited success in getting Essex County Council to repair pavements that were desperately worn out (Wallace Crescent and Southborough Road being notable examples), but I’m going to have to step up the pressure on Essex County Council to do more if we stand any chance of making it safer for residents to walk around our city.
So, I’ve created a petition, which will eventually be presented to the county council at a full council meeting, but I want to give as many people as possible the opportunity to sign it first. Can you help get the numbers up? Please sign the petition at the link below and then encourage your friends, family and neighbours to do the same. www.cmld.org.uk/fixourpavements.
As the petition says, this isn’t just about the human distress caused by trips and falls (although that should be reason enough to fix our pavements), it’s also about the effect on the NHS and the taxpayer of costly trips to A&E, hospital procedures, GP appointments and time off work for recuperation. I think it would be far better to fix the pavements in the first place, and I hope this petition will help the county council to consider a more joined-up approach to the state of our pavements (and our roads, too, of course).
Broken Streetlights in Central Park
I’m still very frustrated by the lack of a fix for the Essex County Council-owned streetlights by the pedestrian roundabout in Central Park. I have been told that one of the lights requires a 40m trench to be dug in order to reconnect power to it, while the other light that hasn’t been working for years apparently requires a new cable that can only be installed by the county council’s specialist cable team. It’s so frustrating that progress is so slow and painful, but at least the county council have finally said they know what the problem is. I’ll keep pushing them for it - I have to say that I’m not impressed with their excuse that ‘a lot of planning is required’. I mean - it’s been years! Anyway, I’ll keep on it.
Keep safe and well in this rather stormy season.
Marie
Non-Spoiler Film Reviews - By Henry Godfrey-Evans
Simplifying my rating system this month
Anyone but You
A classic 90s/00s low hanging fruit-style rom-com. A format we grew tired of because the originality ceased (so long as it makes money).
This felt both original and fresh. It felt comfortable and easily entertaining.
There was a genuine connection between the two characters and it was paced well. Go on, have four...
One Life
It filled in the gaps of a story I only partially knew, about a man who saved many lives during the Nazi occupation of Czechoslovakia.
I was bracing myself for a solid attempt at emotion, but what I got was better.
It didn’t keep its eyes off the details. How was it done, what were the obstacles, the dangers? What did the papers look like?
By the time the scene in the TV studio happened, I was tearing up like a mess. Bravo.
Priscilla
Okay, it’s time for the other side of the story after Elvis (2022).
This side showed a very young Priscilla being ‘selected’ by Elvis. If there was ever a better depiction of infatuation by an actor than Cailee Spaeny, then I haven’t seen it.
Watching this actress age over a decade within the confines of a few months of filming was incredible. It can only be credited to Sofia Coppola (director), the hair and make-up department and Cailee herself.
It was the most captivating first hour I’ve watched in ages, as Priscilla dotes over Jacob Elordi’s Elvis - however, it decelerated in the final act.
The Boy and the Heron Studio Ghibli was always a party I felt I wasn’t able to join in with.
I completely understand the awe behind the drawing and the level of tranquil tone, but beyond those factors all I see is discoordination and frankly, the emperor with no clothes on.
Beyond being bored, I was actually a bit dread-filled at how many people I was going to have to fight off who would claim this as a masterpiece.
Night Swim
You know that slight childish paranoia you get being in a swimming pool? Let’s go with that…
To be fair some of the quality camerawork did remind me of my long forgotten fears. It was very creatively shot, especially early on.
Unfortunately, it progressed with some of the most rubbish plot writing I’ve ever seen. It slipped into clichés without missing a beat, and I watched with dead eyes for the backend of the film.
Poor Things
Essentially about a woman with a child’s brain being allowed to wander out and explore the world.
It was probably a hair away from being silly, but it instead discovered some great channels of philosophy.
She learns quickly about logic but is unaccustomed to civil society and it makes her weirdly wise and unapologetic. Sometimes drifting between comedy and drama can seem janky but you can imagine how that would happen quite naturally.
It’s very weird though. Most people don’t like stuff that’s too weird.
The Beekeeper
Jason Statham beats the &£$% out of more people, in the name of revenge of course.
I liked the setup very much, and if you’ve seen it you’ll probably agree that it made you lean forward a bit.
However, it’s so ‘John Wick’ that I had to watch John Wick again - and it made me realise there may be a serious legal case here.
So, so many beats were stolen from the franchise - and (mild spoiler) the bee stuff was hardly touched upon.
The Boys in the Boat
Rather than starting from the beginning, I’ll say this - I LOVE seeing things actually happening on screen.
The team of rowers endured a few classic sports film tropes/clichés, but they were 100% rowing that boat. You didn’t have to watch these actors furrow their brows and spray their faces with water and pretend to show exertion.
They knew this and they made full use of the camerawork that this would open up, and those races were utterly exhilarating. Please look no further for your sports film nourishment this winter.
Mean Girls (the 2024 remake)
You might have sensed the scorn in my usually factual title.
You may remake something if you have some other way of telling the story, but if you’re going to copy 80% of the dialogue and chuck in some musical numbers, then you’d better be raising money for charity.
I really liked the new Damien, but the other castings were horrific copycats - or worse.
It was based on a film that was funny, so some of it was enjoyable, but I’m horrified by the lack of new material in films. henrygodfreyevans@gmail.com
Always Read the Label - By Ola Adamolekun
Around 3 years ago, I ran a six-week well-being course at my church called The Elijah Project. We covered food, movement, sleep, relaxation and mental well-being. One of the things we learned, during one of the sessions on nutrition, was how to read food labels. I brought in 4 different loaves of bread and the participants had to analyse them and pick the best option. The results were interesting to say the least.
As a health coach delivering the National Diabetes Prevention Programme, one of the things I drum into my participants is the importance of reading labels. The manufacturers make bold claims on their packaging, but their goal is to sell products and not to promote health and well-being.
We read things like ‘low-fat’, ‘high fibre’, ‘fortified with vitamins and minerals’ - the list is endless. In my humble opinion, these claims are at best just trying to sell products and at worst trying to confuse us!
So, how do we negotiate this minefield of health information? Here are my favourite tips for label reading:
1. If you can’t pronounce an ingredient, then you probably shouldn’t be eating it. Beware of additives and E numbers. What on earth is ‘Disodium 5’-Ribonucleotides’? This was on a packet of Chilli Heatwave Doritos.
2. If a food label has more than five ingredients, it might be an idea to avoid it. The closer to nature it is, the better.
3. If the list of ingredients contains items that you wouldn’t find in your kitchen cupboard, you should probably steer clear of that product.
4. Beware of products that claim to be ‘low sugar’, ‘reduced sugar’ or ‘zero-sugar’. There are around 50 different names for sugar. When manufacturers make these claims - they mainly mean table sugar. Look out for things like glucose, maltose, lactose, dextrose (anything that ends in ‘ose’). Syrup is also another name for sugar. Honey is mainly sugar even though it is advertised as a healthy option.
5. Always read the ingredients list. This is key - the first ingredient in the list is one with the highest content in the product. So, beware of foods where the first ingredient is sugar or water (unless it’s a drink).
6. When comparing products, always look at the 100g column and not at the serving size - servings differ from manufacturer to manufacturer.
It’s all about lists today! Here is another one explaining fat, sugar, and fibre:
1. Sugar - anything less than 5g per 100g is low sugar.
2. Fat - anything less than 3g per 100g is low fat. This is total fat.
3. Fibre - anything less that 3g per 100g is low fibre.
These are the main guidelines - if you want to know a bit more about sugar, fat, fibre and label reading, then come along to my free My Weight Matters programme at Moulsham Lodge Community Trust (on behalf of Essex Wellbeing Service) on a Tuesday afternoon between 1 and 2pm. Bon appétit.
www.beencouragedwellness.co.uk www.facebook.com/BeEncouragedBeStrong
CCR Latest News
We hope your year is going well so far. Already ours is proving to be quite exciting as we welcome new presenters and shows to our little family - and things are being mixed up a bit too as our 80s and 90s presenters have swapped over!
Now you can hear Gareth Jones bringing you the 90s Mixtape on Thursdays at 2pm. Meanwhile, former 90s Mixtape presenter Paul Mclean is now going back to his youth and bringing you an hour of 80s music at 2pm on Tuesdays.
Already settling in nicely, is new presenter Snig. He’s going to be keeping you company at 10am on Tuesdays. Plenty of great song choices, requests, and Snig’s own unique style of humour. Please do give him your support.
We also welcome the Tindal Ladies Circle who will be bringing you their news as part of the Sunday Community Monthly Takeovershear their first show on Sunday 11th February and thereafter every 2nd Sunday of the month. Good luck ladies!
Finally, Good Morning Chelmsford (Monday - Friday 7.30am - 10am) is now shared by Stuart Torn and Michelle Durant. Tune in to hear local travel news, upbeat tunes and a good selection of after 9
guests. If you’d like to be featured on one of our shows then please do get in touch: admin@chelmsfordcommunityradio.com. Have a great month.
www.chelmsfordcommunityradio.com
Hello everyone. I hope you were able to keep warm during this cold snap, it has definitely been a bit nippy out recently.
Just an update. I have successfully kept my New Year resolution - of not making any! I have been doing a bit of research on these with some interesting(?) results.
According to information on the good old internet, approximately 30% of people had plans to make resolutions for 2024, with another 8% yet to decide whether they will or not. 57% of us have never made them and don’t expect to do so in the future. There is a list of cities or towns where resolutions setters are most prolific, Chelmsford does not feature though!
So, what are the most popular ones? Top of the list is to exercise more. Lose weight comes next, and I guess these two are linked. Then comes the one to adopt a better diet, and reducing alcohol consumption is there too. Improving well-being and improving ones’ financial status follow.
People in the UK tend to keep their resolutions for over four months. What? 20% say theirs don’t last more than a month, though I’m surprised that is so low, to be honest.
Recently, I have noticed that I am contacted by places we visit, or shops we have bought from and almost anything, to review the experience. Now I don’t mind ticking a few boxes or selecting the number of stars but a lot of these seem to want my personal details. I am not prepared to do this. Anyway, it has prompted me to research strange or funny reviews and share some of these with you.
One said of Arthur’s Seat, a famous hill in Scotland, that they were disappointed to find there were no seats there at all, so they had to sit on wet grass. Another said he visited the Great Wall of China and found it too long. A wall is just a wall, he said. Another visited Abbey Road (made famous by the iconic Beatles album cover photo of the group crossing the road in London) and was disappointed that there were no zebras...
Apparently, Stonehenge is just a few rocks, so don’t waste your time visiting. One found a fabulous tropical beach too sandy. People worry me sometimes!
I have been reading today that a number of NHS trusts are having problems with their new ambulances. They are are replacing the existing diesel ones with these ‘environmentally friendly’ ones. It seems that the problems are not to do with the new technology, or the reported range issues. No. It is that the drivers with larger feet, more than size twelve, cannot use them because they cannot move their feet onto single pedals.
Now, I’m not sure what the ‘experts’ will make of this. Should they make the them wear smaller shoes? Or perhaps make the pedals smaller or further apart? Get rid of the vehicles? Only employ paramedics with dainty feet? Watch this space for the exciting conclusion of any investigation. In the meantime, get in touch with the NHS if you are looking for a new van on the cheap.
I often use Facebook and find it useful for keeping in touch with friends and family. As a football fan, I also look at the postings by other fans and the club that I support. However, I do not like the fact that if I look on the internet for anything at all, the next day is full of postings for that product. I had to replace our garage door about six months ago, and I am still getting stuff from companies trying to sell me one. I feel like shouting ‘I’VE ALREADY BOUGHT ONE!’.
Strange animal stories featured in the Colorado State University in the USA. I think they have been mentioned in my article before, so there is a little history there. This time it relates to research which has suggested that elephants are believed to be the first non-humans
to have names for each other. ‘This could have important implications for our understanding of language evolution’ researchers said.
Now, this got my interest. I had visions of the elephants getting together for a bit of a chat at the watering hole. ‘Hey Fred, have you tried that grass up on the ridge over there? It’s really tasty’. Or, ‘Charley, have you noticed that Roger has not bathed in the watering hole for ages? Perhaps we should call him a smellephant!’.
Unfortunately, not the case. It it is all about callers and receivers, whatever that means. I was disappointed, as I had hoped that they had confirmed that Doctor Doolittle was a true story.
My son’s family have two dalmatians. They are both puppies and quite lively. These photos were taken on Christmas Day. I hadn’t realised that they had heard us say that there were some presents hidden in the dinning room!
Stay safe and look after each other!
They must be here somewhere!
Afraid not!
This searching lark is sooooo tiring!
St John’s Moulsham - By Benson
Hello my pawsome chums, My name is Benson and I’m a seven-month-old show cocker spaniel. But I think, as well as being a very cute dog, my human is the vicar of and the Chaplain at Anglia Ruskin University (Chelmsford campus).
So, I’m being trained as a therapy dog and this means I often accompany her to work. I enjoy this as I have a lot of people stroking and cuddling me and I love strokes and cuddles.
One of my favourite places to go is Jublilatte, a twice weekly café at St John’s Church on Moulsham Street, as it is dog friendly. My human tells me the cake and coffee are especially good and I’m allowed a dogfriendly treat. It is also a place that provides warmth and company, not just to you humans. No human or dog sits on their own and everyone is welcomed, and if you are on your own someone will always come and have a chat (if you would like). I love going because it really shows what a community Moulsham is. In one corner you often have knitting, sewing or some other craft going on and in another you have scrabble - apparently, doggie-speak does not count (which I think is dogist). If you’re struggling financially and live in Old Moulsham there is even help, so you can still enjoy the yummy things that Jublilatte offers, which most importantly is coming to say hello to me (although my human disputes this).
Being only seven months old, I’m new to Moulsham, but already I sense what a community there is - from the dogs and their humans in Oaklands Park and beyond who say hello to me and offer my humans some much needed advice on how to raise a very adorable puppy (if I may say so myself), to the smiling faces and hellos as you walk down the street. Dogs are mostly very sociable animals and in my seven months, I have come to learn that so are humans, so I try to say hello to as many humans as possible. Next time you see me walking around, please do say hello to me and my human and remember you will always receive a warm welcome at Jublilatte from 9.30am - 12 noon on Mondays and Thursdays.
I’m also looking forward to my first Lent (my human tells me I won’t have to give up treats, which is a relief). Lent in the Christian calendar is a 40-day period from Ash Wednesday to Easter Sunday (when you humans give each other Easter eggs). For Christians it’s a period of reflection and penance, and yes, some humans abstain from foods or things like TV or social media. Other people take things up like volunteering and often the volunteering carries on beyond lent, like my human’s mum. She set herself a challenge a few years ago to knit 40 baby blankets for a hospice over Lent, which she achieved but continued, and years later she is still knitting baby blankets.
Even if you’re not of faith, the period of Lent could be a time to have a life evaluation, maybe you would like to try slow living as you feel your life is running 100 miles an hour. Or you look around your home and it just feels cluttered, and you want to use the time of Lent to declutter and try a simpler life. Lent could be a good time to experiment what works well for you.
St John’s Ash Wednesday Service is at 7.30pm on the 14th February. You could come for the traditional ashing, or even come to light a candle as you set an intention over the Lent period. Like everything at St John’s, everyone is welcome. Say hello to me if you see me around and I hope you have a pawsitive day.
Grove Road Evangelical Church
I’ve mentioned before that for a few years my wife and I were Christian missionaries in Normandy, France. You may remember the time I talked about praying for the nearby church bells to stop ringing! Here’s another example of how a situation was changed by prayer.
For a while we were living in a very rural cottage. Our phone and internet came via a cable about a kilometre long suspended high above the ground. In some places it also passed through trees. It just took one stormy night and then, next morning - no internet! That weekend we were holding a French-English church service and the French pastor was going to send me the message so that I could prepare an English translation of it in advance. No internet meant no email, and I didn’t think my understanding of spoken French was good enough to be able to translate it on the fly!
By Saturday night, still no email! There was only one thing to do, and that was to pray about it. Next morning, without much expectation it has to be said, I turned on my computer. Amazingly it connected to the internet and, yes, the email was waiting for me. I quickly downloaded it and set to work preparing the translation for the service in three hours’ time! After a few moments, the computer said that the connection had gone, and it didn’t connect again until France Telecom arrived several days later to replace the broken cable. Maybe you are thinking ‘coincidence’! Maybe it was - but what if maybe it wasn’t, but it was God answering prayer?
We would love for you to visit us at church on Sunday mornings at 11am and learn more about the God who hears and answers prayer.
Philip Loose, Senior Pastor
Grove Road Evangelical Church (Behind Tesco Express, Moulsham Street)
www.grecuk.co.uk pastor@grecuk.co.uk
Benson
Airhop Sees Official Launch in Essex
The world’s largest AirSlide is just one of the new attractions to arrive in Essex as AirHop officially launches new activity centres in Colchester and Chelmsford. AirHop, the ultimate play experience for kids and big kids, has launched two new activity parks in Essex.
Formerly known as Jump Street, the new AirHop sites in Colchester and Chelmsford feature incredible new attractions including the world’s largest AirSlide, stunning multi-sports Airenas and augmented reality trampolines.
Following a full-scale refit, the AirHop Chelmsford site on Richmond Road is now home to the world’s largest AirSlides, providing an adrenaline-pumping adventure as you accelerate on a special mat down the slide to launch into the air and land safely on an oversized airbag.
AirSlides plus a state of the art multi-sports Airena, an Aerostrike court and the latest in augmented reality trampolines, with an exhilarating new assault course set to open soon.
Both parks have also been fitted with cutting edge lighting systems, creating a stunning atmosphere for new After Dark sessions every Friday and Saturday evening, creating even more family fun - much like a family-friendly night club experience.
The Colchester and Chelmsford parks are members of the AirHop Group, which boasts 17 family-friendly parks across the UK. Acquired in July 2022, both locations have undergone extensive upgrades, giving families spaces to enjoy a safe, engaging and exhilarating experience.
The AirSlides and all AirHop’s attractions adhere to the highest safety standards and are open to everyone over 1.20m in height. Speaking on behalf of AirHop Group, Sandra Zerr commented: “The new look activity parks in Colchester and Chelmsford are not only landmark additions to the AirHop portfolio, but also ground- breaking new centres for delivering safe, adrenaline-fuelled family fun in Essex.
“We are delighted to have brought the world’s largest AirSlide to Chelmsford and we are certain this will have thrill seekers in Essex jumping for joy - higher than ever! But there is also so much more to enjoy at both of these activity parks, from soft play and the multi-sports Airena, to assault courses and augmented reality trampolines.”
For a detailed overview of all the new attractions and to plan your next family outing, visit www.airhop.co.uk/essex.
MT History: Essex Yeomanry Way - By Henri Lewi
Essex Yeomanry Way in Chelmsford is a nod to the Essex Yeomanry, a voluntary cavalry unit first formed at the end of the 18th century in response to the French revolutionary wars that were beginning to engulf Europe.
In response to the possible threat of invasion by France and the increasing likelihood of civil unrest, Parliament sought to establish a volunteer force throughout the country to counter these two threats. As a consequence, the (British) volunteer corps were established, whose role was to man the coastal artillery batteries, to support the regular militia in case of civil unrest and to provide a cavalry component, which were called the Yeomanry. The responsibility of raising and funding these volunteer troops lay with the Lords Lieutenants of the County who raised the funds from local wealthy donors.
The Yeomanry themselves were a county-based force mainly recruited from wealthy landholders, farmers and other members of the middle class who were expected to provide and pay for their own horses, uniforms and weapons. The officers themselves were recruited from the nobility and landed gentry and like all officers at that time had to purchase a commission, and a Captain’s Commission in 1797 cost £1,800 - equivalent to £175,000 in today’s terms.
The only reported role of the Yeomanry being involved in an attempted invasion was during the Battle of Fishguard, when the locally raised militia repulsed and defeated a French force of 1,400 men under the command of the Irish-American Colonel William Tate in February 1797. The defeat of this French Force is now often referred to as the ‘last invasion of mainland Britain’.
With recruitment commencing in 1797, the Essex Yeomanry grew to 15 independent Essex troops with strength of 640 men, which after 1803 rapidly grew to 1,250 after the commencement of the Napoleonic wars. The independent troops were amalgamated into the 1st Essex Yeomanry Cavalry.
Following the defeat of Napoleon in 1815 and the outbreak of peace, the numbers in the Essex Yeomanry declined and continued to do so until the Yeomanry was finally disbanded in 1828. There was a brief resurgence in Yeomanry troops in the late 1830s when civil unrest swept the country and a hastily recruited force was reconstituted as the West Essex Corps of Yeomanry Cavalry, whose purpose was to protect the Royal Gunpowder Mills at Waltham Abbey and the Enfield Royal Small Arms Factory. This last vestige of the Essex Yeomanry was finally disbanded in 1877.
The Essex Yeomanry was again reconstituted as a volunteer force as part of the Imperial Yeomanry, formed in response to the defeats sustained by the Regular Army in the 2nd Boer War, and later subsumed into the new Territorial Army. The reformed Imperial Essex Yeomanry, now a reserve force, was reactivated as a first line regiment at the outbreak of the First World War as the 1st Battalion Essex Yeomanry, embarking for France in December 1914. It saw action at the Battle of Ypres in 1915.
Today, the Essex Yeomanry - which has been reduced to a squadron - is acknowledged as the 36 (Essex Yeomanry) Signal Squadron. It is now part of part of 71 (Yeomanry) Signal Regiment, and remembered through the road that bears its name.
AirHop Colchester, located on Mason Road, also features incredible
I Can’t Stress This Enough... By Eleanor Searle
Stress seems to go hand in hand with life for many of us. Work life, home life, relationships, studies, etc, can all be drivers of stress. A work-life balance seems to feel more like a fairy tale for so many people.
However, there are some simple things that you can do to help manage your stress. The first being to acknowledge it. Once owning it, it doesn’t mean though that like a pet you have to live with it for ever. It is possible to let it go! So often, as a physiotherapist, I see clients whose stress is contributing to their pain and problems. So how can it be managed? We are all different and one approach doesn’t fit everyone but talking about it can be helpful and enable you to literally off-load, whether it is to your friends, therapist or physio.
Prioritising your time so that you do the things that are most important to you is helpful, so that you feel that you are making the most of your time. If you care for someone else, some time out respite is invaluable, as running on adrenalin and under pressure is exhausting.
Exercise is vital whether it is a walk in the park, a yoga class or something more hardcore. I can’t tell you how often I meet someone whose life has begun to unravel at pace when an injury stops them from being able to exercise, and when that is their life-coping strategy, it has a significantly detrimental effect on their coping mechanisms and mental health. A good physio recognises this and helps clients find a way back to doing what they love and need to do without aggravating their symptoms and can have a really powerful effect on overall health and well-being.
The other thing that we all need to remember is to take a deep breath, such as before dealing with a naughty child, or when under pressure at work, or just because we realise that we need to relax.
AI-Generated Artwork
I’m a native digital creative, embracing technology at every step of the creative process.
With a background in graphic design and digital film production, I have started to explore the use of AI in my artwork. I must stress though, that I love traditional art - I love the texture, I love to see a brush stroke, but I also love screenprint art, and stencil art, and of course I love photography. From my point of view it doesn’t matter what the process is when creating art, we all know what we like, and we definitely know what we don’t like!
AI-generated artwork represents a transformative force in the creative world, notably as a tool to accelerate the creative process. Far from replacing traditional artistry, it serves as a collaborative partner, broadening the scope of what can be achieved in art.
A key benefit of AI in art is its role in enhancing the artist’s workflow. Artists can employ AI as a digital assistant to rapidly experiment with ideas, styles, and compositions. This capability enables artists to explore various creative avenues with greater speed and flexibility, leading to innovative and unique artworks. For example, an artist might use AI to generate a range of colour palettes or textures, which can then be refined and applied in their physical artwork.
I believe AI art also democratises creative expression. Individuals without formal art training can use AI tools to bring their ideas to life, making art more inclusive and accessible. This aspect is particularly empowering, as it invites a wider audience to participate in artistic creation, fostering a diverse and vibrant art community.
A deep breath has an instantly calming effect. Many of you with children might have found that they have been taught candle breaths at school, where they practice blowing out the candles on a cake, or wave breaths where they inhale and exhale as they run their finger on one hand up and down the side of the fingers on the other hand; as they inhale, they draw up one side of the finger and as they exhale, they draw down the other side of the finger.
Many times, as a parent I show my kids that - one; it works to stop and take a breath, and two; that mummy is being pushed to the point of... really needing a moment, I do some wave breathing so that they know it would be a good idea for us all to take a moment and a few deep breaths.
The same is true for adults; when you’re next sat on the edge of your seat furiously answering emails - stop, take a moment, sit back and take three of your biggest, finest, deepest breaths and see how powerful that is. I guarantee your emails will be more carefully considered and concise than they might have been in just bash through them mode.
Finally, yoga is something to consider. For some, just rolling out their mat is enough to start feeling calmer. For others, they need to flow a bit and move through the postures to start feeling calmer, enabling them to get to a state or relaxation nearer the end of the practice. For others time, yoga and meditation can just unfold from the moment that they settle down to practice.
We are all different, and on any given day how we need to manage stress can shift and change but for those of you who would like to try yoga with my team at Hummingbird Pilates and Yoga here is a free class pass: ‘HPYFREECLASS’.
In educational settings, AI art tools offer an innovative resource. They provide students with a platform to experiment with artistic techniques and styles, often with immediate feedback. This not only accelerates learning but also encourages a deeper engagement with art.
Last summer I gave a presentation to the art students at Chelmsford High School, which worked really well to showcase the tools that AI can offer an artist starting out.
AI-generated artwork is a complementary addition to the artistic landscape. It enhances the creative process for artists and non-artists alike, encourages innovation, and makes art creation more inclusive and accessible. AI in art is not about replacing human creativity but about expanding its possibilities and reach.
Photography didn’t kill the hand painted portrait, it opened up more opportunities for different people to be able to express themselves.
I’m quite sure this brief article could open a can of worms, and even I’m concerned about how AI can have negative impacts on our daily lives and jobs, happy to keep the conversation going…
These 2 examples are my own digital compositions, utilising elements generated by AI. I (we) have a mention about being in the PopUp gallery in the Meadows Shopping Centre called Artists at the Meadows in Unit 32.
www.jagart.co.uk
Visualisations Show Final Plans for Army and Navy Junction in
Chelmsford as Planning Applications Are Submitted
The £81 million Army and Navy Sustainable Transport Package includes walking, cycling, bus and Park and Ride improvements to encourage safer, greener and healthier travel.
Residents have been given a glimpse of final plans to transform a vital gateway in Chelmsford after Essex County Council released a series of computer-generated images.
The proposed Army and Navy Sustainable Transport Package includes a hamburger roundabout (a new roundabout with a road through the centre of it) at the Army and Navy junction in Chelmsford.
It also includes bus-priority measures and walking and cycling improvements at the junction itself and on the approaches to and from the roundabout.
Essex County Council has worked closely with partners and the local community to develop its proposals, with the hamburger roundabout being residents’ preferred option during public consultation.
Having now developed the plans in more detail, the latest visualisations show how the area will look once the scheme is constructed. The images have been published to coincide with planning applications being submitted for the project.
The Army and Navy Sustainable Transport Package will also see a 350-space expansion of Sandon Park and Ride, and a 500-space expansion of Chelmer Valley Park and Ride.
In October last year, the Department for Transport confirmed the outline business case for the project had been approved and Essex County Council would be awarded £68.75 million of Major Road Network (MRN) funding, subject to planning consent, a full business case and certain conditions being met.
The £81million project is also being part funded by Essex County Council and Chelmsford City Council.
Councillor Lesley Wagland OBE, Essex County Council’s Deputy to the Leader with principal accountabilities on Major Infrastructure Projects and Freeports, said: “We are delighted to have reached another milestone for what will be a truly transformational project for Chelmsford.
“After a huge amount of hard work assessing options, developing our proposals and securing conditional funding for the scheme, it is fantastic to have now submitted planning applications.
“The Army and Navy Sustainable Transport Package will deliver enormous benefits; improving journey times, reducing delays and supporting economic growth in the area.
“We also need to provide better options for people to travel, especially for shorter journeys where we want walking or cycling to be the natural choice. This project will do just that, helping
encourage people to travel in and around the city in safer, greener, and healthier ways.”
Vicky Ford MP, Member of Parliament for Chelmsford, said: “Chelmsford is a growing and thriving city and deserves first class infrastructure. Tackling the long-standing issue with the Army and Navy junction is an absolute priority.
“Plans for the Army and Navy Sustainable Transport Package, including the new junction, took a huge step forward when we were able to secure the £68.75 million in funding from the government in November.
“I am delighted that the planning applications have now been submitted. This is excellent news for people all across Chelmsford. The scheme will reduce congestion and boost economic growth across our city.”
Stephen Robinson, Leader
City Council, said: “The submission of the planning applications for the Army and Navy Sustainable Transport Package is a welcome next stage in the delivery of the scheme. The City Council is pleased to see the project is making progress to address the needs of pedestrians, cyclists and bus users right across Chelmsford, as well as cars and other vehicles.”
Based on calculations made for the outline business case, average journey times through the Army and Navy junction once the scheme is in place are modelled to be 44% quicker for cyclists, 40% for buses, 53% for motorised vehicles and 11% quicker for people walking through the junction at ground level.
Three separate planning applications - one for the Army and Navy junction and one each for the Park and Ride expansions - have been submitted for the project, with decisions on the applications anticipated in the spring-based on statutory timeframes.
As part of the planning process, people will have a 21-day period to comment on the applications. The plans can be accessed via the Essex County Council planning website at: planning.essex.gov.uk.
For more information about the Army and Navy Sustainable Transport Package and to sign up for the project e-newsletter, please visit www.essex.gov.uk/armyandnavy.
Councillor
of Chelmsford
MT Finance - Five New Year’s Resolutions for Investors
What are the main things for investors to think about when considering their portfolios for the year ahead? Charles Stanley outline five possible resolutions.
The start of the year is often a time for resolving to get fit, eat more healthily or give up that evening glass of wine. It can also be a great time to aim for fitter, stronger finances to keep your plans on track, and following some significant market moves over the course of 2023 it’s worth taking a fresh look at your portfolio. In the spirit of ‘out with the old and in with the new’. Here are five new year investment tips worth considering.
1. Make Use of Tax Efficient Allowances
The tax net continues to close on investors. We don’t know how things might change after the Spring Budget on 6th March, as well as any upcoming election, but with important allowances frozen or cut things are already getting harder.
The income tax personal allowance, the slice of income on which no tax is paid, is set to remain frozen at £12,570 until the 27-28 tax year. Meanwhile, investors will see their Capital Gains Tax (CGT) allowance falling again to just £3,000 a year from 6th April 2024, down from £12,300 a couple of years ago, as well as a much diminished dividend allowance which falls by half from £1,000 to £500 in the new tax year.
This could mean a significant tax bill for those holding income paying investments outside a tax efficient Individual Savings Account (ISA) or Self Invested Personal Pension (SIPP) and underlines the importance of using these wrappers as far as possible.
2. Ensure Your Portfolio Is Diversified and Rebalance if Necessary Diversifying, spreading your money between different investments and asset classes, can lead to a less bumpy ride for your portfolio. If some of your investments are performing poorly, others could be making up for it, and it’s usually too late to change things amid market-moving news. Diversification also shouldn’t be taken for granted. Portfolios can become out of kilter over time as the values of asset classes rise or fall at different rates. You may find that certain stocks, funds, or asset classes have outperformed and account for a larger percentage over time. It can be prudent to reduce exposure to these areas and redistribute to others to maintain an appropriate level of diversification and risk.
Just as many of us might have put on a little weight over Christmas, portfolios may have been swelled by exposure to the tech heavyweights (or the US more generally) in the run up to the year end. Trimming back may be sensible, especially if 2024 turns out to be a year when stock market performance is broader based.
3. Take a
Second Look at Bonds
Many private investors largely ignore one of the most important assets classes: bonds. Also known as ‘fixed income’, bonds represent the debt of companies, governments, or other institutions. They typically pay a fixed amount of income each year (known as the coupon) and repay the original capital (the principal) at the end of a specified term.
It’s fair to say bonds have had a turbulent ride over the past few years, and investors will have done well to avoid them as interest rates and inflation expectations rose. However, with yields much higher now they can be a shock absorber in portfolios and important diversification in the event of a nastier economic
downturn than expected, and interest rates fall more quickly than widely supposed.
This scenario, which could be tricky for many parts of the share market sensitive to growth, would likely be more positive for high quality bonds. Plus, with yields north of 4% there is a cushion against weakness in capital values if inflation and interest rates remain higher than anticipated. Follow the link for more on bonds, including how they work and investment options to consider.
4. Consider Whether You Are Holding Too Much Cash Savings accounts, Cash ISAs and NS&I products saw renewed popularity in 2023. There has been something of a cash revolution with platforms such as Charles Stanley Direct Cash Savings making it straightforward and rewarding to actively manage cash. Today savers are benefiting from some of the highest returns in almost two decades as well as easy, digital methods of moving money around.
For an emergency fund and for any planned spending there is no alternative to cash. For shorter term needs it’s just not worth taking the risk of volatility in the markets, so it’s good to know that in the short term at least you stand a fighting chance of retaining spending power in cash as inflation recedes and interest rates remain relatively elevated to keep it subdued.
But are today’s eye-catching cash rates providing a false sense of security? They may have doubled compared with just a year ago, and competitive ones just about offer a ‘real’ or inflationbeating return right now, but that’s as good as it gets. They don’t drive wealth forward over the long term, and we may now face an environment where rates on cash are likely to fall and investments become more appealing as inflation subsides and interest rates are cut. Getting the right balance of cash for short term and investments for long term is an important decision for the coming year.
5. Get Some Professional Help if Needed You don’t have to face quandaries surrounding your investments and wider finances on your own. Whether you have a specific question, would like your current portfolio assessed for imbalances or are looking for someone to help you create a detailed financial plan, we can help.
For more complex financial decisions you may wish to consider full, regulated financial advice. A financial adviser can help assess your existing finances, whether you are on track to meet your retirement goals and help structure your affairs as tax efficiently as possible. Alternatively, if you simply have some questions that need answering, to help you think clearly about your next steps, our financia coaching service can provide the confidence you need.
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. Charles Stanley is not a tax adviser. 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.
Charles Stanley & Co. Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered office: 55 Bishopsgate, London EC2N 3AS.
The Singing Chef
Potatoe Rosti
Coursely grate a 1kg bag of potatoes and 1 large onion.
Sprinkle with salt and leave in a colander in the sink for 30 minutes.
Grab a clean tea towel, add the potato and onion mix and squeeze as much water out as possible. Then, in a bowl with 1 large egg, land a heaped tablespoon of plain flour
Push the mix into a hot oiled pan patting down with a spatula on a highish heat, turning only when the bottom is golden. You’ll hear it popping but just don’t be too eager to turn it over - it takes longer than you think.
Don’t worry about this breaking up, it’s really hard to keep it all in one piece. I nearly had a breakdown trying to make a nice one to photograph for this article!
A non-stick pan is absolutely essential. But if you’re anything like me you’re pans are not brand new to say the least!
Mix together a tablespoon of flour with the oil and it should create a nonstick barrier. Add cheese to the dish if you wish! Talking of cheese...
The Swiss make a fine Rosti! I took the kids to Switzerland over Christmas. Not skiing, just to show them where their grandad used to live and work and took them to a few of my favourite mountains and of course chugged away on some spectacular trains. The place
is absolutely beautiful, magnificent and the food is quite simple, but delicious. I like it there - if you get a chance, definitely go. It didn’t seem to be that expensive out there this time, probably because the cost of living in our very own fine country costs a fortune now!
I host an open mic at O’Connors in Hall Street on the last Wednesday of the month - feel free to join us!
Marquee
Our marquee has taken a bit of a battering recently - it survived the December storms then on 2nd January storm Henke had us tying it down with as much weight as possible and replacing over stretched bungees before they broke! We realise we need a group of about 12 people to quickly take it down in an emergency - if you’re happy to be part of the gang please ring us on 07434 678 999 to let us know.
The marquee is a very important space for MLCT - during the year it’s home to large events, summer and Christmas fayres, Breakfast with Santa and any afternoon teas or parties we organise... but each week it’s also used for various classes which play a big part in improving the physical and/or mental health of those who come along.
Seated Exercise
Each Monday 1.30pm to 2.30pm and Thursday 10.30am - 11.30am, the marquee houses seated exercise classes. Spaces are still available on Mondays - ring 07434 678 999 for more info.
Men’s Shed
Each Friday 1pm - 3pm, it provides a home for our Men’s Shed group - a place for men to share ideas and projects. Come along if you’re interested or ring
07434
Speed Watch
A focus this month is in how to encourage motorists using Gloucester Avenue to make the road safe for us all by keeping their speed to, or under, 30mph. There are some regular volunteers who carry out a speed watch each month, but we need more of you to help. Once trained, the commitment is for just 2 hours each month - the more of us there are the less time needed. If you’re interested, then come along to the MLCT Station (same place as the Copper Pot Café) on Saturday 3rd February 1.30pm - 3pm. If you’re reading this after this date, please contact us on 07434 678 999 to arrange another time. All training and equipment is supplied by Essex Police.
Attendance Allowance
Do you, or someone you live with, have a long-term physical or mental condition or disability? If so you are possibly entitled to Attendance Allowance.
On 11th March from 11am - 12.30pm, Liz McCullough is coming to MLCT station to give a talk and explain how to fill in the Attendance Allowance form in the best way. Do pop in and see her - you might be entitled to the benefit without realising it.
IT Support
Do you struggle to use or understand your mobile phone or tablet? Do you need someone to give you a bit of assistance to find your way round all the technology which has become so much of our lives now? Jeremy, our IT Man, is at the MLCT Station on the second and fourth Friday of each month 10am - midday. February dates: 9th and 23rd, March dates: 8th and 22nd. Bring your device along.
Copper Pot Café is open Monday - Friday 8am till 4pm, and Saturday from 9am - 3pm.
www.mlct.org.uk enquiries@mlct.org.uk 07434 678 999
MLCT 99 Gloucester Avenue CM2 9DS
An Update From Moulsham Lodge Ward - By Ashley Thompson & Simon Goldman
It’s been another busy month for your two Moulsham Lodge Lib Dem City Councillors, Ashley Thompson and Simon Goldman.
Ashley has been out speed watching again, working with our small group of local volunteers to help combat the rather worrying speeds at which some motorists seem to like tackling Gloucester Avenue.
We can also up our efforts with your help. We’d love to go out more regularly to catch more speeders, but to do this we need more volunteers, and ideally a hero or two to coordinate the group. You can always pick and choose which session you can make according to your availability, and we only go out for less than an hour at a time.
If you’re up for this, please email Ashley at ashley.thompson@ chelmsford.gov.uk.
Meanwhile, we’ve continued to hear feedback from time to time about groups of youths congregating around the Chislett Row play area. We fully understand that drunken youths using the zipwire at 2am is indeed antisocial and wearing on residents. In conjunction with Lib Dem parliamentary candidate Marie Goldman, who is in discussion with the council officers, exploring whether mobile CCTV might be a possibility in this area. We’ll keep you updated on any developments.
In terms of what’s going on in and around Moulsham Lodge, do pop along to The Copper Pot Café on the first Saturday of each month at 1pm for Coffee with Cops, and us. This is your chance to bend the ears of your local councillors and police representatives and we’d love to listen to your perspectives on life in Moulsham Lodge.
There are so many organisations around Moulsham Lodge working for Chelmsford residents that are most in need. Last month, Simon got the opportunity to visit Baby Basics at the Methodist Church on Lime Walk, to see what amazing work the volunteers are doing. If you can help or donate to this amazing cause, I’m sure they would love to hear from you. Email, babybasicschelmsford@gmail.com, or use their website at, www.baby-basics.org.uk.
And finally, on 9th February at 7.30pm, join St Luke’s Church for the latest in their series of community problems, where Ashley will be at the organ, alongside a range of musical talent from the area!
For any local issues, please do get in touch any time.
ashley.thompson@chelmsfordlibdems.org.uk simon.goldman@chelmsfordlibdems.org.uk
Or follow us on the following platforms: Chelmsford Liberal Democrats Facebook: www.facebook.com/ChelmsLibDems Facebook: Search for ‘Simon Goldman’ - Moulsham Lodge Councillor Twitter: twitter.com/ChelmsLibDems
Tile Kiln Corner -
By Cllr Linda Mascot
I was very pleased to join HM Lord Lieutenant Jennifer Tolhurst, Deputy Leader of the City Council, Marie Goldman, Cllrs Simon Goldman, Natacha Dudley and Hazel Clark, Jenny Brown organiser of the Moulsham Lodge Community Trust Knit & Natter Group, along with other community champions and volunteers at Moulsham Lodge Methodist Church on Friday 19th January for Baby Basics Chelmsford’s Fanfare for the Future event.
This was held to celebrate 300 Moses basket donations and handing over loaded up Moses baskets to referring professionals to pass on to families in need. Local knitters and crafters also contribute items, and it was a real community event to celebrate the hard work of the volunteers during the past four years. It was an honour to thank all involved for the great work they do.
Baby Basics Chelmsford is a registered charity run by Joelle and her team of amazing volunteers with the aim of supporting vulnerable families and their newborn babies. They are based at Moulsham Lodge Methodist Church and are a referral service from health and social care professionals, charities and organisations who support people due to their social or economic situation.
Donations are very welcome of Moses baskets and associated bedding, blankets, muslins, first and second size nappies, baby wipes, nappy cream, baby wash, shampoo, clean pre-loved baby clothes up to 6 months, baby towels and larger blankets, changing bags, rattles, plush toys and essential toiletries for mums to be.
If you are able to contribute to the starter packs with baby items or toiletries to support the wonderful work of Baby Basics in our community, please email babybasicschelmsford@gmail.com or ring 07895 904 594, or find their wishlist here: www.amazon. co.uk/baby-reg/3JGNZEXHSMH0X.
No True Love Without Sacrifice
We’ve hit February and we’ll be seeing hearts and flowers and other such things hitting the advertising as Valentine’s Day approaches. We love love, don’t we?! It’s everywhere! And not just around 14th February.
But I think we too easily misunderstand love. The focus on what we feel leads us into all kinds of terrible misery when those feelings stop or change. Feelings is far too flimsy a definition of love. There is no true love without sacrifice.
There is a tendency to think of love as transactional - one thing for another. You do this for me and I’ll do that for you. You sacrifice this for me, and I’ll sacrifice this for you, and that’s how we’ll love each other so that we both in the end get what we want.
Worse still, we can try to compete with each other, attempting to sacrifice a little less than the person we love, so that the sacrifice we make costs us little. Attempting to get more love from someone than we’re prepared to give turns love inward. If we do that, we’ll destroy one another.
All of us are naturally selfish about love like this. And all of us deny it. But some honest reflection will soon confirm it. The question is, what are we to do? We can’t do anything ourselves - trying harder to be less selfish doesn’t work. Trying another partner doesn’t work. Though both, for a time, might give the appearance of helping, in the end, we remain the same person.
What we need is someone to show us what true love, and therefore true sacrifice, really looks like. And to do that by loving us sacrificially. The only person who can do this, and has done this, is Jesus Christ.
Jesus came because God loved us. Here is what the Bible says about it: ‘This is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.’ (Look that up by googling 1 John 4:10.)
Jesus Christ is God’s Son, and he came to sacrifice himself for us, because there is no true love without sacrifice. In order to show us true love, Jesus willingly sacrificed himself, and gave up his life so that you can have a fresh start, a clean slate, full forgiveness, and new hope. Here’s what Jesus himself said: “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” Then, he went and laid down his life, and offers you his love and friendship. Will you take up his offer?
If you want to know more, or have any questions, please get in touch!
Tim Goodall, Pastor, Tile Kiln Church.
tim.goodall@tilekilnchurch.org.uk
07821 866 301
YouTube: tinyurl.com/y24qlkvx
Facebook: www.facebook.com/tilekilnchurch www.tilekilnchurch.org.uk
Quiz Time - By John Theedom
Who is the rugby legend who died in January 2024 at the age of 74?
What is an infidel?
To ‘trounce’ somebody is to do what?
What is Mozart’s middle name?
Where is the Oder River?
Which George is the singer of Shotgun?
What is a male badger called?
What kind of vehicle was a Green Goddess?
What is the meaning of the Royal Marine’s motto ‘Per mare, Per terram’?
Who had a hit with the song 9 to 5?
Which city in the world is the slowest for drivers?
When and why were phone boxes painted red?
In which year did Sir Clive Sinclair put the C5 vehicle on sale for £399?
Which business man referred to one of his jewellery products as ‘total crap’?
What are baby salmon called?
What would you do with a rhombi?
Which king of England and Scotland owned Old Rowley?
Who had a hit with the song Barcelona?
By what other name can a figurine be known?
What type of animal is an ibex?
In the Bible, where did Noah’s ark end up?
Who is the singer of the hit Rehab?
What year was the United Nations formed?
Which planet in the Milky Way is hottest?
Who is the well known seafood chef with a connection to Padstow?
Which is the largest Canadian province?
What is the word for a deeply unconscious state?
What type of food is rollmop?
An ‘apse’ can be found where?
What would you call a one-eyed giant?
What is the other name for rubella?
What City is known as ‘The Eternal City’?
What is avian influenza?
What is a small pickled cucumber?
Who performed the theme tune to the Big Bang Theory on TV?
Which member of Girls Aloud had a hit with Messy Little Raindrops?
Yam-yam is slang for someone from which part of England?
Mistral, siroco and etesian are types of what?
What is ‘boat race’ cockney rhyming slang for?
What is a male deer called? (Answers on page 30 & 31)
Variety Concert at St Luke’s, Moulsham Lodge and Tile Kiln Friday 9th February, 7.30pm In the cold and dark days of winter, it’s good to have something fun to look forward to. St Luke’s in Moulsham Lodge has just the thing to offer to our neighbours.
We will be hosting another variety concert on Friday 9th February at 7.30pm, following on from our first, very successful, concert last October.
This time we will be welcoming the local ensemble, Surig, led by Isobel Liebman, together with Chego (Chelmsford’s Guitar Orchestra), various other virtuoso performers (including our local councillor, Ashley Thompson) and interval refreshments.
It’s free to get in, with just a retiring collection towards St Luke’s hall roof appeal. Everybody is welcome.
St Luke’s Church, Gloucester Avenue, Moulsham Lodge, CM2 9DT
www.stlukemoulshamlodge.co.uk
Facebook: @stlukesmoulshamlodge
Make a real difference by talking to others. English For All Sessions need you!
We are looking for friendly and approachable volunteers to provide support to those in our communities who speak little or no English at our face to face sessions. With a positive outlook and an enthusiasm to support others, you will help to reduce the isolation for people from around the world.
Volunteers are urgently needed at our Monday Sessions, (9am to 12noon, central Chelmsford) which welcomes male and female learners.
Trustee/treasurer - The Wildnerness Foundation
We are a small but rapidly growing charity at a pivotal moment in our evolution. We are looking for an exceptional person to take on the role of treasurer/trustee. If you have a background in finance, strategy, or governance, and if you fancy a truely rewarding project then please get in touch!
Foster carer and trainer for veterans’ service dogs
We train up rescue dogs so that they can make a profound difference to veterans who are suffering from PTSD. We need safe, loving foster homes where our rescue dogs can settle into life and begin their training, before being matched to the right veterans.
Macmillan volunteer Buddy
Our Macmillan Buddy service provides a lifeline for people with cancer, offering them weekly support from someone who understands what they’re going through. We need Buddies to support people by phone and in person. Some experience of having lived with cancer would be beneficial.
Hosting Volunteer at FoodCycle Chelmsford
FoodCycle volunteers are welcoming and committed people who want to create delicious meals and lasting relationships within their community.
As a Hosting Volunteer, you’ll support the team in creating a warm, welcoming environment for our guests. You’ll serve food, share a meal with our guest, encourage conversation and clean up after the meal.
Become a leader with Essex Volunteer Police Cadets
We’re looking for local people, over the age of 18, to get involved in our Police Cadet programme as a volunteer cadet leader.
Police Cadets isn’t about recruiting police officers of the future. It is about building positive relationships between young people, their communities, and police. Our volunteer Police Cadet leaders help to guide and inspire local teens, encouraging them to become good citizens.
Answers
JPR Williams
Unbeliever
Beat soundly
Amadeus
Central Europe, mostly in Poland
Ezra
Boar
Military fire engine
‘By sea, by land’
Dolly Parton
London
To make them easier to see (most commonly seen designed to to celebrate the Silver Jubilee of King George VI - 1936)
January 11th 1985
Gerald Ratner
Fry, developing into parr
Suck it, it is a lozenge
Charles II
Freddie Mercury and Montserrat
Caballé
Statuette
A hart
Mountain goat
Mountains of Ararat
Amy Winehouse
1945
Venus
Rick Stein
Québec
Coma
Marinated herring fillet
Alcove in a church
Cyclops
Measles
Rome Bird flu
Gherkin
Barenaked Ladies
Cheryl (Cole)
The Black Country
Types of wind
Face
