Moulsham Times - January 2020

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MT Welcome

Hi readers,

Welcome to the January edition of Moulsham Times.

I hope you had a good festive break and I wish you a happy New Year.

If you would like to advertise in this magazine and reach 9,000 local readers, please telephone or email - you can find our contact details below.

Remember too that you can also view our magazines online at www. issuu.com/itsyourmedia.

Enjoy your month!

Regards Paul

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

It’s Your Magazines Ltd 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 Printwize.

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3

Chelmsford - By Vicky Ford MP Chelmsford is a wonderful city.

It is a deep honour to have been re-elected as your Member of Parliament to represent the people of Chelmsford.

During the election period I knocked on well over 10,000 doors across the constituency. Thank you to everyone who took time to talk. While our city is packed full of hardworking people, it is also full of compassion, with many people and organisations who go the extra mile to help others.

MPs have now got together in Westminster where we have a long ‘to do’ list. I’m looking forward to moving beyond the constant debates over Brexit and helping to deliver record investment in our NHS, more police and fairer funding for our schools. With our new medical school, Chelmsford is already leading the way on building the NHS workforce of the future and the increases in police numbers that we have seen recently at Essex Police will soon start to be replicated across the UK, with more planned locally too.

One of my first tasks after the general election was to sign up new MPs to join the Conservative Environment Network. I helped found this organisation last year and it has already had a major impact with many of the proposals we suggested now being wrapped into government policy. 2020 will be a very important year for the environment, with the UK due to host the massive Global Conference on Climate Change (COP 26) next December in Glasgow.

There were also a number of less high-profile commitments made in the manifesto which are equally important. Putting infrastructure first before new homes are built will be a game changer in areas like Chelmsford. The commitment to support flexible working will help many parents and carers.

I have long campaigned for more investment for research into dementia and improved access to medicines for those with rare diseases, especially children, so it was good to see this featured in the manifesto. I also look forward to seeing greater investment in East Anglian rail, which was another commitment.

The biggest local issue locally was of course the Army and Navy. The first stages on taking down the flyover have already taken place and the full dismantling will start in the new year. I will continue to press for a new junction to be delivered in the fastest possible time frame, whilst also making sure that we get a proper long-term solution.

2020 will also be a very important year for Chelmsford. It marks 100 years since the first ever radio broadcast was sent across the world from the Marconi factory in New Street, which started the communications revolution that we still experience today. In 2020 we will also be hosting the British Science Festival in Chelmsford the first time this festival has ever been held in Essex.

I will be restarting my constituency surgeries in January; these are an opportunity for residents who have matters that they wish to discuss with me in a one on one meeting. In the meantime, do please stay in touch at vicky.ford.mp@parliament.uk.

Biggest WI in Chelmsford Is Reaching out for New Members On Saturday 25th January, New City Girls WI will be in High Chelmer shopping centre in Chelmsford to meet local women and tell them all about what the WI can offer. Although many members enjoy the ‘traditional’ aspects of the Women’s Institute such as baking and crafting, lots of members prefer some more unconventional activities. New City Girls offer gin groups, photography and out-of-the-box activities that have previously included escapes rooms, axe throwing and kayaking down the River Thames.

Current President, Rebecca Cameron-McIntosh, says: “Our motto is Fun, Friendship and Education, and our programme for 2020 certainly reflects that. We’ve got salsa dancing, social evenings and speakers covering topics like local history and women’s health, as well as our ever popular Christmas Craft meeting.” She continues: “What’s great, is that even if an evening doesn’t take your fancy on paper, you still end up leaving having learned something and having enjoyed a cuppa, a slice of cake and a good natter with like-minded ladies.”

Rebecca says that the new year is a popular time for New City Girls: “We always get quite a few ladies join us in January or February as part of their New Year’s resolution to try something different. We love seeing new members and the stall in High Chelmer will be a fantastic opportunity to showcase what makes us unique to those that might be interested in coming along.”

Having formed in 2014, New City Girls WI is not only the largest Women’s Institute in Chelmsford, but with 250 members is also one of the largest in the country. With such a membership there is also a diverse range of backgrounds, ages and interests. They meet on the

second Monday of each month (except August) in the pavilion next to Hylands House. Alongside the monthly meetings, there are also subgroups for members to join, ranging from gardening and crafting, to the choir and the Out of the Box group who have played at cowgirls on a rifle range, and gone zip wiring on a weekend in Wales. No activity is off limits - if members can think of it, New City Girls will help get it off the ground.

New City Girls are also proud of their fundraising. Having previously worked closely with local charities such as Safer Places and Chelmsford Community Transport, they are looking forward to raising funds for another local charity this year.

For more information you can chat to members at High Chelmer on Saturday 25th January, or check them out on Facebook at facebook. com/ncgwi, or send an email to enquiries.ncgwi@gmail.com.

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Star of True Blood and The Gifted Returns Home to Support the Reject Theatre Company Stephen Moyer, who starred as Bill Compton in HBO’s cult TV programme True Blood and who has more recently been seen on our television screens as Reed Strucker in Fox’s The Gifted, is a founder member of the Reject Theatre Company. He has returned recently to his roots to see their latest production of Abigail’s Party in rehearsals.

Stephen, along with Barry Hester and Kevin Richards, formed the group in 1988 before Stephen moved across the Atlantic to pursue his career in America.

On seeing the rehearsal this week, Stephen said: “What a lovely thing it was to see you working tonight, my lovelies. Warmed the heart of my cockles. You have a fab production on your hands and I hope to be there at show week.”

So, if you would like to see this fantastic, hilarious production of this classic seventies play, then get your tickets now before they all go.

You can book tickets from: www.chelmsford.gov.uk/theatres/whats-on/drama/abigails-party.

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MT Therapy

by Chelmsford Therapy Rooms

So, it’s the end of December/beginning of January, and it’s that time of year again - New Year’s resolutions! In this article I will look at some of the common resolutions people make and how counselling can help with them:

I’ll Lose Weight!

This is probably one of the most common issues people present with in the new year. There is a lot of guilt that usually presents with this, so clients feeling guilty over eating something ‘naughty’ or something they ‘didn’t need to eat’. Many people that contact us tell us that ‘enough is enough, I need to take control’. January can feel like the longest month ever because of the merry-go-round of junk food versus guilt! Counselling can be absolutely great for helping clients tackle weight loss issues. We look at your mindset, your beliefs around food and look to use various coping techniques to not only help you take control, but to tackle those underlying issues that have caused you to put the weight on in the first place. The festive season can be a real wake up call, counselling helps you remain awake to your weight issue, deal with it and move on to a better, healthier you!

I’ll Get Over My Anxiety/Depression/Stress I have put these three issues under the same section, because they all usually go together and definitely influence each other! For many people the festive season is less laughter and cheer and more stress and anxiety - leaving you feeling low and exhausted. I see this a lot, by the end of the festive season some people have simply come to the end of their tether and decided they have to learn how to deal with their mindset so that they can relax. Over thinking is a common cause of anxiety, stress and depression. Whether it’s focusing on just one thing or many things, clients come to me saying that not only can they not stop thinking, but that their thoughts are negative, worrisome, random and even irrational. The festive season brings out the best and worst in people. Counselling helps you deal with your anxiety/depression/stress using various methods and coping techniques so that you are better prepared for the future and can move on happier and more fulfilled.

I’ve Had a Bereavement Unfortunately, the festive season can remind us of losses, of people who we wish were still with us. Sometimes we experience losses over the festive season and we need to process this in the new year.

Counselling not only helps you to process your loss but also helps you to move on, at your own pace, when you are ready to. We won’t judge how you’re feeling. We won’t make you talk about anything you don’t want to talk about or that you feel you’re not ready to talk about.

We’re here to help you to talk it out in a safe space.

I’ll Overcome My Phobias Another common New Year’s resolution is to decide to get rid of a phobia. You can literally be phobic of anything, but you can come to my practice and however silly you think your fear is, I’ve probably treated it before - or at the very least I will likely know of it! The festive season can often bring things to a head and cause people to decide once and for all they are not going through another experience where they feel embarrassed about their fear. Counselling helps you explore and overcome your phobia and we can teach you coping techniques to help you in the moment of fear, or leading up to it.

I’ll Sort My Relationship Issues We receive many enquiries involving relationships breaking down over, or just after, the festive period. We help couples seeking counselling, or individuals who are unhappy in their relationships. We also see people who are single and just can’t seem to find someone suitable and they start to wonder if there is something wrong with them! No matter what it is, counselling can help. We explore the issues in a safe, non-judgemental environment - you may be very surprised at what you find out about your relationship patterns! In

terms of couples’ counselling, it is common for us to see couples where one person wants to make a change more than the other. Do bear this in mind before contacting us, we will try to help you the best we can, but we cannot persuade anyone not to end, or to end, a relationship!

Just another note to end this article on: We do get a lot of enquiries from people who then do not respond to our initial response. Please check your voicemails and junk mail in case a counsellor has replied to your enquiry. Also, before you make an enquiry, try writing down a list of reasons as to why you want counselling. Keep this with you as a boost to encourage you to make that first appointment and, potentially, change your life forever. I genuinely don’t know where I would be if I hadn’t seen my counsellor all those years ago.

Happy New Year from all of us at Chelmsford Therapy Rooms!

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

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Moulsham and Central Ward

In the run up to the recent change of administration at the city council, you will have heard pledges to make Chelmsford safer, greener, fairer and better connected. Below are some of the policy changes and actions that your new City Council administration has undertaken in the first six months.

A Better Connected Chelmsford: Help the public to contact the Council by linking up digital services. New self-serve, online services will allow the public to report issues directly through the Council’s website, rather than waiting in a telephone queue. This will bring the Council into the 21st century and make it more efficient.

Working Towards a More Open Council: Encouraging the public to attend more Council meetings and ask questions, putting out more information via social media - the first speech of the new Lib Dem leadership of the council was broadcast on Facebook live, and we are looking at low cost ways to do that for all meetings.

Supporting New, Innovative Productions in Theatres & Museums: The theatre has trialed new ways to reach different audiences. Someone Who’ll Watch Over Me and R4J are just two examples of the more diverse range of programming that we expect to see upcoming.

The Refurbished and Reimagined Chelmsford City Museum: This has now officially reopened and has already welcomed approximately 30,000 visitors, which is more than came in a whole year before. The museum has developed its volunteer programme, and is growing new audiences with exciting innovations like Museum Lates, which bring visitors into the museum out of hours.

Creation of the Chelmsford Policy Board: This board looks at all policy formation and has so far formed five working groups - all cross party like the board itself.

• • • • •

Homelessness and rough sleeping Supply of housing that is affordable Health and wellbeing Nurturing use of our waterways and adjacent areas Connectedness of Chelmsford’s many organisations/charities and residents

I am writing this having just returned from attending the vigil at St John’s for the rough sleeper who died in the churchyard just recently.

The vigil was well attended and it was sad, but not unexpected to learn that addiction and homelessness played a large part in this tragic death.

The consultation on the draft council policy on homelessness has closed, so hopefully everybody has taken the chance to give their opinion, and we will see a fully fledged policy developed and adopted before very long.

If you are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless, the city council can give you advice on what to do - visit www.chelmsford.gov.uk/ housing/homelessness/homelessness-help-and-advice.

If you concerned about someone who you think may be sleeping outdoors, then please tell us about them through Streetlink at www. streetlink.org.uk.

We should all give thanks at this time of year for our family and friends that we celebrate the festive season with, and remember that not everyone is as lucky as we are.

Our next surgery will be 10:30am, Saturday 11th January - please check the ward councillor’s page on the City Council website at www. chelmsford.gov.uk.

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7

MT Health

How Did You Hurt Your Back? - by Chris at Forté Physical Health I saw a funny meme on Facebook the other day:

‘Being an adult is mostly being exhausted, wishing you hadn’t made plans and wondering how you hurt your back’ It made me chuckle. Just that morning I’d been woken from a deep sleep by my darling two-year-old and as I turned to him, I cricked my neck. My first thought came to all the Christmas socials I had coming up and how I was going to get through them with acute neck pain and an inability to turn my head to the right. The joys of adulthood.

As an osteopath, I hear stories like this all day. I still find it fascinating that little moments in time can impact the next few weeks of someone’s life. A simple twist, turn or awkward reach can be all it takes to upset the balance.

Sometimes it’s obvious what causes someone’s pain, but more often than not, my patients have no idea how their pain started. This is pretty weird, isn’t it? Why do things go wrong when they seem to be ticking along just fine?

There are so many variables in our complex lives and it can be tricky to find the true culprit, but after some questioning, there is always an answer. Today I’m going to outline three of the more difficult to notice and subtle causes of back pain.

1. Sleep Deprivation I felt it was apt to start with this one because this was most likely what caused my neck to go. In his wonderful book, Why We Sleep, Matthew Walker explains that when we are sleep deprived, we are up to 60% more likely to get an injury. And by sleep deprivation, he’s not just talking about late night partying, all he means is getting six hours sleep instead of eight. So that extra episode of your Netflix boxset in the evening, or the early start to get in an extra couple of hours of work, might be all it takes to make ordinary movements the next day more likely to cause injury.

Since reading Why We Sleep I have been quizzing my patients much more on their sleep patterns, and I often find a correlation between tiredness and the onset of injury.

Keep a mental note of your sleep patterns, or better yet, use a sleep tracker app to highlight how well you are sleeping. Believe it or not, this can significantly reduce your likelihood of getting injured.

2. Stress The exact mechanism between psychological or emotional stress and physical pain is still not entirely understood, but here’s what we know for sure; the mind is a very powerful thing.

Similar to tiredness, when we are stressed the things we do every day can suddenly cause a problem. Often, my patients come in slightly baffled that they injured themselves doing something they do all the time, but the simple question, ‘Is anything else going on at the moment?’ makes them realise that there are other stressors in their life that have predisposed the injury.

In cases like this, I find that awareness is the first step. By noticing that stress has contributed to the pain, rather than feel baffled, patients suddenly feel in control.

the ‘body scan’. In your mind, start at the top of your head and scan down trying to notice any tension. When you find it, just let it go. This is a skill, and like any other skill you get better at it the more you do it. After a while, you will be able to do it whenever you like. I now do it when I’m walking, driving, or even mid-conversation with someone it’s all in your own head so they will never know!

Just remember, you are in control of your body, you just first have to have the awareness that stress may contribute to your pain.

3. Small Things Repeated over a Long Time One of the phrases I really despise is ‘it’s just your age’. I find it such a disempowering little sentence and it’s so often not true.

Rather than blame age, I much prefer to blame habits. We become what we repeatedly do over time, so if you have had a bad habit for twenty years, it can turn into a big problem. It’s not your age’s fault, it’s the habit. I find this more empowering because all you have to do is change the habit!

An example of this might be having bad posture at work. If you sit badly for a day, you won’t even notice it. A year? Still won’t matter.

Twenty years? Hmmm, it might start catching up with you now.

Or what if you’ve always carried a bag over your left shoulder? Each time you do it it feels fine, so when you start to get recurring neck or shoulder pain, surely it can’t be the bag? But it’s little things like this that us therapists find to be the cause of injury.

The good news is that while habits can compound negatively over time, once you have identified them and made positive changes, your body will respond positively too. Your body is known as ‘bioplastic’, which means that while we are alive, we are able to adapt and respond to a stimulus. You just need to make sure you give your body the right stimulus!

I hope that helps give a bit more of an insight into why you might get injured.

If you are in pain, remember, keep moving (movement is medicine!) and get treatment from a professional, like an osteopath. Once you are armed with knowledge and have the right treatment, you can take control of the injury and make the positive changes needed to stay healthy.

If you have any questions or would like to get in touch, please say hi at chris@fortephysicalhealth.co.uk, or check out our clinic website at fortephysicalhealth.co.uk.

Deadlines for the February edition: Articles - 15th January Print ready art work - 23rd January

To break the physical manifestation of stress in the body, my favourite technique is stolen from mindfulness meditation and it is known as 8

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9

MT Gardening A great day was had by all when I took my RHS L3 Practical Horticultural students to RHS Gardens Hyde Hall on a cold, windy and wet day. This did not dampen our spirits however - there was lots to see. Among highlights was the winter garden with colourful stems, foliage and spectacular seed heads from the many perennials found in the beds and borders. If you get a chance do

make a visit.

• •

have cropping stems raised to the grown retaining new growth for next year’s crop. New growth needs to be tied in securely leaving 10cm (4”) between stems. Any other growth should be cut out.

Reduce watering of house plants to avoid rotting. Those of you with poinsettias need to place plant on saucer; watering into saucer. Avoid cold spots.

Ensure patio containers are raised off the ground to enable excess water to drain. This will avoid rotting and possible cracking of pots should we have heavy frosts.

It’s been so mild recently that many plants are still growing - which includes weeds! If we get a dry day it’s worth weeding through the garden and adding mulches. I’ve just completed this job and there’s nothing better than a clean layer of organic matter to suppress weeds, over time improve fertility and better still, it looks great and really enables plants to stand out.

Here are a few other jobs worth considering: •

Prune free standing apple and pear trees. Aim for maintaining an open centred plant to improve air flow and reduce pest and disease. Don’t forget to remove dead, diseased and damaged growth, cut out suckers and finally reduce new growth by a third.

For those with soft fruit such as gooseberries, currants and cane fruit, this is a great time to prune and train them in readiness for next year. Treat gooseberries, red and white currants in the same way - cut all new growth back to 2 buds, tip leaders and keep centres clear of growth to reduce disease. For blackcurrants, minimal pruning is required; cut back branches close to neighbouring plants and reduce older stems if surrounded by new growth. For raspberries, prune back hard all stems of autumn fruiting cultivars. However, summer types need only

•

Lastly, if you want to further your knowledge and understanding of these or other gardening jobs, please consider one of the following courses at Writtle University College: For RHS Level 2 Certificate in the Principles of Horticulture (1 year, day release on Thursdays starting September), RHS Level 2 Certificate in the Principles of Plant Growth, Propagation & Development (starting a September on Thursdays), RHS Level 2 Certificate in the Principles of Garden Planning, Establishment and Maintenance (starting this coming February on Thursdays) and for RHS Level 2 and 3 Certificates in Practical Horticulture, email tom.cole@writtle.ac.uk for information on availability of days and times.

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If you’ve got more time we also offer full time Level 2 & 3 programmes and apprenticeship schemes. For RHS Level 2 Certificate in the Principles of Horticulture (1 year, day release on starting September 2020), RHS Level 2 Certificate in the Principles of Plant Growth, Propagation & Development (September 2020), RHS Level 2 Certificate in the Principles of Garden Planning, Establishment and Maintenance (this coming February - June 2020) and for RHS Level 2 and 3 Certificates in Practical Horticulture (September 2020) email tom.cole@writtle.ac.uk for information on availability of days and times.

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

10

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Quiz Time by John Theedom 1. Which British king was known as ‘Silly Billy’?

2 Which is the second largest island in the world after Australia?

3. What does the second ‘R’ in RADAR stand for?

4. What does a lapidary deal in?

5. Who or what is a merlon?

6. What is the opposite of oriental?

7. Where in Britain is the girl’s school Roedean?

8. In which musical will you meet Grizabella and Rumpleteazer?

9. How is Norma Eggstrom better known?

10. What is the collective name for a group of bears?

11. What are loose rocks on the side of a mountain called?

12. Who wears a chasuble at work?

13. How many valves does a bugle have?

14. Emphysema affects which part of your body?

15. Which childhood disease is also called varicella?

16. Who played the lead role in 1969’s Hello Dolly?

17. Where in Essex was Cecil Rhodes born?

18. Where exactly are British monarchs crowned?

19. Which insect carries the disease malaria?

20. In the medical world, what is an ECG? 21 How many people are involved in a

22.

23.

24.

25.

26.

27.

28.

29.

30.

31.

32.

33.

34.

35.

36.

37.

38.

39.

40.

fencing match?

Which people use the letters C, D, L and M in their counting system?

Which kitchen utensil’s name can also be a drum?

Marmite yeast extract is rich in which vitamin?

Who is the man on TV who ‘saves the hedgehogs’?

Tempura is a fish or vegetables deep fried in batter best associated with which country?

Which year did comedian Les Dawson die?

In which European country did the dictator Franco operate?

Which king did Guy Fawkes hope to blow up?

Which disease is commonly known as lockjaw?

Who played the title role in the BBC show I Claudius?

What is the first name of Sir Rod Stewart’s wife?

In which year did Concorde make the last commercial flight?

Hebetude is a feeling of what?

In which country is the river Ebro?

What is breviary?

What is old name for France?

How long is a trimester?

Who is the main character in the film The Raiders of the Lost Ark? What is the capital city of Botswana?

(Answers on page 31) Remember to tell our advertisers you saw their advert in the MT

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11

Nick Garner’s Music & Ramblings Ramblings With the festive season now over, the new year heralds a busy time. I hope that you all have a healthy and happy year ahead. It’s the third decade of the millennium already.

Jamie Williams & the Roots Collective has a manic year ahead with a new album coming out in May along with all the festivals and gigs we are already getting bookings for - no rest for the wicked; I will be lucky to find to time to sleep!

The new album is going to be called Do What You Love and we think it is our best yet, and we are thrilled that Robbie McIntosh and BJ Cole are both performing on it as they are two of the world’s best.

Our official launch show will be at the Half Moon in Putney London on Friday 22nd May with a warm-up show at the 100 Club in Oxford Street, London on Wednesday 8th April. We are excited by both and you can find out how to get tickets on our website at www.jwroots. co.uk.

There is as always lots going on in and around the area, including the anticipated opening of a new venture for John and his sons from the Hop Beer Shop. We are expecting something new and exciting to open there soon.

I feel that Moulsham Street is getting back to what is does best with all the independent businesses, and the same for the nearby small part of Baddow Road as well, with The Nags Head having reopened as a traditional pub with no screens or music, just good beverages and banter. It is important that we support the small independents or will lose them again which I am sure none of us want.

Music Recently at the football club we had Los Pacaminos and the Ugly Guys performing - two great bands with great musicians and two of the very best pedal steel players you are likely to see and hear. It started as it did back in 2017, with the Ugly Guys playing a fantastic set. Paul’s voice was on top form as was the playing and singing of Vic, Bob, Steve and Nevil - they certainly set the pace for the night.

Next it was Paul Young with Los Pacaminos, a band which Paul started in 1992 for a one-off - 27 years on and he’s still doing it!

small hours with many people enjoying and dancing along. Saturday saw Jamie Williams & the Roots Collective rip it up and have a lot of fun, and Sunday saw Dan Maitland who was great. On Monday it was the One Tree Hillbillies’ Christmas Party with us and what a great night that was.

Tuesday saw a special with Bex Marshall joined by her bass player Red all the way from New York. They stunned the audience with their power and beauty. Do not despair if you missed her, as she will return soon enough on Saturday 11th January with her band before going back to the USA to open the Oscars and the Grammys during the year.

Wednesday night saw Joe Anderton’s Christmas open mic, which was packed out. Sadly I was elsewhere playing, but from the videos and feedback I saw, this was one of the best nights so far. Thursday I had my Blues and Roots night with the Woodbine Blues Band, who said to landlord Scott when asked about themselves, ‘oh, we are alright...’ I have to say they blew him away as they are far more than just alright, they are stunners and will be back.

Friday saw the return to Chelmsford of Darryl Butcher to spin the discs. One of the city’s finest with such knowledgeable and eclectic tastes, he wowed the audience with his amazingly varied choice of music.

To round off this marathon, it was Andy Twyman’s Naked Noel Xmas Extravaganza again. Sadly I could not make it but the feedback was great as it always is.

I was invited to go to the Colchester Arts Centre recently to see Nine Below Zero, and I am pleased I did as it has been a couple of years since I last saw them - they are still on fire. They are now joined by Dennis’s son Sonny Greaves on drums, who has had to follow in the footsteps of some past greats - he filled those boots superbly. I went along with Jamie Williams and we both had a smile on our faces all night and joined in the singing along with everyone. Afterwards, we chatted with Dennis and Mark and they said that they would be up for playing a duo show for me at the UB. This is in addition to some of the very special guests who are already booked to play there in 2020.

We also recently played at the Blue Boar in Maldon upstairs, and I have to say another great show by us. We finished our weekend on the Sunday at the Red Lion in Stevenage, which has to be one of our best gigs of 2019. They loved us - we sold quite a lot of merchandise that night as well.

Something else to look forward to in January at the football club will be Sham 69 and Twister - see the ad on page 21.

Do check out the listings in the City Times to see what’s on around the area. These are not just for music of course, but for everything that the public can attend. If you know of something going on then please drop an email to editorial@itsyourmedia.co.uk.

Yet you may be surprised to learn that he is not the main singer in this band, which features Jamie and Drew on lead vocals. The band is very lucky, because if someone is not available, they have a whole host of the best who can step up and fill in. As always, they played a great show which was supposed to an hour and half, but ended up more like two hours because they and the audience were having so much fun.

We have just had nine days of continuous events in the UB. It started with KeepinItSoulful’s third party at the UB. They played until the 12

As ever, please do try to come out and support the great live scene that we have in Essex, because if you do not - we may lose it. For more information on all of the above and more, see the links below and or pick up a copy of the City Times and go to the What’s On pages to see what else in happening in your area. If you go to our Facebook pages look at the ‘Events’ tabs where you can see who is playing and preview the up-and-coming acts. www.itsyourmusic.co.uk www.facebook.com/itsyourmusic/events Twitter@itsyourmusic www.facebook.com/theunitedbrethren/events www.visitessex.com/events

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Christ Church Time for a Change?

Many of us are given to contemplate great changes to our lives in January. A supposedly healthier lifestyle perhaps?

Visit the gym once a week? Adopt a vegan diet? Join a mindfulness group? Even start going to church regularly on a Sunday… ahem!

Yet we all know the fate that awaits most New Year resolutions. After two weeks or so they lie dead and buried along with spent wrapping paper and discarded presents, and are thrown out with the Christmas tree to gently biodegrade in the back garden. No wonder that the third (‘Blue’) Monday in January is said to be the most depressing day of the year.

Maybe the reason that we get so dispirited about seeing all our good intentions tumbling towards paving the Road to Hell is because we expect change to be easy and immediate - but change is difficult and takes time. Altering ingrained modes of behaviour that no longer serve any purpose and only keep us in misery requires faith, patience and above all, gentle persistence. As Mark Twain once said: ‘Habit is habit, and cannot simply be flung out of the window but must be coaxed down the stairs, one step at a time’. Much better to treat ourselves

Moulsham Infant School

Christmas really is a magical time in school. To start our Christmas celebrations our 3 reception classes performed Jingle Bell Rock stepping onto a big stage for the first time in front of some overjoyed

lovingly and set sensible goals that we know we stand a chance of achieving, and take such change one day at a time - than to chase an impossible ideal just because it is the latest fad or seems full of promise, then end up in a worse state when the whole scheme falls over like a house of cards at the first bump in the road.

Talking of schemes that are full of promise, I am penning this article on the day that the UK goes to the polls in the December general election. Politicians are known for making promises that are quickly broken when the election hype has dissipated and real life intrudes uncomfortably on their schemes. Let’s learn from the politicians’ errors and be realistic about what we can achieve against what is beyond our powers. Let’s just deal with what we can face today. ‘There is no need to add to the trouble each day brings’ said Jesus. (Matthew 6:34b, TEV) I’ll close with the Serenity Prayer, thought to be by Richard Neibuhr, but penned in this more usual form by Bill W, founder of Alcoholics Anonymous: God, grant me the Serenity to accept things I cannot change; Courage to change the things I can; And Wisdom to know the difference.

Gareth Bennett, Music Minister, Christ Church URC www.christ-church-chelmsford.com

parents.

Our KS1 children worked hard together to perform Little Star’s Story, with six fantastic performances that were watched by lots of visitors including some of the school governors, the Year 3 children from Moulsham Junior School, past teachers and their very proud parents.

On Wednesday, 11th December we had some extra special visitors.

They were Mayor Bob Massey and Mayoress Janice Cheese, who were delighted to watch the performance.

The productions were full of brilliant actors, singers, musicians and dancers, and we must say a big thank you to all of the parents, staff and children for their hard work during a busy December.

We have had our very own visit from Father Christmas and SMILE our PTA transformed the school hall into a magical Christmas market full of gifts for all the family. Every child was excited to go shopping and buy gifts for all of their loved ones and they even had the chance to stop in the Christmas café for a cake before the present wrapping started!

14 www.moulshamtimes.com

Moulsham Junior School

demonstrated that it supports young carers in many ways, including homework clubs and drop-in sessions with a member of staff who is responsible for this vulnerable group of pupils. Vital information about how to identify young carers is made available to all school staff, and noticeboards and the school webpage let students and their families know where to go for help’.

The Young Carers in Schools programme helps primary and secondary schools improve outcomes for young carers and celebrates good practice through the Young Carers in Schools Award.

The programme is open to all schools in England and to sign up schools just need to visit www.youngcarersinschools.com.

Moulsham Junior School Wins Award for Young Carer Support!

Moulsham Junior School has been given a Bronze Award for their work to make sure students don’t miss out on an education because they are young carers.

Young carers are responsible for emotional, practical or physical care for a parent, sibling or other family member who has a physical disability, mental health issue or substance misuse issue. The 2011 Census statistics revealed that there are just over 166,000 young carers in England, but research reveals that this is just the tip of the iceberg. The true figure could be closer to 700,000 young carers in England, equivalent to one in 12 school children many of whom are unrecognised and unsupported.

Research carried out by Carers Trust and The Children’s Society shows that, on average, young carers miss or cut short 48 school days a year and often have lower levels of self-confidence, mental wellbeing and significantly lower educational attainment at GCSE level, because of their caring role. Ofsted’s Common Inspection Framework states that inspectors will look at how well schools support young carers. While some schools are doing this really well, others struggle and this causes real problems for young carers.

To help schools support young carers, the programme offers a step-by-step guide for leaders, teachers and non-teaching staff, with practical tools designed to make it as easy as possible for schools.

Staff can also receive training through webinars and events and the programme also features a newsletter each term highlighting relevant policy developments, spotlighting good practice and giving updates on the programme’s successes.

‘To achieve their Bronze Award Moulsham Junior School has

Giles Meyer, Chief Executive of Carers Trust, today congratulated award winning schools, saying: “The Young Carers in Schools programme is helping to transform schools and support staff across England. Schools play a vital role in a young carer’s life, as many care for relatives without their teachers even knowing what they do.

On average, young carers will miss a day of school each month as a result of their caring role, so the steps schools take to identify and support them can have a huge impact on their learning, wellbeing and life chances.”

Helen Leadbitter, National Young Carers Lead at The Children’s Society, is delighted that the Young Carers in Schools Programme is bringing about national change: “Hundreds of schools across England are participating in the Young Carers in Schools programme, using the tools and resources to improve their support systems and ensuring that no child need miss out on educational opportunities because they are a carer. 74% of schools who have achieved a Young Carers in Schools Award have noticed improved attendance among their young carers, and 94% have noticed improvements in their wellbeing and confidence.”

The Children’s Society is a national charity that runs local services, helping children and young people when they are at their most vulnerable, and have nowhere left to turn. They also campaign for changes to laws affecting children and young people, to stop the mistakes of the past being repeated in the future. www.childrenssociety.org.uk

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The Singing Chef Happy New Year to you all and I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and New Year.

I can’t tell you how ours was yet as am writing this in mid December, so I’ll give it a guess and assume that we ate and drank WAY too much, mummy (me) spent beyond her means and had loads and loads of fun, spiked with a little problem solving (screaming) between my 3 little angels!

Last year was tough; we had a bad fire - and being a working single parent has its fair share of hassle anyway. But it’s at Christmas we get quality time together and it reminds me of how very blessed I am.

On to the food. This recipe was one of the only things my mum could cook. This has nothing to do with her having MS and eventually being paraplegic; this was before the MS took hold. My mother was like me, a busy single working mum of 3 and she was a fantastic nurse.

However, her care-giving did not include food - my mother hated cooking! ‘How about a nice sandwich or something on toast?’ she would say with a little hopeful smile. Frozen food was a godsend some nights; pizza, jacket potatoes and garlic bread - all on one plate!

No wonder am addicted to carbs now...

God rest her soul, she would be laughing and grinning to hear me now. We lost mum 4 years ago, but this recipe always reminds me of her - even the glorious sweet smell when its it cooking takes me back to those days.

Spanish Chicken (Serves 4) Method: Finely slice 2 cloves of garlic, 2 red peppers and 1 onion.

Sauté in some rapeseed oil for about 20 minutes.

Then add: Salt, pepper.

1tsp oregano.

1 tbsp tomato purée.

1 tin plum tomatoes and a tin full of water.

Let this bubble away for 10 mins.

Fry and seal your chicken breasts in a little oil until brown on all sides 1 per person is fine.

Place the chicken and sauce in an oven dish and cover with foil.

At this point the chicken can be cooled and kept in the fridge for up to 2 days and then cooked (add 10 minutes to the baking time with foil on). This can also be frozen, defrost overnight in the fridge and follow the instructions above.

Cook for 11/15 mins with the foil on (depending on the size of your breasts), then 10 mins with foil off.

Use a thermometer or cut the chicken to check it is cooked. Leave to rest in a warm place for 10 minutes, drizzle extra virgin olive oil and sprinkle with more salt, pepper and oregano.

Serve with crispy potatoes, bread, rice or pasta. This chicken goes with everything (especially a good Rioja), and for an extra flourish add some parmesan.

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.

16 www.moulshamtimes.com

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Chelmsford City Communicators Would you like to improve your public speaking skills and improve your confidence in giving presentations?

Are you looking to develop your professional and personal communications skills? Chelmsford City Communicators can help.

We are a dynamic new Toastmasters International club and welcome adults of all ages, backgrounds and interests who wish to develop and improve their confidence in public speaking, giving feedback and making presentations. With our Pathways Programme you will be supported, encouraged and mentored to achieve your personal goals and have fun along the way. Whether it’s for a wedding speech, a boardroom presentation or for professional speaking engagements, there is a place for you.

As a member you will have an opportunity to speak at every meeting, receive supportive feedback and encouragement from experienced peers and build a network of likeminded people who are working

towards being the best communicator and speaker they can be.

The Toastmasters International Programme includes pathways for developing presentation skills, motivational speaking skills and leadership and mentoring skills, and can include elements using vlogging and technical presentations.

Still not sure? Come along as a guest, meet the members and see how evenings are run. No pressure to take part unless you want to and only if you feel ready to.

We meet fortnightly on Wednesdays at St John’s Church, Moulsham Street, Chelmsford. The centre has plenty of parking and a relaxed atmosphere.

Make 2020 your year to become a better communicator and raise a glass to Toastmasters International’s Chelmsford City Communicators.

Facebook.com/chelmsfordcitycommunicators www.chelmsfordcitycommunicators.org

Fairtrade Fortnight from 24th February - 8th March

The people of Chelmsford will once again be celebrating Fairtrade Fortnight from 24th February - 8th March with a range of activities. If your community would like to assist with one of its own, or would like some guidance, please email maljan9@ gmail.com.

Chelmsford City Fairtrade Campaign was established in 2003 and we were awarded Fairtrade Town, now City, status in 2005; the 50th town in the country and the first in Essex to obtain the award. It was not a simple task and every two years we have to reapply and meet the high standards set by the Fairtrade Foundation.

As you will be aware there is a wide range of logos on retail products all of which promote something of social interest. Fine, but Fairtrade is about people, decent working conditions, local sustainability, and fair terms of trade for farmers and workers in the developing world. By requiring companies to pay sustainable prices, Fairtrade addresses the injustices of conventional trade, which traditionally discriminates against the poorest, weakest producers. It enables them to improve their position and have more control over their lives.

Park in what will be a Fairtrade Woodland.

This year we have a number of activities planned for Fairtrade Fortnight including an exhibition of Fairtrade posters in Remembrance Square from 2nd - 8th March. Chelmsford Star Cooperative Society will be organising a free event from 6.30pm on 5th March in the Quadrant. We have organised another Fairtrade Breakfast, and later in the year we will be holding a Quiz Evening.

When you next shop, please look for the Fairtrade logo; products are available in all local food shops but you can also help by encouraging your employer to provide Fairtrade beverages at your place of work and asking your local community group to provide Fairtrade at its meetings.

If you would like to join our group then please contact me at the email address below; it only costs £2 for individuals or £5 for community groups.

If you require any further information about Fairtrade or would like a speaker, then contact Malcolm Wallace at maljan9@ gmail.com. We also have a Facebook page, www.facebook.com/ chelmsfordcityfairtrade, and a website: www.chelmsfordfairtrade. wordpress.com.

The other major difference is that Fairtrade offers farmers a substantial premium which the community, and no-one else, determines how it should be spent. It might be a school, a well to obtain clean water, a clinic, or some form of sporting activity.

The list is endless and entirely the business of the farmers. It really works, and everything is accountable at every stage.

During 2019 the Fairtrade Foundation was 25 years old and the City Council marked this with a motion that affirmed its continuing support for Fairtrade.

The Council also celebrated our 15th year as a Fairtrade City by planting 15 trees in Admirals 18 www.moulshamtimes.com

Personal Finance Clinic: New Year Financial Planning Checklist ones.

For many of us, January is a time for reflection and for making resolutions for the year ahead. Perhaps you have resolved to exercise more, take better care of your mental health or spend more time with loved

Most of us would also benefit from taking better care of our financial health, so I have put together a handy checklist of the financial planning areas you may wish to look at.

Make a Will A Will appoints executors to carry out your wishes after death and this can include whether you want to be buried or cremated. If you have family heirlooms that you dearly want to go to specific people, you can set this out in your Will. Importantly, for those with minor children, you can elect guardians for your children in a Will. Without one, it’s possible your children will end up in the care system whilst family members or friends fight for custody of them.

If you have a partner but are not married or in a civil partnership, be aware that under the intestacy rules, your other half is not necessarily legally entitled to any of your assets unless this is included in a Will.

example? Do you want to travel or take up a new hobby? Don’t delay, check your pension provision today and think about increasing your contributions if you don’t think it will be enough.

Pay Down Debt It’s no surprise that personal debt levels in the UK are rising. At the moment, debt is cheap, but no one knows how long this will last for.

Take steps now to start repaying debt. Start with the highest interest rates first and try to clear as much as you can each month. If you are repaying a mortgage, you can overpay your mortgage to clear this debt more quickly and significantly reduce the amount of interest you will pay over the length of the mortgage term. Always remember to check the terms of your mortgage first though, as some mortgages will charge you a hefty redemption penalty if you overpay when you are not permitted to - or overpay more than you are permitted to.

Wishing you health, wealth and happiness for the year ahead!

Lauren Peters is a Chartered Financial Planner, pension specialist and later life specialist. You can contact her via laurenpeters16@ hotmail.co.uk or via 07850 873 126.

Put Together an Emergency Fund No doubt after the Christmas period your finances are feeling the pinch. Sadly, too many people in the UK are only one missed paycheck away from financial strife. This could be avoided by having a financial safety net in place. An emergency fund should equal at least three months’ worth of expenditure, ideally six. In other words, if you know you need £2,000 a month to cover all of your bills, you should have at least £6,000 in an emergency fund. Make sure you don’t have easy access to this account, so that you are not tempted to spend it on other things.

Insure the Things That Matter We insure our car and our home, but often not our life or our earnings. Consider how your loved ones might cope if you were to die earlier than expected. Would they have enough to live on? Could they pay off the mortgage in full? You may have death in service cover at work, but what if you leave your job, ill before death? Think about buying cover to protect your loved ones.

Equally, how would you cope if you were too sick or injured to work? A type of insurance policy, called an Income Protection Insurance (IPI) policy can be purchased to cover you for this. It pays out a percentage of your usual pay if you were unable to work for a prolonged period of time. Why not speak to an adviser to discuss the level of cover you might need?

Increase Your Retirement Provision Retirement is expensive and the full State Pension over provides about £8,500 a year. For most of us, this is not enough to live on. Even if it is enough to live on, it’s doubtful that you will have a comfortable life on this level of income.

Take time to have a look at any work and personal pensions you have in place.

Do you know how much this is likely to provide you with when you retire? Have you calculated whether or not this is enough for you? Have you thought about what your retirement might look like, for

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Time for the Music We are well into the festive season and we are all urged to be jolly.

Not difficult for Rotarians and in one way or another music and singing has been at the forefront of many activities. There was an early start for Christmas on Tuesday 26th November with the Joint Inner Wheel & Rotary seasonal concert.

entrants, and we appear to have a record number of applicants this year.

The evening started with a riotous session from our old friends, the Music Man Project, whom Rotary has supported over the years. They are young people with learning disabilities who just love to sing and have appeared at the London Palladium and the Royal Albert Hall.

There was also a delightful solo performance by Colchester Rotary Singer of the Year - 9-year-old Souparnika Nair, followed by another stunning presentation by The Novem Consort from the Southend High School for Girls - even better than last year. The instrumental section featured twins Jane and Elizabeth Hammond in a splendid Tarentelle for Flute Clarinet and Piano by Saint Saens. The Allegro Singers were on fine form and got the enthusiastic audience joining in at the end. The whole evening was not only a joyous occasion, but raised a considerable sum for End Polio Now and Dementia Charities.

On Saturday 14th December the Rotary Club of Chelmsford Phoenix, together with members of other local clubs, were in good voice carol singing in High Chelmer. Children were delighted to pose with lookalikes Olaf and Anna, and generally there seemed to be a great feelgood factor, maybe people were glad to see the back of the General Election, and a record £640 was raised for President John Booth’s charity of the year, Autism Anglia.

On the 28th December the New Year Charity Concert took place in the Cathedral. This is the 32nd annual New Year concert that the Rotary Club of Chelmer Bridge has organised - a great achievement on its own and more particularly so when you consider the many thousands of pounds raised for local good causes. It will feature The Essex Youth Choir and The Essex Youth Orchestra with an additional solo performance by Charlotte Fieldson of City of Chelmsford Mencap.

As part of the club’s continuing support for local charities and community-based organisations, funds raised will be donated to City of Chelmsford Mencap, an independent local charity providing lifelong learning and support for people of all ages with learning difficulties.

Meanwhile the Rotary Club of Chelmsford is busy with the arrangements for the 2020 Young Musician heats which will take place on 17th January. Lottie Anstee, a previous winner, has been booked to talk to the Club on 19th March. Two members of Chelmsford Mildmay Rotary Club attended the music festival to identify potential 20

Pupils from the Cathedral School entertained Chelmsford Rotary at its Christmas lunch and they were so delightful. The headteacher at the school is keen to set up a Rotakids club and this is in hand and should get underway early next term. Rotakids is for children in the infants and juniors and gives them an understanding of helping less fortunate people in the community and overseas and is part of the Rotary vision.

There are always projects on the horizon, it is a neverending process and the Chelmer Bridge Charity Spring Concert will be held Saturday 30th May 2020 at Chelmsford Cathedral at 7pm. I should point out that Rotary is a non-religious, non-political organisation, but it just so happens that the Cathedral has splendid acoustics so lends itself to these musical events.

All such events need willing helpers. If you have the expertise you could be an adjudicator but as most of us don’t possess those skills, programme sellers, tea makers and chair arrangers are equally in demand. If you would like to learn more about Rotary and its activities visit www.rotary1240.org, email communications@rotary1240.org or phone 01245 260 349. You are assured of a warm welcome when you visit a Rotary Club.

From me and Rotarians everywhere a peaceful New Year.

Stan Keller

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Christmas at St Lukes

It’s Christingle Time!

It may feel like Christmas is over but at St Luke’s we still have our Christingle Service to come...

During the service we will be collecting money for The Children’s Society, who work with young people experiencing a range of complex issues and feeling alone.

On Sunday 19th January at 10am, during the service you will get the opportunity to make your own Christingle made from an orange decorated with red tape, sweets and a candle. Each element of a Christingle has a special meaning and helps to tell the Christian story.

Everyone is welcome to our service, and there’s no age limit to making a Christingle. Refreshments will be available after the service.

Come along and join us for a short, informal service full of fun and laughter!

For more information, please check out our Facebook page or our website (links below).

St Luke’s Christmas Tree Festival - A Great Success!

When we came up with the idea of hosting a Christmas Tree Festival at St Luke’s Church in Gloucester Avenue, Moulsham Lodge, we weren’t really sure how it would be received. Would anyone be willing to provide and decorate a Christmas tree? Would anyone come along to see the Christmas trees? Well, we didn’t need to worry because you truly embraced the festival!

Over the weekend of 14th-15th December, we had 25 Christmas trees on display in the church and the halls. Each one with its own story and using some very creative ideas. They were provided by a range of uniformed groups, organisations, businesses, families and a school, all from across Moulsham Lodge and Tile Kiln.

During the weekend nearly 200 adults and children visited the festival and many took part in our Children’s Christmas Workshop with activities such as making gingerbread stars and printing wrapping paper, as well as our carol service at the end of the weekend. We even had a visit from a gigantic balloon Father A gigantic balloon Father Christmas, much to everyone’s Christmas visited the Christmas amusement. All visitors to the Tree Festival festival were asked to vote for their favourite children/young person’s Christmas tree - and the winner was Robins of Robin Way by Mildmay Junior School.

All donations made during the weekend were given to CRISIS, the national homeless charity.

We’ve been asked if we will have another Christmas Tree Festival in 2020 - and the answer is yes! Add the date to your diary now: 12th13th December 2020.

A selection of the 25 Christmas Trees decorated for the St Luke’s Christmas Tree Festival To see pictures of all the Christmas trees and to find out more about St Luke’s, take a look at our Facebook page or website.

Lucy Bubb Churchwarden St Luke’s Church, Moulsham Lodge www.facebook.com/ Stlukesmoulshamlodge www.stlukemoulsham.co.uk

Winner of Best Children/Young Person’s Christmas tree: Robins of Robin Way 22 www.moulshamtimes.com

Spot 10 Differences (Answers on Page 31)

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Neighbourhood Watch Hi all, it’s your Friendly Neighbourhood Ayman here, Project Legacy Update December has been a busy month. I’ve been working with the Project Legacy team to get a company formed and have started discussing a Moulsham Youth Programme and Drug Awareness classes for local schools. There is still a lot to do and we are looking for help.

We hope having a structured plan and working with Safer Community Group within the Council we can start approaching schools. Fingers crossed. We will also be looking to get funding so we can have better coverage and more schools involved.

St Johns Church St Johns Church have been busy this past month not just because of Christmas but also because Gemma Fraser and Gary Fleming have been working on a Community Listening Exercise, looking at the needs of the community and how their facility can be used. We are also looking to see if a youth programme can be created together.

It’s always great to see the Church reaching out to the community to see how they can be more involved.

I also have to mention that we must all continue to support the homeless charity organisations in our area, like Chess and Cool to Be Kind. One of the coldest nights of the year was had on the 6th December and tragically we lost the life of a rough sleeper. We need more action and steps in place to ensure this doesn’t happen again.

Hopefully next month I can reach out to the charities to see what steps are being taken to help the needy.

This alert goes directly to the police allowing them to act sooner.

ANPR cameras have been proven to help reduce crime in the areas that have them.

50 million Heist While writing this article, the story about Hieress Ecclestone had just broken out about her jewellery being stolen. We are talking £50 million worth of jewellery stolen in 50 minutes from several safes!

This was no ordinary home (57 rooms with CCTV, room with a guard and 24/7 security patrols). All that in place, yet they still could have done more to be vigilant.

• • • •

Don’t advertise you’re about to board a plane on social media!

(Insurance might not pay out).

Don’t leave open windows and ideally apply the security lock to them when out.

Keep valuables hidden and if expensive place in a bank.

They had been targeted before: If your home becomes burgled the likelihood that it will be targeted again increases by 3 times.

Therefore take precautions. This includes homes near you as the layout is often similar.

That’s it for this month. Happy New Year!

Please continue to join the FB page Old Moulsham Neighbourhood Watch. Until next time, stay safe and be vigilant Ayman Syed Moulsham and Central NhW Coordinator aymansyed@gmail.com

Oakland Cameras and ANPR With the help of one of our local councillors, Graham Pooley, and the support of the other councillors in Moulsham and Central, I’ve put in an application to the Council for funding on some additional cameras.

These additional cameras at the entrances of the park will help better identify individuals coming and going from the park. Privacy is a concern to the council but I’ve found the public are much more accepting of cameras when privacy is within their policy. It also means members of the public (and NhW) do not have to get involved with taking pictures and trying to identify individuals as they council can then share details directly with the police for action.

This is a new process for me and I’m hoping it will get funded and we have a nearby power supply for cameras to be connected to.

ANPR Cameras in Old Moulsham Im also looking into ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) Cameras and have recently found out that Witham Industrial Estate have their own private network. Im waiting for more information on their setup and success. In an ideal solution, ours will not be private but linked directly with the police. But their are costs, policies and justification hoops to jump through for this, and as we are one ward only it might not meet the threshold required.

This however hasn’t put me off and I’m going to be talking to a lot more people and options on how we can achieve this.

Watch this space!

The reason I’m a big fan of these cameras is that they do not require anyone to watch them. They specifically look at license plates that might be ‘hot’ - ie, drug related or stolen vehicles.

24 www.moulshamtimes.com

Hi all, well that’s Christmas done for another year, hope you all had a great time.

I was talking last month about celebrities selling their belongings, or others selling them once they die, and I see that that the emu that worked with Rod Hull is up for sale. They forecast it selling for about £10,000. For those of you who don’t remember, the emu was a puppet. I was very disappointed to discover he wasn’t real at the time, and Rod operated it by having his arm up the emu’s neck and used his hand to operated his beak. He made his name by going onto talk shows... Everything calm for the first few minutes, then the emu would go crazy and start grabbing the host with his beak, This he did every time I saw him on television. He famously attacked the veteran host Michael Parkinson and dragged him onto the floor. He was not impressed at all, but it was funny at the time. It is possible that a normal member of the public buys this puppet so, if you are sat somewhere and a man with an emu on his lap sits next to you, move immediately...

A parking ticket put on Ringo Starr’s car in the sixties is up for sale and expected to fetch £1,500. The actual fine in those days must have been about ten shillings (50 pence for you youngsters). I will not be one of the bidders. Ridiculous!

I read a headline in the press that said Dog Crashes Car. Well, I thought, I can’t believe that, I mean, he may have passed the practical driving test by some sloppy examining, but no way would he have passed the theory test! Then I read the whole article, and it said that his owner had pulled out of his drive then returned to the house leaving the dog in the car. Apparently, the dog managed to put the automatic car into reverse and it started to move. Luckily, the wheels were on full lock, so the car just went round in a circle, hitting a few fences and the like. I would have loved to see the insurance claim and find out if it was paid out.

the road for.

It has been reported this week, that sales of Prosecco are falling, with more people going back to Champagne. Not me, as I don’t really like it and will not pay the price for it. It was also reported that the sales of Crément, a fizzy wine from the Loire, amongst others, have also gone up. It is made in the traditional method, just like Champagne, but as the name Champagne is protected they cannot call it that. It is much cheaper and I have long been a fan. I have even toured the winery in Saumur and tasted the lovely wine. Try it during the festive season, it’s nice.

This month’s fiasco? No contest, the general election! I am not too politically oriented, but what a carry on. Loads of promises to spend money, and I must say, if only a few of those applicable to the older generation come to light, I will be very pleased. We shall see. We now know that it is the ‘Get Brexit Done’ crowd who have come out on top, so lets hope the B can get a successful outcome to B. Leading on from this, if we leave, the trip I am taking to Calais soon will be the last. The end of an era for sure. We have been popping over to top up the garage, sorry wine cellar, and it will be a major change. We will have to pay about, on average, £6 per bottle instead of the £2.50 in Calais. Perhaps this will be the incentive to stop drinking!

I believe I have disproved one of Einstein’s statements. I think he is credited for saying ‘the definition of insanity is that when you continue to do the same thing over and over again and expect a different outcome’. Now, I think I have some big news here, because often, I press the same keys on my laptop to get to a website and end up in a completely different place. Different information, nowhere to put in my password. It happens time and time again. I do the same on my iPhone, impressed or what...

I saved lots of time and effort on my Moulsham Times deliveries this month. A lot of doors have ‘no cold callers’ stickers on them and as I was bloomin’ freezing...

Speaking of iPhones, I have just bought some new hearing aids, high tech, bluetooth, able to stream music. It would be great if I knew what all that was.

I watch a lot of box sets - or series as I would call them - and they contain lots of killings and sad events. I am pleased to see that these days there are a lot of, what I would call, nice programmes. We are particularly fond of the Château series where Dick Strawbridge and his wife and family live in a renovated castle in the Loire. Very good viewing, lots of good things happening and (mostly) happy endings.

Other programmes include The Repair Shop, where people bring along damaged keepsakes and other items and the experts repair them. Such very talented people and the reaction of the members of the public, when they collect the items, is magical. Lovely. Then there all the ones in the antiques field, and these are always a good laugh.

Interesting to see what some people will pay for stuff I wouldn’t cross

Anyway, I can now get them positioned in my ears with less than 8 swear words and that is improving, ongoing in the right direction.

One of the settings is for the listening environment, brilliant. You can choose between automatic and three other settings. The only thing is that when I go into the menu - jargon again! Sometimes, I can pick one and sometimes not. What am I doing that is different?

Bin End Chuckles: One of my New Year resolutions is to make my friends 10lb heavier so it looks like I’ve been dieting...

My resolution is to read more, so I have set my TV to subtitles...

Mersey Beat: Part Six - by John Power The Dennisons (1961-91) The band was formed in 1961 by friends at the Liverpool Collegiate, taking their name from a local street. The band consisted of Eddie Perry (lead vocals), Steve McLaren (lead guitar and vocals), Ray Scragg (rhythm guitar and vocals), Alan Wall (bass) and Clive Hornby (drums). Terry Carson took over on bass in 1962. They learned a few chords from The Ravens, who were later Faron’s Flamingos, and played their first gigs at the BICC Social Club in Melling, which got them noticed. They were signed by Kennedy Street Enterprises in 1963, so played gigs at The Cavern alongside The Beatles and other up-and-coming bands.

Their first single, Be My Girl in 1963 was written by McLaren and Parry and released on Decca Records. They were offered the chance to record All My Loving, the Lennon and McCartney song in 1964, but turned it down and so lost a good chance of success, recording Rufus Thomas’ Walking the Dog instead, which reached number 36 in the UK charts. Nobody Like Me Baby was also released that year. They released five other singles.

Eddie Parry left the group in 1965 and Ray Scragg took over lead vocals, while the group remained a four piece band. They broke up in 1967 but did a reunion memorial concert for Terry Carson, the second bass playing member, who died that year. Clive Hornby brought out a solo album in 1997, called This Is Your Life, with McLaren and Scraggs contributing.

Carson died in 1991, Parry in 1995, Scragg in 2001 and McLaren in 2007.

Lee Curtis and the All-Stars (1961-67) and The Pete Best Four The All-Stars started life as Lee Curtis (real name Peter Flannery) and the Detours, who played around Liverpool and North Wales, but who were short lived, so Lee and his brother formed a new group in 1962 with Frank Bowan on lead guitar, Tony Waddington on rhythm guitar, Wayne Bickerton on bass, and Bernie Rogers on drums.

When Pete Best left The Beatles, Brian Epstein told the group to lose Rogers and replace him with Best. They also sometimes backed Beryl Marsden. By 1962 they were more popular than Gerry and the Pacemakers and The Searchers - second only to The Beatles in a local poll. They signed to Decca Records, who released two singles, Little Girl and Let’s Stomp, but neither charted, so they split, and without Curtis, the others formed The Original All-Stars, which became The Pete Best Four, while Curtis formed a New All-Stars in 1963. Bickerton and Waddington later became producers for The Rubettes in the 1970s.

The New All-Stars were made up of Paul Pilnick on lead guitar, George Peckham on rhythm guitar, Dave Cooper on bass and Don Aleyd on drums. They cut a single, I’ve Got My Eyes on You and had two tracks on a Decca compilation At the Cavern. Curtis went on to play in Germany and The All-Stars had a years residency at The Star Club in Hamburg. They also cut records in Germany, amidst many lineup changes, but a car crash caused Lee to return Liverpool. After a lengthy break he made a few live appearances again on the nostalgia circuit. In 2007 he headlined a German Festival with a backing band called The Bonds, which helped to launch a book about the beat group era. He has continues to live in Germany.

The Big Three (1960-64) The origins of this group can be traced to 1959 when they were called Cass and the Cassnovas, and consisted of Brian Casser, on rhythm guitar and vocals, Adrian Barber on lead guitar and vocals and Brian Hudson on drums. After three months Hudson was 26

replaced by Johnny Hutchinson, and at the end of the year Johnny Gustafson joined on bass, using a converted acoustic bass.

London rock impresario Larry Parnes auditioned them at a social club in Liverpool, and in December 1960 Casser moved to London, leaving a trio, who changed their name to The Big Three. Even though only a threesome they were renowned for their volume and extravert visual performances. Brian Epstein later signed them and sent them to Hamburg. While there Barber left and was replaced Brian Griffiths, creating the classic Big Three line-up. Barber later went on to be a recording engineer for Atlantic Records in the States and recorded the first Allman Brothers album in 1969.

Epstein got the Three a Decca recording contract, and Some Other Guy became a minor hit for them. They left his agency in 1963 and Gustafsen and Griffiths quit later in the year and with Ian Broad from Rory Storm and the Hurricanes formed The Seniors, while Faron Ruffley and Paddy Chambers from The Flamingos joined up with Hutchinson.

At this stage, the group were taken on by Kennedy Street Enterprises.

Chambers left in 1964 and was replaced by Paul Pilnick from the All-Stars for a while before he joined the Tony Jackson (ex Searchers) band, The Vibrations. Then Ruffley left too. Various line-up changes followed and eventually Hutchinson reformed the group with Barry Womersley and Ray Marshall, after he had been playing with The Spidermen. In 1966 that line-up folded and Hutchinson retired. Three non-original members used the band name for a few gigs.

Johnny Gustafson saw other success with The Merseybeats in 1964.

In 1973 he and Griffiths teamed up with Nigel Olsen (Elton John’s drummer and keyboardist) and J Peter Robinson, for a reunion album called Resurrection on Polydor Records. In 1999 Griffiths, Faron Ruffley and Arty Davies of his Flamingos also did a charity night rendition of several Big Three songs. In 2009 RPM Records brought out a compilation CD called Cavern Stomp.

The Roadrunners (1962-66) The Roadrunners were ahead of the game for the mid-sixties blues boom that initially grew mostly in the London area after the success of The Rolling Stones. So like many acts in advance of trends, and in their case in the wrong town too, they fell between stools and did not achieve all the success they deserved. They specialised in US electric city blues covering numbers by Muddy Waters, Bo Diddley, Bobby Bland and suchlike. George Harrison said that the Stones were ‘... nearly as good as The Roadrunners!’ - indeed Roger McGough, the Liverpool poet, said that at one time they were The Beatles’ favourite band.

The original line-up was Mike Hart on guitar, sax and vocals, Pete Mackay on bass and vocals, Dave Boyce on drums, John Peacock on piano, and Dave Percy on guitar and vocals. As their music was trendy it appealed to perhaps a more select audience of university and art school students, and they also linked with another major Liverpool poet and art school teacher, Adrian Henri, to create Happenings. They had a residency at Hope Hall, now the Everyman Theatre, but also played at The Cavern many times. They supported The Beatles in 1963 and took part in the 1964 Rhythm and Blues Festival in Birmingham. They made two trips to the Star Club and recorded two sessions on the Star Club’s own record label:’ TwistTime Im Star-Club Hamburg 4 and Tanz-Show Im Star-Club 2. Mike Hart later cut two albums for John Peel’s Dandelion label.

The Mojos (1962 and on) The Mojos began as a duo called The Nomads in 1962, with

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bassist Keith Alcock (aka Karlson) and John Conrad. Stu James (born Conrad) joined as lead singer and pianist later that year and Adrian Lord (born Williamson) on guitar and vocals. George Harrison suggested that Terry O’Toole join in 1963 and in August of that year they changed the name to The Mojos, with Lord moving from rhythm guitar to lead. That year they recorded My Whole Life Through on Oriole Records, which appears on the compilation This is Merseybeat, along with their debut single,They Say. Wilkinson wrote the b-side of that single, but left later in the year to be replace by Nicky Crouch from Faron’s Flamingos. That line-up lasted a year and recorded three hits, as well as the EP Everything’s Alright, which reached number 9 in the charts; Why Not Tonight, which reached number 25 and Seven Daffodils whoch reached number 30. Like many Mersey groups, they paid their dues playing in Hamburg at the Star Club.

In October 1964 Karlson, Conrad and O’Toole left, while Aynsley Dunbar (drums) and Lewis Collins (bass) filled the gaps. That line-up recorded Comin’ on to Cry and Wait a Minute, then disbanded in 1966. In 1967 James and Crouch reformed the band with Deke Vernon, a Brummie, on bass and Martin Smith from Southampton,

and brought out another single, Goodbye Dolly Gray but it failed to chart, so they took an exotic break working in a hotel on the Ivory Coast.

Yet another reformation took place near the end of the year in Southampton, with Eddie Harnett on lead guitar, Duncan Campbell on bass and Tony House on drums, which recorded Until My Baby Comes Home on Liberty Records.

Aynsley Dunbar did much session work with the likes of Frank Zappa and David Bowie, as well as being part of John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers, before forming his own group, The Aynsley Dunbar Retaliation. Nicky Crouch kept The Mojos alive as Nicky Crouch’s Mojos, which included members of The Swinging Blue Jeans, Rory Storm and the Hurricanes and Faron’s Flamingos. While in the 1970s another version of the band calling itself The Mojos was formed by Tony Cowell and Jon Werrell from The Tornadoes, Dave Cowell from Fusion Orchestra was assembled to join 1960s revival multi-group nostalgia tours.

New Year, Movement to a New You, and All That! - by Erica Foulds Happy New Year one and all, and I hope you are full of the joys of January; the fresh clean slate we are all owed is here! I love the positivity and bundles of motivation around fitness studios at this time of year, searches and resolutions to find a new you, or just embracing a new year, now is the time to do it, you can and will do it, whatever that may be!

It’s wonderful to see clients starting the year with a keen inner voice telling them its time to start something, often that something is exercise, to get fit, to finding a secret to ‘trying to lose weight’!

But exercise can be a minefield and working in the fitness industry for over 15 years now it never ceases to amaze me how many fads appear to crop up - only to be proven to be just that...

Your body and mind are a clever little team, so when your body experiences something too new, too hard and unpleasant, (I’m thinking of the day after trying that new class and your thighs are on fire, real fire)… it’s little wonder your brain says… NO, never again!

So where do we start? Well, firstly you are human and ingrained habits die hard, the key is dont go crazy at the start, have a long term goal in mind then break it into smaller, monthly bite-size milestones with regular rewards. After all, Rome wasn’t built in a day and the body and mind is complex. Whether your exercise goal is weight loss, fitness related, something more aesthetic or to achieve ‘wellness’, your body and brain need to work together. All of the above will require some kind of movement and if you are not used to exercise then it is key to simply just move regularly and getting your body used to it.

Below I have listed my favourite moves which don’t need equipment, just a floor space to move the body in three simple ways. These moves and plenty more besides, originated from the teaching and clinical treatment of Mr Joseph Pilates nearly 100 years ago, and far from being any ‘fad’ are used globally by athletes for sportspecific improvement, in physiotherapy rehabilitation, for war veteran amputees, for professional ballerinas and equally just as an excellent form of exercise due to its versatility.

There is no one size fits all with exercise and some days you will feel like you could conquer Everest with your energy but others completely the opposite. At Hummingbird Yoga & Pilates in Writtle, we make sure www.issuu.com/itsyourmedia

to help you find something that works, whether it be small group (8 max) Gentle Pilates (great for achy lower backs and tight shoulders), or a challenging Ball and Band Class (to tone and strengthen), personal 121 pilates or yoga training, or maybe a muscle releasing sports massage.

If you are interested in trying pilates or maybe already knows the joys and fun that classes bring, then come along and emerse yourself on Sunday February 9th at our beautiful studio at Reeds Farm in Writtle for a 4 hour pilates retreat. I will be running the afternoon for all levels and experience, with 3 classes: 1. Beginners’ foundation skills, 2. Equipment based workout.

3. A full body stretch to relax class There will be some relaxation and ‘me time’ break in the middle too, healthy snacks of course provided!

Cat Stretch: on all fours, arch the middle of your back to the ceiling, looking down to your knees, then slowly drop your lower back creating a hollow, look forward and up. Repeat 10 times.

Mermaid: Sitting on chair or floor, cross legged or comfortably, lift right arm to ceiling, rest down on the left, lean left creating a sideways curve in the body. Return upright. Repeat reaching over the other way. Repeat 10 times alternating.

Seated Spine Twist: Sit on chair or floor, keep hips/thighs rooted, twist torso to right, use left hand holding right thigh to anchor your twist, for 5 seconds. Repeat twist to left, right hand on left thigh to anchor, for 5 seconds. Repeat 10 times alternating.

For all details on classes and retreats at Hummingbird Yoga and Pilates visit our website where you can book and pay online with our easy to use booking system. Email us at info@ hummingbirdpilatesyoga.co.uk, or just call 01245 422 556 and we can get your place reserved for the Sunday 9th of February! www.hummingbirdpilates.co.uk

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27

All About Moulsham Lodge Moulsham Lodge Community Trust At MLCT we’ve worked hard to fundraise for a number of things since we were first set up. It’s a necessity to fund raise to cover our costs and more recently the refurbishments to the building.

The Copper Pot, on Tuesdays from 10am-2pm starting Tuesday 7th January 2020. To start, we will offer a limited coffee and lunch menu, but as time passes and more people hopefully come along, we’ll increase the choices. Please pop in to support us and meet up with friends old and new.

The pop up café is also returning every Friday 12pm-2pm and you can enjoy a hot 2 course meal with tea or coffee for £6.30.

There’s no need to book - just come along, enjoy a good meal while supporting work-based training for adults with disabilities in our community. www.mlct.org.uk enquiries@mlct.org.uk 07411 808 731 Also, search for us on Facebook and Twitter

One thing we quickly agreed on to fundraise for was a defibrillator, we had a former trustee who would not be with us today if it had not been for a defib when he was on a night out in London. We set to raise enough for the defib itself and the case needed to house it.

During our preparations for Breakfast with Santa one evening, we noticed the case was empty and we thought the worst. It wasn’t until the next day that we got a call to say the defib had been used by a member of staff at one of the shops. We were overjoyed to know that it hadn’t been stolen, but had been used by someone who needed it.

This just makes everything we do worthwhile.

Although we still have some finishing off to do after the refurbishment to the building. we did manage to have everything up and running for our Breakfast with Santa weekend. This is always a lot of hard work and we rely heavily on volunteers, but it is such a successful event and the children seem to love it. The photo above shows the volunteers with Santa just before the first of our guests arrived on Saturday morning. Everything went without a hitch and from the feedback we received everyone had a great time.

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With the building works finished, we will be opening our coffee shop,

Cllr Mark Springett - Moulsham Lodge Ward So after the excitement of the general election things can get back to normal, although I’m not entirely convinced what ‘normal’ is anymore concerning national politics.

One of my roles as a councillor is Armed Forces Champion. This is a publicly appointed role and carries the responsibility of ensuring we as a local authority uphold the Armed Forces Covenant. The covenant is a promise from the nation ensuring that those who serve or who have served, and their families, are treated fairly.

‘To those who proudly protect our nation, who do so with honour, courage and commitment, the Armed Forces Covenant is the nation’s commitment to you.’

Like many authorities around the country, Chelmsford City Council signed the covenant in 2012. We need to make sure there is adequate provision in our policies that allow for the covenant to be fully enacted when required to do so. Many ex-service personnel suffer the same daily life challenges as the rest of us, but, serving in the military can make these much more acute and dealing with day to day problems and issues means they can need a bit more support 28

to achieve the same end results.

I was surprised to learn we have 378 of own ex-service personnel living in Chelmsford, in fact, even as a reservist you are counted, and I was one of those around 35 years ago serving in the Royal Anglian Regiment that was then based in Victoria Road. My own brother served in the Royal Airforce for about 30 years and I have worked with many many ex-servicemen and women as part of my day job in the defence industry.

I am now looking to refresh the covenant at the City Council, and with the VE75 celebrations next year it would provide an appropriate moment to do so.

By the time you read this, Christmas will be all but over and no doubt Easter eggs will be gathering on the supermarket shelves. Do you think seasonal supermarket products come far too early like I do?

Christmas certainly seems to be creeping ever earlier into our lives.

Anyway, here’s wishing you and your families a happy New Year. mark.springett@chelmsfordlibdems.org.uk 07411 808 731 www.markspringett.co.uk/blog Twitter: @markspringett (and also on Facebook)

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Tile Kiln Corner - by Linda Mascot A very happy New Year to you all, I hope you all had a happy and peaceful Christmas.

Eagle-eyed residents will have noticed there were four Advent windows revealed weekly during December at 402 Linnet Drive, The Kiln at 155 Robin Way, Tile Kiln Church and The Clay Pigeon. What a great effort by all involved and a lovely addition to our community during the festive season. Hopefully more will join in next year and it will become an annual event.

locations, Mary Wood from Tile Kiln Church told me: “It was a pleasure to hand out the gifts and see the joy on their faces. The trip highlighted some inhabitable living conditions which we hope to address by raising funds to help. Look out for fundraising events and help us to help these marginalised families.

Thank you for your support throughout 2019.”

For more information on upcoming projects and events, contact Mary Wood marywood2012@ me.com.

If you have any local events coming up or information you’d like to publicise on this page please contact me at mascotlinda@gmail.com.

A New Decade...

Who Dares Predict?!

The Clay Pigeon was also taking part in a competition for Best Dressed Christmas Community Pub and were hoping to be voted number 1 with all the support of their regulars.

was correct.

Just before Christmas The Guardian website had an article exploring some predictions made 10 years ago. Some successful, like the rise in e-sports; others a complete flop, like the expected rise of smart glasses that never materialised.

The speed of change has been staggering, but not every prediction

But as 2020 dawns upon us, time does seem to evaporate and change does seem to accelerate! As we face this, it can be hard to prevent anxiety rising in our chests, or the fear that the future might be unrecognisable to the world we live in now.

But at times when anxiety does flare up, we need to remember that some things do remain the same - not all that is predicted to happen in the years ahead will happen.

The Gift of Christmas team returned from Romania after giving out more than gifts to more than 300 disadvantaged children in 10

Anxiety and fear can be stomach churning, especially if we think that the root cause of our future is humankind alone. But Christians don’t believe that - in fact, Christians believe that there is one thing that never changes, and that thing is actually a person - Jesus Christ. He is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow.

This strengthens us to face the next ten years, whether personal battles with sickness, global questions over caring for refugees and battling the climate crisis, or national issues around identity, the NHS, or knife crime. Jesus is the same and Jesus is with us. You don’t need to fear the future - Jesus knows it, is with us, and never changes.

If you are unsure about what this year, next year, or the next decade, will bring, then let me challenge you to do something that I think will change your life - read a book. Not just any book, but a biography of Jesus by his friend Mark. I’d love to send you a free copy - just email me on the address below.

Tim Goodall tim.goodall@tilekilnchurch.org.uk

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29

Mobile Distractions - by Simon Inglis Many Australian motorists will greet the new year unaware of ever stricter road rules. My breakdown service recently messaged me about this. One of the most stunning relates to our telephones. I’m the first person to agree that a mobile device is a huge distraction.

100 kilometres per hour on a busy motorway then ‘bing!’ - a new text message. Sure, I’m distracted, I want to know what it is, or who has messaged me and about what. I’d be all for some sort of ‘jamming device’ in our cars, but then we wouldn’t get Spotify for instance and be streaming that engrossing podcast.

We don’t drive any faster, rather most of us drive far slower than we did in the 1970s. Yet technology is shaping our cars more than ever and our legislators appear confused as to how to handle this. How can it be okay for me to fiddle with my touch screen, yet not my phone even if it is - as required - fixed in a suitable holder?

One of the new rules relates to new drivers. In Victoria, a driver must display ‘P’ or ‘Provisional’ signs in the front and rear of their vehicles for three calendar years after passing their road test. This requirement relates to young drivers as well as those far more mature in years but whose licences may not be recognised in Australia. The plates are not obtrusive and almost identical to those in the UK, yet as I’ve mentioned they are compulsory when driving on a public road. This isn’t really such a big issue yet there are some serious restrictions on P-plate drivers. One is the demerit point system. Instead of accruing no more than 12 points over 3 years as in the UK, a new driver is restricted to 5 points before licence suspension. That’s in reality just 2 speed camera penalties. A zero blood alcohol limit applies as well, unlike the 0.05 requirement to fully licenced drivers.

Yet the new year brings some mobile phone challenges. A newly licenced driver is forbidden to use or even touch a mobile phone while running their engine. In other words a P-plate driver must pull over and shut down their vehicle if they wish to even take a Bluetooth assisted call. A fully licenced driver can use a Bluetooth device either integrated into their car’s audio-visual system or via an aftermarket device. It’s frankly muddled legislation in which a fully licensed driver is free to tinker with his or her entertainment system, touchscreens and steering wheel buttons while the newer driver can not. How does this work?

Speedometers are a godsend now that almost every stretch of road is now a safety camera zone. A moving map is useful too, and yes, incoming calls and the caller ID are also useful. Yet when I’m driving I don’t really need texts, nor do I need a social media feed let alone the latest news - that can wait for another time in the day. The option to flip between podcast and music, or to my two or three favourite radio channels is also useful - and honestly, that is quite enough.

So we have these new rules, which seem ludicrous for new drivers when we are allowing manufacturers to integrate ever further distractions into our cars. I honestly have no idea how someone recently licenced can manage to steer a car and maintain traffic and weather concentration while a set of large coloured displays can update them with useless information which shall be mostly distracting. I have been on the road for over thirty years and I don’t want all that.

Road safety is extremely important. In addition to confusing legislation concerning one driver but not another, I’m also lost as to why we mere mortals in our motor cars need more data than a fighter pilot. Perhaps it is time a major manufacturer proved brave enough to return us to those nice silver edged circles, speedometer, tachometer, fuel and temperature, steering wheel buttons (oh, please - some manufacturers are looking at ‘mini touchscreens’ on our steering wheels!) and to know what gear we are in. I know most of us drive older cars anyway but soon we shall all be nicely wrapped by countless screens!

So to sum up: isn’t it really time our manufacturers simply focused on safety and quality, as well as a touch of design for those of us still willing to pay a premium for ‘perceived beauty’ over pointless technology?

Cars are fairly safe. We will nowadays all purchase a car with airbags, ABS, brake assist and various cameras if we can, whether new or secondhand. If the latter, the desired technologies such as rear vision cameras are often bought aftermarket. Technology in the form of safety is ever better as technology in the form of Apple CarPlay or its Android sister become ever more a part of the motoring purchase.

The requirements of individuals barely changes beyond the modern curse, in my opinion, of the SUV over the traditional estate. A coupe for the young, or young at heart, an estate for the family with a labrador etc...

To many of us, the various touchscreens, gigantic maps or at the extreme end, Tesla’s huge tablet, are just too much. A coloured screen at night is something I find truly annoying! And we are getting more of these things in upper-end cars. I’m looking at you, Mercedes Benz... In time, these technologies filter down to the ‘everyman car’.

Is it really necessary?

I do like a couple of nicely shaped silver dials and my numbers around the circle. Integrated and fairly accurate electronic 30 www.moulshamtimes.com

Sue Campbell

Great Baddow Barber Shop

Traditional & Modern English Barber Established over 6 years ago in Great Baddow, we have a reputation for a quality haircut by professional barbers at a reasonable price.

• Free Parking • Children welcome • No appointment • Credit cards taken

01245476975 www.greatbaddowbarbershop.co.uk 11 Maldon Rd, Gt Baddow, CM2 7DW (next to House of Flowers)

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King William IV Greenland Ranging Gemstones Part of a parapet Occidental Brighton Cats Peggy Lee A sleuth Scree Priest None Lungs Chickenpox Barbra Streisand Bishop’s Stortford Westminster Abbey Mosquito Electro Cardio Gram Two Romans Kettle B Steve Backshall Japan 1993 Spain James I Tetanus Sir Derek Jacobi Penny

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2003 Dullness, lethargy Spain A Catholic priest’s daily prayers Gaul Period of 3 months Indiana Jones Gabarone

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Large showroom, over 100 machines on display. Try before you buy on selected machines

Reeds Farm, off Roxwell Road 01245 422571

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SALES 74 MOULSHAM STREET, CHELMSFORD, CM2 0JA

LETTINGS 152 MOULSHAM STREET, CHELMSFORD, CM2 0LD

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