Moulsham Times - June 2020

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Issue Number 88 - June 2020

Personal Finance Clinic: Assessing the Impact of COVID-19 on Your Retirement If you were expecting to retire in the next few months - or even in the next few years - has the coronavirus caused you to reassess your plans? Perhaps you are now thinking you will have to delay retirement?

Whilst the investment markets have thankfully recovered somewhat from the historical lows of mid-March, they still have a fair way to go to get back to where they were at the start of the year.

So, where does that leave investors? It is a confusing time.

Do you simply do nothing and wait for better times or do you take action now to limit the damage of a potential further fall?

The truth is that there is no ‘one size fits all’ answer. We now have lots of choice around how and when we retire and, as such, it’s vital that you give some thought to what it is that you really want and how that might work in practice.

There are a number of variables to consider, outlined below, which will help you come to a decision that you are comfortable with and that suits your personal situation and goals.

Phased Retirement Retirement used to mean moving from full-time work to stopping work completely with nothing in between. Is this what you want, or would you prefer to ‘phase in’ retirement via part-time or consultancy work for a few years, topping up your income from your pension pot whilst you do? Your decision here will impact your income needs.

How Much Do You Need - and Want - in Retirement?

Few people give this much thought. Too often it’s a case of, ‘I guess I’ll just see what I get and then try to survive on it’.

Instead, consider this: think of your retirement income as three building blocks. The first block covers those expenses that you absolutely must pay in retirement, such as council tax, gas and electric. Write down these costs to come up with a rough figure.

The second block builds on the first, but also includes all those extras in life that make it a little bit more worthwhile. For example, think about the cost of a hobby or two, satellite TV subscriptions and perhaps an annual holiday. Life won’t be that exciting, but you won’t be on the breadline.

The third block is the top tier. In other words, this is the amount of money you need to enjoy the lifestyle you really want in retirement. What does this look like? Does it include weekly social lunches, quarterly mini-breaks or that expensive hobby you always wanted to take up but never had the time for?

At the end of this exercise, you should have three rough

figures written down. One for the absolute basics (block one), the next for a reasonable standard of living (block one plus two) and then the third figure tells you your ideal income in retirement.

What Can I Cover From Fixed Income?

Fixed income is income that you are due to receive on a regular basis for the rest of your life. Think State Pensions and/or Final Salary pensions. If you are in a position to cover all three blocks of retirement spending from fixed income alone, the risks of investment markets affecting your retirement date are low.

Most people of course, cannot do this, but the more of it you can, then the better your position will be. Factor in fixed income before income drawn down from invested pensions.

Other Assets Do you have other non-pension sources of income to draw on? For example, do you have an ISA or a bond or cash reserves? Can you use cash reserves as an income when investments are performing poorly so that you don’t need to sell down those investments at a loss? And what is the tax status of these accounts (see below).

Tax Status Don’t forget about tax, because £30k gross taxable income is not the same as £30k net. For most people the loss to income tax on this is £3,500.

Ideally, you want to be able to draw from a variety of sources that are taxed differently. For example, you could draw up to your personal allowance for income tax from a pension and then top it up with tax-free ISA income.

Tax-Free Cash From Your Pension Have you thought about drawing a combination of tax-free and taxable income from the pension? Most people think you must draw the full 25% tax-free cash sum out of your pension at the start - but this is simply not the case. You can stagger it over multiple tax years.

Spouse/Partner’s Retirement It’s sadly often the case that one partner has substantially lower pension assets than the other. If you can boost the lower of the two ahead of retirement, seek advice on the best ways to do this. Utilising two sets of tax allowances and reliefs is always better than just using one.

Seek Advice In addition to the above, you may also have health issues, properties and company matters to factor into your plans.

Not to mention, discussing your risk profile and whether your current pension investments are suitable, given your personal objectives.

There is no substitute for sitting down with a well qualified adviser who can help you to identify what it is that you

MT Welcome Hi readers, Welcome to the June edition of Moulsham Times.

Due to the current situation I am afraid that once again this magazine will be available online only.

I would be incredibly grateful if you could share this link, www.issuu.com/itsyourmedia, to any friends and neighbours in the Old Moulsham, Moulsham Lodge and Tile Kiln areas so that as many of our regular readers can still get access to the magazine and stay in touch with what’s happening in the local community.

Fingers crossed that with more and more businesses now opening again, we will be able to print and deliver again very soon. Stay safe!

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

The July issue will be available from 2nd July. In the meantime, please all stay safe.

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(...continued) really want to get out of retirement, and next, to build a robust road map for getting you there, navigating all the complexities of pension rules, taxation and investment planning along the way.

Lauren Peters is a Senior Consultant at Brooks Macdonald, 21 Lombard Street, London EC3V 9AH. She is a Chartered Financial Planner and provides independent financial advice. You can contact Lauren via lauren.peters@ brooksmacdonald.com.

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Chelmsford - by Vicky Ford MP We are still finding ourselves in very unusual, unprecedented and challenging times. I send my deepest thanks to those who continue to stay at home and socially distance. It has been encouraging to see the number of cases of COVID-19 coming down. However, my thoughts remain with those who have lost loved ones.

Thank you also to our key workers, those on the frontline, and their families - especially to those in our hospitals and care homes and the many public sector workers who have kept important services going, our supermarket staff and the networks of volunteers that have been active across Chelmsford. Thank you as well to the Essex Welfare Service which has helped many thousands of local people.

Our local hospitals, Broomfield, Southend and Basildon, have been keeping MPs updated with regular briefings.

I was very pleased to hear that even though it was very difficult at times, our hospitals never ran out of PPE and there was never a need to launder gowns. As well as this, many non-sterile donations were used having been through Public Health England (PHE) testing. Work is happening to bring back more non-emergency health services, and please remember: if you do need urgent care, the NHS is there for you, including our A&E. Essex Police have been busy over the past weeks and whilst drug related crimes have been down, they have never-the-less made a number of successful arrests.

Burglary, theft and violent crime incidents have dropped dramatically, but there has been an increase in fraud, excessive speeding and anti-social behaviour, and there are concerns about hidden harms such as domestic abuse and child abuse. Essex Police are still out completing their normal duties, keeping the people of Chelmsford safe and dealing with crime - thank you to them! Also a big welcome to the 80 new police officers who passed out from training this May. The police have asked me to pass on their thanks for the way the people in Chelmsford have closely adhered to the Government guidance on social distancing and the real community spirit shown by so many people.

I have been in touch with several schools across Chelmsford ahead of the phased re-opening of schools from 1st June. Many of them have of course remained open for key workers and vulnerable children during the lockdown. For our youngest children, the time they spend at school, pre-school and nursery is vital to help develop the social and communication skills that set them up for life. Hence the focus is on inviting back younger children first, as well as key year groups such as Year 6 who face important transition to secondary next year and the Year 10s and 12s who have critical exams ahead. The safety of the public has always been the Government’s top priority,

so schools will only open if the scientific advice states that it is safe to do so. Schools are working with Government to make the re-opening of schools in as a sociallydistanced manner possible. Several safety measures have been put in place, including keeping younger children in small groups as we recognise that social distancing is a challenge for them.

I would also like to thank many local businesses for their work on COVID-19 response technology. BAE Systems’ role in the VentilatorChallengeUK has been revolutionary.

Teledyne e2v are providing high performance charged coupled devices (CCD) technology to help fight the COVID-19 outbreak.

As an MP I have been taking part in debates, questions and votes in the House of Commons via the online systems that were set up. We have been working on a number of crucial bills, including the Agriculture Bill which will support our farmers and food producers as well as the environment, the landmark Domestic Abuse Bill which brings in new assistance for victims, and the important Trade Bill which will help UK companies benefit from trade opportunities across the world.

As Children’s Minister, I have been focusing on getting support to vulnerable children across the country. This has included setting up new regional teams to support social services in local authorities and increasing assistance for specific groups such as care leavers, adoptive families and families of children with special educational needs and disabilities. The Free School Meals voucher system has now delivered over £100 million of food support to families, which is over 7 million week’s worth of school dinners.

I’ve also been helping a large number of Chelmsford residents with individual enquiries, including advising on the many different business support schemes that have been established and accessing assistance on welfare and health matters.

Whilst it has not been possible for me to hold my regular face to face constituency surgeries at this time, I am holding telephone surgeries for those with complex issues.

If you do need my assistance please do email me on Vicky. ford.mp@parliament.uk.

Thank you again, and I hope you are staying safe and well.

Deadlines for the July edition Articles - 17th June Print ready art work 25th June

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Essex Police Welcomes 76 New Officers As part of our continued commitment to get officers into your communities, we have welcomed 76 new police officers at adapted ceremonies today on Friday 22nd May.

than the 3,218 initially promised - and we have more than 500 Special Constables. This means we are well on track to recruit our target of 3,369 officers by 31st March 2021.

We put special measures in place to ensure the officers could train and celebrate while respecting the government guidelines, which has included 2.5m spacing at the recognition ceremonies as a precaution.

Last month, we had 472 people apply to work as a either a detective or regular officer, the highest we’ve had in one month ever.

These celebrations follow changes to the way we trained the officers. Classrooms contained smaller numbers of people with plenty of space and many sessions were held online. These measures are unprecedented in the 180-year history of Essex Police.

Chief Constable BJ Harrington greeted the officers and said: “Today’s event is testament to the hard work and determination of the officers, and of course their trainers, in completing their studies under strict restrictions.

“I know many of you are not just colleagues, you are also friends, and it’s been a while since some of you have seen each other. I really hope you had a special day together. I’m proud to say your family and friends are being sent videos of the day to thank them for their continued support.

“It’s important that we continue to mark the achievements of our officers in the face of the pandemic and these events shows our commitment in the recruitment of officers. I would like to wish our new officers every success and I hope you will all welcome them, just like I have today.”

There are now 3,293 officers in Essex Police - 75 more

From these applications, almost half (43 per cent) were from women and 11 per cent were from a BAME background. In addition, 50 people applied to be a Special Constable.

We have many exciting opportunities for you here at Essex Police. To find out about them, please visit www.essex. police.uk/fitthebill #FitTheBill.

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Essex’s Largest WI Are Still Meeting Despite Lockdown Chelmsford’s New City Girls WI have been working hard to virtually reach out and give their members something to look forward to during the current lockdown. Main meetings are still going ahead, albeit via Zoom.

In April, members completed a scavenger hunt around their homes looking for WI-related items, including both jam and Jerusalem! In May they were joined by Sophie Ede from Hearing Help Essex, and at June’s meeting there will be a mindfulness session. On top of that many additional subgroups are also still very active. Let’s Get Quizzical have a daily quiz, Snappy Girls have a weekly photo theme, baking groups and book groups are still sharing their findings, the choir are having social get togethers and there are twice weekly yoga sessions taking place too. you from doing so, or if the wind and rain of January and February put you off coming, New City Girls are still open to new members. If you’re nervous about walking through the door on your own this could be the ideal time to join meet people from the safety of your sofa and then you’ll know some faces when we’re all able to be back together again. There’s plenty to look forward to in June. As well as the mindfulness main meeting on June 8th, there is a virtual biscuit bake-off and a charity takeaway night.

New City Girls WI would love to have you along for the lockdown ride! Email membership.ncgwi@gmail.com for more information.

Rebecca Cameron-McIntosh, President New City Girls WI Email: enquiries.ncgwi@gmail.com

President Rebecca Cameron-McIntosh said: “With so much uncertainty it is nice to have something certain still taking place. It’s good to know that on the second Monday of the month you can log on to the computer and see some familiar faces.” Rebecca added: “I am so proud of the way our members have come together to support each other and keep each other company, and then on top of that have supported the key workers in our community by making scrubs, face masks and ear protectors, as well as offering some comfort to those with loved ones in hospital by making pairs of hearts; one stays with the patient and one stays at home with the family - it’s been such a special initiative to take part in.”

The message to the women of Chelmsford is if you were planning on joining earlier in the year but lockdown stopped 6 www.moulshamtimes.com

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How Are You? - by Cllr Marie Goldman How are you doing? I hope you’re well.

Although I have plenty to be grateful for, I have to admit that occasionally the current situation can make me feel a bit fed up. I want to be able to go for a drink with colleagues after work and chat about nothing in particular...

Video calls are great, but there just isn’t the same sort of spontaneity you get having a chat over a cuppa or a pint.

I want to browse around the shops, looking at the season’s latest offerings. I want to be able to touch and feel a fabric before I buy it and I want to be able to try it on for size something that Internet shopping can’t replicate.

And I want to go - whenever I want and for as long as I want - to the coast. I want to stare out at the sea, grab an ice cream and not worry about how close I am to the family doing the same next to me.

With the disconnect between all that we can’t do and all that we want to do, it can be a bit depressing at times.

Yes, I know these are first world problems and I’m in the incredibly lucky position of being healthy, having a roof over my head, a family that I love (and who love me) and more than enough food to eat. Yet not being able to do the things that we want to do can make us feel fed up nevertheless. I think that makes us human.

Most of the time, feeling fed up is just that - a bit bored, a bit sad, and in a very short time, it will pass. Sometimes though, it can be more than that, or it can turn into more than that.

If that happens, it’s important to speak out and to turn to others for support. That can feel easier said than done at the moment, especially if you’re self-isolating, so please remember that if you’re not sure where to turn at the moment, there are lots of organisations that can help. In particular in Essex the Essex Welfare Service is there to help people access information and support at this difficult time. You can contact the Essex Welfare Service on 0300 303 9988.

Wellbeing and making sure help is available to those who need it most is the common theme behind the three charities selected by the newly appointed Mayor of Chelmsford, Cllr Jude Deakin. They are Helping Hands Essex, MIND, and Sanctus. These are all fantastic local charities supporting the vulnerable and those with mental health issues. You can find out more about the Mayor of Chelmsford and the charities on the City Council’s website here: www.chelmsford.gov.uk/your-council/mayor-ofchelmsford.

I’m looking forward to seeing what the Mayor and her

Deputy, Cllr Linda Mascot, get up to over the next year. It’s going to be challenging finding different ways to engage with the community in these socially-distanced times, but I can’t think of two better people to take on the task right now.

If you’d like the Mayor or Deputy Mayor to attend a virtual event that you are holding, use the link above to get in touch.

Keep safe, well, and appropriately socially-distanced.

Cllr Marie Goldman Deputy Leader, Chelmsford City Council Ward Member for Moulsham & Central

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MT Health

The Mental Models That Are Keeping Me Sane - by Chris at Forté Physical Health

Although I normally fill this page with advice about how to look after your physical wellbeing and reduce pain, in recent weeks my most notable struggles with health have been in the mind.

I like to think of health like a circle. The circle consists of our diet, exercise, sleep, social life, relationships and mental wellbeing. There are experts out there to help you with each one of these facets, and although I am not a mental health expert, I can’t ignore it either because it is intrinsically linked to your physical health - and that’s where I can help.

I am very interested in philosophy and ideas that make our lives better. During these tough times, recently I’ve found myself falling to a few specific mental models that have made things a little more bearable.

Interestingly, as I start to feel better mentally, I find myself choosing to exercise and stretch more which makes me feel better physically, which in turn makes me feel even better mentally. There’s that health circle in action, you see!

Here are my three favourite mental models to help during the tougher days: 1. What If We Lived to Be 1,000 Years Old?

Many of life’s hardships feel hard because they happen so infrequently in our lifetimes. This lockdown and the global response to a pandemic is unprecedented in living memory. But what if we lived to be 1,000 years old? This pandemic would just be another one to deal with and if we were living in the latter half of our long life, we would have seen quite a few of these!

I like this as an idea because it helps me remember that we are not unique and that humanity has survived things just like this time and time again.

2. Imagine Things to Be Much, Much Worse

A branch of philosophy I have been gaining many life lessons from recently is Stoicism. One of the threads of Stoicism is something they call ‘negative visualisation’.

The idea behind it is simple, but it goes against much of the positive thinking movement that has been popular for the last couple of decades. All you do with negative visualisation, is take the situation you are in right now and imagine it to be much, much worse.

Once you are there in your mind’s eye, ask yourself how much would you want to be back right where you are in this moment, just dealing with these meagre problems.

When you realise that life could be much worse than it is right now, even if it feels tough, it brings a sense of gratitude for the present moment.

3. The Present Moment Is Enough, Make Sure You Notice It I have found myself on many occasions during this whole COVID-19 scenario wishing it to be over. There has been a sense that life is on hold until we can get back to normal. But actually, life is happening right here in this moment, all you have to do is notice.

Paying close attention to the present moment, whether it’s good or bad, helps you realise that right now, you are coping. Right now, can be beautiful. This moment is enough.

Being mindful helps me stop wishing time away. I’m not hoping to get to the other side as quickly as possible, I’m just paying attention to the tapestry of life with all the good and all the bad.

Applying these three models (and a few others I have tucked up my sleeve) helps me to stay sane. As I said, this helps me feel motivated to exercise and it keeps me calm as a husband and father.

Working on this strategically helps keep my circle of health balanced, and I hope it helps you too.

Chris Branch is the owner of Forté Physical Health osteopathic and physical health clinic. Forté has just reopened for treatment and you can see more at www. fortephysicalhealth.co.uk.

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MT Gardening

May is proving to be such a good month for sunlight levels, although we’ve had a few nights of plummeting temperatures.

Did you remember to harden off plants and also have to hand a few sections of horticultural fleece to protect young sappy growth from the frosts? I hope so. Even as we approach June, cold nights are still possible, so take care!

For this issue I’m mainly looking at flowers and shrubs.

Follow these simple steps to success.

Continue to tie in climbers and wall shrubs. At this time of year plants will put on an enormous amount of growth.

With climbers, try to plug any gaps in the framework by tying in pliable young stems. Tie in first, then remove tip. This will reduce apical dominance and force side growths, which could eventually produce more flowers. This is crucial for climbing roses, such as Rosa ‘Penny Lane’ and R. ‘James Galway’.

Any spare gaps in your borders would be great for annuals, either sown directly into a prepared seedbed or planted. They’ll potentially plug any gaps you may have in your flowering display. It’s still ok to sow pot and or French marigolds, poached egg plants and nasturtiums.

These will also act as companion plants to attract lady birds, hoverflies and lacewings - all aphid feeders. I’d also pop in larkspur, clarkia and love-in-the-mist, although you may end up weeding out the latter!

essential moisture in around the root zone. Go for a thickness of 1015cm (4-6”) using well rotted organic matter, such as garden compost - or buy in; lots of centres are still delivering during the lockdown.

Stake and tie in a all long stemmed perennials and dead-head old flowers if seed heads aren’t required. I’ve done this with white bearded iris using cut sections of garden canes.

Don’t forget to feed container displays.

All flowering displays will require high potash, so tomato based feeds work well. For plants requiring lime-free growing conditions, use sequested ironbased products.

I also use this for all evergreens, being an excellent producer of leaves and stems.

Remember to follow manufacturer’s guidelines.

Check out this link for other jobs for the garden: www.rhs. org.uk/advice/in-month/may.

Happy gardening and keep safe!

For any gardening tips please contact Tom Cole, Horticultural Lecturer, Capel Manor College, Bullsmoor Lane, Enfield, Middlesex, EN1 4RQ by post (including a SAE) or by email at Tom.Cole@capel.ac.uk.

Continue to mulch soil to suppress weeds and keep that 10

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Nick Garner’s Music & Ramblings Here we are; another month of this awfulness - we all need to stay safe and be careful. The Government are now relaxing some of the guidelines and rules, but sadly some people are paying no attention and seem to think that this is either not real or that they are immune and will not get infected or infect others. Wake up! This is very real, so use your common sense - which is what the Government hoped we would all do in the first place - or this could come back to bite us bigger and worse than it has so far been.

Another annoyance to me and I think others is that one of the big takeaways has just reopened with massive car queues on steaming hot days followed by the rubbish reappearing as some just throw the remains and rubbish on the road. There must be a way they can label the packaging so culprits can be identified and fined. There have been other local takeaways open without resulting in rubbish being strewn everywhere. There are always those who stand beside a bin and drop it on the ground unfortunately. It is cheaper and more fun to make your own food and you know then what goes into it too!

I feel better for that, but l do feel it needed saying as I also hear the state of some of our parks are pretty bad with the rubbish. As for the beaches, well we all know about them I think... Rant Over for now!

I hear some of the schools are reopening after half term my grandson who lives in South London and being in Year six will be returning. It is his final term before he moves up to the senior school where his sister is. My daughter knows the school well, having been there herself as well as my granddaughter. Many years ago my sister was also a teacher there. The school took my daughter and her husband through their plans, and knowing the school layout and teachers well (and how keen my grandson is to return and see his friends at a social distance before he leaves at the end of term), they have agreed for him to return.

Fortunately, the school has the space to keep pupils at a safe social distance. I know some schools do not have the space, so l fully understand why some parents will not be allowing their children to return to some schools.

The 75th anniversary of VE Day, although during lockdown, was celebrated well. It was good to see that people still came out of their houses and sat with their household while their neighbours did the same, keeping their distance. I know my friend Paul Stevens set up his guitar outside his house and played Rule Britannia to rapturous applause, whoops and cheers from the locals. It was good to see that we remembered and celebrated the freedom of europe. Lets hope we can do the same when we have finally killed off this pandemic.

Some people are now returning to work and the roads are filling up - not yet as bad as before the lockdown thankfully.

It is hard for those involved in public transport to know how much to put on and what the demand will be, as we still 12

very much need to keep a social distance. Lets just hope that people are sensible and we get back to some kind of normality sooner rather than later.

Music This is not so easy to write with most events that should be happening now cancelled. Unless you are online you will not see or know about what is currently happening. There are a few artists who have been coming out into their gardens or on the street to entertain the locals, like Paul on VE Day. We as musicians are very frustrated, as most of us love to play live and find nothing more rewarding than having an audience showing their appreciation - it gives a real buzz.

We have to face the facts though, it is going to be a long time before we get in front of a proper audience again.

One of the good things to be coming out of this is that artists, big and small alike, are getting into playing online and letting us into their homes and getting up close. It is almost like getting back to the roots where we all came from; miming to a hairbrush or playing in front of the mirror in teenage bedrooms! It makes you feel that you are on the same level and up close to them.

One such artist I have reconnected with is Hazel O’Connor, who I worked with back in her heyday of the early 80s. She is an artist who I think has almost reinvented herself, and now a new audience is discovering and enjoying her work.

Hazel, who is at her home in Wicklow in Ireland, has got into live streaming and has shown us around her garden, shown us plants we can eat, and how to make nettle soup and scones! We have also met her dogs and friends as well.

She is very open and funny too.

She also appears dressed up to the nines to play concerts for us as well, normally on Fridays from 8pm on my page as well as her own. As you may now be aware, I put an online festival on each Sunday from 12.50pm to about 6.20pm with 15 acts all playing a 20 minute live set. All genres are covered, from opera to rock and from jazz to folk, boogie, blues and more - even spoken word. Below are the details for the Isolation Festival. Remember that we also host other shows during the week too.

When small groups of people are allowed to gather, we have plans afoot to hopefully be able to put on some proper concerts again, with bands big and small being able to get back together. Sadly, without a full live audience, so we are looking to broadcast them live via Facebook and YouTube which means you can watch on your TV from the comfort of your home. I am lucky that with over 50 years in and around the music industry, I know a lot of people and get joined by artists from across the globe. Many are chomping at the bit to play with their band mates again and to play for you.

I’d like to round off this month with a huge congratulations to two young local friends of mine who I have thankfully been involved with from their early days. They are Joe

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Anderton and Connor Selby who many of you I am sure will know. Joe, who lives in Chelmsford, has just won the Best Solo/Duo award in the 2020 Panic Awards and Connor, from Billericay, has just won the Young Blues Artist of the Year 2020 in the UK Blues Awards. Both awards are so richly deserved. They are very good friends and also band mates performing as an acoustic duo together. Joe is also in Connor’s band who should have now been on tour with The Who, who they opened for at Wembley Stadium in 2019. We hope the tour will go ahead in 2021.

All I can say is please stay safe, stay sensible and stay well and keep supporting the live artists, many of whom many have a donation link like paypal.me, as many of us are not earning anything - so if you can donate, or maybe purchase music and/or merchandise it will always be greatly

appreciated I know, by all of us.

It would be fantastic if you could share our online magazines The Moulsham Times and the City Times for us and like and subscribe to our pages. We will continue to publish both magazines online and hope to be back in printed form before too long. If you are interested in advertising with us, please contact us at ads@ itsyourmedia.co.uk, or if you have a comment or an article please send to editorial@itsyourmedia.co.uk and we will reply to you as soon as we can.

Remember, you can find both magazines at www.issuu. com/itsyourmedia, and the Isolation Festival Facebook page can be found at www.bit.ly/3cDoCYW - also now on YouTube as well at www.bit.ly/3dEG4wK.

Quiz Time - by John Theedom 1.

2 3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

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12.

13.

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What is the origin of the word velcro?

Who played Inspector Clouseau in most of the Pink Panther films?

Which disease was formally known as consumption?

In which leisure game would the players make use of a squidger?

How old will Bernie Ecclestone of F1 fame be on his next birthday in October 2020?

Which football club has the nickname The Tractor Boys?

Which TV programme did Ricky Gervais star in at the beginning of his rise to fame?

In WW2, what did the initials PLUTO stand for?

What was Admiral Nelson’s first name?

What nationality was Greta Garbo?

Using the term ‘acol’ means you are doing what?

Which large feline mammal is the fastest land animal?

What word can precede ‘gown’, ‘room’ and ‘table’?

What exactly do the initials RSVP stand for?

What animal can be call, marbled or tufted?

What is the name for a young turkey?

In which country are the police referred to as the garda?

Where will you have to use an oche?

What is the Spanish word for friend?

Who is the only member of ZZ Top that doesn’t have a beard?

21. In 2003, which football team did David Beckham join?

22. In The Darling Buds of May who played the tax inspector Cedric ‘Charlie’ Charlton?

23. What is meant when land is described as arable?

24. In your physical life, what is nadir?

25. You probably know where Burnham-onCrouch is, but where is Burnham-on-Sea? 26. Which famous lyricist has a food surname?

27. Which pop group named themselves after a London postcode?

28. How did Benito Mussolini die in 1945?

29. Regarding your computer, what is ISP? 30. Which Suffolk market town is the centre of British horse racing?

31. A bathyscaphe is what type of transport?

32. Who is the new co-host of the TV C4 programme The Great British Bake Off? 33. On the ITV programme The Chase who is called ‘Frosty Knickers’ or ‘The Governess’?

34. Laura Alvarez is the wife of which former leader of the Labour Party?

35. What is the first name of the author Mr Defoe?

36. What type of food is iberico?

37. What would you do with a Cuba Libre?

38. What is the full name of the new baby in the PM’s family?

39. Who is the actor who plays the part of the TV detective Jonathan Creek?

40. Which gas is it that makes Champagne pop its cork?

(Answers on page 31)

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Essex 2020 Celebration Essex 2020 is a year long, county-wide celebration of science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM) in Essex.

Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, Essex 2020 has now moved online. People of all ages from Essex or further afield can now enjoy events that you would have previously had to travel to in the comfort of your own home. Many of the activities on offer are excellent learning opportunities for children and can be an exploration into STEAM and play a role in home schooling.

the previously published Marconi related events in June.

However they will be delivered online rather than at venues in Chemsford. Everybody is welcome to enjoy these talks and you will find details of how to do this on the CSES website (www.chelmsfordses.org.uk). In October it will be 100 years since the formation of Chelmsford Science and Engineering Society.

100 years ago, Guglielmo Marconi changed the world forever and put Chelmsford on the map as a pioneering place of global communications. Back In 1920, world famous opera singer Dame Nellie Melba was booked to give her now historic 30-minute radio concert from the Chelmsford works on 15th June 1920. The concert was heard throughout Europe.

To celebrate this heritage, the city has come together to curate a series of radio inspired exhibitions, workshops, performances and a dedicated lecture series. Here is a taster of forthcoming online events: Marconi Lecture Series (CSES/Civic) 10th June Dame Nellie Sings! A night that changed the World - Tim Wander, author and historian and museum curator will be livestreaming at 7.30pm the story of the first radio broadcast experiments from the Marconi Chelmsford New Street Works and Melba’s famous concert on 15th June 1920. Join us online to find out more about our historical city.

This June we are celebrating a great historic event in the city - 100 years since the first professional broadcast by the Marconi Company with Dame Nellie Melba.

The Chelmsford Science and Engineering Society (CSES) and the Chelmsford Civic Society are planning to hold

Marconi’s Legacy - Past, Present and Future!

Starting at the birth of Marconi, this exhibition is coming to Hylands House in November and follows Guglielmo Marconi through his life’s work and on to the company he gave his name to. The exhibition is partnered by the Leonardo company located in Basildon - a former Marconi company.

You can view the full programme of online events at www. essex2020.com.

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The Singing Chef

Hello you lovely lot, writing this I am feeling positive today with the sun shining... and this beautiful recipe is so summery and just makes you feel good.

I must say, it’s been a bit up and down - I’m sure loads of you are feeling that same, thank god for Amazon, Hermes and my incredible little sister!

Unfortunately my vocal coaching and PA work has taken a huge hit during lockdown - I thought I’d be bored, but there’s always so much to do with 3 kids and a pooch at home I feel like there’s no time for anything... Well, except cooking, eating and drinking! We are all eating extremely well; loads of grilling on the BBQ and we have plenty of fresh herbs and veggies growing in the garden. It is really nice to get my afternoons back for just the children and me so I can cook a nice dinner and we can eat together (sometimes!).

You can use any fish or meat with this very versatile and tasty mayonnaise. I’m hooked on frozen fish (apart from frozen salmon) at the moment, it’s usually filleted and perfectly portioned, so the frozen mackerel is delicious.

Grilled Mackerel With Garlic and Herb Mayonnaise • Defrost and dry mackerel fillets • Score the skin side then season with plenty of salt and

pepper and rub with some oil • Place the fillets skin side up on a tray ready to grill • Put your mackerel under a medium grill for 6-8 minutes depending on thickness There is no need to turn the mackerel during cooking as we have scored the skin. Once the skin is crisp, turn off the grill and leave the mackerel there to stay warm whilst you make the mayonnaise.

To Make Your Mayonnaise • Add two free range egg yolks to a mixing bowl with a teaspoon of Dijon mustard • Whisk together for 30 seconds • Gradually add a 50/50 mix of oils (I used rapeseed and sunflower) Do this next part really slowly; a helper is very useful here as YOU MUST NOT STOP WHISKING. Place a tea towel under your bowl for extra grip. Once thickened, add a splash of white wine vinegar or some lemon juice until you get your preferred consistency.

That’s your mayo done, you can have it just as it is, seasoned with salt and pepper, or now add any flavours you fancy. I used some fresh herbs, garlic, capers and anchovies - it was out of this world. Yummy!

For the cheaters out there, use your food processor, I did!

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Hello to you all, I hope you are all finding plenty to do during the lockdown (which is still in place as I write). I must admit, I have never seen so many very clean cars, trimmed lawns, clean windows... I guess that is a plus side. I am trying to keep busy. I should be quite good at it all after 10 years practice of retirement.

The newspapers are mainly providing us with advice and information. I must admit I’m getting a bit confused with some of it. Even though the lockdown has been eased a little, some of the ‘experts’ seem to agree to disagree - how can we be expected to know what to do? Wear a mask/ do not wear a mask, for example. Having said that, there is more clarity on some fronts. I’m pleased they have said we can go out get some exercise more than once a day. I am impressed with the few people we meet on our walks.

All have gone out of their way to keep the 2-metre rule, and always greet us with a cheery good morning and thank you.

I have never been too convinced about social media, now I am getting more concerned rather than convinced. A post on Facebook advertised a ‘smart’ watch. It can count your steps, check heart rate, tell you when you’ve got a notification(?) and lots of other stuff. It even tells you the time! The thing that interested me was it’s ability to let you see your blood pressure, so I foolishly clicked the ‘see more’ button. Well, I was only on the site for about ten seconds before I realised it wasn’t for me. Since that moment of weakness last week, I have been inundated with adverts for the bloomin’ things. Every day I am reminded that this firm and that firm sell these things and that the price is ‘just for today’, then I get the same post the next day. It’s driving me mad and I am wondering how long the ‘last opportunity to purchase’ messages will carry on. If they were so smart, they would have realised by now that I DON’T WANT ONE! Have you noticed that the news in the media seems to focus on the obvious? One definition of ‘news’ is: ‘newly received or noteworthy information, especially about recent events, usually a broadcast or published report not previously known to someone’. Recent broadcasts have reported that sales are down in the high street, sales of new cars have fallen by 97%, the economy is in the worst state for over 300 years etc. Bearing in mind that news is information not known to someone, I challenge the concept that all of these statements are ‘newsworthy’. Falling sales... Hello! If you close most of the shops in the high street and car sales showrooms, then guess what: they will sell less. On the economy, if you stop people working in factories, then there is no manufacturing which affects productivity. I for one could have worked this out for myself without being told. OK rant over, I suppose I will have stop reading the papers.

I realise that it is essential to be very careful at the moment, making sure we wash our hands frequently or use antiseptic gel, but I must admit, I’m finding it a bit difficult.

The other day I picked up the packet of wipes and opened the little flap to take one out. Not the easiest of tasks, I always find that I have at least four. Anyway, I managed it on this occasion, wipe all around my hands, between the fingers and around the wrists. See, I have paid attention to the numerous videos - I didn’t realise I’d been doing it wrong all these years. Then I closed the little flap, and put the pack down on the worktop. Then I thought, just a minute I’ve wiped my hands and just handled the outside of the pack which I handled before I put the gel on. So then I thought I’d better get another one out, but ended up with the same result. I repeated this several times before I gave up and went to the sink to wash with soap and water!

I was listening to the radio this morning and, as usual, most of it was about COVID-19; why do they have two names for it? Anyway, the interviewer was talking to someone who is in lockdown. He asked how things are during lockdown, They replied ‘strange’, then he asked her why. She explained about the circumstances with the house full and so on. My answer would be something like ‘no real change actually, I was staying indoors, not going shopping, washing my hands 10 times a day and the children were not going to school before all this stared!

Other examples not COVID related: An interviewer asks a £10million lottery winner if it will change their life. My answer would be ‘not really, I was already planning to move to a mansion, buy a few cars and book a round-the-world cruise next week’. At the losing manager interviews after the match, they are asked how they were feeling. They usually make excuses and blame the referee. My answer would be ‘it all went to plan, we spent all the week training hard and working out tactics that would ensure we would lose’.

As I finish this month, the government is very concerned about the number of people who will visit beaches over the bank holiday weekend. I think they have missed an opportunity here. As a retiree, I can tell you that after a while you don’t know (or sometimes care) what day it is.

It is only when the media keep on about the break that I realise what it is. This must be the case for lots of people in lockdown. They should not have kept on reminding us that it is coming. For lots of us, it would be just another day and we wouldn’t even think to go to the beach.

Stay safe and well.

Bin End Chuckles I learned that ‘oh this old thing’ isn’t an appropriate way to introduce an elderly relative...

My wife is threatening to leave me because I put different clothes on every half hour, I said: ‘Wait! I can change...’

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Rotary Keeps you Protected Government advice is changing rapidly with regard to face coverings, but it is clear that as lockdown restrictions are relaxed, it is a good idea for the general public to cover their faces and thereby reduce the possibility of spreading the virus by coughing or sneezing over other people.

With this in mind, a new project is being undertaken by four of the Rotary Clubs in Chelmsford. Phoenix, Rivermead, Chelmer Bridge and Chelmsford Rotary Clubs have joined forces to produce a snood which can be worn as a face covering to help us protect one another.

The snoods will be distributed in a number of ways.

Some will be given to key workers, whilst other will be made available to the general public in Chelmsford for a suggested donation of £3 per snood. We have the idea of taking them to golf and bowls clubs which have just received permission to open on a reduced footing. This is an ideal use of snoods because of the protection they offer, the ease of use and can certainly be used once this pandemic is over - although this doesn’t look like that will be any time soon! All money collected will be donated to charity including local NHS causes.

We may also have a charity table in the market or High Street, but if you would like some for yourself, your family or your business, then please give me call on 01245 260 349 to order. No minimum or maximum order at the moment as we are just getting started with the initiative, so we will monitor the demand.

What is a snood you may well ask? I wasn’t entirely sure myself when I was initially asked to come up with a design, but I was on a fast learning curve and quickly found out much like a lot of people who now feel comfortable with Zoom meetings who previously had considered themselves technophobes! A snood is a neck tube which can be worn as a sort of neck warmer/scarf or pulled up around the face to offer protection as shown in the attached photographs.

Guidance recommends wearing a face covering when you are in an enclosed space, on public transport or in a shop.

It also urges the general public not to purchase medical grade masks as these need to be prioritised for frontline health and care workers, therefore these snoods have been specially manufactured for Rotary and are made from polyester microfibre. They are light and comfortable to wear and bear the Rotary branding so will also be a means of raising awareness of the work that Rotary does locally.

Please note that they do not offer the sort of protection necessary to be a frontline NHS nurse or doctor.

Rotary is about putting something back into the community and this seems an ideal way of helping during these unprecedented times. I can only echo the words of the Prime Minister: ‘Stay Alert, Control the Virus, Save Lives’ and I can add, wear a Rotary snood.

Stan Keller

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The 30 in 30 Challenge: Can Your Business Go the Extra Mile for Local Hospice Care?

A Chelmsford business is committing to combine keeping fit and raising funds during the coronavirus pandemic to support local hospice care for children and young people across Essex.

“While a lot of people may feel their lives have been put on hold, palliative nursing and hospice care has not stopped and we must continue to be there for those at the end of their lives.

Countryside, the developer of Beaulieu in Chelmsford, is taking part in the Havens Hospice 30 in 30 campaign which challenges people to walk, run or cycle 30 miles across 30 days until 31st August 2020. The charity has chosen 30 miles because that is the average distance one of its Fair Havens Hospice at Home nurses will travel in a day to care for patients and families in the community.

“Everyone who signs up can get creative and take part in whatever way they want. There is no challenge too great or small so whatever you do just remember to have fun, stay safe by following social distancing guidelines, and share your experience with the online community - we may be apart from each other but we are still together continuing Making Every Day Count for adults, children and families across Essex in our care.”

With June just around the corner, why not challenge work colleagues to take part in the virtual event over the 30 days in June?

Havens Hospices, which provides specialist palliative nursing and supportive care to adults and children across Essex, hopes that businesses will embrace the benefits of taking part in its virtual event which can help keep their employees fit and socially active during the current pandemic, whilst also raising vital funds for a good cause.

Andrew Carrington, Managing Director, Strategic Land, Countryside, said: “Countryside together with L&Q, have sponsored Pedal for The J’s for the last six years. Our staff together with Beaulieu residents have always enjoyed taking part in the event and whilst disappointed it couldn’t take place this year, we are delighted to have the 30 in 30 Challenge in its place.

Joining the virtual campaign is free, but the charity is asking participants to fundraise as much as possible so Havens Hospices can continue Making Every Day Count for everyone they care for. If challengers raise £30 they will receive a medal, plus a T-shirt if they raise £150 or more.

Fair Havens and Little Havens remain open, having adapted how they operate in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Fair Havens has made all 16 beds within its hospice available - despite only opening at the beginning of March - to help alleviate pressure within the local NHS. Little Havens is caring for children with complex medical or social needs being discharged from hospital and providing end-of-life care.

If you have decided what challenge you would like to complete for this campaign, here’s how to sign up:

“Now more than ever it is important for us to try and incorporate exercise into our daily lives if we can, to help keep us both physically and mentally fit. I am encouraged by how many of our staff have signed up to take part in this event to help raise much needed funds for The J’s Hospice and Havens Hospices charity.

• Visit 30in30.havenshospices.org.uk.

• Personalise your JustGiving fundraising page.

• If you have Strava, connect your account to your JustGiving page to show your progress.

• Share your JustGiving page with your family and friends asking them to sponsor you.

“I would encourage other companies and their staff to get involved. Havens Hospices need our support more than ever to enable them to continue with the vital care and services they provide to our community.”

Havens Hospices care remains free thanks to kind donations from supporters and an interim grant from the government via Hospice UK.

Emma Hamilton, Voluntary Income Area Team Leader said: “Thank you so much to everyone who has joined the campaign so far to help raise vital funds for the charity.

“The income of Havens Hospice has taken a major hit after having to postpone and cancel the majority of our fundraising events, so 30 in 30 is a great way to raise vital funds for the charity either within the comfort of your home or when you are out exercising.

“We feel that 30 in 30 is a great campaign to bring our fantastic business community together - without them our essential hospice care would not exist.

Countryside taking part in the successful Pedal For J’s event

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Spot 10 Differences (Answers on Page 31)

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Nothing Better Than a Daily Dose of Pilates for Lockdown - by Erica Foulds There can’t be much better than a daily dose of pilates during lockdown. Whether you have been in lockdown, isolation, home schooling, working on the front-line or feel you are somewhere floating in no man’s land for the last 2 months, welcome to my latest article.

I am beaming live to you from my living room/day-space/ pilates studio/yoga practise space! We may all be on a rather spikey learning curve at the moment, but its been ever so heart warming to see the positive spirit and support our communities have been giving one another. I hope you have discovered a positive yourself too. I personally am feeling so grateful for the time to focus on up-skilling, making myself a better instructor and having a virtual platform to continue working, looking after all my wonderful clients who are still showing unending dedication to keeping their bodies and minds balanced with the pilates method of exercise. Not just existing, but lots of new faces too... So much so that we have added two extras classes a week to our virtual class offering!

At Hummingbird Writtle we have been able to continue offering our daily yoga and pilates classes as we did in the studio pre-lockdown. Now they are both on a live and fully interactive 12-person maximum class basis, but we also have added a weekly non-interactive, come-as-you-please in your pjs if you wish (no one can see you so why not) - payas-you-go £5 a class basis. As with all of our classes, there is no obligation to commit long term. We love seeing people popping in and trying it out and seeing for themselves if it is something that they feel they would benefit from.

I have been supporting clients on a 1-2-1 basis too, just me and one other in our own bespoke virtual studio, talking about what the body needs at that moment. Of course in the studio at Hummingbird we have always offered 1-2-1 training and it is no different now. Maybe the lower back is feeling more stiff than usual and needs a cat stretch or you need a programme created for you of 10 minutes of daily core strength, or maybe the neck has some unusual kinks of tension in it now that need a stretch or two to iron it out but you’re not sure how to.

In these unprecedented times of uncertainty and with the unfamiliar routines that have been enforced upon us, it is so important that we dont get swept along in the madness, neglecting our wellbeing.

Why would (and could) pilates help right now in lockdown?

Here are 5 reasons. If you have any further questions or queries then please don’t hesitate to contact us and we would be more than happy to discuss!

1. It’s fun! We all need some fun right now - and variety is the spice of life. Joseph Pilates may have created a core repertoire of just over 30 moves nearly 100 years ago, but that wonderful base has given rise to hundreds more exercises, so class routines have www.issuu.com/itsyourmedia

endless variation!

2. It’s suitable for all levels of ability. It was created around the end of WW1 and was suitable for veterans with severe injuries, including amputees. It has equally been used the world over for Olympic athletes and professionals to improve performance.

3. It has taken and passed the test of time. Year in and year out, time has proved that it works. It has proved popular and is done all over the world still to this day.

4. It combines body and mind. A gentle pilates class with mindful tension relieving stretching could suit you first thing in the morning or last thing at night. Equally, if you want a glute (butt busting) and abs (waist toning) workout, its easy to combine pilates exercises that leave you standing proud and feeling strong.

5. It’s great for 2020 and the world we live in today. For 10 minutes or a full hour, whatever lifestyle you have, at Hummingbird we can create something for you using the pilates method.

For more info please search for us online and on social media at Hummingbird Yoga Pilates Writtle. Email info@ hummingbirdpilatesyoga.co.uk, or call 01245 422 556. Our media posts will hopefully give you some daily positivity and encouragement too!

Erica xx

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Neighbourhood Watch - May Update

Hi all, your friendly neighbourhood Ayman here. So what’s been going on in the neighbourhood? VE Day was one of the biggest recent events, no one could have missed that!

The kids and I enjoyed walking and cycling through the various streets and seeing neighbours in their front gardens chatting and having BBQs. It was great to see the level of neighbourhood spirit and the time taken by neighbours to get their homes and streets ready.

It seems difficult enough having to be worried about the virus, but it looks like we should also be thinking about our possessions and homes too as things begin to change to some normality.

I also inadvertently found myself busy organising an ice cream van to visit around 15 streets and tracking its progress. It was funny and surreal to find ourselves using NhW in such an unexpected way.

People have also been much aware about their neighbourhood and recognising neighbourhood drug dealing. We should continue to report suspicious behaviour.

There is nothing wrong in being wrong; just report via dialling 101 or by email at chelmsfordneighbourhoodwatch. org.uk.

Not long after this I celebrated the end of Ramadan with the Eid Festival, which is the Muslim version of Christmas.

Never before have I celebrated the event with just the family at home not being able to go anywhere or invite anyone into our home. I hope we gain some normality soon and are able to see our families again.

Right now everything seems to have changed and the rules governing how we knew things before are no longer the same. And now, the way NhW itself is being used to some extent has probably gone back to the old days where it was much more than just about reporting and fighting crime.

As the country begins to slowly open up again and more people are going back to work and leaving their homes, we’ve had a warning by police to not become complacent.

Acquisitive crime will rise. Burglaries, shoplifting, purse/ wallet pinching. Other crimes like knife crime and antisocial behaviour are also expected to rise again in the coming few weeks. Make sure front doors and windows are locked when you go out in the back garden for BBQs or gardening etc - we have more hot days coming.

Another thing to look out for that might be on the increase is fraud. Be wary of supposed phone calls from banks and courier services - please remain alert and report to Action Fraud.

Thanks to Steve Leverett Head of NhW on providing the above info. Please stay safe, alert and now vigilant.

All the best Ayman Syed aymansyed@gmail.com Moulsham and Central Neighbourhood Watch

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VE Day Photographs

The McFarlane family in Old Moulsham

Mildmay Road

Door decorations in Moulsham Drive

Hamlet Road viewed from Mildmay Road

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Sixties British Blues and R&B Boom 3 - by John Power Geno Washington and the Ram Jam Band Many black American GIs stationed in England in the early 1960s found their way to Soho and its Wardour Street Flamingo Club, and loved its lively well-packed all-nighters, and Geno was notable among them. Stationed at USAF Bentwaters in Suffolk, he would use his leave to visit and soon perform on soul and Tamla Motown songs at the club. The Ram Jam Band had been formed in 1964 by Pete Gage and Geoff Pullum with Jamaican bluebeat singer Errol Dixon as vocalist. The name ‘Ram Jam’ was taken from an pub on the old A1 Road. Gage saw Geno jamming and offered to pay his demob dues back in the States if he returned to front the band to give it an authentic US sound, which he did, and Errol Brown left the line-up in 1965.

Their first single with Geno, Shake Shake Senora/Akinla failed to have any chart success, but albums were taking over from singles with the more affluent teenagers of the era. With Geno’s hard-hitting live act it seemed best to try to capture that on record to liven up party goer’s sounds, and Hand Clappin’ Foot Stompin’ Funky-Butt...

Live! was the first of three of these. It reached the top 5 in the album charts in 1966, to stay there for 38 weeks at the height of the mod era. Hipsters, Flipsters and FingerPoppin’ Daddies! followed in 1967 and reached number 8. Capitalising on the band’s success, Pye Records also released four singles: Water, Hi! Hi! Hazel, Que Sera, Sera, and Michael (The Lover) but they made little impact compared to the albums of soul covers. Jimmy James and the Vagabonds were also on Pye and similarly fronted by a black singer, Jimmy, and equally popular with the mods as a live act.

By 1968 the third live album Running Wild reflected a change in the mode of the music as psychedelia was making soul music sound old-fashioned and the brass section of the band was dropped. The sales were not as good and in 1969 Geno continued solo for a while before returning to the States. He returned in 1971 as part of a four piece band of Dave Watts on organ, Mike Jopp on guitar, and Grant Surpall on drums. As the post-mod revival took hold in the late 1970s, Dexys Midnight Runners listened to his old albums and came up with a tribute song that hit the charts, but when they heard him live wondered what had happened to the old maestro’s sound.

However there were to be other mod revivals for nostalgia for two generations of fans and after 2005, a Ram Jam Band reformed with Stuart Dixon on guitar, Steve Bingham on bass, Geoff Hensley on drums and Alan Weton and Allesandro Carnevali on sax. Similar line-ups continue to the time of writing and Geno is still in great demand on the live gig circuits. Past members have also included Pete Gage, Lional Kingham, Buddy Beadle, Jeff Wright, John Roberts and Herb Prestidge.

Steampacket We have previously seem how Long John Baldrey worked with Alexis Korner’s Blues Inc and Cyril Davies All-Stars before founding his own Hoochie Coochie Men. When this 26

in turn broke up in 1965, he formed a new kind of group: a musical revue to feature different members of the band.

He found a bedraggled beatnik on a railway station singing and strumming a guitar on his way home from a CND Ban the Bomb march, who was to become well known (through John’s patronage) as singer Rod Stewart. His soulful voice, which also got a hearing in Jimmy Powell and the Five Dimensions, was only one of the talents on display in Steampacket. Besides John and Rod, Julie Driscoll shared vocal honours. They were ably backed by what had previously been known as the Brian Auger and the Trinity and Oblivion Express, consisting of Brian (Hammond organ), Vic Briggs (guitar), Ricky Fenton (bass) and Micky Waller (drums). They played a highly instrumental repertoire especially based on the work of jazz organists like Jimmy Smith. Giorgio Gomelsky, an early manager for The Rolling Stones and The Yardbirds, also became their manager.

They supported the Stones on their 1965 tour.

Steampacket proved a very popular act with the mod crowds, but proved difficult to get recordings published due to the previous contracts of members. A later CD of nine demos and rehearsals on Repertoire Records in 1989 was released long after the band split and four of the songs also appear on a double compilation called Rod Stewart 1964-1969 released in 1999. Anyone who only caught up with Rod’s later pop career may be surprised to see on those albums the names of Peter Green, Beryl Marsden, PP Arnold, Keith Emerson, John Paul Jones, Keith Richards, Ron Wood and Art Wood, and Mick Jagger for producing a track, named in the credits, as well as all the Steampacket members.

In 1966 Rod left to form a similar revue style team with Beryl Marsden, a Merseybeat blues belter, Peter Green, and Them organist Peter Bardens, called Shotgun Express.

John Baldry left soon after to join Bluesology with an unknown Elton John on piano. After that John moved out of character when tempted to record ballads like Let the Heartaches Begin which provided chart hits but alienated his former fanbase.

Julie (who had by then become a fashion icon too), Brian, and Vic Briggs regrouped Brian Auger and the Trinity before Briggs joined Eric Burden’s New Animals. In 1968 they scored a top 5 hit with Bob Dylan’s This Wheel’s on Fire, later revived as the theme tune of Absolutely Fabulous, the Jennifer Saunders and Joanna Lumley comedy series. After Shotgun Express, Rod joined old mate Ronnie Wood in the Jeff Beck Group in 1967 and then The Faces when Steve Marriott left, prompting a name change from Small Faces (as Rod and Ronnie were too tall to fit the job description for the original band name) before Rod went solo.

Shotgun Express As noted above, Shotgun Express were a similar revue style act like Steampacket that Rod formed in 1966. Peter Bardens had played keyboards with Van Morrison in Them, and already had the hub of the group on the road, known as Peter B’s Looners, which consisted of Dave Ambrose on

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drums and an early pairing of Peter Green on guitar and Mick Fleetwood on drums.

Besides Bardens on keyboards and vocals, Rod and Beryl Marsden were the two upfront vocalists. Beryl had already had a successful career in the Merseybeat era of her Liverpuddlian home town, but never pushed for commercial success like say fellow blues belter Lulu, and was always more of a cult figure. The band only lasted a year - a single, I Hear the World Turn Around, was a fine one. Well sung but also had violins added which did it no favours, as management failed to see where the fanbase was. It can still be found on the double compilation Rod Stewart 19641969. Peter Green was the first to leave when John Mayall asked him to replace Eric Clapton in the Bluesbreakers as Eric joined Cream. The band split in 1967. Beryl joined The She Trinity, Phil Sawyer joined The Spencer Davis Group, Dave Ambrose joined The Brian Auger team and Peter Bardens later formed the prog rock band Camel.

The Small Faces Another band that featured the Hammond organ as an integral part of their sound, but without brass horns like many Flamingo Club style jazzy R&B bands, were The Small Faces: not on their first single hit Wat’cha Gonna Do About It, which featured a few simple organ riffs from Jimmy Winston, but from then onwards when Ian McLagan, from the Muleskinners and also Boz People, replaced him. The group began in Ilford, then in Essex, before the GLC was created. Singer Steve Marriott, with his belting soulful voice had been a child star in the West End musical, Oliver, and also played guitar in the band.

He met Ronnie Lane, who was to be his co-writer for a lot of songs, while he was working in a record store in Manor Park. Ronnie was also to play bass and sing. Kenney Jones was the drummer. The band had not worked their way through the ranks of Blues Inc or the like, but listened to what had been going on and emerged as fresh talent, with eyes on commercial success. In the mod era too, a ‘face’ was a name for a character on the scene, and as they were all of short stature the name of the band needed little invention.

The commercial success hit an unforeseen stumbling block when the group were spotted by impresario Don Arden who signed them and had the first single released within four weeks of their formation. All of which they readily agreed to, before finding out about his exploitative style of management. The contract kept them on a low weekly wage, but Arden did open accounts for them in trendy Carnaby Street boutiques, so the boys took loads of clothes and sold them on. Later legal battles over record royalties carried on until 1996. On the plus side, Arden also set them on a trail of top ten hits. Their second single, I’ve Got Mine, by Marriott and Lane did not fare as well as their first so Arden employed professional writers, who came up with Sha-La-La-La-Lee, and oddly this profound lyric took them to number 3 in the charts. The first Small Faces titled album was a mix of commercial writing and self-penned songs. The next single Hey Girl reached number 10 in the charts, followed by a belting All or Nothing that reached www.issuu.com/itsyourmedia

number 1, knocking The Beatles off of the top slot.

At this point The Rolling Stones manager, Andrew Loog Oldham, helped to free the group from the Arden contract and signed then to his Immediate record label with a less punishing round of gigs. Arden released three more singles but the band did not promote them. Here Comes the Nice was their first single for Immediate, then Itchycoo Park reached number 2. It was a track from the celebrated psychedelic Ogdens’ Nut Gone Flake number 1 album. The following single The Universal was virtually a solo effort by Marriott that failed to chart and he soon left the band to join Peter Frampton in the group Humble Pie. Soon, after leaving The Jeff Beck Band, Rod Stewart and Ronnie Wood joined the remaining Small Faces causing the name change to just Faces, owing to their height. Ronnie Lane soon formed Slim Chance and took to the road with a financially disasterous show in a fairground marquee. There have been a partial Small Faces reunion from 1976-1978, with Marriott, and in 2009. But Marriott (1991), Lane (1997), and McLagan (2014) have now died along the way. Kenney Jones has kept a successful Jones Gang alive in the US. In 2017 a musical tribute All Or Nothing toured the country’s suburban theatres.

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Tile Kiln Corner - by Cllr Linda Mascot The sun shone on Friday 8th May as people ventured cautiously out into their front gardens in a socially distanced 75th anniversary celebration of VE Day. This was still a great occasion, but not as originally planned with street parties and social gatherings, instead people adhered to the 2 metre separation. In Robin Way and Linnet Drive, people brought their own afternoon tea picnics into their front gardens and chatted to neighbours over fences and hedges. Red white and blue bunting was festooned across lampposts, along hedges and around windows with colourful balloons and poppies. Others barbecued in their driveways and sang songs, with neighbours joining in.

These are a few photos that capture the occasion...

Back in January, Eric and Toni Tatum of Linnet Drive decided to sell goods at boot sales to fund a defibrillator for Great Baddow Bowls Club. With the present situation they have had to adapt their original plans and are selling goods on their driveway (with non-contact) payment and have so far raised ÂŁ400 towards their target of ÂŁ1,800.

They are happy to accept good quality donations as they are planning to carry on with their driveway sale for the foreseeable future.

Take care and stay safe. mascotlinda@gmail.com Twitter: @lindamascot

28

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Moulsham Lodge Community Trust Lockdown is slowing beginning to ease but its not making a difference to MLCT. We are still unable to use the Community Station and our volunteers are unable to do any work or fundraising.

The lockdown has meant a different ‘normal’ for everyone and the effect on each individual is different. Many people are enjoying the homeworking while others are not, and those who are not working for whatever reason have had to deal with not having a purpose each day and for many dealing with isolation as they cannot enjoy the day to day activities as before. Let’s hope its not long before more restrictions are lifted and we can start to safely meet up with family and friends, even if we have to continue to social distance.

This is Ruby, a guide dog puppy MLCT are now sponsoring.

It was an idea put forward at one of our usual Tuesday coffee mornings when someone suggested that for a donation of £1 each from the regular Copper Potters we could sponsor a puppy. One of our volunteers was a puppy walker last year and her dog Diesel could be seen regularly at the station during events. We had hoped to sponsor a further puppy, but the virus got in the way - it will be something we can look at doing once things are back as they should be.

With no income the trust is starting to struggle, so a number of the volunteers came up with the idea of an afternoon tea delivered to your door. The Moulsham Lodge Cream Teas were delivered on Bank Holiday Monday costing £8 each, or £15 for two. As this is the first attempt, we have restricted delivery to Moulsham Lodge and Tile Kiln to make sure we are able to meet all our orders. If this proves to be a success, we may look to do it again soon so keep your eyes peeled on our Facebook page or on the website so you can place your order with us.

The Most Important Question of Your Life American physicist Steven Weinberg said: “The more the universe seems comprehensible, the more it seems pointless.” COVID-19 has blown the comprehensible world that we thought we lived in completely out of the water. Who would have dared to imagine in January what life would be like in June?

Last month I spoke about hope, true hope that faces our fear of death and defeats it. That kind of hope is only found in Jesus Christ. Some might think that this is pure fantasy.

So this month, I want to think for a moment about the most important question of your life - the question of God. Our worldwide brush with our mortality forces such questions to the forefront: What will happen when I die? Does the atheist solution really stand up to proper examination? Will I meet God? If so, who is God, what is he like?

I doubt that there is a single one of us who hasn’t had some personal experience with COVID-19 - family, friend, colleague, or even ourselves. And I suspect that most of us, when we’re staring death in the face, as so many, will cry out to a higher power in prayer.

That is because in the midst of such deep-seated uncertainty and anxiety, when all we have previously relied www.issuu.com/itsyourmedia

on has disappeared, we seek an answer - an explanation.

We seek justice and security. Ultimately, we have discovered that humanity, as hard as we try, can’t provide the kind of answer, or security, or peace, or justice, that we’re longing for.

The question that we all face now is this: if death is much closer to me than I previously thought, what is going to happen after I die? You can avoid that question when times are good. You can even bury your head when times are bad. But in a crisis, you have to look at it face on.

So, Where Do You Start?

Churches have gone online - you can find your local one here, and see what they’re up to: www.findachurch.co.uk.

Got questions? Some excellent short videos seeking to answer lots of questions about God here: www.solas-cpc. org/shortanswers.

Do get in touch with me - my details are below.

Do You Have an Answer?

It’s the most important question of your life.

Tim Goodall Pastor, Tile Kiln Church tim.goodall@tilekilnchurch.org.uk

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The E39 Is So Fine! - by Simon Inglis The BMW E39 I recently bought and had delivered has really upturned my life. My other cars (and indeed household jobs) are being neglected during my out of work period.

I’m very impressed.

I paid a pittance really, as one does for a seventeen year old car. It’s no longer the festival of technology it was back in late 1995 of course, but it remains a beautifully balanced and serene cruiser that’s simply waiting for you to ‘press on.’

I’ve long advocated that we change cars too soon for no proper reason, and I’ve never been much interested in ordinary new cars. Mostly it’s the affordable and more interesting stuff produced by makers such as Mercedes or Saab and such that would get me looking seriously. Recently I came across a YouTube site in which alternatives from Auto Trader were compared with Britain’s cheapest car - the Dacia Sandero.

It was obviously an unfair comparison, as in most cases buyers looking at cars such as the Sandero won’t be considering the sub-£7,000 options on Auto Trader.

Yet I’m a person who does this. It’s been some years now since I was offered a company lease, so it’s my money when I buy a car. I am not keen on more taxes for a starter, so I don’t consider any new car as money well spent.

Further, as any high street accountant will tell you, new cars and indeed most used cars are a very expensive depreciating asset.

Without discussing ‘bangernomics’ in any detail, suffice to say it’s the economy of driving a car that has pretty much fully depreciated - why then do I mention and write of my new-to-me E39? For a start it’s no banger bought on a shoestring, well, not really. I paid about £2,000 for my 90,000 mile example in the old money used back in

Blighty. That’s almost $4,000 Aussie dollars and 150,000 kilometres on the odometer. For that, I have a completely rust-free and perfectly straight 2003 build BMW 530i.

For those in the know, that’s with the gorgeous straight six M54 motor capable of 250kph and zero to sixty in 7-8 seconds. The M54 is coupled to an old 5-speed automatic but is still capable of 30mpg. I know as I’ve now tested a few sprints in Sport mode and I’ve covered a touch over 1,000 kilometres in the past month, despite our fairly strict lockdown rules here in Victoria.

The build quality is simply astounding in this seemingly throwaway era. The wood veneer is still shiny, the grey leather is in superb condition and the cabin plastics feel as though they were built to outlive the drivers themselves.

With airbags everywhere and extremely powerful brakes one certainly feels safe. In addition, the car is smooth and quiet at cruise in a way that the E39s successors, with their run flat tyres were not.

The chassis was the basis of one of my favourite cars, the BMW E39 M5. Twenty years ago this was an astonishing family sedan that could keep pace with a Porsche 911.

Zero to sixty in 5 seconds may not be so special today, but the driver appeal isn’t lost with time.

I’m not a fan of modern BMWs really. Apart from the 2 Series there’s not much that I like. To me and to many more learned motor enthusiasts, the E39 was BMW’s high watermark, and I’d challenge anybody to find similar build quality and attention to detail in most modern cars.

So perhaps I’m getting old and my driving choices might suggest this. Yet apart from a few technological advances I’m wondering where we are going in our modern motoring choices. Perhaps people just don’t care about car design, beauty or quality as they jump from lease to lease in particular here in Australia.

Or God-forbid, Australia is truly on a rapid descent into its American-Ocker rock bottom… all I seem to notice is the depressing increase in SUVs and interesting cars being slowly withdrawn from the market place. The Kia Stinger for instance is barely selling. I find that beyond belief in a country in which American utility vehicles are mushrooming.

All pretty depressing stuff to me. So I’ve decided I’ll enjoy my 17 year old BMW and tidy up the few jobs that need doing. Such as a new infotainment screen update… did I mention that BMW was building such things into their cars back in the nineties?

If you know this then you’ll likely agree that today’s motorway fleet is indeed unkind on those of us who still love a nice motor…

Meanwhile, whatever your motoring taste, do continue to take care in these strangest of days.

30 www.moulshamtimes.com

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