Moulsham Times - March 2022

MoulshamTimes

Covering: Old Moulsham, Moulsham Lodge, Tile Kiln

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Issue Number 111 - March 2022

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MT Welcome Hi readers,

Welcome to the March edition of the Moulsham Times.

Remember that the clocks change this month, so lighter evenings are on their way!

Do let us know if you are planning a Platinum Jubilee street party, as we plan to list them in the issue before the double bank holiday.

Please do not hesitate to contact me using the details below if you wish to advertise your business or event in the April issue.

Regards

Honest & Professional Mortgage Advisors offering the following services: - First Time Buyers - Re-mortgages - Buy to Let Mortgages - Home Movers - New Builds (Help to buy) - Insurances

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Advertising & Editorial Paul Mclean 01245 262082/07595 949701 paul@moulshamtimes.com Disclaimer: It’s Your Magazines Ltd publish the Moulsham Times. The opinion expressed in each article is the opinion of its author and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of It’s Your Magazines Ltd. No part may be reproduced without the prior written permission of It’s Your Magazines Ltd. Reg Co No. 12080535. Printed by Warners (Midlands) PLC.

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Chelmsford - By Vicky Ford MP At the start of February, Ofgem announced the new energy price cap and it is clear this will have a significant impact on many household bills. The Government has announced new support to help - including an optional £200 soothing rebate for all households and a £150 cash rebate on Council Tax for those in Council Tax bands A-D. In the constituency of Chelmsford, 39,560 homes are band A-D and 9,710 are in band E-H. This means that nearly 40,000 household could be helped by the Council Tax Rebate.

A new voucher scheme from Essex County Council supported by Government funding, will allow those who may be struggling to use the vouchers to feed themselves and their families and keep warm this winter.

The vouchers, which can be redeemed at any post office, were posted out in early February to 3,900 adults in Essex who have known care and support needs. There are various ways in which other support is available and for which you may be eligible. More information is available here: www. essex.gov.uk/money-debt-and-benefits/emergency-money-and-food.

I have experienced for myself the overcrowding that many people in Chelmsford have been experiencing on the trains into London with the earlier reduction of the train timetable. Greater Anglia added on several trains from Monday 7th February, but this alone is not enough. I have written to them saying it is imperative they put on longer trains and look to restart the Chelmsford starter trains that begin their journey from our station.

Another important step has been achieved by replacing the Army and Navy flyover with the preferred hamburger style junction. I have received confirmation from the Minister for Roads that the Department has approved the scheme, and has made a contribution of £1.3M towards the development of a business case. The scheme can now progress to the next stage of development under the Major Road Network and Large Local Majors programme. I know that it is frustrating how long it takes it go through all the planning and funding stages, but this is going to be a junction for at least the next generation, so the detail is important. The Army and Navy Task Force combines elected representatives from all parties in Chelmsford, so it was good to have cross party backing.

Snapping the Stiletto

Campaigning for Equality is to hold two free events to celebrate International Women’s Day, which takes place on Tuesday 8th March 2022.

The first event is being held at the Beecroft Art Gallery in Southendon-Sea on Saturday 5th March 2022 from 10am - 4.30pm. The event will see speakers from across the arts and cultural communities attending, such as Rebekah Wallace Brown of Eye of Boudicca, writer and poet, Sophie Parkin, artist Lu Williams, science communicator and Snapping the Stiletto ambassador, Hephzi Tagoe, and author Syd Moore.

The event at Beecroft Art Gallery will also include a series of creative and practical workshops, such as Courage Calls to Courage Everywhere - How to Lead like a Feminist with Vinice Cowell, Reluctant Heroines with Leanna Larkin and Homeland is Presence

with Lora Aziz.

The second event will be held at The Art Place on Sunday 12th March 2022 in the High Chelmer Shopping Centre, Chelmsford, from 10am to 3pm.

Featuring two bookable workshops - stitching Wild Essex Women brooches with Juliet Lockhart and Copy and Paste with Heidi Sharp - the event will also celebrate the Homeland is Presence book, featuring a panel with project leader, Lora Aziz, activist and community co-ordinator, Vibha Obson and Amira, founder of Wanderlust Women - a Muslim women’s adventure and hiking group.

For more information, or to register your interest, please visit www. explore-essex.com/events.

Ask us about free editorial with long term bookings! paul@moulshamtimes.com 4 www.moulshamtimes.com

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MT Health: Common Questions for an Osteopath - By Chris at Forté Physical Health

Last month I had the honour of being a guest on Chelmsford Community Radio for drivetime with Michelle. We had a wonderful chat, and she asked lots of great questions about osteopathy, and I hope gave her listeners a better understanding of how osteopaths work.

However, because being on the radio is not something I do all too often, my brain was a bit scrambled and I didn’t always get the best answer out. One of the questions Michelle asked me was, ‘what’s the most common question you get asked as an osteopath?’ - this was a great opportunity for me to cover some of the biggest myths that are out there in the movement space, but I just garbled a rushed answer about how varied my job is, and because we treat all sorts of problems, we get all kinds of questions.

Having had some time to digest, I got thinking; what are the most common questions I get asked as an osteopath? And now that I have had plenty of time to think about it, here is what I should have said!

Should You Use Ice or Heat for an Injury?

This is a common one, and the consensus has changed recently. We used to think that using ice was best because cooling down the body blocks the production of inflammation. At first, this sounds like a good thing, but it’s assuming that inflammation is ‘bad’.

Inflammation can be painful, but it is an essential part of your healing response in acute episodes (meaning that they have recently occurred). Your immune system is busy working at fixing the problem, and a by-product of this is the production of inflammation. Using ice to slow down this process can slow your recovery.

What Sort of Pillow Should I Use? You’re going to hate my answer to this... Whatever pillow is comfortable! Unfortunately, there is not much good science about pillows. Whenever you see a Facebook advert showing a picture of someone with a perfectly aligned spine, don’t believe it. We move anywhere between 40 and 70 times a night (have a read of the book Why We Sleep - it’s fascinating!) and you won’t stay still no matter how expensive your pillow is - nor should you stay still. The brain is a fantastic piece of kit, and it has enough awareness to move us when we become uncomfortable, even when we’re asleep. We are all such unique beings and therefore have unique requirements for bedding and pillows, so find the one that works for you and don’t believe the hype in the Facebook ads.

Having said that, I have some patients that tell me that they have tried ‘everything’ and they can’t find a comfortable pillow. Well, unfortunately, in this case, it’s probably not the pillow’s fault but the fault of the neck! To these people I say, ‘fix your neck, then judge your pillow’. A daily exercise routine that gently stretches your neck will make you more adaptable to any pillow.

What Is the Best Sort of Office Chair?

Since lockdown, where more people work from home, I have been asked a lot about office chairs. This is an area where there is more research and I can be confident in my answer; the most important thing is not your chair, but how often you get up!

Your office chair needs to be ‘good enough’. Sitting on a dining chair all day - or worse, a sofa - will not do you any favours. But you don’t need to spend a fortune on a fancy chair. If you had a £3,000 Herman Miller chair but sat in it for 6 hours straight, that would still cause your body harm.

Research is flooding out explaining the adverse effects of sitting and the problems range further than just your muscles and joints. Too much sitting tightens and weakens your joints, but it also shifts your hormones and makes you store more fat. It even affects your brain and makes it harder to concentrate if you’ve been sitting too long!

My best advice is to get up regularly and move. On my YouTube channel (search ‘Chris Branch’ and you’ll find me), I have a video titled Undo the Effects of Sitting in 3 Minutes, which does what it says on the tin. A little 3-minute routine can be done standing by your office chair in regular clothes to reset the core and wake up the hips.

Give it a go!

So, if my brain wasn’t so scrambled while chatting to Michelle on the radio, that’s what I would have said; use heat instead of ice, if you can’t find a comfortable pillow do a daily neck stretch, and get up from that chair as often as you can.

As always, if you have any questions or just want to say hi, you can email info@fortephysicalhealth.co.uk. If you are in pain and need some help, have a look at our website at fortephysicalhealth.co.uk.

Until next time, have a healthy and happy month!

You want to let your body create the inflammation but then flush it away effectively. The two best things to help with this are heat and weight-bearing movement. Using a heat pad can open the blood vessels, allowing effective drainage of the area.

Deadlines for the April edition:

Movement has many benefits, but one of them is that it creates a pump mechanism to flush away swelling.

Articles - 21st March Print-ready artwork - 25th March

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Regal Kitchens - Case Study

Mr and Mrs K knew when they bought their new country home in Howe Green, Essex, that the kitchen was a priority to make their own. They went through the normal routes (high street showrooms and large nationwide companies etc) but could find neither a design that inspired, nor products that they would love.

Mr K had explained his situation to a work colleague who had recently used Regal Kitchens for his own renovation and couldn’t sing their praises highly enough, so that week they visited the Chelmsford showroom and instantly fell in love with their painted in-frame timber collection. Notoriously difficult to design, the clients still had concerns until designer John visited them at home and really started to understand the brief and helped them start to imagine the perfect design for their lifestyle.

The designer was bold enough to discuss removing a wall to give them more space and the island that their home deserved, this gave the clients more inspiration so a second showroom meeting was arranged for them to flesh out the design, colour palette and appliances to be included. Then following a survey carried out by our Installations Manager, they were booked in to start the project.

would really make this kitchen leap from the pages of any home interiors publication. The shade of Amtico flooring that the clients chose brings a warmth to the room which helps make this beautiful house a home.

Mr K says: “We have had a fabulous experience with Regal Kitchens.

Whether it was the time we spent in the showroom, or when John came to visit to help us design the kitchen, and particularly Roger who fitted the kitchen, they have been friendly, professional, helpful and just a pleasure to deal with. Ours was quite a big project which included removing a wall and putting in a steel beam. We wanted an island and John helped us find a way. We wanted a corner larder and we got that too.

“Our new kitchen is fantastic and I can’t recommend them highly enough. Thank you John, Stacey, Roger, Phil, Janice and Emma!”

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

Although many tradespeople were required, Regal Kitchens managed their teams expertly, on time and on budget, whilst the clients moved into an Airbnb to avoid the upheaval when the structural works were being undertaken.

Although Mr and Mrs K loved the darker in-frame furniture with the black Sensa granite (which contains special stain-resistant protection and no sealing, ie low maintenance), after consultation with the designer they concluded that making a lighter run of furniture under the window with contracting worktop would soften the dominant darker doors. It was decided to do the opposite on the island to give the already rich colour kitchen extra depth.

Extra details such as internal cabinet lighting, black Quooker kettle tap, external plinth on the island and panelling over the support wall 8

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70 Years and an ‘MBE’!

A local charity recently celebrated two amazing milestones - its platinum jubilee and the receipt of the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service.

City of Chelmsford Mencap, based in Mildmay Road, supports people with a learning disability and their carers across mid-Essex and offers services including lifelong learning, advice and advocacy.

CCM received its Queen’s Award - the MBE for voluntary groups - in recognition of its long tradition of innovation. Forced to close its premises at the start of the pandemic, the charity created an online Virtual Academy and additional support services within three weeks.

Since Mencap Centre reopened, CCM has risen to the challenge of funding and running both in-person and virtual services, at a time its fundraising streams have been decimated by pandemic restrictions.

Chair of Trustees, Anthony North, said: “The support of our volunteers, local businesses and community groups like Rotary clubs and New City Girls WI, have helped us immensely during this challenging time.

While restrictions are being lifted in public places, care settings like ours need to keep measures in place as our service users are clinically vulnerable. So, we are continuing to recruit volunteers and bank staff to help us sustain our much-needed services.”

Services Manager, Grace Lidstone, added: “We have lots of great volunteering opportunities, whether based at home supporting our online activities, volunteering at our centre-based services, or helping with admin and fundraising. Volunteers are a valuable part of our CCM family and they have lots of fun working with our fabulous service users!”

01245 268 303 www.cityofchelmsfordmencap.org.uk

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MT Gardening

Other than the biting cold recently, it looks like spring is just round the corner; a myriad of bulbs flowering, catkins fully opening on hazel trees and various other trees and shrubs displaying their blossom.

With the garden in hand for the time being, I’m spending time looking through my pots and tubs to just ensure they are all spruced up and ready for the rest of the year.

Gardening with containers is an increasingly popular, versatile type of gardening suitable for indoors or outdoors. Containers may be used to enliven buildings and areas of hard landscaping, provide seasonal change, or offer a growing environment to suit plants that grow well in conditions that cannot be offered in the garden.

Containers are a good way to experiment with planting combinations, can provide an instant effect and may be rearranged to give dynamic interest to specific areas, either to disguise or as a focal point. The choice of shape, style and material of containers helps to establish or reinforce the style of a garden.

Plants tend to do better in larger containers where there are greater reserves of water and

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nutrients and there is less temperature variation.

Siting Containers • Site containers where they will not be a tripping hazard, and where they cannot topple over. Consider securing containers to, or within, a permanent structure.

• Safe and convenient access for maintenance is essential.

• Place containers away from wind tunnels, for instance between buildings.

• Consider the effects of radiant heat from paving and buildings.

This may help to over winter a plant of borderline tenderness, but will also increase evapotranspiration.

• Containers often look most effective when grouped together.

Growing Media • Specially formulated container composts contain controlled release fertilisers and water-retaining gels, but these may also be added to standard composts.

• Soil-less composts are lightweight, an important consideration for a balcony or roof terrace.

• Note that soil-less composts are difficult to re-wet if they dry out completely though.

• Permanent plantings may benefit from soil-based composts, such as John Innes No. 3, which retain water and nutrients well, maintain their structure, and are easier to re-wet.

• Heavier soil-based composts aid stability if growing tall plants which are prone to blowing over.

Plant Choice • Seasonal planting is relatively easy to manage provided plants are fed and watered regularly.

• Permanent planting, or a mixture of permanent and seasonal planting, may offer opportunities to grow plants with specific requirements, eg, ericaceous plants or alpines.

• Plants of similar vigour should be selected to ensure a balanced display.

• Combine plants with different colours, texture, form and habit or use several plants of one species to create a visually interesting display.

• Trees • Pruning • Hedges • Roots Removed • Topping • Patios Maintenance • In addition to the incorporation of controlled release fertiliser • Rotovating • Turfing • Fencing • Garden Design • Decking at planting, plants may be given a dilute feed during the • Block Paving • Tar & Shingle • Guttering • Chimney Repairs growing season if growth is slow. A balanced feed is suitable for • Building Work• Roofing • Fascias & Soffits • Drainage solutions •

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permanent or foliage plants, but a high potassium feed such as tomato food is best for floral displays.

Regular and sufficient watering is essential if plants are to flourish in containers. Water daily, or twice daily in hot weather - preferably in the evening - and consider a timed trickle or drip irrigation system.

Dead-head regularly to promote flowering, and remove damaged leaves and shoots.

Monitor pests and diseases and treat promptly. Closely planted containers are particularly prone to fungal diseases in wet weather.

Re-pot permanent plantings, or replace the top few centimetres of compost annually.

Permanent Planting • Bamboos and tall grasses are good for exposed sites.

• Camellias and rhododendrons grow and flower well in containers.

• Trees such as Acer palmatum, box (Buxus sempervirens), bay (Laurus nobilis), birch (Betula spp.) and fruit trees such as cherry and fig are all suitable for container growing.

• Alpines and rock plants such as house leeks (Sempervivum spp.) are good for shallow pots and pans and require little maintenance.

• Evergreens such as Euonymus fortunei ‘Emerald Gaiety’ provide year-round interest.

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Spring Interest Planting • Evergreens such as Hedera helix ‘Silver Queen’ are a good foil for other plants, and Bergenia cordifolia has the bonus of early spring flowers.

• Crocus, daffodil and tulips are colourful and may be planted in layers to flower in succession, • Polyanthus and pansies are inexpensive and flower over a long period, Attractive stems of Salix babylonica ‘Tortuosa’ and Cornus alba ‘Sibirica’ provide an interesting vertical feature.

Summer Interest Planting • Flowering prolifically, plants such as petunia, pelargonium and fuchsia, give a long season of interest.

• Foliage plants such as Helichrysum petiolare vary colour, form

• •

and texture, and provide an attractive foil for other plants.

Drought tolerant plants such as Lavandula spp. and Echeveria spp. are lower maintenance than many bedding plants Exotic plants such as Musa spp. and Canna indica are good for creating a contemporary or tropical style.

Lastly, check out this link for further jobs for the garden as we move through March: www.rhs.org.uk/advice/in-month/march.

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

Upcoming Events and Dog Waste Bin By Cllr Marie Goldman There’s something about the month of March that lifts my spirits. The days are getting noticeably longer and the evenings are about to get even lighter when the clocks bounce forward at the end of the month, and it’s officially the start of spring - both meteorological and astronomical. What’s not to love?

So as many of us start to look forward to warmer and hopefully less windy weather than we’ve seen in recent weeks, I thought it would be nice to look forward to a few of the things that are coming up in the months ahead.

May - RideLondon Comes to Essex Sunday 29th May 2022 sees RideLondon come to Chelmsford with a brand new format and route. RideLondon-Essex 100 is a brand new 100-mile ride, which will set off from Victoria Embankment in London and take in lots of places in Essex, including Chelmsford and Writtle as well as various other local villages. Find out more here: www. ridelondon.co.uk/our-rides/ridelondon-essex-100.

As usual, feel free to get in touch if you have any local council-related issues you need help with.

Keep well and enjoy the extra daylight.

Cllr Marie Goldman cllr.marie.goldman@essex.gov.uk Deputy Leader, Chelmsford City Council City Councillor for Moulsham & Central County Councillor for Chelmsford Central

June - Creamfields South With one thing and another, it’s been quite a few years since we’ve seen a major festival come to Hylands Park, but from 2nd to 4th June, I am absolutely delighted that Creamfields South will be making its debut appearance in our city. The line-up includes some very well-known names, such as Fatboy Slim and David Guetta. I see that even Idris Elba is on the list (could he have been announced as the next James Bond by then, I wonder…). Whether you’re a fan of music festivals or not, this is a positive boost for Chelmsford, putting it back on the national festival map, and bringing much-needed income into the city. I just hope the weather holds out for it. More information here: creamfieldschelmsford.com.

July - 3foot People and Fling Festivals July should hopefully see the return of the much-loved 3foot People Festival and - completely at the other end of the spectrum - the adults-only bonanza that is Chelmsford’s own Fling Festival. Plans are still being firmed up, but watch this space for updates.

And finally… What article would be complete without a quick update on some local activity that I’ve been up to as your local councillor? Of course, there have been the usual meetings, casework, streetlights and potholes to deal with, but a little victory to announce is the addition of a new dog waste bin installed by the City Council’s fabulous K9 team near the Princes Road entrance to John Shennan Playing Field. Thank you to the resident who first raised this with me.

Hopefully, it will be helpful to all dog walkers in the area.

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Nick Garner’s Music & Ramblings This is spring now they say, I’m not so sure - I hope that is the end of the storms for us. I was lucky as I just ended up with a fence post that needs replacing, but I know many who were not so lucky. I have seen a car under a tree that looks crushed and it’s sad for many who have been without power. All of the services have all been doing an amazing job and that includes power, fire, rescue, ambulance as well as all the tree surgeons and the police and council services as well.

The Government have now lifted all restrictions, so it is down to us to be sensible. I will still be wearing my masks.

I am noticing events of all types looking to go ahead now, that includes the Tendering Show which is a great country day out - if you have not been before I can highly recommend it for you and your family. In South Woodham Ferrers, what was once Tropical Wings is now Call of the Wild, and by all accounts it is great. Of course, we cannot forget RHS Hyde Hall who also host a lot of events throughout the year. If you search online or look at our What’s On guide in the City Times you will find a lot more listed there.

see who else is playing soon, see our advert in this magazine.

I also just heard that Frank Turner did a secret gig at Hot Box; I wish Dave had let me know as I would have gone along! It is also the time for our annual Panic Awards, which will have been and gone by the time this comes out, I wonder if we will win anything again..?

I went to the Thursday weekly jam at the The Swan in Hatfield Peverel recently and got to blow some harmonicas which was fun.

I have also been to the Saturday afternoon Blues at Barleylands to see my mate Alan Glen (Nine Below Zero and The Yardbirds) with his band, Blues Puppies. They were a lot of fun - and boy, they are all really good players. They are so good that I have booked one of their other acts, Supernatural, for Friday 1st.July. They play early Peter Green from his John Mayall and early Fleetwood Mac days. The band are Alan Glen (harmonicas and vocals), Tim Hain (guitar and vocals), Robin Bibi (guitar and vocals) and Greg Kofi Brown (bass and vocals, and the band Osibisa). I’m not sure who is drumming yet. We have Bex Marshall and her band also playing and Bex will also join Supernatural on stage for a couple of numbers.

Let’s hope that life continues to improve I know we have to keep an eye on what is happening in the east. I do feel for all the innocent people who get caught up in this kind of thing.

I live in Old Moulsham and am pleased to see the variety of wildlife in my garden, it’s mainly birds, but I have had a very healthy looking fox as well. I would also love to see hedgehogs in the garden. I have my feeders out now and water for the wildlife and have planted plants to encourage bees and butterflies as well.

Music The Eagle and Hind in Moulsham Lodge recently had the One Tree Hillbillies play on 7th February - and they are due back on Monday 21st March. It all starts at 8.15pm and is free. One Tree Hillbillies are great and they are so entertaining.

We are really getting going now at the Chelmsford Social Club with Black Frog Presents events. A couple of Fridays ago we had Los Pacaminos with Paul Young play along with Borderline Music opening.

Both bands were superb and you could see both the audience and the bands had a great time.

Stony Road The other weekend I went to the Broadstairs Blues Bash in Kent for two days. I got to see a lot of old mates and made some new friends as well. I was lucky to get invited to stand in with Robin Bibi, Bex Marshall and the Jan Jackson Trio. l also got to play at Wired, the open mic session. Overall, I managed to see some old friends play and some great new acts as well. The weather was not so good on the Sunday as we had that second storm which was not too great, but I made it home safely.

Remember if you have anything you think that could be of interest to our readers (it maybe an event or a topic of interest) for either publication then let us know at editorial@itsyourmedia.co.uk. Have you done anything unusual this year or are you planning something?

If so, we want to know about it! Do you or know of someone who may wish to advertise with us? Please ask them to contact ads@ itsyourmedia.co.uk and we can send over the full details.

Jevon and I with Eric Bell and his band

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

I am just getting ready to put on Eric Bell, the man who formed Thin Lizzy and played the amazing guitar on Whisky in the Jar. Our very own Stony Road will be opening on the night.

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

Due to Covid the show on 5 March with Howie Casey, Beatles with Wings and the 251s has had to be postponed. A new date will be announced soon.

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

We have just had a change to the special guests for Kokomo, special guests will now be Missfunktion who are Joshua Graham, Hilary Cornell and Abraham, so a great opening act I think you will agree. To 12

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Please quote M&S

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13

Cycle the Countryside for Local Hospice Care This May Bank Holiday

An Essex based hospice charity is calling cyclists to grab their bikes and use pedal power to raise vital funds towards its care this May. Havens Hospices’ Cycle the Countryside, sponsored by Edmund Carr, will take place on Sunday 1st May starting and finishing in Admirals Park in Chelmsford, offering people a choice of three circular routes of 15, 35 and 50 miles through the beautiful local countryside.

The event is suitable for all people of all abilities - those wanting to enjoy a relaxing and scenic bank holiday bike ride, or for more competitive and experienced teams from cycling clubs.

All funds raised will help the charity continue to provide more specialist nursing and supportive care to children, young people and their families living with complex or incurable conditions across Essex, like Harry...

13 year old Harry from Chelmsford was diagnosed with Leigh’s Syndrome, a type of mitochondrial disease in 2010. His family have been visiting Little Havens children’s hospice for respite breaks since 2014. His mum Lucy said: “Whenever we visit the hospice, we all have such an amazing time. For me, Little Havens is to spend quality time with my children without the stresses and strains that having a child with complex needs brings.

“At Little Havens I know Harry is being cared for, I don’t have to think about things like cooking and I can spend time looking after myself and his sisters. It’s really hard to put into words what coming to Little Havens means to us, but the time we spend there is so precious and needed for our family.”

Online registration is open until 28th April 2022 and costs £20 for adults and £10 for children under 16. Registration on the day costs £25 for adults and £12 for children.

To sign up, visit www.havenshospices.org.uk/cycle.

This year’s sponsors and Chelmsford accountancy firm, Edmund Carr, will be recruiting a team of cyclists for May’s event to support the charity, so it can continue to care for more families who rely on Havens Hospices’ care after its income took a hit during the pandemic.

Stewart Martin at Edmund Carr said: “Edmund Carr are delighted to be associated with Havens Hospices in the forthcoming Cycle the Countryside event. As a firm, we have a long history of supporting local charities and a cycle ride is something new for us. We will be encouraging our staff members, friends and families to join in and by taking part, we hope to be able to make a real difference for the charity.

“It’s very important for us all to make time to do things for others and by sponsoring and taking part in the event, Edmund Carr hope to raise as much money as possible to help the hospices continue its much needed services to the community.”

14 www.moulshamtimes.com

The Panic Awards We were very proud to have four nominations in this years Panic Awards: Best Radio Show category; Essential Anthems, City Talk, Ovation and Shakey’s Sessions - If you’ve not heard of these before, here’s a quick round up:

and have a comment or suggestion for our team, then please do get in touch.

City Talk is a chat show mixed with music. Host Nita has a wide range of guests from the local community to discuss many different topics which may be of interest to the people of Chelmsford. Tune in on Mondays at 8pm.

Essential Anthems is exactly that. A two hour trip into the fantastic world of old school house and rave classics hosted by experienced DJ Tony Knight. You can hear him every Saturday from 4pm - 6pm Ovation is all about musical theatre and full of great showtunes both classic and modern, plus Ian Gilbert brings in guests to talk about all things performing arts, covering amateur and professional productions, from the local area to the West End scene.

Shakey’s Sessions is one of our regular weekly programmes which showcases a mix of unsigned and local acts hosted by Chelmsford based promoter Shakey. You can listen in every Tuesday from 8pm.

Please also feel free to pop in to the @RadioCaféChelmsford inside Moulsham Mill. The café helps raise funds to keep our station on the air and is open Monday - Saturday from 9am - 4pm.

Have a great month - see you soon.

104.4FM in Chelmsford and online at www. chelmsfordcommunityradio.com

To read this magazine and the City Times online, go to www.issuu.com/itsyourmedia

Give yyrself a eat and visit...

Army & Navy

Paul Dupree from Transmission on CCR won the Outstanding Contribution award for his many years of hard work in the local music scene; a well deserved award!

P a r k Radio w Cafe a B&M y Aldi

Well done to all of our shows that received a nomination this year, to Paul on his award, and to the organisers of the Panic Awards for a brilliant night out.

We have a great selection of other shows which go out weekly or monthly on Chelmsford Community Radio. Full details of our schedule is on the home page of our website at www. chelmsfordcommunityradio.com. Also keep an eye on our social media pages by searching ‘@ChelmsfordCR’ for details of forthcoming guests. If you are part of our community in Chelmsford

Located inside Moulsham Mill (Parkway, CM2 7PX)

Enjoy a delicious range of hot and cold snacks and drinks whilst supporting a great local cause!

chelmsfordcommunityradio.com

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15

Do you need a new website?

Here is a recent one designed and built for one of our customers

We also design and supply: business cards flyers roller banners brochures In fact, almost anything that is printed!!

£325

16 www.moulshamtimes.com

out today...

Hi everyone. I hope none of you have been blown away and that the items in your garden stayed in close proximity. As I write this they are forecasting more high winds this afternoon and I have to go out delivering The City Times - I’ve just come in from the garage with some heavy weights on my legs. I will give you a wave if you see me flying along Moulsham Street - or perhaps I won’t go

I don’t know that I should keep going on about the new Highway Code - my mate John says I’m letting it get to me. I will just make one point: I have been tracking what happens when I try to cross a side road.

You know, where the motorists have to give way now. Some motorists (well three) seemed to know what was going on and let me across.

Many others didn’t, the worst case being when I was trying to cross a road that joins a roundabout, the driver did not indicate and certainly didn’t have any intention of stopping. I did call out to him, in a friendly manner, well not very friendly, but he was not bothered. The thing is, if I just go for it and step off the pavement, on average how long will my hospital stay last? That’s it. No more on that...

We decided not to travel back from the caravan site at Henley on Friday, returning on Thursday instead with no incidents - the right decision I think. We had a good time though; bit wet but it’s a lovely town, as is Marlow just down the road (see photos).

Another story tells of a pet pig that visited his owner in a care home in West Sussex. “He is much more friendly than most dogs I have had...” his owner said. The owner seemed very fond of him, and said his name is Blanket... A bit mean that one, especially at Christmas.

As I write this, we have come to freedom day, the day when most of the Covid restrictions are no longer a legal requirement. There seems to be mixed feelings about this, some thinking it’s good, others not so good. I think some people are misunderstanding the situation.

This does not mean you cannot wear a mask or self isolate it you get Covid, it just means that it is not a legal requirement. If you want to wear a mask, then fine. I think I will continue to wear one in small enclosed spaces, just for a few more weeks, but that’s my personal choice. The main thing is that we are heading for a much better position in the foreseeable future.

I found it interesting that during lockdown when we were able to meet outside with social distancing, all the conversations seemed to graduate towards talking about programmes on Netflix and the like. I realised that as we were all indoors and not going out, there seemed to be little else to talk about once the moans about the situation were exhausted. It makes me wonder what we would have discussed if the pandemic had occurred before box sets were available.

I like the fact that modern vehicles have loads of technology in them.

Having said that, I still can’t find many radio stations on my in-van audio system. However, the more gadgets, the more that can go wrong. That’s a bit of a half glass empty outlook, but still. Recently, we had just joined the A12, when the tyre pressure warning light came on telling me that the offside rear tyre had a problem with air pressure. I stopped in a layby as soon as I could and checked the wheel. I say checked, I looked to see if the tyre looked the same as the other three. Very high tech eh? I restarted and the same message came up, so I was about to turn round and go home - that’s where my new pressure gauge was sitting: in the kitchen. Yes, I know it should be in the van! Hindsight and all that.

Two more things on animals in the news. The first is the claim by students that they have, what they say, is the tallest mallard duck in the world, a bit of a wild claim if you ask me. It appears that it is actually a cross between a mallard and an Indian runner which is much taller (any relation to the Road Runner? Beep beep!). He is called Long Boi...what? After recent reports of a clever duck playing a piano and so on I would not have been surprised if it was claimed that this one played for the Harlem Globetrotters basketball team.

I feel I should check it out, as apparently he has his own Instagram account. Yes, that’s what they said. I must get his ‘handle’ (or what ever his contact details are called) to check it out.

That’s when technology came into its own. iPhone out, nearest Kwik Fit is Brentwood. I called and an extremely helpful chap said bring it along, giving me directions. They took off the offending wheel, checked it out, no problem. Checked all the other wheels and within twenty minutes, we were back on our journey. They didn’t even charge me. Well done Kwik Fit Brentwood, fantastic service.

Bin End Chuckles This month, from my ‘one liner’ consultant, John.

Have you heard about the new corduroy pillows? They’re making headlines...

Heard about the baguette at the zoo? It’s being bread in captivity...

Enjoy the new ‘normal’ and stay well.

Remember to tell our advertisers you saw their advert in the MT

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17

Springtime Springtime wakes from slumber with a vibrant swirl of grace Her energy and colour etched upon her smiling face She gathers her paint palette and sets off across the skies The joy in her endeavour sparkling brightly in her eyes The sunshine yawns and stretches as springtime soars above the trees Sending forth a burst of gold amongst the warming, gentle breeze In flecks of pinks and blues and yellows, the bulbs and buds appear The butterflies and birds applaud, the busy bees all cheer!

The tulips and the daffodils, resplendent in their shades Watch in awe as leaves return to trees in emeralds and jades The fruit-tree blossoms speckled in their white and coral hues Provide a complementary contrast to the bluebell carpet blues Springtime’s rainbow palette replaces winter’s whites and greys She brings the promise of the warmer sun and longer, brighter days.

By Rosie Waspe www.personalpoems.co.uk

18 www.moulshamtimes.com

Hummingbird Pilates: Pilates to Help Your Posture - By Erica Foulds

(No books are balanced on your head here...)

Posture: it isn’t deportment, it isn’t how tall you walk, and it isn’t just the upper body! Posture is how our full natural ‘S’ shaped spine is held (profile view neck, to shoulders, to lower back and tail bone) correctly - or not correctly - by itself.

An optimum position is where there is no stress on the skeleton, spine and joints such as shoulders and knees and where movement is efficient and pain free. Typically we think of ‘bad posture’ as being where our shoulders over time droop forward because we ‘forget to sit up right’. This is certainly one component, eventually in some serious cases ending in a irreversible hump on the back of the shoulders.

Exaggerated curves of the spine such as rounded shoulders causes the whole upper body to work ineffectively, can trap nerves and puts stress on the muscles around the neck, where typically pain is then felt around the top/back of shoulders. Posture isn’t laziness, it is very often not even something we notice until the pain and headaches set in from the stress of your shoulder shape, but by this point the muscles are so used to being in this droop its feels impossible to correct, but often it is far from too late!

Having worked with dozens of individuals who come to pilates referred to us by a doctor with pain where there doesn’t seem to be an obvious cause, I’ve seen how often that simple shift in mechanics from habit has made a joint (shoulder, hip or knee) work out of alignment.

Most of us have a dominant arm or leg when we do activities during our day - for example, preferred writing hand, an arm that uses the mouse more, a leg you step up and down with, a side you lean in to while waiting in a shopping queue so the other side typically gets weak over time. Where there is simply weakness or imbalance in one side, mild pain even, it is often correctable. It is a case of retraining the brain to use both sides with daily exercises and stretches. Pilates is perfect for this, we work on improving natural alignment in every class.

Sometimes trauma is the cause to less optimal posture, for example, whiplash or spine problems (scoliosis or disc disruption). In these cases physiotherapy can help. A C-section after a heavy baby bump causing back pain for months is an instance where lower core strength and middle to lower back posture is usually the focus.

Recently, a lady came to me having fallen out of a loft injuring her shoulder. Rehab didn’t seem to give relief so she was trying ‘anything and everything’ and she was unable to work due to severe pain. We discovered she had a significant level of hypermobility (the clinical term for the someone who may be double-jointed or has too much movement at a joint - in this case the shoulders). In fact, she had weakness at both shoulders and looseness of the shoulder socket which may have been causing poor posture for years. The accident, and time with me looking at her spine and mechanics in depth, allowed me to notice her muscles were simply all working incorrectly.

8 weeks later she managed a 60 minute class and can now hold body weight on her arms and has returned to work. Importantly, she is now more optimistic, happy and in less pain!

These 4 exercises are simple for every day upper body posture maintenance but there are many more: Chin Tuck: Think double chin, your head may be dropped too forward putting strain on the neck muscles, so sit upright and give yourself a double chin slowly (repeat x10). Or lay on your front hands by your sides on the floor, double chin in this position against gravity is a great version.

Shoulder Retractions/Chest Opener: Stand upright, reach hands down to floor, palms forward, pull arms backwards past hips pinching your shoulder blades together (repeat x10). Or laying on your front palms to floor hover arms from floor pinching between shoulder blades (repeat x10).

Swan (basic): Lay face down elbows/forearms under shoulders, peel chest and ribs up from floor, hold for 1 breathe then lower (repeat x10).

Hummingbird Pilates Yoga in Writtle has loved seeing all the new faces this year with our unlimited £45 first month offer. That’s for any classes, instructors, studio or Zoom options for every class, any time!

For more detail on how we could help your posture and details on our classes, visit our website where you can browse our schedule for studio and Zoom sessions and can book and pay online too. Email us at info@hummingbirdpilatesyoga.co.uk, or call 01245 422 556 to get started.

See you on the mat soon.

Erica xx

Grove Road Evangelical Church Our church is known as an evangelical church. Some of you may be wondering, what does it mean to be an evangelical?

A fair question! It’s not a word that is used as part of everyday conversation. When it does get used by the media it is often in the context of American politics. Evangelicals are said to hold certain political views. For example, being an evangelical meant being a supporter of President Trump.

However, the word evangelical goes back way before President Trump, and before the USA even existed as a nation. It goes back to a time when it was a word that was part of everyday language, and it meant something that was definitely positive rather than negative.

It refers simply to something that is good news. Now we all like good news rather than bad news, don’t we!

An evangelical church is one that focusses on good news - good news in a world often full of bad news. To be an evangelical church means we want others to hear about this good news rather than having to live in the belief that there is only bad news. We believe that this good news is centred on Jesus, on who he is, on what he did, on what he teaches.

We believe this good news is based on reality: that is, it is based on truth, on facts, on evidence - and not on imagination, on fantasy, on myth.

If you would like to discover more of the reality of good news that comes through knowing Jesus, then why not come and join us at one of our services and find out more? We meet Sunday mornings at 11am, Sunday evenings at 6pm, and Friday lunchtimes at 1.15pm.

Philip Loose, Pastor Grove Road Evangelical Church (Behind Tesco Express, Moulsham Street) www.grecuk.co.uk pastor@grecuk.co.uk

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MT History: Zeppelins, Essex and Bratwurst - By Henri Lewi

Terror from the air is a fairly recent phenomenon of modern warfare and most people think of the bombing campaign over London during WWII known as the Blitz was one of the earliest campaigns, but the fact is, that aerial bombardment of not only London but other parts of England had occurred some 25 years earlier during the WWI (19141918).

Beginning in early 1915 the Imperial German Air Service carried out 51 raids over the United Kingdom using airships known as Zeppelins as part of a bombing and terror campaign. The airship, a creation of Count von Zeppelin (a retired German army officer), was a lighterthan-air flying weapon, filled with hydrogen and held together by a steel framework.

Flying at over 11,000 feet, these gas filled airships flew almost silently over England well above the ceiling of contemporary British fighter planes. Over 650 feet long with a crew of 22 and filled with highly flammable hydrogen, these airships were susceptible to incendiary devices and highly dangerous to the crew if they failed to land safely.

The first air raid over England took place on the 19th of January 1916 with further Zeppelin raids continuing until May 1917, when these highly vulnerable airships were replaced by the long range twin engine Gotha bomber. This first air raid by two airships was designed to attack targets in the Humber Estuary, but failed due to strong winds blowing the airships off course resulting in the two Zeppelins dropping their bombs on Sheringham, Kings Lynn and Great Yarmouth. Over the next 30 months numerous Zeppelin raids were carried out on London and south east England as well as attempted raids on Liverpool, Tyneside, and other coastal areas.

Whilst the damage inflicted by the Zeppelin air raids is inconclusive, nevertheless they inflicted a significant number of casualties, and it is

estimated that over 500 civilians were killed and in excess of 1,000 injured as a consequence of the Zeppelin raids.

Although these figures are dwarfed by the losses incurred during the 1914-18 conflict and the Blitz ombing campaign of 1940-41, this was a completely new type of warfare primarily directed against the civilian population. To counter these raids, the Government proposed building a series of airfields between Dover and Edinburgh at 30-mile intervals. One such airfield built in response to the Zeppelin air raids was sited at Stow Maries, which became operational in May 1917 as part of the air defence of Britain.

Whilst the Zeppelin threat had by this time receded, aircraft from the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) Home Defence Squadrons were deployed against the newer Gotha long range bombers of the Imperial German Air Service, with B flight of the 37(HD) Squadron operating out of Stow Maries Airfield. Despite the fact that Stow Maries Airfield became operational in 1917, a number of airfields had already become active by early 1916 and 19 Squadron RFC, later renamed 39 Home Defence Squadron, was allocated to the air defence of London in April 1916. The defensive aircraft of 39 Squadron were divided between Suttons Farm (later RAF Hornchurch), Hainault Farm (later RAF Fairlop) and North Weald (later RAF North Weald), all sited in Essex.

Over the night of 23rd/24th September, 12 Zeppelins crossed the North Sea intending to bomb London. Flying over Essex they were met by heavy anti-aircraft fire in their approach to the capital and they dropped their bombs over Essex. Two of this flight were shot down with one of the Zeppelins (numbered L32) being destroyed by a plane from 39 Squadron based at Suttons Farm, Hornchurch.

Zeppelin L32 was spotted flying over Essex by Lieutenant Frederick Sowery who destroyed the airship over Great Burstead near Billericay.

The incendiary bullets he fired in his attack caused an explosion in the highly flammable hydrogen that filled the balloon of the airship.

The crew of L32 who all perished were subsequently buried in Great Burstead churchyard.

The second airship numbered L33 and commanded by Kapitanleutenant Alois Bocker, was severely damaged by the antiaircraft barrage in the approach to London and failing to reach the Essex coast had to make an emergency crash landing at Little Wigborough in North Essex, with the commander and his crew surrendering to the police (well, a Special Constable at least!).

Whilst the Zeppelin raids caused panic and inflicted damage and injury in England, their manufacture in Germany forced the German population to forgo their Bratwurst. The airship balloons were made from cow’s intestines which provided the outer skin of a German sausage, and it is said that the Kaiser’s agents and police monitored the butchers throughout Germany to ensure that the sausage production was carefully controlled with all sausage skins diverted for the production of Zeppelins.

Are you having a Platinum Jubilee street party in June?

Email me at paul@moulshamtimes.com and we will list all the streets in the May edition 20

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21

www.chelmsfordcivicsociety.co.uk info@chelmsfordcivicsociety.co.uk The aims of Chelmsford Civic Society is to stimulate public interest in, and appreciation and care of, the history, appearance and character of Chelmsford.

• The preservation of buildings Recent Highlights • History and architecture Ongoing campaign - uses for the Shire Hall • River banks, parks and trees Organisers of Heritage Open Days for the city • Future planning and land use Marconi Scandal talk with Hugh Pym • Transport, road and car parking Up and coming Talks/Trips • Recycling and litter disposal AGM talk with the Dean of the Cathedral • Passionate about historical Trip to the Secret Nuclear Bunker interest and planning matters If you would like to join Chelmsford Civic Society please visit our web site www.chelmsfordcivicsociety.co.ukwhere you can download a membership form.

Charity No. 271779

22 www.moulshamtimes.com

What if the Number on the Scales Does Lie? - By Ola Adamolekun

The scales don’t lie. That’s a really common saying - but what if they do? Last week I was talking to a group of ladies in my Wellfit exercise programme, and we inadvertently started to talk about body composition (we have a monthly weigh-in, that was what prompted it). One of the ladies mentioned that muscles weigh more than fat (muscle is definitely denser than fat). This got me thinking and prompted me to write this article.

So, you might be slightly overweight and store fat just under your skin. Or you may appear to be the ideal weight, but you are storing fat around your organs - there is actually a name for this: Thin on The Outside, Fat on The Inside or TOFI (or skinny fat).

Most of us just hop on the scales and have a look at the number which is a good indication of overall weight gain or loss, but doesn’t tell us about our health. There are a number of different ways to measure body composition, but the cheapest are as follows: 1.

2.

• • • •

So, what is body composition? According to dietdoctor.com, ‘Body composition refers to the amount of fat, muscle, bone and water that contributes to your total weight’. Most of the time, when we say we want to lose weight, what we are actually saying is that we want to lose fat. That’s because when we’re overweight, our body is carrying too much fat.

Measuring your waist circumference (what can be easier?). As long as you know how tall you are, you can do this at home. So, measure your waist and divide the number by your height. A waist to height ratio of 0.5 is good, anything over 0.5 then you should do something about it - come and see me!

Body composition scales - these are scales with sensors that can tell you what is going on inside your body. Here some of the things that they will tell you: Obviously, your weight.

The amount of visceral fat you have - that is fat around your organs.

The amount of lean muscle mass you have.

Your body fat percentage.

Body composition scales are not always accurate, but they are a good starting point, and they are relatively cheap. So, next time you hop on the scales to weigh yourself, stop and think - do the scales tell the whole story? Definitely not.

Health and Nutrition Coach www.beencouragedwellness.co.uk www.facebook.com/BeEncouragedBeStrong

What most people don’t talk about is muscle, bone, water and all the other stuff inside us. That’s where body composition comes in - and it is quite important. I’m not going to go into details about body composition, but you can watch a video on it here - youtu.be/ SlWvB67Mf3A. We store fat under our skin, in our liver and around the organs.

Where we store fat can affect our health; fat stored under our skin is mainly for insulation - ie, it keeps you warm among other things. Too much fat in our livers leads to fatty liver disease - not good! The worst place to store fat though is around our organs. This is called visceral fat and can be really detrimental to our health.

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23

MT Finance - What is the Best Way to Invest for Retirement Whether you are nearing retirement or that time is still a long way off, it’s never too early to start planning. With advances in life expectancy retirement can last several decades.

Early on, when hopefully still fit and healthy, retirees often want to travel and tick things off their bucket list with their new found free time. Expenditure can then often dip due to becoming less active but rise again in later life owing to the cost of care - though everyone is different.

Whatever retirement looks like for you, investing wisely is likely to be a key factor in achieving your retirement goals. Pensions are there to give you an extra leg up. When you make a contribution to your pension, the Government adds money. This is called tax relief and is the key advantage of using a pension.

Not everyone is aware of this special helping hand, but it can have a considerable impact on the size of your investment pot and the income you are paid. It usually makes pensions the most efficient way to invest for retirement.

Could You Benefit From Making a Pension Contribution?

In the 2021/22 tax year, an investor can receive up to 45% tax relief when they make a contribution to a personal pension such as a SIPP (Self Invested Personal Pension) with 20% paid by the Government into the pension and any higher and additional rate income tax reclaimable.

For example, an investor contributes £8,000 into their SIPP and £2,000 is claimed back from HMRC by the pension provider, meaning £10,000 is invested overall. A higher rate taxpayer could claim back up to a further 20% via their tax return, reducing the overall cost of the contribution to as little as £6,000. In the same instance, additional rate taxpayers could claim back up to a further 25% making the cost just £5,500 for a £10,000 contribution.

In addition to upfront tax relief, money in a pension is free from capital gains or income tax on the underlying investment returns.

Remember that SIPPs are not investments in their own right, they represent a wrapper within which you can hold a range of assets, so it’s up to you where you want to invest the money - including your tax relief!

Contribution Limits The basic rule is that up to £40,000 can be invested into your pensions each year (including any tax relief), or a sum equal to your annual income if lower. This must be earned income, rather than rental income or dividends. However, higher earners get a lower annual allowance, which could limit their maximum contribution to as little as £4,000 a year. The rules on when this tapered annual allowance kicks in are complicated, but are only potentially an issue for very high earners.

There’s also a lower annual allowance for people that have started to access their pensions flexibly post-retirement age, for example by taking an income through drawdown and for those with very high income. Lower earners and those with no income at all get a minimum annual allowance of £3,600.

Remember, the tax treatment of pensions depends on individual circumstances and is subject to change in future. Consultation with a financial planner can be a valuable step in checking any ongoing changes to the legislation.

Taking Money Out of a Pension The disadvantage of a pension is that you must wait until retirement

age to take money out - though you could view this as a good thing as you can’t be tempted into taking it out early! For those retiring now the minimum age is 55, but this is set to rise for most people to age 57 from 2028. When you take money out of a personal pension it is taxable as income, but you can take 25% of the value tax free under current rules.

Is a Pension Better Than an ISA? For those who may need access to their money before retirement age an ISA, which has an annual limit of £20,000 and the facility of tax-free withdrawals at any time, offers greater flexibility. For those choosing a savings vehicle for retirement, the decision is a trickier one. Most investments are available in both ISAs and pensions.

Assuming investments grow at the same rate in both a pension and an ISA account, in most cases the benefit of upfront tax relief at a person’s highest income tax rate means investing in a pension works out better. This reflects the fact that pension tax relief on the way in makes an important contribution to overall return. The fact that you can generally take a quarter as a tax-free lump sum also helps.

The main exception to this is for a basic rate taxpayer funding a pension and then becoming a higher rate taxpayer when taking benefits - a situation that could arise accidentally if an entire fund is taken in one lump sum. In this scenario, an ISA would produce a better overall return. However, given that it is possible to take periodic income or variable lump sums from pension pots, there is scope to plan how to withdraw money to minimise tax.

It is worth noting that a further option, a Lifetime ISA, offers a modest hybrid option. There’s a 25% bonus on contributions, broadly equivalent to basic rate tax relief, and no tax when money is taken out to buy a first home or for retirement after age 60. The maximum amount you can contribute each year is much lower at £4,000, which also counts towards the overall £20,000 annual ISA allowance.

Take Advantage of Pension Tax Relief While It Lasts?

As it stands today a pension remains the financially more appealing retirement investment vehicle for most people, including those remaining in the same tax band, or drop down a tax band or two, once they draw their pension.

However, no one can be sure of pension rules in the future. Tax relief may become less generous, especially for higher earners.

For instance, a flat-rate incentive of 25% or 33% for all pension contributions has been suggested, so it may make sense for some people to secure pension tax relief in its current form while it lasts.

What sort of retirement can you afford?

To learn more, or to arrange a free initial consultation with a dedicated planner to discuss how you can make the most of your retirement savings, please do get in touch.

Graham Austin, Chartered FCSI Investment Director Graham.Austin@charles-stanley.co.uk 0207 149 6696 The value of investments can fall as well as rise. Investors may get back less than invested. Past performance is not a reliable guide to future returns. The information in this article is for general information purposes and is not a trading recommendation.

Charles Stanley is one of the UK’s leading wealth management firms. We provide a range of financial planning and investment management services to private clients, trusts and charities.

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

24 www.moulshamtimes.com

The Singing Chef

I love talking about foood with new people and at my job at Allegro Music - well basically we just talk about food and music! Dream job!

So I have the fabulous Jo, an ex chef who has cooked for David Essex! Our rock shops Jacques, a French man with food and guitars constantly on his mind, and bossman Julian who shared this Game Changer recipie wth us last week. I’ve had it 4 times already!

I made the rolls myself for this version; I just followed the instructions on the back of the bread flour packet.

and is only limited by your imagination and taste buds!

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.

You could fill these with most yummy sandwich fillers. You might want 1/2/3 each.

Baked Egg Rolls Ingredients: Bread roll Grated cheese Egg Butter

Do you have a local good news story?

Email paul@moulshamtimes.com to get it featured Cut the tip off the roll and pull out the bread from inside. Drop in your fillings and bake for 20 minutes in at 200 degrees, take the lid off if you want that cheese a bit crispy.

Add anything else you fancy - sautéed mushrooms, ham, cooked bacon bits, spring onion, spinach, smoked salmon... The list goes on www.issuu.com/itsyourmedia

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MLCT Upcoming Events Wildlife Day, Saturday 19th March: This is the return of our two yearly wildlife event where we are encouraging people to enjoy their gardens and local areas, like John Shennan Playing Field - there will be a small entrance fee to see a variety of wildlife organisations and take part in activities related to encouraging flora and fauna to our green areas. The Copper Pot Café will be open for refreshments and light meals during the event. More details will be available on our website and on our social media sites regarding times and entry.

Reminders Mayor of Chelmsford City Mother’s Day Afternoon Tea: Sunday 27th March (see website for tickets).

Computer Club: 2nd and 4th Friday of each month (10am to 12 noon).

The Copper Pot Café: Open Tuesday to Saturday with daily specials and old favourites.

Storm Damage We unfortunately sustained storm damage to our marquee and need to buy another one. Our insurance will pay for some of it, but we will need to make up the difference and we are now taking donations which you can make on our website, or using the contact details below. We thank you in advance if you are able to help on this occasion. www.mlct.org.uk enquiries@mlct.org.uk 07434 678 999

An Update From Moulsham Lodge Ward - By Councillor Rob Gisby I’m sure that it didn’t escape anyone’s notice that in late February we experienced Storm Eunice. Luckily it seems we didn’t experience quite such extreme weather as some parts of the country, but none-the-less there was plenty of damage with downed or damaged trees and damage to property, fences and houses. I do hope everyone was able to stay safe and that you were not impacted too greatly personally.

I’m glad to have been able to help in some part by collecting litter and debris, reporting damage and helping to make safe locally, as I am sure many others have too for which we are very grateful as a community. Thank you to those who reached out to me for help.

I’m sure we will continue to find the impact of the storm damage for some time and I encourage you to get in touch if I can assist.

March 3rd is National Book Day and what has in recent years become a tradition for school children to dress as a character from their favourite book. It is lovely to see the creativity and happiness this event brings, and the hope of encouraging our children to engage in literature. I’m sure many people will have had their share of costume related drama - as a parent, I feel your pain! There is a great deal of information and lots of resources on worldbookday.com.

Staying with reading, as both a parent and someone with an interest in education as a school governor, it is great to see that the Essex Education Task Force have launched the Essex Year of Reading campaign which will see a number of events and activities throughout the year to help families (re)discover the joy of reading and knowing the benefit that reading can bring to ensure support for pupils who’s education has been impacted by COVID-19. For more information simply go to essex.gov.uk and search, ‘year of reading’.

Falling 3 weeks before Easter Sunday, March also brings Mothering Sunday on the 27th. St Luke’s will be holding a special service at 10.15am celebrating all things mothering and where, I am informed, there will also be spring flower posies for everyone. Do go along if you can.

Whilst not within the Chelmsford City Council remit, buses form an important part of the travel network for many of us, especially as we are encouraged to reflect on reducing traffic and environmental impact. I therefore want to share that Essex County Council have a survey open (specific to Chelmsford) as part of a wider consultation on bus travel across the county with view to improving public transport. Whether you are an existing user or someone who doesn’t currently use public transport, your input will be valuable in shaping an improved service please go to tinyurl.com/chelmsfordbuses.

Specifically aimed at parents of secondary school age children, the Chelmsford City Council Community Safety Partnership are working with Reach Every Gen and the Essex Violence and Vulnerability Unit to deliver parent awareness sessions relating to child exploitation and county lines - if you would like more details, please visit @chelmshealth on Facebook.

As always, you can get in touch with me via Chelmsford City Council, through my Facebook Page (Cllr Rob Gisby) or via Chelmsford Conservative Association. Please do reach out - I look forward to hearing from you. I will make sure links to all the items mentioned in this article are also available on my Facebook page.

Stay safe, keep well, be kind.

Cllr Rob Gisby Conservative Ward Councillor for Moulsham Lodge

26 www.moulshamtimes.com

Tile Kiln Corner - By Cllr Linda Mascot

WhatsApp group).

Last month I highlighted the great work that Neighbourhood Watch do to support our community. The co-ordinator for our area is John Deighton, who works tirelessly coordinating with residents and police (including the administration of Moulsham Lodge Neighbourhood Watch page and

I asked John how he got involved with Neighbourhood Watch: “Unfortunately, we were burgled whilst away on holiday in 2017 so I became anxiously engaged in trying to protect others. I came across NHW and as there was nothing set up for Moulsham Lodge, I got some local residents on board and it’s grown from there.

pleased to be awarded a ‘Good’ rating at the recent OFSTED inspection held just before Christmas.

The COVID-19 pandemic proved to be challenging for all, but the preschool was pleased to be able to keep running throughout.

“Working closely with the other Chelmsford NHW co-ordinators is really helpful - awareness of trends and having the close support of Essex Police to keep us advised is useful. What’s been inspiring is seeing how other residents have become keen to protect others too, monitoring their CCTV cameras to watch out for suspicious persons or vehicles. This provides a real sense of comfort to neighbours knowing someone is looking out for them. We are looking for more help in Tile Kiln, so please get in touch if you can help.”

The highly qualified and experienced staff battled through the many changes and personal difficulties with the rest of us, but were able to remain a consistent source of support and fun for all who were able to attend throughout that time. This included children who usually attended other settings which could not remain open during the first lockdown period, who found Fledgelings an easy place to settle in to and were sad to leave.

The Fledgelings Preschool has been a vital source of care and education for little ones across the Tile Kiln estate and beyond for 24 years - longer in its previous format as the Gooding Nursery School.

The Fledgelings Preschool is able to offer flexible sessions to children from 2 years old, up to when they start school, and are currently welcoming new applications.

Owned by Tile Kiln Church, the preschool forms a valuable part of the church’s service to the community, with its Christian ethos of love and acceptance underpinning the day-to-day running. It prides itself on providing a safe, welcoming and caring environment, with stimulating activities and high staff/child ratios. The preschool was

Further details and application forms are available at www. fledgelingspreschool.co.uk, or by phoning 01245 269 691.

Stability

Preparations for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee are stepping up now. The website is live, the pudding competition has been launched - and at Tile Kiln Church we’re also planning for a street party on Sunday 5th June. This year is also Tile Kiln Church’s 50th birthday, so we’re combining the two for one big party - pop Sunday 5th June in your diary now!

I wonder whether our Queen ever thought she’d reach the year 2022 as queen? 70 years is a long time. She’s provided incredible stability over a very volatile 70 years, and today the volatility remains: international tumult in the form of Russia; cost of living rising; fuel prices sky rocketing; the list could go on… Whilst we rejoice at the Queen’s consistency and stability, Christians believe that another regal figure is the only truly stable one: King Jesus Christ. In fact, if there’s one thing we do know about our Queen, it’s that she too believes in the Kingship of Jesus Christ. I wonder if you’re longing for more stability in your life? King Jesus offers it to you today. His invitation to all and everyone is, ‘come to me’. If you’re not sure how, get in touch, I’d love to chat with you.

Closer than the street party is our Easter Holiday Club, which runs Monday 11th - Thursday 14th April from 10am-12.30pm. Check out the poster on the right for more details, and if you’ve primary school age kids, why not sign them up?!

Tim Goodall Pastor, Tile Kiln Church tim.goodall@tilekilnchurch.org.uk www.issuu.com/itsyourmedia 27

mascotlinda@gmail.com Twitter: @lindamascot

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

Quiz Time - By John Theedom 1.

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What is the meaning of the word bunkum?

What does the ‘Q’ stand for in ‘IQ’?

How many prongs does a tuning fork have?

In Washington DC, what do the initials DC stand for?

What sort of pastry is used for profiteroles?

Which plant is the emblem of Ireland?

How is it possible to tell the age of a tree?

What was once called brimstone?

Which instrument did Fats Waller play?

What does a protractor measure?

Which TV cop would say, ‘who loves ya baby?’

Which play holds the record for the longest continual run in the UK? From what do bees make honey?

What is a male duck called?

Which crop can be attacked by the Colorado beetle?

Which Wimbledon tennis champion was nicknamed ‘Superbrat’?

What is a ro-ro vessel?

In the railway world, what is MAGLEV? How old was Beatle John Lennon when he was shot dead in the USA? What is the more common name for rubella?

For what purpose was The Pisa tower built?

How many years of marriage is a ruby anniversary for?

Where in London will you find the Whispering Gallery?

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On which mountain did Noah’s Ark come to rest?

What is Britain’s highest mountain?

Who plays the proprietor of Fawlty Towers hotel on TV? In which city is the bar in Cheers?

What was John Inman’s catchphrase as Mr Humphries in Are You Being Served?

What does it mean if your oysters are shucked?

Which side of a ship is port side?

Against which disease did Edward Jenner discover a vaccine?

Which cat has no tail?

In WW2, who was the Desert Fox? What drink is made from Vodka and tomato juice?

The sea parrot is more commonly known as what?

Which male singing voice comes below tenor?

How were singers Karen and Richard Carpenter related?

What is TV’s equivalent of the Oscar?

What was the name of the Cartwright Ranch in Bonanza?

Vegemite is a rich source of B complex, but what is it made from?

(Answers on page 31)

28 www.moulshamtimes.com

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Quiz and Wordsearch Answers 1.

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Nonsense Quotient Two District of Columbia Choux Shamrock The number of rings in the trunk Sulphur Piano Angles Kojak (Telly Savalas) The Mousetrap Nectar Drake

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Potatoes John McEnroe Roll-on/roll-off vehicle ferry Magnetic Levitation 40 German measles Bell tower for a cathedral 40 The dome of St Paul’s Cathedral Mount Ararat Ben Nevis John Cleese Boston ‘I’m Free’

www.moulshamtimes.com

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Opened Left Smallpox Manx Field Marshal Rommel Bloody Mary Puffin Baritone Brother snd sister Emmy The Ponderosa Yeast extract

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