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Essex Delta Blues Day 12th March see page 3
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MT Welcome Welcome to the March edition of the Moulsham Times.
Remember that this month the clocks go forward making the evenings lighter, this also means spring is on the way although I have had blossom on a tree in my garden since mid January! This month we also have an early Easter, look out for the related adverts in the magazine. We are looking forward to the second Essex Delta Blues Day at the Bassment on 12th March from noon until midnight. An early reminder that we have the fabulous Blow Monkeys at Chelmsford City FC on 22nd April; you might remember them having a hit with Digging Your Scene in the 80s! Kind regards Nick and Paul
it’s your media Ltd Advertising Editorial Nick Garner Paul Mclean 07970 206682 07595 949701 ads@itsyourmedia.co.uk editorial@itsyourmedia.co.uk Disclaimer: It’s Your Media 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 Media Ltd. No part may be reproduced without the prior written permission of It’s Your Media Ltd. Reg Co No. 09154871. Printed by Imagery UK.
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Auto-Enrolment Pensions - a Predictable Panic
Any independent retailer will testify to the fact that finding the time to stay on top of paperwork and new regulations is a luxury they can afford far less than some of the premium merchandise they sell. The imminent introduction of compulsory pension auto-enrolment is another example where many retailers - immersed in running their day-to-day business - have found themselves in the undesirable position of being completely unprepared.
So, what’s the score? Well, first of all, this is not optional, even if employees choose to opt out, the process needs to be followed. Rises to the auto-enrolment minimum contribution rate have been pushed back by six months to April 2018. In the Autumn Statement, Chancellor George Osborne said contribution rate rises would be delayed to help businesses administer the changes. Previously, the minimum employer contribution rate was set to rise to 2% in October 2017 to bring total minimum contributions to 5%. It was then due to rise to 3% for employers in October 2018, with a total minimum contribution of 8%.
As an association that supports over 7,000 independent retailers, the British Independent Retailers Association (bira) is well placed to note that, with over 74% of their members having not yet met their staging date, many of them have been burying their head in the sand.
However, the new rules mean the first rate rise will be introduced in April 2018. The next rise will be introduced in April 2019. The announcement is likely to affect budgeting for companies staging between now and April 2018 - which is likely to be you if you run a small independent business.
Worse still, those who have been proactive and started researching solutions have been quoted an average of £780 for a pension provider to manage this service for them. Yes, in addition to the rising levels of business rates predicted in the South East, online competition and the discounting pandemic which is squeezing margins, independent retailers are being faced with this additional burden. That’s not to say that their spirit isn’t in the vein of goodwill and willingness to provide a pension, it’s just, as a retailer said to me recently: “We have no idea what to do and no time in which to do it.” Mindful of providing relevant and cost saving services that bring peace of mind, bira has created a scheme that ticks all the regulatory boxes, exclusively for bira members. Costing £245 as a one-off payment (and £65/year thereon), the scheme takes the headache out of auto-enrolment and features benefits usually only found in large company pension schemes.
If any of the above business anxieties resonate with you, please visit www.bira.co.uk to learn more about membership. There’s more information on your responsibilities and bira pensions at www.bira. co.uk/bira-pensions Melissa Wheeler is a freelance fashion writer, fashion PR and also the retail columnist for the Fashion Association of Britain (FAB), a trade association which provides support and business services to independent retailers. Alongside her fashion PR business, Melissa contributes to fashion industry trade titles. @MelissavWheeler www.melissawheeler.co.uk melissavwheeler@gmail.co.uk
The Gospel According to Caroline Mother’s Day is on Sunday 6th March, and falls during the time of Lent when Christians reflect and prepare for Easter. Traditionally, some fast or give up something they love to eat. Most mums would say we give up ourselves from the time our children are born. We suffer the pain of childbirth, and the worry and concerns they give us
throughout their whole life, not just when they are tiny. We have to say goodbye when they go to school, university, move out from home or perhaps start a new life elsewhere. Children bring joy, and sorrow, and often much worry and heartache, but few mothers regret having a child. I wonder if Mary really knew what would happen to her child and what she would later have to face, when she was told she would give birth to the Son of God, Jesus. Who among us can imagine the pain of losing a child in the way that Mary did and having to witness his death in such a horrific way? As we observe Lent and wait for Easter, let us give thanks for all mothers. To find out about the exciting things that are happening at Christ Church, visit our
Facebook page, Christ Church URC Chelmsford, or our website, www. christchurchchelmsfordurc.org.uk. Caroline Brown, Church Family and Community Worker Christ Church United Reformed Church.
Deadlines for the April edition Articles - 18th March Print ready art work - 23rd March
A New Clinic in Old Moulsham!
It’s with huge pleasure to be able to inform you that we have opened a new clinic right here in Old Moulsham. We have taken the place of the highly respected Rochford Road Clinic and we offer osteopathy and sports massage. We can be found just off the Odeon Roundabout near the Woolpack, and have plenty of parking for our clients.
W NEWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW
Chris, the owner and lead osteopath, has lived in Old Moulsham for many years and it has always been his goal to open a clinic where he can help his local community. Our hope is that we can provide a ‘hub of health’ and that we can get people out of pain, and help them with their health goals.
Chris Branch Osteopath
Osteopathy and sports massage can work very well together, not just to improve pain, but also to improve function and help people live the life they want to live. In an osteopathic treatment, we take a thorough case history and assess how your whole body moves. We do this not just so we can find what is causing your pain, but why your pain started. Ninety-nine times out of a hundred it’s not the injured area’s fault!
Are you in pain? We can help: -Osteopathy -Sports Massage -Book Online
Treatment then consists of gentle hands-on work, and exercise prescription so that you, the patient, can take ownership and improve your own health. Sports massage is great for everyone, not just the athletes among you! It’s a fantastic way to improve the general tissue health in your body. For more information, please say ‘hi’ either on the phone, through email, or through our Facebook page. We love to chat! All questions are welcome. We also offer plenty of advice and stretching ideas through our Facebook page, so take a peek.
32 Rochford Road, Chelmsford, Essex, CM2 0EF
We are very much looking forward to nestling in to our new community! Stay Healthy :)
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From County Hall by Cllr Dick Madden
Many of you will have heard this week that Essex County Council is proposing to end the five year freeze in council tax- and also that, frankly, our hand has been forced in this because of the settlement we received from the government. As one of the Essex County Council cabinet, it was no easy decision to propose an increase in council tax for the first time in five years. This year, council tax will rise by 1.99%, and we will also be accepting the government’s 2% levy on social care. This means that most residents will pay a few pence less than £1 extra each week (84p for a band D home). I wanted to explain why we have taken this very difficult decision. The government’s local government settlement, which tells councils how much money they are going to get, was one of the most difficult for county councils in a generation. We were already preparing to save around £70 million but the reduction in our funding was far worse than we could have anticipated.
At the Moulsham Lodge Community Centre on Saturday 12th March 2016 is Wildlife Day, which is also being advertised in this magazine. So please go along, I will be attending all day. I have no idea what my role will be but Lorraine ‘the star of the day’, our host, will have me doing something wild I am sure. Make an effort, see you there. BE SAFE Dick Madden
John Lewis Topping Out
The hole in our funding that we need to fill is now £122m for next year alone - and over £300 million by the end of the decade. Increasing council tax will cover £22 million of that next year. We are also using £24 million from our reserves, but that still leaves us needing to find £76 million of savings. A huge sum and it will be a huge task. Protecting frontline services and care for the elderly and most vulnerable in our society is our priority. But we can no longer guarantee that some services won’t be affected. So we had very little choice but to increase tax this year. So yes, there will be challenging times ahead. But we have a proven track record of making back-office savings, finding efficiencies and reshaping services so they are smarter and more effective. I had a wander down Moulsham Street this evening and lots of work has been going on tidying up dislodged and loose pavements, the street is looking good for all the retail area. This week though, I am meeting representatives of the Moulsham Traders Association. I am told traders are concerned regarding an increase in homeless individuals sleeping and begging in and about the Moulsham Street area. In addition, at the rear of shops and business premises in the street, the amount of assorted rubbish - including human mess being found daily is engineering major concerns for traders. I hope by working with all agencies we can all assist the traders and the homeless as well.
On ocassions while running these magazines, we get to go the opportunity to attend some exclusive events. We recently attended the John Lewis Topping Out ceremony. For those of you who do not know what this is (nor did I), it is when the last stone/beam is added to the top of the building. There were around 80 people in attendance including the leader of both the city and county councils, representitives of the builder and of course from John Lewis themselves. A time capsule was added inside the walls of the building which was made by pupils from the Cathedral School. We inevetably bumped in to Sir Simon and Cllr Madden and took the opportunity to take a photograph of them both with our magazines as two of our longstanding writers!
From The House by Sir Simon Burns - Knife Crime
Over the past twelve months, a considerable number of constituents have written to me to express concerns about knife crime in Chelmsford. Recently, I had a very interesting meeting with Home Office minister, Karen Bradley MP and her officials to discuss this problem. We discussed the tragedies of the murder of two young people in the last 14 months and the increased use of knives in other incidents in the city. It was very helpful to me the way in which the minister explained the work that the Home Office has carried out on knife crime and the problems caused to communities like Chelmsford as a result of the spread of gang activity and drug related incidents from the East End of London. Essex Police in Chelmsford have been very proactive in the work they have carried out in Chelmsford over the last 18 months as a result of
the increase in knife crimes in the city.
The minister promised that her officials at the Home Office would contact Essex Police to share any best practice that the Home Office has that will assist them in their continuing work to protect the people of Chelmsford from knife crimes. A few weeks after the meeting, I heard back from the minister and was extremely encouraged that so much is being done behind the scenes to tackle knife crime both in Chelmsford and the rest of the county. During February, Essex Police participated in a week of action against knives as part of a co-ordinated action planned by a number of police forces, and supported by the Home Office, to tackle knife crime. I will continue to monitor developments very closely and support the government’s ongoing work to reduce violence and knife crime, which can have such a devastating impact on victims, families and local communities.
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The Saggy Bottom Problem Before I tell you what the saggy bottom problem is, I’ll explain what it isn’t. It isn’t anything to do with a SOGGY bottom which has plagued the lives of bakers for years (watch an episode of The British Bake Off if you want proof of this). No, the problem of the SAGGY bottom has affected long distance runners for years and years, primarily female long distance runners who have lost weight and have an irrational fear of resistance training. You probably know such a person, we’ve all got a friend or family member like it, or if not you’ve definitely seen one trudging the streets. They are the person who very admirably begins running as a cheap and effective way to get fit. They get hooked on the running bug and they keep running ever longer distances, ever more frequently, in turn this causes them to burn calories like Lewis Hamilton burns rubber! Before they know it, they have shed bucket loads of weight and feel great. They keep running and running and losing more and more weight and by now they could never in a million years be described as being overweight, yet in their quest for aesthetic beauty they bemoan the fact that they have either lost their bum completely or complain that it has become saggy (even though it could never be described as being big). SO WHATS THE ANSWER TO THIS SAGGY BOTTOM PROBLEM? The simple answer is weight training and if, as a women reading this, you’re recoiling in disgust at the misguided thought that pumping some iron will leave you looking like Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson wearing a wig, bear this in mind - women produce much less testosterone than men, therefore they cannot and will not build muscle at anywhere near the same rate. The few female bodybuilders you do see with very masculine physiques have (sshhhh don’t say it too loudly) almost certainly been ‘on the juice’. Incidentally, so have most of the really big men you see but once again keep that to yourselves, I wouldn’t want that secret getting out!
training, but if you specifically wanted to improve the appearance of your bum you can’t look much further than the work of Brett Contreras - AKA The Glute Guy - and his hip thrust exercises. Allied to this I would recommend you do a whole host other lower body closed chain leg exercises too, such as squats, dead lifts, lunges and Bulgarian split squats as this will help shape the whole of the muscles of the leg - it will also boost performance too! A DOUBLE WHAMMY, IT WILL HELP YOU LOOK GOOD AND BOOST PERFORMANCE! That’s right not only does lifting heavy weights improve the appearance of your legs it will also make you run faster too by allowing you to impart more power into the ground, (remember Newton’s 3rd law? Every action has an equal and opposite reaction). Well the more power you can impart into the ground with each step, the longer each of you’re strides will be which all else being equal, means improved speed. ALONG WITH THE WEIGHTS I’D ALSO RECOMMEND SOME SPRINTING TOO! Recent studies have shown that the gluteus maximus (the major muscle of the bum) is much more active when sprinting as opposed to when running, so if you want to give your butt a bit of workout, do some sprinting along with the weights - it will add some variety to your training too! For more detailed, bespoke advice on weight training or sprint training please do not hesitate to get in touch. Thanks for taking the time to read this. Good luck with your training. Matt www.mlrpt.co.uk www.twitter.com/mlrpt www.facebook.com/mlrpt www.youtuce.com/mlrpt
SO WHAT SORT OR WEIGHT TRAINING SHOULD YOU DO? Personally, I would recommend a whole body approach to weight Last month, I wrote about hypnobirthing and the simplistic approach, yet powerful effect it has on the mind, body and labour. For me, this naturally leads me to continue the theme of pregnancy and birth and speak of my sister, doula Sam Sheppard. My sister has been a doula since 2008 working closely within Doula UK as a mentor. Now Sam teaches her own Mindful Doula Preparation course throughout the UK. A doula derives from the Greek term of ‘a woman who serves’, serving pregnant mothers and providing impartial information so the mother can make her own informed choices. Your doula will be on call to attend your birth - night or day - and support the mother and their birthing family in a variety of ways when your baby has arrived too. Last year, over the weekend of Mothering Sunday I attended Sam’s Preparation Course. As a new mum and hypnobirthing enthusiast I was intrigued to find out what a doula can offer, what their role entails and how they work along side midwives and family members. The course was delivered over 2.5 days, the environment was relaxed, welcoming and comfortable - and importantly, there were plenty of biscuits and grapes to snack on too! I and the other ladies introduced www.moulshamtimes.com
ourselves and explained briefly what we wanted to achieve from Sam’s course and why we were there. Over the course of the few days, I obtained first-hand information from an experienced doula; how they are on call for their clients, what is involved with booking antenatal visits, the benefit of having your own doula and what we can learn from each other to support women during this time. The course was enriching, comforting and educational. I surmised that a doula is a role whose primary aim is focussed on the mothers’ well being. They are carrying on the supportive role of a family member or an elder in a village who used to instinctively support and pass on their knowledge to the pregnant women within their community. Now our families live further apart, are all so busy with their own lives, this ‘red tent’ approach is not feasible, but a doula can give that to you. This course was incredibly valuable as it delivered another perspective to the wonderful and beautiful topic of pregnancy, birth and labour. If you would like further information about the Mindful Doula Preparation Course, then please contact Sam at sammindfuldoulas@gmail.com. By Rebecca Bush 8
MT Gardening Keep your clippings as they’ll give you plants for free!
Pruning of clematis which flowered the previous summer (not spring) will pay dividends later this year. Vigorous summer flowering clematis (mainly those that flower from July onwards like the Clematis Jackmanii varieties) need to be heavily pruned to about 90cm above soil level. Less vigorous summer flowering varieties (mainly those that flower between May and June) need to have all the dead growth removed and each stem cut back to the lowest pair of healthy buds. Wisterias should also be pruned - clip them back to a healthy bud with the aim of keeping them tidy and within bounds. Concentrate on pruning only the whippy new growth back hard to 1-2 buds. This will concentrate energy into mature flowering wood. Keep some whippy growth if you want to extend the framework. Others that can be cut hard February through to end of March are all those coloured stems that you have enjoyed; Salix alba var. vitellina Britzensis, Cornus alba Sibirica and also the likes of Rubus cockburnianus (the latter, ornamental blackberry, having lovely grey/ white stems). Don’t be so keen to compost/chip or shred straight away the arisings. Why not consider using stems as cuttings? At this time of year, select pencil thickness 1 year stems of around 20-25cm. Make a sloping cut for the top of the cutting and a flat cut below lowest junction, score the bottom 1/2cm of the cutting on one side and add hormone rooting powder to the cut surfaces only. Shake off the excess and plant into soil around the plant you have just pruned to a depth of ¾ length of the cutting. Keep it weed free throughout the year. Don’t lift until the early autumn where you will be rewarded with a rooted stem cutting. Plant out wherever you like or pot up using John Innes No. 2 potting compost. There you go, plants for free… what could be better than that?
3-5 years depending on how vigorous the plant is. Carefully remove plant from the border by coming out from the plant by about 30cm. Insert the spade and cut all around the plant. With your spade, begin to undercut and then lift the entire clump, placing to one side on plastic sheeting or whatever comes to hand - this will make for ease of moving to the planting hole a little later. Then, using two border or hand forks interlocked and pushed into the centre of the clump, ease handles together and the clump will split into two halves. Repeat the process again to break clumps into mini clumps. Discard any poor growth and or pest and disease and plant either back in same place or move around the garden. This can be done now and anytime up to bud burst in the spring. Some exceptions are Primula species and also the bearded iris (Iris germanica) - these are better lifted when flowering has completed. If you love to learn using video, then check me out at www.videojug.com and put ‘plant propagation’ into the search box - let me know what you think.
Lastly, if seed sowing is not your thing, then why not lift, split and divide your perennials? It is suggested that this should be done every
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Before I leave you, consider giving all your plants a boost with a general purpose fertilizer this month. I would suggest using around 35 - 50g/m², but just double check advice on the packet. If you are using pelleted chicken manure, take care, your trusty pet dog will suck them up when you’ve got your eye on something else in the garden. Lightly incorporate into the soil using a border fork. Follow this with a good helping of compost mulching material to a depth of 10cm. This will also aid in supplying a variable degree of feed, but more importantly it will suppress weed growth and retain moisture in the bed and around the root zone of your plants. If you have pots, do something similar with regard to the feed, but don’t forget to take some of the older top compost away - 5cm - and add fresh potting compost appropriate to the plants your are growing. These are busy months for us all, take care, and if you can try and help our feathered friends, add the odd feeder to your garden. Don’t pop them too close to windows, just far enough that you don’t disturb them. Good luck and happy gardening! For any gardening tips contact Tom Cole, Senior Horticultural Lecturer, Writtle College, Chelmsford, CM1 3RR by post (including a SAE) or by email at tom.cole@writtle.ac.uk.
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If you need Fresh Flowers, Sundries or Plants Eleflora is where you need to go. Located on the Widford Industrial Estate in Chelmsford we have all you’ll need. All our flowers are brought fresh from the Dutch auction on a daily basis.
Tel - 01245 860406
Web shop - www.eleflora.co.uk Email - sales@eleflora.co.uk Visit - 15-17 Russell Way, Chelmsford, Essex CM1 3AA
Pleased call Michael on:
Open Tues-Sat 12pm - 9pm
We would like to thank all the people who voted us Chelmsford and Mid-Essex CAMRA pub of the year 2016.
173 Moulsham Street, Chelmsford, CM2 0LD 01245 353 570
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Electrical Installation & Maintenance M-Spec Services based in Chelmsford cater for all your electrical requirements, no job is too big or too small. You are always guaranteed a professional service at competitive rates. • Smoke Alarm Installation • Fault Finding • CCTV & Fire Alarms • Fuseboard Upgrades • Access Control & Intercom Systems • Rewires • Test & Inspect Certification
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www.thehopbeershop.co.uk 12
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Quiz Time
Motown Quiz questions from Peter Warren (answers on page 31) 1. Who was the founder of Motown? 2. In what city was Motown founded? 3. What is the name of Motown’s HQ? 4. Name the city Mowtown transferred to in 1972? 5. Gordy wrote Lonely Teardrops for who? 6. Who was the Miracles’ lead singer? 7. Who married Anna Gordy? 8. Who was the star of Lady Sings the Blues (1972)? 9. Who was Gladys Knight’s backing group called? 10. name The Temptations’ lead singer on My Girl. 11. Syreeta Wright was married to who? 12. Who was The Four Tops’ lead singer in the
Pub of the Year 2016
Chelmsford and Mid-Essex CAMRA members voted The Hop Beer Shop at 173 Moulsham Street, Chelmsford, as their Pub of the Year 2016. The charm of this cosy little one room pub is the combination of the companionable camaraderie of the customers and the proprietor, John Prior.
1960s? 13. Holland ***** and Holland? 14. Name The Commodores’ lead singer? 15. What is the collective name of the backing musicians on most Motown records? 16. Talking Book and Innervisions were recorded by whom? 17. Who recorded Mr Postman in 1961? 18. Who was Tammi Terrell’s co-singer on many hits? 19. Who recorded This Old Heart of Mine in 1966? 20. Who wrote Whats Going On with Marvin Gaye and Al Cleveland? Shop as their Pub of the Year and everyone who has supported us over the last 15 months. As a free trade public house, we are proud to support local brewers and fine ales from around the country and with the addition of ciders and perry, The Hop Beer Shop has something for all tastes.”
Using his carpentry skills, John made the tables and seating to be at a height that is compatible with those standing, so it keeps everyone happy as they are able to converse on the same level. John, who welcomes everyone as if he is inviting you into his home, also made the simple wooden furniture and the cask cabin where 4 casks of real ale are dispensed. It is so compact and friendly that if you were not friends when you arrive, you soon are, as here conversation is key and customers enjoy the fact that there is no TV, loud music or fruit machines. The most local locales are from Round Tower Brewery in Chelmsford, Bishop Nick from Braintree, Colchester Brewery, Earls Colne and Wibblers from Mayland. The impressive range of bottled beers to drink in or take away includes various Essex ales, continental and American beers. The Essex Cider Shop a few doors away supplies three ciders and a perry. It’s great that local businesses are there to support each other. As well as having at least one dark beer such as a stout or porter served from the cask, there are two craft keg beers and wine to whet your appetite.
173 Moulsham Street, Chelmsford, Essex CM2 0LD www.thehopbeershop.co.uk 01245 353 570 Photographs - Tom Booth-Woodger
John says: “I thank all the CAMRA members who voted for The Hop Beer
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MT Baking by Alison Motley
This month’s recipe is quite long-winded but if you fancy a challenge, it really is worth the effort and makes a nice change from hot cross buns. It’s based on a European Easter bread I picked up at a recipe swap and adapted slightly. I’m not entirely sure of it’s true origins but there are lots of similar recipes for Easter Breads from Northern and Eastern Europe, all slightly different and all equally delicious. The recipe has quite a few stages so it’s not something you can knock up at the last minute, but the real advantage to this type of bread-making is the amazing flavour gained from such a slow proving method and you can prepare the dough and filling the day before baking. The combination of sweet marzipan, tart apricots and crunchy poppy seeds is a winner and where the filling oozes out during baking it becomes toffee like with a hint of burnt sugar. The bread itself is a soft chewy loaf with layers of buttery flaky crust, a cross between brioche and flaky pastry. It’s impossible to eat only one slice, so it’s just as well that the recipe makes such a big showstopper of a loaf! The dough is tricky to handle as it is VERY sticky and buttery but it’s a great excuse to get messy in the kitchen and have some fun. Please don’t be put off by the instructions on making the wreath, it’s actually a lot easier to do than to explain! Apricot, Almond and Poppy Seed Easter Wreath Dough: 500g white bread flour 1 ¼ teaspoons instant yeast 75g caster sugar 250ml milk, heated to boiling point and cooled to room temperature 1 teaspoon salt 1 large egg, beaten 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 teaspoon mixed spice Grated zest of 1 orange 100g butter, cubed, at room temperature Filling: 150g dried apricots, chopped Juice of 1 orange 400g marzipan, grated 75g poppy seeds To finish: 1 tablespoon apricot jam
1. Measure the flour into a large bowl and make a well in the centre. Tip in the yeast and sugar and pour over the cooled milk. Sprinkle over some of the flour from around the well to cover the milk and leave in a warm place for at least an hour. The top should become bubbly. 2. Sprinkle the salt around the edge of the well and add all but a little of the beaten egg, the vanilla extract, mixed spice and orange zest. 3. Mix all the ingredients together and then knead by hand for 10 minutes. Add the cubed butter and knead for another 10 minutes. The dough will be sticky and difficult to handle, but persevere - and don’t be tempted to add any more flour. 4. Place the kneaded dough in a clean bowl, cover with cling film and leave in a warm place for at least 2 hours or until doubled in size. Alternatively leave in the fridge for 8-10 hours. 5. To make the filling, soak the apricots in the orange juice for an hour then mix with the grated marzipan and poppy seeds. 6. When the dough has doubled in size, tip it out onto a floured surface and using a floured rolling pin, roll it into a rectangle until it is about 1cm thick. 7. Spread the filling over the rectangle, leaving a border around the edge. Roll up the long side of the rectangle like a Swiss roll, roll it with your hands to seal the edges and elongate it slightly until you have a long sausage shape. 8. Leaving one end of the dough joined, use a sharp knife to cut down the length of the roll. Twist the two lengths together to create a rope and bring the ends together to create a wreath. 9. Place the wreath onto a baking tray lined with baking paper and cover with a large plastic bag, taking care that the dough will not touch the bag when it rises. Leave somewhere warm for approx. 45 minutes until the dough has doubled in size. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 180C/Fan 160C/Gas 4. 10. Brush the wreath with the remaining egg mixed with a little water. 11. Bake for 25-35 minutes until golden brown. You may need to cover the wreath loosely with foil after 15 minutes to prevent it burning. 12. Transfer the wreath to a wire rack. Brush with the apricot jam mixed with a little hot water whilst it is still warm to give a shiny finish. 13. Hide the join in the wreath with a pretty ribbon. I would love to hear from readers with anything baking related. Drop me an email at motleybakes@aol.com, or take a look at www. motleybakes.co.uk.
Record Breaking Winter Beer Festival Chelmsford & Mid- Essex CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale) held their 17th winter festival at King Edward VI Grammar School from 17 - 20th February. Customers were invited to vote for their favourite drinks from the selection on offer. With a particular emphasis on winter brews for beer and cider, it’s not surprising that the top beers were in the stout/porter category and spiced ciders proved popular.
Essex cider companies swept the board with customers’ votes for cider, perry and pyder of the festival proving that Essex has real appeal. Exceeding expectations in all areas, the volunteers pulled out all the stops to roll out the barrels to give their customers a barrel of fun, bringing in extra supplies for Saturday having had 2,000 people on Friday. For the first time in 17 winter festivals, over 200 firkins of 9 gallons of beer were required and 20% more cider was needed to keep the customers satisfied compared to last year - an upward trend following on the summer festival in July.
THE FESTIVAL IN NUMBERS 4,600 Attendance over the course of the festival. 2,000 Thirsty customers on Friday. 190 Real ales. 57 Choices on the Cider Bar of real cider, perry and pyder. 130 Volunteers to organise, publicise, build and take down the festival and serve drinks. 14,000 Pints of beer consumed. 2,000 Pints supped from the cider bar. 3 Charities supported: Breast Cancer Now, Crohn’s and Colitis UK and Kid’s Inspire 1,400 Souvenir glasses for this festival. 400 Limited edition half pint glass tankards, which sold out on the second day. TOP TEN BEERS 1. Green Jack Baltic Trader (stout/porter) 2. Thornbridge Cocoa Wonderland (stout/ porter) 3. Brass Castle Bad Kitty (stout/porter) 4. Harveys Sussex Old Ale (dark/old ale) 5. Moody Goose Winterfell (bitter) 6. Round Tower Omnibus (bitter) 7. Three Blind Mice Ditch Oil (stout/porter) 8. Cambridge Brewing Company Coffee and Vanilla Stout (stout/porter) 9. Cloudwater Imperial Stout (stout/porter) 10. Roosters Baby-Faced Assassin (IPA) CIDER OF THE FESTIVAL PERRY OF THE FESTIVAL PYDER OF THE FESTIVAL
Delvin End Winter Festival (spiced) Berties Galanthus Perry Berties Con-Cox-Tion
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Essex Rock Histories: Vivian Stanshall and the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band by John Power Vivian, born Victor Anthony Stanshall (1943 to 1995) was born in Oxford during the Second World War, but when his father returned home from serving in the RAF, he moved the family to where his own family had originated in Walthamstow. A younger brother was born in 1949. A later move saw the family move to Leigh-on-Sea and Viv attended Southend High School until 1959. His first job was in Southend’s amusement park, the Kursaal, where he was a bingo caller in the summer and painted the fairground rides during the slack months of the winter. From the Kursaal, Viv returned to Walthamstow to attend Walthamstow College of Art, where Ian Dury was also a student, and they both fell in with a reactionary alternative student social group on the fringe of the academic mainstream which comes as no surprise. Viv intended to extend his art education, but his father wouldn’t fund him to do so, therefore he joined the Merchant Navy for a year and saved the money to fund himself, and so gained a place at Central School of Art in London. Whilst there he met Rodney Slater, Roger Ruskin Spear, and Neil Innes (himself an Essex boy from Danbury) who were also art students but at Goldsmiths College. Along with Viv, these anarchic surrealist musicians were to become the founders of the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band. They actually met in New Cross in South London where Viv was noticed for his comic theatrical clothing. The band was originally called the Bonzo Dog Dada Band. This was due to the group’s interest in the dada ‘anti-art’ art movement that developed in Europe after the First World War and eventually gave birth to the surrealist movement. The dadaists borrowed a Victorian parlour game which William Burroughs and David Bowie, borrowing it from him, both made famous. That technique became known as ‘cutup poetry’ and consisted of cutting up lines of type and rearranging them in random order so that mental processes of recognition would find new meanings to the words in rearranged fashion. Rodney Slater and Viv used this technique to find a name for the band. But as the dada part was unknown to those outside artistic circles, to avoid endless explanations they changed it to something even more nonsensical. Many of the songs were parodies of old music hall songs and pre-war 78 rpm records they found, and usually used to send up middle-class values. Surreal props, like large papier mache heads and dummies jostled for space with large instruments like tubas and the musicians in the van that took then to London gigs and then the working man’s club circuit after they got a manager and turned professional. The songs became more surreal and comic. I saw the group at around this time at North London’s Rainbow Theatre supporting Cream, and considering what adept musicians Eric Clapton, Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker were, I still had to feel sorry for them having to follow a stage show like the Bonzos put on. Paul McCartney talent spotted the band and promoted them by giving them an appearance in The Beatles 1967 film, Magical Mystery Tour, backing a striptease routine in song, surrealy enough entitled Death Cab for Cutie. That in turn gave rise to them becoming the house band for satirical TV show, Do Not Adjust Your Set, which also featured early appearances by figures who were to become members of the Monty Python’s Flying Circus team - a marriage made in heaven! Paul McCartney also produced the single Urban Spaceman/ Canyons of Your Mind for the group, which became a top ten hit that led to the albums Gorilla, The Donut in Grannie’s Greenhouse, Tadpoles, Keynsham and a Let’s Make up and be Friendly collection. Much touring on both sides of the Atlantic then followed. While they were on the second US tour, Roger Ruskin Spear’s wife had a miscarriage in England and he was not told by the management who thought they might have cancelled the tour, so with that and other issues like Viv’s stagefright and a resulting dependence on Valium to deal with it, they decided it was time to split up the band while they were still winning. The Valium addiction, coupled with a drinking problem, was to plague Viv for the rest of his life. The Bonzos played their last gig in 1970. Viv had married fellow former art student
Monica Potter in 1968 and they had a son, Rupert, the following year. The marriage in the mayhem lasted until 1973. Viv played in a variety of bands after the Bonzos, including the Sean Head Showband, Bonzo Dog, Freaks, and Big Grunt. Eric Clapton joined Sean Head for the single Labio Dental Fricative, while Viv continued to mix alcohol and Valium to deal with his anxiety problems. The result was quite the opposite, as he teamed up with The Who’s manic drummer, Keith Moon, for wild pranks on and off stage, which can only have given more causes for anxiety. Moon did produce a mock crooning single, Suspicion, for him however. Viv also took over the John Peel radio show for a few sessions which he transformed into another comic caper. The BBC repeated some episodes from their archives in 1996. A first solo album was released in 1974 entitled Men Opening Umbrellas Ahead (parody title of the roadsign for men working on the road). It was a jazz-rock outing featuring Steve Winwood and Jim Capaldi from Traffic, Neil Innes, Ric Gretch from Family and Blind Faith, and soul singers Doris Troy, and Madeline Bell. It was re-released in 2010. Viv’s continued mockery of the (self appointed) ‘upper classes’ took the form of an oration about Sir Henry Rawlinson at Rawlinson End which went out first on on Radio 1. In 1978 it was released as an album, and then as a film in 1980 with Trevor Howard in the title role and Viv as his younger brother. Then it was released as a book. Rawlinson’s disasterous African expedition was the subject of the follow-up, Sir Henry at N’didi’s Kraal, in 1964. Viv was living on house boat moored in the Thames near Shepperton from 1977 to 1983 and produced the recording for the album there. Sir Henry was disinterred for a Ruddles ale advert in 1994 with Viv and Dawn French. In the ‘70s and ‘80s, Viv was found guesting with live bands and on recordings by other artists, like Mike Oldfield, on Tubular Bells, and in 1975 on a rock version of Peter and the Wolf featuring a host of stars. When Ronnie Lane left The Small Faces in 1973 for a ‘gypsy’ lifestyle and to take a touring rock circus on the road, Viv was the ringmaster. He married for the second time in 1980, to his long time girlfriend Pamela ‘Ki’ Longfellow. In 1981 his third solo album was Teddy Boys Don’t Knit. Pamela helped him to write Stinkfoot, a Comic Opera. In 1982 he added spoken word to the single, Lovely Money by The Damned. When Viv and Pam’s houseboat sank, they bought a bigger boat that was moored at Bristol Docks, which Pam turned into a floating theatre, The Old Profanity Showboat, and put on a performance of Stinkfoot there. The play was moved unsuccessfully to London’s Bloomsbury Theatre, but was revived again in 2010. In 1991 the BBC showed a 15 minute Biography Viv Stanshall the Early Years, aka Crank and in 1994 a Radio 4 biography was entitled Viv Stanshall, Essex Teenager to Renaissance Man. Viv’s death was the result of a house fire when he was staying in a flat in Muswell Hill in 1995. It was followed by a celebrity funeral. After the Bonzo’s records, as a solo artist he had six singles between 1970 and ‘81, four albums between 1974 and ‘84 and guested on many other artists’ albums. In 2015 in Camden, the remaining Bonzos and guests reformed for a 50th anniversary gig, but without the charismatic lead of Viv it could only be rather lackluster, even with help from Phill Jupitus and Ade Edmondson.
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Music and Blues in the City by Nick Garner It is now March how the year is flying by already. There is so much going on - Shakey has now held the semi finals for Essex Undiscovered and the final is being on 12th March at Chinnerys in Southend. We also have the Panic Awards looming with the award ceremony at the Civic Theatre on 16th April... Who will this year’s winners be?
I must say I am so proud to be part of Jamie Williams and the Roots Collective; we have just launched our fourth CD and it is our first live one Live ‘n’ Kickin’ at the Brasenose Arms. It was recorded last August at Fairport Convention’s Cropredy Fringe Festival. We are very proud of it and it seems to be going down well with the radio DJs and we are getting some great reviews in the press as well. We have a busy year ahead as we playing all over the UK. To find where we are playing it’s best to visit our website, www.jwroots.co.uk. It’s Your Music, in conjunction with Chelmsford City Football Club, put on our first gig of the year with The Rollin’ Clones, which was a great success with lots of people singing and dancing along to all the classic Stones songs. We will have them back next year I am sure. Do not forget that on Saturday 19th March we have two great bands; if you like Eddie & the Hot Rods, The Members, The Vibrators, Wilko Johnson’s Solid Senders or Tonight, then this is the show for you with Class of ‘76 who are described as the ultimate tribute to the punk/ new wave era. Unique in the fact that all the band members were hitting the airwaves and headlines at the time and are none other than Barrie Masters (vocals), Simon Nicol (drums), Nigel Bennett (guitar) and Russ Strutter (bass). Headline Maniac will open the show, they have been described as ‘rising from banks of the Thames Delta, a tsunami of sound, a kick ass piece of pure rock’n’roll thuggery!!’ Welcome to the world of Headline Maniac who will also be using this show as the official launch of their critically acclaimed first CD titled Headline Maniac. They are Simon Bowley (drums and vocals) Dipster (bass and lead vocal) and Chris Taylor (guitar) - they are all also three fifths of the current Eddie & the Hot Rods line-up.
Blues in the City has a busy month ahead, we have been booking acts for the festival at the end of September and wow, we are getting a great line-up together for you to enjoy. More about that in the coming issues. Last month’s show was a change to the original billed Bex Marshall who will now be playing on Wednesday 17th August. What a show we had though, we opened with Essex legends, Steve English and Fergie Fulton as the Dicemen Brothers - guitar and vocal by Steve and double bass and vocal by Fergie - they certainly got everyone’s attention, an act to keep your eyes and ears open for. Then our good friend Katie Bradley put together what I can only describe as a supergroup for us with some of Kent and the UK’s finest musicians, with Katie on vocal and harmonica, Dudley Ross on guitar, Nigel Fiest harmonica and vocal, David Gwilliam guitar and vocal, Doctor Bob on bass and Wez Johnson on drums. They stunned all who attended the night and it was a good turnout. I have to say this is one of the best shows I have put on, both acts were stunning. Coming up, we have our second Essex Delta Blues Day on Saturday 12th March at The Bassment in Chelmsford. It runs with 18 acts on
two stages playing nonstop from noon to midnight and all the acts hail from or came from, Essex. See our poster in the magazine for the full line-up and timings. Tickets are just £10 in advance or £12 on the day and can be bought in advance from The Bassment, The Hop Beer Shop in Moulsham Street and Intense Records in Viaduct Road (near the bus and rail station). We will issue wristbands so you can come and go throughout the event. On Wednesday 16th March we have a double-header with Richard Townend’s Mighty BossCats. We also welcome back the great Big Joe Bone who wowed the audience at The Bassment Blues Day last November. That is about it for this month, you will find out more of what’s on and where in our sister magazine, Chelmsford the City Times. Keep on supporting live music as I say without you we will lose it. www.facebook.com/bluesinthecity @BluesintheCity1 www.bluesinthecity.co.uk www.facebook.com/itsyourmusic
Film in Chelmsford ‘Tis the Season for Awarding
the vulnerable and create a free and hopeful world that would never go thirsty again. The female action heroine is a rare film character, and Theron played her so brilliantly I’m saddened that she’s been ignored for awards season.
In recent months it’s been almost impossible to avoid talk of film award season, first the BAFTAs and now the Academy Awards, better known as the Oscars. A quick run-down of the winners so far: The Revenant won five BAFTAs out of the eight it was nominated for and Mad Max: Fury Road scored four wins out of seven nominations. These films are unlike any I’ve seen before. The Revenant’s long lingering takes are hypnotising. The film is beautiful, peaceful and achingly emotional - whilst on the subject, Leonardo DiCaprio once again proved his unfaltering skill and unequivocally deserves the Oscar for Best Actor. Mad Max was a visceral experience, an attack on the senses of noise and costume and action, and nudges the audience to imagine what could become of humanity if we destroyed our planet. My biggest disappointment this year is the lack of mention for Charlize Theron in Mad Max. She gave a raw and captivating performance as Furiosa; a fiercely strong and selfless warrior, who wanted to save
This point is raised for me time and time again and has been thrown into sharp relief this year with the controversy surrounding the lack of diversity being represented in nominations. This is an important issue that should not be ignored, but each year there are talented actors, actresses, crew members and creators who are overlooked, regardless of their gender, race or sexuality. When you read this, the Academy Awards 2016 will be over, and I hope that those who deserved awards have not been hard done by, but I don’t believe those in the film industry should have their talent or worth measured by these awards. As has been repeatedly demonstrated, everyone makes mistakes - especially the Academy. Hopefully, the resultant shakeup of the rules will maybe give back to the Oscars a little of the credibility it has lost amid this diversity row. My main concern this year is realising how many films I wanted to see at the cinema and how many I missed. Too many films, so little time. By Caitlin Lupton
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MT Therapy by Jenny Hartill Hi there folks, today I was going to write about behaviourism and operant conditioning looking at the work of BF Skinner. However, I have come across another subject I felt would be interesting to write about, plus sometimes it’s nice to take a break from the heavy stuff and take a more light-hearted approach!
Anyway, I noticed that there seems to be some confusion over the subject of counselling. I’m not talking about the ins and outs, I’m actually talking about the spelling of it! Over the years I have encountered many a spelling of counselling or counsellor. Although obviously I bear in mind the fact that some clients may be dyslexic, have learning difficulties or don’t speak perfect English, in fact mostly this isn’t an issue I come across. Some people genuinely either are not aware of the difference in spelling between a counsellor and a councillor, or they use the American spelling. Occasionally I do come across those who don’t know how to spell the term. Now, my concern is that if someone is looking for a counsellor but they type in councillor to a search engine, they are likely to find information about their local councillors that work for the local council, deal with local government etc as opposed to a trained professional who can help with their issues. If you type ‘councilling’ into Google, it does correct you, but what if you don’t know the correct spelling is ‘counselling’? What if you don’t know what the BACP is or the Counselling Directory? What if you’re so concerned by your issues that you think you’ve done yet another thing wrong and so just give up? Or you’re convinced you have the correct spelling? Today folks I want to explain the differences between the most common spellings, why counselling and counsellor are spelled the way they are, and the true meanings of the alternative spellings, because some of these words do genuinely exist and some do not, that I can find as part of my research (please correct me if you find these do exist!). I didn’t want to repeat ‘word doesn’t exist’ at the end when I give my results because I’m not trying to berate anyone for misspelling, that isn’t the point of this article. I wanted to explain where the word comes from, so I’ve just included what my Google research came up with for each spelling at the end of this article. To start, here are the most common spellings for ‘counsellor’ or ‘counselling’ that I have come across: Councilling/Councillor Councelling/Councellor Counceiling/Counceilor Counsilling/Counsillor Counseling/Counselor There are probably loads of spelling variations of these but I’ve provided above a snapshot of what I have come across. I also took to social media and asked colleagues what variations themselves or other counsellors had come across, their responses are included above. The first ‘councillor’ and last ‘counseling/counselor’ on the list above do certainly exist, but not in terms of British psychotherapy. Allow me to explain: Councillor: A member of a council, like Essex County Council, Chelmsford City Council, in the words of Wikipedia: “According to Debrett’s Correct Form the English title ‘Councillor’ (often shortened to ‘Cllr’) applies only to elected members of city, borough or district councils. However, there is no legal basis for this restriction and in practice the title is applied to all councillors at all levels of local government.” Counseling: This is the American spelling of our British counselling. Counselor: This is the American spelling of our British counsellor. 20
The point of the spelling is that both words, whether spelled in the American or the British way, is that they both come from the word ‘counsel’. In the words of the Oxford Dictionary: counsel noun 1 [ mass noun ] advice, especially that given formally. “with wise counsel a couple can buy a home that will be appreciating in value.” • archaic consultation, especially to seek or give advice. “he took much counsel with him.” 2 (pl.same) a barrister or other legal adviser conducting a case: “the counsel for the defence.” verb (UK: counsels, counselling, counselled; US: counsels, counseling, counseled) [ with obj. ] give advice to (someone): “careers officers should counsel young people in making their career decisions.” • give professional help and advice to (someone) to resolve personal or psychological problems: “he was being counselled for depression.” • recommend (a course of action): “the athlete’s coach counselled caution.” Righto, now we move on to the spellings myself and some other therapists reported they had come across. As I mentioned above I did some research on this, I’m the sort of person where if I spot a pattern I like to investigate to see how wide it goes. I was coming across the same spellings, not knowing whether these spellings actually existed. I gave myself two questions to answer: 1. Are these misspellings of ‘counselling/counsellor’ or is the person contacting me looking for another service? 2. If these are misspellings, have my colleagues come across the same? Here are the spelling results from my research again and what these words mean, brought to you in the way of the Google Search: Councilling: Search for this and you’ll get: ‘showing results for counselling’. Councillor: Search for this and Google tells you: ‘a member of a council’. Councelling: Search for this and you’ll get: ‘showing results for counselling’. Councellor: Search for this and you’ll get: ‘did you mean councillor?’ The rest of the page shows other searches correcting the spelling to counsellor. Counceiling: Search for this and you’ll get: ‘showing results for counselling’. Counceilor: Search for this and you’ll get: ‘showing results for counselling’ along with a lovely Google definition of a counsellor. Counsilling: Search for this and you’ll get: ‘showing results for counselling’. Counsillor: Search for this on Google and it asks you if you meant ‘Councillor’ and then gives you the definition of the word ‘councillor’. Counseling: On Google I got a mixture of American and British companies offering counselling in the area, probably because this is the American spelling, but my country on my laptop is set to UK. Counselor: This time I got an article entitled Psychologist versus Counselor… what’s the difference? and all American websites. For the record, in the UK a psychologist is someone who does research, evaluates and studies behaviour, and does not provide therapy. Unless they are a counselling psychologist of course… So, there you have it folks. I hope I’ve cleared things up just in case anyone was wondering about the seemingly many spellings of counselling and counsellor. I guess that’s one of the reasons I call myself a therapist - sometimes it just makes life a little simpler... If I can be of any help, or for more information about counselling and/or hypnotherapy services, please visit www.cloud9-therapy. co.uk.
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How to Improve Your Self-Esteem by Mark Roberts What is self-esteem?
Develop your Confidence
Self-esteem is the degree to which we value ourselves as human beings and how we perceive our value to others and the world at large. It impacts on virtually every area of life, from personal relationships to career.
It is really important to remember that everybody has strengths and weaknesses. Take time to recall your own strengths and where necessary, ask somebody that you trust to help you identify yours. When you have listed these, engineer situations where you can put them into practice - this will reinforce your perception of your stronger self.
It is common to think of self-esteem in terms of being high, or low and there are a range of traits that may be associated with either end of this spectrum. You will be aware of many of them, but for the sake of clarity I have listed a few of them here. People with high self-esteem will have confidence in themselves and their own strengths and abilities. They hold themselves in high regard and usually have a high regard for others, extending to an ability to trust more easily. Other traits will generally include an optimistic outlook on life and an ability to cope with a wide range of emotions. People with low self-esteem are more likely to experience a negative view of life and their place within it. Their low self-regard will often extend to a low regard for others. This can lead to mistrust and a culture of blame. Low self-esteem can lead to a personal view of being unloved and possibly being unlovable. In some cases, severe low self-esteem may lead to more serious conditions such as anxiety, or depression. Whilst self-esteem is the degree to which we value ourselves, it is in essence a perception, reinforced through life experiences. Typically, the development of self-esteem will have begun in childhood: Things that we heard, saw, or experienced through persons or organisations of influence, such as family, friends and school will have helped to shape our personal belief systems. Belief systems are key to our expectations, which in turn, reinforce our experience.
Learn to Say No Don’t feel that you have to say yes to people just for any easy life and because you want to be a people-pleaser. If you really do not want to do something, just say no, because saying yes may just overburden you. Very few relationships are destroyed by saying no. Those that are probably weren’t worth having anyway. Challenge Yourself As your confidence begins to grow, set yourself some challenges outside of your comfort zone. It doesn’t have to be something huge, just something challenging. Your efforts will be repaid in spades as your sense of self-worth grows. And finally… Celebrate your successes! To your success… For more about Mark Roberts, visit his Facebook page at www.facebook.com/intelligentlifestrategies.
We carry the voices and experiences of our past with us through life - good or bad. We often find ourselves echoing those voices and reliving the experiences again and again. This then becomes our expectation and it affects how we perceive life and our place within it. The classification of self-esteem being high, or low is of course an over-generalisation and it completely overlooks the range of emotions that exists inbetween. In truth, our levels of self-esteem will vary throughout life, because there will always be circumstances that either knock us down, or boost us up. A healthy self-esteem will of course enable us to deal with those range of emotions more effectively. The perceptions formed during early life tend to stay with us, and any negative views we hold about ourselves can be difficult to shake off unless challenged. To help you with this, I have set out 6 tips below to get you started on the road to building a healthy self-esteem. Challenging Negative Beliefs Many of our most seemingly fixed beliefs are formed when we are young children and have developed over time and been carried into adulthood. It is worth looking at strongly held negative beliefs and reviewing how they were first learned and why they were believed. Then seek evidence that disproves them and write it down. Dealing with Negative Thoughts Remember, thoughts are not real things, they are just that - thoughts. They can however if left unchecked, fuel the cycle of self-doubt, reinforcing negative beliefs. So, when negative thoughts enter your mind just sit quietly and notice them, without any reaction. Do not allow your mind to follow the thought along its predictable path, just notice it and watch it disappear into the nothingness that it is.
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Wine Corner
Hello everyone. Hope you are getting on OK and not getting blown away by the strong winds that are here whilst I write this. It is not a good feeling, looking out of the window expecting to see a horizontal fence panel go flying by and hoping it’s not mine, (actually that’s a bit mean I suppose). By the way, I have been reading a lot recently about binge drinking, but try as I might I can’t find a single shop that sells binge. This month, I thought that I would research the history of wine making. It seems that it has been about for some time. It is thought that wine was first made in, or around Iran, in about 6000 BC, so I guess that should be ready to drink now. Moving forward to Egyptian times, there are hieroglyphics that show evidence of binge drinking. I wonder it there also tablets carved with warnings about this from the government. This Egyptian wine would have tasted very different to that which we drink today, as they included stuff like dates, figs and palm. Quite sweet. An acquired taste, I guess. Fermentation converts the sugar from the grapes, which, when the yeast releases enzymes that bind and react to the sugar. This makes the alcohol (ethanol), so the amount of alcohol produced depends on the sugar. However, the maximum percentage of alcohol yeast can survive in is 15%, so anything over this will sweeten the wine. Although a favourite of the pharaohs, wine was also used for other things, like sedating women during childbirth! Then along came the Greeks. It is believed that the Phoenicians (from the area now know as Lebanon, Israel and Syria) introduced them to the pleasures of wine consumption and apparently Alexander the Great took wine appreciation into Asia. Ancient Greek wine became popular in Europe and vine cuttings were imported into many continental countries in the years that followed. So next time you are in Greece, don’t forget to show your appreciation by taking a sip of their wine. Bring on the Romans. As you may expect, the Romans took their wine seriously, classifying grapes, using wooden barrels, recognising how the kind of wood used influenced the actual taste of the wine. They spread the art of wine making to each of the countries that they conquered; so now we say ‘cheers’ to them! Now the good old monks got in on the act. They seemed to have quite a big part to play and I don’t think it was just to encourage people to join the order. They used wine for holy communion, but only in a watered down version. I don’t know if that was to save money or avoid lots of people staggering out of the church at the end of the service. As they spread the word all over Europe, they often seemed to set up vineyards and get the old wine going.
about fifteen grand - yes, £15,000! I am now interested, so I go online and find a site where you enter a name or hobby and a list of numbers come up. I entered JONNY. Loads there For nearly £16K I could have JON 52, for £22K JON 1N, £2.5k gets me H110 NNY. What!? I have come to the conclusion that my brain does not work in the same way as the people who sell these. Talking of numbers on cars, many years ago I had parked my trusty Ford Anglia, registration number COW 579C, in a car park. I returned later to find that there was a car parked next to mine, registration MOO 802D. It gave me a laugh and if that had happened now, out would come the phone, a few clicks and there we go, on social media to be spread around the world. (Who am I trying to kid, one of my grandchildren would have to be with me to achieve that, as I struggle just to make a phone call on my Windows phone!) As, at the time, my Kodak Instamatic was safely in its case in the sideboard drawer at home, I have no record. So personalised plates can be expensive but I have decided to go the cheaper route. I have found that to change your name by deed pole costs £33, so please note that from next Friday by name is NA65JVJ, a truly personalised plate, I am sure you will agree. So, wine making has been around for many years. Now world production is about 275 million hectolitres (sounds like a medical condition to me). Italy leads the way with 49,000, France a close second with 47,000, followed by Spain - 37,000. USA is right up there at fourth, next is Argentina and Chile at about 13,000 each. As I have mentioned before, Languedoc-Roussillon in the south of France produces some lovely wines. Many are Vin de Pays, which may put some people off, but please do not let that be you. I have had a few bottles of a Merlot from there, a very nice wine at a reasonable price, lovely. Until recently, this was the worlds largest wine-producing area, producing a wide range of wines, including the sparkling Cremant de Limoux, which is said to be the world’s first sparkling wine. So take a chance and look out for the wines from this area, I don’t think that you will be disappointed. Bin end chuckles... Who sings great country songs but gives everyone a cold? Billy Ray Virus! Apparently a manager at a local resturaunt got sacked last week after an employee lost a finger in a food processor accident... They said he had not carried out a full whisk assessment. Keep calm and carry on drinking (in moderation).
In the late 1800s, little insects called the phylloxera aphid (which attack the roots of the vines) raged across many vineyards in France. Fortunately, it was discovered that American vines were immune to the disease and these roots were graphed onto French vines to save the day. All vineyards were replanted and so they are immune today.
Do you find personalised number plates distracting? I was following a car recently and found myself looking at the number plate. It was on a very new model 4X4, so I deduced it must be a personalised plate. Now for the distraction. The number was GE02 GEE so I find myself trying to work out what it was supposed to be... Three miles down the road, having missed my turning twice, I still can’t make it out. I’m not sure a personalised plate is valid if it has to be explained. Anyway, I worried about this all day, so when I get home I do some research. Well, l don’t know if you’ve got it, but it turns out to be GEORGE, and if that was my name, I could have bought it for 22
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Rotary - Rotary Club Supports Paralympic Medal Hopeful Rotary fosters many forms of assistance for people in need and in our particular district, this includes the promotion of the national Rotary Disabled Sports Championships. In 2012, Essex made a long awaited comeback to the competition when funding was secured through many of the 60 Rotary clubs coming together to make a financial commitment for this worthy cause. Richard Chiassaro was a member of Team Essex at the time and as a member of Harlow Athletic Club, he trained several of the Team Essex athletes and has been instrumental in helping the Rotary put their Essex team together for the competition, with the lead club being Hadleigh Castle. Richard won a Gold Medal in 2012 at the Paralympic World Cup - T54 100m Wheelchair - and is currently ranked number one in the UK for T54 100m and 200m. His dreams of competing in the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio hit a well publicised major setback in December 2015 when his £8,000 race chair was vandalised. Thanks to the generous support and donations from the community, Richard has been able to replace the damaged chair. Local Rotary clubs are proud to support Richard on his road to Rio with a £500 donation to date towards his training expenses. From his training camp Richard sent us this message:
new members who want to give something to the community. We are not talking about money, but time, energy, experience and expertise - and while you are at it, you will make lifelong friendships along the way. To find out more, visit www.chelmsfordrotary1240.org or call me on the number below. Regards Stan Keller 01245 260349 (office)
“The training is really good here, I am improving already and I am getting higher speeds which is amazing. I can’t thank you enough. That money will help so much as I have equipment that needs replacing after all these miles here. So far I have covered over 134 miles. Your donation will help replace my tyres. “Thank you to the Rotary for your support for me and the lads you take away every year, it has been amazing.” It’s always nice to receive thanks but that is not why Rotary gets involved. Rather, if we see a need, then we will endeavour to help. The 33rd Disabled Sports Championships were held in Coventry over the weekend a while ago and a team of 15 disabled children and adults were taken to represent Essex at the games without any expense to the competitors. Rotarians, athletes and carers experienced a frantic, but fun-filled weekend of sport and fellowship. The team completed in 13 different events, including boccia, curling, darts, weightlifting, shooting, table tennis, swimming, pitstop and slalom. We were very pleased to be awarded four trophies at the closing ceremony for: ‘Team that showed the greatest team spirit and had the noisiest supporters’, ‘A valiant attempt to win pitstop’, ‘Athlete who put in the best performance’ (which was awarded to Joe Strike our male weightlifter) and ‘Athlete who showed the greatest enthusiasm’ (which was awarded to Adam Goldspink-Burgess). Adam was also awarded the David Lee Trophy for Essex Team Personality at the games and this will be presented to him in May. This year several new athletes were welcomed to the team and we are pleased to say they all asked if they could come again next year, such is the enthusiasm and bonding that these events engender. Rotarians and athletes are looking forward to the 2016 event where we very much hope to add to our trophy cabinet. Rotary changes lives and we are always on the look out for www.moulshamtimes.com
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Not so Lonely Planet... by Dan Skeates Once upon a very long time ago, back in 1989 when I was 24, I purchased my first Lonely Planet - SouthEast Asia on a Shoestring. I didn’t know many people who had or even knew about the wonders of Lonely Planet but to me it was a cool book. I headed off with my rucksack and Lonely Planet, no mobile, no laptop or tablet, I phoned my mum every month or so to let her know I was still alive while my friends had to wait until I returned home a year later to tell me about what had been happening in their world. There was no Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. My Lonely Planet was my bible, I read it, made notes on pages inside with a pen - yes, we still wrote things down in those distant days in the late ‘80s. I treasured my bible and happily let other travellers read it. It was like a comfort blanket for the overlander. It’s now 2016 and 27 years later. I left Krabi (Thailand) on an old small wooden boat, 10 people crammed onto 3 or 4 small worn benches with the odd remnant of varnish on the edges. The young tattooed Thai guy took control of the boat, powered by an old car engine perched on the incredibly long propeller shaft. I love the ingenuity and skills used in Asia to recycle and engineer odds and ends into everyday essentials.
As we headed out into the Anderman Sea, we bounced off the waves as we skirted around the coast to Railey Beach. There were no roads, the only access was by this rickety old boat. I was in backpacker territory and the oldest on the boat! Blue seas, blue sky and amazing limestone islands towering out of the sea. The 40 minute journey cost £3. The ‘Lonely Planet Effect’ - maybe it’s unavoidable, someone discovers somewhere unique, amazing, wonderful, they tell a friend, and then it ends up online on a travel forum, and then… Lonely Planet include it in the latest edition. The once ‘cool’ travel bible is now not cool at all - if anything, it helps people like me decide where not to go. I know it’s full of the most amazing wonderful and beautiful places, but for me they stop becoming amazing, wonderful and beautiful when 10,000 other people are there.
I’m getting old, I now enjoy having a rant about small things that annoy me. I enjoy this new-found characteristic, it makes me smile knowing I’ve joined this enlightened group. Today I have a few Lonely Planet eBooks that people have downloaded onto my laptop, but I don’t look at them, I prefer to wander free.
Lonely Planet is a victim of its own success, its metamorphosed into a monster. I imagine there was a time when McDonald’s wasn’t a monster? Maybe not! The beach at Railey was without doubt one of the most beautiful and magical I have ever seen. Limestone islands were pushing out of the bright blue sea, jungle came to the edge of the beach, it could so easily have been paradise if thousands of other people hadn’t been there too. It should have been a photo moment, a moment to digitally store on my MacBook. I imagined the photo and moved around trying to find the perfect angle, I eventually gave up as the moment in my mind was so beautiful and peaceful, while the reality was I couldn’t find a place without crowds of people. I could always ‘photoshop’ them out I thought!
Some places are good to visit, pop in and pop out, others demand staying for a while, even putting down roots. This was, for sure, a pop in and pop out place! It’s all about the people - but not 10,000 people! I need to slow down, stop, engage and connect with the locals. One good thing about (not so) Lonely Planet is that I now know where the masses go, this means that if a place isn’t included, I generally go there.
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New Home Needed for Chelmsford Foodbank Chelmsford Foodbank Warehouse are in need of a new home from the beginning of March following the end of their current lease. With plans progressing for new housing at the former Essex County Council libraries headquarters in Goldlay Gardens in Chelmsford, it is necessary for the short-term agreement between the council and the foodbank to come to an end in the coming weeks. With this being the third move in two and a half years, the foodbank are keen to find a more permanent home. Project Manager, Ruth Leverett said: “Since Chelmsford Foodbank’s inception in 2012, we have been fortunate to secure premises to use as a warehouse for below commercial rent. This allows more of the money given to foodbank to have a direct impact on the people who need our help the most.” The projects seeks to provide food parcels with three days of food to local people in crisis and since its start, has distributed over 71.5 tonnes of food and fed 5,949 adults and 2928 children. Cllr John Spence, Cabinet Member for Housing at Essex County Council added: “I am very pleased that we have been able to support the foodbank over the past few months through a lease on our vacant premises. They have been a good tenant. However, the long-term aim is to develop this site for much needed housing and we are now reaching the point where surveys and work taking place will mean it is unsuitable for food storage and so we can no longer make it available. “The foodbank provides a fantastic local service and I do hope an alternative provider comes forward.” The requirements for the foodbank, run by the charity Oasis Church, are for a 3,000 sq ft building in a Chelmsford location from where the donated food can be stored and processed into packages which go to their distribution centres to give out to clients.
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Anyone who is able to help with this need is asked to contact the foodbank on 01245 790769, or email info@chelmsford.foodbank. org.uk.
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Kid’s Page by Alexander Aged 7.
SNOW LEOPARD TIMMY the
INVESTIGATING PEOPLE AND PLACES ACROSS ESSEX
COLCHESTER
Welcome to Timmy the Snow Leopard’s page. This time Timmy has visited Colchester in Essex.
In 1998 a nationwide poll voted Colchester one of the best places in Britain to live for 'quality of life’. If you live there then we hope you love it too. Timmy liked visiting the shops in Colchester High Street. nnn
Here are some facts about Colchster:
1. Colchester is home to
Colchester United Football Club.
2. Almost 105,000 people live there.
3. The River Colne runs through the town.
Colchester is Britain's oldest recorded town. In AD77 a Roman writer by the name of Pliny the Elder described the location of the Isle of Anglesey as being 'about 200 miles from Camulodunum, a town in Britain'. This was the Roman name for Colchester and is the earliest known reference to a settlement in Britain, hence the claim to be Britain's oldest recorded town. The town is also home to the University of Essex and is well known for its links with the army. Colchester is also famous for Oysters which are grown off the coast of Mersea Island and enjoyed yearly at the Colchester Oyster Feast in the Town Hall. y gm
in ead
r for s k an
er d n a x Ale
Th e pag
tor Edi 7 1/2 Age
Ami’s Diary
I went to see Jamie Lawson at the O2 Forum in Kentish Town and he was amazing, especially as it was a small venue.
My broken arm is healing really well which I am pleased about as we have been rehearsing for two shows at Theatretrain. One is for Passion Play which we are performing in Chelmsford City Centre on Good Friday. Also, I auditioned for a main role in Peter Pan and I am thrilled to have been cast as John, so there is lots to learn and I didn’t want my arm to hold me back. I was due to attend a casting for a main role in a short film being filmed in Essex, but I had to turn it down as it was going to be filmed when I will be rehearsing and performing with Theatretrain. I have completed another self-tape audition for a main role in a feature film. I had over a month to send it in and the director even contacted me to make sure I was definitely going to submit an audition! I was surprised about that, as they don’t usually contact individuals, so hopefully it is a good sign... The zombie film I acted in has been shown at various festivals and has been in quite a few magazines and received really good reviews, so that’s good for my portfolio. There is a Doctor Who audio version going to be recorded and I am going to be performing the part of Martha Jones who was one of the Doctor’s assistants. I am really excited about it and I am currently waiting to receive the scripts. The media promotion has started for the 4-part Channel 4 documentary about my agency. It is called The Kids Casting Agency and it is going to be aired when The Jump has finished, so not long to wait now…
Easter Facts The UK’s first chocolate egg was produced in 1873 by Fry’s of Bristol. The tallest chocolate Easter egg ever was made in Italy in 2011. At 10.39 metres in height and 7,200kg in weight, it was taller than a giraffe and heavier than an elephant! 76% of people eat the ears on chocolate bunnies first. In 2007, an Easter egg covered in diamonds sold for almost £9 million Sales at Easter time make up 10 per cent of UK chocolate spending for the whole year. The world’s most popular egg-shaped chocolate is Cadbury’s Creme Egg. Workers at Cadbury in Birmingham produce 1.5 million of these very day. The custom of giving eggs at Easter has been traced back to Egyptians, Persians, Gauls, Greeks and Romans, for whom the egg was a symbol of life.
Family Friendly Jokes Knock, knock... Who’s there? Lettuce Lettuce who? Lettuce in, we’re freezing! Knock, knock... Who’s there? Who Who who? Is there an owl in here? Knock, knock... Who’s there? Nobel Nobel who? No bell, that’s why I knocked! Knock, knock. Who’s there? Harry. Harry who? Harry up, it’s cold out here!
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Can February March? No, but April May! What did the spider do on the computer? Made a web site! What did the computer do at lunchtime? Had a byte! Why did the computer squeak? Because someone stepped on its mouse! What do you get when you cross a computer and a lifeguard? A screensaver! Where do all the cool mice live? In their mousepads
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Moulsham Lodge Communtiy Trust Neighbourhood Wildlife Day Saturday 12th March 2016 10am - 4pm
We are delighted to announce that we have organised a Neighbourhood Wildlife Day on Saturday 12th March 2016 from 10am to 4pm at the Community Station and Scout Hut, Gloucester Avenue, Chelmsford, Essex CM2 9DS. As you know, British wildlife is gradually decreasing due to the loss of natural habitats and it is our gardens that could still provide the safe havens that wildlife so badly need to survive. We want to bring awareness of the issues and encourage people to make their gardens more wildlife-friendly. You can all help, no matter how big or small your garden. For example, are you aware that you need to avoid hedge trimming during the birds nesting season and when this is? We can show you how to create a log pile and see how much wildlife this can help. We can help you pick the best plants for bees and insects which in turn will provide food for our hedgehogs, frogs and other animals and birds. We will provide information and support on how to link our small garden spaces to make one large habitat for hedgehogs and other wildlife by leaving small holes and gaps under the hedges and fences. If we all work together, we can build our own local nature reserve right here in Moulsham Lodge, Tile Kiln and surrounding areas. We are lucky enough to have some well known organisations coming along to share their expertise including: • • •
• • • • • •
The Essex Badger Group The Wilderness Foundation Essex Beekeepers Association RSPB Essex Birdwatching Society Imperial Birds of Prey Academy
We are still awaiting final confirmation from additional fascinating exhibitors. This will be a very informative and rewarding day. There will be something for everyone from exhibit stalls, displays, activities for the children (including face painting) to illustrated talks throughout the day. If you would like to be involved by adding your own creation or ideas for our display, for example, bug hotels, hedgehog houses, woody escapes, please feel free to get in touch. This is our first wildlife event and is being organised by volunteers within our community, we would be grateful for any help you can give by either donating any quality raffle prizes that could help with the fundraising for this day, or any cakes to be brought to the centre the day before (Friday 11th March) or on the morning on Saturday 12th March - but please provide a list of ingredients for each item. If you would like any more information about the day, please contact Lorna on 07842 069950. The station will also be open every Friday afternoon (12 - 3pm) leading up to the day. The Neighbourhood Wildlife Day is free for you all to enjoy and in return, turn a piece of your garden into a little haven for all our wildlife! Email: info@mlct.org.uk.
Essex Wildlife Trust Essex Bat Group Hedgehog Haven
Cllr Mark Springett - Moulsham Lodge Ward One of my responsibilities at City Council is to chair the Overview & Scrutiny Committee. Under the council’s constitution, the committee’s chairman will normally be a member of the opposition of the council while the vice chairman will normally be a member of the majority group, it’s the only committee that has an opposition chairperson. This exists so that that majority party doesn’t ‘drink its own bathwater’ so to speak. I think this is a good practice for the council to have as it leads to greater transparency, after all, an opposition is always going to scrutinise and challenge the ruling party. The Overview & Scrutiny Committee is there to act as a channel for public involvement in the activities of the council and other bodies operating in the city, to oversee the proper and efficient administration of the council, to review the effectiveness of its work and services and to support and complement the activities of the cabinet, whilst at the same time scrutinising them and offering constructive comment or advice where appropriate. Some ‘new’ pieces of legislation that came into effect in 2009 placed additional duties on the council and in respect of which it was required to make arrangements for their discharge. The legislation concerned was The Police and Justice Act 2006, (Sections 19 -21), which placed a duty on all local authorities to scrutinise the activities of organisations comprising the local crime and disorder reduction partnership. This means once a year the committee receives an annual presentation by Essex Police and in February the committee received a presentation from Chief Inspector Alan Cook, Local Policing Area Commander, on performance information relating to offences in the Chelmsford district for the period from April to December 2015. The presentation focused on the Change Programme that had been 28
introduced partly to reduce costs, but also in response to a natural evolution in the way in which the police needed to prioritise and deliver its services. The new approach was evident in the service’s new strategic priorities and the way in which community policing was organised and resourced. Whilst the high priority strategic themes of tackling child abuse and exploitation, immigration/modern slavery, domestic abuse, urban street gang related violence and vulnerability appeared to be a departure from traditional policing models, it was clear that most aspects of criminality and crime prevention were linked to one or more of those themes. The new approach nonetheless reflected the traditional role of the service of seeking to protect the most vulnerable in society. In terms of overall performance, all crime had increased by 7.8% in 2015, which was partly accounted for by new arrangements for recording offences. The type of offence which constituted violence against the person had been broadened to include verbal and written abuse. Domestic abuse, which amounted to 10.8% of all crimes, remained a high priority for the police. Solved crime rates overall were down by 5.7%. The number of offences involving violence against the person, sexual offences, vehicle crime, certain types of theft and criminal damage had increased but the number of robberies, burglaries and some types of theft had decreased in 2015. Some of these figures are indeed worrying and adding slavery to the list in the 20th century seems like we are taking a step backwards. However, compared to other cities and indeed other countries, Chelmsford has a relatively low rate of crime and whilst we’ve seen a recent rise in knife crime, this alone doesn’t suggest Chelmsford is on the edge of any major crime wave, rest assured, although the police face tough challenges, their number one priority is to protect the public. As always you can contact me by email: cllr@markspringett.co.uk, or via Twitter @markspringett and if you are in Moulsham Lodge, I run a surgery on the first Saturday of every month at St Luke’s Church, Gloucester Avenue between 11am and 12 noon.
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Tile Kiln Corner by Linda Mascot
The heart of Tile Kiln consists of Tile Kiln Church, Mildmay Schools, The Clay Pigeon and a parade of shops - all pretty much unchanged on the exterior since they were built in the 1970s, what has evolved is the ‘Community Shop’ One Five Five, where Youth Pastor and good friend of mine James Bell has his office as well as offering a drop in centre (where tea and coffee is available) for all members of the community. I caught up with James as he pulled up on his Suzuki SV650 motorbike with it’s stunning ‘glitter prism’ respray as it was luminescing in the sunlight, to chat about the his role in our community.
with events like the Community Fun Day and street parties as well as Easter egg hunts, holiday clubs and a new venture for this year, Messy Church, where the whole family can come along have fun, hear a story from the Bible and share a meal together. Along with some long term ventures like the toddler group, pre-school and Food on Friday which both provide valuable support for all ages from birth to the elderly in our community. I am also a governor at Mildmay Junior School Academy and regularly visit Moulsham High school where, for the past 11 years, I have mentored individual students, taken assemblies and helped to run a lunchtime club. I speak at local secondary schools about my faith as well as also providing education on substance abuse. These are a few of the things that I am involved with as I don’t just work in the local community, I am part of it. It is my life to live out my faith everyday in all I do, that’s why I help people however I can whenever I can. I have a real desire to see everyone in our community - and ultimately city - feel valued and have a sense of belonging - with no strings attached!” For more information about the Family Easter Egg Hunt (3.30pm on 20th March), Holiday club (5-8th April), or Messy Church (10th April) please contact James on: jamesbe11@me.com, or phone 01245 698218.
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MICHAELS DRY CLEANERS & LAUNDERETTE
What brought you and your Family to Chelmsford - Tile Kiln in particular?
“Tile Kiln is a great community with so many people from different backgrounds who love to pull together for the greater good. Since being here I have had the privilege to live, work and serve in the local community and seen numerous events take place where people have met together and shared time, food and fun. There is a lot happening in our little community but also the opportunity for so much more that is dependant on each of us choosing to be involved in different events and opportunities.” What is your role within the community?
“I am employed by the local church as the Youth & Community Pastor, this role has a very wide scope and includes teaching and spiritual oversight of all the youth at our church, community engagement www.moulshamtimes.com
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“We moved to Chelmsford as a result of my gaining employment with a Telecomm’s company with offices in Harlow and London, I was subsequently made redundant and offered the opportunity to be the youth worker at Tile Kiln Church. It was then that we felt challenged that if we were to serve God at the church, then we would need to be part of the community that we sought to serve and so we moved to Tile Kiln. I was offered the chance to go to Bible college and be ordained as the youth pastor at the church, and have recently seen my role change again to that of Youth & Community Pastor at Tile Kiln Church.” Why is this such a great community?
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“SPECIALIST TEAMS ARE LOOKING FOR MISSING PERSON”
We’ve all seen the headlines when someone gets into trouble in the mountains or around the coast. But if you think that search and rescue only happens in the Scottish Highlands or out at sea, then think again. Every year literally thousands of people in Essex are reported as missing. Most of them soon turn up safe and well - but sometimes they don’t. If your family member or friend goes missing, you should contact the police. They will deal with the vast majority of incidents themselves, but sometimes they will call on trained volunteers to help.
Teams are given specific areas to search and off we go, usually - or so it seems - into the darkness, the wind and the rain. As areas are cleared, the teams use radios to notify the search manager, and are re-tasked with new areas to search. The team has a number of specialist units in addition to foot searchers. We have a K9 unit, with trained and qualified search dogs.
Trained volunteers play a vital role when the missing person - or ‘misper’ - is vulnerable for some reason. The misper could be elderly, or suffering from physical or mental illness. Sometimes of course a child can go missing. For any vulnerable misper, it is essential that they are found as quickly as possible. That’s when Essex Search & Rescue can help. Our 50 volunteers are trained to national standards in essential skills such as search techniques, communications, and first aid. We are on call 24 hours a day and in all weathers. If the police need us, they will call one of our search managers. This can be at 3 o’clock in the morning! Our search manager will use an express SMS text system to alert the team. The express system guarantees that text message is delivered within two seconds - time is of the essence. The team is given a rendezvous point (RVP) to meet with the Police Search Advisor (PolSA) and our search manager to be briefed before starting the search. We have an Incident Control Vehicle that we use as a base, and to transport our equipment. We have powerful torches for night searches, radio and IT equipment for communication and mapping and first aid equipment including a defibrillator and stretchers. Once at the RVP, we are briefed by the PolSA or search manager. We
We have a water unit, able to search riverbanks, watercourses and ponds. And we have a mountain bike unit, which we use to cover footpaths and open areas quickly. Essex Search & Rescue has been described as ‘one of the best kept secrets in Essex.’ Mountain rescue for example, which generally rescues injured walkers or climbers, is often on the news and deservedly so as they do tremendous work. But more often that not, there is a high degree of confidentiality around the mispers we look for in Essex, because they are vulnerable. That means details of individual searches often cannot be reported on. You might be surprised to know that we were founded as long ago as 2002. On 13th July last year, we were called out for the 500th time. That means we have been called out on average once every 9 days and in fact, 2015 was our busiest year ever. Our work is much appreciated by the families and friends of those who go missing, and by Essex Police, who recently tweeted: “We’d like to thank @EssexSAR for their continued support searching for missing people. Fantastic group of volunteers!”. We also won an award in the Police & Crime Commissioner’s ‘Outstanding Contribution’ event in January. It is a sad fact that anyone reading this magazine could be affected by these issues. Any one of us could find that a family member or friend has gone missing, often with no warning. At Essex Search & Rescue, we are here to help.
are told who has gone missing, when and where they were last seen, and any known medical conditions. Our members are divided into small teams. Each team has a team leader, a first aider and a radio operator, as well as a number of search technicians.
We are always looking for new team members, in both operational and support roles, who are looking to put something back into their community. No previous experience is necessary as all training can be given. Information: Anyone worried about a missing family or friend should always contact Essex Police, who will contact Essex Search & Rescue where needed. Essex Search & Rescue is a registered charity and receives no government or public funding. Our volunteers give up their time freely for training and operational callouts, and receive no payment or expenses. For more information, visit www.essexsar.org.uk, and you can also follow us on Twitter: @EssexSAR.
Highwood Property Maintenance
All aspects of roofing undertaken, Chimney repairs. gutters cleaned and repaired from £39, facias & soffits renewal and cleaning service, conservatories, driveways & patios cleaned. Painting, decorating & landscaping. Call for a free quote. 01245 422712/07711 606561
Auto Services
A well established local garage based in the heart of Chelmsford for all your motoring needs.
42 Milmay Rd, Chelmsford CM2 0DZ Tel: 01245 262869
SCRUFTS K9 DOG GROOMING & ALL THINGS CANINE UNIT 7 BEEHIVE BUSINESS CENTRE BEEHIVE LANE CHELMSFORD CM2 9TE 0333 121 2559 INFO@SCRUFTSK9.CO.UK www.scruftsk9.co.uk FREE FOOD DELIVERY TO YOUR DOOR LARGE RANGE OF HANDMADE HERBAL SUPPLEMENTS AND SHAMPOOS
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Quiz Answers 1. Berry Gordy Jnr 2. Detroit 3. Hitsville 4. Los Angeles 5. Jackie Wilson 6. Smokey Robinson 7. Marvin Gaye 8. Diana Ross 9. The Pips 10. David Ruffin 11. Stevie Wonder 12. Levi Stubbs 13. Dozier 14. Lionel Richie 15. Funk Brothers 16. Stevie Wonder 17. Marvelettes 18. Marvin Gaye 19. Isley Brothers 20. Obie Benson (Four Tops)
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Do you know someone who is blind or partiallysighted who would like a talking version of the Moulsham Times? We are working with Chelmsford Talking Newspaper to have the Moulsham Times recorded each month. You will be able to listen to a copy at soundcloud.com or use their usb stick service. Please email us at editorial@itsyourmedia.co.uk if you, or someone you know, is interested.
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4 Lady Lane - £339,995 Gladstone CourtLOUDER - £125,000 TRANSACTIONS SPEAK THAN WORDS!
SOLD SSTC MORE REQUIRED 2nd floor retirement apartment Resident House Manager 24 hour emergency pull-cords Lift to all floors
SOLD SSTC MORE REQUIRED
One bed bungalow for over 55s En suite shower room 24hr emergency careline Ample parking
SOLD SSTC MORE REQUIRED
Detached chalet bungalow Two bedrooms Off road parking No onward chain
Property of SOLD SSTC the Month MORE REQUIRED Osprey Way Guide price - £310,000
• Semi-detached house • Three bedrooms • Detached garage • Conservatory
SOLD SSTC SOLD SSTC Main Road - £299,995 Goodwin Close - MORE £325,000 Van Diemans Road £325,000 MORE REQUIRED REQUIRED Due to many recent successful sales in the OLD MOULSHAM area, we have a number of purchasers who have ’missed out’, we therefore • Victorian character house Modern link detached house Semi-detached house MORE PROPERTIES • Two bedrooms URGENTLY NEED Three bedrooms Three Bedrooms • 100ft rear garden Lounge 16’2 x 9’7 Scope for extension (stpp) to sell in west these locations. • No onward chain • South facing rear garden 130ft rear garden. CALL 01245 266980
FOR YOUR FREE NO OBLIGATION VALUATION
www.mccartneyestateagents.co.uk