Chelmsford The City Times May 2014

3 Can Bridge Way, Chemsford, CM2 0WP reception@westwoodhair.co.uk www.westwoodhair.co.uk May/June 2014 excl

Tel: 01245 251111 A chance to WIN VIP Tickets to The Fling Festival on 28th June at Hylands Park

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Issue Number 8 - May/June 2014

CT Welcome We have booked all of our acts for this years Fling Festival for our CCR/City Times stage (a chance to win a pair of tickets on page 7).

Our line up for the event is : • Undiscovered winners Looking For Liam • Leatherat • Papa Shango • The Sandpilots • Captain Morgan’s Rum Do • Jamie Williams & the Roots Collective • Eurielle • Pie Face Look forward to seeing some of you there.

Paul & Nick

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CT Fashion - Bridal Style Last month I discussed occasion wear and touched on bridal styles, this month I will be going into bridal shopping in more detail, as the wedding season will soon be upon us. If you are getting married this summer, or know someone that is, don’t panic, wedding dress shopping should be approached the same way you would buy any dress. If you take my style guide with you when you start your search, you won’t go far wrong.

Dress for your Shape When choosing ‘The One’, look for a dress shape that you would normally buy. Look for something that flatters your figure, as you will feel more comfortable on your big day and in turn, that will make you feel more confident, as well as look beautiful.

Apple Shape (wider waist, broad shoulders, bigger bust, with great legs and smaller hips)/ The classic 1950s dress, long or mid calf, is a great solution. The ball gown or A-line is very flattering for apples.

Avoid mermaid, column, bias cut, and basque styles (anything that is close fitting around the tummy and torso). Avoid spaghetti straps and one-shoulder styles. Scoop neck, v-necks or sweet heart necklines are good; avoid puff sleeves or a butterfly sleeve. Avoid detail on the torso.

Pear Shape (small bust, narrow shoulders, wider hips, bottom and thighs). Pick an empire line dress, or princess or A-line. Avoid mermaid, bias cut, column and ball gown styles, as these will accentuate your hips, thighs and bottom. Look for detail above the bust line, like lace, diamante, or beading, as this will draw attention to your top half. If you are happy with your arms, you could go strapless. Cap sleeves, ¾ length sleeves, or butterfly sleeves; these are all perfect options for a pear shape.

Column or Slim (narrow shoulders and narrow hips in line with each other, small bust, undefined waist and slim legs). Mermaid/trumpet or bias cut is perfect for you, as are sheath dresses or a column dress. Columns can go to town on detail, as you are not concerned with adding weight; draping, lace, sparkles, whatever takes your fancy. Strapless styles, spaghetti straps, and one shoulder styles, all look great on a column shape.

on a train to London, why not see if your perfect dress is nearer to home.

Emma Smith lives in Chelmsford and is a style consultant. She offers personal shopping and wardrobe planning sessions. You can contact her via her website: www.emmasmith.co.uk or email: emma@emmasmith.co.uk.

Chelmsford Cathedral Celebrates 100 Years of Baptism with Special Service To mark its centenary year, Chelmsford Cathedral is inviting all those who have been baptised there over the last 100 years to attend a special thanksgiving service. Taking place on Saturday 8 November 2014, the service will be followed by a delicious afternoon tea provided by the cathedral’s Mothers’ Union.

“Baptisms are one of the most important and special services we hold at the cathedral so it’s wonderful to be able to celebrate their history in this way,” says Canon Eileen French, Mothers’ Union Branch Leader. “We would love to welcome back those who have been baptised throughout the years at the cathedral and have every age, from one to 100, represented at the service.”

Tickets are available by application to the cathedral and will include one guest for each adult baptised or two parents with children.

Applications should be made in writing to Emma Andersen c/o Cathedral Office, New Street, Chelmsford, CM1 1TY by 30 September 2014.

Hourglass or Curvy (shoulders and hips at same width, defined waist, and big bust). Column, sheath, bias cut, ball gown, A-line and mermaid, all look good on an hourglass. In fact the only style to avoid is the empire line, as it would hide that great waist. You can do strapless, one shoulder, halter neck, scoop neck or v-necks. Avoid spaghetti straps or puff sleeves.

Location Location Location If you have decided on your venue and theme, does the dress fit in?

This may sound obvious, but it is important, as you could stick out for all the wrong reasons. This is not such an issue, if you are having a traditional wedding in a church or hotel. But if you are having a rustic country wedding and getting married in a barn, a ball gown style dress just won’t look right. Or are you getting hitched in a beach hut and your wedding car is a camper van? Then does your dress also need to be retro?

Research the Real Deal Research real weddings; when we start to look, we scan websites full of size 8 models wearing bridal gowns, this gives you an idea of styles available, but nothing compares to looking at real brides. Most wedding websites and bridal magazines have real wedding shots.

Also look at bridal blogs from UK bloggers, www.rockmywedding. co.uk and www.lovemydress.net are popular blogs, but there are tons more. The V&A are currently holding an exhibition of wedding dresses dating from 1775 to 2014 that will inspire any bride to be.

Lastly, don’t forget to check out those celebrities, they are a fantastic resource for do’s and most definitely dont’s.

Chelmsford and Essex have some great bridal shops; before you jump

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CT Cooking

Warm Thai Seafood Noodles with Sweet Chilli Wings Hello everyone, welcome to the May column of CT Cooking. Firstly, thank you for your suggestions for Chelmsford’s local dish. I have decided to largely disagree with you all and in celebration of Friday nights on Duke Street, nominate this to be fried chicken, specifically spicy hot wings washed down with lager. Tonight I’m off to bid farewell to lovely landlords Mags & Dave of Chelmsford’s premier real ale pub, the Woolpack. There we shall toast their retirement whilst shaking my ‘thang’, possibly even daring to indulge in a small twerk, a ‘twerkette’ if you please, to the world’s greatest party band, Squeal. If you haven’t heard them play, I would strongly recommend looking out for this bunch of talented, accomplished musicians - and their drummer.

I wish them well for the future.

I was overwhelmed with emotion by the numerous messages of support for cycling the 50 mile course for J’s hospice last week, practically sobbing as I read them both. To the good men of The League of Inebriated Gentleman, our cycling club, well done and thanks for keeping this unfit middle aged man on the right track.

Furthermore, good luck to fellow member and recent contributor to the Moulsham Times, Barry ‘Baz’ Stevens, who next week runs the Halstead marathon. I too would run twenty six miles to leave Braintree and we, your friends, look forward to hearing of the horrific by-products of running a marathon namely bleeding nipples and adult nappy rash - in due course. We’re all very proud of your efforts.

By John Jacobs Method:

Rice noodles will cook very quickly, so the trick is to soak them in cold water until they soften. Just before serving, plunge into boiling water to refresh them.

Heat up the oil in a pan until it’s just started to smoke and then add the curry paste.

Stand back and take in the incredible smell.

Throw in the mixed fish, chopped spring onions, half the chillies and cook for no more than a minute.

Plunge the softened noodles into boiling salted water to heat through. You can use soy sauce as a substitute to salt if, like me you’re, keeping sodium to a minimum.

Drain off the noodles and divide into 4 bowls.

Add the mixed seafood and garnish with the remaining chillies, chopped coriander, grated lime and sesame seeds.

For the wings, put these in a large bowl and cover generously with sweet chilli sauce, a spoon of honey, dash of soy sauce and a clove of chopped garlic. Cook in a medium hot oven until done and garnish with coriander.

So, turning to food for May, I don’t know about you but as the sun starts to creep through and we’re not returning home from work in the dark, my thoughts are turning to summer holidays. I’ve been lucky enough to travel the world sampling strange and wonderful dishes. One country that remains on my hit list is Thailand with its fragrant, colourful and delicious food. Here’s a take on a classic and in celebration of Chelmsford’s newly dubbed local dish, I’m adding some spicy sweet chilli chicken wings too. I’m using fiery mini yellow chillies but you can use the larger red ones if you’re not too keen on food that hurts. As ever, if you want to contribute your recipe ideas, please forward these to me at john@perfectlysimplecookery.co.uk.

Have a great month.

Chargrilled Specialists

Ingredients (serves 4) 250g dried rice noodles 250g mixed seafood (squid, prawns, mussels etc..)

A tablespoon sunflower oil 4 yellow chillies (chopped) 1 large red chilli sliced into rings Grated zest of unwaxed lime 2 tablespoons red Thai curry paste Bunch of coriander 2 spring onions Sprinkle of sesame seeds

14 Duke St Chelmsford, CM1 1HL 01245 767628

Free delivery on orders over £10 (within 3 mile radius)

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Kegs vs Cask by Simon Tippler In the 1970s CAMRA (Campaign For Real Ale) was born out of a reaction to the proliferation of bland, lifeless keg beer being promoted by the ‘big six’ breweries.

Here is the technical bit…..

Cask beer is a live product. The brewer fills the cask and places it in the cold storage room where is continues to ferment and condition until it is ready to go out to the pubs. In the pub, it is allowed to settle and the cask is opened at the top and a tap is hammered into the cask to allow the beer to come out. The addition of some oxygen into the cask, by allowing air to enter, causes the beer to change in flavour. Once the beer is being served it will only last a few days before too much oxidation has taken place and the beer is past its best. Keg beer is dispensed differently. It sits in the keg and is forced out by carbon dioxide (or other gasses such as a mix of nitrogen) this means that there is no oxygen introduced to the cask. This means that it will be able to be on the bar for much longer before going past its best.

Generally when people think of keg beer they are thinking of the keg beer produced by the large breweries where it is pasteurised and filtered to remove the yeast and ensure its longevity on the bar and also this makes it much easier for the landlord to look after.

Over the last few years some of the smaller, more experimental breweries in the country have been producing keg beer. Unlike the large breweries they have been filling the kegs with unfiltered, unpasteurised beer.

This means that the kegs contain a live product just the same as cask beer the only difference being that they are dispensed with carbon dioxide and also chilled. The lack of filtering and the cooler serving temperature means that these beers are often hazy when served. However, they are packed full of flavour.

On a recent trip to London all the pubs I visited had a large range of keg beer alongside their range of real ale served from cask. The new style of keg beer has started to pop up in Chelmsford. Recently there was some fantastic keg beer from the Kernel Brewery (London) being served in The Oddfellows Arms, Springfield Road and The Ale House is just getting started with serving keg beer on a regular basis with one of their initial beers being Maelstrom by Summer Wine (Yorkshire). Both these beers are made by small breweries who have made a name

A Pa Ch ir an o f ce Fl to in To enter please answer g W the following question to Ti in enter. Email: ck a comp@itsyourmedia.co.uk. et s Chris Martin is the singer in which band?

We have a pair of VIP tickets for The Fling Festival to give away!

A: Coldplay B: Kid ‘n’ Play C: Kid Creole and the Coconuts The applicable ticketing terms here apply: www.chelmsford.gov.uk/flingtickets.

Persons under the age of 18 will not be permitted, please do not enter if you are under 18. Closing date 10th June 2014. for making amazing beer with big bold flavours. The recently opened Boutique Café Bar, Tindal Street, is serving a range of keg beer from breweries such as Meantime (London), Camden Town (London) and Adnams.

Here at Round Tower Brewery, in the centre of Chelmsford, we are just starting some experiments with putting our beer into kegs and hope that this beer will be available across the city later on in the year.

Bi-monthly Beer Festival 22nd-25th May

From country wide cask ale and cider, to imported German lager and worldwide bottled beers, no matter what you drink, The Ale House is the place for you!

22nd May - 7pm Kick off the beer festival with 'Meet the Brewer' Round Tower 7pm.

23rd May Beer festival 24th May - 8pm Beer Festival - Live Music Jamie Williams & The Roots Collective 25th May - 3pm Beer Festival-Acoustic Session Sunday

24-26 Viaduct Road, Chelmsford, CM1 1TS 01245 260535 www.the-ale-house-chelmsford.co.uk

CT Gardening A marvellous time of the year and so much to do!

• Consider planting flowers which may be dried for winter arrangements. Some of the best are strawflower, statice, celosia, and globe amaranth.

• Do not restrict yourself to buying plants in bloom. Petunias that bloom in the pack are often root bound or overgrown and, after planting, will actually be set back and cease to bloom for about a month. Plants without blossoms will actually bloom sooner and will grow better as well.

• To extend the blooming period of gladiolus, plant early, middle and late season selections each week until the middle of June. Choose a sunny location and plant the corms four to six inches deep and six to eight inches apart.

• Scatter annual poppy seeds in flower borders. The fine seeds need no covering. The plants grow rapidly and provide colourful flowers in early summer.

• In a sunny location with poor soil, plant nasturtiums for a colourful show. They require warm soil to sprout and start blooming in about 50 days. Too much water and fertiliser produces excess leaves and few flowers.

• When chrysanthemums show signs of life, dig up and divide large plants. Discard woody portions and replant divisions 30cm – 45cm (12 to 15 inches) apart.

• Cut flower stalks back to the ground on daffodils, hyacinths and other spring flowering bulbs as the flowers fade. Do not cut the foliage until it dies naturally. The leaves are necessary to produce strong bulbs capable of reflowering.

• Don’t add organic matter to the soil when planting trees. It does not help the plant become established and it may create conditions that encourage the roots to stay inside the planting hole instead of spreading to surrounding soil. Do dig a large planting hole, but fill it with the original soil removed from it.

by Tom Cole • Mulch around newly planted trees and shrubs. This practice reduces weeds, controls fluctuations in soil temperature, retains moisture, prevents damage from lawn mowers and looks attractive.

• Lawns maintained at the correct height are less likely to have disease and weed infestation. Bluegrass and tall fescue should be mowed at 5cm-7.5cm (two or three inches) in height. Mow frequently, removing no more than one third of the blade at each cutting.

• Grass clippings can be used as a mulch in flower beds and vegetable gardens if allowed to dry well before use. Never use clippings from a lawn that has been treated with a herbicide; only after they have been rested for around 6-8 months.

• Newly transplanted vegetable plants should be protected from cutworms with collars. Cut strips of cardboard 5cm x 20cm (two inches wide by eight inches) long, staple them into circles and place them around the plants. Press the collar about one inch into the soil.

These collars will fence out the cutworms and protect the stems of the vegetable plants.

Good luck and happy gardening!

For any gardening tips, why not contact Tom Cole, Head of Faculty for Land & Environment, Writtle College, Chelmsford, CM1 3RR by post (including a SAE) or by email at tom.cole@writtle.ac.uk.

• Prune spring blooming shrubs such as forsythia and spiraea after they have completed flowering.

• Remove sticks and other debris from your lawn to prevent damaging your lawnmower or injuring yourself when mowing. Check your lawnmower and other lawn care equipment in preparation for the coming season.

• Put a birdhouse in the garden to attract insect-eating friends.

• Measure the rainfall with a rain gauge posted near the garden so you can tell when to water. The garden needs about one inch of rain per week from April to September.

• Plant gladioli bulbs in late May. • Set out marigold, petunia, ageratum and fibrous begonia transplants in mid to late May. All are good border plants.

• To grow annuals in containers on the patio, use a light weight soil mixture. Keep the plants well-watered, because the soil dries out fast. Apply a water soluble fertilizer according to package directions every two weeks.

• Watering roses with seep hoses or drip irrigation will reduce the spread of black spot disease.

• Plant ground covers under shade trees that do not allow enough sunlight to grow grass. Vinca minor or English ivy are ground cover plants that grow well in shade.

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Award Winning Bed Makers, Warren Evans, Opens New Showroom in Chelmsford There has never been a better time to invest in a new bed as Chelmsford welcomes their latest retail resident – award winning bed makers, Warren Evans.

Located just off the High Street at Burgundy Court, 64 - 66 Springfield Road, Warren Evans offer residents a choice of beautiful wooden beds, mattresses and bedroom furniture. Each bed is handmade by skilled master craftsmen in their very own London workshop using only Forest Stewardships Certified® (FSC) wood. With such high quality craftsmanship and sustainable timbers, it’s no surprise that every Warren Evans bed comes with a 10 year guarantee. The new Chelmsford location will be the bed maker’s eleventh showroom, complementing exiting London locations as well as Brighton, St Albans and Enfield.

Shopping in a Warren Evans showroom is a unique experience where customers are given expert advice, time and space to help them choose their bed in comfort. You can rest assured that the quality and care is second to none.

Warren Evans have won many awards for their ethical commitments including eight prestigious environmental awards including The Sunday Times Best Green Companies

Award for three years running and best local retailer in the 2008 and 2009 Observer Ethical Awards.

As well as handcrafted beds and furniture, Warren Evans has a range of superior quality mattresses including an exclusive organic range certified by the Soil Association, and Tempur mattresses at the best prices. In fact, Which? members rated Warren Evans & John Lewis best mattress retailers in 2012.

Warren himself is not only recognised as a designer of beautiful wooden beds – but also as a fantastic interior designer. Each showroom is designed and styled personally

by Warren who takes great pleasure in inspiring customers with fully dressed bedroom sets.

Warren says: “I’m delighted to be opening my eleventh showroom in Chelmsford. We know that Chelmsford is a creative community and we hope that residents will like the fact that we make all of our beds and furniture ourselves here in our London workshop.

No waste, no marked up prices, just great

handmade furniture at honest prices.”

The new showroom will employ 6 people from the local area including a showroom manager, assistant manager and sales executives.

The Warren Evans commitment to superior customer service means that your bed is made in days; it arrives wrapped in blankets to avoid unnecessary waste and is assembled in your home by an expert delivery team.

Visit Warren Evans Chelmsford at Burgundy Court, 64 –66 Springfield Road CM2 6JY. www.warrenevans.com or call the showroom on 01245 294 130.

Hark! The Fling is Nearly Upon Us! its uproarious line up of comic genius with regulars from the UK circuit such as Phil Butler, Laura Lex, Rudi Lickwood and Gerry K. Plus musical comedy from Jollyboat; comedy phenomenon from Otiz Cannelloni and ‘the current master of this underrated art’, as hailed by The Guardian, Tim Clark – all on standby to make The Fling erupt with laughter.

It’s not long until The Fling Festival returns to Chelmsford’s Hylands Park. From 12 noon on Saturday 28 June, the festival of assorted amusements will open its gates, its stages and its arms to welcome those aged 18 to 80 plus to join the fun and frolics.

Delights, too numerous to list in full, will jostle for your attention, each enticing you into a new space, to try a new activity or see a new performance. With pretty much everything except food and drink free once inside the temporary Flingdom there’ll be no stopping you.

After the popularity of last year’s burlesque area it now has its own dedicated venue, within which you will find a seductive array of workshops, shows and craft session with the glorious burlesque groups, Mamma’s Kittens, Gem’s Burlesque and Fi Fi Farfelues.

Once again The Comedy Club ltd brings us

Musical acts include a spectacular live show from Kid Kasino who will bring The Fling Festival an audio and visual extravaganza.

We also welcome award-winning, poetry slamming, multi-instrumentalist, folk-mashup duo Dizraeli & DJ DownLow. They will be joined by rising stars Gorgeous George, Strike it Zero, The Kubricks and Little Donkey, Nife, Josh Kemp, Band of Fools and The Ghouls.

Local Chelmsford venue The Bassment, are hosting their very own stage with an act hailed as a ‘comedy genius’ by The Telegraph. Mr B The Gentleman Rhymer will bring his ‘mesmerising...sublimely funny’ set as he introduces chap-hop to the world. The Bassment will also be filling the silent disco headphones with beats as Essex DJs go head-to-head.

The Fling Festival is all about variety and hundreds of other acts have already been confirmed including The Outside Puppet

Collective, Jo Peacock, Tea and Sympathy, storytelling with Mike Dodsworth then an array of different amusements including cabaret, dance, sideshows, poetry and even a sandy beach.

If you haven’t got your tickets yet, then, if you’re lucky - there may be a limited number still available. For more details on this unique event for the city, go to www.chelmsford. gov.uk/fling, find it on Facebook and Twitter or call the Festival Box Office on 01245 606505.

Subject to availability, tickets in advance cost £22.50 (full), £20.00 (concessions) or £35.00 (VIP).

The Fling is produced by Chelmsford City Council with support from Essex & Suffolk Water, High Chelmer Shopping Centre, The Printing Place, The Bassment, The Comedy Club Ltd. The Essex Chronicle, BBC Essex, 1159 Productions, Dancing Giraffe, The City Times, First Group and Heybridge Creative. www.facebook.com/flingfestival www.twitter.com/FlingFestival

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Mind Body Spirit Festival - Saturday 7th-Sunday 8th June 2014 10am-5pm For the first time in UK it will happen, a major mind body spirit event that ‘gives to receive’; a not for profit event dedicate entirely raising funds for Helen Rollason Cancer Charity!

Whether you want to learn something new, talk to someone knowledgeable and passionate about healing, spiritual guidance, therapies, clairvoyance or meditation, or buy gemstones, skincare or art, you can find it here.

Attractions include Feng Shui, reflexology, coven crafts, hot stone massage, Indian head massage, and crystal healing.

Free spinal checks from a chiropractor, facial massage from holistic healers, non-invasive muscle testing to help reduce stress and a special women’s abdominal massage for fertility and pregnancy – all available during this enlightening weekend!

Plenty of browsing among the stallholders will reveal magnetic jewellery, raw crystals, angel pendants, original textile silk and batik jewellery, orgonite pyramids, fossils and amethyst geodes, tarot cards and much more.

Come and be inspired by our talented speakers holding workshops throughout the

weekend with titles like ‘Connect to your Spiritual Intelligence’, ‘Powerless or Powerful, the Choice is yours’, ‘Nature Speaks’, and ‘Your Simple Path to Life’ – all on Saturday.

Then on Sunday we have ‘Spirit of the Drum’, ‘Faery Magic’, ‘Feng Shui for a Healthy Home’, ‘Crystal Healing’, ‘How to Heal Cancer for you, your Family and your Animals’ and ‘Surviving the Next 8 Years Through your Astrological Sun Sign’.

Our talented musicians on stage will entertain and gently relax you with their unique melodies, using voice, guitar, piano and saxophone. Not to be missed are sisters Barbara and Flavia for their performance of ‘Heaven and Earth’ with their shamanic drums on Sunday.

A live demonstration of the new Aura Video system, followed by a Martial Arts display starts us off on the stage on Saturday and a performance of Kula Tribal Belly Dance promises a lively, colourful show on Sunday!

Don’t forget to visit the Buddha Bakes Cakes from 11am till 4pm both days – for a free watch, listen and taste demonstration that is good for you!

A special fund raising event on Saturday, from 4.30pm to 6.30pm, entitled ‘Why Should you Meditate? – Because There are Some Questions you Cannot Google!’ by Paul King, Abbot of the Buddhist Centre. For just £5 to the Helen Rollason Cancer Charity you can not only learn simple meditation techniques, but gain FREE admission to the

MBS Festival after 1.30pm on Saturday – what a bargain! To book visit www.why-meditate.com On Saturday we have a special charity ‘Clairvoyant Night’ with Sue Hudd and Maureen Flynn. Sue, a psychic clairvoyant and medium, can read people’s signatures and has given readings and messages to people around the world and has a natural ability to connect with people. Maureen, a medium, author and counsellor, uses her gift of communicating with spirit to give comfort to others at times of bereavement. To book visit www.clairvoyant.wisdom36.com.

All together a fabulous programme of events with something for everyone.

We hope you will have an energising, enlightening and positive visit.

Entrance £3.50 adults, £2.50 concessions 16s and under free (accompanied).

Visit www.lifearts.co.uk for a full weekend programme guide and details of the Clairvoyant Night 7th June with two of UK’s top clairvoyants, Sue Hudd and Maureen Flynn!

Chris Cozens, Life Arts.

CT What’s On In Chelmsford May/June May 16th Asylum - Shakey’s Charity night in aid of Shiv’s 3 Wishes Bassment - Hey Vanity + Doppelganger Cramphorn Theatre - The Monuments Men Evoke - Wiley & DJ Russke Fleece - Mushroom Clown The Loop - Twisted 17th Asylum - The Uppercuts + The Domestics + Jesus Hooligan Bassment - DJ Lopez + Darryl Butcher Cramphorn Theatre - D’Ukes Fleece - Shakster Record 7th birthday in aid of Shiv’s 3 Wishes The Loop - Abstract 18th Civic Theatre - Simon Evans Friendly Fire 19th Civic Theatre - The Devil At Midnight by Brian Clemens 20th Bassment - Jiveswing.com dance class 21st The Bassment - Zak Barrett + Holly Barrett + Andy Staples + Dan Parker + Dan Banks + Andy Sear Cramphorn Theatre - Lunchtime concert Civic Theatre - Hot Flush - Starring Lesley Joseph Fleece - Midweek Madness – DJ Darryl 22nd The Ale House - Beer Festival ‘Meet the Brewer’ Round Tower 7pm Asylum - The Last Vegas + Heartbreak Remedy + Last Superheros The Bassment - Comedian Of The Year Civic Theatre - Hot Flush - Starring Lesley Joseph Cramphorn Theatre - Fill The Void Fleece - Funky Thursday – DJ Darryl The Studio - Art & Craft classes - 142b The Street, Little Waltham, CM3 3NY. For full details email picturefinish@yahoo.com 23rd The Ale House - Beer Festival Asylum - OG Fest - Death Ape Disco - Osmium Guilotine + more Bassment - Mandeville + Kit Trig + DJ James Easter & Ben Parrott + Andy Hatman Civic Theatre - Hot Flush - Starring Lesley Joseph Fleece - The Superunknown The Loop - Twisted 24th The Ale House - Beer Fesitval - Jamie Williams & The Roots Collective Asylum - OG Fest - Habu + Red Nettle + Kaine + more Bassment DJ Dan Floyd + Hilly + Darryl Butcher Cramphorn Theatre - Edinburgh Warm Ups Fleece - Grounds For Divorce The Loop - In The Loop 25th The Ale House - Acoustic Session Sunday 3pm Asylum - OG Fest - Sweet Ether + MGM + Monkish + more Bassment - Bank Holiday Surprise LIVE The Milk Fleece - Skamite 26th Asylum - OG Fest - Jonathan Marriott + Luke Fisher + more 27th Bassment - Jiveswing.com dance class 28th Bassment - Forth Diamond Birthday + Winston & The Lads + October DJ Hitz + Feline Reflex Cramphorn Theatre - Lunchtime concert Fleece - Midweek Madness – DJ Darryl

29th Asylum - Damidge + Criminal Brainstorm + Snork Bassment - El Sarao Latin Night Fleece - Funky Thursdays – DJ Darryl 30th Asylum - Loose Joints + River Becomes Ocean + Failing to Fly Bassment - Mantango + Strike It Zero Smiths - Pepper Collins + TBC Fleece - Wazzo The Loop - Twisted 31st Asylum - Within Our Honour + Secreum Bassment - DJ Firat + Darryl Butcher Cramphorn Theatre - The Lego Movie Fleece - Dawgfish + Plus Big Fight Special Froch v Groves The Loop - Twisted Tempo meets DanceKore June 1st Civic Theatre - Matthew Ford’s Swing Legends 2nd Cramphorn - Lift to the Scaffold 3rd Bassment - Jiveswing.com dance class Civic Theatre - What The Ladybird Heard Cramphorn Theatre - The Trials of Oscar Wilde 4th Bassment - Back To Mine Civic Theatre - What The Ladybird Heard Cramphorn Theatre - Lunchtime Concert Fleece - Midweek Madness, England v Ecuador + DJ Darryl 5th Asylum - Two Jonnies + Daze Train + Ignorance is Bliss Bassment - The Fling Festival Last Band Standing FINAL LIVE Civic Theatre - Rising Damp Cramphorn Theatre - The Grand Budapest Hotel Fleece - Electric open mic/jam night hosted by Paolo Morena 6th Asylum - Kayleigh’s Charity Bash - Grizzly Bears + Library Suits Bassment - DJ Rael Turner + Andy Hatman Civic Theatre - Rising Damp Fleece - Warehouse The Loop - Twisted 7th Asylum - Mouth Full Of Ashtrays Bassment - DJ Mat Format + Lopez + Darryl Butcher Civic Theatre - Rising Damp Cramphorn Theatre - Comedy Club 4 Kids Fleece - The Earnshaws plus England v Honduras The Loop - Amplified Rabbit 8th Cramhorn Theatre - Chelmsford Jazz Club 9th Cramphorn Theatre - Twenty Feet From Stardom 10th Bassment - Jiveswing.com dance class Civic Theatre - Our House 11th Bassment - Blues In The City - The Sharpees + Earls Of Essex Chelmsford Library - University research? It’s got nothing to do with me.

Civic Theatre - Our House Cramphorn - Lunchtme Concert Fleece - Summer beer festival 12th The Ale House - Beer and boffins 7pm

12th continued...

Asylum - March On Rome + The Stacks + The Takes Bassment - Acoustic Underground Civic Theatre - Our House Fleece - Beer festival and world cup football 13th Asylum - Mug + Demin Smiles + Red Rag Front + The Tickturds Bassment - Uncle Ben + Kieran Skye + DJ Andy Hatman Civic Theatre - Our House Cramphorn Theatre - The Time Machine Fleece - Beer festival with Squabbler playing live Please note, all events are subject to change. Please check: www.anglia.ac.uk/communityengagement Asylum - www.asylumchelmsford.co.uk Bassment - www.bassmentbar.com Blues In The City - www.bluesinthecity.co.uk The Fleece - www.thegoldenfleece-chelmsford.co.uk Theatres - www.chelmsford.gov.uk/theatres The Alehouse - www.the-ale-house-chelmsford.co.uk

If you would like to write for any of our publications please email us: editorial@itsyourmedia.co.uk

5 24 1 0

Mediterranean kitchen serving fresh food, wine & cocktail bar, coffee lounge. Whether you want a three course dinner, simple lunch planning a special night out with friends and family - Med Fusion is the choice.

We have a Coffee Lounge where you can relax with a cappuccino or unwind after a busy day at our bar that offers a large selection of wines and cocktails.

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Northwood by Darren Lerigo

Our next interview is with Martin Birks at Northwood, the sales and letting agents on Moulsham Street.

“I was a business financial adviser for eighteen years, after being headhunted by Barclay’s. I originally did an engineering apprenticeship, then at twenty three decided I had more of an aptitude for sales and went.”

Eighteen years in the same place?

“I was originally in Andover then relocated to Chelmsford from there in 1990, early ‘91. It was vibrant, there was a lot of development going on, so we chose this area to relocate and we settled here, my children were educated here. If you can imagine, the Meadows wasn’t there then. In fact the housing market was depressed.”

But eighteen years in the same company? Did that feel like a long time?

“At the end I was bored with what I was doing. We had a good lifestyle, but I was never in control of my own destiny. You would build something up and then someone with their own agenda would come in and change it. It was time to go, time to do something different, I knew that.”

What action did you take next?

“I did an internet search for a franchise business and this came up.

I knew it had to be white collar work and in sales, so letting agent seemed obvious. It was one of three that came up when I googled and it looked to have the most attractive scheme to clients; the USP is we guarantee rent to our customers. Sometimes we know we’ll get stung but those people are guaranteed their rent!”

Was starting the business a risk?

“I wasn’t worried at all. The worst that could happen was that it didn’t work out and we would have to sell the house and buy something smaller. When I started the business I initially cashed in everything I had and borrowed a little on the mortgage. We have been through some tight moments, and I hardly paid myself for five years – the banks were not prepared to help during the recession. We actually started well, in 2006, then a year in the recession hit and the next two and a half, three years were hard.”

Did you work long hours at first?

“I’ve always worked long hours, six days a week. Originally we did well on sales but with the market downturn we concentrated on lettings, there was no point ploughing money into sales after the crash because only a few people wanted to sell. So we concentrated on our portfolio. It was Jackie and I when we opened, then Marion joined five, six years ago. Now we have a new lady as we build up our sales division. They have a lot experience and have been through booms and recessions.”

This helps clients?

“Clients do get stressed. We try to address their expectations, which at times can be unrealistic. With selling houses nothing is secured, and so people can drop out at any time. By speaking with them the client will be less alienated.

We are seeing a period of growth and I believe it will be better here in Chelmsford – because people are moving out of London, they will commute to the city… and the fact Chelmsford is a city – it will go through a boom and will grow stronger, and I believe outstrip elsewhere in the UK.”

How easy was it to get the business off the ground?

“I actually hold the record at Northwood for taking the longest amount of time to find suitable premises to start the company from.

It took two years. So I kept working in financial services. I’d liked to have opened two years earlier, things were buoyant at the time… and so you couldn’t get an available space to lease. In fact this office…”

I glance at the large, empty space behind Martin. Filing cabinets stand against the back wall. “… is twice as large as we actually need at the moment. Though the plan for the next four or five years is to have filled all the space we don’t actually use at the moment. But I had to take it when it became available, hence why we ended up in Moulsham Street. It would have been easy to get a place if I had started in the last few years because they couldn’t fill all the shop spaces, but back then things were going well and you couldn’t get a shop!”

What advice would you give to new businesses?

“Put together a good business plan and know what makes your business successful – and what doesn’t.”

Sounds like good advice to me.

Darren Lerigo www.modernmint.co.uk info@modernmint.co.uk

thbestofchelmsford

thebestofchelmsford is a guide for the people of Chelmsford city and the surrounding areas to list the best businesses. We are not a web directory and will have a limited number of businesses in each category, the number is limited to only the best businesses.

We are thebestofchelmsford....

Our business is to support and invest in the local community of trusted businesses and people... thebestofchelmsford champions ‘the best’ local businesses in the area, helping them raise their profile both offline and online - through search engine marketing - and win new customers in the process.

We work with businesses that are recommended or referred to us so we can be sure that they really are the best. thebestofchelmsford is an Essex County Council Trading Standards approved business and a member of the Buy With Confidence scheme. For details please go to http://goo.gl/8BYtvu. We are also part of an award winning national franchise called thebestof.co.uk .

All we are interested in is helping to expand your business, making sure that people looking for your services find YOU and to make you stand out from the Rest! Word-of-mouth advertising is the most powerful, effective type of advertising there is but it is the only form of advertising you cannot buy by the page or by the minute.

If you want to get your business noticed by local people and let them know what you do well contact Tom or Peter at thebestofchelmsford on 01245 70 10 20.

With us you get real people who you can tell what you want to showcase, offer or promote. We can do this whenever you need it because our system is flexible mid week or mid month, no problem.

Coming soon our new village pages, getting businesses noticed in South Woodham Ferrers, Danbury, Hatfield Peverell, Ingatestone, Stock, Burnham-on-Crouch, Rettendon and Great Baddow!

Page 14 www.chelmsfordthecitytimes.co.uk

Sarah Brockwell sarahBee marketing have just been nominated to win Best Growing Business in Essex. We wish them best of luck in that contest.

From Law to Yoga - a Reinvention Revealed by Linda McNeill My second article! Does this now make me a regular columnist?!

Each month I am going to be interviewing a local businesswoman who has reinvented herself and set up a new enterprise. This month the creative and inspirational Vikki Stevenson is being featured. Vikki is the founder of ‘Yoga With Vikki’.

As explained in the April issue I ‘reinvented’ myself from a teacher of history to setting up my own business ‘Bun in the Oven Birthing’ and training to be a hypnobirthing teacher (www.bunintheovenbirthing. co.uk). I had thought that this was a leap of faith but after meeting with Vikki her change of career was a much greater change of tack.

Vikki was a property lawyer based in Brentwood and was quite happy in her career until the property crash of 2008 when she was made redundant. At this point Vikki had had two children and the youngest was 18 months. Vikki had to ‘think outside of the box’ and consider her prospects. In common with so many women who have young children Vikki wanted to find an opportunity whereby she could spend time with her children and also do something she enjoyed.

Vikki and I both therefore found ourselves in a very similar situation and have gone on to use a passion of ours to inspire us to set up our own businesses – mine was hypnobirthing after finding it so effective during the birth of my children and Vikki’s was yoga.

grew and grew. Vikki had always been fascinated with pregnancy and so a natural next step was to train in pregnancy and postnatal yoga with Francoise Freedman of Birthlight.

Vikki now teaches beginners yoga, vinyasa flow, pregnancy and postnatal and one-on-one yoga. Many of her one-on-one clients have specific health complaints that yoga significantly benefits. Her next project is to train to teach ‘yoga nidra’ which translates as ‘yogic sleep’ and is used in America as post-traumatic stress disorder treatment.

Vikki is also heavily involved in raising funds through yoga for The Hope Foundation - a charity who help street and slum children in Kolkata in India. She has worked alongside leading yoga teachers Simon Low and Ruth McNeill for the past three years to put together their annual ‘Yoga Garden Party’. This event celebrates yoga by offering a variety of classes amidst a tranquil setting and has raised over £23,000 in the past 3 years. This year’s party is being held on 26th July - please find out more about it at: www.charityyogaday.org.uk.

It was a great pleasure interviewing Vikki and finding out about her reinvention. Look her up at www.yogawithvikki.co.uk if you are interested in finding out more. If you would like to be featured in my column please contact me at linda@bunintheovenbirthing.co.uk.

Vikki had discovered her love of yoga at university and then had found it very effective and calming during both of her pregnancies. Yoga has so many clear benefits that she wanted to inspire others and help bring them a sense of wellbeing.

Next Edition Deadlines Copy 30th May 2014 Print ready artwork 3rd June 2014

Vikki decided to train as a yoga instructor and completed a course with Simon Low, a leading yoga teacher. This was no small undertaking as it came at a considerable financial cost and took a year and a half to complete.

After qualifying as a teacher, Vikki started small – in two local halls in Danbury and Bicknacre with mainly friends attending the classes.

Vikki had hoped she might be able to earn some ‘pocket money’ and teach a few classes a week but much to her delight the business

Page 15 www.chelmsfordthecitytimes.co.uk

The Benefits of Learning Music in Childhood by John Seeley MA BA Music

Plenty has already been written about the benefits of children learning music and how it plays an important part in their development of academic and social skills. For me, as a professional private music teacher to children and adults, it’s about seeing someone gain in confidence in their ability and achieve things that they did not think possible and being part of their journey.

Understanding and playing music, is more than just learning to play series of notes, it’s about losing yourself in the music before realising you have enhanced other transferable skills along the way. Music can assist children with improving their literacy skills, memory, concentration, co-ordination, teaches them to focus, relieves stress and by learning different genres of music increases their awareness of the diverse cultures in our society.

Music is fun, a form of self-expression, it can boost confidence and self-esteem and it is not an elite club - it is open to everyone to enjoy from any social or academic background. Music gives you the opportunity to express what you cannot say in words as there are no limitations.

Like life itself, learning to read and play music can be very difficult and challenging at times, but you need to practise, have patience and perseverance to be able to reach your goals and reap the rewards from all your hard work.

John Seeley is a professional musician and provides private and group teaching both classical and jazz on the saxophone and clarinet, from beginners to grade eight. For more information please visit www.johnseeleyjazz.co.uk.

Or email teaching@johnseeleyjazz.co.uk.

Angel Broomfield City Detective Agency Episode 5: The Case of the Old Boy.

by Simon Culleton Angel Broomfield, Chelmsford’s very own private detective was raised by nuns in a secret monastery in Boreham with only the complete volumes of ‘Sherlock Holmes’ for company. Angel is now a resident of 221½ Moulsham Street City Detective Agency and with his trusty side kick John and the radiant Helen, Angel is ready to serve the City.

In episode 4 we left Angel, John and Helen surrounded on the top level of Chelmsford’s multi story car park by an angry band of Mexican wedding goers intent on seeking vengeance for a young lady’s honour.

Both John and Helen stood quivering behind Angel as the angry crowd advanced. An evil Mexican lady with her menacing maracas was ready to strike when suddenly the sound of screeching tyres could be heard, accompanied by a loud horn blowing out the first four bars of Rule Britannia. Within a moment the Mexicans were scattering from side to side, in an attempts to avoid the union jack - sprayed sports car which skid into the path of Angel, stopping just inches from his feet with the door open.

“Get in old man, quick step, no time for intros” said a posh voice from within.

“Blimey” said John who was the first to scramble into the back, “ It’s Perfect Prescott the school head boy and prefect”. A wide-eyed Helen soon squeezed next to John as he continued in a whisper: “Rumour has it he’s MI5.” Angel jumped into the front seat as the tyres furiously wheel span causing a cloud of black smoke and the car sped down to the levels of the car park honking Rule Britannia as it went. Perfect Prescott steered the car expertly one handed while eyeing Helen in the rear view mirror as he spoke. “ Heard you were on a sticky wicket, with some Señorita, thought I’d lend a hand” then added questioningly “always had you down for batting for the other side after that shower incident.” John turned red and shrunk into the corner remembering his school time antics involving a bottle of vodka, scrum practise in the showers and some three-in-one hair gel. The union jack sports car was soon roaring around the streets of Chelmsford while Perfect Prescott’s music system blared out Wagner’s Flight of the Valkyries. Eventually they came to a skidding stop outside the city court house.

“Why here?” Asked Angel getting out of the car. Perfect Prescott tapped the side of his nose and continued in a whisper: “ I can give you the SP from HQ on the QT. Go to court number 3 ASAP. Jerry’s got an ETA at 15:00, mum’s the word.” The three of them stood looking confused on the pavement.

“Don’t lose the watch, it’s got a tracker in it”, added Perfect Prescott to Angel and then he winked theatricality at Helen before speeding off in the distance. Angel knowingly tapped the fob watch in his trousers that he pocketed in episode 3 (if you have been paying attention). Helen, began to curl one of her blonde lock around her finger and sighed: “Isn’t he just a dream boat...” she said. This was lost on Angel who had rushed onto the cool airy marbled floor of Chelmsford court house reception searching for court number 3. The last time Angel had been in a court room was as a witness in an appeal hearing after the 1992 secret nun’s judo world championship when sister O’Finnders, or Farty Finders as she was known, refused to accept a three match ban for purposely eating large amounts of baked beans before a bout and preforming her favoured and winning move of sitting on her opposition head and letting it all go. Angel buried this memory as he pushed open the

doors to court number 3, both John and Helen now close behind.

Before them lay a packed court room bursting with people, some in suits, some members of the press, others in legal robes. An old judge with cherry red cheeks and a worn out wig was slamming his hammer on the table shouting for order.

A portly barrister rose from his seat silencing the audience as he proclaimed in a deep booming voice: “I call Count Von Hoffman of Hoffman Road Chelmsford”. A tall man with piercing blue eyes entered the docks shouldered by two policeman. Helen gasped recognising the suspected German spy they had been looking for. Von Hoffman clicked his heels to the judge as the barrister began to question.

“Were you photographing military installations?”

“Nien” came the sharp reply, “I am English bird watcher, it was very cold and I noticed a small pair of blue tits.” Then after a pause while the judge silenced the restless gallery with the woodpecker tapping of his hammer, Von Hoffman continued, “I did see some people acting suspicious.”

“Can you see them in this courtroom?” demanded the barrister. Then to the alarm of Angel, Helen and John, Von Hoffman pointed his bony finger at them and screamed.

“It was them” There was a sudden up roar of accusing chants from the gallery, as the judge demanded the arrest of Angel and his two friends. Angel grasped Helen’s hand and Helen grabbed Johns as they ran into the middle of the courtroom but with nowhere to go.

The policeman began to close as the now frantic gallery began to jeer and throw rotten fruit. Helen had not seen such an audience since her pole dancing days when Hairy Henrietta, a secret transvestite, had misjudged an up side down slide and revealed all. Angel led the other two like a caterpillar around the courtroom, jumping over tables and side stepping the near grasps of the pursuing policemen. Eventually they ran into the docks and were surrounded as the policeman closed in with their massive truncheons, when suddenly Angel noticed something...

Tune in to the next addition: can Angel escape with his friend while Von Hoffman looks on or will the police get to used their truncheons?

All this and more in the next addition of ‘Angel Broomfield, City detective’.

Gig Review Jamie Williams Trio/Robin Bibi-Tony Marten by Mike Lightfoot Saint FM Blues In The City - The Bassment - 23 April 2014 Jamie Williams kicked the evening off with a paired down Roots Collective featuring Nick Garner (harp) and Kevan Warner (bass). After a shaky start where the bass was far too loud, the sound soon settled and the guys gave us an Americana set that soon had the audience joining in on several numbers. Stand out track was Summertime In Georgia, a number which for this scribes ears comes across better in this format than the full band set up. Credit to Jamie for playing with hay fever and a sore throat.

Robin Bibi (guitar/vox/harp) and Tony Marten (bass/guitar/banjo/vox) played a stunning set featuring blues, country, gospel, a couple of John Martyn numbers and a fabulous rendition of Down To The River to close the set. I was particularly impressed with their version of the Robert Johnson classic, If I Had Possession, which featured some superb guitar playing from Robin.

And thanks to yet another excellent crowd that makes these gigs all worthwhile.

Next month: The Sharpees + Earls Of Essex - Keep music live!!!

CT CHARITY Little Havens Hospice has a summer packed full of feel good fundraising and is looking for local people to take part.

When a family has been told there is no cure for their child’s illness, Little Havens Hospice, which is part of Havens Hospices, can help.

Little Havens offers respite breaks, manages pain and cares for babies, children and teenagers from across Essex at the end of their lives. Because the care is free of charge to families, the charity must raise £46,000 every single week.

“I don’t think people realise what a lifeline Little Havens is to families like mine,” said Norma Stone from Chelmsford, who is mum to 14 year old Michael and his younger brothers Joe, 10, and Shane, 8.

Michael was two years old when doctors discovered that he had a form of Leukemia known as Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL). He began a three year programme of treatment and had a 90% chance of getting through it, but Michael relapsed in the last six months when the Leukemia had progressed to his brain and spinal fluids.

Michael started another two years of more intense treatment but during that time, his brain stopped telling him to breathe.

Norma said, “The end was in sight; no more hospitals, no more drugs. And then we found out he had brain damage.

I remember walking into the meeting room when they told us. I felt sick in my stomach. All I could think of were the odds of any child getting cancer, and then this. The world carried on when mine had stopped.”

Michael requires care 24 hours a day. His brain damage means he has three types of epilepsy and seizures every day which puts an enormous amount of pressure on the family.

“When I found out about Little Havens, I had a very wrong stereotype in my mind. I thought that going to a hospice meant that was ‘it’ and everyone would be talking about death all the time but it is the complete opposite.

Going to Little Havens is like going on holiday. It gives us a chance to be a family, Michael’s face lights up and I can be mum and not nurse.”

6 year old Ava Chaplin lives in Boreham with her big brother George, 9, mum Liz and dad, Danny. Ava and her family have been visiting Little Havens Hospice for respite breaks since the beginning of 2010.

Ava has severe brain damage because of

Feel Good Fundraising this Summer

a life-threatening infection which caused excessive fluid on her brain when she was born. Her condition means she requires 24 hour care. She is completely blind, has epilepsy and cannot sit or stand by herself.

At Little Havens, Ava enjoys messy play, music therapy and relaxing in the multisensory room and the break gives the family a chance to spend quality time together.

Mum Liz says, “We wouldn’t be able to cope without Little Havens. Ava is so happy at the hospice - everything she needs and loves to do is at her fingertips. I can relax knowing she is safe and having a fabulous time so we can really switch off. It is just heavenly.

“The added pressures of caring for Ava mean George makes sacrifices every day, but Little Havens gives him the time he deserves with his mum and dad. It’s our special time together. Little Havens has pieced our family back together again. We cannot fail to be positive here.”

As the days grow longer, the sun shines brighter and the warmer weather of spring and summer is upon us, Little Havens is about to embark upon a fiesta of fundraising events.

Events Manager Judy Grocott said, “the people who take part in our events each year help us to raise a lot of money, making every day count for local families in our care.

But more than that, our fundraising events are a lot of fun to take part in! They have real community spirit and give local people something a little bit different to do on the weekend.”

This summer’s season of events begins with the Southend Half Marathon and BTMK Fun Run on Sunday 8th June. Runners of all abilities, from all over the UK, take to the seafront to complete the 13 mile race, which last year raised £87,000 for Havens Hospices. Families and younger runners can also enjoy the 3km BTMK Fun Run.

On Sunday 22nd June, the popular Essex Countryside Bike Ride welcomes cycling enthusiasts and families to take part in a beautiful and scenic ride through the Essex countryside in and around Chelmsford, Danbury, Good Easter and Maldon.

Participants can choose from a 10, 25 or 60 mile route.

Saturday 19th July starts the school summer holidays with a muddy splash! The charity’s Mulberry Mud Run is back and fancy dress is encouraged for the 2.5 mile run across the Southend estuary.

Registration for all of the events is open now and places can be booked visiting www.havenshospices.org.uk/events or by calling the team on 01702 220350.

Little Havens is part of Havens Hospices which also incorporates Fair Havens Hospice in Southend.

To find out more visit havenshospices.org.uk Or join us at facebook.com/havenshospices or twitter.com/havenshospices

Page 18 www.chelmsfordthecitytimes.co.uk

Hypnotherapy by Jenny Hartill Last time I discussed how stress can affect a person and how hypnotherapy can help. Another popular issue for hypnotherapy clients is confidence.

There’s a difference between confidence and self esteem. You can have one without the other, hence lots of people who seem sure of themselves in the office then proceed to panic when faced with the prospect of hosting a board meeting, presenting to colleagues, or even just saying a few words at a leaving do. Exactly the same thing occurs outside of working life, for example wedding speeches are probably the greatest example of how people can seem sure of themselves one minute and then are sweating into their champagne the next. So what’s the difference?

Self Esteem: denotes belief in oneself.

Self Confidence: denotes knowing in oneself.

For example, you can believe you can do something but not know it.

You could also know you can do something but not believe it. Because these things are so closely linked, low confidence and low esteem do go together often.

Mainly I come across confidence issues in hypnotherapy when the client has a specific situation to overcome. Popular ones include having confidence to deliver a speech (at a wedding, or another event), having confidence to host a board meeting at work (not having confidence to deliver figures seems to be most popular with this), and lack of confidence with driving is another popular one. Mainly the client doubts themselves and envisages something going wrong, this leads to the client lacking confidence in the specific situation because they don’t know they can perform the task anymore after all their “what iffing”. What if I make a fool of myself in the wedding speech?

What if I get the figures wrong in the board meeting? What if I get to a junction and don’t know what to do? After all of this convincing themselves that something bad will happen due to their convincing themselves of incompetence, I’m not surprised some of my clients seek hypnotherapy!

So why do we “what if”? Mainly this is a security issue, we’re trying to ensure we perform the task to the best of our ability and if there’s any chance we might mess up we want to be prepared for it. However unfortunately, instead of being prepared for every eventuality we actually end up convincing ourselves something bad will happen or we can’t perform the task. Those who worry more than usual are experts at “what iffing”. If you come across a situation that’s new, that’s unfamiliar, for example the first time you have to host a board meeting, give a speech etc, you’ll question everything to ensure you get it right. But then the questioning can become a habit and because the human mind is so suggestible you then expect something to go wrong, and therefore confidence is lowered. You may even subconsciously perform a self fulfilling prophecy because your confidence in performing the task is so low you’ve become afraid to face it at all, so you subconsciously sabotage yourself to ensure you don’t have to go through the crippling fear your low confidence has developed again.

So, how can hypnotherapy help? Typically if there is a specific situation the client is unconfident in, I would write a screed that takes them through that situation under hypnosis, where they are in a calm and relaxed environment, so they can experience the situation whilst I give suggestions of calm, control and confidence etc. For example, say a client comes to me and they are petrified of standing up in front of their colleagues and delivering the latest figures. They have always worried they might get the figures wrong or forget them one day and now their boss wants the client to host the next board meeting as well

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as deliver the figures. The client is fine with their colleagues the rest of the time, they all get on well, but when in a board room situation the client suddenly feels like their confidence has been sapped from them and they begin to doubt their ability to deliver the figures and they have pretty much convinced themselves that they couldn’t possibly host the board meeting.

Firstly, I need to know where this doubt about figures comes from – have they “what iffed” a little too much or is there something deeper? I would then write a screed where the client starts off well before the board meeting, feeling calm and in control, and then carry on these suggestions during and after the board meeting including things like “your inner self-confidence shines through” - ”your speech is clear and refined” - ”you have respect from your colleagues, so you feel calm and in control” and lots of other suggestions. The main aim is to change the subconscious’ perception of the situation, if the client experiences the board meeting enough times feeling calm and confident, trusting the subconscious knows what it’s doing, then the client has no reason to fear the situation or feel unconfident about it.

Apart from offering hypnotherapy and counselling for private clients I also offer confidence skills workshops for corporate clients.

The workshops are especially helpful for businesses that want to improve the confidence skills of their workforce, for example if the employees have to deliver sales pitches or deliver a solution to a client or the boss. Having confidence in yourself and your work is incredibly helpful because people who lack confidence find it very difficult to be successful. This is because they lack the skills to be able to push themselves forward, to do things beyond just the basics of what is required of them, to think outside the box and have the guts to follow through with their ideas.

Lack of confidence can be debilitating in both working and private life, if you need any help with confidence issues please see details below: Any businesses that would like more information on confidence skills or any other corporate workshops please see www.cloud9corporate.counsellinginchelmsford.co.uk.

Any private individuals that would like to discuss confidence or any other issues please see www.counsellinginchelmsford.co.uk.

Next time I’ll discuss how hypnotherapy can help with Self Esteem, as the approach can be slightly different.

The Great British Sewing Bee Star Chinelo Bally Joins the Team at Make, Do & Mend Make, Do & Mend are rather chuffed to announce that one of the stars of The Great British Sewing Bee 2014 will be joining the team of workshop tutors at Make, Do & Mend. Chinelo Bally is bringing her unique patternless dressmaking skills to a limited number of workshops with dates running between July and December 2014.

Chinelo made her name on the hit BBC show by creating beautiful, stylish garments simply using her model’s measurements with not a paper pattern in sight! At Make, Do & Mend she will guide through the construction of a perfectly fitting peplum top or skater dress, both of which are outfit silhouettes she favoured on the Sewing Bee and which took the seamstress easily through to the final.

As a fellow Essex sewer, Make, Do & Mend couldn’t resist enticing Chinelo to the cosy workshop with tea and biscuits aplenty and encourage all those keen on joining the fun to book now as places are fast selling out.

To find out more and book a place please visit: www.makedomend.com, phone 01245 267794 or pop in to 94 Byron Road, Chelmsford CM2 6HJ.

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How to Fix your Failing Gym Programme Every health or fitness magazine has programmes on the front cover to persuade you to pick it up. Build bigger arms! Movie star workouts! Beach body abs!

most, is how much time the programmes take, with most requiring a minimum of five days a week in the gym - an unrealistic scenario for most people.

Dive into those programmes though, and you’ll quickly become confused for a number of reasons. For example, there is a level of assumed knowledge. If I said we’re doing ‘cleans’ today, would you know I was talking about a weighted barbell move, or would you think we’re taking our white vinegar cleaning solution to both the kitchen AND the bathroom?

So what can you do? Here’s some advice:

There are also the constant updates to opinions and programmes. Bench press your way to superstardom one month, but two months later you’ll read why the bench press is killing you.

Finally, and the one that I struggled with

Choose a simple alternating workout I start every single workout with a heavy squat or a deadlift, lifting as much as I can for five sets of five reps. Then, on one day I’ll do pushing moves (think ‘bench press’) and the next time I’ll go to the gym I’ll do ‘pulling’ moves (think ‘row’). Simple, straightforward and sustainable.

Always have alternatives.

I reduce the stress by having alternatives at hand. Squat rack busy? I do deadlifts. Both areas full? Leg press machine. Bench press taken? Dumbbell bench press. Both areas full? A variety of press ups until I can’t press

no more.

Enjoy every single session.

Having an intense programme that requires several hours a day on most days of the week is unrealistic for most of us that don’t either work in a gym or make a living as an athlete, bodybuilder or fitness model. So, I’m going to run with a flexible gym plan that makes me feel good when I hit the weights, but doesn’t make me feel guilty when I don’t.

When you find a new programme that you want to try, overlay it with your current situation before you dive into it. It may just make the difference between feeling like a champ or feeling like a failure.

For your free Personal Training session, email keith@liveasimplelife.co.uk, or visit our website, www.liveasimplelife.co.uk.

Page 22 www.chelmsfordthecitytimes.co.uk

Pirates, Anchors, Canons & Planks!

Pilates is a funny word and quite often but quite easily mistakenly called pilots or pirates. I have just discovered that it has made its way into the English dictionary even though it was actually just a man called Joseph’s surname! After a little research it seems that even though Joseph was German his name comes from the Greek name Pilate as in Pontius, which comes from the Latin word Pilatus which means blunt arrow or bolt. For those of you who are still wondering what Pilates is, here is the official description from the dictionary: Noun A system of exercises using special apparatus, designed to improve physical strength, flexibility, and posture, and enhance mental awareness.

Origin 1960s: named after the German physical fitness specialist Joseph Pilates (1880–1967), who devised the system. Other nearby words are Pilaster and Pilau………

If you are not snoring yet then I’d much rather get back to the pirate subject! The plank is probably the most well known pilates move and I can assure you it has nothing to do with walking but could probably be easily associated with punishment, (try Mark’s class out to find this out!) Much more imaginative than drawing your navel to your spine is using the visual of being anchored to the bottom of the ocean and the Canon is a move that is performed on the above mentioned ‘special apparatus’ otherwise known as the reformer machine or mediaeval torture device, (we have one if you fancy getting reformed!) The most attractive factoid I discovered in my search though was that Johnny Depp practises Pilates & Yoga to keep him looking so super at 50!

Watch this space for more evidence of how to stay super...

I’m signing off now as I have to go get my pirate outfit ready for Asylum’s 1st Birthday Bash tomorrow night!

All doors conform fully to EU safety directives

CT

CT History -

Painters of the Stour Valley: Constable, Gainsborough and Munnings. by John Power

If you want to leave your car at home and enjoy a country walk there’s not a lot to beat getting a train to Manningtree and following the River Stour across Constable country to the village of Dedham.

Its only about a half hour’s walk. But it will only show you a fraction of the art history of the Stour Valley. Around Dedham, not only John Constable (1776-1837) brings visitors to the area to find scenes from his paintings, but in the village there is also a museum devoted to the work of Alfred Munnings (1878-1959), especially paintings of horses.

Further north on the Essex/Suffolk border that is the Stour another museum in Sudbury celebrates one of its native sons, Thomas Gainsborough (1727-88) and the time he spent working in the area.

John Constable’s father was a corn merchant who owned two mills: Flatford Mill in East Bergholt, and one in Dedham. He sent his son first to boarding school in Lavenham, then later to day school in Dedham. After school he began running one of the corn mills and then let his brother Abram take over as he began to follow his interest in art. His early sketches were seen by painter John Smith in Middlesex and in 1799 Smith managed to persuade his father that his son had talent. So Mr Constable snr. gave John an allowance and he became a probationer at London’s Royal Academy of Art doing life studies and drawings of dissections to further his anatomical work.

He also copied old masters and much admired the French romantic painter Claude Lorraine. Later things went full circle as he influenced the Barbison School of French Painters, and Claude Monet, with his studies of light and atmosphere. In 1803 he exhibited his work at the Royal Academy, by which time he had left London to return to Dedham where he could paint from nature, rather than taking up the offer of a teaching job. Like JMW Turner (1775-1851) he went to sea to study atmospheric effects, and also visited the Lake District, but preferred the flat landscapes of East Anglia, with the emphasis that it gave to large expanses of cloudscape. He did also undertake some portraiture to earn money although it was not a big interest for him. He settled into a routine of winters in London and summers in

East Bergholt, although there were visits to Salisbury too. Landscape lends itself to large scale for dramatic effects and he began a series of ‘six footers’, like ‘The Hay Wain’, just before the 1820s. Paintings began to sell after 1819: 20 in France, and 20 in England. He became linked with the romantic painters, not for classical mythology scenes like Turner, but because of his response to an inner need. He will be best remembered for a last glimpse of pastoral scenes before industrialisation transformed the countryside. He became a Royal Academician aged 52. He was popular with students, and lectured at the Royal Institute, but suffered from melancholy after his wife died.

He had married Maria Bicknall, his childhood sweetheart, in 1816.

Her parents objected to her suitor but this changed when his parents died and he inherited one fifth of the family fortune. Their honeymoon was spent in Brighton and Weymouth, and they lived in Brighton for a while, which brightened his palette. It was these south coast ports that brought the French connection to his career. Maria died of tuberculosis in 1828, aged 41, leaving seven children. Constable himself died of heart failure in 1837 and was buried alongside Maria in Hampstead.

Alfred Munnings was born in Mendham, Suffolk. Aged 14 he was apprenticed to a painter in Norwich for 6 years, and attended Norwich School of Art in his spare time. In 1898 he lost the sight in his right eye, but this did not affect his painting, as although it robbed him of binocular 3D vision it reduced the world to the flat surface that is the realm of the painter, so in 1899 he had two paintings hung in the Royal Academy exhibition. His early scenes were rural landscapes, often of gypsies and their horses.

He married horsewoman, Florance Carter-Wood in 1912, but she commited suicide in 1914. His second wife, Violet McBride was also a horsewoman, and through her social circle he executed some high society portraits, but his favourite subjects remained racing and hunting horses.

Offer valid until 30th June 2014

Page 24 www.chelmsfordthecitytimes.co.uk

During the First World War he had desk job, processing horses to be sent to the front, and became a war artist for the Canadian Cavalry, often working on sketches for canvasses close to enemy lines for the most dramatic effects. He became president of the Royal Academy in 1944 and received a knighthood from the king. He voiced his views against modern art with great vigour on the radio, opinions that were shared by Winston Churchill, who also painted as a hobby. He will always be remembered as a painter primarily of horses, although not all seem to always be of accurate proportions. He died in Dedham in 1959, and his wife turned their house in the village into a museum to display his work.

Thomas Gainsborough considered himself ‘a wild goose at best’, a non-conformist to the styles of his day. His early work is almost naïve and later developed into the gauzy proto Impressionism which also often recalled the decorative excesses of the Rococco era. He excelled in portraiture but often set his subjects in detailed landscape backgrounds, so was often in demand amongst Industrialist Nouveau Riche, like Mr and Mrs Andrews in a well known painting of his, where they pose in front of their estate. He actually preferred landscape painting to portraiture but by such means managed to earn money from wealthy patrons and still indulge in his love of painting the countryside.

Thomas was born in Sudbury, the son of a Suffolk weaver. He left his native town in 1740 to study in London with three established artists, one of whom was engraver William Hogarth. He married Margaret Bar in 1746 and they had two daughters. Margaret was an illegitimate daughter of the Duke of Beaufort, who gave them a £200 yearly income, which assured Thomas of a steady salary to support the often erratic earnings that artists often have to depend on. From 1748 to 1749 they returned to Sudbury, but 1759 found them living in Bath, in Somerset. In 1769 he was a founder of the Royal Academy of Art, and in 1774 they moved to London to live. There he painted both the king and queen, although Sir Joshua Reynolds was the official royal portraitist. He died of cancer in 1788, justly remembered by the people of Sudbury as one of their most successful sons.

Fathers Day Will Never be the Same Again…

The biggest Fathers Day event in Essex returns to Hylands Park on June 15th 2014. If you, your dad, your kids or other half have a love for adrenalin and engine based attractions then this is the event for you.

Taking centre stage there will not only be an Extreme Stunt Show running THREE DIFFERENT shows throughout the day featuring car crushing monster trucks, motorbike jumping and human fireballs but, there’s also an aerial display & LIVE landing on Hylands House lawn from the world’s only Spitfire MK XI aeroplane still with its original engine.

On top of that there are attractions & entertainment for the whole family including laser clay pigeon shooting, helicopter rides, live graffiti, free running displays, giant robots, hovercraft rides, climbing walls, inflatables, taxi photo booth, archery, skate ramps, car shows, and live music from the likes of Shlomo, The Kubricks, Crème de Chevre, Paolo Morena, Grizzly Bears and Winston & The Lads.

Boys Toys was created with the intention of providing an event more focused towards families and more importantly, dads. An event that brings all men’s favourite attractions to one place for one day. Boys Toys is like no other event in the region with an array of attractions to suit both those who would simply like to sit back and spectate or those who would prefer to roll up their sleeves and get involved.

We dare you to miss it!

Tickets available from www.chelmsford.gov.uk/BoysToys.

Boys Toys are currently looking for reliable volunteers to help land the Spitfire. If you or someone you know would be interested in helping make Chelmsford aviation history please send an email to: hylands@chelmsford.gov.uk.

Crafts by Gemma Peacock - Upholstery I’m no upholstery expert, I wouldn’t really have known where to begin before taking part in one of Make Do & Mend’s Upholster a Footstool workshops run by Fiona. Make Do & Mend can be found in Byron Road, Chelmsford and run a number of craft workshops. What I liked about the workshop was the fact that not only did you learn a new skill, but you also came away from the shop with a finished product made by your very own fair hands. You had the option of taking your own fabric with you or you could choose from a selection of fabrics in the shop. Fabric aside, all of the tools and equipment that were needed were all laid out and ready to go on the table upon our arrival. We were all soon at work.

Royal Visit May 6th

We had a very special visit to the cathedral by the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh on May 6th. Many lined Duke Street to catch a glimpse and luckily the weather held. We had a great photograph submitted to us which captured the atmosphere perfectly we think.

Photograph kindly submitted by Jamie Jayy, local professional DJ and photographer.

Twitter @djjamiejayy - Facebook.com/jamiejayy - www.djjamiej.co.uk.

The workshop was easy to follow and was run at a good pace; you didn’t feel rushed at any point nor were you sitting around twiddling thumbs waiting for other people to finish. We all worked together which was great.

Check out their website (www.makedomend.com) for a list of workshops they have currently running and available.

Since this particular workshop, I have been able to transfer the skills I’ve learnt to re-upholstering dining room chairs and also covering notice boards. It is all very simple but knowing the correct techniques has allowed a much better finish. It’s definitely worth giving it a go, especially if you’re a fan of upcycling furniture.

If you have any burning questions or are looking for any creative advice then please get in touch by emailing me at gemscrafts@ hotmail.co.uk. I look forward to hearing from you.

If you have an interesting photograph or story please email us at editorial@itsyourmedia.co.uk

Then and Now - Photos by Doug Bacon. If you have any old photos please email them to us at editorial@itsyourmedia.co.uk. (You must have the copyright to the images).

Are you interested in: • The preservation of buildings.

• History and architecture.

• River banks, trees and parks.

• Concerned about the future development of Chelmsford and the surrounding areas.

• Passionate about matters of historical interest and planning matters affecting the area.

Victoria Road C. 1960

Victoria Road 2014

Springfield Road C. 1960

Springfield Road 2014

Then Chelmsford Civic Society maybe of interest to you. It is a local group which meets around once a month to discuss the above along with visits and talks.

To find out more please visit our web site: www.chelmsfordcivicsociety.co.uk or email membership@chelmsfordcivicsociety.co.uk.

Chelmer Bridge Rotary Club’s Busy Schedule There are five Rotary clubs in Chelmsford itself and in my article this month I am focussing on the activities of one of the clubs that meets every Thursday evening.

Several members of the Rotary club of Chelmer Bridge visited the CHESS refuge for homeless men in Chelmsford. The purpose of the visit was to hand over as much warm clothing as possible for the homeless of Chelmsford who regularly rely on the centre not only for a bed (when one is available) but for a hot evening meal and warm clothing. Steve Lester (president for 2014/15) had encouraged all members to search through their wardrobes and drawers for as many pullovers / jackets / coats as they could find. The response was tremendous. The CHESS house which is quite small probably had a short term problem storing the masses of clothing delivered. Everyone had been very generous so hopefully many of the homeless in the town at least had some additional winter clothing to help them against the cold. After the visit, those attending repaired to the RAFA club for fish and chips from one of Chelmsford’s longest established and best known ‘chippies’ and a game of darts.

On the 6th March the club welcomed two young medical students - Cieron Roe and Lucy May who are studying at Brighton and Sussex Medical School and Guys/St Thomas Hospital in London. Cieron and Lucy will be working at Nkoma Mission Hospital in Malawi from June to October this year as part of their ‘elective’ work and had previously written to the club to see if it would be able to help them with any of the funding they required to support their visit.

Cieron and Lucy provided an interesting and informative PowerPoint presentation and were excellent speakers. All the members were hugely impressed and had no

hesitation in agreeing to some funding for them. Most of the population treated at the Nkoma Hospital are very poor and have very little in the way of material goods this being particularly true of the children.

Cieron asked if the club thought it would be possible to locate some small soft toys that could be taken by them or sent to Malawi for the children attending the hospital. This immediately led to the idea of involving our Rotakids club at Baddow Hall Primary School. The school was approached with the result that John Reynolds and Graham Marsh were invited to attend a school assembly to talk briefly about the hospital and Cieron and Lucy’s visit and their request for unwanted soft toys. Cieron and Lucy have already promised to talk to the club on their return and also visit Baddow Hall School to see the pupils. Cieron is from a Chelmsford family and attended St John Payne School.

On the 27th March the club was delighted to welcome Stuart Hornsby the new chief executive of The J’s Hospice and Barry Linger, trustee and former chief executive as speakers to provide an update on J’s activities. Since commencing the Hospice at Home service in 2010 the organisation has grown quickly culminating with the appointment of the first professional chief executive. It was then left to Stuart to provide an update on the Hospice’s financial situation and mention two of their principal fund raising activities - the Pedal for J’s cycle ride on 27th April and Chelmsford’s first marathon scheduled for Sunday 19th October. At the end of the evening president Richard Marriage presented Stuart with a cheque for £500.

Three members of Chelmer Bridge - Ian Nicholls, Denis Anderson and Graham Marsh did in fact take part in the cycling event. Ian being a regular cyclist and a long standing member of Brentwood Cycling

Club easily completed the 50 mile course but messrs Anderson and Marsh suffering from lack of training opted for and completed the 35 mile course.

Some 900 cyclists took part in a very well organised and enjoyable day despite a rather chilly wind and overcast skies. It is expected that thousands of pounds will have been raised for the hospice.

The club organised their third annual Spring Horse Ride on the 26th April which started and finished at president Richard’s farm at Chignal Smealey. Riders were offered the choice of a 10 or 13 mile route - the great majority opting for the shorter of the two!

Eighty four riders and horses participated and once again without exception all declared how much they had enjoyed the day which provided almost exclusively ‘off rode’ riding through pretty countryside. The catering marquee was manned by Rotarians and their wives provided a constant supply of tea, coffee and hot bacon and sausage rolls much to the satisfaction of all present! The day will not only have generated funds for the club’s charity account but it also provided a great day’s enjoyment for the riders.

Of course, there are purely social events for members and a visit to Brentwood Brewery followed by a meal in a well- known local Chinese restaurant concluded a most enjoyable evening.

To find out more about these events or how you can join Rotary to make a difference in the community please visit: www.chelmsfordrotary1240.org or phone Stan Keller on 01245 260349 (office hours) Article courtesy of Graham Marsh.

Cully’s Corner - What Ever is the Motto by Simon Culleton In the medieval days, when this country was full of knights in shining armour (must’ve weighed a ton), these gallant men would lead their lives according to a standard laid down in a ‘motto’. This motto was enshrined within their family honour and often they would enforce it with sword in hand, perhaps (this is where I imagine myself) at the head of a crowd of enthused followers; “for England and St George”.

America has their own motto written on their currency ‘In God we trust’. The SAS live by theirs (as well as Del Boy) ‘He who dares wins’. We have our very own motto here in Chelmsford and I love the sentiment though I doubt I could lead too many people off into battle with it, then again I could maybe cause a disturbance during last orders in the pub “We the drinking people of Chelmsford are of one mind – don’t close the bar”.

We are not the only town in Essex to have a motto, I found another 13 besides our wonderful city: Colchester’s motto is: “No cross, No Crown”, Harlow: “In Common Endeavour” and Thurrock: “by the Thames to all people of the World”, though I think Thurrock should swap the word Thames for the word ‘A13’ and then put in brackets

(not during rush hour). When I looked up the motto for Basildon I couldn’t find one and my computer search came up with the word ‘None’; So I’m left wondering whether Basildon has no motto or whether that is it.

England’s motto is of course “dieu et mon droit” which translates as “God and my right” referring to the monarchy’s right to rule. So we have our country and our city’s motto to guide us but that’s not all. We have other mottos to show us the way, though we probably refer to them as sayings or quotation yet they remain mottos all the same.“He who lives by the sword, dies by the sword” and my personal favourite and also used in part by Sir Winston Churchill: “Illegitimi non carborundum”: “don’t let the buggers grind you down.” There are a few quirky, perplexing mottos called “Canting” mottos like the family motto held by the Earl of Onslow “make haste slowly.” A fact the 6th Earl truly lived by, when serving in the north Africa’s desert battle of WW2 when he was meticulously and methodical in battle.

There are biblical mottes; “eat Drink and be merry for tomorrow we may die” (that’s Friday night in Chelmsford for you) and factual mottos “what ever doesn’t kill me makes me stronger”. I prefer the Irish farcical mottos that can be sometimes given as warning from mothers to sons before they set off down the pub. “Don’t drink so much, so you’re not so drunk when you do”.

Out of all the motto’s that I have researched we in Chelmsford did not come off too badly because our motto is heart warming and significant and with a bit of imagination I can just envisage a knight perched high upon his horse (straining under the weight of the armour) encouraging a bunch of peasant Chelmsfordians with just such a motto, we the people of Chelmsford are of many minds, one heart. Then, right at the end of my research my vision of me dressed as a knight sitting on a horse was spoilt when I discovered that our motto was presented to Chelmsford as recently as 1972 (hardly knights in shining armour, more like flared trousers) This gave me cause to remember another motto: “Expect the unexpected”. simon@limepad.com.

Web sites from £249 01245 262082 www.chelmerwebdesign.com

Page 29 www.chelmsfordthecitytimes.co.uk

The Essex Police Choir - Silver Jubilee Concert Essex Police Choir is celebrating its Silver Jubilee this year with a programme of 10 concerts, most of which will be in Essex but two will be on a return visit to Cornwall.

The Police Choir formed in May 1989 and each year they perform around 10 concerts, donating performances that enable local organisations to raise money - totalling around £250,000 in the 25 years that they have been running.

Currently there are 52 singers from all over the county (including 15 of the original group) but now there is only one serving officer and one member of support staff, the others being retired officers and staff, family and anyone who is happy to represent Essex Police and its ethos.

The Choir sings in four parts soprano, alto, tenor and bass - and whilst there is a necessity to be able to hold a tune, it is not necessary to be able to read music. Their music is varied with songs from the shows, popular numbers and some more classical pieces.

The choir rehearses each Tuesday evening from 7.30pm - 9.30pm at Police HQ in Chelmsford with just a short break in August and Christmas. New members are encouraged to come along for a few weeks to see if they like what they do, so if you feel that you would like to join a friendly, supportive band of singers or just want to know where you can see them perform, visit their website at: www.essexpolicechoir.co.uk or email on joinus@essexpolicechoir.co.uk.

The Music Bubble Show/The Music Bubble Network Although they have been established over 12 years and worked with the likes of Fuse ODG, Maxwell D & MC Bushkin to name a few, you have probably never heard of ‘The Music Bubble Network’ and why would you?

However in June 2013, the network launched into the public eye and has since grown to become a hotspot for new releases, news and exclusives, giving the general public access to there treasure trove of insider information & connections.

We caught up with the founder, Bubble, who explained why the Network is determined to be different: “Having been around the industry for a number of years, I started to notice a pattern of the types of Artists/Music that were being promoted. Unfortunately, what I witnessed was mostly a money game. I was working with artists that had so much talent but due to a lack of funding they were quite often ignored! I am a big believer in if someone wont let you through the door build your own, so that’s exactly what I did and The Music Bubble Network was born.

For me, its not about fame... Its about talent! I want to help connect those in the industry with those who have a true passion for music.”

Bubble went on to inform us about the next stage of the networks platform. A radio show launching on Thursday 15th May on Chelmsford’s very own CCR. ‘The Music Bubble Show’ will explore the urban music scene, delivering the hottest tracks from across the globe with a heavy focus on the important music news & issues surrounding

the industry. Bubble is determined to maintain the networks unique foundation of promoting up and coming music directly alongside those established in the industry with the show, she went on to say: “The transition in to the public eye has gone really well & I cant wait for the weekly radio show to launch. After meeting the directors at CCR, it was clear that they were a perfect fit. The Music Bubble Show will break the tradition of ‘we only promote your music when you’re established’. I believe that if you have talent, your music should be heard regardless if you’re signed or not! I want Music Bubble to be able to communicate with the audience and not loose ourselves in the masses of unreachable music platforms. I encourage you all to submit your music, videos, news & updates. Every message is read, every song is listened too.”

It seems if you are in the industry or just love music ‘The Music Bubble Show/Network’ is something you should know about. Although Bubble is keen to remain aloof to the spotlight, she is creating quite a positive stir in the music industries melting pot of promotional platforms and we cant help but support the ethics & determination she has to open the world’s ears to the unheard talent held within, defiantly one to watch out for!

The Music Bubble Show launches on Thursday 15th May at 8pm & will be on CCR every Thursday 8pm – 10pm GMT www.chelmsfordcommunityradio.com. www.facebook.com/music.bubble.network.

Twitter: @yourmusicbubble.

To submit your work please email: submissions@music-bubble.co.uk.

Page 30 www.chelmsfordthecitytimes.co.uk

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Page 31 www.chelmsfordthecitytimes.co.uk