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Issue Number 3 - December 2013/January 2014
The Asylum team would like to wish all past and future in-mates a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
CT Welcome Welcome to issue 3 of Chelmsford The City Times.
What a busy month, we have been to the Christmas light switch-on for both Moulsham Street and the High Street giving out copies of the magazines. Both were very well attended events and hardly any rain. There are lots of great events going on this month, be sure to check our events page to see where and when they are happening. We now have a banner on display in High Chelmer shopping centre with thanks to Mick and his team at High Chelmer.
We would like to wish all readers and advertisers a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Paul & Nick
Market Trip by Bridget Metcalfe A: why are you looking so glum? B: I’ve lost my root vegetable. A: don’t worry, it will turnip. Terrible joke, but I smiled recently in Chelmsford I because no-one pinched my potatoes. Truth is, I go to Chelmsford market for my fresh fruit and veg, usually on my bicycle (the one with the smart wicker basket). This particular day, I chained it up and went to get everything on my list. Too late, I suddenly remembered I had another errand in town but weighed down by bags of heavy veg it would’ve been hard work. So, hesitantly I left the heavy stuff in my basket. To be honest, I half expected the potatoes, carrots, parsnips and peaches to go, but on my return I was delighted to see my 5-a-days still there. No-one had pinched anything! There’s a good, honest streak runs through this city and it’s inspiring. It may only have been a few vegetables, but the fact that they were still there made me feel secure here. Chelmsford and its people are good. Knock Knock. Who’s there? Turnip. Turnip who? Turnip the radio please! The Bridget Metcalfe Show, Sundays at 6pm on BBC Essex. Page 3 www.chelmsfordthecitytimes.co.uk
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CT Fashion
Shine On
It’s that time of year when we are untangling our tinsel and unraveling our twinkly lights and when shopping for clothes, us ladies can’t help but be attracted to all things shiny, either for the work party or for the big day itself. There’s a vast range of partywear out there for all ages. Here are some of my favourites and you will find all these clothes and accessories in Chelmsford, so you don’t have to tackle the crowds in London. Be sure to check out my suggestions in store or online. The key to dressing for the festive period is not to pile on the glitter like an overdressed Christmas tree, but to tread carefully when it comes to sequins and gems. You will also get more mileage out of anything you buy if it has a ‘detail’ of gems or sequins, rather than an all over covering. If you are in your twenties, these rules don’t apply, you could go for a sequin bodycon dress like the Green Aztec Sequin Bodycon Dress (£45.00) from River Island. If you are a little older then there are great pieces to be found out Gap, Marks and Spencer, Debenhams and Monsoon. Metallics are big news for Christmas 2013. At Marks and Spencer check out the Limited Edition Metallic Jacquard Swirl Shell Top in silver, (£35.00), for a pared down look, wear with cropped cigarette trousers and loafers, or wear with a midlength skirt and heels for full on glamour. At Monsoon, there’s plenty of sparkle on offer, the nude oriental patterned shift, the Annie Jacquard Dress (£89.00) would be a chic option for Christmas drinks or dinner somewhere special. N.B. If you love this dress, I would lose the belt, as it looks much better without.
plenty of vintage clothes shops, hidden away. If you have never shopped vintage, you must give it a go. Now And Then are a dress agency plus vintage shop, so if you are looking for a designer piece, or something vintage, you’ll find it at this great boutique. I popped in the other day and there are some amazing clothes and accessories that would be perfect for the Christmas party season. I spotted a strapless 1980s ball gown, with a full taffeta skirt and velvet bodice. They also have some gorgeous accessories, which will last you beyond this season. They have lots of one off evening bags, which finish off any party outfit; my favourites are the Vintage Gold Bag (£15.00) and the Navy Jaeger Crepe Evening Bag (£19.00). And if you’re really not a fan of too much sparkle, then you could opt for a simple brooch like the Gilt Vintage Brooch (£9.00) to wear with your favourite Little Black Dress. Hopefully I have inspired you, now all you need to do, is enjoy those parties. Emma Smith lives in Chelmsford and is a style consultant. She offers a personal shopping service and wardrobe planning sessions. You can contact her via her website: www.emmasmith.co.uk or by email: emma@emmasmith.co.uk
Another perfect party frock is the blue Embellished Cuff Dress (£80.00) at Warehouse. This dress will take you from one festive celebration to another and would be perfect for a New Year’s Eve party. It’s a really flattering shape, so you can eat that third mince pie and still feel super comfortable. If you really want to make a statement this party season, then why not try a jumpsuit or playsuit, Topshop do a great collection. My favourite playsuit is the Lurex Fluffy Floral All-InOne in black (£48.00), the trousers are plain and tapered and the top is lace and lurex. Wear with a tux jacket and heels. If you haven’t the cash to splash out on a new outfit just before Christmas, then think about buying some shiny or sequined accessories. Gap does some glittery loafers (£24.95) that will liven up a black dress and black opaque tights. They also have metallic leather purses in two different sizes. The two-tone clutch comes in gold and cream and retails at £19.95 and the bigger clutch comes in silver and retails at £24.95. If you loved the Wizard of Oz as a child and dreamed that one day you’d own a pair of ruby red slippers, just like Dorothy’s, then click your heels together and head to Topshop, where you will find the next best thing. The Matter Dolly Ankle Strap Shoes in gold are so pretty, you will want to wear them all year round. Lastly, if you want to purchase something truly unique and really stand out in the crowd, check out Chelmsford’s real gem of a shop, Now And Then. Vintage has never been so fashionable and if you visit any city in the UK, there will be Page 5 www.chelmsfordthecitytimes.co.uk
CT Cooking
by John Jacobs
Season’s greetings to all our readers and many thanks for all the e-mails received following last month’s publication. It’s great to know that some of you are trying the recipes and I read with interest some of your tips for a great Christmas dinner. As the big day draws ever near, many of you will have formulated a plan of action that Field Marshall Montgomery would have been proud of and are fully stocked with unusual cream based liqueurs, random nut selection boxes and butter related products that, at any other time of the year, would be entirely acceptable without the addition of Tia Maria. Whilst I would not however advocate emulating my grandmother’s super readiness in putting the sprouts on to boil somewhere around mid-September there are a few things you can do a day or two before to take the effort away. The Chelmsford City Times top ten tips to a stress free Christmas Dinner:
The first thing to remember is don’t panic. Christmas dinner is about friends, family and tradition. No one expects nouveaux cuisine so just treat it like a grand Sunday roast. Trust me, Turkey is just a big chicken. Keep it simple, prepare your menu for the day and stick to it. Leave the experimentation to Heston. Blanch your vegetables the night before. Peel your spuds and leave them overnight in a bowl of cold water. Sprouts, cauliflower and broccoli can all be cooked in boiling water then plunged into an ice bath to retain colour and stop the cooking process. On the day simply put them back into hot water for a matter of seconds to refresh. I like sprouts fried in a little olive oil with diced pancetta, chopped walnuts for some crunch, cranberries for festive colour and garnished with grated lemon zest and chopped parsley.
Again, cook the stuffing the day before and reheat on the day. If you’ve bought a fresh turkey, remember to take out the giblets. Finding a bag of innards whilst carving can be a little off-putting. If your turkey is frozen, allow at least 24 hours for defrosting. Coat the bird with generous amounts of salted butter and season with thyme and black pepper. Cover loosely with foil and put into a pre-heated oven at 220°C/425°F/Gas 7. For the average bird weighing between 12-16 lbs., cooking time will be 4 to 5 hours. Invest in a meat thermometer. They’re widely available, inexpensive and help greatly in taking the guesswork out of cooking times. Put the thermometer into the thickest part of the thigh (avoiding any bone). When the temperature reaches 165 degrees F, you’re ready to go. Allow the bird to rest for 30 minutes so that the juices can absorb back into the meat. Lastly, keep a jug of chicken stock on standby. If your turkey has overcooked, pour the stock over the carved slices for an instant rescue.
This year will be the first for many that I have not spent in a professional kitchen cooking hundreds of turkey dinners. To all you hard working people in the catering trade who’ll be toiling throughout the season, I wish you all a great service and generous happy diners.
Don’t make bread sauce. It’s horrible. If anyone actually liked it we’d make it more often than once a year. Cheat. Make your gravy the night before. Use your favourite shop bought gravy base, add a healthy glass of red wine and a sachet of mulled wine spice to create a delicious seasonal jus. Don’t put the stuffing in the turkey. Air needs to circulate through the bird to cook properly. Stuffing the bird slows down the cooking process and you risk dry meat. Also, cooking the bird from room temperature will help you avoid over cooking.
Finally, it remains to wish all of you cheerful gastronomes a wonderful Christmas and New Year from all of us at the City Times and myself, John Jacobs of The Perfectly Simple Cookery School. When you’re trawling through your dozens of cookbooks looking for the best way to cook your Turkey, I leave you with the recipe as detailed by the father of modern cookery, Auguste Escoffier. ‘Put in a medium oven. Cook until done.’ Merry Christmas
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CT Gardening December brings family and friends together to celebrate the impending holidays. Make sure you have a safe season by taking a few precautions before your guests arrive. For starters, take care with holiday decorations, especially if your guest list includes young children or pets. Although poinsettias have proven not to be poisonous, they may cause upset if ingested. Contact with the sap may result in skin rash. Other Yuletide plants like holly and mistletoe do have toxic properties, however, consumption can lead to mild to acute stomach and intestinal disorders, so place out of reach. If you have a Christmas tree, anchor it to something sturdy like the wall or mouldings with screw hooks and wire or fishing line to prevent disaster should a frightened cat or curious child attempt to climb it. Use a stand with a flat and broad base for extra stability. Hang favourite ornaments and breakables near the top of the tree along with dried flowers, pinecones, and wooden ornaments that dogs and toddlers might find appealing. A fresh tree can drink up to a cup of water a day – often more during the first few days – so be sure to keep the stand filled to prevent the tree from drying out. Adding a tree preservative to the water will help. Place your tree away from heat sources like fireplaces and radiators and make sure light cords aren’t cracked or frayed, all safety hazards. If you have ordered a floral centrepiece or received one from a thoughtful guest, add water as soon as it arrives. The florist foam that holds the flowers in place needs to be kept very wet or it will draw moisture from the flowers and hasten wilting. Don’t just feel the foam block, check the water level in the container too. If possible, submerge the container and foam block in a sink full of water for an hour or so to get them thoroughly wet if not already so and then check the water level daily and add water as needed.
by Tom Cole in a cool spot at night. Outdoors, keep your walkways safe for visitors by using kitty litter, sand or environmentally safe salt to melt ice and early season snows (should we get them!). Place wooden tepees over shrubs and foundation plantings to prevent snow falling off the roof from crushing these plants. Going away for the holidays? If you can’t find a plant sitter, then check your local garden centre for an automatic watering device which will provide your plants with water while you are away. These are also available online and through mail order. Other activities: plant a windowsill herb garden; start a worm farm with your kids to help turn kitchen scraps into compost; prepare for the new season. 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
If you receive cut flowers, use a sharp knife to recut the stems to allow water absorption. Place the flowers into a container of 100-degree F water for 30 minutes. This is particularly important for roses, which may not open fully without the warm water treatment. The water won’t stay at this temperature, of course, but the initial boost of warm water will help the flowers open. Arrange the flowers in a vase of cool water with floral preservative. To extend the life of cut flowers add fresh water to the vase daily as needed and change the water every three days, re-cutting the stems as before. Place the arrangement
All doors conform fully to EU safety directives
CT
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Crafts by Gemma Peacock The countdown to Christmas has begun and I for one am very excited, I love Christmas. As someone who is passionate about crafts and things that are homemade, Christmas for me is a busy time. I’m a big fan of homemade gifts and decorations but why should it stop there? After all, Christmas now-a-days isn’t just about the 25th of December, the celebrations start way before then. The day that it really begins for me is the first of December, when I get to open the first door of my advent calendar (yes I still have one, you are never too old in my opinion). Don’t get me wrong, I’m a lover of the chocolate advent calendars you can buy from the shop (who isn’t) and of course, choosing which one you want is the best bit, but in recent years I’ve also taken to a homemade advent calendar that myself and my partner fill ourselves with either small gifts or our own choice of chocolate or sweets. It started a few years ago after seeing a pattern for a calendar in one of the many Christmas magazines I had purchased. There are so many magazines out there that feature craft projects. They are a great source of inspiration. I knew as soon as I had seen this one particular design that I had to give it a go.
It is made using mainly felt, which I have bought from Blooming Felt, a lovely small and local business located in Danbury. The staff are exceptionally helpful, the service is quick and their website easy to use, check them out at www.bloomingfelt.co.uk. Once the pouches have all been cut out,
Pass this magazine to a friend after reading
A Christmas Countdown
I have then sewn them onto the backing, which I have bought from Chelmsford market. I’ve glued on numbers using felt glue, again from Blooming Felt and have glued and sewn on ribbons and buttons that I have collected over the years, just to spruce up the pockets. All in all, it took a few hours to complete, but for those few hours work, I now have an advent calendar that I can bring out year after year to help me and my family countdown to Christmas. Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Taxi Trade Christmas Joy- Giving Something Back Fancy an early Christmas present from the taxi trade of Chelmsford?
For the second year running the Chelmsford Taxi Association (CTA) who represent sections of the trade (taxis mainly located on the Railway Station rank but available too around the city) have agreed with the City Council to reduce it’s fees at certain times over the Christmas and New Year period. Historically the trade in agreement with the City Council charged ‘double time’ on the day rate at certain times over the holiday period. To encourage members of the public to use taxis more in this period, a decision was taken to offer some flexibility in our charging. CTA Chairman, Ian Vernon, reported ‘in recognition of the commitment and support shown by members of the public of Chelmsford in using taxis throughout the year, we again decided to reduce our fees at these times’. Vernon added: ‘the typical saving on a £10 fare is approximately £2.50, some gesture we feel over the holiday period’. Customers do not have to worry about asking for this saving as the Council have already reconfigured the meters to cater for such a discount’. These savings are applicable between 6pm and 10pm inclusive, on 24th and 31st December.
noted above are ONLY available on a ‘pre booking basis’ by calling the company in question. Those Drivers who accept a fare without it being pre booked are operating illegally. A driver be caught plying for hire picking up off the street in this fashion could face prosecution and ultimately lose his/her licence. We remind customers these type of vehicles cannot be hailed down. Should any member of the public be unhappy with the level of service received when using a taxi or private hire vehicle, the Trade Association stress they have the right to report such incidents to the Licensing Department of Chelmsford City Council. The Chelmsford Taxi Association would like to thank members of the public who used taxis throughout the year a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Have a pleasant and safe journey!
It is important to note that these discounts ONLY apply to licenced taxis fitted with meters suitably located on ranks throughout the city and the borough. Double time misnomer It is felt some customers get very confused as to the peak time tariff over the holiday period, quite often we hear ‘night time customers’ being concerned that ‘Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year Eve is ‘double’ the evening rate ‘known as Tariff 2’. This isn’t the case at all. The highest fare applicable is double the day time tariff (Tariff 1) known and displayed in taxis as Tariff 4. So for example a fare at these particular times (see above) on Tariff 1 (eg £5) will work out at £10 on Tariff 4. Tariff 2 (typically late evening rate) e.g £7.50 would NOT double to £15, an important point we feel. Knowing this, the trade feel customers should not be overly concerned when travelling at these times. Beware of Unlicensed vehicles As the taxi trade experience the busiest period of the year, the Trade Association warn members of the public to be vigilant in ONLY getting into taxis that are ‘fully licenced’ for their own safety. We wish to remind readers that the only vehicles licenced to pick up from the ranks and streets and be hailed down in the city are those with an official ‘Chelmsford City Council’ white sign on the front doors. These taxis are also noted for being black in colour, having a roof light, front and rear identification plates and are also fitted with a meter. It is worth noting that all jobs within the borough boundary should be run on the meter. Private hire vehicles (cars and minibuses) other than that Page 10 www.chelmsfordthecitytimes.co.uk
Christmas Beers
Many breweries make several regular beers and then complement them with a range of seasonal ‘specials’ especially at Christmas time. Christmas is the perfect time to get hold of the very best local produce so what have our local breweries got to offer us this festive season? Crouch Vale, based in South Woodham Ferrers, have produced Santa’s Revenge 5% which is a pale, aromatic beer brewed with American hops. This fits in nicely with their range of beers as they have a great history of producing pale beers (especially as they won Champion Beer of Britain 2 years in a row with their fantastic Brewers Gold) and also have plenty of experience with American hops. Wibblers, based in Mayland, have two Christmas themed beers. Winter Wibble, a heavy 6%, is described as old ale with an almost whisky like malt flavour with plenty of English hops to balance the strength making it very suppable. They also produce Santa’s Night Off, at 4.2% which is a traditional brew for those long winter evenings and is made with traditional English hops. Red Fox, brewing just outside Coggeshall, have made Arctic Fox, 4.5%, which is a rich spicy Christmas beer with a hint of oranges. It is worth noting beer with extra flavourings such as spices are often found on bars at this time of year. Farmers Ales in Maldon have a range of six special beers this December ranging from Five Gold Rings, 3.8% golden ale, through amber and all the way to Wrecked, 7% dark copper beer, from their series named after buoys.
Mighty Oak, also brewing in Maldon, have brewed Ice Maiden, 3.6%, which is a blonde ale with hints of pine, lemon and citrus. The hoppy character is evident in the aroma, on the palate and in the long aftertaste. Hopped with Slovenian hops Aurora and Bobek. Bishop Nick, now brewing in Braintree, have brewed a traditional strong premium ale for winter which they have called Feast 4.6% which has festive fruit and spice overtones and German Cara Red Malt has given it a rich copper colour. It’s a comforting pint and marks the launch of their ‘Limited Edition’ range. Brentwood Brewing Company has a range of 6 seasonal beers for Christmas. Included in the range is Winter Warmer 4.7% which is described as perfect for chilly evenings. Brewed with oranges and ginger for a warming finish this incorporates ingredients other than malt, hops and yeast as is often the case in this style of beers. Round Tower, brewing in the heart of the Chelmsford City, are releasing Shadoxhurst Stout, 5.6%. This is a stronger version of their ever popular stout but has been maturing in casks since the beginning of autumn. Made with 8 different malts and with 75 IBUs, it is rich and roasted with background notes of dried fruit. Only a few casks have been made so if you see it on the bar it’s a good idea to have a taste because it won’t be there for long.
by Simon Tippler of www.roundtowerbrewery.co.uk
A Walking Guide for Christmas in Chelmsford Do you know in which Chelmsford street every building down one side was at some time or other a licensed premise; which of the original fine coaching inns in the town was mentioned by Charles Dickens in his book Pickwick Papers; which other famous author wrote parts of some of his novels when staying at the Saracen’s Head; or which pub in Old Moulsham derives its rare name from the Moravians a seventeen century Protestant religious sect? The answers to these questions, along with many other interesting facts about the pubs and former breweries of Chelmsford, are provided in A Walking Guide to the Pubs of Central Chelmsford and Moulsham: Past and Present. It comes as a handy sized 16 page pull out leaflet ideal as a stocking filler which will give focus when walking off all the extra Christmas food and provide a reminder of the pub options that still exist to serve you the next festive drink. The guide has been published to complement the exhibition Ale and Hearty: The Pubs and Breweries of Chelmsford shown at the Chelmsford Museums over the summer for which a booklet of the same name was issued (see www. aleandhearty.co.uk ). Copies are available free of charge from Chelmsford Museums located in Oaklands Park, Moulsham Street. Also from Chelmsford Public Library, the Essex Record Office and some public houses in Chelmsford. It has been produced by the Friends of Chelmsford Museums and the Chelmsford & Mid Essex Branch of CAMRA with the support of the Heritage Lottery Fund. Page 11 www.chelmsfordthecitytimes.co.uk
CT What’s On In Chelmsford December
13th Asylum - Library Suits + Mesonical + D.M.O Fleece - Expose 14th Asylum - Korda Marshall + September Sky + Famous For Nothing The Alehouse - The Kubricks Bird In Hand - Sloe Gin Chelmsofrd City FC vs Hayes and Yeading Utd Chelmsford Museum - Christmas Crafts Fleece - The Rising Ideas Hub - festive workshops and market stalls 12pm-4pm J’s Hospice Christmas Extravaganza, Tesco, Springfield Road Parkrun parkrun.org.uk/chelmsfordcentral 15th Fleece - metal night 16th Fleece - DJ Darryl Butcher 18th Bassment - Blues In The City - Cherry Lee Mewis + Lexie Green Fleece - DJ Darryl Butcher The Official Comedy Club Chelmsford 19th Asylum _ Pale-Fires + Sky Is Red Evoke - Wilko Johnson + The Ben Smith Band Fleece - **** & the Gang J’s Hospice Carols in Chelmsford at Chelmsford railway station Smiths Bar & Lounge - Ekko, Ekko + Jonny Stemp + Olaf Stando The Official Comedy Club Chelmsford 20th The Bird In Hand - The Waxwork + Lemoncurd Kid + Guide Dogs For The Dead Fleece - Break For Cover The Official Comedy Club Chelmsford 21st Asylum - Last Superheros + Lost On Broadway The Cricketers - Supersoul Saturday Xmas party Fleece - Electronic 80s Parkrun parkrun.org.uk/chelmsfordcentral 22nd Fleece - DJ Darryl Butcher 24th Christmas Eve Asylum - Xmas Eve party Fleece - Xmas Eve party with Rev & Ox 26th Fleece - Boxing party night Chelmsford City FC vs Hayes and Yeading Utd 27th Fleece - Queen’s English 28th Asylum - Delta Jacks + Sans Wilfred + Gina Sykes Fleece - Stone The Crows Parkrun parkrun.org.uk/chelmsfordcentral 29th Fleece - Bartenders Christmas Party - All bar staff bring your payslip for cheaper drinks.
31st New Year’s Eve Asylum - Midnight Barbers + more tbc Chelmsford City FC - New Year’s Eve Party Fleece - Chelmsford’s biggest NYE party - open until 8am
January
2nd Baz’s birthday bash 3rd Fleece - Wazzo 4th Asylum - Eighth Deadly Sin + State of The Art + Such Strange Arts Fleece - Squeal Parkrun parkrun.org.uk/chelmsfordcentral 8th Fleece - DJ Darryl Butcher 9th Fleece - DJ Darryl Butcher 10th Asylum - Shakey’s night (line up TBC) Fleece - Fly 11th Asylum - Guns ‘N’ Broses Parkrun parkrun.org.uk/chelmsfordcentral 16th Asylum - When Giants Fall + Circle of Reason + Finding Miranda
Please note, all events are subject to change. Please check the organiser’s website or Facebook to confirm. Asylum - www.asylumchelmsford.co.uk Bassment - www.bassmentbar.com Blues In The City - Blues In The City Chelmsford City Football Club - 01245 290959 Cricketers - www.thecricketers.biz Evoke - www.facebook.com/evokelivemusic Fleece - www.thegoldenfleece-chelmsford.co.uk The J’s Hospice - www.thejshospice.org.uk White Horse Bar and Lounge - whbl.co.uk If you have an event you would like us to add to our list for January/February please email: editorial@chelmsfordthecitytimes.co.uk We would like to hear about your events, here are a few ideas: Craft fairs Jumble sale Book groups Fund raising events Quiz nights
Public meetings Small theatre productions Open mic nights Walking groups Comedy nights
We will try to list any event open to the public in and around Chelmsford.
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CT Gig review The Buzzcocks Venue: Evoke, Chelmsford Gig Date: Thurs 28 Nov 2013
Chelmsford’s Evoke night club is now becoming a regular hot spot for must-see live gigs. The Buzzcocks were recently the punk power force on stage. Where does the name originate? It’s not from the telly show because the band has been around since 1976. “Buzz” is the thrill you feel playing live on stage; “cock” is northern slang for “mate” (as in friend). Stick ‘em together and what have you got?
It’s been a long time since the band’s heyday in the 70’s. There was a sense of curiosity and expectancy from fans old and new in the crowd. The true, die-hard punk rockers present knew exactly what would happen. The music was loud so everyone was sure that punk rock is alive and kicking. Next on at Evoke is Wilko Johnson on Thurs 19 Dec. (See advert above this article). Bridget Metcalfe BBC Eastern Counties / BBC Essex
The BBC’s programme certainly hasn’t hurt any recognition for the band. Founder, frontman, guitarist and singer Pete Shelley still maintains authority and a pride in keeping the pace hammering through. On guitar and vocals, fellow band mate Steve Diggle still cuts the mustard with his showmanship and indomitable spirit. The show biz term “once a performer, always a performer” suits them both down to the ground. The drummer these days is Danny Farrant who kept the click accurate but the rhythm sound was immense. Bass player Chris Remington therefore simply couldn’t flounder.
Photo N. Garner
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CT Business
sponsored by:
Stewart’s Deli & Tearoom
Let’s face it, when you walk down Chelmsford High Street past Debenhams, Next, WH Smith, Marks and Spencer, you could be in any town in Britain – the big multi-national shops have taken over our streets and the individual character of towns is disappearing. What I want to do is each month is to highlight the small, independent shops, to give them a boost by letting those who live in Chelmsford know that amongst all the big shops are the quirky, the historic - the shops that offer something original rather than the mass produced. Last month I spoke to young entrepreneur Holly from Dark Side Comics and this month I’m chatting to Matt and Geraldine Smith from Stewart’s Deli & Tearoom in Tindal Street. The first thing I discovered when talking to them was that there has been a shop of one sort or another, including a gun-makers, operating from these premises since 1590. I thought that was rather exciting so I found a photograph of the shop and it really hasn’t changed very much from the outside! Matt and Geraldine have been running Stewart’s since July 2012 – a tiny slice in the property’s history. I wondered why would anyone take on a small, Grade II listed timber framed building and try to run a tea shop from it? This is what Matt said: “I’d been in the catering business for over 25 years – I’d worked in hotels in London, school canteens but had reached the stage where I wanted to do something different, to run my own business. It was a sort of ‘now or never’ situation. Luckily my wife, Geraldine (who I met at catering college) is also in the catering industry and was very supportive and has the same ideals, i.e. we’re both passionate about using free-range local produce, making sure everything is fresh, seasonal and of the best quality. We also wanted to offer great personal service, somewhere people could come and be made to feel welcome rather than as though they were passing through. Initially we started looking near Colchester but we found these premises, liked them, put together financial projections to the bank and went ahead. We haven’t looked back”. Talking to Matt I soon discovered that the shop is very much a family affair. “Geraldine makes the cakes in her spare time using many of her own recipes from her much loved falling-apart recipe book, and one of our daughters works here in her spare time. We talk constantly about the shop, what we’re going to do, what we want to provide for our customers”. What services do they provide? “Well, we provide take-aways of course – that’s the biggest part of the business - and we cater for business lunches. We also do outside catering and rent out the first floor which can be used for special tea parties, as a training venue or for people to meet and talk, for example a book club. However, we believe that the personal touch is important and we love getting to know people so one of the things we also offer is a cookery club on the second Saturday each month – everyone gathers downstairs and starts baking – it could be scones, sausage rolls, anything tasty really - and at the end we all sit down, have a cup of tea and start eating! It’s great fun!”
We would like to welcome our CT Business page sponser thebestof Chelmsford. What does thebestof Chelmsford do? We provide a valuable service to the people and businesses of Chelmsford. For members of the public thebestof Chelmsford is a community focused website. On the website users can find out all sorts of information about our City such as local clubs, schools and associations. They can also find out what’s going on in and around Chelmsford from the events section of the website. But what’s really great about thebestof Chelmsford is the fact that users can log on and add to the site themselves! They can add their own events, or they can blog about issues in Chelmsford that affect everybody. thebestof Chelmsford is completely interactive. There’s also a local business directory showcasing the best businesses in Chelmsford and the surrounding area. The point about the businesses on thebestof Chelmsford is the fact that they are all recommended by local people, real people. We encourage reviews which the best businesses deserve, and ask everyone to let us know the businesses they love and why. So why not get engaged with thebestof today. www.thebestof.co.uk/local/chelmsford Here’s one of Geraldine’s own recipes from that falling-apart recipe book: Marmalade cake: 200g softened butter 200g caster sugar 200g self-raising flour 3 eggs Pinch of baking powder 4 tablespoons of marmalade + extra for glazing Place all the ingredients in a large bowl and using either a wooden spoon or an electric mixer, beat all the ingredients together for about a minute until the cake mixture is light and smooth. Spoon the mixture into a greased and lined (or just line with baking parchment) cake tin, either a loaf tin or 20cm round tin and bake in a preheated oven at 160C, 325For gas mark 4 for 1 hour until well risen and cooked - you can test this with a skewer or by pressing gently with your fingers and if the cakes springs back, it is cooked. Cool in the tin for 10 minutes before spreading a little more marmalade over the top to glaze. Leave in the tin for a further 10 minutes if you can, before lifting onto a plate or cooling tray, and slicing or eating when cold. Tip from Geraldine: “You can vary it nicely by using different marmalades. Have a look at our range of Tiptree Marmalades and give it a go!
If you would If you’re in town doing some shopping, like me to come stop off for some lunch or tea and and talk to you about cake at Stewart’s Deli & Tearoom – your small business, you’re guaranteed to receive a warm please let me know via: welcome and excellent food! editorial@ itsyourmedia.co.uk 4 Tindal Street, Chelmsford, CM2 1ER www.stewartsdeliandtearoom.co.uk By Kate Tenbeth
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Edmund Carr Diamond Anniversary by David Drain, Managing Partner
This year we celebrated our 60th year in business in a variety of ways. This included working with Simon Tippler at the local Round Tower Brewery to create a bespoke “Diamond Ale” to celebrate the milestone. You may have seen us in July at the Beer Festival sampling a few pints, it went down well and we ordered a second batch! In November we invited the founder of the firm, Kenneth Carr and his wife Doreen to Oaklands Park to plant a tree to mark the occasion. We were fortunate enough to have amongst our guests former partners Michael Vandome and Malcolm Hamlyn and some of the staff who worked with Ken back in the “good old days”. We were also delighted to have the company of some of our long standing clients all of whom have been loyal to the firm for some 50 years. It was a pleasure to see everyone catching up. Ken was only 26 when he founded the practice in 1953, a brave step at the time. In the 1970s Malcolm (1970) & Michael (1973) joined Ken as partners. The foundations laid by the 3 of them have played a vital part in the firm’s continued success and they represent the only partnership retirements in the firm’s 60 year history. We have grown significantly over the decades and now operate with 7 partners and a staff of around 40. Of the current
partners David Drain (partner since 1982), Francis Whitbread (1991), Stewart Martin (1992) and Debbie Wakefield (2005) all trained and qualified with the firm, before leaving to gain further experience, subsequently returning as partners. The other 3 partners, Eric Williams, Ray Crace and Colin Barker all worked with much larger national firms before joining us in 1991, 1999 and 2012 respectively. There is no doubt that with 4 of the current partners trained in the ways of the firm, the influence of the retired 3 is still felt around the boardroom table. We are proud of our history, stability and honest endeavour which has brought success even through times of general economic difficulty. We provide a variety of services to clients including audit, accountancy, business advice, tax compliance and specialist advice, payroll services and consultancy advice. The current year has seen a significant expansion in the accountancy practice and our wholly owned subsidiary EC Financial Services Limited, run by David Carr – son of our founder, has provided excellent independent financial advice and support to clients. Even though the firm has been around for 60 years – we don’t take for granted that it will continue for another 60. Many factors have helped us to become one of the leading independent practices in the city of Chelmsford. Much is due to the fact that we have a great team of people working for us giving a friendly and professional service. We also owe a debt of gratitude to our clients for their loyalty and continued recommendations. Once again we thank our clients, our staff and our friends for their support during the first 60 years of Edmund Carr LLP and look forward to the future.
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The Reluctant Commuter Dear Fellow Commuter
Your stories are flowing in thick and fast and I’d like to thank you for each and every one of them! It seems I’ve struck a chord with many of you and I have to tell you that I’ve even had a scream of appreciation – yes, a scream. I mentioned to a friend that I was ‘The Reluctant Commuter’ and she screamed out loud – apparently it’s her favourite section and was the first thing she went to when she picked up the second edition. There you go – that’s what makes writing worthwhile - keep bringing on the screams! From the stories I’ve received so far it would seem that many of you have very negative feelings about commuting. Trust me, I’m there with you all the way but come with me on my journey in trying to find something positive about commuting - life’s too short to hate at least 2 hours out of 24. In my last article I mentioned romance and parties, this time I’m going to talk about making friends.
So if you’ve been sitting next to someone for the last few years without talking to them but like the books they read, the catch-up tv/movies they watch or music they listen to – take a chance and speak to them! The overheard section today was sent to me by Mark: “I said get the mince out of the freezer. M-i-n-c-e. Mince. Not mints! What planet are you on?” To write to me please email editorial@itsyourmedia.co.uk
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Let’s face it, it’s difficult to make friends when you’re a commuter. Yes, you get to know individual faces but the danger is that should you strike up a conversation with someone you’ll then feel obliged to talk to them every time you see them until the day you retire. That’s very risky. Far better to keep your headphones on or your nose stuck in your book. There are those that break the mould however. One commuter, Chris, assures me he’s made a number of friends on the journey into work. Their common interest is music and they make a point of recommending music to each other - the whole point being that they listen to and appreciate music they wouldn’t normally listen to and there’s the added bonus that they don’t necessarily have to talk to each other very much! Aimie has met several people who love reading and together they’ve started a small reading group. They take it in turns to recommend a book which they then read on the way into work. She says it’s not always easy discussing the book once they’ve finished because they don’t always catch the same train but they give it a good go!
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Cully’s Corner by Simon Culleton The printed newspaper has been around for some 300 years, the first printing press being invented in Antwerp in 1476 and it wasn’t long after that before frustrated editors straining to arrange the type set came up with the column format. The Columns or short article, became immediately successful and some people started their career on them. Ed Sulliva.n who’s column format was used as a premise for his long running TV show, was possibly the most famous and now-a-days we have the likes of Richard and Judy and Jeremy Clarkson giving us a regular dose of his individual view. Even Churchill started his career writing (The ‘Pioneer’ 1898), and for that matter so did Hitler, writing for the National Socialist Party (1919), though it is fair to say that Hitler’s readership throughout the years was somewhat forced.
Now the printed word has evolved again and Chelmsford has it’s very own ‘City Times’ (about time too) and I have the honour and pleasure of writing a humble column for it. I have written many articles for publications over the years both here and aboard, also short stories ands notably a BBC Radio 4 play. I am a Chelmsfordian born and bred having first entered the world here in Chelmsford at St Johns Hospital in a lift, there not being time to wheel my mothers bed from the open ward to the birthing room which was on a different floor. (I like to think the lift was going up when I was born but it cannot be recalled). This happened far to many years ago to mention here, though I feel extremely ancient when I say that at this actual moment while I am writing this column, the hospital where I was born is being knocked down. I have lived in various parts of Chelmsford throughout the years, from Upper Bridge Road to Broomfield Road and I have now settled in Old Moulsham in ear shot from Oaklands school where my father once bartered away my plastic cowboy gun and holster and led me by the hand for my first day at school at the tender age of 5. I’m pleased to say that the school building is in tact and that part of my history is not being bulldozed. I have though not always lived in Chelmsford all of the time, having travelled and worked all over the world - and backpacked around it twice too. I hold a Green Card for America as well as being a permanent resident of Australia, a place where I regularly visit. Yet I always refer to Chelmsford as home and whenever I am home sick, which is often, I metaphorically click my heels (‘there’s no place like home”) and am soon back again, walking down the streets of Chelmsford, wandering around town and the parks and in the pubs wondering why I ever left. There is indeed a whole world to discover here on my doorstep and I shall enjoy writing about it. If there are any parts of Chelmsford life you wish me to look into, no matter how quirky or seemingly benign, it will be my pleasure and out honour here at City Times to write about it. Email : editorial@itsyourmedia.co.uk or simon@limepad.com
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CT CHARITY
Following Audrey Appleton’s Death in 1980, at the suggestion of Drs. John and Gill Collier an appeal for a hospice for mid Essex was launched by Glenda Lance on the strength of £12 raised by one coffee morning! Throughout the first 10 years “Farleigh” was bought and a sitting service set up - rest for weary families often throughout the night. Next was the appointment of two Macmillan nurses, to work in the community whilst the house was prepared for patients until Farleigh opened - first for day care and soon after for the care of in-patients. Changes came at this point and The Audrey Appleton Trust was born and continues as a totally separate voluntary charity. A story from the sitting service was the prompt for the trust to be founded. A visiting “sitter” found a forlorn family, mother and daughter no longer able to give the husband the daily bath, his only pleasure. Lifting had become impossible. In the wife’s words “when I told my husband, the look in his eye was as if I had turned off an electric light”. The trust set out to find a special bath. Havering Hospital had this and soon so did Farleigh, but how could a patient unable to travel by car get to Farleigh? We needed an ambulance. A generous public gave the money and Frank Long, a former Essex Ambulance driver set up the service and added another ambulance a year later. 23 years on the service continues.
people with life threatening illnesses, the trust funded for 3 years the neurology liaison nurse at Broomfield Hospital. At this nurses request, our Tuesday club started for up to 20 people each week giving a break to carers. The trust also funded night nursing care, within patient’s own homes, for many years working with the NHS. In May the trust was so inspired by a patient that in her memory we have started fund raising for another in-patient nurse. Over the years there has been so many challenges and amazing happenings, but one in particular was almost unbelievable. One of our lady ambulance drivers took a patient and his wife to The National Gallery. They met as strangers but when our driver introduced herself the patient’s wife had the same, not very common christian name, on the journey they discovered they both came from Norfolk, both the daughters of shopkeepers, both went to the same school and finally found out the had the same surname – Edwards. Ever since for over 20 years they have remained friends and of course they are almost the same age.
Most of our income is generated through our two charity shops, one in Dunmow High Street and Broomfield Road, Chelmsford. The team give time, effort and love, whatever the weather, go to work to make our work possible.
Recently a call from a social worker at Whipps Cross Hospital asked could we take a very ill lady form hospital to the Macmillan Hotel in Southbourne with her two sisters. This would be the last time for them all to be together. Could we possibly help with the cost of this. Our lady driver had just had a big birthday from which she had some money gifts, these she donated to pay for the holiday and was able to drive the patient from hospital with her sisters to the hotel. How they enjoyed their time together reliving their childhood. On arriving at the hotel they were given a separate house and garden in the grounds. Four days after they returned the lady died, her sisters said it was the best holiday ever. Apart from giving many gifts of money to hospices, individuals often heard about through BBC Essex and groups working for Page 18 www.chelmsfordthecitytimes.co.uk
Hypnotherapy by Jenny Hartill This month I’ll discuss phobias, starting with the top 5 myths, how to cure phobias, and then I’ll list some interesting phobias as you can literally be phobic of anything. The top 5 myths about phobias are: 1: “You’re born with it.” This is absolutely untrue; phobias develop as a result of a traumatic event or of learned behaviour. In the case of the traumatic event, the subconscious saves the information, in other words it automatically remembers to be scared of whatever might be linked to or remind you of the event. This is why people can develop a phobia of anything, if a snake bites you it is feasible to assume you could develop a phobia of snakes because your subconscious thinks “That’s very dangerous and painful, I absolutely must keep away from snakes at all costs they are bad and will endanger my life”. But if a snake bites you and you’re not paying attention to the snake you’re looking at and paying attention to the smell of someone cooking garlic, your subconscious could link the garlic to the snake bite and hence you become phobic of garlic (Alliumphobia, for the record). This happened to me when I developed my phobia of moths (Mottophobia). I was swinging on my friends swing when I was very young, there was a greenhouse with massive moths inside it opposite me. I fell of the swing smacking my back into the concrete below (extremely painful) but the last thing I was thinking about was the moths, so my subconscious linked them. I didn’t realise I had this phobia for many years later and it wasn’t until I studied psychology A level and I asked my tutor to discuss my phobia with me that she helped me uncover where it had come from. 2: “Phobias cannot be cured, only managed”. Again this is absolutely untrue. If you want to cure your phobia you can, a phobia is an irrational fear. All you have to do is convince your subconscious that it doesn’t need to be scared anymore and the phobia will disappear. If your subconscious doesn’t have an irrational fear of something, you won’t have a phobia of that something either. 3: “Phobias are genetic”. Phobias are not genetic. The only way a phobia can be passed on is via something called transference. This is a learned behaviour where one individual already has a fear and another individual learns to be fearful of the same thing. This is particularly common with parents and children, for example if one parent is absolutely petrified of spiders (Arachnophobia) and their child sees them freaking out every time their parent sees a spider, the child could also develop the same fear. The fear may not be on the phobic level, but it is very real as when a young child sees their parent in distress not only do they learn the spider (for example) is something to be feared, but the experience of seeing their parent so petrified can be equally, if not more, distressing for the child. 4: “Avoidance is the best way to manage a phobia”. The problem with this myth is that it’s all well and good if for example you have a fear of flying in a plane and never intend to get on a plane. However, it depends on what the phobia is and if it’s likely to cause you problems in everyday life. There’s also the possibility that you may have to engage your phobia, so for example if your son or daughter is on holiday and they get sick abroad and the only option is for you to fly to them, or they’re begging you to fly to them, how would you feel giving
in to an irrational fear and not helping your own child because you can’t bring yourself to get on a plane? Sometimes phobias can progress, so a fear of open spaces (Agoraphobia) could lead you to locking yourself away in your home, the stress of which could then lead you to develop another disorder like OCD. 5: “Curing a phobia is complicated and takes hours of psychotherapy” If you want to go down the counselling route, go for it. However, hypnotherapy really is better in my opinion. You and your therapist will sit down and find out where your phobia has come from, you may think you don’t have a clue but again hypnotherapy can help as we can use hypnoanalysis to delve into the subconscious and find out what is so scary about the thing you’re scared of. There are several types of phobias. They are: Simple phobias: These are fears of a single stimulus such as heights, spiders, enclosed spaces etc. Complex phobias: These are fears of a number of stimuli such as someone with a phobia of going on large boats may also be phobic of drowning, losing control, crashing, being lost or open spaces. Social phobias: These phobias reflect the fear of what may happen when in the company of others, so fear of trembling, blushing, saying something stupid etc. Panic Attacks: Although panic attacks are in a league of their own, if someone suffers with a panic disorder the greatest fear is of having a panic attack. Agoraphobia: Literally translates to “fear of the open marketplace” but these days it refers to anyone who feels more and more nervous the further they travel from home. To cure a phobia using hypnotherapy I would encourage the client to experience the phobia in their imagination (whilst under hypnosis) so that the situation makes them feel fearful but with a sense of control. I could also include some triggers to reduce the real feelings of fear, for example when they press their thumb and forefinger together they feel calmer. By allowing the client to be in control, it allows them to put their fear into perspective and enables them to experience the reality instead of the irrationality of the situation. I would then suggest they concentrate on these feelings of control and how good they feel in the situation now etc. There are many phobias, I’ve included some interesting ones below – make of them what you will! Ablutophobia (fear of washing or bathing), Anglophobia (fear of England), Barophobia (fear of gravity) Decidophobia (fear of making decisions), Euphobia (fear of hearing good news), Genuphobia (fear of knees), Leukophobia (fear of the colour white), Macrophobia (fear of long waits), Namatophobia (fear of names), Phobophobia (fear of phobias) And my personal favourite: Hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia (fear of long words). Next time I’ll discuss habits, including bad and good habits.
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CT Fitness A few years back, I was really into running. Long runs, tempo runs, sprint sessions. I trained daily… and I felt awful. Shin splints, constant colds, and serious aches and pains. It was confusing. Running is meant to get you fitter, right? The more you do the better! I couldn’t have been more wrong, as the last few years have seen a big shift in fitness theory. To sum it up, less appears to be more. One of the most popular ideas is ‘Tabata’ training. Tabata was a Japanese scientist who discovered more benefit from short bursts of high intensity exercise than from extended sessions, as it increased both the aerobic and anaerobic pathways at the same time. A neat trick, let me assure you. Of course, it’s not quite as simple as that. If you want to be an elite athlete, or even compete at a decent local level, one Tabata session a week isn’t going to be enough.
an economist who argued that 80% of outputs result from 20% of inputs, came up with this theory, which can be applied to the stock market, gardening, business, and more importantly, fitness. So how can you apply Pareto’s rule to make your training more effective? Tabata, that’s how. Make it work for you: To utilise Tabata effectively, you need to work at a high intensity for 20 seconds, rest for 10 seconds, then repeat that eight times. For some, that might mean 20 seconds of hill walking, followed by a 10 second rest. For others, it might mean a loaded barbell and a whole lot of front squats.
However, if your goal is general fitness, the evidence would suggest that you are likely to get more benefit from a short, intense workout than from a long, slow session.
Tabata is only effective if you work at a bum-clenchingly high intensity. So if you want results fast, and are willing to work your socks off for four minutes, Tabata training could be just what you’re looking for.
And that links nicely to something I’m really interested in - the Minimum Effective Dose. In other words, the smallest amount of effort that we can exert for the maximum benefit. Pareto,
Interested in Tabata? Come along to one of our Outdoor Fitness sessions to try it out. Visit www.liveasimplelife.co.uk or email keith@liveasimplelife.co.uk to book your free trial.
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12 Realistic Reasons to Meditate Before Christmas by Kellie Jones 1. It makes you happier! 2-12. What, you want more reasons than number 1???
Book yourself in at www.hummingbirdpilates.co.uk or call us on 01245 422556.
Here at Hummingbird we are realistic enough to advise you that you will only start and keep something up if you actually enjoy it and want to do it! So what do you want to do and what do you enjoy? I ask people this question quite often and so many have never even stopped to consider this and are beating themselves up for not doing ‘exercise’. I recently decided to throw all my trainers out, (shock, horror, gasp) having spent many years pushing myself to be a sporty fitness enthusiast when actually I love to do pilates, yoga, banging on a Djembe drum and dancing down the pub! Before we all start doing self-punishment for eating too many mince pies maybe we should try out push-ups for the brain, otherwise known as Mindfulness Meditation. One of the biggest reasons we don’t keep our good intentions up in the new year is because we lose our focus, get distracted and forget to be kind to ourselves. Mindfulness Meditation helps to give us the headspace to work out what we love, the focus to get on with it and the practice of being kind to ourselves. If you really aren’t sure what you’d like to do we offer all new clients 30 Days for £30 Unlimited classes so you can try as many as you like to help you find out and this includes Meditation!
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CT History
by John Power
January takes its name from the Roman God Janus, who is shown in iconography with two faces looking in opposite directions - at the old year and the forthcoming year. We noted last month that Saturn also ruled the midwinter festival of Saturnalia. When the ancients assembled their ideas of planetary and stellar lore that we have come to know as astrology, they also attributed the winter months that contain the sun’s movement through the zodiacal signs of Capricorn and Aquarius to Saturn’s rulership. He is best characterised by Old Father Time of New Year’s Eve wielding the scythe that cuts away the old year’s growth with the inevitable march of time, that he governs at twelve midnight on the 31st December. Saturn is also associated with the sheer slog of good old hard work, and the barren fields of winter uphold the gloomy prospect of the time of year. After the revelries of the midwinter celebrations the message is clear: it’s back to work until the Spring. Apart from its growth as a commuter satellite town for London, Chelmsford grew as a centre for light industry as it emerged from the Industrial Revolution. The ‘dark Satanic mills’ that poet and artist William Blake, and the Industrial Revolution generally that Mary Shelley with her novel Frankenstein, thought posed such a threat, did not take on the scale that the industrial north, Wales, and midlands saw. The industrial heritage of the town does however certainly deserve attention, if for no other reason than it being the means of making a living for many that have grown up in the town. Light industry really began in the town in 1797, with the completion of the Chelmer and Blackwater canal, which made the movement of materials necessary for industry more easily possible than the existing primitive road system, often with toll gates to make journeys more costly. By 1869 Smoke Control Regulations had been established by the Board of Health to tackle the early problems of pollution caused by the many local furnesses. One such foundry was created by Fell Christy in 1858, which became Christy and Norris, with its factory on the corner of Broomfield Road and Kings Road making hammer drills and other machinery. The foundry began in 1871 and lasted until 1967. It closed in 1985 but survives in Ipswich as Christy Turner Ltd. Coleman and Morton developed the Thomas Clarkson Steam Omnibus which lead to the beginning of the Eastern National Omnibus Company. Eddington and Stevenson specialised in farm machinery.
employer that lasted well into the 20th century. It pioneered electrical engineering and street lighting, providing the town’s lighting system in 1888, when it became a borough, and it also provided the electric trains for Southend Pier. The Works was rebuilt in 1895 in Writtle Road (now a doctor’s surgery). Crompton and Co. became Crompton Parkinson, when the Colonel went into partnership with Frank Parkinson. The next large scale factory to be founded in the town and survive into the 20th Century was Hoffman’s Ball-Bearings, established in New Street and Rectory Lane in 1898. It was the UK’s first ball bearing factory created by Geoffrey and Charles Barrett, but with US Backing from EG Hoffman it became the Hoffman Manufactuing Co. It later became Ransom Hoffman and Pollard after another merger in 1969. Yet another takeover by Japanese owners saw it move to Newark, and that remnant closed in 2001. The old Chelmsford building was demolished or converted into part of Anglia Ruskin University or other use after 1990. Earlier demolitions by the German Airforce in World War II resulted in 39 dead and many injured in 1944 when a rocket aimed at the factory hit nearby Henry Road instead. The factory, and neighbouring Marconis in New Street were positioned close to the railway line for easy transport, and as both firms were working on weaponry or other war effort, the line and factories created a desirable target for Nazi war weaponry and 17 others died in a bomb attack in 1941 aimed at the Marconi factory. Marconi’s itself was originally established by Guglielmo Marconi as the Marconi Wireless Telegraph and Signal Co. in Hall St, off of Moulsham Street, on the site of an old cotton mill in 1899 with fifty employees to develop radio communications, (later a site for the Water Board). In 1922 the company moved to the purpose built works in New Street. Dame Nellie Melba made the first broadcast before the BBC was established to regulate broadcasting. From 1922 Marconi’s laboratories in Writtle started regular broadcasts. There was a Marconi Radar branch at Widford, but in 1999 the Defense Division became BAE Systems, for British Aerospace, at Baddow where it is today beneath its landmark tower, more at home than earlier town centre ones, and was for a time also in Glebe Road. In 2008 the Military and Secure Communications branch relocated to Basildon.
The Anchor Street Foundry that had been established by Bewleys between Anchor Street and Queen Street off of Moulsham Street to make agricultural machinery, was joined by Colonel RE Crompton, who transformed the works to take into account the application of the discovery of the use of electricity, thus establishing the Arc Electrical Works in 1878 on the same site, and providing the town with the name of an
English Electric Valve Co. began as a spin off from Marconi’s. It was first in 1940 a part of the larger group but became a separate company in 1947 expanding its activities to making general domestic electrical appliances. In 1961 it bought out AEI in Linlcoln, and in 1962 established an office in the United States, in Buffalo, New York. In 1970 the company Page 24 www.chelmsfordthecitytimes.co.uk
pioneered thermal imaging detectors, and in 1972 opened an office in Paris. Since 2002 it has traded under the name e2v Technologies. Over the years it has been Chelmsford’s largest employer, employing at times, as many as 5,000 people. Not in the heavy metal or electrical field, the company that insured that you could see the name of Chelmsford in any bar in the country until 2012 on soft drink bottles was Britvic, which grew out of a chemist’s practice in Tindal Street, and became the British Vitamin Company in 1948. It became Britvic in 1971. In 1986 it took over R. Whites soft drinks and in 1986 bought out Tango from Beechams, then acquired the Pepsi and 7up labels for merchandise. In 1995 it took over Robinson’s soft drinks and would have taken over Irn Brew and Tizer from Scotland’s AG Barr, but the takeover was referred to the Monopolies Commission. In 2012 it moved its admin to Hemel Hempstead in Hertfordshire, and closed its Broomfield Road offices. The closure of the Westway factory announced in 2013 marks the end of the company’s long association with the town. The outgrowth of industrial estates around the edges of town insures that light industry remains a continuing, but smaller scale, industrial future for the area, but the days of large scale factory work are on the wane as mechanisation and expansion of old companies at cheaper sites for commercial property leases continues and more diversified employment creates more choice for youngsters entering the market. Wherever you work bend you back to it... it will soon be spring!
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Live Music Coming Up!
There is some great live music lined up for your enjoyment over the coming weeks all across the city and near by. It starts with The Ale House on Saturday 14th Dec with Shakey putting on the Kubricks, Then Wed 18th Dec at the Bassment it is the great Cherry Lee Mewis making a very rare appearance in our region with a great support act of Lexie Green. Thurs 19th Dec it is the gig not to be missed, Wilko Johnson (ex Founder of Dr Feelgood and Blockheads). This is sadly Wilko’s last scheduled show at present. The support on the night is another fantastic act The Ben Smith Band and DJ for the night is Darryl Butcher. Saturday 21st Dec sees the wonderful Jamie Williams and the Roots Collective playing live at the Globe in Rainsford Road from 9pm. On Sunday 22nd a little way from Chelmsford, but worth a mention, at JJ’s on Festival Park in Basildon part of Liquid & Envy we have the great Blockheads formally Ian Dury & Blockheads. Still with the four original surviving members and the support is equally as great, Eddie & the Hot Rods. There is a lot more going on in and around the city, check out the adverts and the What’s On Guide in this publication. Remember keep going to see live acts playing to help keep music live, as it I think it is an important part of our lives. “Live Life Love it Live Love Music” Nick
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Dear Timbo
Sue, What on earth are you doing brewing beer!! Beer is for morris dancers or men with beards, essentially you are wasting your time as brewing beer is complicated. I suggest you get down the pub like the rest of us and get totally sloshed on pub beer. Greetings fellow friends, You have given me a wonderful start to my brand new problem page “ASK TIMBO” here at The Chelmsford City Times. So without further ado let’s get stuck in to those things that’s are causing you the most angst. Dear Timbo You really are my last resort, I am a 48 year old single lady who is sick of serial dating. I’ve done the whole “Internet” thing for far too long now and my quest to find “the one” eludes me… what do you suggest?
Well I hope I have been a help this week dear friends, keep those letters coming and I will do my best to help you live a more fulfilling life. Its timbo@itsyourmedia.co.uk. Keep those emails coming. Finally friends a special Timbo mention to one of chelmsford’s greatest fundraisers Mr Dave Hedgecock who sadly passed away aged 77 last week. I liked Dave, he was a true hero and worked tirelessly for many Chelmsford charities. I salute you Dave Hedgecock!!
Sad Sadie My god Sadie, what on earth are you playing at, What is wrong with you? Well never fear you have got to keep going, persistence is the key, good luck in your quest for love. ( I would give you a date but I am taken - sorry). Dear Clapped Out DJ My wife won’t let me play golf at the weekends. She moans on about the fact she is left home alone and wonders if she can play golf too. Help!! Ken - Ingatestone Firstly ken, a little less of the “clapped out” or you will get nothing from from me!! Ken, you need to include your wife and make her feel appreciated. Can I suggest you ask her if she would like to push the golf trolley round for you, perhaps she could polish your clubs after your long tiring round or indeed clean your muddy shoes. Perhaps she may even want to play golf herself Ken. Keep at it Ken and ask her to stop moaning! Dear Timbo Im having trouble brewing my own beer, It tastes rubbish, What am I doing wrong?? Sue - Broomfield
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The Cambridge Society of Essex Chelmsford has the local office of the Essex branch of the world’s biggest network of alumni societies. The Cambridge Society of Essex is just one of 429 similar branches scattered across the globe, being more extensive even than the alumni association of the USA’s Harvard University! The Essex branch has just published its 2014 fixture list. The membership make-up and activities of branches are varied. For example, the London branch is among the biggest, with a fairly young membership, an extensive social programme and what seems to be a ‘networking’ bias. In contrast, the Essex branch is smaller, has a more ‘mature’ membership and concentrates on lecture-and-lunch events. One of the highlights of its year is the Annual Freshers Party. This is held in September, inviting all young people from Essex schools who have gained a place at Cambridge University and ‘going up’ in the autumn. The party is held in the County Council Chamber hosted by the Chairman of the County Council. It is a celebratory occasion, where many lasting friendships are made: for example, at a recent party two young women met who had been to different Essex schools, had never met before but found that they lived in the same street and were going to study the same subject, medicine, at the university! Because of the work and professional experiences of so many of its members, the Cambridge Society of Essex is able to attract a wide and highly qualified range of guest speakers. But the social side is not neglected: The 2014 fixture list includes the annual summer event which, this year, will be an all-day cruise on the Rivers Orwell and Stour by Thames Sailing Barge. The lecture-and-lunch subjects will include an event to mark the centenary of the out-break of the Great War; but with a literary rather than a purely military emphasis. Dr. Viv Newman, historian and author from the University of Essex, will present one of her latest research projects, covering the life and work of Alexandra Grantham, a remarkable female poet of the Great War. This is a moving study of an Essex woman who attended Girton College, Cambridge, was German but English-by-marriage and a published poet. The study explains a female poet’s perspective on the emotional impact of the war; she lost both a husband and a son to the hostilities. It will be a fitting and unusual way for the Cambridge Society of Essex to mark the sad 100th anniversary. On the whole, the Society tries to keep an Essex theme in its meetings. Last year there was a lecture on, “Coggeshall, the Cloth Town” and another on, “Daisy Warwick, from Royal Mistress to Political Activist”, featuring the very controversial owner of the former Easton Lodge in North Essex. But wider subjects have ranged from modern piracy to the science of climate change. The Cambridge Society does not confine its membership to those who have studied and/or taught at the university but also welcomes anyone who wishes to give support or has an interest. Membership enquiries may be made to: The Administrator, The Cambridge Society of Essex, 7, Lynton Drive, Chelmsford, CM1 6NE. Tel: 01245 494811. E-mail: juliecambridgesoc@gmail.com. By Robert Jones Page 29 www.chelmsfordthecitytimes.co.uk
Rotary – Not Just for Christmas To many people in Chelmsford, Rotary collecting at Christmas is a familiar sight, whether it be hardy Rotarians standing outside supermarkets in all weathers or manning a sleigh with Father Christmas delivering good cheer to all.
but it is more about providing a forum for our local young people to express their talents but more about that in the next issue.
Christmas is a time when local clubs focus support for local people and local charities. The Rotary Club of Chelmsford, one of five clubs in the city, is taking many of our elderly to the pantomime at the Civic Theatre on New Year’s Day. In recent weeks the club has made donations to Barrow Farm Riding for the Disabled, Shopmobility in Chelmsford, Samaritans in Essex, and Chess, the centre for the homeless in Chelmsford. To be able to support these valuable organisations Rotary is indebted to the wonderful and generous response that the public gives so making all the standing around in the cold and wet worthwhile.
So thank you to all who help fill the collecting tins and buckets at Christmas and a reminder if you would like to join a Rotary club near you then visit our website www.rotary1240.org or simply give me a call on the number below. It’s a lovely feeling knowing you are making a difference to somebody’s life whilst you are enjoying yourself.
On Sunday 24th November there was the annual Christmas Light Switch On event in Chelmsford City centre and as usual the Rotary Clubs of Chelmsford ran a stall selling the festive fayre of mulled wine, mince pies, fruit punch, cookies and hot chocolate keeping everyone warm and in good spirits – and it raised a further £1000 in support of the Mayor’s charity which this year is J’s Hospice. Of course, like pets, Rotary is not just for Christmas. Good will and peace to all is fundamental to Rotary service all year round and this is accomplished in so many ways. We have all seen the devastation caused by the typhoon in the Philippines and Rotary was at the forefront of providing emergency relief to the region in the form of tents, blankets, water purification tablets and so forth. But Rotary is not all about money, it is more about service and early in the new year we will be turning our attention to the many different youth competitions that Rotary organises. Of course, there is some cost involved
Happy Christmas and a healthy New Year. Regards Stan Keller 01245 260349 (office)
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