The City Times February/March 2017

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Issue Number 41: 17th February - 17th March 2017

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CT Welcome Hello readers Welcome to the February/March edition.

The evenings are getting lighter and not too long to wait until spring!

This month, two gigs at Chelmsford City FC; On Friday 24th February we have Zoot Money and then on Thursday 2nd March we have Albert Lee (see the adverts on page 13 and page 26).

Also, the Essex Delta Blues Day is taking part on Saturday 18th March with all the money going to CHESS for the Chelmsford Homeless.

Regards Nick & Paul www.thecitytimes.co.uk | www.moulshamtimes.com

Advertising Editorial Nick Garner Paul Mclean 07970 206682 07595 949701 ads@itsyourmedia.co.uk editorial@itsyourmedia.co.uk

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Disclaimer: It’s Your Media Ltd publishThe City Times. The opinion expressed in each article is the opinion of its author and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of It’s Your Media Ltd. No part may be reproduced without the prior written permission of It’s Your Media Ltd. Registered offices: 15 Hayes Close, Chelmsford. Reg No 9154871. Printed by Printwize.

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CT Fashion - A Date with your Wardrobe Here we are in February, and with February comes the flutter of our eyelashes and the pang (or palpitation) of our hearts as they beat towards the Great Loves in our lives. Yep, it’s the month of organised love celebrating - whether we’re in relationships, going out for matesdates or simply practising self-love, there’s no way we’re getting through February without some kind of love-inspired date in our calendars. With that in mind, I’ve come up with a few outfits to get us through the courting season (and beyond!). Quick, make a date with your wardrobe and get ready to bring in the love with these outfit ideas: 1. The Cuddly Night in Costume: So you’re thinking more slippers and a takeaway than a swanky meal and red lipstick? No worries, you can still make your date night in outfit special. Aim for something you feel comfortable in but also keeps you feeling sparkly. Personally, I think a comfy pair of pyjamas - silk, if you’re feeling particularly fancy - really make for a special, cosy evening in. Team your favourite pair of pyjamas with a thick jumper or cardigan and some fluffy socks. Bliss.

jacket. Plan for unpredictable weather by layering cleverly; think a vest and shirt and carry a light scarf for a splash of colour. Don’t forget the sunnies (yes, the sun does occasionally come out in February). This season’s comfy but stylish Bardot tops are still in for the long haul and can take you through the day and into the night without making you feel over or underdressed. River Island offers some beautiful, affordable styles - even casual shirt style Bardot tops! (Check out item no. 699053).

4. The Girls’ Get Together Garb: So maybe your OH/Significant Other is your old faithful best friend and you are dutifully spending a date shopping and having a glass of wine? Well, you’ll need an outfit for that, too, won’t you? The perfect Girly Get Together outfit needs to take you through the day and into the evening, just in case lunch turns into dinner, and dinner into drinks, right? Well, opt for this season’s LBD with a twist - the choker dress (Dorothy Perkins has some fantastic offerings), or a midi length full skirt with a tucked in jumper combo (again, Dorothy Perkins offers some great options at prices that won’t break your heart).

5. Tough Love Attire: Would you happily throw a dozen red roses at whoever dares ask you whether you’re dating? Rather eat your own flesh than digest a heart shaped sweet? There’s a t-shirt for that. Slogan tees are constantly on every fashionista’s wish list, and what better way to articulate your feelings about ‘finding the one’ than wearing them across your chest? Some of my favourites include ‘Your Loss’ and ‘Dump Him’ by Motel Rocks.

Dating Delights for His Wardrobe Let’s not forget the boys need to be suited and booted for the dating season too. Here’s a round-up of a few gift ideas for the man who no doubt has all he needs (that’s you. Obviously).

2. The Meal Outfit: Are you being treated (or treating someone to) a slap up meal? Lucky you. Do you have no idea what to wear?

Look no further. It’s still pretty chilly out so you’ll need a coat, maybe even an old faithful trench style. Debenhams have some fantastic offerings if your wardrobe is missing one of these timeless pieces (item no. 0170108505). Add either a sparkly dress and tights or this season’s ‘nice top’. The flute sleeve is really popular at the moment - think floaty and flirty, teamed with your favourite dark jeans and heels or leather trousers if you’re feeling particularly vampy. Red lipstick optional.

3. The City Getaway Get Up: So you’ve planned (or been treated to) a quick city get away and have no idea what to don as you explore? Opt for comfy and versatile. Team flat shoes (or maybe a pair of white trainers or comfy brogues) with jeans and a light

1. Perk up the man in your life by purchasing him some Happy Socks (A heart filled edition can be found at John Lewis (item no. 37344210). You’re on for a promise here; the great quality, fantastic prints and snazzy packaging make these socks a bit more special than his usual sock drawer inhabitants.

2. If you’re opting for the date night in, a comfy pair of lounge trousers could just about fit the bill. Check print or branded pairs add a special flair. (Again John Lewis has a great selection; check out this posh set (item no. 36467001).

3. Drop the hint for a weekend date next time and buy him a great quality, stylish weekend bag. Leather bags are versatile and timeless. This season, the gents are also treated to different styles, backpacks as well as your traditional holdall. The best bit? You can really splash the cash or budget-buy with these: Barbour offer some pricey pieces, but you can find some more affordable options too at John Lewis: (item no. 51430301).

Rebecca Forde is a writer with a penchant for fashion, great literature and drinking a lot of coffee. She writes for pleasure on her blog and is creator of Scribble Panda - a small business offering tutoring and writing services. You can contact her by emailing rebeccaforde@hotmail.co.uk. © Images River Island.

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Music by Nick Garner

We had a great show at the Bassment with Peter Nathanson and Infinite Blue. Peter is from Boston USA and now lives in Paris. He has an English band behind him and this was their first show in the UK. Thay are all amazing musicians and they played Peter’s songs from his album Opium Kiss - they will be back for sure. Opening the night were Joel Fisk and Jo Jo Burgess from LaVendore Rogue, who will be returning for the Essex Delta Blues (more about this further in this article). They played songs from their current band as well as Hokie Joint. Again, a wonderful show.

We kicked off 2017 at the football club with two of the best bands from the world of blues, both led by two phenomenal female singers.

First on was the Dove and Boweevil band, who I can only liken to acts like the Alman Brothers and Tedeschi Trucks, with plenty of soul and Lauren’s astounding voice and Mark’s mesmerising guitar playing. They also have Mojo on keys, Paul Weston on drums and Paul Williams on bass. In my mind, these are one of the best bands on the circuit today. Next on this double header was Rebecca Downes, voted Best Female Blues Singer in the UK for 2016. She has a very powerful voice and as with Dove and Boweevil, her self-penned songs were perfection. Her songwriting partner Steve Birkett was on guitar, with Rick Benton on keys, Dan Clark on bass and Lloyd Daker on the drums. A very tight band that made this a fantastic show all round.

I have been to a few other gigs as well, one at the Colchester Arts Centre to see top folk act the Churchfitters, and then on to the 100 Club to see Red Butler for the fist time with Dan on vocal duties. Dan gave this band the edge they needed. Our very own Joe Anderton band played their first big London gig on he night to a packed and very appreciative audience - and they played a blinder. Then it was to the Bassment to see a co-organised event by Alter States and Shakster Records with 3rd Art, Mantango, Mandeville and all the way from Atlanta Georgia, Gringo Star.

We also had the Blues Jam, which as ever was very enjoyable with some superb musicians taking part.

It’s a very busy period for us at the moment, first on Saturday 18th February we have the Jamie Williams Collective playing at the United

Brethren. We also have two big shows at Chelmsford City FC in a few days; first on 24th February we have sixties legend Zoot Money and his Big Roll Band, and then on the 2nd March the man who Eric Clapton describes as the ‘world’s best guitarist’ - Albert Lee and his band. Details of both shows and how to get tickets can be found in this magazine.

I also have two events at the Bassment under my Blues in the City banner. First on the 16th March is Elles Bailey and her band. Elles is rising to the top very quickly, as not only does she have a great voice, she also writes some fantastic songs. She has surrounded herself with a very good band and they are wowing audiences everywhere they play. Opening the night we are pleased to welcome back Dave Ferra, a great all round entertainer with his wit, musicianship and wonderful songs leaving you always wanting more.

Saturday 18th March I am putting on the 3rd Essex Delta Blues Day at the Bassment again. We have 18 acts playing non-stop on two stages from noon to midnight (for all my shows you will find adverts in this publication). This year all the acts are playing for free, for which I am very grateful as we are donating all the money we take to CHESS, who support the Chelmsford homeless.

The line-up is really good. We have a lot of new acts playing the Bassment for the first time with five acts on the acoustic stage including (playing together for the first time) Connor Selby and Joe Anderton. I am also looking forward to Baroness and the Bear. The Delta Ladies are headlining that stage for us as Vicky comes from Burnham.

On the electric stage we kick off with a bang with Jimi Whitewolf (Dave Jackson) opening for us. It just keeps going after that with seven new bands to the Bassment playing. We finish with a supergroup, with Bill Liesegang (who you may have seen play guitar with Jack Bruce for me in 2012 and who has worked with David Bowie, Glenn Hughes, Rod Stewart, Lemmy, John Wetton, Mark King of Level 42, Nina Hagan and Bruce Dickinson), Barry ‘Buzz’ Fitzgerald on drums (who also played with Jack Bruce in 2012 and he and Bill also played together in the cult band Xero back in the 70s and 80s) and Tony Muschamp who is one of the finest jazz rock bass players in the UK today (he plays in Stealer with Bill, as does the very fine vocalist John Antoni). They are putting together a set of great songs from Cream, Jimi Hendrix and many more. This will be a set to remember and a one-day festival we will never forget celebrating some of the amazing music that comes from the county of Essex.

As ever, please do try to come out and support the great live music scene that we have in Essex, because if you do not we may lose it.

For more information on all of the above and more, see the links below and go to our What’s On page to see what else in happening in your area. www.bluesinthecity.co.uk www.facebook.com/bluesinthecitychelmsford Twitter @BluesintheCity1 www.itsyourmusic.co.uk www.facebook.com/itsyourmusic twitter @itsyourmusic

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CT Gardening by Tom Cole

It’s hard to get overly excited at this time of the year when the rain is beating down or snow is laying about. However, it isn’t that bad. Here are a few ideas for the month.

Lawns • If worm casts are a nuisance, scatter them on dry days with a birch broom.

• Take care not to step on bulbs growing in the grass or pile up any snow over bulbs. At Writtle we have cordoned off areas to the public and students alike.

•

•

silver leaf (follow this link for more information www.rhs.org.uk/advice/ profile?PID=86).

Cut autumn fruiting raspberry canes to the ground - cut back summer fruiting to a bud just above the top wire.

Cover any beds to be used for early sowings with black mulch sheeting to warm up the soil and prevent weeds.

Flowering Plants • Remove any dead stems before the new shoots begin to grow.

• Fork over the soil between the plants.

• New plants may still be planted and older ones divided.

• Sow half hardy annuals in a cold frame or greenhouse late in the month.

• Divide bulbs such as snowdrops ready for next year once they have flowered.

• Plant bulbs that need planting in the greenhouse.

Shrubs & Trees • Prune hardy evergreen hedges and renovate overgrown deciduous ones at the end of the month before the start of the bird breeding season.

• Prune back trees and climbing plants whilst still dormant on frost free days.

• Cut back ornamental grasses from the end of the month onwards. Leave evergreen types such as Carex spp. and Luzula spp. - run your fingers through and remove loose stems only.

• Prune winter flowering shrubs that have finished flowering.

Fruit & Vegetables • Complete routine pruning of established fruit trees, but not plum - they should be pruned in summer to avoid bacterial canker and

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01245 422712 / 07711 606561 www.highwoodlandscapes.co.uk • Trees • Pruning • Hedge Trimming • Roots Removed • Topping • Rotovating • Turfing • Fencing • Garden Design • Decking • Patios • Block Paving • Drives • Tar & Shingle Property Maintenance • Roofing • Chimney Repairs • Building Work • Flat roofs • Guttering • Fascias & Soffits

Sow early carrots, cress and spinach outdoors under cloches.

Sow tomatoes, cucumbers, courgettes and aubergines in seed compost and place on a window sill or heated greenhouse to germinate.

Take care of frosty conditions by using horticultural fleece, cloches etc.

Protect brassicas as soon as you plant them with netting material to keep pigeons, flea beetles and cabbage white butterflies away later this season

Good luck and happy gardening!

For any gardening tips contact Tom Cole, Senior Horticultural Lecturer, Writtle College, Chelmsford, CM1 3RR by post (including a SAE) or by email at tom.cole@writtle.ac.uk.

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CT Food By John Jacobs Welcome to the February/March edition of the City Times food column, and many congratulations on having made it through the silly season relatively unscathed and just shy of personal bankruptcy.

That was indeed a long month. Bet you’re regretting junior’s Play Box Station 360 X now...

Many thanks for the suggestions put forward for the Chelmsford Food Awards which we hope to inaugurate at the end of the year.

There have been many suggestions, most of which are heralding the new arrivals to our fair city - to quote our American friends, some real curve balls. Though I do draw the line at reader Bernhard’s nomination for his mother in law’s use of sugar live yeast in all things fruit juice related. Moonshine, however many rose petals go into it, is still a recipe for a good long stay in A&E - possibly involving the security forces. My day job office is situation on Albert Embankment next to the MI6 building, so I’m avoiding any recipes that require several kilos of sugar and glycerine.

I’ve always said that the basic genome to a successful restaurant is a tripartite of three things that are easier said than done - but when done correctly is poetry. Not the Haiku nonsense (too many courses).

These kings of customer expectation are: 1. Great food. (If you’ve called yourselves ‘fusion’ you’re already on the back foot).

2. Great service. Whether this be competence, happy demeanour and non-intrusion which show you’re attentive and passably cheerful.

3. Good value for money. This of course applies to both high street restaurants and high end eateries, Fail at your peril.

Turtle Bay The first in our reviews for destination restaurants is one that I’ve had more feedback from thus far than anywhere else; namely Turtle Bay. Some for the food experience, others the vibe and atmosphere.

We book a table for four on a Friday evening. The place is not too crowded as I’d heard horror stories of long waits standing between uneasy diners. We were in luck. The atmosphere is lively as waiting staff buzz between animated happy faces.

So who are Turtle Bay? The website blub says Caribbean island culture with food inspiration from Aruba to St Lucia with rum based cocktails and friendly service. I turned to social media for some insight, namely the discordant cacophony of grinding axes that is Trip Advisor. The first review I read said: “Some will like it, some will not.”

Thank you Rod from Chelmsford for the insight. Another writes: “It’s toilets look like beach huts”. Terrific.

Rated at number forty in Chelmsford, it has a long way to go but it’s early days and the feedback I’ve been receiving is largely positive.

Spanning the breadth of the UK, Turtle Bay restaurants deliver a menu of Caribbean flavours, the utterly ridiculously delicious jerk seasoning, orange chutney and coconut based glazes in chicken, ribs, slow braised pork belly, along with the lesser known goat burger and steamed red snapper. Married with the array of rum based cocktails is a pretty decent wine list, cleverly divided into Good, Better, Best and Fabulous.

Myself and friends booked for a gloomy midwinter Friday night following a long week of life’s tribulations, hoping for some warm sunshine to start the weekend. As you approach Exchange Way there’s a balmy glow from the restaurant drawing you toward its doors, as we approach like Dickensian street urchins to the steamed up window of a pie shop. With Mrs J and our close foodie pals Geoff & Natalie, we ventured forward.

vibe. You feel like you’ve walked into a coke commercial. A mixture of all ages either at the impressive central bar area or the packed surrounding tables. I’m sure this place welcomes tables of two but this is definitely a place to go with many and enjoy the experience. Service staff are whizzing from table to table with drinks and food orders delivering large platters of beautifully presented aromatic food.

We settle in to peruse the menu which is clear, descriptive and easy to follow considering its size. I instantly go toward the jerk chicken with fiery glaze rather than the milder coconut. One can have this two ways, half or whole. Yes, whole. I lock eyes with Geoff. A gentleman in the truest sense of the word, yet a man mountain of wholly unfeasible muscular proportions who looks like he was created by Marvel Comics to give the Hulk a kicking.

“Half or whole?” the waitress asks. The die is cast. A raised eyebrow becomes an 18th century gauntlet to the face. I stare at Geoff and in my head my voice of incongruous insanity utters the words: “bring it on big man” drowning out the voice saying, “you’re an idiot, under no circumstances get into an eating competition with a man who could eat a sheep for elevenses.”

Copeland’s Fanfare for the Common Man rises above the Bob Marley standards looping on CD. The whole restaurant falls silent as they stare in astonished disbelief. The room darkens as a spotlight falls on our two shadowed frames. Glacial behemoths colliding like the locking horns of alpha stags over one split second decision. The room holds its breath. My wife claws at my sleeve, “no John, you incredibly handsome fool whom I am lucky to have married - don’t do it!”

Natalie begins to sob uncontrollably, “when will the madness end you reckless adorable hunks of manliness?”

“Whole.” I respond, “Each. With fries, sweet potato, rice and peas and... extra hot sauce. The one that comes with chemical hazard training...”

I may have embellished the moment for dramatic effect. On reflection, I think our partners referred to us as a couple of idiots.

I started with sizzling king prawns which had the most delicious spicy marinade that brought heat without killing off the flavour, cooked perfectly and bursting with memories of summer holidays.

The chicken that followed was a surprising revelation. There’s always a risk in having chicken on the bone in restaurants with a high level of footfall as they’re difficult to keep from drying out. This was beautifully moist and the marinade of fruit chutney and jerk glaze made this one of the best I’ve ever had - anywhere. Even in the Caribbean. The only let down were the sides which were only warm and the fries a little soggy and cold. Not however enough of a problem to raise.

Would I recommend Turtle Bay? It’s one of those rare times when a franchise formula gets it right, achieving the holy trinity quite effortlessly. If you’re looking for a lively, friendly atmosphere during these dark days of winter drudgery, head over. You won’t regret it.

Dinner for four including starters and many cocktails - £125.

If you want to vote for you Turtle Bay for a City Times Food Award, send an email to cctfood@gmail.com for your nomination form.

Next month, Bourgee.

Have a great month team Chelmsford.

The first thing that you cannot fail to notice is the exciting buzzing Page 10 www.chelmsfordthecitytimes.co.uk

Beer by Simon Tippler of Calling Time at the roundtowerbrewery.co.uk Endeavour Pub! Beer and food matching has become increasingly popular over the past few years as it is widely accepted as a beverage that can deliver a wider range of flavours than wine can. Whereas once upon a time restaurants had an extensive wine list to accompany their food, now it is not uncommon to find a beer menu along with the wine list. So where do you start with pairing beer with food?

To start with, it makes good sense to pair intensity of flavour. That is, take a subtle beer with a delicately flavoured dish and an aggressive beer with a strongly flavoured food.

Sweet flavours can often compliment sweet flavours and instead of multiplying the sweetness, this combination can often calm down the sweetness. For example, a malty (for that is where the sweetness in beer comes from) barley wine or imperial stout can be paired with desserts such as a rich chocolate mousse or a crème brûlée. In the world of wine and food, this is the realm of the dessert wine.

Salty and also acidic foods can be paired with acidic beers, where the acidic component of the beer is calmed by either the salt or the acid in the food, thus allowing other flavours to come to the fore. These kind of beers - such as saisons, wheat beers, Gueze and Flanders red and browns - also do well with fatty foods as the acid will cut through the fat revealing the underlying flavours in the food.

Beers with a strong hop bitterness also do well with fatty foods and a prime example of this is that an IPA or a DIAP can bring a new level of refinement and enjoyment to a strong cheese, such as a well matured Cheddar or a Gorgonzola.

After 15 years as publicans of the Endeavour pub in Springfield Road, Chelmsford Jacqui and Mike Mitchell will be retiring on 8th March 2017.

Chelmsford & Mid-Essex CAMRA made a presentation to them on 11th February surrounded by family, friends and customers who will be sad to see them go.

They will not have much time to call their own completely, as Jacqui will continue her job with Chelmsford City Council.

Having been in the Good Beer Guide many times, the Endeavour is the traditional starting point for the annual mild crawl in May, visiting pubs selling mild beer.

Photo by Doug Zeeman

Chelmsford & Mid Essex Camra Pub of the year awards for 2017

The results of the Chelmsford & Mid Essex Camra Pub of the Year awards for 2017 are in!

1st - The Hop Beer Shop, Moulsham Street.

2nd - The Railway Tavern, Chelmsford.

3rd - The Compasses, Littley Green.

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What’s On in the Area

February Friday 17th Asylum - AsYlum Club Bassment - ChangesTwoBowie Chelmsford City FC Away: Dartford v CCFC Chelmsford City FC - Third Annual Clarets Legends Evening Cramphorn - Dare Devil Rides to Jarama Kegs - Winter Beer & Cider Festival Star & Garter - The Stents Saturday 18th Asylum - Jukebox Monkey + Thirteen Bassment - Teresa Of Calcutta + Tasha Robertson Black Horse - Monkies Wedding Civic - Academy of Ancient Music: M&G Classical Concert Series Kegs - Winter Beer & Cider Festival Star & Garter - The Mint The Three Elms - Special Valentines Menu United Brethren - Jamie Williams Collective Sunday 19th Bassment - Sunday Funday Cramphorn - Status Update Star & Garter - Open mic/jam (3-7pm) Monday 20th Cramphorn - Queen of Katwe (PG) Tuesday 21st Threadneedle House - Chelmsford Civic Society Talk: Chelmsford During the 2nd World War with Andy Begent Civic - Frankenstein Wednesday 22nd Bassment - Let it Happen! Indie Club Night Cramphorn - Arrival (12A) Thursday 23rd Bassment - Let it Happen! Indie Club Night Civic - Macca the Concert Cramphorn - Burton The Golden Fleece - Quiz night Friday 24th Asylum - Kaine + Dismanibus + A Bribe For The Ferryman + Conform To Serve Bassment - Lack of Afro + Stretch Soul Gang + Rubber Soul DJs Chelmsford City FC - Zoot Money Cramphorn - Undiscovered Semi Final Saturday 25th Asylum - Platform Location + Falling Under Bassment - The Delta Jacks’ Red Cross Winter Party Chelmsford City FC Home: CCFC v Concord Rangers Cramphorn - Undiscovered Semi Final The Three Elms - Mexican night (6-9pm) United Brethren - The Jamie Williams Collective Sunday 26th Bassment - Sunday Funday Cramphorn - Undiscovered Solo Final Hylands House - Music and Words of Love Star & Garter - Open mic/jam (3-7pm) Monday 27th Cramphorn - A Street Cat Named Bob (12A) Page 12

Tuesday 28th Chelmsford City FC Away: Margate v CCFC Cramphorn - The Sleeping Beauty (from the Royal Opera House) Civic - Anything Goes Old Court Theatre - 4:48 Psychosis March Wednesday 1st Bassment - Let it Happen! Indie Club Night Civic - Anything Goes Old Court Theatre - 4:48 Psychosis Thursday 2nd Asylum - Battle of the Bands Bassment - Jazz Funk: Reg Webb Chelmsford City FC - Albert Lee Civic - Anything Goes Cramphorn - Heaven Can Wait Old Court Theatre - 4:48 Psychosis The Golden Fleece - Quiz night Friday 3rd Asylum - Glad He’s Dead + Bow Flats + Antumbra Bassment - Shakey’s Sessions: F.O.X + Kubricks + Louise Parker Chelsmford City FC - Sportsmans evening: Gary Mabbutt Civic - Anything Goes Cramphorn - Heaven Can Wait Old Court Theatre - 4:48 Psychosis The Golden Fleece - Expose Saturday 4th Alehouse - Record Fair Asylum - Black Zephyr + Double-Headed Jester + Weatherwax + The Native Bassment - New Town Kings + Polly Haynes Band + IC7 Chelmsford City FC Away: Hemel Hempstead Town v CCFC Christchurch, New London Road - The Essex Symphony Orchestra Civic - Anything Goes Cramphorn - Heaven Can Wait Old Court Theatre - 4:48 Psychosis Salvation Army Hall - Chelmsford’s Got Talent The Golden Fleece - The Earnshaws The Three Elms - Steak night (6-9pm) United Brethren - The Delta Ladies Sunday 5th Bassment - Sunday Funday Cramphorn - Chelmsford Jazz Club Star & Garter - Open mic/jam (3-7pm) Monday 6th Civic - Ross Noble: Brain Dump Tuesday 7th Bassment - AT Music Showcase Wednesday 8th Asylum - Battle of the Bands Bassment - Let it Happen! Indie Club Night Civic - Take That Experience Thursday 9th Asylum - Luke Fisher + SJ Denney+ Mike O’Leary + Beth Ma Bassment - Blues Jam Civic Fascinating Aida’s Dillie Keane Cramphorn - I Am Beast

Please note, all events are subject to change. Please visit the relevant websites or Facebook pages for more details

Thursday 9th Springfield Parish Centre - Nothing but the Blues Dance Class The Golden Fleece - Quiz night The Three Elms - National Pie Week: Home made pies Friday 10th Bassment - Rowntree Records: Surge + Matt Buckle The Three Elms - National Pie Week: Home made pies The Golden Fleece - 6 String Makeover United Brethren - Andy Twyman Saturday 11th Asylum - Colina Pearl Album Launch: Osmium Guillotine + Scream Serenity Bassment - Burger Records: Bad Nerves + NoStress + Greydolf Chelmsford City FC Away: Eastbourne Borough v CCFC Cramphorn - The Light Between Oceans (12A) The Golden Fleece - Hit Parade The Three Elms - National Pie Week: Home made pies Sunday 12th Bassment - Sunday Funday Civic - Seven Drunken Nights Star & Garter - Open mic/jam (3-7pm) Tuesday 14th Cramphorn - A Midsummer Night’s Dream Wednesday 15th Bassment - Jar Records: tbc Civic - The Tiger Who Came to Tea Cramphorn - A Midsummer Night’s Dream The Three Elms - Live jazz quartet (8pm) Thursday 16th Bassment - Blue in the City: Elles Bailey + Dave Ferra Civic - The Tiger Who Came to Tea Cramphorn - A Midsummer Night’s Dream The Golden Fleece - Quiz night Friday 17th Asylum - Inexitus + Dorylus + Deep Throat Trauma Bassment - Mother’s Jam: Moses + more (tbc) Cramphorn - A Midsummer Night’s Dream The Golden Fleece - Charlie’s Aunt Saturday 18th Asylum - International Cant Collective Bassment - 3rd Essex Delta Blues Day: Noon to Midnight Chelmsford City FC Away: Wealdstone v CCFC Civic - Orchestra of the Swan: M&G Classical Concert Series Cramphorn - A Midsummer Night’s Dream Hylands School - Essex Police Choir Charity Concert Sunday 19th Bassment - Sunday Funday Cramphorn - A Contemporary Evening (live from the Bolshoi Ballet, Moscow) Star & Garter - Open mic/jam (3-7pm)

Best Bar None Awards The awards took place at the cricket ground at the end of January and were attended by many of the bars in the area who all collected their Best Bar None accreditation certificates.

South Woodham Ferrers based Bar Vino won the People’s Choice award.

Asylum - Viaduct Road, Chelmsford Bassment - Wells Street, Chelmsford The Black Horse - Moulsham Street Chelsmford City FC - Salerno Way, Chelmsford Civic & Cramphorn Theatres - Fairfield Road, Chelmsford KEGS - Broomfield Road, Chelmsford Old Court Springfield Road, Chelmsford Star & Garter - Moulsham Street, Chelmsford The Golden Fleece - Duke Street, Chelmsford The Three Elms - Chignal St. James United Brethren - New Writtle Street, Chelmsford City centre based Bassment won the overall winners award.

Please send us your events for the next edition (for events between 17th March and 16th April) to: editorial@itsyourmedia.co.uk

Museum Thanks Volunteers and Looks Forward Friends of the Chelmsford Museums were amongst the numerous members of various museum support groups who gathered at the Museum in Oaklands Park on 30th January at the invitation of the City Council. The occasion was organised as a thank you for all the support provided by volunteers over recent years and as an opportunity to provide an update on the proposals to refurbish the museum.

Fairtrade Fortnight Fairtrade Fortnight will be held from 27th February to 12th March, and thousands of people all over Essex and throughout the UK will be marking it by holding a vast range of events. A number of these will be held in Chelmsford, and its local group, Chelmsford City Fairtrade Campaign, will be at the heart of the activities. The objective of the campaign is to bring about a greater awareness of Fairtrade and to explain why purchasing products with the Fairtrade mark brings about a positive change for millions of farmers and workers in developing countries.

Chelmsford was awarded Fairtrade City status in 2005 and its local supporters will have a stall in the High Street on 4th March to promote their activities. A Fairtrade exhibition will be held from 28th February to 2nd March in County Hall and several community organisations, schools, the university and companies, will be holding an event of their own.

The evening began with a buffet reception followed by a formal thank you from The Mayor of Chelmsford. Councillor Julia Jeapes, the Cabinet Member for Leisure, introduced the evening and stressed the importance of the role currently played by volunteers, and emphasised how future plans for the museum would include increasing both the number and range of volunteer activity.

In order to support this aim, a Visitor and Volunteer Officer has recently been appointed to the staff of the museum. A number of short presentations by long standing members of the Essex Regiment and Sandford Mill Volunteer Groups explained the work that they carry out, while Jane Allnutt spoke as a member of the Friends about the very successful Finds Handling Table sessions. These are held at both the museum and other events and provide an opportunity, especially for children, to examine objects of historical interest that are not normally accessible.

A presentation by Rosa Tanfield from the council provided an update on progress for the submission to the Heritage Lottery Fund. An initial HLF grant has enabled consultants to seek local views on the kind of developments that should take place. These have been worked into a vision for how the museum might look in the future, which includes new displays ordered in a way that tells the story of Chelmsford through time. Something that people particularly wished to see.

The plans also aim to develop greater linkage between the museum and users of Oaklands Park through the provision of a café and function room along with increased parking. The proposals which amount to a cost of £2.24 million have been agreed by cabinet members and now require the agreement of the full council before submission to the HLF. The Friends of Chelmsford Museums have given their support for the proposals and have agreed to provide a grant of £10,000 if the bid is successful. This will go specifically towards the cost of rehousing two things that people particularly requested should stay; that is the bee hive and continued display of the bear which have been appreciated by three generations of Chelmsford residents .

If you have not already done so, do not forget to go and see the Open Art display by local artists which is currently on in the museum temporary exhibition gallery. Also, with half term coming up, have a look at the council website to see what events are taking place (see www.chelmsford.gov.uk/museums).

Love your museum, be a friend.

Chelmsford Star Co-operative Society will be holding two events starting at 10.30am on 27th February in Chelmsford and at Braintree on 2nd March - these will feature a speaker on Fairtrade. A Fairtrade wine tasting will take place at Chelmsford Quadrant starting at 6.30pm on 2nd March; tickets are £5 and can be obtained at the Quadrant before the event, or you can reserve a place by emailing events@chelmsfordstar.coop.

Following Fairtrade Fortnight the local campaign group will hold a Quiz Evening at St Andrew’s Church Hall on 25th March from 7.30pm to 9.30pm.

The Fairtrade Foundation was established in 1992, its objective is to obtain better prices, decent working conditions and fair terms of trade for farmers and workers. It supports the development of farming and worker communities so that they have more control over their futures and the environment in which they live and work.

The Fairtrade Foundation also certifies companies that employ large numbers of workers - for example, those producing bananas, tea and flowers. The standards ensure that workers’ basic rights are protected, including keeping them safe and healthy, allowing them freedom of association and collective bargaining and preventing discrimination. It also ensures no bonded or illegal child labour is used and employers pay wages that progress towards a living wage.

Producers are also paid an additional Fairtrade Premium which they decide how it should be invested. This premium is normally used to invest in social, environmental and economic projects to improve their businesses and their communities. Apart from being guaranteed a stable price for their products, the premium is a key factor in bringing significant benefits to local people.

Fairtrade products are available in all local food shops. By purchasing Fairtrade, we are all winners.

Essential Bathroom Talk with Chandler Material Supplies Parlez vous bathrooms? Don’t know your BTWs from your CCs? Well you can certainly be excused if not!

new. Upgrading, rather than up-scaling is a great way of saving an enormous amount of money and stress.

Imagine if you will, the hours browsing different bathroom catalogues and shops. all pretty, shiny and inspirational. Then there it is, the bathroom you want. Modern, clean lines and contemporary. Oh we do love a bit of shopping, no matter what the product, but what comes next?

There’s simply no denying that at the end of a busy day the thought of slipping into a zen like, pebble shaped designer bath would have us all queuing outside the bathroom within a blink of an eye. To have a spa-like relaxing experience in your own home is basically a no brainer. But, realistically, will that image in the brochure really be attainable in your own bathroom? Something that needs serious thought before serious money ends up down the plug hole.

The answer is the task of getting to the nitty gritty of what type of suite fittings you’ll actually need. The lingo can be quite baffling, as if learning a foreign language in some cases, and it can absolutely make a difference to the look of your overall (expertly and extensively) chosen bathroom style. So, here are a few essential definitions to get you on the right track.

• • • • •

BTW (Back to Wall): When the cistern is hidden behind a false wall or within a piece of furniture.

TH (Tap Holes): One or two? Does your dream design include a mixer tap or separate hot and cold taps?

Open Back: An open back pan will allow side entry wast pipe.

Good news for those who need this, bad news for those looking for a concealed, modern finish.

CC (Closed-Coupled): The pan and the cistern are connected in one piece. This adds to the clean-lines look, as no need for visible connection pipes.

Semi-Recessed Basin: Limited for space? When placed on cabinets, the basin front can sit proud, thus taking up less space.

“I think sometimes people think they have more room in their bathroom than they really have, as you need space to move and not make the room too crowded. Aqualisa quartz digital showers remain very popular, as people like the idea of getting into the shower prewarmed with the remote start up function they have.” Darren Pearce, Bathrooms.

Walk-in showers and wet rooms are becoming very popular with people choosing to take out their existing sanitary-ware and redesigning the space by adding large shower trays into the footprint of their old bath.

The trouble is that with bathrooms there are so many choices and options out there, each with its own features and design qualities.

For example, let’s take a look at just one option. When contemporary styling and high quality meet good old fashion value, you can’t help but be impressed with the new Essentials Bathroom range.

It’s not just another pretty face either, it’s actually pretty clever!

Options such as rimless pans are amazing for keeping the area as germ free as possible. Speaking of germ free, there’s also a ‘Quick Release Seat’ that can be taken off the pan entirely to clean separately. ‘Comfort Height’ is a higher seated pan option, with up to 4” available, offering a great solution for anyone taller or with mobility problems. These are real, simple solutions to everyday issues.

Do You Walk in, or Stand Alone?

With both walk-in showers and luxury stand-alone baths being the thing to add ‘luxe’ to the smallest room in the house, let’s look at the best of both worlds to see which one comes out on top.

With most people living busy lifestyles these days and the cost of moving house rising, more and more people are looking at reinventing their current pad rather than moving onto pastures

The plusses of walk-in showers are: • Ease of access, which makes them great for those with mobility issues also.

• Easier to clean - even while you are in there (squeegee anyone?!)

• Various design styles with different thicknesses of glass. This can be completely personalised to your tastes.

• Power shower friendly for a great showering experience.

• Opportunity to fit a digital shower that has various shower options, including remote start up, so you can slip into a pretemperature controlled shower straight away.

“Something we see quite a bit is the elderly community installing a walk-in shower to replace a bath which they can no longer climb into. A big benefit with doing this is that as long as certain disability conditions are met, the cost involved for both the materials and the labour is VAT exempt. You can therefore end up having a whole new bathroom 20% cheaper” - Ben Chandler, Financial Controller.

In conclusion, the fact is that there’s a lot to think about. What looks good in the brochure needs to still look good and actually work when it’s installed in your own home.

For inspiration and free advice, feel free to pop in and see the team in the bathroom showroom at Chandlers. They are always happy to help. www.chandlersmaterials.co.uk

Quiz Time - Answers on Page 19 Round 1: Food and Drink 1. Who were Wham!’s female backing singers that went on to have a solo career?

2. Which song gave Allanah Myles a top 10 UK chart hit in 1990?

3. In which film did Sylvester Stallone play Kurt Russell’s cop partner?

4. Which UK act won the Eurovision Song Contest in 1981?

5. Written by Neil Diamond, which song was UB40’s first number 1 UK hit?

6. Phillips, London and Ratchet are all types of what?

7. Which Wurzels’ hit song had the same tune as Paloma Blanca?

8. Which novel by Laurie Lee, set in Gloucestershire, was on the approved list of books for secondary schools in England and Wales in the 1980s and ‘90s?

9. What is the 4-letter name given to a horse’s ankle?

10. Which drink translated into English means aunt Mary?

Round 2: Music - Name the Song and Artist (1 point for each) 11. ‘I got my first real six string. Bought it at the 5 and dime.’

12. ‘Hello darkness my old friend, I’ve come to talk with you again.’

13. ‘Sitting in the morning sun, I’ll be sitting when the evening comes.’

14. ‘The sirens are screaming and the fires are howling way down in the valley tonight.’

15. ‘Is this the real life, or is this just fantasy.’

16. ‘Turn around. Every now and then I get a little bit lonely.’

17. ‘People try to put us down, just because we get around.’

18. ‘I’ve got sunshine on a cloudy day.’

19. ‘All the leaves are brown and the sky is grey.’

20. ‘Start spreading the news, I’m leaving today.’

Round 3: Film and TV Bars 21. Which bar did Sam Malone run?

22. The Nags Head was the pub in which classic British comedy

series?

23. What is the name of the pub in Coronation Street?

24. Which cartoon has a bar called Moe’s?

25. What TV show featured Dave, the landlord of the Winchester Club?

26. Where could you get a pint in Heartbeat?

27. What were the first names of the Likely Lads that drank in The Fat Ox and The Black Horse pubs?

28. Which club had Peter Kay and Paddy McGuinness as doormen?

29. The Slaughtered Lamb features in which movie?

30. Where did Luke Skywalker first meet Han Solo?

Round 4: Famous Dogs - Name the Film, TV Show or Book 31. Snowy 32. Santa’s Little Helper 33. Bullseye 34. Snoopy 35. K9 36. Toto 37. Eddie 38. Spotty Dog 39. Roly/Wellhard/Willy 40. Timmy

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Adding an extension may seem daunting but with the right advice you can gain the extra space that you want whilst increasing the value of your home.

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Measurements and photographs are then taken to allow us to draw up detailed plans. We communicate with you throughout the design process and only once you are completely happy with the design will we then submit the plans to the Local Authority for approval. We produce plans and details for planning permission, permitted development and building regulations applications.

Our aim is to provide a high quality service at the best possible price. We offer fixed rates for our services and these can be found on our website: www.gpodesigns.co.uk. So if you are looking to build a new house, add an extension or a garden room, or if you want a loft, garage or barn conversion, call Mike or George for a free no obligation quote on 01245 835855, or visit our website for further details of our full range of services. We offer daytime, weekend or evening appointments to suit you.

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We are delighted to have 3 winners in thebestof Business of the Year Awards 2017, it is highly rewarding for the businesses we represent to be recognised for the job that they do. We have loved receiving the reviews and hearing what the customers think of our local independent businesses. It’s been a very positive experience for everyone associated with thebestofChelmsford.”

For more information about the bestofChelmsford Business of the Year Awards 2017, or to set up an interview with Tom Bosher or any of the local businesses who have won an award, please call 01245 701 020 or email chelmsford@thebestof.co.uk. If you’d like to read the reviews of our winners, just visit our website at www.thebestof.co.uk/ chelmsford.

And the winners are...

Annually, thebestof, of which thebestofchelmsford is a part, holds nationwide Business of the Year Awards. The aim of thebestof is to promote local independent businesses who serve Chelmsford and the surrounding area and have been recommended by local people.

We are proud to announce that this year has been our most successful to date with 3 winners in different business categories of the 2017 Business of the Year Awards. The Indian restaurant, Live Dosa, received 61 reviews during the campaign. With 34 reviews was kitchen design and fitting company, Regal Kitchens and with 18 reviews recruitment company, Ascension Global Recruitment. All three win the coveted accolade of Chelmsford Business of the Year 2017 in their respective categories.

During the last year local people were asked to show their support for their favourite business by submitting a review of the service they had received. At a national level over 37,000 verified reviews were left for those businesses who had qualified to take part in the awards. The awards operate at a national and local level with a UK Business of the Year, Category Business of the Year and Town Business of the Year.

To gain an award at a national level is in itself special and this was achieved by Regal Kitchens who won the award in their category, beating off competition from kitchen design and fitting businesses across the country, which is a fantastic achievement. Live Dosa were also commended in their category nationally and were joined by Ascension Global Recruitment who came 3rd countrywide.

Tom Bosher from The bestofChelmsford commented: “We are incredibly proud of all our local businesses who qualified for thebestof Business of the Year Awards. They received brilliant reviews from local people and beyond who enjoyed using their services. On behalf of these businesses I would like to thank every single person who took the time to leave a review. By doing so they publicly acknowledged the contribution that these businesses make to our local economy. It also means that those reviewers understand the importance of and support the term ‘buy local’. It’s worth remembering that more of every £ we spend locally remains in the local economy.

“Regal Kitchens, Live Dosa and Ascension Global Recruitment are all very worthy winners. The number and quality of the reviews they received are a real testament to their ongoing commitment to deliver excellent service and a positive customer experience. It’s worth adding that each and every review is checked and authenticated to ensure that they are genuine.

“The businesses that won or were commended in their category nationally and locally can be very proud of their achievements. With Regal Kitchens winning their category and Live Dosa and Ascension being commended, our local business winners have certainly placed Chelmsford on the map for all the right reasons.

bestofchelmsford Our object is to get the best local businesses noticed locally. We are a guide for the people of Chelmsford and the surrounding area to find the best businesses. Our businesses are chosen because they have been referred to us we meet them personally, we work with and for them.

We support and invest in the local community of trusted businesses and people... thebestofchelmsford has been running a buy local campaign, we consider ourselves champions of Buy Local, supporting all local businesses. You’ll see over 350 of our blue Buy Local stickers in businesses across the area.

We are now introducing village pages to represent those businesses that are outside the city. Our area extends to Burnham on Crouch, Danbury, South Woodham Ferrers, Hatfield Peverell, Writtle, Stock, Ingatestone and of course Chelmsford. thebestofchelmsford has been approved by Essex County Council Trading Standards and we are members of the Buy With Confidence scheme.

If you’d like to find out more about getting your business noticed call Tom or Peter on 01245 701 020, or visit our website www.thebestof. co.uk/local/chelmsford. It could be the start of a great relationship.

Page 18

www.chelmsfordthecitytimes.co.uk

Physiotherapy by Ellie Searle Stop wear and tear being such a pain!

I thought that I would base my first few articles for the Chelmsford City Times around topics that my patients regularly ask me about. Many of my patients come and see me because they’ve been told that they’ve got osteoarthritis and they want to know more about the condition and things that they can do to help themselves. So I’m going to use this article to answer those burning questions.

Osteoarthritis is often referred to as ‘wear and tear’ and is a condition that affects the joints. In osteoarthritis, the surfaces of the joints become worn and don’t move as smoothly as they used to.

What Are the Symptoms?

The main symptoms of osteoarthritis are joint pain and stiffness.

Some people have early morning stiffness, which is pain and stiffness first thing in the morning or after a period of inactivity which eases as they get going with some gentle movement. Other people find that the pain gets worse as the day goes on due to their increased activity levels loading the joint. Sometimes joints can sound clicky and crunchy. You may also find that the shape of the joint changes a bit. Occasionally, joints such as the knee can give way, either as the joint has become less stable or as the muscles have got weaker.

What Causes It? Osteoarthritis is more common as we get older, but getting older doesn’t necessarily mean that you’ll get osteoarthritis. Gender also plays a role, for example osteoarthritis of the knee is twice as common in women than men. Being overweight increases the chances of osteoarthritis in weight bearing joints such as the knee and makes it more likely that the osteoarthritis will get progressively worse. Previous injuries to joints can lead to osteoarthritis in later life. Our genes also play a role, for example if you have a sibling with osteoarthritis of the knee you’re much more likely to get it yourself.

Other joint diseases that cause damage to the joint can also lead to osteoarthritis.

How Is It Diagnosed?

Osteoarthritis can be diagnosed by examination from a doctor or physiotherapist and can then be confirmed by x-ray which will show the severity of the osteoarthritis. However, really it’s how the osteoarthritis affects your life and your examination findings that help us to know how best to help you.

What Can I Do Look After My Joints?

Keep your weight within a healthy range. Check your body mass index (BMI) for an indication on whether or not you need to reduce your weight. So far no specific diet has been shown to particularly help those with osteoarthritis. The best advice is just to eat a balanced, calorie controlled diet and combine these good eating habits with regular exercise.

Exercise is vital - if you have osteoarthritis it is essential to keep moving! Most people with osteoarthritis find that too little exercise causes them to get stiff, while too much can be painful. Find what you can do without flaring up your symptoms and then see if you can gradually build it up. Step counters are fab as they help you to monitor your activity levels, learn your limits and gradually increase your exercise levels. Strengthening exercises help to support and protect the joints and can help to reduce pain. Aerobic exercise, exercise that gets your heart rate up, is important for your general health and helps you to feel good by boosting your endorphins (your happy, pain-relieving hormones).

Pace your activities of daily living. This means breaking them up throughout the day rather than doing everything physically challenging in one hit causing you to pay for it later. Think little and often, slow and steady, rather than boom, bust and ouch!

Take off your heels and swap them for supportive shoes or trainers. This will take the strain out of your hips, knees, ankles, feet and toes and will definitely make you feel more comfortable if you have osteoarthritis affecting any of the joints in your legs.

Use a walking stick if you need to as this can help to reduce the strain on any painful joints in the legs. A physio can provide you with a stick that’s the right height and will show you how to use it properly.

Try using ice to manage pain and swelling but never put it directly on your joint, wrap it in a towel and then put it on your sore joint for 10-15 minutes. If ice isn’t for you and pain rather than swelling is more of an issue, perhaps try a hot pack, again wrapped in a towel, as some people find this brings short term pain relief.

Relax. Being stressed, uptight and worrying about things is known to make pain from any cause worse. Doing relaxation exercises can be really useful in managing pain, helping you to feel in control of your symptoms.

Find a physio! Your physiotherapist can examine you, not only to give you a diagnosis, but also to show you the best exercises for you to do.

We are all different, so one exercise programme never fits all. They can design a programme as unique as you are, taking on board your specific problems, lifestyle and needs.

They can also look at how you walk and move and may suggest ways that you could move better, off-loading your joints and reducing your pain. Depending on which joints are affected, a physio can also let you know if orthotics might be helpful as sometimes putting something in your shoe can, for example, reduce some of the strain on the inside of your knee.

I hope that this has helps some of you to manage your joint pain.

Next month, I’ll be writing about back pain and how you can get yourselves back in action!

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www.chelmsfordthecitytimes.co.uk

Page 19

therapy by Jenny Hartill In the last article I wrote about the history of hypnosis and hypnotherapy and how some of this history has contributed to certain myths around hypnosis and hypnotherapy. Today i’m going to revisit some of these myths and hopefully dispel them. Maybe I can even give a little insight into why we are so ready to believe in these myths. Here are the top 10 myths I have come across so far in practice: 1. Hypnosis is dangerous/voodoo/black magic/supernatural.

Hypnosis absolutely is not dangerous, it’s a very deep state of relaxation where mentally you’re hyper-aware. Unfortunately, as I mentioned last month, due to some of the history of hypnosis it may seem ‘magical’ to those that don’t understand it fully. Hypnosis has been studied scientifically using electroencephalography (EEG), which measures brainwaves and gives us an idea of the range of brainwave activity within which hypnosis fits. Worry not - we won’t start invoking spirits, sacrificing animals and chanting curses in the middle of your session!

2. I won’t be in control, the hypnotherapist will have power over my mind. This is the main issue i seem to come across in regards to trepidation around hypnotherapy. To be honest it’s no surprise, most clients come to me with issues over control. Most anxiety related issues (like phobias, panic attacks etc) are very much linked to lack of control - for example being afraid of a panic attack because of feeling so out of control. Contrary to popular belief, you are in complete control when hypnotised. If you wanted or needed to, you could bring yourself out of hypnosis.

Nobody can over power or ‘control your mind’ but you - and we can’t erase or create memories either. We’re here to help you with your issues, not create brain washed drones in order to take over the world!

3. The therapist can mess with my mind and cause psychological damage. This is another popular fear, and I like to encourage my clients to challenge their fears rather than listen to an anxiety mindset that may be feeding them incorrect information. Firstly, a therapist ‘messing with your mind’ or causing ‘psychological damage’ - this cannot happen if you see a trained therapist, not even accidentally, because that’s not how hypnotherapy works. Secondly, even if you have hypno-analysis and something painful is revealed, the therapist should help you deal with this is subsequent sessions. If not, you can always see a counsellor. Again, I believe this is linked to the fear of lack of control, remember you truly are the master of your own mind. hypnotherapy aims to help you work with your own mastery, not completely take over.

4. Hypnosis can make you do random and dangerous things like murder someone, kill myself, commit petty crimes etc. Even if the suggestion was given, this is impossible. No suggestion will make you do something if you see it as morally wrong. People commit crime and suicide only because unfortunately they want to, not because they’re hypnotised to. I know that stage hypnotists have attempted this kind of thing before to show the ‘awesome power of hypnosis’ - in the context of a TV show people will do illegal things because they are expected to. Stage hypnosis is completely different to hypnotherapy. Let’s remind ourselves of the last bit of that word again people: Therapy.

What’s therapeutic about robbing a bank? Exactly. It’s not going to happen. This particular fear reminds me of the sci-fi TV series and film Stargate, where certain characters carry an alien life form called a Goa’uld that takes over the person’s mind and can make the character do all sorts of awful things. Hypnosis is NOT science fiction, suggestions do not act like alien lifeforms taking over your mind or whispering commands to make you do

things. Suggestions work in harmony with your own ethics, goals, dreams and moral codes guiding you towards positivity.

5. I will be made to do ridiculous and embarrassing things like bark like a dog, act like a chicken etc. Many people see hypnosis as them handing themselves over’ to another person. Even on the stage people do this stuff because they are particularly suggestible - but what does that mean? It means they are more likely to follow orders! But barking like a dog etc is reserved for the stage only, there are many theories about why people do what they do on stage when hypnotised but there is one absolute fact - it is their choice. They are never forced. If you don’t want to do anything embarrassing then you won’t. Also, I highly doubt your hypnotherapist has any desire to make you look like a right idiot in your session, it wouldn’t be very good for business!

6. The therapist may not be able to get me out of a trance, I’ll be stuck that way forever. Did you wake up this morning? Do you wake up every day? Remember, hypnosis is a state of hyperawareness, even when used for relaxation you would still be able to come round. We enter a state of hypnosis twice per day anyway, just before we go to sleep and just before we wake up.

As long as you’re not dead or in a coma, you’ll be fine. And for the record, no we can’t put you in a coma either!

7. Hypnosis is a miracle cure. Nothing is a miracle cure. Everyone improves at their own rate.

8. Hypnosis can be used to make people confess or say things they don’t mean to. Firstly, hypnosis is not a truth serum, secondly I’m sure that most hypnotherapists do not work for the FBI or MI5 and go round randomly hypnotising people to get any information they can. You won’t say anything you don’t want or mean to under hypnosis because you are in complete control.

9. Self-hypnosis is safer than going to a trained professional. It might even be more effective. Self-hypnosis can be detrimental because if you have a negative attitude or belief about yourself this could be reinforced regardless of your suggestions. For example, if subconsciously you believe you’re a failure it’s likely you could create a self fulfilling prophecy where the hypnosis doesn’t work therefore further confirming your belief that you’re a failure. Hypnotherapy, when done properly by a trained professional, directly accesses the subconscious mind, while self-hypnosis cannot, therefore it is impossible that it would be more effective.

10. I can’t be hypnotised because my mind is too strong/disciplined.

Until Dr John Kappas came along and proved otherwise, generally it was accepted that only about half the population could be hypnotised. Over the last 30 years Dr Kappas developed various methods to induce hypnosis and proved that anyone, as long as they want to be, can be hypnotised. Because it is your decision to use hypnosis for self-improvement your mind should have already accepted the idea of hypnotherapy.

If you go to a hypnotherapy session determined that you’ll ‘beat the hypnotherapist’ and concentrate on not being hypnotised, then no, you won’t be hypnotised. Sometimes hypnosis isn’t as effective if you’re very anxious - this is usually just fear of the unknown. Try to concentrate on the hypnotherapist’s voice rather than your worries.

If anyone is interested in seeing a therapist, I own and run Chelmsford Therapy Rooms. We have a range of therapists that can help with a multitude of issues. We offer many therapies, from hypnotherapy to counselling to nutrition. Please see the website www.chelmsfordtherapyrooms.co.uk, or you can email info@ chelmsfordtherapyrooms.co.uk, or call 0330 100 5162.

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Fitness and Well-Being

Are you Good Enough? - by Kellie Jones

YES YOU ARE IS THE ANSWER! Good enough at what? For what? To be what? That is the question just about everybody asks themselves when deciding to try something new. I’m sure we all know someone who never seems to be phased by anything so is seemingly superhuman, but they’ve just learnt the art of faking it until they make it.

Unless we have arrived with some kind of past-life knowledge then really, when anyone does something for the first time they don’t know what they are doing or have any knowledge about it until they start practising!

The classic example of this is driving a car, that day you get in for the first time and look at all the pedals, buttons, wheels and mirrors and realise you are completely conscious of your incompetence. Then you start your first lesson and by the end of it you may have managed to make it to the end of the road or maybe even round a roundabout and some may even have parked the car. Many factors will determine how fast or slow you learn and pass your test. You may be nervous, you may be over-confident, you may be uncoordinated, you may be so many different things as no-one learns in the same way. Then finally comes a day, maybe a few months or even years in, when you realise you can’t remember driving down the road you have just got to the end of, this is when you reach unconscious competence.

Self-deprecation - modesty about or criticism of oneself.

Synonyms: Express disapproval of, disapprove of, deplore, find unacceptable, be against, frown on, take a dim view of, look askance at, take exception to, detest, despise, execrate.

Eek!! I don’t know about you but as I soon as I read those synonyms I knew I didn’t want to be like that to myself! I can also guarantee you that not one single person at Hummingbird will think those things about you either. You are good enough just for walking through the door, for booking yourself in, for making a step towards self-love. With practise you can be better at things, but all we really want is for you to feel better about yourself, regardless. You can leave all your preconditioned doubts outside the door and when you step on your mat you have full permission to be whoever you want to be!

As well as weekly classes, I’ve just uploaded a heap of amazing workshops and still have more to add, plus we have some special offers coming up for private 1-1 sessions. So if you want some reassurance before you sign up to a class, then give us a call and we’ll find the best teacher for you to get started with.

Call 01245 422 556 to speak to us or checkout our website www. hummingbirdpilates.co.uk. Or to get you started super fast, download our free Hummingbird Pilates Yoga app at Apple or Google Play. Yay!

3 Ne M 0D w em a C l be ys ien r Un t O (T s & h lim ff C 's i ap p pl f ite er y) o r d £3 5

Although there are healthy chemicals released when we achieve or are recognised for something, there really is no requirement for you to get to this level unless you want to teach at Hummingbird, which quite a few of our clients have gone on to do!

The most common myths around yoga, pilates and meditation is that you have to be good at it before you start! ‘I’m not very flexible’, ‘I’m unfit’, ‘I’m too fat’, ‘I’m not spiritual’, ‘I’m not a woman’ (lol!), ‘I can’t relax...’ All of these and the hundreds of other comments I’ve heard over the past 16 years just mean one thing really - I’m not good enough. Then when someone finally walks into class for the first time I can pretty much guarantee that they will practise self-deprecation before they have even got on the mat.

Pilates, Yoga, Meditation Book your space online or call: Small Classes & 1-2-1’s www.hummingbirdpilates.co.uk Inspirational Teachers 01245 422556 Friendly, Community Vibe Reeds Farm Estate, Writtle, CM1 2ST Page 22

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Can you Guarantee me I’ll Lose a Stone? No! That was the question posed to me recently by a black cab driver and much to his surprise, my response was - NO.

It was a few weeks back, no sooner had I informed him of my destination and he set off putting the world to rights. In less than 5 minutes I knew his life story, the exact number of famous people he’d had in his cab and his unyielding admiration of former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. ‘She cut the red tape and let businesses flourish without interfering’ he took great pride in telling me.

Flippin’ ‘eck, all I wanted was a quick cab ride and there I was getting a lesson in politics from some third rate STIG/Paxman wannabe.

In a vain attempt to switch his monologue to dialogue I thought I’d broach the elephant in the room and garner his thoughts on UBER. ‘They’re a bloody disgrace, they ought to be regulated much more’ was his curt response. Gordon Bennett, one minute he’s a Thatcherite, the next he’s a socialist wanting to regulate things.

(That of course was probably a weak characterisation and probable denigration of both Thatcherite and socialist policies, but much like the British tabloid press, I haven’t got the inclination to find out the truth!).

Conversation soon turned to me being a personal trainer: ‘If you can guarantee me I’ll lose a stone in 2 months, I’ll train with you...’ I told him I was unable to guarantee such a thing and set about explaining why. Sadly, he had little interest in my explanation, so if you’ll allow me a moment of indulgence I’ll share those reasons with you: Homeostasis Homeostasis is basically the term used for the body’s desire to maintain its current state. For the vast majority of overweight people it didn’t happen overnight. It happened over months and more than likely, years. As a result their bodies have got used to being that way.

When trying to alter this by going on a diet, peoples’ bodies react differently. Some people’s body’s (just like the Catholic Church) are resistant to change and weight loss proves a lot harder for them than others.

In conclusion…

The moral of this story is to always book an UBER instead! Only messing black cab driving friends, I love you really.

What you should really take from this is to never trust the weight loss claims you see on many a diet or exercise product. The human body is such an AM-AZ-ING thing (regular readers will know I don’t use that word lightly) that no-one knows exactly how it’s going to respond to a particular diet or training regime imposed upon it.

And as for those guys in the fitness industry who guarantee you’ll lose a stone of fat or gain 10lbs of lean muscle, approach them in the same way you’d approach dog’s mess on the pavement - by giving them a wide berth!

Thanks for reading, Matt To book your free personal training session, or to book a place at my boot camp class, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

PS. if you enjoyed reading this, please tell your friends and follow me on social media! matt@mlrpt.co.uk www.mlrpt.co.uk 07939 316 401 www.twitter.com/mlrpt www.facebook.com/mlrpt www.twitter.com/mlrpt

Training Ability Some people are simply able to train harder than others. Some, can train really hard 5-6 times per week and continue to make rapid improvements in their physique. For others, 2-3 sessions per week may be all that they can physically handle before suffering from injury or illness.

Training Response People respond to training differently. Given the exact same training programme, some people (known as high responders) make terrific improvements whilst others (the low responders) make much slower progress.

Training Compliance No matter how well designed a training programme is, you can never guarantee that an individual will actually do it. How many people do you know that have expensive gym membership upwards of 70 squid a month yet hardly ever set foot in the place?

Training Induced Food Choices This sounds like a rather grandiose term, but what I’m really trying to point out is that some people find that training really tightens their focus on their diet. It’s as if training acts as a catalyst for them to eat better. For others, affectionately known as ‘compensators’, they seem to overeat as a result of their training. It’s as if they think ‘sod it I’ve trained hard today, I can have Big Mac and chips…’ Thrice! They seem to overestimate the number of calories they burn whilst drastically underestimating the number of calories they consume.

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Charity of the Month - Bhagavad-Gita for Day to Day Life ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbhakam’ (Sanskrit) or ‘The whole world is our family’ is one of the many preachings from Bhagavad Gita, the holy book of the Hindus and that is precisely what over 100 Hindus living in and around Chelmsford learnt on Saturday 4th February. They were listening to Shri Madan Mohan Govinda Das Prabhu, a spiritual leader from ISKCON at a cultural event organised by Chelmsford Hindu Society (CHS). Local councillor Philip Wilson (Boreham and the Leighs) also attended the event with his family and was pleased to see a big turnout.

by Chelmsford Hindu Society to bring the community together and offered his help in achieving their objective. The event concluded by serving delicious homemade food to all present.

CHS has been organising several events since late last year to test waters and gauge interest of the Hindu community in the area. A Saamuhik Havan (community prayer) was organised at the same venue in October last year which was attended by over 150 devotees.

This gave the much needed boost to the team to go ahead with their objective. “We have a WhatsApp group of over 200 members and everyone gives a helping hand to organise these events. We all work on a voluntary basis and it is a great way to bring people together.

The fact that all Prasad (offering to God) and food is homemade by volunteers demonstrates the bonding within the community” said one of the enthusiasts.

Chelmsford Hindu Society (CHS), is a not for profit charitable organisation and aims to bring together Hindus from Chelmsford and surrounding areas to promote Hindu ethos, traditions and spirituality.

The main objective is to have a temple and community centre for Hindus living in the area. One of the volunteers explained: “What started as an idea from a few like-minded people is now gathering momentum. One estimate suggests there are over 350 Indian families living in Chelmsford and counting. We all want a local place of worship for us and a community centre where our families can get together and celebrate Hindu festivals and our kids can learn about our culture.” He added: “There is no temple in the vicinity of Chelmsford. Most of us end up travelling to Ilford/London to visit a temple. When I learnt about this initiative I was delighted to be part of it.”

The event kicked off with an Invocation Prayer to Lord Ganesha that left the audience mesmerised. This was followed by the Bhagavad Gita session. While adults and teenagers were busy listening to the preaching, young children were kept busy in an adjoining room where volunteers organised a drawing and painting session for them. The young brigade of Hindu community also demonstrated their skills on stage by not only compering the event, but also coming together to chant the Gayathri Mantra. Bharatanatyam (Indian classical dance) performance by two young girls was another highlight of the evening. In his speech, the councillor appreciated the efforts made

Those who haven’t joined this noble cause yet and want to be a part of it, either actively or otherwise, can get in touch by emailing info@ chelmsfordhindusociety.org. For more information about the society and its activities, please visit www.chelmsfordhindusociety.org.

City Times wishes Chelmsford Hindu Society the very best of luck in its endeavour and we look forward to covering more events in the future.

Picture courtesy mak-photography.co.uk

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Page 25

by Stephen Norris - Crompton Company Part 4 The early post war period saw the company expand the Writtle Road works yet again. This was needed to produce the large electrical switchgear equipment that the company manufactured, mainly for the export market. Switchgear comprises the combination of electrical disconnect switches, fuses, or circuit breakers used to control, protect and isolate electrical equipment. In 1957 a large 3 year contract for Russia was completed, an order that had come about because of a government trade mission. This equipment was for small electrical stations for Soviet farms and hamlets.

The firm was also still producing locomotives. In 1959 it received a £10 million order from British Rail for 137 powerful diesel line locomotives. “It means continuity of employment for three years to come. £2 million will come to the Chelmsford factory.”

During the 1950s and early 1960s industrial relations were often bumpy at the Chelmsford works. In 1958 the managing director said that 22 shop stewards were enough and the company did not need any more. These shop stewards called the men out on a short unofficial stoppage in 1960. In 1963, 600 men took part in a strike over the dismissal of one man with no explanation after 34 years service.

its collection of historical electric equipment to the Science Museum.

Two years before, an original Crompton-Pochin arc lamp, which still worked, had been donated to the Ontario Museum. More recently the new extension to the Chelmsford and Essex Museum included a working arc lamp as well as other original equipment.

The Crompton name still exists in a number of other related factories elsewhere in the country. Crompton Lighting is still manufacturing in Doncaster and has offices at Waltham Abbey. Brookes Crompton, a manufacturer of electric motors, is based at Huddersfield and Crompton Controls manufactures switchgear at Wakefield. Crompton Greaves is the modern descendant of Crompton and Co’s Indian operations with headquarters in Mumbai. It was recently involved with the electrification of the Indian railways. Tyco Electronics of Witham sells a variety of digital metering systems under its Crompton Instruments brand which it acquired in 2002. According to Tyco’s brochure ‘The Crompton range offers one of the largest product offerings of power measurement, control and protection, for switchgear and generation set manufacturers and panel builders’.

Drastic staff cuts were announced at the works in 1966 and 250 workers lost their jobs - 1 in 10 of the workforce. The board said the changes were being made to turn the works into a more efficient unit.

Some of those made redundant were relocated to other sections of the Crompton Parkinson Group. It was “a new start for many men who have worked for CP since they left school.” The instrumentation section was transferred to Witham because the Chelmsford buildings were unsuitable. At the end of 1966 however, the Hawker Siddeley Group made a successful £25million bid for Crompton Parkinson.

The unions were disgruntled “to be the last to be told.”

Just over a year later came the news that the historic Arc Works were to close. The manufacture of rotating machines, switchgear and distribution transformers was to be concentrated at Loughborough.

Convenor Haydn Edwards, a Chelmsford councillor, said “It’s a sad day for the town.” MP Norman St John Stevas tried to get the parent company to continue production in a reduced form, but Hawker Siddeley rejected these proposals as uneconomic. Charlie Osborne, who was 59, said: “I can’t find another job at my age, there is a nasty feeling generally in my family.” Bill Ward of Upper Bridge Road, a turner at the works for 44 years said: “The management have been a damned long time making their mind up. To top it all they go and tell the press and we’re not told till everybody else has read it in the local papers.” A few of the workers were able to get jobs with Marconi in the town. One unanswered question was why the Chelmsford traction division was sold at the last moment to Brush Electrics when it had just received the order to build the finest traction motor of its type which was to be used for the new Victoria Tube. This would have produced three years work for the Chelmsford works.

Today most of the site is used for housing, although in the mid 2,000s e2v were still using part of the site. There is little besides the blue plaque in Anchor Street to show that a once great electrical engineering firm was in the town. In 1966 the company had donated

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Rotary - Celebrating Inspirational Youngsters This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Rotary Young Citizen Awards, with hundreds of inspirational youngsters nominated by Rotary clubs across Britain and Ireland during the past decade.

the Young Citizen Award was a huge honour for both Calums Cabin and myself, the properties have allowed children suffering from cancer to make some precious memories. I am now in my final year studying radiotherapy and winning the award has helped me get to where I am today.”

Since it began, nearly a hundred awards have been given out to individuals and groups, and each one is presented with the accolade at Rotary’s annual conference.

Recipients are nominated by their local Rotary clubs from across Britain and Ireland.

Just taking one example, Jenna Speirs was a recipient of the Young Citizen Award in 2008. She was nominated by the Rotary Club of Rothesay at the age of 13. Back in 2007, Jenna’s twin brother Calum sadly passed away after he suffered an inoperable brain tumour.

It was Calum’s own idea to set up Calums Cabin, a sanctuary designed for young people suffering with cancer to escape to and spend quality time and create special memories with their loved ones on the Isle of Bute.

Following Calum sadly lost his battle with cancer 13 months after his diagnosis, Jenna was determined that Calum’s memory would live on.

At his funeral service a fundraising appeal was set up to ensure his dream of a home for providing young cancer sufferers with peace and tranquillity became a reality.

When Jenna was awarded the Young Citizen Award, she had already raised £250,000 and plans were being put into place to build what is now Calums Cabin.

We caught up with Jenna ten years on to find out how the build progressed. Jenna told us: “When my parents were initially looking for a place to set up Calums Cabin we were surprised by how much it would cost to transform the idea into a reality.

“We met with Lord Bute who offered the land at Straad for £1 per annum and we met with architects to help us build the cabin. In September 2008 the foundations were laid and within months the interiors were being finalised. It was such an achievement to witness all our hard work paying off.”

Two years on from losing Calum, the Speirs were welcoming their first family to the cabin and since day one it has been full with bookings.

Realising the overwhelming need for a haven such as this, the family set up Calums Cabin Cottage in 2011 thanks to further donations.

Both properties are fully funded by generous donations, and the dream is to build further cabins around the country to ensure Calum’s memory lives on. All families stay free of charge. Jenna added: “We are totally amazed at everyone’s generosity and that we managed to get from the initial £20,000 for a caravan to what was needed to be raised to build Calums Cabin and the cottage. Winning

Spot the difference answers

Eve Conway, National Rotary President and creator of the awards, commented: “Working as a journalist at the BBC, we were hearing frequent negative stories about the younger generation and in the public eye our young population were all getting tarnished with the same image.

“We wanted to change that perception by creating something really positive to show that there was so much good being done by young people in their local community. Each winner has gone above and beyond to help others and bring about change. From overcoming incredible odds, taking on causes close to their heart and raising public awareness, amazing fundraising feats or simply doing something to brighten someone else’s day, we’ve heard inspirational stories and we’re proud that we can recognise them for their fantastic achievements.”

To celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Young Citizen Awards, a special presentation will take place at the Rotary Conference in Manchester in April.

To date there have been no national winners from Chelmsford, although there have been a few from further afield in Essex. That is not to say we don’t have deserving youngsters locally, nor is it that Chelmsford clubs haven’t helped deserving cases. No-one does these things just for the chance of winning an award. It is done to recognise wonderful work of our young people and for us to give a helping hand to make dreams a reality.

This is yet another aspect of Rotary in action and we are always on the look-out for like-minded people to join us. So give me a call on 01245 26 039, or visit www.rotary1240.org for Rotary activities near you.

Stan Keller

Wildlife Corner by Nick Green January actually experienced some rainfall and frost and even SNOWFALL on 12th but Essex’s reputation as the driest county still remained untarnished and river levels remained low!

The lapwing is a widespread elegant wader that breeds across much of Europe. The Essex breeding population, as across Britain, is declining. The species is a numerous passage migrant and winter visitor and can be found in many places along our coasts and estuaries but also inland at our reservoirs of Hanningfield and Abberton. One of the joys of spring is seeing the display flight and calls when the male establishes a territory.

Recent Essex Wildlife News The most noteworthy January 2017 bird news: A minor waxwing invasion at last did materialise to some extent and there were scattered reports from Boreham (2), Pitsea (75) and West Thurrock (50). Abberton Reservoir hosted an American male ring-necked duck for a few days. County bird of the month was, if accepted by BBRC, Essex’s first lesser white-fronted goose on Foulness Island, but MoD security restrictions ensured few were privileged to view the bird along with 21 whitefronted geese.

Lapwing. Copyright Glyn

Otherwise, selected highlights include glossy ibis, barnacle and white-fronted geese, glaucous, Caspian and yellowlegged gulls in the Southend area.

Wallasea Island could boast hen harriers, short-eared owls, 4 twite and even a mealy redpoll.

National rarities: In Cornwall the long-staying Hudsonian whimbrel still remains, as indeed the 2 rare long-staying thrushes from December with a (Siberian) dusky thrush in Derbyshire and a blue rock thrush in Gloucestershire. Further north were American species represented by black scoter, pacific diver and male hooded merganser.

March/April Issue Deadlines: Artwork 9th March Articles 3rd March

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Stargazing with Mark Willis - February/March February: Looking south, you’ll see the constellation of Gemini, the heavenly twins. The twins are the constellation’s brightest stars, Castor and Pollux. So which is which? Castor, the fainter star, is closest to the celestial north pole, (or the highest one in the sky). To search out the twins, look for the constellation of Orion. Draw a line from Rigel to Betelgeuse and the line will meet at a point roughly halfway between Castor and Pollux. Castor is amazing because it consists of no less than 6 individual stars. Closer up, the Castor system is weird, too weird to describe here. Go to YouTube and search ‘Castor Orbit, 6 stars’ and you will see how weird!

March: Looking south, at about 22:00 (UT) is the open cluster Praesepe (known as either the Manger or the Beehive). Appearing as a hazy spot to the naked eye, binoculars or a small telescope will reveal the open cluster as a beautiful collection of individual stars.

10th March onward: The planets are unusually hard to view at the moment. There is a planetary line-up around today. Looking west at around 19:00 you will see in a line from the horizon up leaning at angle of roughly 45 degrees in this order: Venus (very bright), Uranus (best use a telescope) and Mars fairly bright.

20th March, 10:28 (UT): The Spring Equinox. This is where the night is of equal length to the day. At the Spring (or Vernal) Equinox the sun rises exactly in the east, travels through the sky for 12 hours and then sets exactly in the west.

25th March, 19:00: Looking west, Mercury appears quite low on the horizon. It’s tricky to find as the twilight glare will drown out naked eye attempts to spot it easily. At a stargazing night we had to use a combination of keen sighted astronomers and trawling through that part of the sky with a telescope. Worth it, as on that night last year I saw Mercury for the first time ever.

As usual, email me with any questions. If you like, I can read out some answers on my radio show.

Mark Willis presents Willis Wireless every Monday at 7pm on Chelmsford Community Radio and also online.

Web: www.chelmsfordcommunityradio.com Twitter: @WillisWireless Email: mark.willis@chelmsfordcommunityradio.com

Essex Ukulele Band Set To Perform In Poland

be their first time in Poland.

Now in their seventh year together, Essex based ukulele band D’Ukes will be seeking new horizons when they fly off from Stansted Airport midFebruary to perform at this year’s Polish Ukulele Festival taking place in Sławków, around 35 miles north west of Krakow. Although not their first venture into Europe this trip will

“The band are particularly pleased to be performing in Poland” said John Mattock the band’s bass player. “We performed last year at the Czech Republic Uke Festival in Prague and met a number of uke players from the Polish Ukulele Club who extended an invitation for

D’Ukes to perform at their festival this year. To perform in Europe opens up great opportunities for us” John added.

From an original ukulele jam session in Chelmsford, D’Ukes have established themselves as a highly skilled band with a reputation for reinterpreting songs using only the ukulele with a hint of percussion and plenty of humour. They have an increasing band of loyal supporters and are in demand to perform across the region and beyond.

When they return, a busy schedule awaits including shows at the Cramphorn Theatre in Chelmsford, the Halstead Empire Theatre and the Colchester Arts Centre.

For more information about D’Ukes and where you can see them, visit their website, www.d-ukes.co.uk.

Concert - Saturday 4th March, 19.30 at Christchurch, New London Road The concert will feature a French horn quartet of talented performers who will be performing the Schumann Konzertstück. Fiona Russell will be leading the quartet.

member of the Flautadors Recorder Quartet and Caecilia Concert amongst others. She was also part of the world tour of Alan Platel’s contemporary dance production VSPRS with Le Ballet C de la B.

Fiona Russell works at Europe’s leading artist management agency where she represents a roster of world class classical musicians including Murray Perahia, Alina Ibragimova and the late Christopher Hogwood. As a tours and projects manager, she also worked on a range of projects with artists as diverse as Elvis Costello, Dawn Upshaw and Michael Nyman.

Fiona’s performing career was brought to an abrupt halt in 2007 due to complications related to hypermobilty syndrome, a connective tissue disorder. In 2012 she was eventually able to take up the horn, using a slightly modified instrument devised by Pip Eastop with whom she studies privately in London.

Prior to her work in arts administration, Fiona was the leading cornetto player of her generation. Whilst at music college Fiona took up the cornetto and was quickly in demand on the professional early music scene. Whilst still an undergraduate she was already a member of the English Cornett and Sackbut Ensemble, touring with the King’s Concert and the Gabrieli Consort and Players, and had spent a season onstage at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre.

Fiona continued her studies with Bruce Dickey at the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis in Switzerland and quickly established herself as one of the most talented cornetto players in Europe. She made over 30 recordings and performed with the world’s leading period instrument ensembles including Cantus Cölln, La Fenice, Concerto Italiano and The Sixteen at major venues and festivals. She also took part in radio and TV broadcasts throughout the world and appeared in opera productions with Opera North, Seville Opera and English Touring Opera. Fiona was a keen chamber musician and was a key

Fiona was born and educated in Chelmsford and was a leading figure in the county’s music scene throughout her school life. As a recorder player she was the Essex School Musician of the Year and played trumpet with many of the Essex Youth Ensembles including the Wind Band under Denis Wick and the Essex Youth Orchestra under Christopher Adey, with whom she was one of the soloists in Panufnik’s Sinfonia Sacra. Fiona first took part in the Chelmsford Music Festival aged just 6 and has continued to be associated with the festival ever since in roles ranging from performing on four different instruments, through to adjudication of the wind and brass classes. For many years she was lead trumpet in the local wind band Caprice, helping to raise many thousands of pounds for local charities.

On leaving school, Fiona went on to study recorder and cornetto at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, but continued to give performances in the area including concerts with the Essex Chamber Orchestra and as a concerto soloist with the Essex String Ensemble.

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