Moulsham Times - April 2025

MoulshamTimes

MT Welcome

Hi readers,

Welcome to the April edition of Moulsham Times. The clocks have now changed, so lighter evenings are here at last!

There are lots of bank holidays coming up over the next two months - and of course, we have the VE Day 80th anniversary shortly; more about that in the next issue, which will be out from 1st May.

If you would like to advertise in the next edition, please contact us for prices and also for distribution details. We can then send over all the information you will need.

Regards

Paul

Advertising & Editorial

Paul Mclean

01245 262082/07595 949701

paul@moulshamtimes.com

Disclaimer: It’s Your Magazines Ltd publish the Moulsham Times. The opinion expressed in each article is the opinion of its author and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of It’s Your Magazines Ltd. No part may be reproduced without the prior written permission of It’s Your Magazines Ltd. Reg Co No. 12080535. Printed by Warners (Midlands) PLC.

Latest

News

Things have been fairly busy at Chelmsford Community Radio. We are still settling into our new home at the Anglia Ruskin University Campus and would very much like to thank all of the local organisations and individuals who have given up their time to help with the process.

We have been at a number of school and college career events over the last few weeks and have been inundated with requests to support work experience placements or young people hoping to achieve their Duke of Edinburgh Award credits. As ever, we will do our utmost to help out where we can.

We’ve had some wonderful guests on-air, including Ben Kearns talking to the legend that is Su Pollard, as well as Shakey’s Sessions getting a visit from Chelmsford-based star Leanne Louise. If you would like to be a guest on one of our shows or have an event you would like us to plug, please do let us know.

We are also very excited to be welcoming the 5th Rayleigh Scout Group and supporting them with their badge work as they visit the new studio and learn about radio broadcasting. Plus, coming up on

Believe the Hype

There are signs of spring and the sun is warmer - Parlour is finally my full-time work and I am loving dedicating shout-outs to businesses in our community.

This month, we celebrated our daughter’s 8th birthday - and who better to bake her cake than The Hungry Tribe herself! Sam has been making our celebration cakes for the last 5 years and I refuse to go anywhere else. Consistent comments are ‘the best cake I’ve ever had’. - and that’s an understatement. I would describe it as wizardry. Her cakes are soft and light, last for days without drying out - the perfect balance of sponge and luxurious buttercream, not too sweet or sickly.

Sam can work to any flavour combinations you’d like. A favourite of mine is lemon/blackcurrant, but for crowd pleasers we opt for chocolate sponge, salted caramel and vanilla buttercream. Dreamy.

Sam has provided stunning wedding cakes not only for us (pictured) but for several of our family members and friends, birthday cakes, treat boxes and occasion boxes for holidays (Christmas, Mother’s Day, Easter).

You may know that Sam is not only a great baker but an amazing cook. She’s also hosted Pasta Club, an Italian-inspired supper club, and we’re excited to bring more events plus feasting and retreats with our sister company The Wild Hearts Club in spring/summerwe’re currently booking for May 17th and June 21st.

What story do you aim to tell with your food?

“I wouldn’t say my cakes tell a story, but food has always been a huge part of my life. Cooking and eating is what I enjoy the most. It satisfies my creative side and is a wonderful outlet. When someone buys a cake from me, I want that person receiving it to feel special.”

Do you have a food memory from childhood?

“I’m swamped with memories of food. Both my mum and paternal grandmother were excellent cooks and encouraged me to cook independently from a young age. One memory that swims back to me are the steamed puddings, especially chocolate or sticky toffee. The excitement of rocking up at my grandma’s and seeing a muslin peeking out of the pot, I knew I was in for a treat. The kitchen was always the hub of the home where we spent most of our time. I’ll never forget the summer months of her watching her podding peas

the 8th May we’ll be at the Chelmsford Civic Society VE Day e`vent in Chelmsford High Street - do come and say hello.

To contact the team, please visit our website.

www.chelmsfordcommunityradio.co,

or prepping runner beans.”

What’s your guilty food pleasure?

“Pasta is my guilty pleasure. It’s my one true food love. Unfortunately, it’s not always executed well. So, I’m selective where I will order it when eating out. But I love to make it from scratch at home.”

Advice for aspiring food businesses?

“My advice is to not be so territorial. Network, support and build relationships with other small business. Some of my best gigs have been given to me by other businesses who couldn’t take a particular event or job. I get cakes referred by other bakers when their books are full or there is a client who is looking for a particular style I can fulfil. I’ve also learnt loads of tips and been given advice that are specific to the type of business we all run. Competition happens at the bottom, collaboration at the top.”

News on the grapevine is that Sam is going to start a postal cookie subscription club. If you want to get in on that action, she will be popping up at these local markets coming up: Ingatestone Artisanal Market on 29th March and Gosfield on 5th July. Also now stocking from Wednesday - Saturday at Earls Colne Refillery.

Find out more by searching ‘@thehungrytribe_cakery’, ‘@parlour_ presents’ and ‘@thewild.heartsclub’.

Shakey and Leanne in our studio.

A Question of Style - By

Choosing the right kitchen style can be challenging, especially when deciding between modern and traditional, minimalist and maximalist, or prioritising function over form - understanding the differences between these styles is crucial.

Firstly, the most important thing to know is that these terms really do not mean all that much. For most of human existence, a kitchen has consisted of a table, a pantry/larder unit, a sink area and a range cooker and not much else! What we tend to think of as a period kitchen is really a modern invention, almost as recent as fitted kitchens themselves. What is truly important is that you incorporate elements of furniture design and styling from a period of furniture that you like and that fits the room.

If you are a fan of Victorian furniture, for example, then there are lots of options to explore that would fit that preference - bold, ornate with lots of detailing and strong colouring. If you like brutalism, then slab doors, muted tones, structural, cubiform and proportional shaping and modern exposed finishes would be the order of the day. It’s worth getting to know the period details that exist in the world of furniture and architecture that tick your boxes and making sure your kitchen designer can incorporate them into your design.

Remember though that all these styles and periods of design can be mixed and matched too - A beautiful Edwardian chair could look tremendous in the corner of a minimalist space if considered carefully into the design, and modern colours could bring a shock of originality to a more traditional kitchen - So long as a designer does it well, the rules are there to be broken.

The most common question when it comes to styling is ‘will it date?’ and there is a general opinion that more traditional styles wont date compared to modern, but this isn’t really true.

The truth is that everything dates! The real question is whether it will date well… If a design is well considered, thought out and tailored to suit your preferences, the chances are that it will bring you pleasure and look great for many years to come, certainly for the 15-25 year lifespan of the average kitchen.

There are many pieces of furniture from the ’60s that look incredible, but I’ll bet that there are an awful lot more that look horrendously dated and have been long forgotten.

In my opinion, the key things for you to consider are:

• How easy will it be to clean?

• How well does this suit my style?

• How easy would it be to change up the easier elements of the design (wall colour, etc) and still have it look great?

• How does this sit within the home and the home’s period of construction?

• How well does this fit the room itself?

• Most importantly, how well does this function work for me for my needs?

Ultimately, your kitchen should work for you - and any proper designer (not salesperson) will take what you like and what you need and bring it together to make your kitchen an amazing room, balancing form with function, that you’ll be happy to walk into, work within, and show people around for many years to come.

Andy Poole Creative Director

Three River

Kitchens

& Interiors Ltd

Record Store Day Is Coming!

Record Store Day 2025 returns on Saturday 12th April at Intense 2 in the Meadows Shopping Centre, Chelmsford High Street.

There will be hundreds of limited-edition releases catering for every taste and genre, including special releases from Oasis with Time Flies, and Liam Gallagher with Acoustic Sessions, plus Kasabian, Sam Fender, Queen, Fleetwood Mac, The Cure and David Bowie.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of Blur’s iconic album The Magic Whip with a special, half-speed mastered limited edition zoetrope picture disc.

The younger generation will be queuing up early for Charli xcx, Billie Eilish and Taylor Swift, plus Fred Again and Gracie Abrams.

Other ones to watch include Jamiroquai, Rage Against The Machine, Wu Tang, The Streets, and Fatboy Slim.

You can check out what release are coming out on www.intenserecords.com and submit your wishlist there too so we know what you are after.

For our worldwide customers, the releases go on sale online after the weekend on Monday 22nd at 8pm.

Intense #2 at Unit 11, 42-47 High Street, Chelmsford CM2 6FD 01245 976 027 www.intenserecords.com

Chelmsford - By Marie Goldman MP

As you will hopefully know by now, I have resigned as the Essex county councillor for Chelmsford Central and as one of your Chelmsford city councillors for Moulsham & Central. By-elections will be held on 1st May to elect new councillors into these seats, as well as another vacant position in Moulsham & Central created by the resignation of my wonderful ward colleague, Cllr Graham Pooley, who has stood down for health reasons. I will, of course, continue to be the Member of Parliament for Chelmsford.

But I hope you won’t mind if I spend this column reminiscing a bit about my time as a local councillor. Many of you may know that prior to becoming the MP for Chelmsford, I spent five years as the Deputy Leader of Chelmsford City Council. It’s a role that I was incredibly proud to perform as it gave me the chance to help bring about real and positive change for our city.

Among other things, I was pleased to be able to help our Liberal Democrat administration of the council bring forward new socialrent housing in the form of twelve new homes in Woodhall Road. We declared a climate and ecological emergency that allowed us to put in place an action plan to play our role in decarbonising the council’s activities. We planted tens of thousands of trees, both enhancing the local environment for residents to enjoy and helping to suck carbon out of the air as the trees mature. And we have recently created a Local Nature Reserve at John Shennan Field in Moulsham Lodge, protecting it for future generations from the local Conservatives’ plans to sell it off to developers for houses, thereby destroying the much-needed green space that residents need and love.

We’ve also invested in our city centre, removing traffic from the top of the High Street by pedestrianising Tindal Square - creating, in the process, a new space for performances and other activities to increase footfall in the city centre and support local businesses. We’ve pushed forward with plans to rehabilitate the old gas works site in the city centre by investing in a project to decontaminate the land and relocate the major gas infrastructure in this area. This will quite literally clear the way for much needed new homes on a brownfield site in the heart of our city. Of course, access to this has been unlocked by the Bow Bridge - the beautiful (in my opinion) new bridge over the river connecting Baddow Road with Wharf Road.

But we do need a city that has an enticing, exciting cultural offer too. So, while there is always more to do, I’m extremely proud to have led a project to transform our tired, outdated and under-performing civic theatre into a vibrant, buzzing venue that’s now attracting new audiences, best-in-class shows, while also supporting our local economy; especially our bars and restaurants.

Of course, there were the little but important things that I managed to get done as a local ward councillor: getting new litter bins installed, such as the one on Lady Lane at the bottom of the walkway through to Fortinbras Way; getting pavements resurfaced in places like Wallace Crescent - and, at very long last, Fraser Close; replacing dangerous kerbstones in various roads in Moulsham Lodge; persuading the city council to step in with new streetlights in dark corners of Central Park that are really the responsibility of Essex County Council but which weren’t getting repaired by them; or finally, getting the ugly scaffolding walkway in Shire Gate by the cricket ground removed. These were small victories, but nonetheless satisfying.

All of this - and more - was done against a backdrop of probably the most challenging times local government has known in my lifetime. From unexpected elections (ie, the European elections in May 2019 and the snap General Election in December 2019) to a global pandemic where I was so pleased to be part of the leadership of a council where we kept all of our services running with very little disruption. A huge debt of thanks is owed to the council officers and other staff who went above and beyond to make that possible.

Local councils are often the butt of many jokes about incompetence and inefficiency, but while there is always room for improvement, I can honestly say that the staff working behind the scenes at Chelmsford City Council do a fabulous job, often in increasingly difficult circumstances with fewer and fewer resources. I’m thrilled that the council’s recent peer challenge - where leaders and experts from other councils (and other political parties) come to look at opportunities for improvement - gave Chelmsford City Council a glowing report. That’s no mean feat and it’s testament to the good professional working relationship my Liberal Democrat colleagues and I have built with the council officers and their dedication to getting the best possible outcomes - in difficult times - for the residents of Chelmsford.

In short, it was a huge privilege to serve as a local councillor, but that time has now come to an end. I have now resigned as both a Chelmsford City Councillor and an Essex County Councillor.

Since being elected as an MP, I had always intended to stand down from both of these positions at the local county council elections in May. This was to avoid the additional costs of a by-election when the county council was up for election in May anyway. However, given the Labour Government’s decision to agree to the Conservatives’ calls to cancel the May elections, I have decided to stand down now instead of carrying on for another three years. As I said above, by-elections will be held on 1st May to elect a new councillor or councillors into these now vacant seats.

I’d like to express enormous thanks to everyone who has voted for me and supported me in my roles as a local councillor. It has been a true honour and privilege to stand up for the residents of Chelmsford in local government.

I will, of course, be continuing in my role as the MP for Chelmsford, and while potholes are really the responsibility of the Conservativerun County Council, I imagine I will continue to receive many emails on this subject (there really are times when I wish I could just chuck on a hi-vis jacket and fill them myself!).

But seriously, it’s a time of enormous change for local government. I’m afraid I’m not at all a fan of the proposals to reorganise local councils. Apart from anything else, I think it won’t save the sort of money the government appears to be hoping for, but it will be a huge, unfortunate distraction for local government at a time when there is so much need from residents for support. I worry that scarce resources will necessarily be redirected to the reorganisation efforts instead of helping to fix the issues that so desperately need attention, such as special educational needs, social care, and housing.

But we are where we are. I will continue to keep a close watch on developments and will be holding the Labour government to account if it doesn’t deliver the benefits it claims it will.

In the meantime, thank you again to everyone involved in local councils at all levels. Your work is so important to residents and affects everyone’s lives on a daily basis arguably far more than parliamentarians do, yet often without the recognition. Keep up the great work.

Marie

Moulsham Mosaic Made by the Community: Essex Artist Collaborates With

Over 500 Local Children, Young People and Adults

Not content with utilising their plentiful indoor spaces to welcome those from every corner of the local community, St John’s Church is creating a brand new oasis of greenery in the heart of Chelmsford, with the first phase - a tranquil reflection garden - set to launch on Wednesday 26th March. The crowning glory will be a stunning community mosaic, unveiled on the day by guests of honour Mayor Janette Potter, Bishop Adam of Bradwell and mosaic artist Peter Harrington.

In October and November of last year, the new Green Space project at St John’s Church invited local schools, community groups and charities to take part in the design and creation of their ambitious community mosaic.

The response was overwhelming. A whopping 519 participants signed up over the course of 14 workshops, with pupils and teachers from Oaklands Infant School and Moulsham Junior School, young people from St John’s Junior Church and 15th Chelmsford Scout Group, adult students from Mencap Chelmsford, staff and clients from recovering addicts charity Open Road and a cohort of enthusiastic local volunteers, all contributing to the striking artwork.

Artist Peter says of his extensive workshop delivery with the local community, “This is what it’s all about really. I enjoy working with these groups, helping release creativity and seeing ideas develop and flourish. It’s an exhilarating process - and besides being great fun, I consider it a privilege to be able to create something to enhance the environment and to be left as a legacy for all involved.”

One Year 5 pupil from Moulsham Junior School commented, “I was really looking forward to coming here. It’s been such fun! With my ADD, my mind is really wild but when I’m doing art like this it’s really calming. I wish we could keep doing this at lunchtime!”

And the all-round community eRorts didn’t stop there. Whilst Peter was busy refining and finishing the complicated process of setting the mosaic, the momentous first day of planting took place in the Green Space at St John’s...

On 28th February, Year 6 pupils from St Anne’s School were joined by adult students from Mencap, volunteers from nearby retirement complex Albion Court, toddlers from the weekly Tots and Tinies session and a growing body of Green Space garden volunteers to place the first plants in the soil of the brand new reflective Quiet Garden. The enthusiasm was infectious, the participant interaction was truly intergenerational, and the space is now abundant with sensory plants along its borders.

The paths have been laid, two recycled plastic benches installed (each rescuing an impressive 30,000 plastic bags from landfill), the borders have been planted, the grass seed scattered and the wall

at the back of the garden prepared. All that now remains is for the magnificent mosaic to be installed and the results to be admired by all of those who worked so hard to make it.

The mosaic in progress; clients and staff from recovering addicts charity Open Road get hands on with the exacting process of tile cutting and placement.

At 11am on Wednesday 26th March, the 2.5 metre wide mosaic will be revealed in all its glory on the back wall of the Quiet Garden for an audience of participants, community organisations and wellwishers. Bishop Adam of Bradwell will bless the mosaic and pupils from Oaklands Infant School will read poems inspired by their time working on the mosaic, before artist Peter Harrington and Mayor of Chelmsford Councillor Janette Potter unveil the mosaic to all assembled.

A wildflower planting day will involve a total of 336 local pupils on 25th April and the finished Green Space will be launched with a Green Fair later this summer. Keep your eyes peeled for more on this soon...

www.stjohnsmoulsham.org.uk

Artist Peter Harrington compiling the new mosaic in his workshop, plus younger members of the church community work with Peter to design motifs for the mosaic.

MT Gardening

As March draws to a close, the garden is picking up pace. Longer days and milder temperatures bring fresh growth, with early flowers attracting the first pollinators of the season. It’s a great time to get stuck into key tasks - sowing hardy annuals, dividing perennials and giving the lawn its first cut. With each job, the garden moves closer to its peak, setting the stage for the months ahead. After the stillness of winter, there’s plenty to do, but the rewards will soon follow.

As the days grow longer and temperatures rise, it’s time to tackle essential gardening jobs that set the foundation for the months ahead. Here’s how to sow hardy annuals, divide perennials, and give your lawn its first cut.

Sowing Hardy Annuals

Hardy annuals like calendula, cornflowers and larkspur can be sown directly into garden soil in March. These plants tolerate cooler temperatures and will flower by summer.

What you need:

• Garden fork or hoe.

• Rake.

• Seeds.

• Watering can with a fine rose attachment.

Steps:

1. Choose the right spot: Select a well-drained area that gets plenty of sunlight. Avoid places prone to waterlogging.

2. Prepare the soil: Loosen the top 5cm with a fork or hoe, then rake to a fine crumbly texture. Remove weeds and large stones.

3. Sow the seeds: Scatter seeds thinly over the surface or plant them in shallow drills (grooves) about 1cm deep. Follow spacing guidance on the packet.

4. Cover lightly: Gently rake soil over the seeds or press them down with the back of a rake to ensure good contact.

5. Water gently: Use a fine spray to moisten the soil without

washing the seeds away.

6. Mark the area: Label rows or sections to remember what you’ve sown.

7. Aftercare: Keep the soil damp until germination. Thin seedlings if they become overcrowded.

Dividing Perennials

Dividing perennials like Astrantia, hardy geraniums, and daylilies rejuvenates plants and encourages more vigorous growth. This is best done before new shoots get too large.

What you need:

• Garden fork or spade.

• Sharp knife or secateurs (for tough roots).

• Compost or well-rotted manure.

Steps:

• Water the plant (if dry): The day before, give the plant a good soak to ease lifting.

• Lift the clump: Dig around the base with a fork or spade, lifting carefully to avoid damaging roots.

Divide the clump:

• Soft-rooted perennials (eg, primroses) can be pulled apart by hand.

• Fibrous-rooted perennials (eg, hardy geraniums) can be sliced with a spade.

• Woody or thick-rooted plants (eg, agapanthus) may need a sharp knife or saw.

• Replant immediately: Dig a hole large enough for the roots, enrich with compost, and plant at the same depth as before.

• Water well: Keep newly planted divisions moist until established.

Giving the Lawn Its First Cut

After winter, the first mow sets the stage for a healthy lawn. The key is to take it slow and avoid cutting too short.

What you need:

• Lawn mower (with sharpened blades).

• Rake or leaf blower.

• Spring-tine rake (optional).

Steps:

1. Check the lawn’s condition: If the ground is very wet or frozen, wait for drier conditions to avoid compacting the soil.

2. Clear debris: Rake up leaves, twigs and moss to prevent blockages in the mower.

3. Set the mower blades high: For the first cut, set the blades to their highest setting to avoid shocking the grass.

4. Mow slowly and evenly: Work in straight lines, slightly overlapping each pass. If the grass is long, mow in stages over a few weeks rather than cutting it all at once.

5. Leave the clippings (optional): A light layer of clippings can provide nutrients, but remove excess to prevent thatch build-up.

6. Assess for patching or feeding needs: If the lawn looks sparse, consider overseeding or applying a spring feed.

Final Thoughts

With these three tasks done, your garden will be well on its way to a strong start for the growing season. Hardy annuals will soon fill gaps with colour, perennials will thrive after division, and your lawn will begin to green up. Keep an eye on the weather and enjoy the satisfaction of setting the garden up for success.

Lastly, take a look at this RHS link for March: www.rhs.org.uk/advice/ in-month/march.

Happy gardening - and here’s to a year of enjoyable gardening!

For personalised gardening advice, feel free to contact Tom Cole, Freelance Horticulturist and online tutor, at tomcole8@hotmail.com or visit www.learningwithexperts.com/ for online RHS courses.

Nick Garner’s Music & Ramblings

We are now officially in spring, with flowers beginning to come out and trees in bud and birds and animals nesting - and the clocks have sprung forward as well. Let’s hope it’s a decent one and for the next few months that summer is kind to us as well.

Recently, I helped a friend pick a new car out and we had to go to Peterborough which was good - and so was the car thankfully, so a worthwhile trip!

Now for a bit of sad news, Beryl Hastie, an Old Moulsham resident who also was a volunteer at J’s Hospice charity, has sadly passed away. You may have possibly known her as she had been in nursing for quite some time. Her funeral is on Monday 7th April at the Chelmsford crematorium at 11am if you wish to attend. Beryl was always full of life and very helpful and a great cat lover too. She will be sadly missed by many.

As you get this edition, we will have just celebrated Mothering Sunday. l hope you remembered your mothers. I did, but sadly many of us are orphans nowadays. I do send well wishes to my daughter and also to the mother of my children, as I think you all deserve itfor putting up with us for one!

Easter is now almost upon us, so do try to not over indulge in chocolate and other naughty bits. I will not be indulging as I am doing my best to avoid becoming a diabetic like my two brothers are. It is not that easy but so far in my 71 years on this planet I have managed to avoid it.

This news has come in from council. Wow - Chelmsford has been named in the east of England best place to live category in The Times and The Sunday Times’ Best Places to Live 2025. It makes us so proud to see this sort of national recognition!

Congratulations to everyone who makes Chelmsford what it is - our brilliant businesses, fantastic venues, kind community groups, amazing schools and of course, our residents. A big shout out too to our neighbours Saffron Walden in Uttlesford District Council who were crowned best place to live in the whole of the UK. Proving, yet again, that the only way is Essex. Great news I think we just need more help with our venues for one please.

We do have a lot to offer here; we just need help to market it all, as there is so much more going on in and around our area. To attract tourists, let’s talk - and let’s have your ideas.

Music

I do need to ask you to please book early for shows so that you are not disappointed. Some shows towards the later part of the year (as well as some coming up soon) are selling very well. Remember, you can go to We Got Tickets or you can text or phone me on 07508 496 411 then you pay on the door without paying any commission.

I just can’t stop myself booking in more acts. One previously played for us in 2019 and the other played last year. From last year we have The Dirt Road Band playing on Thursday 2nd October at Hot Box. They are a bit of a supergroup and consist of Steve Walwyn who spent 32 years as a guitarist in Dr Feelgood. Also playing is Horace Panter, who was bass player for The Specials among others, with Ted Duggan on drums from Bad Finger, The Beat and The Selecter.

Then on Friday 31st October at the Social Club we have a very rare appearance from John Coghlan, the original drummer for Status Quo, with Trevor Gentry on guitar. Trevor used to be in John’s Band previously. Also playing is Chris Delta on harmonicas and John Durno on bass; John is from Roam Holiday and many others. The band will play a mix of early Quo and a mix of covers. We think that these are two great acts we’re pleased to have booked.

I have now already started booking for 2026 and it’s looking good so far - and I haven’t even quite finished with this year yet!

I have been to some shows and put on some shows recently that have blown me away as well as those who have attended them. I am off to another show in a couple of days in Southend to see Hamish Stuart playing. I just know how good this will be.

I have some great shows coming up at the Social Club shortly, with Danny & the Champions of the World, then we have Who’s Next, Broadway Clash, Atomic Rooster, Geno Washington and Leddra Chapman. Also, remember too the acts playing for my Blues Box at Hot Box - just look at the advert to see them all.

What have you been up to - anything that maybe of interest to our readers? if so please let us know about it. If you have anything you think that could be of interest to our readers for either publication, then please let us know by emailing editorial@itsyourmedia.co.uk it may be an event or a topic of interest. Or have you done anything unusual or are you planning something? If so, we want to know about it. And if know of someone who may wish to advertise with us, then please ask them to contact ads@itsyourmedia.co.uk and we can send over the full details.

You can get tickets for all our shows at The Social Club in Chelmsford from Intense Records, The Hop Beer Shop and Chelmsford 4Goodplease pay cash in person when you buy from them as well. Tickets for all shows, including Hot Box, are also available online from www. wegottickets.com/BlackFrogPresents, or via our ticket hotline at no extra charge - call or text 07508 496 411 and you can then pay at the advance price on entry without any commission rather than the walk-up price. To find out more about Black Frog Presents and our shows, go to www.linktr.ee/BlackFrogPresets or scan the QR code in our adverts.

Help us run a parent and toddler book club

Do you have a love of reading and storytelling? Can you help spark a young child’s love of reading? Can you bring stories and rhymes to life through your enthusiasm? We are seeking responsible, enthusiastic volunteers who can help us launch and run a new parents and toddlers group at the our Community Bookshop.

Charity shop manager

We are seeking a dedicated, responsible volunteer who would like to play a leading role in managing a charity shop in central Chelmsford. This would mean helping out on the till and with donations, but also unlocking and locking up, cashing up and helping us keep a rota of volunteers. Please get in touch if you fancy a fun, varied role with a bit of a challenge.

Charity shop assistants

We are also seeking new volunteers to work alongside the above. Please get in touch if you can dedicate one morning or one afternoon a week to our little shop.

Volunteer receptionist

Are you passionate about helping others? Do you want to make a real difference in people’s lives? Renew Counselling is looking for a dedicated, welcoming and organised volunteer to join our friendly team in the role of Volunteer Receptionist. A minimum commitment of 3 hours per week (with flexible timing) is required.

Trustees needed

Trustees play a crucial role in guiding charities, helping make plans and decisions, and making sure they stay on track. It is a fantastic opportunity to make real difference to the organisation you volunteer for. You don’t need prior experience, just enthusiasm and dedication.

Trustee meetings are usually just 4 times a year, so this is a great role for people with busy lives who still want to help.

Why

We are currently recruiting for Farleigh Hospice, The Millrace Foundation, Essex Youth Build, Interact, Essex Community First Aid, RAF Association, Essex Scouts, Santcus Homeless Charity, Cool to Be Kind, The Wilderness Foundation, Essex Garden Trust, City of Chelmsford Mencap, South East & Central Mind.

Please call the Volunteer Centre for more information.

Do You Care So Much About The Environment Especially the Ocean?

This is a question I get asked time and time again and my response is always the same: Because I live in this environment and every second breath we take comes from the ocean.

This year’s theme for Earth Day on 22nd April 2025 is Our Power, Our Planet. On Earth Day, we celebrate the idea that we are all caretakers of the planet. By working together, we can protect and preserve it for everyone, now and in the future.

Earth Day is a reminder that our planet belongs to everyone because we all depend on it for survival. The Earth provides us with air to breathe, water to drink, food to eat and a home to live in. No single person, country, or group owns the Earth - it is shared by all people, animals and ecosystems.

Our Oceans Are Shared Resources it plays a crucial role in producing the oxygen we breathe and maintaining the balance of life on Earth. Around 50-80% of the oxygen in our atmosphere comes from marine phytoplankton, algae, and seagrass - tiny ocean plants that photosynthesise just like trees on land. That means every second breath we take is thanks to the ocean!

Why We Must Protect the Ocean

1. Oxygen production: Without a healthy ocean, oxygen levels could drop, affecting all life on Earth.

2. Climate regulation: The ocean absorbs carbon dioxide and helps regulate global temperatures.

3. Biodiversity: It is home to millions of species, many of which are endangered due to pollution and overfishing.

4. Livelihoods and food: Billions of people rely on the ocean for food and income.

5. Water cycle: The ocean drives rainfall and weather patterns, impacting agriculture and fresh water sources.

How We Can Help

• Reduce plastic waste to prevent pollution.

• Support sustainable seafood choices.

• Cut carbon emissions to slow ocean warming and acidification.

• Protect marine habitats like coral reefs and mangroves.

• Raise awareness and advocate for ocean conservation.

Come along to one of our free beach safaris to find out what we are protecting on our local Essex coastlines.

www.bookwhen.come/beachschoolexplorers

Non-Spoiler Film Reviews - By Henry Godfrey-Evans

The Monkey

A toy that when wound up makes horrible things happen. Absolute nothing premise, great delivery.

Watching gore and imaginative deaths can only take you so far nowadays, we’re all pretty numb to it. This film was full of fantastic comic timing and the dialogue that must have been really tricky to say without laughing.

It faltered at times but these films always do, it’s a difficult task. Solid effort.

Marching Powder

This film really didn’t read the room, unless the room was full of cocaine-addicted men with day jobs and membership to a firm. It dithered between shaming the lifestyle and then trying to make it look cool.

The jokes were very, very dull, brought to life a bit by the actors, but mostly by the ‘normal character’ in the film, played by Stephanie Leonidas.

Not very inspiring or entertaining.

Mickey 17

About a time in the future where you can get a job dying in

Widford Lodge pupils are making an impact on the local and wider community by raising funds for charity and working with Chelmsford City Council to help support local biodiversity.

Our Year 6 pupils recently raised over £1,000 for Disability4Sport via a raffle with a sports theme. The charity offers activities that promote a level playing field and positive experiences for disabled people and their families to access healthy activities, live an active life and connect with the wider community.

The school is also a regular supporter of the local charity the Little Edi Foundation. Pupils have recently donated supermarket vouchers to help families in need access essential groceries. The vouchers will be distributed by the hard-working team at Little Edi to ensure that local families have the support they need. This follows a very successful Christmas appeal where pupils donated pyjamas for children of

experimental ways and being ‘reprinted’. The callousness in which the characters behave with such a tool is what makes this.

Some of the other humour was solid, along with the social commentary, some of it a bit flat and samey.

Robert Pattinson goes the extra mile when he acts and I think that’s the taste most theatre goers will leave with.

The Last Showgirl

Pamela Anderson shocking everyone with a tremendous dramatic performance. Her character was quite well fleshed out, but she played it so well that it felt like I was simply observing a life fall apart. It would be Oscar-worthy if the Academy considered films more than 3 months before the ceremony.

It took a while to realise that, because Pamela made it feel so raw, but the story was quite standard - and unfortunately that matters a little too much.

Instagram: @henrygodfreyevans

Author’s note: I also film my reviews and upload them on my instagram. My username is Henrygodfreyevans.

henrygodfreyevans@gmail.com

specific ages, and these were handed out as early Christmas gifts to grateful families.

As part of our geography curriculum, we are helping to improve our local community by joining an event run by Love Your Chelmsford, planting in the nature reserve at the John Shennan field. Our children last visited in November 2022, so this was a chance to revisit and continue to enhance the nature reserve.

Headteacher, Michelle Cole said, “We are incredibly proud of the way our students are stepping up to help others. These projects not only support important causes but also teach our students the value of giving back to the community and protecting our environment.”

Baddow Races at Great Baddow Are Back in 2025 on Sunday 18th May

The races will be held at the Great Baddow Recreation Ground, Great Baddow, CM2 9RL, and the event will consist of a 10 Mile Road Race and a 2 Mile Fun Run.

The 10 Mile Race is suitable for dedicated runners. The Fun Run is suitable for less serious runners, as well as for families and children, perhaps with pushchairs, dogs and fancy dress too!

This year, our combined races team from the Chelmsford Mildmay and Chelmsford Rivermead Rotary Clubs will offer a T-shirt for all 10 Mile Race entries, available to buy for £10 on the entry website. New for 2025 are children’s T-shirts for £5. All T-shirt orders must be received before 17th April.

This BARR Gold Standard Road Race event will provide every entrant with a runner’s pack and chip-timed numbering. Bone conduction headphones are allowed.

10 Mile winners, in categories shown on our website, will receive a trophy and all 10 Mile finishers will receive a medal.

On the Great Baddow Recreation Ground there will be stalls, children’s rides, food and refreshments, a sound stage and a warmup exercise session.

Proceeds from the races will support our chosen charities, The Children’s Society East and Farleigh Hospice. Both races are also an opportunity for all runners to support their own charity.

On race day, the 10 Mile Race starts at 10am followed by the 2 Mile Fun Run at 10.15am.

Enter now on www.baddowraces.co.uk.

Good Luck and see you there on 18th May!

Chelmsford Museum’s latest exhibition, Shifting Perspectives: Exploring Art Together, is more than just a display of creativity - it is a powerful reminder of how art can connect us, inspire us and help us see the world through different eyes.

Running until 2nd November, this moving exhibition is a collaboration with the Alzheimer’s Society, offering a unique experience that celebrates both the beauty of art and the resilience of the human spirit.

Shifting Perspectives: Exploring Art Together

I had the privilege of attending the exhibition’s opening, and from the moment I stepped into the gallery I was struck by the sense of warmth and compassion that filled the space. This is no ordinary art display - it is a collection of stories, emotions and connections, shaped by people in Chelmsford living with dementia and their companions. Through a series of workshops, they were invited to explore artworks by female artists from the museum’s collection, with their reflections and memories woven into the exhibition itself.

What makes Shifting Perspectives so special is the way it encourages us to slow down and experience art through the eyes of others, gently nudged by the sand timers discreetly placed by each piece of artwork. It is a poignant reminder that creativity transcends memory and diagnosis - offering moments of joy, reflection, and connection, even in the face of dementia.

Chelmsford Museum: A Cultural Treasure

Visiting this exhibition reminded me once again of the vital role Chelmsford Museum plays in our city. As a city councillor for Moulsham and Central, I am incredibly proud that we have such a vibrant and accessible cultural hub right on our doorstep. The museum is more than just a place to view art - it is a space for learning, reflection and community. Shifting Perspectives demonstrates its commitment to using creativity as a tool for empathy and connection. The exhibition invites visitors not to simply look at the art, but to feel it and to step into the perspectives of others, whether through the words of people living with dementia

or the heartfelt messages left on the Share Your Wonder wall. These small but powerful expressions are a testament to how the exhibition is touching hearts and creating meaningful moments for local families.

A Wonderful Place to Live

This exhibition is also a reflection of what makes Chelmsford such a wonderful place to live. Our city is not only thriving economically but also culturally. It is no surprise that Chelmsford was recently recognised by The Times as one of the best places to live in the East of England. With events like this, we can see why.

Chelmsford Museum continues to be a space where creativity flourishes and where the arts bring people together. Whether you are a lifelong art lover or someone who simply enjoys discovering something new. Exhibitions like this make our city feel richer and more connected.

It was heartening to see such a diverse range of people at the opening event; from families with young children to older residents, from seasoned art enthusiasts to those who had perhaps never stepped into a gallery before. Art, after all, belongs to everyone.

Support for People Living with Dementia

Finally, while this exhibition is a celebration of creativity, it also shines a light on the realities of dementia and the support that is available. The Alzheimer’s Society, which partnered with the museum on this project, does remarkable work supporting individuals and families affected by dementia.

If you or someone you know needs support, you can contact the Alzheimer’s Society on 0333 150 3456, visit alzheimers.org.uk/ find-support-near-you, or email essex@alzheimers.org.uk. Their compassionate team offers practical advice, local support services and connections to peer support groups.

Locally, they run activities such as Singing for the Brain sessions, walk-and-talk groups, and social meetups, helping to reduce isolation and offer comfort to those living with dementia and their carers.

An Exhibition Not to Be Missed

Shifting Perspectives is more than just an art exhibition; it is a celebration of empathy, creativity and the human spirit. It offers us the chance to see the world through new eyes and to recognise the beauty of connection, even in the face of challenge.

I encourage everyone in Chelmsford to visit this remarkable exhibition. Take your time, reflect and share your own perspective. Whether you spend five minutes or an hour, you will walk away with a deeper appreciation for the power of art and for the incredible community we have here in Chelmsford.

Cllr Charlene Adutwim Liberal Democrat

charlene.adutwim@chelmsfordlibdems.org.uk

City Councillor for Moulsham & Central Chair of the Policy Board Equality and Diversity Champion

The Perfect Meal After an Incredible IFE Event

After three intense and inspiring days at the IFE Event in London, we’ve come back buzzing with excitement! Meeting incredible people, discussing the endless possibilities for expanding our spice range, and exploring ways to take Rose & Lily Club to the next level has been nothing short of amazing. But now, it’s time to refuel!

We’re sharing our go-to staple lunch - the Spicy Sour Chicken Rice Bake. It’s a meal you can cook in advance, reheat at the office, or enjoy for a stress-free dinner. Packed with warmth, zest and just the right amount of heat, it’s designed to leave you full, satisfied and energised. Best of all? Minimal effort, maximum flavour!

Why This Recipe Is a GameChanger

This dish is a one-pot wonder, making it simple and hassle-free. The chicken stays incredibly juicy, absorbing all the bold spices and the tangy, fiery kick from jalapeño pickle juice - a secret ingredient that tenderises the meat and infuses it with deep, aromatic flavours. The richness of the dish is perfectly balanced by a zesty tomato, onion and parsley salsa, bringing a fresh and citrusy contrast that cuts through the spice. Every bite is a fusion of bold flavours that will have you coming back for more!

Spicy Sour Chicken Rice Bake Recipe

Ingredients For the Chicken and Rice:

• 4 chicken legs.

• 2 tbsp Rose & Lily Eastern Roast Spice Blend (or mix turmeric, garlic, cumin, cayenne).

• 2 tbsp pickled jalapeño slices + 2 tbsp of the pickle juice.

• 2 tbsp olive oil.

• 1 cup basmati rice.

• 2 cups chicken stock.

• Salt & pepper to taste

For the Fresh Salsa:

• 2 ripe tomatoes, diced.

• Handful of fresh parsley, chopped.

• Juice of 1 lime.

• Pinch of salt.

Method

• Marinate the chicken: Rub the chicken legs generously with Eastern Roast Spice Blend, jalapeños, pickle juice, olive oil, salt and pepper. Let it sit for at least 30 minutes (overnight for deeper flavour!).

• Bake the chicken and rice: Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F).

• Place the rice in a deep baking dish and pour the chicken stock around it.

• Nestle the marinated chicken on top (pro tip: don’t pour liquid over the chicken - this helps keep the skin crispy!)

• Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Remove the foil, increase the heat to 200°C (400°F) and bake for another 20 minutes until the chicken is golden and slightly crispy.

• Make the salsa: While the chicken and rice bake, mix tomatoes, onion, parsley, lime juice and salt in a bowl. Let it sit for 10 minutes to develop flavour.

• Fluff up the rice, plate up the chicken and top with the zesty salsa. The rich, spicy and tangy combination is a crowd pleaser!

Top Tips to Boost Flavour

• Slice the chicken to the bone before marinating - this helps the flavours penetrate deeper.

• Sprinkle additional seasoning onto the chicken before baking for a crispy, flavourful crust.

• Pour the stock around the rice, not on top of the chicken, to ensure juicy meat and perfectly cooked grains.

• 2 to 1 or whatever measure of rice cooking you are doing, we always prefer to go 2 part liquid to 1 part rice.

Let’s keep the spice flowing!

Tried this recipe? Tag us on Instagram @(roselilyclub) and show us your creations! Let’s keep spreading the love for bold, exciting flavours.

• ½ red onion, finely chopped.

The Wedding - By Holly Lucking

How long has it been since I’ve seen them? 10 years? It can’t be that long and yet time has a way of getting away from you. When the wedding invitation from my second cousin once removed came through my door with the takeaway leaflets I got a little too excited over, I dropped the entire pile on the floor in shock.

Lindsey was getting married. She was a child the last time I saw her, with big rosy cheeks and light blonde hair pulled back into tight pigtails. Running around the room with a toy elephant in her arms, she ran into my legs and told me that I was the prettiest person alive and that we’d be friends our entire lives. Being a moody teenager, I had given her a fake smile and agreed wholeheartedly, not believing it for a second.

But in my hand was the invitation that proved she’d never forgotten that moment, open arms welcoming me back into the family. If I refused to go, it would be the scissors severing the family line for good, and I wasn’t quite ready to make that decision just yet.

Six months later I arrive at Orchid Country House, driving up the mile-long driveway of sandy gravel to see the large white estate on the horizon. Georgian style with columns holding up the front porch, and a large fairytale stables off to the right on the rolling green fields of land. Although I only live half an hour away, I want to be a part of something… and have an excuse to act like a character out of a Jane Austen novel for a night. The car park is filled with Rolls Royce’s and Range Rovers, and I feel almost guilty leaving my two-seater car alone for the night. Nothing but a pile of rubble will be left after the pummelling it will get.

As I enter the reception, a wide entrance hall with beams and chandeliers flanking the ceiling, several groups are chattering away, laughing and enjoying the free champagne flying around on trays. I am offered a glass almost immediately and politely refuse because the stuff always did go to my head like a blow to the back of it.

“Hello, mam. Are you here to check in?” the kind man at the reception inquires.

“Hello. Yes, I am. I made a reservation under the name Kelly Parsons.”

The man scrolls on his computer, and I suddenly feel a hand on my shoulder. “Kelly, is that you?”

At a family wedding, there are no words more terrifying than that. Bracing myself, I turn slowly and feel my mouth fall open as Trent Warwick beams over at me. Of all the people I was expecting to see here, Trent was not one of them… especially after I broke his heart on the day we graduated. From the way he is looking at me though, he doesn’t seem to be holding a grudge.

“Oh my gosh! Trent! I did not expect to see you! What are you doing here?”

His smile seems to falter for a second, the clean-shaven curve of his jaw tightening. He had permanent stubble when we were together, and no matter how much I tried to get him to shave it, he blatantly refused. ‘It gives me character,’ he would say.

“Miss Parsons,” the man at reception interrupts. “I’m sorry but I don’t seem to have a reservation under that name. Are you part of the wedding party?”

“Yes. My second cousin once… well let’s just say it’s my cousin who’s getting married. It’s not a problem as I don’t live that far away, but I did have to pay a deposit online…”

“Your cousin’s getting married?” Trent asks, bringing my attention back to him. “That’s why you’re here?” The colour from his cheeks has vanished, big blue eyes widening as he pulls a hand through his thick black hair.

“Why else would I be here?” I say, chuckling lightly. “This isn’t my usual haunt. Did you think I came to track you down after all these years?”

I laugh again at the preposterousness of it - then I notice the look of horror on Trent’s face.

“I thought… that maybe…”

“You thought what?” I push, placing my hands on my hips and staring at him.

Looking around us as if everyone in the room is a spy, Trent lightly takes my arm and leads me to an empty corner with a ginormous fireplace crackling by it.

“I thought you were here to stop the wedding and try to win me back. I know it sounds stupid, but seeing you after so long, I feel something inside me that I haven’t felt since we were together. It’s… special.”

A waggling of fingers catches my attention as the man from reception bounds over, red-faced with embarrassment and huffing for air when he grinds to a halt beside me.

“I am so sorry about the mix-up, Miss Parsons. There was a slight glitch in our systems, but it is all sorted now. Your room is ready for you, and as an apology, a free breakfast will be available for you tomorrow morning.”

“Thank you,” I mutter hurriedly, unable to take my eyes from Trent. He still has feelings for me? I thought he had moved on… I only left him because I wanted to give him the chance to live his life to the fullest. He wanted to be a doctor; I was studying art history and had no plans for what I wanted from life. I thought I was being kind, giving him wings to fly and be the best he could without me weighing him down. Wait… did he say stop the wedding?

The man from reception bobs his head and turns to Trent, a professional smile covering his thinly pressed lips. “Mr Warwick, everything is in place for your wedding later today. If there is anything else I can help you with, please let me know.”

In that second, everything falls into place. I didn’t look at the invitation properly, because if I had, I would have seen the groom’s name scrawled across it in italics. Trent Warwick.

I see the way his Adam’s apple is bobbing as he quietly thanks the receptionist who then leaves us, a cold silence hanging in the air. He thought I was here to win him

back and I now know he is my cousin’s groom.

“You’re marrying Lindsey,” I say slowly, my stomach twisting at the thought of them together. His mouth opens as if he’s about to deny it before clamping his lips shut and nodding. “I didn’t know she was your cousin. Lindsey never mentioned you.”

“We haven’t been close in a long time. I was surprised I even was invited to this,” I say, indicating to the beautiful extravagance that hangs from each historic beam. It feels so wrong now to be here, and there’s no way I can avoid my family and the groom for the entire day.

“You look well,” he says, taking a step closer and smiling sadly. As if imagining what his life would be like if I was the one standing in the white dress.

“You do too.” It’s not one word of a lie, looking as handsome as I remember him. “Did you become a doctor in the end?”

“I did. Cardiac surgeon. Look me up if there’s ever a problem with your heart,” he starts laughing but stops suddenly, just releasing how poorly placed the joke is. Funnily enough, it makes me smile as he always was world-class as putting his foot in, through no fault of his own. “Sorry about that.”

“Don’t be. I’m happy for you Trent, but I don’t think I can do this. Sit in there with my family, smile and cheer and throw confetti. I’m not that resilient. If you don’t mind, I’ll just slip out and say I had a tummy bug.”

I walk over to the receptionist and lie through my teeth about feeling ill, and he buys it with a sympathetic smile and assures me not to worry. He’ll sort everything.

As I go to leave, Trent grabs ahold of my wrist as I pass, stroking the sensitive inner skin.

“I just wish things could have been different.” Sighing deeply, he releases me and walks away.

Easter! It started with a donkey and ends with a cockerel, is that how you remember it?

The sun was shining, it was a beautiful day for running through the alleys that lead to the great city of Jerusalem. King Jesus led the way, people came in their masses, they tore off palm branches and laid down their coats in honour and celebration of this man who had shown great kindness, healed the sick, told amazing stories and even loved the children. ‘Hosanna’ they sang, ‘hosanna’ they cried.

As Jesus entered Jerusalem the mood seemed to change, so much happened in just one week. Cleaning out the temple, washing his friends’ feet and sharing very special meals together. Then as they prayed together in the beautiful garden of Gethsemane, Jesus was arrested and the crowds who had shouted ‘hosanna’ now seemed to be shouting ‘crucify him, crucify him’. One of Jesus’ disciples, Peter, couldn’t take any more. He was scared for Jesus, scared for himself. What had he done following this man? He stood in the dark by the fire - ‘hey you, don’t I know you?’ ‘You are one of Jesus’ friends?’ ‘Oh, no, not me,’ said Peter, ‘you must be mistaken.’ Three times Peter denied Jesus, and then he heard a cockerel crowing. He remembered that Jesus had said, ‘before the cockerel crows, you will deny me three times.’ Peter was so sad, he sat and cried.

So, the story ended with a cockerel, or did it? Maybe it ended with the number three? I am sure three comes into it. Did something happen on the third day? Come and join in one of our Easter services and find out the truth of it all. Palm Sunday is on 13th April, and Easter Sunday is 20th April, our services are at 10am. We will also be having a service at dawn on Easter Sunday - look on our website for

details of the timings.

Thank you for helping us to raise funds for the roof. We are ready to engage some builders, and look forward to making everything good again. We had fun with all those who came to enjoy pancakes with us - there were some interesting filling combinations, the photo above shows just a selection of them. Thank you for joining with us.

Have a blessed Easter, roll those eggs and enjoy some chocolate, and let’s find out about that third day!

God bless.

Reverend Canon Stephanie Gillingham

St Luke’s Church, Gloucester Avenue, Moulsham Lodge, CM2 9DT www.stlukemoulshamlodge.co.uk Facebook: @stlukesmoulshamlodge

Outstanding News at Oaklands Infant School!

At Oaklands Infant School we are excited to share our recent Outstanding Ofsted report with you.

We are thrilled to have all our zeal and hard work acknowledged and celebrated in the report. At Oaklands, our committed and passionate staff work hard to provide all our children with an exceptional quality of education.

Moreover, our school’s strong relationships with our families and

the robust links with the local community ensure enriching the educational experiences, reinforcing our investment in the future of our children. This united approach ensures that we are equipping our children with the skills, knowledge and resilience required to succeed in a rapidly changing world.

‘Children thrive at Oaklands. Pupils enjoy coming to school. Strong positive relationships help pupils feel safe and settle into the school quickly. Pupils rise to the school’s high expectations and achieve well’. Ofsted January 2025.

If you would like to find out more about our outstanding school, please visit our website or contact the school office.

www.oaklands-inf.essex.sch.uk

Hello everyone. Hope you are well and enjoying spring.

I have been reading about the Consumer Price Index. Consumer price inflation is the rate at which the prices of goods and services bought by households rise or fall. Imagine a large ‘shopping basket’ containing those goods and services. As the prices of the various items change over time, so does the total cost of the basket. Movements in consumer price indices represent this change.

Writers in some newspapers have commented on the items in the shopping basket (about 700 items), as the updated list for 2025 has been issued. The list includes things like alcohol beverages, utility bills, recreation, a range of foods, including edible offal (not for me), edible ices and ice cream (I wonder which ones are inedible?). Fruit is there, clothing... and the list goes on. This basket is reviewed annually and some things drop out and some drop in. This year, yoga mats, virtual reality headsets and men’s sliders were added, while local newspaper adverts and gammon joints were removed. Me neither...

Now, a couple of points here. How many people buy these items? Not me for one. And what are men’s sliders? I wonder how many experts take so long to make these sensational decisions? It turns out that sliders are like flip flops to wear at the pool! Why only men’s, I wonder and how are they different to women’s or children’s?

Strange animal stories: It seems that a live lizard was found in a suitcase when being unpacked after a holiday. The suitcase belonged to a holiday maker from Guernsey. I don’t know why that was reported, but never mind, it was. Anyway, I think they deduced that it must have been a chameleon, as it was able to make it look like it was a pair of socks!

Thousands of baby turtles (yellow-spotted river turtles) have been released into the Lgapo-Acu River in Brazil. A spokesman for the university that had kept them, probably said they couldn’t shell out the cost of keeping them any more...

The Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) cars saga goes on. It is reported that Tesla have been losing sales and that $100 billion dollars have been wiped from it’s value. China is also making BEVs and are reported to be selling loads, especially in Europe. While this is going on, company’s like JCB, Honda and Hyundai are developing hydrogen engines and expect them to be available in the near future. At this rate, by the time we can only buy new BEVs, they will have been superseded by the hydrogen ones. I wonder if the thousands of charging points we have been promised by then can be converted to delivering gas!

I’ve been looking at TV adverts again recently. There is one which involves a load of people in a forest with a massive egg shaped object which is being thrown up and down by some strangely-dressed people. Suddenly, some of these people pick up one person, carry them into the water, dip them in and they come out in the form of a breaded chicken. I must admit, I thought it was a big chocolate bar at first. What on earth were they advertising? Easter eggs? Ordinary eggs? No... Kentucky Fried Chicken. Ah, got it now! Won’t make me buy one, though.

Going back to my favourite (Haribo sweets). I see the two policemen who are speaking in baby voices have gone fishing. Not as funny at the first one though.

The NHS gets a lot of criticism and I realise that some people have unfortunate experiences, but recently I had an extremely good experience with my local doctor’s surgery. I had an earwax removal session at a shop in Chelmsford, and the audiologist explained that I could have an ear infection and that it would be sensible to go to the surgery to get it checked out. Next morning, I visited the surgery and

explained what had happened, and I was able to see a doctor almost immediately. The doctor examined the inside of the ear and said to be on the safe side, I should use an antibiotic. I was in and out of the surgery in less than ten minutes. How’s that for service!

A cheery story in the news this week. The headline read: ‘There’s an old saying about something being as easy as taking candy from a baby’. A four-year old was annoyed when his mum helped herself to his ice cream. Booo. The child rang 911 (yes it was in the USA) asking them to ‘come and get my mummy’, The police went to the house. They did this as a matter of policy as the call had been ended abruptly. When the boy realised the police had arrived, he took charge of the situation, demanding his mother be hauled off to the slammer because she ate his ice cream. Of course, she wasn’t but two days later the police arrived to present the child with ice cream.

Finally, Chelmsford has been named as one of the places ‘we’d love to live’. The city was said to be ‘buzzy’ and was praised for it’s swathing recent developments. Saffron Walden came first. Well done to all!

Bin End Chuckles

I went to the zoo recently and there was a slice of Warburtons in a cage. The label described ‘as bread in captivity...’

Saw someone waving at me the other day, but I wasn’t sure if they were waving at me or someone else. Other news, I lost my lifeguard job...

Stay well and look after each other.

Grove Road

Evangelical Church

How Christians calculate the date of Easter each year can seem complicated, with many factors having to be taken into account. When all those factors are worked out for 2025 we come up with the date of April 20th. While the date can vary over a range of about a month (from March 22nd to April 25th), one thing stays the same. It is the day that Christians celebrate what is undoubtedly one of the most important facts of history: the resurrection of Jesus from the dead.

The man who became the apostle Paul originally was dedicated to destroying Christians and the name of Jesus. But one day that all changed. What happened? It has become known as his Damascus Road experience. That day Paul met with the risen Lord Jesus. He didn’t expect to, as he believed Jesus was killed by the Romans, was buried and stayed dead. But after meeting with Jesus, Paul lived the rest of his life, totally committed to making Jesus known throughout all the world. Paul was eventually executed by the Roman Empire for his commitment to Jesus.

If the resurrection of Jesus is a true fact of history - and I, like billions of others alive today, believe that it is, not because of feelings but because of evidence - then it means that I too can meet Jesus today. He can change my life now.

The victory that Jesus won over death and which Christians celebrate at Easter, means that death is not the end, but through faith in Jesus, it is the gateway to eternal life. Now that is worth investigating, isn’t it?

We would love to have you join us on Easter Sunday at 11am so that you can begin your journey to meet with the risen Lord Jesus.

Philip Loose, Senior Pastor

Grove Road Evangelical Church (Behind Tesco Express, Moulsham Street)

www.grecuk.co.uk

pastor@grecuk.co.uk

MT History: Historical Essex Gardeners

As we ‘spring’ forward to longer days and hopefully pleasant weather, we all know the benefits of being outdoors.

Whether you are fortunate enough to have your own outdoor space where you can plant up your pots, borders or hanging baskets or decide what fruit and vegetables you would like to cultivate, or take the opportunity to visit one of the county’s beautiful country parks or open gardens, it certainly gives us a boost.

Today we are fed gardening advice by both male and female gardeners and designers but historically, it was an unusual, if not frowned upon, career for a woman to have.

Here I feature two Essex women where gardening gave them notability...

Miss Ellen Ann Willmott was born in 1858, the daughter of Frederick and Ellen Willmott and along with her sister Rose, moved from London to Warley Place in 1875. They were a family of keen gardeners but it was Ellen that immersed herself in designing and cultivating the gardens of the 30 acre estate.

Ellen was extremely practical, became a renowned botanist and plants-woman, author, and funded many expeditions whereupon she was able to add to her vast collection of plants and seeds. She was a pioneer in creativity, pushing the boundaries of garden design.

Although the buildings are no longer standing and the gardens she carefully designed and tended are no longer there, you are still able to see areas, such as mosaic flooring and exquisite iron gates, which give a nod to a once spectacular vision.

Now run by Essex Wildlife Trust and a group of devout volunteers, it is open to the public, but one can see the beautiful snowdrops and bluebells as the seasons change from passing along the road - and within the grounds, some of the species cultivated by Ellen, still grow.

Ellen became so well-known that during Queen Victoria’s Jubilee year

Anyone for Volleyball?

Hi Moulsham Times Readers! My name is Paul Watkins and I live on Tile Kiln. For the last 5 springs and summers I have organised park volleyball in Chelmer Park, where some of you may have seen us. A lot of local people know me from walking my dog and jogging around the estate and park.

I was wondering about volleyball, as I have spoken to many people who say they love playing the game but they only play it when they go on their summer holidays. So is there anybody out there who would like to play park volleyball this spring and summer?

It’s a great game and I love it. You will have fun and get fit at the same time. This is completely free. I have all the equipment and would just like to get people into playing sport and having fun.

On hot summer days and evenings, with the sun out and blue skies, it’s like being on the beaches in Brazil!

If anyone is interested, please text or call me on: 07789 011 736. I was thinking of Tuesdays from 6pm and Sundays from 11am, but this can be discussed.

Cheers all.

Paul

in 1897, she was nominated for the Victoria Medal of Honour by the RHS.

Ellen’s younger sister Rose, also a keen gardener, had married into the Berkeley family who resided at Spetchley Park and it is here that many of Ellen’s rare species are also found.

However, Ellen was not a business woman. Increasing debt caused her Warley home and gardens to suffer and fall into disrepair and she dearly missed her sister Rose who had died in 1922. Sadly in 1934 Ellen Willmott passed away alone, although her horticultural legacy lives on.

Another famous lady was Beth Chatto born in Good Easter, Essex (1923-2018), whose garden can be found at Elmstead Market, just outside Colchester. Beth is remembered as a pioneer plants woman and garden designer, her motto being, ‘right plant, right place’.

She was married to Andrew Chatto and after he retired, they built their garden on a disused plot that was originally part of the family’s fruit farm. Fortunately Andrew had great plant knowledge and this informed Beth in the choosing of specific plants for particular types of soil as well as where they were situated. By approaching her plant choices and planting in this way, enabled the plants to thrive.

Between 1977-1987, Beth was awarded 10 gold medals consecutively for exhibits at Chelsea Flower Show. As well as these notable achievements, Beth lectured in many other countries, published books, continued to cultivate the gardens and was given many awards, the most prestigious being an OBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours in 2002. In 2015 she launched the Beth Chatto Education Trust Charity which is still prolific today.

Sadly in 2018 Beth passed away at the age of 94 but in 2019 was named as the RHS Iconic Horticultural Hero. Today visitors can still appreciate Beth’s legacy the gardens of which are open to the public.

Welcome to the Wellness Adventure Part 2

February half-term is a distant memory, and we are well on our way to Easter. By now, my February half-term project has come and gone. You’ll be pleased to know that I survived my first holistic event aimed at children.

As a fitness instructor and personal trainer, I work with different demographics - kids, adults, older adults, women and the general public. On a nutrition note, I’ve only dealt with adults, so teaching nutrition (and relaxation) to children has been an alien concept - until now. This project was an eye-opener to me and has got me involved in a whole different demographic.

When I initially thought of the idea for this project - The Elijah Project (Eat, Move, Rest) - it was aimed at 3 different demographics depending on the amount of funding received. Realistically, I was only able to afford to run the project for one demographic and I chose to step right outside my comfort zone and work with children.

Each day, there were 2 sessions. We had Bhangra dancing everyday which was a blast. Then lunch and a second session which was either nutrition, exercise or relaxation. The thing which grabbed me the most was the way the kids engaged with the nutrition session. This was my favourite session of the week. Exercise is my comfort zone, so I was expecting this session to be a breeze which it was. However, the nutrition session blew me away. The kids lapped it up. We watched videos about the different nutritional groups, had some interesting games based on food.

However, the highlight of the week was getting the kids to use an app called Yuka to scan food labels. This app ranks foods (and cosmetics) on a scale of 1 to 100. Each food is either green, red or amber. The kids were surprised to find out that some of the foods they thought were healthy were not as healthy as they thought. Things like yoghurt and some pastas had a very low ranking and one brand of noodles had a score of 0. The kids had to line the foods up in numerical order from the lowest to the highest. The winner was… water!

I was impressed on how interested the children were in learning about food. It just goes to show that education is key when it comes to health. These children were between age 7 and 11 so they were like little sponges soaking up the knowledge.

In a rare moment of sitting still, left alone for long enough to watch a programme, Life Beyond the Lobby, where Monica Galletti and Rob Rinder were visiting an ultra high-end wellbeing escape in Ibiza, I was inspired to write about well-being as I enhanced my own, sat on the sofa.

Well-being need not cost upwards of £700 per night, although the hotel did look lovely and would, I am sure, boost the well-being of most of us. Pausing to consider our own well-being day-to-day is something that most of us would benefit from. A holiday is a well-being boost for many, as we take time out to go somewhere that we fancy and do something that we enjoy. What boosts our well-being is unique to all of us.

Kids are good at boosting their well-being, as most are active, love to engage in daily silliness and push back against anything that interrupts their sense of self or well-being. Sadly, many of us grownups have forgotten the restorative effects of being physically active, chilling out, laughing without worrying about what others think, dancing like no one is watching or just singing aloud without caring

Even more impressive was the final day when we learned about rest. The children were taken through a 10-minute stretching and relaxation session which can be done at the end of the day. Now, as we all know, most kids have lot of energy, so I was surprised that they were able to sit still for 10 minutes and relax. One of them said that he nearly fell asleep.

In today’s 24-hour society, it’s important that our children get good quality sleep. We discussed bedtime routines and the importance of having some wind-down time before bed - without screens and other blue light emitting devices.

So, what did I learn from this process? First and foremost, children are interested in learning about nutrition and I can teach children about nutrition and rest. Would I do it again? Possibly, but it was physically and mentally exhausting but very rewarding.

www.beencouragedwellness.co.uk www.facebook.com/BeEncouragedBeStrong

if you are in tune. An entire well-being industry has evolved around these facts, selling ceremonies, workshops to engage with your inner child, teaching you to love, live, laugh, breathe, move again and much more besides. I don’t think it matters what you do to find a sense of calm, if it is legal and helps you to relax and get moving.

Relaxation and exercise are powerful well-being boosters, and I encourage you all to try to build in some time to develop both every week. For some, it may simply be walking - some of your commute without time pressure - listening to music, or going for a run.

Yoga has been used for centuries to boost health and well-being. Yoga retreats are wonderful ways of hitting reset, but nothing is more powerful than regular, mindful yoga practice, taking care of body and mind in one.

At Hummingbird, we offer Hatha, Vinyasa Flow Yoga and gentle, restorative yoga and have a wide range of classes: some are suitable for beginners and others for those who practice regularly. Hummingbird Pilates and Yoga has been set up to enhance your wellbeing and we’d love you to join us for a class so that you can feel the benefits for yourself.

now at www.hummingbirdpilates.co.uk.

MT Finance - Us Market Volatility -

US stock markets are currently near ‘correction’ territory over fears of a recession and tariff policy, but what is a market correction and how should investors react?

Investors have become accustomed to strong US economic and stock market performance in recent years, leading to a much-used investment term of ‘US exceptionalism’. However, increasing doubts have set in since Trump was inaugurated, which has caused a significant sell off in US shares.

The S&P 500, the 500 biggest US-listed companies, is now down around 8% in 2025 at the time of writing. The tech-heavy Nasdaq index, where much of the losses have occurred, is down roughly 10.5% year to date. This index is home to most of the companies in the ‘magnificent seven’, including Apple, Microsoft, Nvidia and Tesla. There is little sign of this turbulence spilling across the Atlantic at this stage, as the FTSE 100 index, which tracks the biggest companies listed in the UK, is still up around 6.5% year to date.

By definition, a market correction is when a stock or market index falls by more than 10% from its most recent peak. This happens when investments are sold on a mass scale and this selling momentum causes share prices to fall.

Market corrections come in different shapes and sizes and for different reasons. But typically, they occur when investors become less optimistic about the market outlook due to influencing factors such as economic data, geopolitical events and market volatility.

Why Are Us Stock Markets Falling?

Since his inauguration, President Trump has attempted to rapidly implement his policy agenda. Domestically and internationally, he has delivered numerous policy reversals, sending shock waves through the markets and its allies.

Investors are worried that tariff policy uncertainty will tip the economy into recession. These fears were heightened as President Trump said in a recent TV interview this week that the world’s largest economy was in a ‘period of transition’.

Trump has announced tariffs on China, Canada and Mexico, with exceptions for the energy and car industries. Further tariffs on the EU are likely and a blanket reciprocal arrangement is in the works. It is still unclear whether tariffs will be a permanent feature of trade with the US or a negotiating tool. In any case, Trump’s unpredictable policy implementation style has increased volatility in markets.

It’s likely that headwinds for US stocks will remain throughout 2025 while uncertainty around Trump’s new policy agendas continue. However, the US stock market still makes up a large part of global stock markets and a lot of the strong underlying fundamentals remain intact, so we don’t see any reason for investors to panic. The recent events highlight how quickly things can change in financial markets, so here are five top tips on how to invest during a market correction.

How to invest during a market sell off:

1. Try Not to Panic Sell

After a market crash, emotional reactions will mean that price falls will often be exaggerated. It’s part and parcel of investing and should be expected from time to time - indeed a well-known city adage goes, ‘market rise up the stairs and go down the elevator’.

Gently rising markets tend not to make newspaper headlines, but precipitous falls do - and it all adds to the general sense of fear. In the long run, markets are driven by company earnings, so think rationally about your investments. During a market-sell off when share prices are volatile, buying or selling in haste can result in being

What Is a Market Correction?

on the wrong end of price swings.

2.

Get Some Context

Although there might be more questions than answers at the time, a market sell-off can often help you think about the impact on individual companies or sectors. Are profits now under more pressure? What are the opportunities given the change in the landscape? What are the threats?

Also, try to get a sense where valuations are relative to history. Think about whether valuations compensate you for the risks. Following a large market fall an overly pessimistic scenario may already be reflected in prices - and there could be a bounce as greater certainty or assurance is provided.

3. Diversify Your Investments

During a market sell-off where large swathes of shares are being sold, it might seem intuitive to focus on one type of company or one sector. But piling investments into one area is likely to increase the risk of volatility in your portfolio. Investors typically build portfolios of various shares and other assets so that they are not overly reliant on any one investment or asset class performing well - this is known as diversification.

Holding a variety of investments from different areas around the world also can spread risk out, so you don’t have all your eggs in one basket. If you do decide to invest overseas, be sure to learn the extra risks such as currency exchange movements and charges.

4. Stick to the Plan

Hopefully you already have a plan in terms of how much money you are investing, or seeking to invest, and which areas it is allocated to. Market volatility will test your resolve, and in some cases, you might question your decisions. Perhaps a market sell-off has revealed you have too little diversification, or you are taking too much risk. In these instances you may wish to make changes.

However, if your plan is a sound one (a well-diversified portfolio with a decent amount of cash for emergencies), it often makes sense to do little or nothing.

5. Use Market Falls to Your Advantage

We all know we should be buying when asset prices are low and selling when they are high. However, this is hard to achieve, and many people end up making emotionally-led decisions and doing the opposite. A large fall in the markets could be just the opportunity you have been waiting for to invest in an area you have had your eye on but felt was too expensive.

If it is still too much of a leap of faith, consider averaging in - buying your shares or units in stages over time or by setting up a monthly investment amount. The latter takes away any consideration of timing the market, which can make things more systematic and less emotionally driven.

Graham Austin, Chartered FCSI Investment Director

Graham.Austin@charles-stanley.co.uk 0207 149 6696

The value of investments can fall as well as rise. Investors may get back less than invested. Past performance is not a reliable guide to future returns. The information in this article is for general information purposes and is not a trading recommendation. Charles Stanley is not a tax adviser.

Nothing in this article should be construed as personal advice based on your circumstances. No news or research item is a personal recommendation to deal.

Charles Stanley & Co. Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered office: Ropemaker Place, 25 Ropemaker Street, London EC2Y 9LY.

How the building materials’ supply chain is evolving to support house-building and existing homes - and trading prospects for 2025 - was the focus of a constituency visit by Marie Goldman MP. The MP for Chelmsford visited Chandler Material Supplies, a longestablished business in the city, to see how it helps her constituents to build new homes and improve existing properties.

Marie Goldman MP, former Deputy Leader of Chelmsford City Council, was welcomed by Julie Chandler (Managing Director) and Ben Chandler (Finance Director).

Touring the branch, she was shown examples of the everyday trade essentials and value-added products available to Chandler’s customers in Chelmsford and Southend. The MP also heard how merchants and their SME customers have managed in recent times with higher prices and rising fuel, labour and other costs.

Concluding her visit, Marie Goldman MP, said: “It was a pleasure to visit Chandler Material Supplies who have been serving the Chelmsford community so well for decades.

“I want to thank Julie, Ben and their team for providing such a valuable, friendly and knowledgeable service to the building trade across Chelmsford and beyond and for taking the time to explain to me the challenges they face.

“I was keen to learn about how they are supporting new apprentices to learn the vital skills that we need in the building industry. I wish the apprentices every success for the future.”

Ms Chandler explained that her business, founded in the 1950s, want to invest and grow. But the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s changes in her Autumn Budget do not encourage that anymore. In addition to Chandler’s own viewpoint, they find that, amongst their SME customers, there is a general belief that the Westminster

government is not on their side.

Changes to Employers’ National Insurance Contributions, National Minimum Wage rates and Inheritance Tax Business Property Relief all come into force in 4 weeks’ time. Consequently, Chandler’s and some of its trade customers are contemplating curtailing opening hours, altering shift patterns and freezing recruitment - including not taking on new apprentices.

Julie Chandler, Managing Director, commented: “We were pleased to welcome Marie today and show her how Chandler Materials has evolved since we began in the 1950s. It is great to have our MP take an interest in local firms like ours and offering her insight and support to help Essex businesses to keep going.

“Running a successful business is far harder than it was back then. The burden of regulation and taxation on today’s owners makes it more difficult and time consuming to be a financially stable business, offering good jobs, and paying our way as a good local employer.”

During the visit, Julie Chandler was presented with a Long Service Award to recognise her 44 years of dedicated service to Chandler Materials, and the building materials’ supply chain, prior to her impending, well-earned retirement at the end of March 2025.

The visit was another arranged by the Builders Merchants Federation as part of its industry and parliament programme. The aim is to show MPs the role, value and importance of merchants in delivering for their customers and communities.

www.chandlermaterials.co.uk

Marie Goldman MP presents a Long Service Award to Julie Chandler (Managing Director).

Following the success of our Christmas Fayre, we are holding a Spring Fayre on Saturday 17th May between 10am and 3pm. There will be a range of crafts stalls and our own Men’s Shed will be there so you can have a go at making some small wood projects, like a bird house out of a single plank of recycled pallet wood. The Copper Pot Café will be serving its normal menu, plus, there will be cream teas available during the fayre.

MLCT has taken the decision to change our organisation from a company limited by guarantee and a charity, to the relatively new Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO). For small charities like us the red tape can become overwhelming, changing to a CIO means less red tape and limiting our liabilities. We hope to have changed by the end of our financial year in November. Our charity name and number, and bank account shouldn’t have to change meaning business as usual.

Our marquee roof needs replacing and is an expensive thing to replace, whilst we would like to have a more permanent brick or wood building in its place, this would mean fundraising for a substantial amount of money. In April we are holding a strategy day to decide where we think MLCT needs to go in the next 5 to 10 years, top of the list of wants for that will be how do we achieve a permanent replacement for the marquee. If you have any ideas that you think we should consider, from new clubs, volunteering, partnerships and even fundraising, please get in touch. We will be putting out a questionnaire in the next couple of months, and we will also be holding an open day focused on you, our community, and what you think we should deliver to our community.

Men’s Shed has been busy, and following a post on social media some of our planters were sold and we have also received a few orders for more. On the left you can see an example of a planter

in the process of being made. If you would like to order a bespoke planter to fit your space, then please get in touch.

The Copper Pot Café is open Monday - Friday from 8am till 4pm and on Saturday from 9am till 3pm

www.mlct.org.uk enquiries@mlct.org.uk 07434 678 999

There’s always plenty of talk about the streets in Moulsham Lodge. While the Lib Dems don’t run Essex County Council and can’t fix the potholes, we’ve been able to get some new street signs sorted!

If you live on Edward Drive, May Walk, Rose Glen, St Anthony’s Drive or Orange Tree Close, keep an eye out for bright, shiny new signs coming soon. If your street sign is in a bad state, then please let us know and we will try and get it replaced ASAP.

We’re also saying goodbye to two dedicated city councillors, Graham Pooley and Marie Goldman, who are stepping down from their roles in the neighbouring Moulsham and Central ward. Graham has been a great help, especially with his planning knowledge, and he is leaving due to health reasons. Marie has built a strong reputation for getting things done and will now focus fully on her role as your member of Parliament. She is also stepping down from Essex County Council. We thank them both for their hard work.

If you thought the cancellation of local elections by the government meant you wouldn’t need to vote on 1st May - think again!

David Loxton is the Lib Dem candidate for Chelmsford Central in the County Council election. He works in the charity sector and hopes to bring this experience to the role if elected.

For the City Council, Sean Manley, a local business owner, and Helen Ayres, a former councillor who lives in Moulsham Lodge, are standing to replace Marie and Graham. They would make excellent additions to the team. Don’t forget - you get one vote for County Council and two votes for City Council on 1st May. Make them count!

A Fun Event for a Great Cause!

Finally, a date for your diary: on 12th April please support Little Havens by attending The Chelmsford Takeover from 10am in the city centre. Expect to see the streets filled with superheroes and characters from film and TV in this exciting cosplay event! It was an amazing event last year and hopefully this year it will be just as good.

That’s it for now. For any local issues, please do get in touch any time. Take care.

simon.goldman@chelmsfordlibdems.org.uk ashley.thompson@chelmsfordlibdems.org.uk

Follow us on the following platforms - search for ‘Chelmsford Liberal Democrats’ Facebook: www.facebook.com/ChelmsLibDems

Facebook: search ‘Simon Goldman - Moulsham Lodge Councillor’ Twitter: twitter.com/ChelmsLibDems

An Update From Moulsham Lodge Ward - By Ashley Thompson & Simon Goldman

Tile Kiln Corner - By Cllr Linda Mascot

We are so lucky in our local area to have so many volunteers supporting our community, from churches hosting coffee mornings and toddler groups, to lunch clubs for elderly residents. Tile Kiln Church have now been running their CAMEO sessions (Come and Meet Each Other) twice a month for the past year and have been encouraged by the number of people attending, they are also supporting residents with dementia and their carers.

Moulsham Lodge Community Trust’s Community Station in Gloucester Avenue are running successful clubs for all ages, including Men’s Shed on a Friday afternoon. Mark Springett and his team of volunteers work tirelessly to support all ages in our community.

A new recruit to the Men’s Shed recently commented on social media: “I’m a disabled person who went to the Copper Pot Community Café (MLCT) in Chelmsford for my first visit to the Men’s Shed on a Friday. What a lovely place, helpful people and Mark, the CEO helped me start building a raised planter from scratch - learning for the first time about woodwork.”

Huge thanks to Mark and the volunteers who make such a positive contribution to our community by supporting local people to make a positive change to their lifestyle by offering opportunities for

education, social and recreational activities which improves health and well-being in an inclusive way.

The same is true of Galleywood Heritage Centre, run by volunteers, and offering many different events and activities throughout the year.

Chelmsford CVS (Council for Voluntary Services) is an independent support and development organisation set up to champion, support and strengthen local charities, voluntary and community groups.

They work locally and in collaboration with other partners around Essex to maximise voluntary and community action, develop strong communities and enhance local well-being.

CVS coordinate volunteering opportunities in Chelmsford and can connect you to your perfect voluntary opportunity. Organisations can also find help and advice in recruiting and retraining volunteers. The charity has a membership of over 330 charities, voluntary and community groups and social enterprises, all working to deliver local services and activities across the Chelmsford district.

New members are always welcome, if you have time to spare and would like to find out more, contact info@chelmsfordcvs.org.uk or phone 01245 351 888.

mascotlinda@gmail.com

‘Whodunit?’ or Rather ‘Whoisshe?’

My wife and I have recently been watching the latest BBC Agatha Christie adaptation, Towards Zero. I do enjoy a whodunit - the mystery, the false starts and red herrings, the ever-increasing complexity, which ends up being solved in the last few scenes of a film, or final chapter of a novel, where suddenly everything is so very obvious!

We’re coming up to Easter, and Easter asks a similarly provocative question. Not whodunit’ this time, but ‘whoishe?’ Who is this Jesus whom around 2.4 billion people around the world worship? Easter is the celebration of his death and resurrection - who is this Jesus whom 2.4 billion people around the world claim was raised from the dead and is still alive?

This is just the question that concerned people who were alive when Jesus was travelling around Israel, teaching, provoking, healing, doing the miraculous and confronting religious types. Who is this Jesus who is doing these things?

It is probably the most important question that can ever be put to anyone. Who is Jesus? Have you ever asked this question yourself? What’s your answer? And how did you come to that conclusion? The writers of the biographies of Jesus took pains to examine and explore all the claims and stories of Jesus. They did not rely on hearsay or parrot the prevailing popular opinion - they looked at the evidence.

And the evidence led them to a surprising conclusion - this Jesus is who he says he is: the Son of God, sent to rescue sinners from evil, sin, and judgement. They came to that conclusion because of a sudden and surprising event: Jesus’ resurrection.

Much like the sudden coming together of all the strands of a whodunit mystery, when Jesus rose from the dead, all that he taught and did in his life before he died on the cross took on a different light and led the first believers to proclaim him as the risen Messiah (God’s sent one, sent to save, forgive sins, promise resurrection life).

So, who do you say Jesus is? Don’t settle for hearsay or copying someone else’s opinion - look hard into it yourself, read the evidence, pick up a Bible, read the book of Luke, or Mark, or John, or Matthew. It’s the most important question you’ll ever answer, make sure you know why you believe what you believe about Jesus.

If you want to know more, or have any questions, please get in touch!

Tim Goodall, Pastor, Tile Kiln Church

tim.goodall@tilekilnchurch.org.uk 07821 866 301

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

Quiz Time - By John Theedom

Who preceded Margaret Thatcher as Prime minister?

In which part of the human body is an anterior cruciate ligament found?

Which band released the single I Love to Boogie?

What connects back, rain and gum?

What wind instrument did Kenny Ball play?

What type of foodstuff is marscarpone?

The Bering Strait separates Alaska from which other large country?

On which part of the human body can the labyrinth be found?

Joseph Cyril Bamford created which types of industrial equipment?

What colloquial word is used for the American 10 cent coin?

Rosanna Davidson, daughter of Chris de Burgh, won what title in 2003?

Pipes of Peace was a single and album for which musician?

Which cyclist won (but was later stripped of) seven consecutive Tour de France titles?

Nava and Savoy are types of which vegetable?

Between 1961 and 1963 The Beatles performed 292 times at which Liverpool music venue?

In a 1989 single, Aerosmith find love where?

What is the name of the bird in the Peanuts comic strip?

As of 2021, who is the tallest footballer player to ever score for England?

According to the Oxford English Dictionary, which is the only English word that ends with ‘mt’?

Usually rice is grown in in fields known as what?

Since 1945, all new British-built tanks are equipped to make which beverage?

In the event of a tied score at the end of a frame of snooker, how is the victor determined?

Deciduous trees lose their leaves at certain times of the year but which type does not?

Most of the vitamin C found in fruit is located in which part?

The alcoholic drink mead is made from fermenting which substance?

The Marquess of Queensberry Rules are generally accepted as the rules for which sport ?

The Royal College of Art student John Pasche created the tongue and lips logo for which rock band?

Which English language surname takes its name from a person who makes arrows?

In the traditional folk song, what did Yankee Doodle call the feather in his cap?

In which 1997 comedy film do six unemployed men from Sheffield decide to form a male strippers act?

In the rainbow, what colour is next to violet?

Something described as ‘vernal’ pertains to which season?

Which American city is known as Motor City?

In the Bond stories, by what name is Sir Miles Masserry better known?

A lumber puncture is a procedure carried out on which area of the body?

Freeman, Hardy & Willis was a retailer of what? Plains, mountain and Grevy’s are the three living species of which animal?

What is it customary to shout out after filling in an entire bingo card?

Which chocolate drink and breakfast cereal has been advertised by a monkey called Quickly?

A circuit of a modern outdoor running track is how many metres long?

Take a Look Through the Moulsham Lodge Camera Club Lens

The World in Pictures And/or Words

Maybe you see the world in pictures and colour or maybe you see the world in words, but hopefully a mixture of both.

Do We See What We Want to See? Do the Words Matter? It is an opinion in photography that words in photos can be distracting and the eye is drawn to them and away from the actual photo. Let’s take a look and try out this theory.

This month, maybe find some words on a poster, calendar or when you are out and about, take the same picture with half the words, all the words, no words, blurred words and then compare your work to see the difference. Ask a friend this question, ‘what do you see in this photo?’ Do they see what you intended to convey? Here are some examples:

The monkeys are lost with the words below them. Chop out the words and they make a fine photo:

The wonderful patterns on the house are rather spoilt by the word ‘fresh’ and the colour of the awning.

The backward writing on the tent above leads the eye upwards distracting from the rainy scene through the arch.

In contrast, the words on the barbers’ shop to the right are more useful as they explain what is going on.

At Moulsham Lodge Camera Club we are full of welcoming words on Monday nights. Perhaps join us for a taster (you are welcome to visit three times, at no cost, before deciding to join).

We meet at Moulsham Lodge Methodist Church, 110 Lime Walk, CM2 9NJ. We start at 8pm, with tea and biscuits at 9pm, finishing at 10pm.

Liz Croxson

moulshamlodgecameraclub@gmail.com www.moulshamlodgecamerclub.co.uk

A Blog from The Bench at St John’s Church

Hello lovely Moulsham neighbours! I’m quite new here but I hope to get to know lots of your bottoms in future when you sit on me!

I’m in St John’s Churchyard. There are 2 of us here at the moment, but there will be 9 of us by June when we have our grand opening. Because St John’s is an Eco Church (with a gold award for that) they thought quite carefully about we benches. We’re all made of recycled plastic, so we’ve each stopped the equivalent of 30,000 plastic bags going to landfill.

We had such an exciting time in March and my bench mate and I were in prime position! Part of our renewed churchyard now has a special community mosaic which lots of you were involved in designing and making. What a lot of talent there is in Old Moulsham!

Well, the bishop and the mayor were there with Peter Harrington the artist to unveil the finished product. Here’s a photo of it in case you haven’t seen it.

I’ve had a couple of bottoms on me since that day and I try my best to make people feel comforted as well as comfortable. Some people sit on me and read out loud the words on the mosaic, ‘Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid’. These are words from the Bible and were said by Jesus to his disciples, so they knew Jesus was looking after them and would give them guidance and peace. Sometimes people sit on me and just want someone to talk to, or they just want a quiet place to think or say a prayer or look at the lovely plants all around me. I like to think we benches are here for you whatever you need, and sometimes people from the church might come to chat to people who’ve found me.

Did I tell you we all have a little plaque on us? Mine asks anyone passing to pray for all children who have died at birth or in infancy. So if you’ve ever lost a baby, I hope it’s a comfort to know that every day someone passing through the churchyard is praying for you and your baby.

I’m just watching the church right now - lots of people are going into JubiLatte, our community café which is open on Monday and Thursday mornings. I hope someone brings their coffee out to drink with me - I like the smell of coffee!

Hope to see you soon!

Your friend, The Bench

James Callaghan

Knee

Marc Bolan & T Rex

Drop

Trumpet

Soft cheese

Russia

Ear

JCB (tractors etc)

Dime

Miss World

Paul McCartney

Lance Armstrong

Cabbage

The Cavern Club In an elevator Woodstock

Peter Crouch Dreamt

Paddy field

Tea

The black is put back on the table, (respotted) and play resumes Evergreen

The skin

Honey

Boxing

The Rolling Stones

Archer Macaroni, referring to an 18th century style of continental dress

The Full Monty

Indigo Spring

Detroit, Michigan

‘M’

Back or spine

Shoes

Zebra

‘House’ Nesquik 400 metres