Moulsham Times - April 2026

MoulshamTimes

MT Welcome

Hi readers,

Welcome to the April edition of Moulsham Times. Due to ‘purdah’ there are no councilors writing this month or next as there is an election in May.

What is purdah? In UK politics, purdah (now formally known as the ‘pre-election period of sensitivity’) refers to strict restrictions on government publicity and civil servant activity just before elections. From our point of view as a local magazine it makes sense to not have anyone associated with the elections writing for us. They will be back afer the elections though!

Please do remember to let our advertisers know that you saw their advert in the Moulsham Times, as it really helps them and us to know that their adverts are working.

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

Appliances - What Brand to Buy?

Picking the right kitchen appliance brand can feel overwhelming with so many choices out there. Big names, smaller newcomers, some that only specialists seem to know about. Each has its own style, features, and price points and knowing what sets them apart can help you find what suits your home best.

Top-End Brands: Built to Last and Packed with Features

Right at the top are the super special brands such as Bora, Gaggenau and Wolf/Sub-Zero. These are longstanding brands synonymous with luxury, quality and unique products. They are fabulous but may not be quite worth the steep price point for most people and other brands may offer similar quality but better value.

Miele are certainly a crossover brand that manages to be near the top end (especially with the higher-level products in their range) but at a more affordable price point (although still definitely not cheap). They are an excellent product with some really good features but there is a price to pay for that extra quality.

Middle-of-the-Road: Good Value and Dependable

Neff, Siemens and a few other brands like to position themselves as high end but they are really at the top of the mid-tier and, in my opinion, try a little bit too hard to justify the higher price tag. Bosch, AEG, and Hotpoint are solid picks if you want reliable appliances without spending a fortune and the top end of more niche ranges like Caple would very much offer similar quality for a more manageable price. At this tier, you’re going to be getting good appliances with great features but be aware that the trade offs are often energy efficiency, build quality or those fanciest of features that you may be sacrificing.

Budget-Friendly: Affordable and Simple

In my experience, the bottom end of the market is awash with brands that are not worth the admittedly low price you will be paying for them! Beko, Indesit, Lamona etc. are often very much stripped back in terms of features and build quality and you would normally be better off looking at the entry level of the mid-tier brands (Bosch, Caple) to make the savings as the quality will be better, even if you may be sacrificing some features.

What really matters.

My view is simple, don’t be swayed just by the brand or their marketing! The single most important thing you can do is homework: Check lots and lots of reviews online (Making sure they are real and independent), read articles from lots of different sources (Often articles are actually advertorial content, paid for by the manufacturers so be wary!) and speak to people who actually own the products if at all possible.

The other person that should be giving you unbiased advice is your kitchen designer but be aware that many of the designers you speak to are actually salespeople and probably prefer brands on which they make the most money, rather than what is best for you.

When spending a large amount of money on items that will be used daily and form a huge part of your life, make sure you put the effort into forming your own, informed opinions.

Latest News

In March we were delighted to host two digital students from the USP College in Benfleet for a week long placement - neither had set foot in a radio studio previously. The pair soon got to grips with some audio production work, planning and preparing content ready for broadcast. They were over the moon to be involved in projects with our friends from Zorbas Food & Bakery (in Baddow Road) and also helping to support the Kids Inspire Prom Unity promotion. Another highlight was meeting and getting to interview the Lord Mayor of Backnang who was visiting Chelmsford along with representatives from the Backnang Twinning Partnership.

We have a few limited remaining spaces for school work experience, so do get in touch with your child’s work placement dates to check availability. We also take on a limited number of Duke of Edinburgh placements for both Skills and Volunteering categories. Email admin@chelmsfordcommunityradio.com for more details.

In other news, having been in our new home at the Anglia Ruskin University for over a year now we have now introduced our song request table, which will appear most Tuesday lunchtimes during term time in the foyer of the Anglia Ruskin University main building. Members of our fabulous volunteer presenting team will be on hand to take your song requests, talk to you about our station and answer questions.

The first few weeks have been wellreceived by students and staff alike; we’ve also made very good friends with the Pets as Therapy team who are also there with some of their very friendly therapy dogs. Conveniently, we are right by the café area, so if you are passing then perhaps you can pop in and grab a coffee whilst at the same time requesting a song get to know our station a little better.

Don’t forget, if you can’t make it in person, you can always email your song requests to studio@chelmsfordcommunityradio.com - wishing you a wonderful month; full of the joys of spring and we’ll catch up again very soon.

www.chelmsfordcommunityradio.com

Old Park Meadow Open Days

Old Park Meadow is opening its gates to the community this spring and summer, inviting visitors to explore a more sustainable and serene approach to end-of-life planning. Two dedicated open days will be held on 18th April and 13th June 2026, offering a unique opportunity to experience the beauty of Old Park Lodge and the extensive grounds first-hand.

Set within the tranquil Essex countryside, the Open Days are designed to showcase the available facilities and provide more information about the options available to you for natural burial, interment of ashes, celebration of life events and memorials in a relaxed, no-pressure environment. Attendees are invited to wander our grounds and talk to our friendly, knowledgeable staff over refreshments.

Event Details

Dates: Saturday 18th April and Saturday 13th June 2026. Time: 10am - 4pm.

Location: Old Park Meadow, Coppice Lane, Chelmsford, CM6 3PL. Please RSVP by emailing events@oldparkmeadow.co.uk with your preferred date.

Generation Z Could Teach

Us a Thing or Two - By Eleanor Searle

I am a millennial, so socialising in my late teens and early 20s involved going to a pub or club, and true to my generation often still revolves around a glass of wine with the girls. Our studio’s tagline is holistic, realistic, which certainly fits with how we live our lives. True, fad free, evidence-based health promotion is at our core, but we do also know how to dine out!

However, Gen Z may well have something to teach us, as they are increasingly socialising at their gym or yoga studio and often use it as a place to connect with friends, enjoying a workout or class together.

Younger people have a broader concept of what wellness means to them and connecting with their friends somewhere where the consequence of a catch up isn’t a hangover is high on their wish lists. A Gen Z’s social calendar is often based around their exercise regime, as wellness is a priority. I think that we could learn a lot from Gen Z, prioritising health and well-being and using exercise as part of our quality time with friends.

Hummingbird Pilates and Yoga certainly goes beyond being just a studio, as our clients often enjoy a pre-class catch up or freshly roasted coffee at Mac & Me after class. We have a real sense of community, whether you come with a friend or make new ones here. All are welcome at Hummingbird, though our clients are more often Baby Boomers, who are looking after themselves after years working super hard - and Gen X, who are interested in holistic health and love the fact that they can join us in the studio, or live online. Whatever your generation, catching up with friends while making time for exercise, has got to be a win on so many levels. Hummingbird is a lovely place to do just that whether you fancy coming together to try a small group pilates or yoga class or would just like to meet others with similar interests.

www.hummingbirdpilates.co.uk

Nick Garner’s Music & Ramblings

Here we are and now on our way to the summer hopefully. Easter is here and will soon be gone. I don’t do the eggs, do you? Next up it’s the May bank holidays and then it will be exam time for many younger people - I know my grandson has his A-level mocks and my granddaughter has her first year university exams. Good luck to everyone!

Regarding the weather, well, at least it has been a bit dryer recently and we have had some sun and warmth. Though as I’m writing this, we have just had some more rain, hail and strong winds - and its cold. We can certainly do with more of the better weather to get us into a better mood, because when you look at what is going on around the world and price increases, it’s scary, as I am sure many of you must also find it too.

With elections coming up, all I will say is that if you are eligible to vote when elections are in your area do think very carefully and please do vote no matter who for, and make sure to tell your friends and family to do so.

The Sunday Times named Chelmsford as the best place to live in the East of England. In many ways I can agree with that but I can also see many things that can be done to improve the city. I have tried to voice my thoughts before but sadly never seem to be listened to.

Have you been to Old Baddow Road recently? if not, I can recommend it as there are some great independent eateries there. I do think we need more of these rather than the big chains that seem to be everywhere nowadays.

Please remember if you have anything that may be of interest or and event going on then please let us know about it, as it could be of interest to our readers.

Music

This has been quite a busy month and I have written about quite a lot of it in the City Times which you can also view online.

Sadly we have had some changes coming up. The Baker Moore Band have had to cancel on Sunday 5th July, but we have now got The Ugly Guys to take their place and they will be promoting their new album. Also cancelled but not replaced on 9th September is Laurence Jones.

and Diva Purple coming up. I also went to the Indigo at the O2 for Milk Fest which was brilliant - what a great line-up! It ended with Chris Difford of Squeeze playing with a band - the music was great and Chris is funny as well.

We had another great sold-out show at Hot Box on Thursday 19th March remembering Paul Kossoff, guitarist of Free and Back Street Crawler. John Buckton, the band’s guitarist, was playing Paul’s 1958 Gibson Les Paul. The band also included Terry Slesser who in the original band with Paul on vocals, and they were joined by cousins Clive Edwards drums (UFO, Lionheart) and John ‘Rhino’ Edwards on bass (Status Quo). It was a bit of a supergroup. They loved it so much that we have them rebooked for Saturday afternoon on 4th July so don’t delay, book it today.

We were very lucky that we had The Milk Men play their first show after their festival on Sunday 22nd March - and we were sold out at Hot Box for that one. Now we have their leader and guitarist Adam Norsworthy coming back to play Hot Box on Monday 19th October. He will be promoting his new solo album which is getting great reviews.

We also have the amazing Small Fakers returning to play on Friday 17th July, along with a whole host of great acts coming up this month at both venues, so please do see my adverts in here and as always if you don’t know them, you can check them out on YouTube.

I went to Barleylands Blues Club for International Women’s Day with Alice Armstrong and my friend Demi Marriner, both with their bands and both were excellent.

The next week I watched the superb Dirt Road Band who I love. They will be playing for us at Hot Box on Sunday 1st November.

Next I went to The Apex in Bury St Edmunds to see Eric Bibb, the great American blues man, who Robbie McIntosh was playing for. The band was great as was the support.

I am off to another show on Thursday 26th March - a benefit for Neil Hubbard who played with Joe Cocker in The Grease Band, as well as Roxy Music, Kokomo and many more. I will be reporting on this most probably in the next City Times

So here’s looking forward to a great musically event-filled 2026. Please do support your local venues, promoters, acts and their shows to help keep them all active - and if you can, please do book in advance.

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 and our readers want to know about it.

If you 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 to them.

You can get tickets for all our shows at The Chelmsford Social Club in Chelmsford from the Meadows shopping centre at Intense Records, or in Moulsham Street at The Hop Beer Shop, and next to County Hall and the Library at Chelmsford 4Good. Please pay cash when you buy from them.

Tickets for all shows, including ours at Hot Box, are available also online from www.wegottickets.com/BlackFrogPresents, or book via our ticket hotline with no extra commission charge - call or text 07508 496 411 and you can then pay the advance price at the door by card or cash.

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 in this publication.

We have Deborah Bonham, Soho Dukes, The Paul McCartney Project

MT Gardening

As March turns into April, the garden enters a period of rapid change. Warmer days and increasing soil temperatures accelerate growth, and many plants move from dormancy into full activity. This is a crucial window for establishing plants, protecting tender growth, and setting up systems that will support the garden through late spring and summer. Rather than rushing, this stage is about thoughtful interventionensuring plants have the right conditions to thrive while responding to unpredictable early spring weather. Below are five key tasks to focus on during this period.

1. Direct Sow Hardy Annual Flowers

With soil temperatures rising to around 8-12°C, it becomes suitable to sow hardy annuals directly outdoors. This reduces the need for transplanting and allows plants to establish strong root systems from the outset.

Suitable species include:

• Nigella damascena (love-in-a-mist).

• Centaurea cyanus (cornflower).

• Eschscholzia californica (Californian poppy).

Prepare a fine seedbed by raking the soil to a crumbly texture. Sow seeds thinly in drills approximately 1cm deep or broadcast lightly for a more naturalistic effect. Water gently using a fine rose to avoid displacing seeds.

Thin seedlings to 10-20cm spacing once large enough to handle. These plants are particularly valuable in informal gardens and provide early nectar sources for pollinators.

2. Protect Emerging Growth from Late Frosts

Despite warmer days, frost remains a significant risk in early April. Tender new shoots are particularly vulnerable to damage. Plants to monitor include: Hosta sieboldiana (hosta), Dahlia pinnata (garden

dahlia), Solanum tuberosum (potato).

Protect emerging shoots using horticultural fleece or cloches. Fleece should be loosely draped to allow airflow while trapping warmth. Secure edges to prevent wind displacement.

For potatoes, earth up shoots by drawing soil over them to a height of 10-15cm. This not only protects against frost but also encourages additional tuber formation. Remove coverings during the day when temperatures rise above 10°C to prevent overheating and condensation build-up.

3. Plant Early Potatoes and Onion Sets

This is an ideal time to establish staple crops in the vegetable garden. Plant Solanum tuberosum (potato) tubers in trenches 1015cm deep, spacing them 30cm apart with 60-75cm between rows. Ensure the ‘chitted’ shoots face upwards.

Set out Allium cepa (onion sets) by pressing them into the soil so that just the tip remains visible. Space sets 10cm apart in rows 25-30cm apart. Choose a well-drained, sunny site. Avoid overly rich nitrogen fertilisers, which can encourage leafy growth at the expense of bulb and tuber development.

4. Feed Established Perennials and Shrubs

As plants resume active growth, they benefit from a nutrient boost to support new shoots and flowering. Apply a balanced fertiliser such as a general-purpose organic feed at a rate of 70-100g per m² around plants including: Lavandula angustifolia (English lavender), Salvia rosmarinus (rosemary), Achillea millefolium (yarrow).

Lightly fork the fertiliser into the top 2-3cm of soil, taking care not to damage roots. Water in if conditions are dry. Avoid overfeeding, particularly on alkaline soils, as excessive nutrients can lead to soft, weak growth more susceptible to pests and disease.

5. Establish New Lawns or Repair Bare Patches

Soil conditions in early April are often ideal for lawn establishment, with adequate moisture and improving temperatures.

For new lawns or repairs, use a suitable grass seed mix and sow at a rate of approximately 25-35g per m². Prepare the area by: removing weeds and debris, raking to create a fine, level tilth, firming the soil lightly.

Sow seed evenly, then rake lightly to cover with a thin layer (around 0.5cm) of soil. Water gently and keep the area consistently moist during germination. In existing lawns, overseed bare patches and lightly top-dress with a mix of sand and compost to improve seed-tosoil contact.

Five Additional Tasks for April

• Ventilate greenhouses on warm days to reduce humidity and prevent fungal diseases.

• Tie in new shoots of climbing plants such as Clematis montana (mountain clematis).

• Apply nematodes to control pests such as slugs when soil temperatures exceed 5°C.

• Clean and refill bird feeders to support wildlife during the breeding season.

• Check irrigation systems or hoses for leaks and prepare for increased watering needs.

Early April is a dynamic and rewarding time in the garden. Careful observation is essential, and so responding to weather and plant development ensures your garden thrives as spring progresses.

Happy 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.

25 Years and Still Ticking!

This year marks the 25th anniversary of Tickers Cardiac Support Group, a non-profit making organisation providing help and support to anyone recovering from a heart attack or suffering from other cardiac health issues.

“Our first session was on 6th February 2001,” recalls Dave Otway, a founder member who still attends weekly classes and plays an active role on the committee. “At the time, there was little, if any, support in Chelmsford for patients moving on from hospital treatment, so with the help of a prominent cardiac consultant at Broomfield Hospital and other specialists in the field, we set up Tickers.”

Initially meeting in St John’s Hospital Hall, the group moved to Writtle Sports and Social Club in Paradise Road in 2010 when the St John’s site closed for redevelopment.

Led by instructors accredited by the British Association of Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation and holding certified qualifications recognised both by the NHS and the British Heart Foundation, hourly classes are currently held four times a week - Monday morning from 10.45am and midday, and Wednesday evening from 6.30pm, and Thursday from midday. All sessions comprise 15-minute warm-up and cool-down phases with 30 minutes of cardiovascular fitness activity and exercises designed to build strength and mobility in between.

The Monday class involves closely supervised circuit activity making use of a wide range of equipment such as rowing machines, exercise bikes, box steps and moderate weights, whilst on Wednesday and Thursday, exercise routines are led by the group’s permanent trainer, Joseph Johnson. All activities are accompanied by music from the ’60s, ’70s and beyond and are designed, above all, to be fun!

John, who attends the Monday classes, told us: “Tickers picks up from where the hospital rehabilitation ended. It provides regular, vigorous exercise in a friendly environment. The best thing is the trainer, Joe, who is supportive, organised, clear and who enthusiastically leads the sessions. He gets a 5-star rating!” Joan agreed: “Fabulous!” she enthused. “Very, very helpful in keeping me fit. Always enjoyable and good to talk to people and share our experiences about our heart problems, too.”

Following an initial free taster session, each class is £4, payable in cash at the door. No up-front commitment is required and members can attend whenever and as often as they wish without obligation.

Experiencing a heart attack or going through surgery is a traumatic

experience and recovery is not just about physical healing; often, confidence and mental well-being have been damaged, too, and Tickers helps with every aspect of recovery. “At first, I was afraid to do much, fearing that my new heart valve wouldn’t cope,” Liz told us, “but under the expert guidance of our regular, well-qualified instructor, I now feel comfortable enough to push myself. I really enjoy the classes, bouncing along to the music!” Phil agreed: “Exhilarating is how I would describe it! A happy and stimulating hour where healing, mind, body and motivation work together to benefit the whole person.”

The healing of mind, body and spirit does not stop when the intrepid Tickers leave the hall. Encouraged to work hard in the class, members enjoy their down-time together, too and from April to November can take part in monthly Sunday morning walks - 3-6 miles in the Essex countryside, invariably followed by a pub lunch. Every February, Tickers’ birthday is celebrated with a Quiz Night, including supper and raffle.

Other events are arranged throughout the year and highlights so far have included an afternoon boat trip along the River Chelmer from Paper Mill Lock, a guided tour of Ingatestone Hall and a highly successful evening at Kingpins Bowl where members were able to show off their bowling prowess! In December, the Christmas spirit is in bountiful supply and at Tickers’ most recent festive gathering, members were entertained by the amazing sleight of hand tricks of local magician, Paul Childs.

Having a heart attack, being told you have heart disease or that you will require surgery is indeed daunting and the future can seem bleak and frightening, not only for the individual but for those around them, too. Tickers recognises the wider impact that cardiac health concerns can have and invites you to bring friends, family and loved ones with you to participate in the classes - all are welcome! Indeed, many people have forged lasting friendships while ‘grapevining’ to the sounds of their youth!

We left the final word to the group’s trainer, Joe, who told us: “It’s a real privilege to be able to work with such a wonderful group of people and to bring something so positive to the community.”

If you are recovering from a heart attack or heart surgery, or if you feel that regular cardio-vascular exercise would play a positive role in maintaining your fitness, visit Tickers’ website for further information at tickersrehab.co.uk. You can email at info@tickersrehab.co.uk or call on 01245 420 128 between 8.30am and 5.30pm. It could be the call that changes your life!

Denise Peacock and Brian Johnson

Record Store Day Is Coming Soon!

Record Store Day returns on Saturday 18th April 2026 at Intense #2 in the Meadows Shopping Centre, Chelmsford High Street. Now in its 19th year, Record Store Day celebrates independent record shops, with over 300 stores across the UK and Ireland taking part. Bringing a stacked list of exclusive and limited-edition releases spanning rock, pop, soul, jazz, hip-hop, reggae, classical and folk, and even a Sleepy Pokémon Beats soundtrack.

This year’s features releases from Taylor Swift, Laufey, Blur, Charli XCX, Elton John, Madonna, Primal Scream, The Cure, David Bowie, Joy Crookes, Wicked Live, Paramore, plus The Human League. Brit Award nominated artists include Olivia Dean, Bruno Mars, Calvin Harris, CMAT, HAIM, Myles Smith, PinkPantheress, Raye, Self Esteem, Sleep Token, The Last Dinner Party and Wolf Alice. There may also still be some surprises to be announced!

You can find out about the Record Store Day releases through our website and submit a wish list so we know what you’re after. Releases are available on a first-come-first-served basis in store. We will open at Intense #2 from 8am - people do queue up on the High Street outside the front of the Meadows Shopping Centre overnight, so get down early! Any releases that are left go on sale online Monday 22nd April.

There will be live DJs instore at Intense #2 and a live stage with musicians and DJs entertaining the crowd, you can follow by searching ‘@intenserecords’ on Facebook or Instagram for up-todate information. intenserecords.com/music/record-store-day-event

A Wonderful Half Term at Oaklands

It may have been a short half term at Oaklands, but it was certainly packed with highlights, achievements and plenty of anticipated cake sale, bringing the community together for a sweet treat or two. And of course, we ended on a high note with our colourful Easter Hat Parade, filled with creativity, smiles and plenty of springtime cheer.

It’s been a short but sweet half term at Oaklands - full of teamwork, celebration and learning and fun with friends. We look forward to even more exciting moments next term!

We were delighted to welcome families into school for our parents’ evenings, where we celebrated the fantastic progress and achievements of our children. Their enthusiasm for learning shone brightly, and it was a joy for staff and families to reflect on all they have accomplished so far this year.

A special moment this term came from one of our own governors, who visited to share insights into the Winter Olympics and Paralympics. The children were fascinated to learn about the dedication, resilience and teamwork behind these global events, sparking lots of thoughtful questions and lively discussion. Our School Council were also busy as they launched their new buddy groups. Children from across year groups came together to chat, support one another and build new friendships - an initiative that truly reflects the inclusive Oaklands spirit.

To round off the half term, the School Council hosted a much

anticipated cake sale, bringing the community together for a sweet treat or two. And of course, we ended on a high note with our colourful Easter Hat Parade, filled with creativity, smiles and plenty of springtime cheer.

It’s been a short but sweet half term at Oaklands - full of teamwork, celebration and learning and fun with friends. We look forward to even more exciting moments next term!

Life at St John’s

Are you a foodie? Someone who loves food, especially food at a time of festival or celebration? It seems to me that Easter is all about food. The food indulgence begins on Good Friday with a delicious hot cross bun, full of spices to remind us of the women bringing spices to embalm Jesus’ body and the cross on the top - a reminder always of everything that Jesus gave up for us, and all that he achieved in rising again.

On Easter Saturday, as a child, we would decorate the Easter cake. A simnel cake, a fruit cake, covered in marzipan. Then we would carefully roll 11 balls of marzipan to lay evenly around the edge of the cake. Why 11 balls of marzipan? One for each disciple, and a reminder, with great sadness that Judas, the one who betrayed Jesus, was no longer part of the 12.

For me, the highlight of Easter Sunday is to wake up to chocolate. I will have been through a fast of 40 days and 40 nights (as will many other people) and so I look forward to breaking that fast with that wonderful taste as I know that Jesus has risen!

As a child, my father would carefully paint eggs on Saturday, so that when we woke up we came down to soft boiled eggs decorated individually just for each one of us. We would delight in his artistic talent and enjoy breakfast together.

It was sad to destroy his artwork, but we were nourished and ready for the day. We went off to church wearing our new clothes, sandals and Easter bonnets, praying for a hint of sunshine, ready to celebrate the joy of Jesus risen, new beginnings, burying the old and looking forward to the new.

On the right is is a picture of the Mothering Sunday posies which were made during the service in March as a reminder of Gods’ mother love to all.

Some of us attended a living spring wreath workshop organised by Esther, who volunteers at St Luke’s making beautiful floral arrangements to enhance the church. Making the wreaths was great fun - a delightful alternative to chocolate!

Do come and join us as we celebrate Easter together with a united sunrise service, starting at 5.45am at Church of the Holy Spirit in Forest Drive, followed by a cooked breakfast. Or a 10am Easter Sunday service at St Luke’s Church.

Then on Easter Monday we are holding a family-focused event, building on the success of our Christmas event. All are welcome: ‘Come and be an Easter Detective’. There’s no charge and places can be booked by emailing moulshamchurches@gmail.com.

We look forward to welcoming you as we journey to Easter, and eat together.

Christ is risen - He is risen indeed! Happy Easter!

God bless,

Reverend Canon Stephanie Gillingham

St Luke’s Church, Gloucester Avenue, Moulsham Lodge, CM2 8DT www.stlukemoulsham.co.uk Facebook: @Stlukesmoulshamlodge

Each year we celebrate this amazing festival with its highs and lows, Lent and Easter host some of our most precious services.

Wharam’s Wine Words

Welcome to the April, Easter Bank Holiday edition of Wharam’s Wine Words. This is the twelfth time I have had the good fortune to share my thoughts on matters vinous, so we can celebrate the first year with, well, what else but champagne!

The major supermarkets often hold 25% off if you buy 6 bottles and the March one certainly offered good value. As we have covered in previous issues, the world of wine is in something of a state of flux, so there are bargains to be had out there if you are prepared to search. Further offers are in the pipeline so do check regularly on their websites.

Easter is a celebration of renewal, long lunches and a table groaning with spring’s freshest flavours. Whether you’re hosting close family, a multi-generational brunch or a light, modern gathering, the right wines will lift those seasonal dishes - accentuating herbs, balancing richness and refreshing the palate between bites. Here’s a guide to wines that match classic Easter fare and seasonal produce, plus a few crowd-pleasing alternatives so you can mix and match with confidence. Sparkling wines are, of course, the universal party-starter. Sparkling wines’ acidity and effervescence cut through richness, cleanse the palate and pair well from canapés to pudding.

Go for classic Champagne, Cremant or quality Cava which are ideal with smoked salmon blinis, quiches and devilled eggs. The brioche/ yeast character in Champagne pairs especially well with buttery shortcrust and creamy spreads. Do not forget the excellent English sparkling wines widely available direct from the vineyards if you fancy a trip out on Good Friday or Easter Saturday!

There are good offers on Prosecco too. The style is lighter, fruitforward and more affordable - great with asparagus tartlets and potato-rosemary frittata. Lots of these recipes are available via the BBC Good Food website.

Pairings:

• Smoked salmon and crème fraîche on rye: Champagne’s toasty notes complement the smoked fish while bubbles cut through the texture.

• Devilled eggs and spring vegetable canapés: Sparkling’s acidity brightens the yolk’s richness.

Crisp whites offer great opportunities for fresh spring produce. Spring vegetables and herb-forward dishes call for wines with zippy acidity and green, aromatic notes.

Go for Sauvignon Blanc (Loire, New Zealand): Choose Sancerre or a restrained New World example for grassy, citrusy lift. Marlborough is offering much more affordable examples now. Have you tried Grüner Veltliner (Austria) or ‘Gruvee’ from New Zealand? White-pepper spice and green-vegetal character are superb with asparagus and herb sauces.

Pop over to Galicia on Spain’s stylish Atlantic coast where you will find Albariño (Rías Baixas). Saline minerality and stone-fruit notes match seafood and lemony dressings.

Pairings:

• Asparagus tart with chèvre: Grüner Veltliner’s peppery finish complements asparagus while its acidity balances the goat cheese.

• Honey-roast ham with green salad: Sauvignon Blanc cuts through the ham’s sweetness and enhances leafy bitterness.

• Lemon-herb roasted spring chicken: Albariño’s citrus and seabreeze notes highlight the lemon and herbs without overpowering delicate poultry.

If you like your wines heavier, then try rich whites with creamy dishes and roasted poultry. Fuller-bodied whites stand up to cream sauces, gratins and roasted spring lamb or chicken without the tannic weight of reds. If you like your Chardonnay (unoaked or lightly oaked), then opt for cooler-climate styles for balance with bright acidity with subtle stone-fruit and a touch of toast. Coming to the fore these days is Chenin Blanc (Vouvray, South Africa). It’s versatile from dry to off-dry; honeyed and textural versions work well with glazed ham.

Pairings:

• Creamy gratin dauphinois: An unoaked or lightly oaked Chardonnay complements cream and potato with texture rather than oakiness.

• Roast chicken with tarragon cream sauce: A richer Chenin Blanc provides weight and hints of honeyed fruit that contrast the savory herbs.

• Scalloped spring vegetables with Gruyère: Chardonnay’s body offsets cheese while preserving freshness.

As that rather Pimpernel-like yellow globe has reappeared in the sky, rosé is, for sure, the springtime compromise! Rosés’ fruitiness and acidity make them an ideal bridge between white and red, excellent for buffet-style Easter spreads. Widely available are Provence rosés, dry, pale and elegant pairing easily with charcuterie and lighter mains.

Dry rosés from Spain or Loire have slightly more structure for heartier salads and grilled veg.

Pairings:

• Picnic-style charcuterie and mild pâtés: Rosé complements cured meats without overwhelming.

• Warm lentil salad with roasted beets and feta: The wine’s redfruit notes echo the sweetness of beets and balance the salty feta.

When it comes to choosing your reds, try light to medium reds for lamb and richer flavours. Spring meats like lamb and richer vegetarian mains need a red with softer tannins and bright fruit.

I’m a big fan of Pinot Noir (Burgundy, Oregon, New Zealand): Bright acidity, red cherry and earth notes pair well with herb-roasted lamb or mushroom dishes. Aldi currently has very good value Pinot from Chile and Romania and if you shop around, there are non-bank breaking examples on offer. Gamay is creeping back into the fold in the guise of Beaujolais or Beaujolais Villages and there are excellent Fleuries at Lidl and Aldi. Light, juicy and low in tannin, they’re excellent for spiced roasts and ham. I love Barbera and Dolcetto from Italy, both are high acidity and ripe red fruit provide lift for tomatobased sides or glazed ham. Varietals are available if your budget doesn’t extend to Barolo or Barbaresco.

Pairings:

• Herb-crusted rack of lamb: Pinot Noir enhances the meat’s gamey notes and matches its herbal crust.

• Honey-glazed ham: A fruity Gamay offers freshness that complements the honey without clashing.

• Mushroom and lentil Wellington: Pinot Noir’s earthiness echoes the mushrooms; acidity keeps the pastry from feeling heavy.

The full-bodied reds team? Don’t worry, I haven’t forgotten you. They work very well for bold roasts and older palates. For those who prefer structured reds, pick ones with ripe fruit and mellow tannins that won’t overwhelm. Merlot or a soft Bordeaux blend such as St Émilion or Cotes de Castillon work well. Anything with round plum fruit and supple tannins suit roasted, caramelised vegetables and heavier dishes. Ribera del Duero, Rioja Reserva or Gran Reserva’s Tempranillo with oak influence give savoury, leathery depth. Why not pair with slow-roasted lamb shoulder?

Pairings:

• Slow-roasted leg of lamb with root vegetables: A Reserva Rioja or Medoc Bordeaux blend stands up to rich, long-cooked flavours, though mature Merlot driven Bordeaux will also work.

• Mushroom ragout over polenta: A plush Merlot provides comfort and depth without overpowering the mushrooms’ umami.

For those of you with a sweet tooth, or you just like to go through the card, sweet wines from around the world work well and then opt for fortifieds for dessert and cheese. There are lots of examples from Portugal with both modern and traditional styles available. A matched-sweetness dessert wine lifts the meal to a satisfying close and fortified wines work well with nutty desserts and blue cheese. Late-harvest Riesling or Gewürztraminer yield aromatic, honeyed and balancing acidity; let’s pair with fruit tarts or spiced carrot cake. Feeling flush? Sauternes or Tokaji are luxurious with glazed Easter breads and custard desserts. Even a Hot Cross Bun can be graced with these! Tawny Port or Madeira are ideal with nut-based desserts and strong cheeses.

Pairings:

• Hot cross buns with butter and marmalade: A late-harvest Riesling mirrors the fruity spice.

• Lemon posset or crème brûlée: Sauternes’ richness plays off the citrus cream.

• Blue cheese and walnut tart: Tawny Port’s dried-fruit and caramel notes are a classic finish.

Here are some practical tips for pairing and serving:

• Temperature matters: Chill whites and rosés to 45-50°F (7-10°C). Light reds like Pinot Noir benefit from slight chill (55-60°F/13-15°C). Room-temperature reds should be around 60-65°F (15-18°C).

• Offer a flight: If hosting varied tastes, pour small tastes of two whites and a rosé or light red during the starter course, then bring in a bolder red for the main.

• Match intensity and weight: Delicate dishes need lighter wines; richly sauced, roasted or caramelised dishes can handle fullerbodied wines.

• Think herb and sauce first: Pair with the prominent flavours (tarragon, mustard, lemon, herb crust) not just the protein.

• Budget wisely: Sparkling and rosé are often excellent value in mid-range price points; for special splurges, pick one standout bottle (Champagne, aged Rioja, Sauternes) to centre the meal.

I have prepared a sample Easter menu with pairings here:

• Canapé: Smoked trout blinis - Champagne NV.

• Starter: Asparagus and goat cheese tart - Grüner Veltliner.

• Main: Herb-roasted leg of lamb, roasted new potatoes, spring peas - Pinot Noir (or Rioja Reserva for a heartier option).

• Cheese course: Mixed spring cheeses with quince paste - Tawny Port (for blues) and Syrah (Shiraz) for softer cheeses.

• Pudding: Lemon tart or hot cross buns with butter - Late-harvest Riesling.

Remember, Easter dining is as much about conviviality as cuisine. Choose wines that encourage conversation, complement seasonal produce and make each course sing. With a selection spanning bubbly, crisp whites, versatile rosés and a couple of reds, you’ll have options to please every palate - and plenty of reasons to toast the season.

Do join me at Voodoo Keller Bar in Waterloo Lane on Thursday 30th April for my next tasting. Booking in advance is essential, via their website, www.voodookeller.co.uk.

Cheers, everyone!

Zesty Lemon Bars - A Baking Break Worth

Taking - By Biv Pirathapan

This month, we’re stepping away - maybe briefly, maybe not - from the deep, warming world of spices, sizzling pans and curry-stained spoons and diving headfirst into something bright, zesty and unapologetically joyful. Consider this your official permission to take a baking break.

These lemon bars are a proper throwback for me. A recipe that lived in the pages of an old book over a decade ago, when I was on a mission with woo my amore with baked goods, brought roaring back to life this Mother’s Day as a treat for Emily. Now, she’s not one for overly sweet desserts - she likes a sharp edge, something that makes your cheeks tighten slightly and your taste buds wake up - so this batch comes without the traditional snowstorm of icing sugar. And honestly? They’re all the better for it.

There’s something beautifully chaotic about making these. The citrus perfume as you zest the lemons, the buttery crumble coming together under a wooden spoon, the golden wobble of the filling as it sets. It’s simple, it’s nostalgic and it’s exactly the kind of recipe that invites little hands into the kitchen - messy, loud and full of laughter. Bright, buttery and packed with zing - these are small squares with big personality.

Ingredients

For the Crust:

• Zest of 1 large lemon.

• 50g granulated sugar.

• 170g unsalted butter, room temperature.

• 2.5g salt.

• 220g plain flour.

For the Filling:

• 4 large eggs

• Zest of 1 large lemon.

• 180ml fresh lemon juice (approx 5 lemons).

• 300g granulated sugar.

• 40g plain flour.

• 2.5g salt.

• Optional: icing sugar for dusting - or skip it for a sharper, bolder finish.

Method

Prepare for Success (Trust Me on This)

• Preheat your oven to 180°C (fan 160°C) and line a 20cm square baking tin with baking paper.

• Before you even think about the crust, make your filling first. Get it mixed, smooth and ready to go. This avoids that last-minute panic when your base is hot, your oven is ready and you’re suddenly racing against the clock. Calm kitchen, better results.

• Start by adding the eggs, zest, lemon juice and sugar to the bowl and whisk together. Once combined, sieve in the flour and whisk until smooth.

Make the Crust

• In a large bowl, combine the lemon zest and sugar. Rub them

together with your fingers until the smell hits you - bright, citrusy, alive. That’s when you know it’s ready.

• Add the butter and salt, then get to work with a wooden spoon, mixing until smooth and creamy. A stand mixer works too, but there’s something satisfying about doing this by hand.

• Add the flour and mix until a soft, crumbly dough forms.

• Press firmly into your lined tin, smoothing it into an even layer (always good to get those little fingers into the corners if you are cooking with children).

• Bake for 15-20 minutes, until the edges are lightly golden and the kitchen smells like butter and sunshine.

Add the Filling (Which You’ve Already Cleverly Prepped!)

Give it a quick stir, then as soon as the base comes out of the oven, pour the filling straight over the hot crust.

Bake Again

Return to the oven for 18-20 minutes, until just set with a gentle wobble in the centre - not stiff, not dry, just perfect.

Cool, Chill, Slice

• Let it cool at room temperature for about an hour, then refrigerate for at least 3 hours or overnight if you can wait.

• Lift out using the parchment, slice into neat squares and admire your work.

• Dust with icing sugar if you like - or leave them bold, sharp and unapologetically lemony.

Top Tips to Wow

• Make the filling first - it keeps everything calm and controlled.

• Rub zest into sugar properly - this is where the magic starts.

• Pour onto a hot base for that perfect set.

• Chill fully - patience gives you clean, beautiful slices.

• Warm your knife between cuts for sharp edges.

Why These Bars Steal the Show

It’s all about contrast. The base is buttery, soft and grounding. The topping? Bright, sharp and alive with citrus. Without the icing sugar, the lemon really takes centre stage - bold, clean and refreshing. They don’t just taste good - they wake you up.

Final Thought

These lemon bars are a reminder that great cooking isn’t always about complexity. Sometimes it’s about stepping back, picking up something simple and doing it really, really well. They’re nostalgic, vibrant and dangerously easy to keep reaching for. A baking break… that might just become a regular habit.

We would love to hear about your ideas for anything you would like us to cover and we would love to see your attempts at our recipes! Feel free to message us at biv@partnerwithpp.com.

Mending Fences - By Helen Finch

Eva’s garden was like a smaller version of the Chelsea Flower Show, vibrant colours crowding every bed and spare patch of soil. Peter, her late husband, had been a landscape gardener by trade and even after moving to their new home he’d insisted the new garden be even better than the last one.

Every slab, turf and plant had been meticulously chosen by him. Eva had been the one who added the colour and the fish to their new pond. Hanging baskets bursting with colour hung from every fence post. If there was a special occasion, plants would be chosen accordingly. Red begonias, white allysum, blue lobelia representing the Union Flag and when it was the 1977 Silver Jubilee, Peter had created such a show, he’d been featured in the local paper.

Surveying her garden from the kitchen window, Eva watched the birds queuing up to use the feeders hanging from the apple tree. Even four years after Peter’s passing she still maintained the gardens to his same high standard and wo-betide anyone who she saw throwing any rubbish in its direction.

Her concentration was broken by the noise coming from the house next door. The new neighbour had moved in the previous day and Eva had yet to make contact, hoping they were more considerate than the last lot. Anyone would have thought her garden was a playground the amount of balls she’d collected from them over the years. It was a miracle nothing had been broken. This time she was determined to get on with them but make it clear that her garden was her haven.

She’d suggested to Lois, her daughter that once they had settled, she might take a basket of her home grown produce as a welcome gift.

“Best wait,” Lois had advised, “you don’t want them thinking they can take advantage of your good nature. After all, not everyone has the same standards and enthusiasm as you have for gardening. It was all the rage when you were younger, nowadays it has to be ‘quick’ ‘easy’ and more often than not, ‘artificial’”.

Mindful of her daughter’s warning, Eva had pointedly ignored the moving-in noises and busied herself in the back garden instead, as in late March, it was when she started preparing the greenhouse for her seeds. It was true, as a child she had spent many an hour over her father’s allotment, digging for vegetable treasures and picking the most delicious runner beans and strawberries.

Tomorrow, Sunday, was Lois’s birthday and Eva hoped that the weather would stay bright and warm. Today she would ensure the patio was cleaned and any winter blooms deadheaded so it looked pristine before the family arrived for lunch.

Hearing a scuffling noise near the fish pond she set down the spade, peering around the apple tree to get a closer look. There, under the sprouting rhubarb crouched a small, grey cat.

“Oh, hello,” she cooed, “you’re rather sweet.”

The cat looked at her with jade green eyes. Moving slowly away, she noticed it had left its calling card behind. Eva’s charitable mood evaporated instantly.

“Get away, you filthy beast,” she yelled, shooing it away. “How dare you use my garden as your toilet.”

The shrill announcement sent the cat shooting across the lawn and straight up the trellis. A few wobbly steps and it was back in the safety of its own garden. Incensed, Eva grabbed the watering can and aimed a sprinkle in the general direction of its departing tail.

“Do you mind?’ said a male voice from beyond the fence. “I’m soaked.” “Well, train your cat to use your garden as its toilet, NOT MINE!” retorted Eva, bristling with anger. “And here, you may as well have it back.” Quick as lightning, she lifted the spade, accurately

tossing the ‘present’ back over the fence.

“Charming, said the man. “You could have put it in the dustbin.”

“Oh no! I’m not having that smell in my bin. It belongs to you, so legally I have to return it.”

Happy that she had laid down some much needed ground rules, Eva rinsed the spade under the outside tap.

“At least they are tidying the garden,” she muttered to herself, as the high pitched sound of a strimmer broke the silence. Suddenly there was a CRACK and a shining blade appeared at the lower edge of the fence panel.

“That’s it!” she screeched, crouching to peer through the newly created hole. “I spend valuable time and money keeping my garden tidy. Is it too much to ask that my neighbours respect my property?”

Another set of eyes stared back at her. “Sorry, I didn’t realise I was that close to the fence. I’ll…”

But Eva’s tirade was unstoppable, as the pent up frustrations of years came pouring out of her.

“My father and I were the only ones in my family who appreciated plants. How did my sister show her affection? By throwing stinging nettles at me.”

“I’m sorry,” said the man, “if you’d let me finish I was about to say I’ll pay for a new panel.”

Taken aback, Eva stopped. Pulling over a nearby chair she stepped up and peered over.

“That’s very kind,” she told the top of her neighbour’s head.

A fresh faced man looked up. “Oh, you’re up there. I was talking to your feet,” he chuckled pointing the strimmer towards the hole.

Eva was about to comment on the previous state of the garden when the back door opened.

“When you’ve got a moment, Gerry.”

“Oh my,” Eva gasped, gaping at the woman in the doorway. As the chair began to tilt she grabbed the fence, pulling it down into the garden, just managing to jump off the chair in time.

“Are you okay?” Gerry enquired, helping Eva around the broken panel. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

“She has in a way,” said the woman wryly. “Hello Eva.”

“You know each other?” Gerry looked from one to the other.

“Hetty!” Eva exclaimed. “Might’ve known you would be happy having a garden like a jungle.”

“Can this be the famous Aunt Eva I’ve heard so much about?” he said, grinning. “How amazing you ended up next door to one another.”

“All bad things no doubt,” huffed Eva, brushing herself down.

“Well, I got the impression mum was envious of the amount of time grandad spent with you,” he said softly.

Eva’s eyes met Hetty’s in astonishment. “Really? You were jealous of me gardening?”

“I’m sorry, Eva, but you were the apple of dad’s eye. I wasn’t very good at growing things and dad was more of an outdoorsy person. I was interested in books and writing so when I met Malcolm and he was offered the job abroad, I went willingly. What was the point in staying here when we had nothing in common? It wasn’t like you would miss me.”

“I did miss you, even though you threw nettles at me, and I tried for years to find out where you were. I still hoped to find you someday. Now by chance, you’ve found me.”

“It was meant to be,” quipped Gerry. “Maybe you can get Auntie Eva to give you some gardening tips, mum!”

“As long as your cat doesn’t continue to use my rhubarb as a portaloo,” Eva smiled, only half in jest.

“Deal,” Hetty smiled, “and as Gerry said, we will replace the fence panel.”

“Better still,” said Eva, “why don’t we have a gate instead? Long as

Last month I reflected on the link between the Christian celebration of Easter and the pagan celebration of the coming of spring at the vernal equinox, and its goddess Eostre with her symbols of the hare and the egg, which continue in the traditions of Easter bunnies and eggs.

Easter falls relatively early this year, on Sunday 5th April, with its timing being calculated astrologically as the first Sunday after the full moon on or after the spring equinox. That sounds simple but, apparently, it’s not!

To calculate the exact date of Easter, the spring equinox is always assumed to be on 21st March, and the full moon is not the actual full moon we see in the night sky, but an artificial one based on the ‘metionic cycle’ - so now you know! Easter always falls between 22nd March and 25th April, and apparently there is an algorithm to calculate its date!

Easter

gives us a message of hope for the future. This hope feels especially important right now, as a grinding war continues into its fifth year in Ukraine, and war

has engulfed the Middle East with no clear end in sight and consequences for all who live in the region as well as the rest of us in the wider world.

This hope comes from the fact that while Jesus Christ was arrested, unjustly condemned, and executed by the ruling powers of his day that he challenged - which we remember on Good Friday - three days later he rose again - which we celebrate on Easter Sunday. This assures us that after suffering and even death, there is new life - and that light will triumph over darkness, good will triumph over evil, hope will triumph over despair and love will triumph over death.

you keep the weeds on your side.” Eva stepped forward to hug her sister. “Look, I’m having everyone over tomorrow for lunch so let’s make it a bigger family affair.”

“Oh I do love a happy ending,” Gerry sighed. View the Moulsham Times online at www.issuu.com/itsyourmedia

There are services every day at St John’s during Holy Week, the week that starts on Palm Sunday and ends with Easter Sunday:

Palm Sunday (Sunday 29th March): 10am, procession from the Church Hall to the Church followed by Holy Communion.

Holy Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday (30th March to 1st April): 5.30pm short daily meditations.

Maundy Thursday (2nd April): 7.30pm, bring-and-share Agape meal followed by Holy Communion.

Good Friday (3rd April): 11am, Stations of the Cross, ‘Stations for our time’.

Easter Eve (Saturday 4th April): 8pm, Easter fire, service of light, and vigil.

Easter Day (Sunday 5th April): 10am, Holy Communion, followed by an Easter egg hunt.

And on Thursday 9th April we will have Easter Messy Church at St John’s from 2-4pm, with lots of fun activities for children and families.

On less spiritual matters, there is also hope and light at the end of the tunnel in the process of connecting our drains at St John’s to the mains sewer and that we will then be able to remove the fencing around the front of the church. Work may be starting as early as April, dependent on various approvals.

There is a warm welcome and something for everyone at St John’s: from Morning Prayer and Jubilatte Café (with a play area for children) on Monday and Thursday mornings, and Tots and Tinies on Friday mornings during term time, to Sunday worship with activities for children; from weekly spiritual enquiry and exploration with Being With, to monthly Bible study; and our ever-present community Green Space in the churchyard, always there to provide a place for some peace and contemplation in the natural world that is springing back into life.

Come and join us for community and conversation, some spiritual nourishment and peace.

Have a blessed Easter!

Fr John Bloomer frjohnbloomer@gmail.com www.stjohnsmoulsham.org.uk

Please note the magazine is published in print from 1th April but online from 27th March in case you missed any of the dates advertised.

Once the hub of the community and meeting place after a hard day’s work, we are sadly seeing the demise of the public house and dereliction of many of these amazing properties. Many are closing their doors (more so since lockdown) due to high rents, rates and a diminishing customer base. Whilst it may be healthier not to drink too much and more cost conscious to make going out a special occasion, it is sad to think that these were once places where business was arranged, people stopped over and rested, including their horses back in the day, en route to London or further afield.

Many a deal was struck over a pint and there is no doubt that historically, especially in London and probably in Essex, even the coroner used the facilities as a place to carry out his assessing the demise of a poor fellow. It was also safer to drink alcohol than water historically, so one could argue that it was better for your health at that time but there were few alternative choices available.

It is documented in historical accounts that Essex has been known for having many beer shops and breweries alongside the nearby counties of Suffolk and Norfolk. Breweries could be found in Essex in Finchingfield, Sible Hedingham and Wethersfield along with many others including a brewery in Chelmsford. Before this, it was noted that private brewing took place - many were found in priories such as those at Prittlewell and Hatfield Broad Oak. Some large estates and farms also had malthouses/brewhouses, including Audley End, one in Writtle and Dukes in Roxwell.

Many pubs were also making their own ale as their owners were also

brewers. However, many of these are only remembered today due to place names being associated with them, such as Malthouse, the Brewery Tap in Brentwood, where there was a brewery nearby off Kings Road, or the Brewery in Romford, along with a piece of equipment on display, used as a memorial to a once thriving industry. Brentwood Brewery is, however going strong, continuing a trade which will keep Essex on the brewing map.

When we think about wine, Essex isn’t the first place one would associate with this popular drink. However, it appears certain areas of the county, especially around the Crouch Valley are proving to be a popular growing area and it is even creating interest from overseas.

In Purleigh, New Hall Vineyard was first established in 1969 and still continues to be run by the same family. In fact, this vineyard is one of the largest and oldest in Britain. Historically there was originally a vineyard planted at the local church Purleigh, which inspired the Greenwood family who own New Hall. Even Chelmsford has a thriving vineyard at Galleywood.

Despite the fact that we feel our weather mainly consists of rain, our part of the county has the right type of soil (mainly London Clay which has a rich fossil content) and an ideal harvesting climate in October. Apparently, it is the place to find ‘exciting’ wines.

It does appear that we certainly have a varied selection and choice in Essex and by supporting these small independent establishments it will hopefully help the businesses survive in a volatile climate and keep the Essex traditions of brewing and winemaking going for generations to come.

Don’t Skip the Warm Up!

In my last article, I talked about home workouts and introduced the concept of exercise snacks. This time, I want to focus on one of the most important aspects of any workout - whether at home, in the gym, or anywhere elsethe warm-up.

This is, without a doubt, my least favourite part of any workout.

A few days ago, I was due to go to the gym, as I normally do. Unfortunately, I was in a hurry. I had taught a class in the morning and had a busy afternoon ahead, so my workout wasn’t really at the forefront of my mind - I was already thinking ahead to everything else I needed to do.

I usually walk to the gym, which is a great start to my warm-up. But on this day, it was raining, so I drove instead. As a result, I spent just a few minutes on the treadmill. It’s not my favourite piece of kit, but it can be a quick and effective way to get started.

To cut a long story short - I cut my warm-up short.

As an older adult, this is one of the worst things you can do. As we age, our bodies need more time to prepare before exercise. This raises an important question: why do we need to warm up?

A proper warm-up prepares both the body and the mind for the session ahead. It readies our muscles, joints and cardiovascular system, helping us perform better and reduce the risk of injury. In short, it sets us up for the most productive workout possible.

Back to my story…

I started with my first exercise: 5 sets of 5 squats. It felt harder than it should have. But the worst was yet to come. My next exercise was the barbell bench press - and that’s where things really went wrong. I only managed 3 out of the 5 sets before deciding to call it a day.

So, what did I learn from this experience?

1. Never skimp on your warm-up.

2. Know when to stop. If I had pushed on, I could easily have injured myself.

3. Mindset matters. I was in the wrong headspace before I even stepped into the gym.

My business coaches at Parallel Coaching use a warm-up approach called MARS, which stands for: Mobility, Activation, Raise pulse, and Stretch.

Here’s how it works:

M

– Mobility: Get your joints moving and ready for exercise.

A – Activation: Wake up the specific muscles you’re about to use.

R

– Raise Pulse: Gradually increase your heart rate and body temperature (for example, a light treadmill jog).

S

– Stretch: The part most people are familiar withthough there are different types of stretching (perhaps one for a future article!).

There’s even a nice play on words - MARS, the red-hot planet, and getting your body fired up and ready for exercise! So next time you’re preparing for a workout, don’t talk yourself out of it before you beginand whatever you do, don’t skip the warm-up!

Ola Adamolekun

Health and Nutrition Coach/Personal Trainer www.beencouragedwellness.co.uk

A Reason to Stay - By Holly Lucking

It had been a notice in the local paper that led Arla Jenkins to Hilltree House that drizzly April evening. She didn’t usually bother looking through the local newspaper that came through her letterbox each month, heading straight for the recycling bag, but she decided to have a look. Just once. It had been a small box at the very bottom of the page, so small you would need a magnifying glass to spot it.

Housekeeper/Maid needed. Competitive salary. Will need to start as soon as possible.

It was through an agency, so Arla had called straight away and been asked a list of standard questions, asking about previous experience and her willingness to start soon. She had lied when the lady asked if she had done any previous housekeeping. “Yes, of course,” she’d replied, and then went into great detail about past employers that didn’t exist. It wasn’t a very big lie, she told herself, as she had worked numerous retail jobs and barista jobs, but desperately needed a change. She wanted to be given a chance to prove herself before being instantly dismissed and knew that a country house would be the perfect place to hide out. Nobody would ever think to look for her there.

So, she stood before the beautifully Georgian townhouse set back from the chaos of the everyday, the light rain adding a warmth to the house that glowed from its several front windows. Mr Cambourne was the owner, a gentleman in his late seventies who lived alone. That was all the information Arla had been given, but proclaiming herself a superior amateur sleuth, she went online and found that he was a world-famous astronomer who had been widowed at a very young age. For forty years, it seemed he had been alone in the world, and that knowledge shared Arla’s mind as she knocked at the front door.

There was no answer for some time, and then she noticed a tattered piece of paper sticking out of the letter box. It read - ‘If your business is urgent, please knock at the back door.’

Pulling her coat tightly around her as she braved the winds buffering the sides of the house, Arla crunched over gravel and found a small wooden door at the rear. She tried again, and this time it opened almost immediately. An elderly gentleman opened it, Mr Cambourne, she assumed, but he was already walking away from her without a word.

“Hello, Mr Cambourne. My name is…”

“I know who you are,” he called back over his shoulder. “I wouldn’t have hired you if I did not know your name. Follow me.”

Arla wasn’t used to obeying instructions, but needing this job, she did as she was told and followed him inside. The décor was dated, though grand, not what Arla would have chosen if she owned the place. It needed a lick of paint, some fresh flowers in one of the many abandoned vases, and a woman’s touch.

She pushed that thought away, feeling terrible for thinking it. Of course, he would have wanted his wife there with him.

“The agency told me you had plenty of experience. Is that true?” He stopped short and turned, Arla nearly knocking into him.

Plastering a friendly smile onto her face, she nodded vigorously. “Of course it is. I have looked after many houses, but none as lovely as this.” She hoped the compliment would throw suspicion away from her.

Mr Cambourne’s eyes narrowed, and with a grunt, he carried on. “I do not go downstairs often, only for dinner. The rest of the day, I am in my study or library, two rooms that are off limits. And so is the basement. There is only one key, and I have it, so don’t try to get in there. There will be no occasion for it.”

When you tell someone not to do something, they immediately want to do it, and Arla had the itch to get into that basement. Even if she had to pick it with her own chewed nails.

Mr Cambourne showed her around the house and to her room, a small but comfortable room on the second floor that had a window of the vast greenness of the land at her disposal to peruse.

True to his word, she did not see her employer much over the next few weeks, only in the evenings when he came to the dining room for an evening meal. Arla wondered if he ate apart from that, as she never heard the lock unclick to his room, which was down the corridor from her own. A sweet lady in her forties, Mrs Applegate, came in with fresh ingredients and cooked delicious meals for them all. She was kind and pretty with light brown hair pulled into a low bun that gave the feel of a wartime style.

Curiosity got to Arla one night, and she asked Mrs Applegate if she knew what was in the basement. Although she had never been able to get in despite her best efforts without a key, Arla had heard noises from within and got a rather fanciful idea that Mr Cambourne kept a person in there. The image of the last Mrs Cambourne, somehow alive and kept locked away for all these years, came to mind at night when the house went eerily silent and unearthly powers were at work.

Mrs Applegate had gone quiet, her usually small eyes bulging wide. “I…I do not know what Mr Cambourne keeps in the basement and would never ask. He is such a private man, and he works so hard. I am sure it is something to do with that.”

It wasn’t the answer she had been hoping for, but science equipment made more sense. If only she could be sure…

With determination and a fistful of bobby pins, Arla went downstairs to the basement at night when nobody else was about. It took her an age to work the lock, her fingers raw and bleeding at the end, but suddenly the groan of a lock shifting sounded, and the door moved in slowly.

The room was dark with no light. It took her eyes a moment to adjust, and when they did, Arla gasped at what she saw. Her knees buckled and sent her sprawling to the floor, swallowing the scream that had been about to break free.

It was the very thing to save her from a life on the run, a reason to stay.

MT Finance: What Does the Surging Oil Prices Mean for Your Finances?

The conflict in the Middle East is a reminder of how interconnected everything is. Energy remains a cornerstone of the global economy, and when its costs jump, the effects spread quickly. Here’s what it means for your finances.

Thinking about money during a time of war can feel uncomfortable, especially when the human cost is so devastating.

When conflicts occur in a region as economically important as the Middle East, the ripple effects can be felt globally, including across UK household finances. It’s therefore sensible to take stock and understand how events abroad might influence your financial position.

A large share of the world’s energy comes from the Middle East, and the current conflict has pushed up oil and gas prices sharply. How long the shock will last is the key variable and a big unknown at this stage. There are echoes of the 1979 oil crisis when supply disruption led to slower economic growth, weaker markets and surging inflation. Yet today’s situation may prove more temporary. Plus, many economies are more insulated than they were in the 1970s, with more diverse energy production.

Let’s break down what this all means for your money.

Investment Portfolios

Oil shocks can be challenging for markets - and this time is no exception. Higher energy prices act as friction on economic activity. When something becomes more expensive, consumers and businesses are likely to cut back and the wheels of commerce turn that little bit slower. That’s why the impact has been felt across global markets, to one degree or another.

Since the conflict broke out, major European indices such as the FTSE 100 and German DAX have posted their steepest weekly drops since last April, as investors fear a prolonged period of higher energy costs. US markets have held up slightly better as the nation is a net oil exporter, which offers a degree of insulation.

Bond markets have also come under pressure. When oil prices rise, investors worry about broader costs rising too. Inflation eats into the value of future fixed interest payments, so bond prices fall and yields rise in this environment. That’s exactly what we’ve seen again, with the debt of countries most sensitive to energy costs being most affected.

A case in point is the UK. Before the conflict, UK government bonds (gilts) had rallied on the belief inflation had peaked with the view being that the Bank of England were set to reduce interest rates. However, with UK inflation still at 3% and European gas prices leaping higher, markets now expect the Bank of England (BoE) to be far more cautious about cutting interest rates. Add in the UK’s unusually high share of inflation linked debt and the government’s tight fiscal position, gilt yields could remain elevated for some time.

What Does This Mean for Your Portfolio?

We always recommend investing for the long term (five years or more) with a diversified investment approach. In times like this, the best course of action is usually to sit tight. Market timing - especially during geopolitical crises - is notoriously difficult. Unless your portfolio is heavily concentrated in a single sector or region, the ups and downs should be manageable.

There aren’t many hiding places from an inflationary shock of this nature. The potential ones include:

• short-term bonds, high-quality bonds.

• gold.

• energy stocks.

Yet even these have seen some volatility. During market turmoil, even traditional ‘safe haven’ or contrarian assets can go into reverse as reactionary investors sell whatever they can to make up for losses elsewhere.

Fuel and Energy Prices

Most people first feel the brunt of an oil shock at the petrol pump, or through energy bills.

Because crude oil is the main ingredient in petrol and diesel, rising oil prices increases the price of a full tank. But in the UK, the impact is softer than many imagine. More than half of the price of a litre of petrol is tax, so the oil itself accounts for less than a third of the final price.

The price of brent crude oil has risen by roughly $20 since the war began. Analysts say every $10 increase in the oil price pushes up pump prices by roughly 7p a litre. This knock-on effect will be felt by other areas, such as travel too. With jet fuel prices rising, flights may become pricier and those summer holiday budgets might need to expand a little.

Higher Energy Prices Don’t Stop With Transport

Almost every business relies on energy in some way - whether that’s through powering factories, running delivery fleets, or heating stores and offices. When oil and gas prices rise, they ripple across supply chains and push up the cost of goods and services across the whole economy.

For UK households, gas prices have also shot up. This could potentially have a bigger impact on inflation than oil. The regulator, Ofgem, has already published the price cap for energy bills for the second quarter, so any increase would be from July onwards. Additionally, wholesale gas prices only account for less than half of the cap calculation so the effect of higher gas prices is diluted. Nonetheless, if energy prices don’t recede for a long time, we can certainly expect higher electricity and gas bills for the second half of the year.

Interest Rates, Mortgages and Savings

When oil prices rise, they push up the price of almost everything. Delivering goods costs more. Manufacturing costs more. Heating offices, running factories, transporting food - it all costs more. For central banks like the BoE, whose job it is to keep a lid on inflation, that’s bad news. It makes keeping to their inflation target of 2% a lot more difficult when cost pressures become self-reinforcing. Businesses raise prices to cover higher costs and workers ask for bigger pay rises to keep up, which pushes costs up further. Then we risk ending up in an inflation loop that’s hard to break.

As a result, when inflation picks up - even for reasons outside the central bank’s control, like an energy price surge - policymakers tend to pause any plans to cut interest rates. They might even consider raising rates if they fear inflation could run away from them.

What Could Be Next for UK Interest Rates?

At the BoE’s latest meeting, the Monetary Policy Committee voted 5-4 to hold the base rate where it is. Four members wanted to cut, which gave borrowers some hope. But with fresh inflationary pressures building, the BOE is likely to take a wait-and-see approach.

This shift has had an abrupt impact on mortgage rates. Borrowers had enjoyed falling rates earlier in the year, but that’s now reversing. The markets expect interest rates to stay higher for longer as lenders’ funding costs have risen with some banks cancelling planned rate reductions. As a result, fixed rate mortgage prices have started to rise again and hopes of cheaper mortgages in 2026 may need to be dialled back. If this persists, it could dampen housing market sentiment too.

If there’s a small silver lining to interest rates remaining higher for longer, it’s that savings rates may stay attractive too. But don’t expect

a surge. Banks tend to adjust savings rates more slowly than mortgage rates.

The Bottom Line

The conflict in the Middle East is a reminder of how interconnected everything is. Energy remains a cornerstone of the global economy, and when its cost jumps, the effects spread quickly.

The key variable is duration. If disruption is short-lived, then discomfort around energy costs and the impact on markets will likely fade. A drawnout conflict could lead to something closer to an energy shock, with higher inflation, weaker growth and more financial turbulence. A ‘stagflation’ scenario, that is both bad for markets and for household budgets.

The best approach is to stay calm, diversified, and informed. The situation remains fluid and visibility is limited. But understanding any vulnerabilities in your finances puts you in a stronger position, whatever happens next. We’ll be keeping you up to date with all the latest views from our Research Team in the Insights section of our

Believe the Hype - By Parlour

Spring is here and what better way to celebrate that than a walk around Hadleigh and Old Leigh with lunch at Osborne’s Café on one of the sunniest days we’ve had in months.

Nestled along the charming waterfront of Old Leigh, Osborne’s is more than just a café - it’s a slice of Essex’s rich maritime heritage served on a plate. With its roots stretching back to the 1880s, this family-run seafood institution has built a loyal following, drawing both locals and visitors eager to experience some of the freshest seafood the Thames Estuary has to offer.

Positioned near the historic cockle sheds and overlooking the estuary, the setting is as much a part of the experience as the food itself. Midday diners taking advantage of the outdoor seating, soaking up the sun and sea views while enjoying a relaxed, informal dining style.

The menu is a celebration of British seafood tradition. Classic offerings such as cockles, mussels, oysters, and prawns, alongside heartier options like fish and chips and grilled seafood platters. Other dishes like chilli squid or scallops in brioche buns provide a modern twist on familiar flavours. Many reviews consistently highlight the freshness of the produce, describing the seafood as ‘unbelievably fresh… bursting with flavour’.

One standout aspect of Osborne’s is its dual identity as both café and seafood merchant. Visitors can not only dine in but also purchase fresh shellfish to take home, reinforcing its reputation as a trusted source of quality seafood in Essex. This blend of casual eatery and traditional fishmonger adds a unique charm, making it feel less like a restaurant and more like a community hub rooted in local fishing culture.

Service is generally praised as friendly and efficient, with staff often described as welcoming and knowledgeable. During busy periodsparticularly in warm weather - the café can become crowded, which speaks to its popularity but may require a bit of patience.

We waited a little while with no one really taking notice of us, however they were busy as the sun had made its first appearance this spring. Another great thing about Osborne’s is that you can go and grab a drink from The Crooked Billet and bring it over to your table, otherwise soft and hot drinks are available to order direct from them. It was so nice to see everyone smiling and chatting to each other rather than huddled in coats in the rain trying to hurriedly get from one place to another.

I ordered the lobster roll, with my friend ordering the crab toastie. Portions are huge and both come with crinkle cut fries - cooked to

website.

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. Nothing in this article should be construed as personal or specific advice. Charles Stanley is not a tax adviser.

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

perfection, crisp on the outside, fluffy in the middle. The lobster roll is stunning, large chunks of fresh native lobster with a lobster mayo, fresh gem lettuce and chives in a buttery toasted brioche bun. Delicious and fresh, we left stuffed to the brim.

Ultimately, Osborne’s captures the essence of seaside dining in Leigh-on-Sea. It is unpretentious, lively, and steeped in local history, offering a genuine taste of the coast rather than a polished finedining experience. Whether you’re enjoying a simple pot of prawns with bread and butter or indulging in a full seafood platter, the appeal lies in its simplicity and connection to the sea.

For anyone visiting Leigh-on-Sea, Osborne’s is a must-visit destination - not just for the food, but for the atmosphere, heritage and unmistakable charm that define this beloved coastal gem.

All our experiences are paid for to support local, independent businesses and to try and help keep our community buzzing with great places to eat and drink.

Find out more about where we have been and what we are up to at ‘@parlour_presents’ and www.parlour-catering.co.uk.

Exciting Changes Are Coming to MLCT and We Need Your Help

We’re delighted to share that work begins this Sunday on an exciting new upgrade to the front of The MLCT Community Station.

Big improvements are on the way, and we can’t wait to transform the look and feel of our building this spring. Keep an eye on our social media for project updates as the changes take shape.

We’ve already raised one third of the total cost - thank you to everyone who has supported us so far!

Now we’d love your help to raise the remaining funds. You can support the project by:

Make or Break

Everything nowadays is ‘breaking news’ isn’t it?! Every day we are presented with another ‘live-update’ rolling news story.

It feels like every new piece of news is history-making. Whether that’s Epstein, Mandelson, Iran, Trump, or Igor Tudor (is he still Spurs manager? I’m writing in mid-March!) - we are bombarded with news that is constantly breaking, and all of it bad.

We know this isn’t good for us. But it’s almost impossible to keep away - the next update could really change history!

It’s likely, of course, that what’s happening now is more to do with our awareness than it is to do with the breaking news phenomenon. Because of 24-7 breaking news and online everywhere, we’re far more aware of the latest tragedies, traumas and tantrums than ever before.

But are they really history changing? I don’t think so. Wars and rumours of wars, they go on and on, whether they are reported or not. What we are approaching is the celebration of something truly history changing: Easter. The claims of Christians, the claims of Jesus of Nazareth, the claims of the Bible, all stand or fall on the resurrection of Jesus Christ. That’s the make or break moment for Christianity.

• Donating in person at the station or in The Copper Pot Café

• Bank transfer (pop down to the station to donate this way).

• Via our Crowdfunding page: bit.ly/487cGgG.

• Using the donation button on our website or social media page.

If you’re a local business, family, or individual who would like to sponsor part of the project, we’re offering the opportunity to have a small plaque with your name attached to the building during the project as a thank you for your support. Every contribution, big or small, helps us continue improving our community space for everyone. Thank you for being part of our journey

The centre is busy preparing the displays for the city’s Remembrance Day 2026. We need the community’s help to achieve this project. The Men’s Shed have produced a ‘Tommee’ (meeting every Friday) and the ladies of the knitting groups have produced hundreds of poppies, BbutUT we need more! Pattern and wool is available.

Royal British Legion paid us a visit (see photo) and was intrigued by our ideas. The City Council and CVS are now supporting our ideas (see their advert on page 14). On 2nd June we are holding a Poppython, so come and join us or just pop in and see us in action.

We also have some really exciting news for Moulsham regarding Community Transport now known as 360 Transport. Starting in May there will be a weekly shopper bus to Sainsbury’s or Clockhouse retail park. Further details to follow.

The Community Station and Copper Pot Café are open MondayFriday from 8am till 4pm and on Saturday from 9am - 3pm.

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

If Jesus didn’t rise from the dead - well, we’re all fools. But if he did…. If he did!

Well, that changes everything. It’s a crazy claim - but a claim that has stood for 2,000 years now. And a claim that a growing number of people around the world believe to be true. It’s a claim that a bunch of Jesus followers (commonly called disciples) in the first century proclaimed to anyone who would listen, and for most of them it cost them their lives. I don’t think they would have died for a lie.

What about you? Have you ever really thought about it? If you want to do some more digging, scan the QR code.

Join us at Tile Kiln Church. Discover a community of people who not only believe Jesus is alive, but are also working out how to live life in light of this history changing truth.

Tim Goodall, Pastor, Tile Kiln Church.

tim.goodall@tilekilnchurch.org.uk

07821 866 301

YouTube: @tilekilnchurch5108

Facebook: www.facebook.com/tilekilnchurch www.tilekilnchurch.org.uk

Quiz Time

What does BMW’s performance division ‘M’ stand for?

What suburb of Chelmsford is known for its Victorian terraces and proximity to Central Park?

What famous waxworks attraction chain was founded by Marie Tussaud?

What does ‘M’ stand for in the clothing retailer H&M? What famous British retailer is commonly abbreviated to M&S?

What is rapper Eminem’s real name?

What hormone helps regulate sleep and is often taken as a supplement?

On which Spanish island would you find the party resort of Magaluf?

Which Renaissance artist painted the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel?

What is the capital city of Spain?

Which chemical element has the symbol Mg?

Which boxer known as ‘The Greatest’ fought Joe Frazier in the Fight of the Century?

Which fictional detective created by Agatha Christie lives in the village of St Mary Mead?

Where were the early seasons of Dexter set?

Which luxury car manufacturer produces the MC20 supercar?

What desert in the southwestern United States is famous for its Joshua trees?

Which African island nation is the world’s largest producer of vanilla pods?

Which Italian city is known as a global centre of fashion and design?

Which pop star released the album Music in 2000?

Which British comedian hosts the TV show The Wheel? Which scientist conducted pioneering research on radioactivity with her husband Pierre?

Which tech company owns WhatsApp?

In the Bible, who freed the Israelites?

In the Harry Potter series, non-magical people are referred to as what?

Which Nintendo video game franchise features Samus Aran as its main character?

What famous ship was found abandoned in the Atlantic Ocean in 1872?

Which city hosted the 1968 Summer Olympics? What fruit is typically used in South Asian sticky rice dishes?

Which British singer sang the song Grace Kelly?

What is the scientific term for the study of weather and the atmosphere?

Which Roman emperor dies at the beginning of the film Gladiator?

Freema Agyeman played which Doctor Who companion?

Which Essex football club’s nickname is ‘The Jammers’?

What is the most common surname in Ireland?

A chocolate-flavoured latte is better known as what?

Which railway station lies between Colchester and Ipswich on the Great Eastern Main Line?

In the X-Men franchise, the ‘M’ used to classify superpowered individuals stands for what word? What cell structures are often described as the ‘powerhouses of the cell’?

In Greek mythology, what creature with the body of a man and the head of a bull lived in the Labyrinth? What is the 13th letter of the alphabet?

(Answers on page 31)

The Rental Landscape Is Evolving

The rental landscape is evolving. With the Renters’ Rights Act set to bring major reforms from 1st May 2026, now is the time to prepare and ensure your portfolio is fully compliant. While fixed-term tenancies and Section 21 are being abolished, the new system aims to create a fairer, professional environment for reputable landlords.

This landmark legislation aims to rebalance the relationship between 11 million renters and 2.3 million landlords, creating a more stable and professional housing market.

With the right support, owning a rental property can still be a highly worthwhile investment, and that’s where a letting agent, particularly under a Full Management service, proves invaluable.

Let’s explore how letting agents add value to landlords’ portfolios, especially in light of the new reforms.

Understanding the Renters’ Rights Act: What’s Changed?

The Renters’ Rights Act introduces sweeping reforms that affect every landlord in England. These include:

• All tenancies becoming periodic - no more fixed-term assured shorthold tenancies (ASTs) Abolition of Section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions - all evictions must now go through Section 8, with valid grounds.

• Annual rent increase restrictions - only one increase per year, with at least two months’ notice.

• Mandatory registration with a new Landlord Database.

• Stricter enforcement from local authorities.

Is Full Management Right for You?

Ask yourself:

• Do you have the time to deal with tenant emails, maintenance, inspections and legal changes?

• Are you confident in managing legal notices, rent disputes and tenancy exits?

• Can you keep on top of compliance deadlines for each property?

• Do you want to be on call for every tenant issue - even the minor ones?

If you hesitated on any of the above, Full Management might be the smart choice - or at least worth a conversation.

With the Renters’ Rights Act bringing in the biggest private rental reforms in decades, there’s never been a better time to rethink your property strategy.

Whether you want full support or just a little help, McCartney Sales & Lettings is here to guide you through it.

Book your free market appraisal by calling us on 01245 266 980 to speak with the team.

Let’s take the stress off your plate - and help your property reach its full potential.

Wordsearch Answers

Motorsport Old Moulsham

Madame Tussauds

Mauritz

Marks & Spencer

Marshall Mathers

Melatonin

Mallorca

Michelangelo

Madrid

Magnesium

Muhammad Ali

Miss Marple

Mika

Meteorology

Madagascar

Milan

Madonna

Michael McIntyre

Marie Curie

Meta

Moses

Muggles

Metroid

Miami Maserati Mojave

Mary Celeste

Mexico City

Mango

Marcus Aurelius

Martha Jones

Maldon and Tiptree FC

Murphy

Mocha

Manningtree

Mutant

Mitochondria

Minotaur

M (did you use your fingers?)