Moulsham Times - June 2024

MoulshamTimes Delivered to 9000 homes and businesses monthly in Old Moulsham, Tile Kiln & Moulsham Lodge - Issue 138 - June 2024

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MT Welcome Hi readers,

Welcome to the May edition of Moulsham Times.

Have you seen any of the new artworks around our city?

Concrete Canvas has just recently taken place, so do check out some of the photographs throughout the issue! I think it is absolutely great, it brings people together and brightens up some very dull walls. The multi-storey car park certainly looks much better with the addition of some artwork... Well done to all involved!

If you would like to advertise in this magazine, 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.

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Chelmsford - By Vicky Ford MP

May brought the good news that the UK economy has turned the corner and has been growing much faster than expectations. The UK economy has been performing better than all other large European countries and the United States.

Anglia Ruskin University will expand its places to train even more doctors each year. I campaigned hard for Essex’s first medical school to open in Chelmsford a few years ago. The first students graduated last summer and many of the new doctors chose to stay working in our local NHS. The news that the school is to be expanded is great for our local health service.

I saw the impact of this locally when I visited three new businesses which have recently opened on Chelmsford High Street. Gaia is a family-run jewellery business, specialising in 14-carat gold with beautiful modern designs. Zambrero makes scrummy burritos based on Mexican cooking - for every burrito ordered they donate a meal to someone in need. Flannels, specialising in luxury designer fashion, has taken on the old Top Shop location at the entrance to High Chelmer. It is great to see such diverse businesses choosing to locate in Chelmsford.

Thank you to those who vote in the recent elections to choose the Police Fire and Crime Commissioner for Essex. I was delighted that Roger Hirst has been re-elected. I have worked closely with Roger to increase the number of police officers in Essex to record levels. Latest data from the police shows that knife crime dropped by 11.7% in Chelmsford last year and anti-social behaviour is down by 29.7% Thank you to the police for the recent Operation Stronghold all across Chelmsford and for making tackling car theft a top priority.

Another sign of the economy doing well is Chelmsford’s low unemployment and there are now record numbers of people in work locally. There has also been significant increase in support to help people into jobs.

I met with the new Individual Placement and Support team. This service is aimed at helping those with common mental or physical health illnesses to gain and sustain meaningful paid employment. It was extremely moving to hear from people who are now back in jobs and the positive impact this has had on their mental well-being. If you do know anyone who could benefit from this service, they can find out more online via their GP or at the Job Centre Plus.

At Beaulieu Park station, construction teams have been hard at work lifting the two station footbridges into place - and you may have seen a very large crane in action. Once this is completed there will not need to be any further weekend possessions over the summer months. Passengers will be able to enjoy travelling by rail across the region and beyond over June, July and August.

We also got the excellent news that Chelmsford’s medical school at

I have been delivering my crime and safety survey all over Chelmsford and the responses have helped me to get police to focus on the issues that concern local people most. If you have had a copy of the survey, please do help by filling it in.

As ever, if you require any assistance with an issue or a problem, do not hesitate to get in touch with me on vicky.ford.mp@parliament.uk.

A Muddy Time!

There’s something truly magical about the squelch of mud between your toes and the laughter of friends echoing under the open skies. At Heybridge in Essex, the Beach School Explorers are redefining classroom walls, taking learning out into the wild, wonderful estuary where every step is an adventure and every muddy print tells a story.

This isn’t your typical Chelmsford school. Here, amidst the sprawling vistas of Heybridge, children swap pencils for twigs, notebooks for nature and blackboards for the broad and brown expanse of the estuary mudflats. It’s a place where curiosity is kindled not by computers and phones, but by the direct experience of nature’s own offerings.

As they squish through the mud, these intrepid young explorers are not just having fun, they’re gaining invaluable

lessons in environmental science, biology, and even history, discovering the layers of life and human activity that have shaped this unique landscape.

The laughter that rings out as they slip and slide is the sound of barriers breaking; the joy of learning freed from the confines of traditional settings.

It’s about teamwork, as they help each other navigate the tricky terrain, and about resilience, as they learn to laugh off a fall and get back up.

Every outing to the mudflats is a new chapter in their ongoing adventure, a chapter filled with fun, friends and the kind of learning that sticks - much like the mud on their wellies! Whether they’re spotting the local birdlife, identifying different types of blow worm poo, or simply racing to the next exciting landmark, the Beach School Explorers at Heybridge are mastering the art of joyful discovery!

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Hello everyone, it’s June already! The time goes by very fast these days.

Well, my success with computers reached an all-time high recently. I say high rather than low because I think it was the longest time I had ever spent trying to use an app! Now, I am not criticising the app. I’m sure most people use it very well. But not me. I wanted to buy a Railcard. There are lots of them out there and after a quick half an hour I found one. A Senior Railcard. Just to check. I am a senior, one tick, and it gives you a 30% discount, tick. An hour later I had entered in all my information about six times, each time losing the plot before I had finished. Anyway, eventually, I finished. The digital card should be on my iPhone they said (I should never been allowed to own one of these). But couldn’t find it, so I gave up. Next day, I went straight to it.

Now to buy the tickets. Should I try online? After the previous day, no.

I went to the station where a very helpful chap sold me two returns.

I showed him my card and he said, “You and the other person must have one each to get the full discount.” I’m just hoping we have a good journey on Wednesday!

I don’t know it you are aware, but there has been another Concrete Canvas festival with many new pieces of artwork around the city centre. One of which was commissioned by Chelmsford Civic Society.

It is dedicated to John Johnson, who was an architect behind the the Stone Bridge and Shire Hall. It has been created by Andy Downes, an Essex artist. The main reason I mention this, is that you can see the creation of the artwork on youtube. It is fascinating to see how the artist builds to the final image of this great work. You can see it at youtu.be/tdGQJD3p7YI. It’s worth a look.

Road speeds are low in some places, Another thing that a driver faces, For some roads twenty’s plenty, On side roads even when empty, I think common sense is best in all spaces.

Entertainers earn loads of money, Buy what they like, oh how yummy, Some are millionaires, Others are billionaires, Some are not talented or funny.

When there were lots of shops in the High Street, Visiting it was a treat, But now with the internet, You can get anything online you want to get, But you don’t have any friends to meet.

Bin End Chuckles I’d like to start with chimney jokes - I’ve got a stack of them. The first one is on the house...

I waited and stayed up all night to try and figure out where the sun was. Then it dawned on me...

Stay safe and look after each other.

I thought I would record my observations on things currently happening in the country, in the form of a limerick...

Electric cars are the thing of the future, They will eventually be controlled by computer, But until they sort out the range, And the cost of part-exchange, They won’t a part of our culture.

The media is full of things woke, To me it isn’t a joke, I don’t know what they mean, Is it being obscene?

Or just means I can’t call my mate a ‘bloke’.

There are pot holes all over the roads, I haven’t counted them, but there’s loads, They are hard to observe, Causing drivers to swerve, And damaging their cars, I suppose.

Deadlines for July Edition Articles: 23rd May Artwork: 27th May

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MT Gardening

shrub unless there is a good reason for doing so.

Some of the most relaxing and rewarding gardening tasks to do at this time of year has got to be any form of planting, tending cordon tomatoes or pruning. With the latter, pruning is often perceived as a mere gardening chore, however, it does offer profound well-being and therapeutic benefits.

Engaging in this mindful activity connects individuals to nature, promoting relaxation and reducing stress. The rhythmic, repetitive motions of pruning can be meditative, enhancing mental clarity and focus. Furthermore, the act of shaping and nurturing plants fosters a sense of accomplishment and purpose, boosting self-esteem and emotional well-being. Pruning also encourages outdoor activity, which is beneficial for physical health, providing fresh air and gentle exercise. In essence, pruning is a holistic practice that nurtures both the garden and the gardener’s soul.

Pruning consists of removing part or parts of mainly woody plants, trees and shrubs, in order to divert the energy of a plant to achieve a purpose.

Reasons for pruning include: • To remove dead, damaged and diseased wood and so improve the health and look of a plant.

• To alter and improve the shape of a tree or shrub.

• To maintain the vigour of the plant, encouraging new growth and the production of flowers and fruit.

• To bring the plant under control where it is outgrowing its allotted space.

• To remove any part of the plant that is not true to type; eg, some variegated plants will show reversion and this growth must be removed, as it will always be more vigorous.

• To produce new growth or foliage that shows a better colour, shape or size.

On the whole, pruning is the selective removal of stems on trees and shrubs to achieve a desired effect. It may be carried out in order to maintain health and enhance the vigour, form or flowering potential of garden plants, and to regenerate or maintain an appropriate size. However, why prune?

At this time of year early flowering shrubs that flower in late winter through to early summer need annual maintenance pruning to meet a number of the criteria highlighted above. At the end of the day it’s all about prolonging their life. If you are a follower of the RHS, plants that fall in Pruning Groups 2, 3 and 5 will fall into this category.

Check out this useful RHS link for further information: www.rhs.org. uk/plants/types/shrubs/pruning-early-flowering.

Prior to pruning it is important to try to identify plants correctly. This enables you to consult a book for further details on the pruning of a particular tree or shrub. Never prune a tree or

Buddleja alternifolia - Gp 2 Deutzia spp. - Gp 2 Kerria japonica - Gp 3 Ribes sanguineum - Gp 2 Weigela spp. - Gp 2

Cystisus scoparius - Gp 3 Forsythia spp. - Gp 2 Philadelphus spp. - Gp 2 Spiraea ‘Arguta’ - Gp 2 Prunus triloba - Gp 5

In summary, all of these plants flower on previous season’s growth.

Pruning takes place immediately after flowering and involves removing completely old worn out stems and cutting back wood which has flowered to strong young stems. Weak and crowded shoots should be thinned out.

Two further garden tasks for the end of May/beginning of June: •

•

Shade greenhouses to prevent intense sunshine days from scorching vulnerable plants; it will also cool down the area.

I tend to use shading paints, diluted in water and painted onto the outside of the glass in spring, eg, SunClear. They may need reapplying if there has been heavy rainfall.

Check on all those plants that require additional support to reduce flopping over. This can be a real pain if we’ve had heavy rain often leading to stem breakages. Use saved brushwood pruning’s to push in around key plants, and canes for tying long stems or various link/metal supports.

Happy gardening For any gardening tips please contact Tom Cole (Freelance Horticulturist and online tutor for www.learningwithexperts.com) by emailing tomcole8@hotmail.com.

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11

Nick Garner’s Music & Ramblings Did you see the Aurora? Sadly I missed it. I should have seen it as I was returning home about that time following putting a gig on, but alas, I did not look up in the sky or at social media to see what was going on or I may have seen it.

We have been having some decent weather with a few blobs of rain thrown in, but on the whole it is being pretty good. Looking as far ahead as I can, it is looking like the decent weather is here to stay for a while with the possibility of some rain, which we will need I think.

I am glad to see that the Chelmsford Social Club, where I put on most of my music shows, has been renovating the place (we need to remember that they are a not-for-profit organisation). They have new toilets and a new floor in the main hall that we use - and also they have repaired the leaking roof! It looks great and well done to the club, what is next I wonder?

We have had the local elections and we have kept Roger Hirst as the Essex Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, and in Chelmsford we also have a new mayor. Thank you to Linda Mascot and her team for doing a great job during her year. Now, lets welcome Mayor Cllr Janette Potter and her team - we hope that you have a great year ahead.

Have you noticed the street art by Concrete Canvas this year? The best one for me is on the wall at the side of the market opposite the library next to the massive eye from last year - now we have a giant dinosaur too! There are lot’s more pieces to find as well. I think this is wonderful and it is just what we need to brighten Chelmsford up.

By the time this issue comes out, we will have had Ride London which closes many road around Essex. What is your thoughts about this? Ride for Helen took place the other Sunday. Sadly Edwin Knight, who helped us at the J’s Hospice with our rides when I was with them, died on Ride For Helen. I do not know the cause, it’s just sad that this wonderful man, who has raised tens of thousands of pounds over the years for charities, has passed away. Our thoughts are with all of his family and friends. RIP Ed. I heard on the local radio that they asked if we had seen any hot air balloons recently. I have to say I have not, and I used to love seeing them - I even got to go up in one many years ago which was great fun. Where have they gone? Have you got any ideas?

Music I have booked another couple of shows, the first to fill the Social Club on Friday 6th December with The Dirt Road Band. If you do not know them and you like Dr Feelgood, you should check them out - it’s Steve Walwyn’s band, and Steve was with Dr Feelgood for 32 years. He also has Horace Panter playing with him - Horace was bass player with The Specials. He also has Ted Duggan, who was drummer with Bad Finger, among others. This band is Steve’s dream-team and they are knocking everyone out where they play, so do not delay as we think this could be a sellout show.

The other show I have confirmed is for Hot Box on Tuesday 17th September with the amazing Mim Grey and her band. Mim played for us twice in 2023. If you saw either of these gigs, you will know how great she is and what a beautiful voice she has. Mim is Tom Jones’ favourite singer and she is also a favourite of Paul McCartney who has booked her a good few times for his private events. If you go to Soultasia in Maldon on 8th June, Mim will be playing percussion with acid jazz band, The Brand New Heavies. We expect our show to be very busy, so please get booking so you are not disappointed!

For later in the year, I am trying to rebook Geraint Watkins and the 12

Mosquitoes for Hot Box again, as they went down so well and all of us loved the performance. It was great fun and musically fantastic.

We recently had Held By Trees playing, with Calum Ingram opening for them - Calum also joined them on stage. Both acts were great, and Calum and his electric cello were amazing! Held By Trees was a world class performance. It’s certainly a band we will definitely have back. When Calum got up and jammed with them that was brilliant.

The next day I had John Otway with his band at Hot Box, where they played a sell-out show. It was John’s first gig in Chelmsford since 2002 - and it will not be his last, as we are looking at a rebooking him for 2025.

After all this excitement, we had a week off, then came back with Geraint playing. I also had Supernatural playing some Peter Green and early Fleetwood Mac, along with special guest John Altman. John was a friend and played with Peter in the ’70s. This show was opened

by Bex Marshall, who opened for them last time they played, and she also then joined them on stage. Bex is always great and I have also booked her and her band for Hot Box on Sunday 22nd September. I highly recommend this show to you!

We had one more recent show at the Social Club with Steemy Dan, who of course played Steely Dan in their own way. Everybody loved them.

I have also been to see a few shows too. I went to Barry’s Blues Barn, which is set in his back garden and is invite-only. He has been doing this since 2017 and I love it. I have also seen the Italian in London, Emanuele Fizzotti. If you are into the blues you should know of him; it was a great show. Next up was me and Barry’s mate Jack J Hutchinson, who played an acoustic show as part of his nationwide tour. He was joined at the end by Tom Brundage on his harmonicas, doing a great job as ever.

Then it was the folk/Americana duo, Songs Of The Folk - they are a married couple called AT and Lauren from Carolina in USA who now live in Maldon. As Barry said, this has to be one of the best shows he has put on, their harmonies, the lyrics and the playing are outstanding. I am lucky, as I have seen them before and will go and see them again.

Just a fraction of what is going on I’ve mentioned in this article. As we should know by now, there is lots going on all over the place - in pubs, club, halls, theatres, and even shops etc. Now, with better weather there will be more outside too. Do remember that we list a good amount of events in The City Times’ What’s On pages, so please let us know if you have anything you want to list.

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 full details.

You can get tickets for all our shows in Chelmsford at the Social Club, or literally at our shows, or from Intense Records, Hopsters and Chelmsford 4 Good - please pay cash when you buy. Tickets are also available online from www.wegottickets.com/BlackFrogPresents, or via our ticket hotline for both Chelmsford Social Club and Hot Box at no extra charge - call or text 07508 496 411 and you can then pay the advance price on entry to the show rather than the walk-up price.

For all Black Frog Presents gig updates and information go to www. linktr.ee/BlackFrogPresents, or scan the QR code in the poster in this magazine. It would be fantastic if you could also share our magazines The City Times and Moulsham Times for us - just go to our websites for the online versions.

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Excess Water on Victoria Road and Highways Defects - By Cllr Marie Goldman Excess Water on Victoria Road As I’ve been out knocking on doors and speaking to local residents recently, a couple of times residents have raised an issue about excess water on Victoria Road when it rains.

They have told me that it sometimes makes the footpaths unusable as pedestrians get sprayed with water from passing traffic. I’ve raised the issue with Essex County Council, but if you have any photos of this to help me illustrate the problem to them, please send them through to me at office@mariegoldman.uk.

Highways Defects Essex County Council has revised its scheme that has previously allowed county councillors to report highways defects and get them repaired as a priority. In the past, we have been allowed to report 18 potholes twice a year for priority repair.

I can’t say it’s been a brilliant success as it was very restrictive and often took several months for a repair to be carried out - not quite the speedy response I was hoping for. However, one of the biggest frustrations was also that we couldn’t report pavement defects or broken kerbs as part of the scheme. That has now changed, as has the number of defects that I can report.

I’m trying to keep an open mind about whether it will be successful or not. In the meantime, it has allowed me to report several issues that residents have raised with me over the past three years, including - I’m VERY pleased to report - the terrible state of the kerbs in Moulsham Lodge, and in particular in places like Lucas Avenue.

Below is a list of the issues that I have included in my first batch of reporting. If you have a specific defect in Chelmsford Central that you think needs fixing, please let me know. (I haven’t yet included the footpaths in either Fraser Close or Bouverie Road. I know they desperately need some attention. They are next on my list.)

I’ve included a few samples of photos of particularly nasty issues included in this list, but have a look at my Facebook post for a short video showing them: www.facebook.com/MarieGoldmanLD/ videos/473821264997543.

Potholes Mildmay Road, Longstomps Avenue, Heath Drive, Lucas Avenue, Sycamore Way, Queen Street - junction with Moulsham Street, Parkway - Moulsham Street pedestrian crossing, Wharf Road - exit from car park, Orchard Street, High Bridge Road - junction from Odeon Roundabout.

Kerb Issues Waterson Vale, Firtree Rise, Heath Drive, Lucas Avenue, Sycamore Way. Pavement Issues Grove Road, Roman Road.

Marie Goldman Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate for Chelmsford Deputy Leader, Chelmsford City Council Liberal Democrat Councillor in Chelmsford marie.goldman@chelmsfordlibdems.org.uk

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While 18 potholes was very prescriptive, this allocation is much more vague - it’s a week’s worth of work for a highways team. Not being trained in highways maintenance myself, I’ll admit that knowing how long it will take to repair something is a little tricky, so I’ve gone ahead and submitted a long list of issues, which I’ll keep adding to, as I come across them. I’m afraid there’s no guarantee when they will be fixed. They first get assessed and triaged depending on whether the repair will need road closures etc. If so, the specific defect may have to wait until the next time they will be working in the Chelmsford Central division.

All of this is done on a rolling basis, with highways teams dedicated to each Essex division several times a year. It’s a new scheme and

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Non-Spoiler Film Reviews - By Henry Godfrey-Evans

Ordinary Angels You know how a lot of the time we don’t really fancy a cup of tea, and then the mood strikes and we just let ourselves have one? This is that film.

It hit me at the right time even though it was fairly simple. The acting was great, the spirit was there and it set out to make you cry. I just folded.

How do I even rate a film that I know is a bit standard, but gets to me?

Tarot A horror film by the way (80% of you just skipped to the next one).

They’re well known for being mass-produced rubbish most of the time. Production companies send out 4 or 5 a year, and they’re all the same.

Big group of attractive young people mess with some ancient relic (while laughing flagrantly), then they spend the rest of the film regretting it.

of kids not growing up too fast.

John Krasinski did so well with this. Both the leads were present in every scene they were in and acted very well considering they were reacting to CGI that wasn’t there yet.

They got the fundamentals so right that it bolstered the whole thing.

The Garfield Movie If you want to make a good animated film, you have to be extremely creative with physical situations. This film did a great job of that, physical gag after physical gag.

It wasn’t very ambitious with the story obviously and the voice acting was just a bunch of celebrities (not voice actors mostly).

You’ll enjoy this a bit if you watch it with your children.

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Some of the worst decision making from characters I’ve ever seen, but also some decent monster designs.

Naff.

The Fall Guy ‘Oh this looks good...’

Yeah well the trailer took all the best jokes - rookie mistake.

Ryan Gosling didn’t put in a lot of effort and the stunts looked rubbish.

It was sometimes funny but very inconsistent. You’ll say it’s unique if you don’t see many films.

Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes Looked amazing, I know quite a few people who see cinema as a visual medium (above all else) and this is for those people.

The motion capture has improved so much that the real backdrop blends perfectly with the effects.

The plot was very underwhelming though, thank goodness most people will be too distracted by how it looks.

Love Lies Bleeding If you see ‘A24’ in a trailer, then that’s a film worth seeing. Just treat it as a general rule from now on.

This wasn’t amazing but it was instantly interesting, the shock value was exquisite in certain moments. Like Planet of the Apes, it was a visual treat, but with a bit more purpose and art to it.

All over the place in some ways but that’s a genuine genre of film. A low four stars for me.

IF Again, there is no excuse not to make a good kids’ film.They will be distracted by the imaginary friend characters and laughing at Ryan Reynolds. Meanwhile, you get swept up in the genuinely strong theme 14 www.moulshamtimes.com

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15

Boxercise Is Good for You - Makes You Strong and Beautiful - By Ola Adamolekun My columns are normally based on things that interest me relating to health and fitness. However, sometimes I just like to give you an update on things that I’m doing - this article is one of those.

Last month, I started my first Boxercise project. It’s a six-week introduction to Boxercise. First and foremost, what is Boxercise?

Well, it’s a form of exercise where boxing techniques are applied to general fitness. It combines boxing techniques with body weight training, circuit training and what we call ‘beasting’ - which is just pushing people as hard as they can be pushed during exercise. I think the best thing about Boxercise is that it’s fun!

Now you know what it is, I’ll talk about my experience. My first experience of combat sport was a boxing fitness class at Keene Hall in Galleywood. I went with a friend, her kids and 2 of my 3 boys. I’m pretty sure they were in primary school, so that must have been a long time ago.

grappling - it’s probably the most aggressive combat apart from MMA - I’m sure some people will disagree, but that’s my experience.

Anyway, back to Boxercise. By the time you read this article, my first 6-week course will be over. So far, these are my thoughts: 1.

Boxercise is fun! The feedback that I’ve been getting from the class is that people are enjoying it, working hard and having fun at the same time. As a coach, I’m really enjoying seeing people work out with smiles on their faces.

2.

Training with friends and family is good for you. In my class I have 2 couples, 2 sets of friends and a family that consists of mother, father and son. Most of the people that have signed up are coming with another person.

3.

I’ve stepped outside of my comfort zone by holding a class in a different area to where I live. This hasn’t been a barrier at all.

4.

Contrary to my last article, men do like group training - if they are with their friends and family...

We celebrated Mental Health Awareness Week in May 2024. Exercise is certainly one way to boost your mental health. The endorphins we release when we exercise increase the ‘feel good factor’ and exercising with a smile on your face doubles that feel good factor.

Anyway, I was hooked and I started attending boxing and kickboxing classes at my gym. This was until a guy noticed me kicking the living daylights out of a punch bag and encouraged me to join a club.

So, what’s the moral of the story? Find a form exercise that you enjoy and do it with friends. If you want to try something new, I’ll be running 2 free Boxercise taster courses in June, so be on the lookout for further details. In the meantime, keep punching!

That was the start of my love affair with Muay Thai aka ‘the art of 8 limbs’ - punches, elbows, knees, and kicks. There is also stand-up

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

Mens Health and Well-Being - By Eleanor Searle A few weeks ago, I was sat in my mum’s kitchen in a rare child-free moment, leafing through the Sunday papers, only to chance across an article in one of the broadsheets about men’s health. The article followed several super-rich American men who had made vast sums of money when they had sold their stratospherically successful businesses and were now channelling all their energy into their own health and well-being. The men were going to great pains to stay fit and healthy, with one trying to reverse the signs of aging. He claimed to be using science to reverse his biological age and was estimating that he may live to well over 150. A lot of things struck me about this article, but the main thing was that their level of obsession was unhealthy.

One of the other men was trying to maintain a steady level of endorphin release throughout the day, which started by waking up under what looked like a flood light - I would argue that there are better ways to start the day! Endorphins are our happy hormones and having a good level of them in our bodies is great, but getting a natural hit of them through exercise, laughter and all the other natural things that promote their release is a good thing; trying to maintain an entirely steady state seemed impossibly dull. My thoughts were that although many are clearly looking for the elixir of youth, aging is natural and comes with wisdom, which seemed to be lacking in the article.

Science, statistics and people can all be manipulated to tell you what you want to hear, particularly the kind of pseudo-science trending

on social media, which has no robust basis at all. If you want to stay fit, active and healthy - regardless of your gender - in older age, the research is clear: eat well, sleep well, exercise and make time to relax, that way you may be able to be on the planet for a good time and a long time.

Steve, my business partner, has an identical twin brother, and is thereby conducting his own control trial into the effects of yoga! His practice is keeping him fit and healthy, as he heads towards 65.

If you’d like to try a yoga class at Hummingbird with Steve or one of our other fabulous teachers, we’d love to see you. We certainly won’t promise that you’ll live to a record breaking 150, but we will promise you a great class and a nice way of keeping fit and healthy! Here is a free class pass code if you’d like to join us at our studio: ‘HPYFREECLASS’.

Please book in at www. hummingbirdpilates. co.uk

16 www.moulshamtimes.com

Smart-Motoring is a motoring news blog bringing you the latest features, stories and information from the motoring world. smart-motoring.com

Morgan and Pininfarina Give Us the Exclusive Morgan Midsummer As we seemingly bypass spring and head from autumn into summer (hopefully) Morgan has provided a tonic for the next few months in the Morgan Midsummer convertible. This is a collaboration between Morgan and Italian car design company, Pininfarina, and it looks fantastic.

Pininfarina’ motif for extra kudos.

Morgan has suggested that this is an advancement on the traditional Morgan design profile - and something that will certainly not alienate existing Morgan enthusiasts, but just might encourage a few more to join this exclusive group.

Sadly, there will only ever be 50 examples of the Morgan Midsummer built, making it a very exclusive limited-edition model - and all have been snapped up already. Pricing has surprisingly not been revealed, but we can expect that it was an amount that most of us could not afford.

The car has a friendly, almost Noddy car front and a very sleek and slick rear end that gives the Midsummer a noticeable difference.

From the side it simply looks like a sports car you would crave to own during a balmy British late summer.

Aside from the tactile luxury of Mid Century-style teak, the interior also features analogue dials which were designed for the Midsummer

by Morgan and Pininfarina and are exclusive to the Midsummer.

Of course, with such a limited entity, each of the 50 lucky owners can spec their own design feel of their personal car, with production beginning in 2024 and stretching into 2025.

The low stance of the Midsummer means that the exterior needs to enhance the interior, as all appears to be one entity. The interior teak wood that Morgan uses here is created to surround the cabin, almost boat-like. It consists of hundreds of laminated 0.6mm thick layers to create the perfect shaping for the little 2-seater sports car. The process can take up to 30 hours to complete. The tops of the doors are also in teak, helping to blend the exterior with the inside.

Outside, the body consists of hand-beaten aluminium body panels in a process that takes 250 hours, with that longer aluminium deck proving to be the show stealer here. Modern forged moon-style 19inch alloys complete the look. Badging also includes a ‘Design by

Good news is that Jonathan Wells, Morgan’s Chief Design Officer, says that the Morgan Midsummer demonstrates the ‘flexibility of the Morgan silhouette’, looking to establish new design foundations for the future of Morgan.

A good thing to hear, as the Morgan Midsummer looks near perfect for a rain-free summer’s afternoon… If only you could find one - of either.

By Sean Neylon Courtesy of Smart Motoring magazine smart-motoring.com Images: morgan-motor.com

Remember to tell our advertisers you saw their advert in the MT

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St John’s Moulsham - By Benson Hello my pawsome chums! I hope you are all well and had wooftastic May bank holidays. I did, as I got to spend lots of time with my humans who got to play with me and give me lots of cuddles. How fur-tunate were they!?

I’m getting a lot of extra cuddles at the moment as I have an ouchy. It was time for my big boy operation, as I was eyeing up the ladies a little too much for my humans’ liking.

But then, much to my disgust, my humans put me in a baby grow (apparently to protect my stitches). To make matters worse they took lots of photos saying how cute I looked. I know I am 11 months old in human years, but in dog years I am 15. You wouldn’t dream of putting a 15-year-old human in a baby grow! My human would like me to point out it was either the medical pet suit (apparently the correct term) or the cone of shame.

This month I have been learning a lot about fur-giveness. I was very naughty, and it had big consequences; I ignored my human’s calls and ran away to say hello to two other humans. I know I did wrong and should always come when my humans call, as there is always a reason. Sometimes it’s because it is dinner time, other times it’s walkies. But then sometimes it’s to protect me. In this case the two humans did not want me to say hello to them, and one of them even kicked me in my ouchy.

So, I’ve learnt to ask fur-giveness from my humans for not coming when called, and all the and the upset I caused. But I have also had to learn to fur-give for being kicked. The more I have looked at forgiveness, the more I understand that for some humans, forgiving another human can be tough, and holding a grudge may feel natural.

The Journal of Psychology ran a study in 2014 about how practising forgiveness can improve our mental and physical health. But let’s be hound-est (honest) - practice is harder than theory.

In the Bible, Peter, one of Jesus’ disciples, asks Jesus how many times he must forgive his brother who has done wrong to him (probably stole his favourite chew toy). Peter thinks it’s up to 7 times and Jesus responds with no, not 7 times, but 77. Which, for a puppy, seems a lot - but that’s the point Jesus is making. We need to continually forgive and that is a difficult thing to do because it can really hurt you on the inside.

Forgiveness sometimes is a continual process. You may think you have forgiven someone and then something happens, and you realise you haven’t and you need to forgive again. If you are struggling to forgive and you want to, speak to someone who you trust or someone impartial like my human at St John’s Moulsham. You may find journalling helpful, but please be kind to yourself.

Paws for now.

Benson

See the opposite page for some great news for St John’s

Grove Road Evangelical Church You have probably noticed the word ‘Evangelical’ in our church name? Maybe that’s a word you don’t use much in your everyday conversation. What does evangelical really mean? Simply this: Good News. What good news are we talking about? It’s all about what Jesus has done to rescue us.

Imagine you are in a boat that is sinking in a storm. Things are looking bad. But then a lifeboat sails into view and you hear, ‘Don’t worry, I can rescue you. Just follow these instructions...’ Now that’s really good news! But imagine what happens if we shout back, ‘Go away, I don’t need your help!’?

Jesus comes to us in a lifeboat - the lifeboat of how he lived, what he did for us on the cross, how he conquered death and is alive again.

‘Trust me, follow me’, he shouts across the noise of the wind and the waves, ‘and I can rescue you’.

Many have discovered this good news, that Jesus is able to rescue us and give us a new start to life, a new hope and that he can help us every day. Some use the word ‘evangelical’, some don’t. The key is whether or not we have discovered that good news is only found in Jesus. So when you see our church name, think about a group of people who have discovered some very good news and who don’t want to keep it to themselves. So if you would like to have some good news in your life, why not come and learn more about the new start, the new hope, the new life that Jesus offers us.

We meet on a Sunday at 11am. We look forward to sharing with you the good news that God offers us in Jesus.

Philip Loose, Senior Pastor Grove Road Evangelical Church (Behind Tesco Express, Moulsham Street) www.grecuk.co.uk pastor@grecuk.co.uk

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All Change at St John’s - A Green Space for Old Moulsham Thanks to a generous grant of £250,000 from the National Heritage Lottery Fund, the churchyard at St John’s will see some changes this year which will greatly benefit local people. Revd Hannah Robinson, Priest-in-Charge at St John’s, explained, “For some years now we have been planning to open up the churchyard so that local people can enjoy it more easily. In addition to a new door to the side of the church, we are creating a pathway around the churchyard which will be a heritage trail, telling the history of some of the local people buried in the churchyard. We will also have a wildflower meadow and a quiet reflective space with a mural designed by community groups for people to enjoy some peace, as well as community vegetable beds.”

St John’s attained the award of Gold Eco Church in 2022, so the development will reflect a concern for the natural environment in the churchyard. There will be 9 benches for people to sit on, each made of recycled plastic - a single bench prevents 31,000 plastic bags going to landfill. Churchwarden Nanette Wright told Moulsham Times: “The parish church doesn’t just belong to the small number of people who worship there - it belongs to everyone in Old Moulsham and we want it to be a place where everyone feels welcome to spend time.

We have a community café in the church on Monday and Thursday mornings and anyone is welcome to come and look at the plans and chat to us over coffee and cake.”

The early stage of the work will see the construction of a new doorway into the church, repairs to the drains, some repairs to the brickwork which was damaged during the storms last year and the demolition of an old boiler house. Then the landscaping will improve the condition of the churchyard. A wider open square in front of the church will provide a new outdoor community space and will house an outdoor café in the summer months.

The pathway will be improved to make it accessible for wheelchair

users, mobility scooters and buggy access to walk round the church. Posts with QR codes around the path will form the outdoor heritage trail, leading to a heritage display area where people can learn about the habitat and the people buried there.

School pupils and others will visit, learn about wildlife and plant life, have a go in the vegetable garden and participate in trails around the churchyard and into the church. A Green Fair that will celebrate the Moulsham community and will be an opportunity for local businesses, suppliers, makers and creators to showcase local products, as well as promoting environmental sustainability, highlighting, and promoting local sustainability initiatives. A Heritage Fair will be run to connect with the wider church heritage and provide an attraction to bring more people into the church and its surroundings.

Revd Hannah Robinson said, “We are so grateful to lottery players and the National Heritage Lottery for making this possible and we look forward to local people being able to enjoy the space in the future.”

Chelmsford Local Plan Review – Preferred Options Consultation Plan by continuing to focus new housing and employment growth to the most sustainable locations in three Growth Areas - 1 Central and Urban Chelmsford, 2 North Chelmsford and 3 South and East Chelmsford.

Chelmsford City Council is consulting on a review of its adopted Local Plan with the Preferred Options consultation running from 8th May 2024 to 19th June 2024.

This is the second of three stages of consultation towards updating the adopted Local Plan, and has been prepared following initial consultation in 2022. The City Council wants to make sure the plan covers the right issues and that all the suitable options for accommodating change are considered. The consultation is your opportunity to feed into the review process and help to shape the plan and the future of our area.

Chelmsford City Council adopted the current Local Plan in May 2020.

It needs to review the plan at least every five years to make sure it remains up-to-date and meets the changing needs for development to 2041. The review considers new national policy and changing local circumstances. The aim is to get the right type of development in the right places to meet the growing needs of local people and businesses, while protecting our environment.

The Preferred Options Local Plan is a full draft Local Plan. It includes updated and new strategic priorities, site allocations for new homes and employment, and policies that will be used to decide planning applications.

The existing site allocations in the adopted plan which are not yet built are carried forward in the Preferred Options plan. Many of these sites are now coming forward, with masterplans being approved and planning applications decided or in progress. Some sites have also started building.

To meet additional housing growth needs to 2041 we are proposing new development sites in the Preferred Options Local Plan. We are not considering growth in the Green Belt or Green Wedge.

Chelmsford City Council is inviting comments on the Preferred Options Local Plan to ensure that it is fit for purpose to meet local needs. It is not reopening any debates about the principle of already adopted allocated sites.

The council is also consulting on an Integrated Impact Assessment which assesses the impacts of the Preferred Options Local Plan in terms of key sustainability issues.

How Can I Get Involved?

You can view and comment on the consultation documents during the consultation period on our specially designed consultation portal, www.chelmsford.gov.uk/planningpolicyconsult.

Alternatively, visit our Local Plan web page for details of the consultation, how to make your comments, and about our planned in-person exhibitions at, www.chelmsford.gov.uk/lp-review.

The Preferred Options plan follows the approach in the adopted Local www.moulshamtimes.com

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Lumos Live Brings Sunset Candlelight Experience to Essex at Hylands Estate, Chelmsford, on Friday 5th July 2024!

After a successful year of indoor candlelight events, Lumos Live announces a series of outdoor sunset candlelight experiences.

On the 5th July, Lumos Live starts it’s Sunset Candlelight Experiences for the summer at Hylands Estate, Chelmsford in Essex.

• • • • •

The best hits from Hans Zimmer, Taylor Swift and Coldplay will be played, surrounded by over three thousand LED candles.

There will be a bar and food vendors running all evening.

With support from Hylands Estate, Lumos Live delivers a magical outdoor concert experience reviving local entertainment for customers.

Seven summer locations have been confirmed. These include Sevenoaks, Chelmsford, Bournemouth, Portsmouth, Cobham, Warwickshire and Cobham.

Lumos will be supporting charities across the UK with a percentage of profits donated from each show and promoting young musicians with paid opportunities.

Lumos Live, the UK’s first independent illuminating concert experience, is paying homage to the world’s best musical talent, adding a modern take to classical music. From a year of over 100 successful indoor concerts, Lumos Live announces its summer series: An Outdoor Sunset Candlelight Experience.

With support from local vineyards and stately homes, Lumos Live is set to have sell out shows across the board. The shows will consist of a three-hour long performances from a string trio playing the best hits from Hans Zimmer, Taylor Swift and Coldplay.

• • • • •

Doors open at 6pm.

Event finishes at 9.30pm.

All are welcome to bring picnic blankets and camping chairs to sit on.

This event is for 8 years old and above.

Tickets for the Chelmsford show are available from lumoslive.co.uk/events.

This will be an unforgettable evening in an idyllic atmosphere to sit and relax - come and enjoy an evening you won’t forget.

We also have two pairs of tickets to give away as a prize for you readers!

A Chance to Win Tickets!

Just email paul@mulshamtimes.com with your name, email address and phone number and the answer to the following question: When was Hylands House built? a) 1730, b) 1830, c) 1930.

Two lucky winners will be drawn at random to win a pair of tickets to the event, no cash alternative will be offered and tickets will be issued under the terms from the organiser. Only one entry per person. Closing date is 16th June.

CCR Latest News We have been busy as ever at Chelmsford Community Radio, heading out and about and working in partnership with the amazing team at the Essex Book Festival, where Good Morning Chelmsford presenter Michelle has been teaching the National Saturday Club students about radio and podcasting! We’ve also been absolutely delighted to deliver talks for the Mashbury & Chignal WI and the Chelmsford Retirement Action Group.

The charity sadly lost one of their greatest supporters at the Ride for Helen cycling event, Ed Knight. Ed had supported Helen Rollason Cancer Charity since 2017 when he turned up with his ‘ordinary bicycle’. Ed was also a wonderful character in the Chelmsford Community as you’d often see him out and about with his amazing collection of bikes.

Chelmsford Community Radio attended the Ride For Helen run by the Helen Rollason Cancer Charity and a vital part of their fundraising calendar. Nearly 800 cyclists took part, all of the money from the event is still being counted. The weather did not disappoint and we were happy to contribute to the nice atmosphere of the start and finish hub.

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We are very sad to learn of Ed’s passing and send our love to his friends and family. If you would like to read Ed’s story then please visit www.helenrollason.org.uk/in-memory-of-ed-knight-honouring-acycling-enthusiast-and-beloved-supporter. www.chelmsfordcommunityradio.com

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21

Things to Sell?

Have you got things to sell? Perhaps the things you no longer want could become someone else’s treasure?

Or perhaps you craft and would like an opportunity to sell to the community of Moulsham Lodge and Tile Kiln.

We are planning a Table Top Sale on August Bank Holiday Monday (26th August 2024) from 11am - 2pm to raise funds to permanently repair our large hall roof. We will also be serving refreshments at the event.

This month we hear from Nicola Babbington who runs Drink & Draw, a social group for creative people who want to get together and draw, held at the United Brethren each month.

If you would like a table, please get in contact for further details by emailing moulshamchurches@ gmail.com, or message us via Facebook.

“I think the fact that we have an artistic community - a creative community - in Chelmsford, is such a wonderful pull. As I’ve said, I can sit there and doodle absolutely right, I can knock up flash fiction, absolutely right.

“However, for me it’s that social aspect and knowing that you can go along to maybe a Chelmsford Creative Collective catch up at the end of the month or go along to Drink & Draw and talking to other creatives and finding out about what they’ve done or what they’ve got coming up, and getting involved as and where possible.”

We look forward to hearing from you!

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

Ignite Member of the Month

Ignite Chelmsford is a free network for creative individuals and businesses in the borough. Each month, Nikki Wilson talks to an Ignite member who is doing something interesting.

Spot the fox cub - photograph sent in by reader Carol from Old Moulsham

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23

MT Finance - Your Financial Future Needs a Spring Clean Too! The new financial year provides the ideal opportunity to look further ahead and ensure an appropriate and well-maintained financial plan is in place.

People have been spring cleaning their homes for thousands of years - and for good reason. When the warmth needed in the dark days of winter came from wood burning fires, the advent of lighter days meant the accumulated layers of soot could be washed away. The season of optimism and regrowth also coincides with the start of the new tax year.

Find out which tax benefits and allowances could be available to you to provide confidence in what the future brings.

Financial Planning Tips for 2024/25 1. Are you using your pension allowances?

You can now enjoy more generous annual pension allowances than in previous years. In April 2023 the annual allowance rose to £60K per annum, this provides a much greater headroom for pension contributions, providing income tax relief at their highest marginal rate.

Meanwhile, high earners and retirees also have more scope to pay into a pension and shield tax from HMRC, with the tapered and money purchase annual allowances both increasing from £4,000 to £10,000.

2. Pensions and tax-efficient death benefits On 6th April last year, the Lifetime Allowance (LTA) for pensions was abolished. Nevertheless, a cap on the size of any lump sum death benefits that can be paid tax-free should an individual die before the age 75 still exists in the form of the Lump Sum and Death Benefit Allowance (LSDBA). For those without protections, this was set at £1,073,100 - the same level of the LTA that it replaced.

The LSDBA is a combined allowance for both lifetime tax-free lump sums and tax-free death benefits. So, the amount available for lump sum death benefits will be reduced by any tax-free cash amounts the member has taken.

Only lump sum death benefits will be tested against the LSDBA on death before age 75, not pension income. It is important to make sure your pension provides the option of a pension pot that can be passed on to your beneficiaries - not only a lump sum - and, if it doesn’t, it’s time to seek advice. The maximum flexibility on death is provided by the drawdown option.

So, it is important to regularly review your pensions to ensure they will provide the most suitable death benefit options in the event this is needed. Another task for your spring cleaning list is an assessment of the level of risk in your investments as a whole - and whether it is suitable at this stage of life. Goals and financial aspirations often change with time and circumstance, so you need to assess whether you feel comfortable with the risk profile of your investments.

3. Get pension nominations up to date With the LSDBA now in force, it’s now vital you make sure that you have nominated the person that you want to receive the death benefits generated from your pensions. Completing a nomination (also known as an ‘expression of wish’) helps guide the scheme trustees when deciding to whom any death benefits should be paid.

However, it also ensures that all the options under the scheme are available to the nominated beneficiaries - something that is particularly important for non-dependant loved ones.

4. Use your ISA allowance annually Shrinking dividend and capital gains tax (CGT) allowances have made protecting your wealth from future tax inefficiencies via an ISA or pension pot even more important this year.

The CGT allowance - the investment profits you can realise every year without paying tax on the gains - has now been reduced to £3,000.

This stood at £6,000 in the 2023-24 tax year and at £12,300 in 2022-23.

Any gains that exceed this allowance are taxed at 10% and 20%, for basic-rate and higher-rate taxpayers respectively. A capital gain of £10,000 outside of tax-efficient wrappers could leave you with a £1,400 CGT bill, if you’re a higher-rate taxpayer.

An ISA is an excellent way of building up a lump sum for the future.

The money could be for retirement, university costs for your children or helping them to purchase their first home. Gains earmarked in an ISA wrapper are tax free, as is any money that is withdrawn.

The current ISA allowance is £20,000, which now can be split any way you like across a Stocks & Shares ISA or a Cash ISA. A new ‘British ISA’ may also be introduced to support UK investment, with this proposal currently in a consultation period that lasts until 6th June. If approved, it will give savers an additional annual subscription allowance of £5,000 on top of the existing £20,000 limit, with the additional allowance likely to begin the following tax year (2025/26).

5. Inheritance tax planning: use all available allowances Inheritance tax (IHT) is a tax on the estate of someone who has already passed away. Everybody gets a £325,000 inheritance taxfree allowance. So, if the value of the estate is below £325,000, there’s no inheritance tax to pay. The estate will theoretically be taxed at 40% on any amount above the £325,000 threshold (or 36% if you leave at least 10% of the value after any deductions to a charity in your will).

Since 2017, everyone has also been able to take advantage of something called the residence nil-rate band (RNRB), commonly known as the ‘main-residence’ band. This is an additional allowance - currently worth up to £175,000 - that you can receive on top of the existing £325,000 IHT allowance. To qualify, you need to leave your main residence to your children or grandchildren - and this includes any adopted, foster or stepchildren.

The wealthiest estates may not be able to benefit from the RNRB. Estates worth more than £2m lose this allowance in a tapering fashion. It is withdrawn at a rate of £1 for every £2 over the £2m threshold. The taper test is applied on each death, including those before 6th April 2017.

To determine whether the £2m taper threshold has been passed it is the value of the ‘net estate’ that’s used, which is a different figure from the estate valuation used for IHT purposes. Broadly, this means the value of everything the deceased owns at the time of death, less any liabilities such as an outstanding mortgage. Therefore, certain exemptions cannot be deducted.

Lifetime gifts are also excluded as they’ll no longer be owned by the deceased at the time of death. This applies even if these gifts were made during the seven years that preceded it. This allows gifts that have been made right up to the point of death to be used to bring the value used for tapering below the £2m threshold.

It is important to take advice if you feel you may have an estate that could lose the RNRB as reinstating it is the starting point of the strategy to minimise the IHT bill your estate will face. A Charles Stanley financial planner can provide holistic advice on ways to reduce your liability, as well as how you may reinstate your RNRB. 6. Get a valid will and a lasting power of attorney Writing a will allows you to have control over what happens to your property, money and belongings after you die. Without a will you will die “intestate” and your estate will be subject to the intestacy laws and your estate may not be divided amongst those you cherish in a manner that you deem fit. It is also advisable to keep a list of all your

24 www.moulshamtimes.com

assets along with your will. This is vital for accounts that you hold online, which can change regularly and increases the risk that some assets will be forgotten and not be included in your estate.

A lasting power of attorney is also another extremely important document. It allows someone to act on your behalf should you become incapacitated. However, you are limited to what planning you can personally carry out after an LPA comes into force. It is extremely restrictive when it comes to IHT planning - so it is important that all this is completed while you are fit and healthy.

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: 55 Bishopsgate, London EC2N 3AS.

The Singing Chef I’m writing this totally last minute this month!

Next, pop to the butcher shop and buy some wings, your choice for flavour, but I love Buffalo wings.

Wow, how busy busy busy has May been? I’ve started a new full time Chef position at Queenies - OMG, I LOVE it!

Boil them for 20 minutes.

More on Queenies and the new store next month...

Then barbecue or air-fry for about 10/15 minutes, continuing to brush with more sauce.

This month, my focus is on Chelmsford Market where I have been doing most of my shopping while working.

Queenies kitchen until the new one opens.

The view from Queenies’ kitchen • • •

Get some peaches from the fruit and veg man.

Put them in the freezer.

Grate mozzarella over your loaded Burrata for an amazing BBQ accompaniment. www.moulshamtimes.com

Trust me... well actually trust Chef Dough who taught me this trick.

These are the best wings you will ever have...

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On Saturday 8th June, we will be celebrating our 10 year anniversary at the Community Station where there will be a silent disco. There will also be a BBQ from around 3pm until around 9pm, and we will have a licensed bar for the evening from 7pm till 10pm when it will be adults only. Evening tickets for the silent disco are available on our website. Not discoing? You can still come along and enjoy a sociable evening with friends and family.

Our Men’s Shed recently built a play kitchen unit for an outdoor ‘muddy kitchen’ at Ongar Infant School. We delivered it a couple of weeks ago and the children have since enjoyed it every day.

We would like to thank Chandler Material Supplies for their support, as they donated some of the materials to enable us to finish the kitchen. If any other schools or playgroups would like something similar, then please get in touch.

This month we highlight one of the groups that use the

Community Station - Dolls House and Miniiatures Club...

We have a few vacancies in our small friendly club. We meet at the Community Station where the Copper Pot Café is located (Detective Room) on the second Wednesday each month between 11am and 1pm, and the last Thursday each month between 7pm and 9pm. We mainly make models and houses in 1/24 and 1/48 scale - these are usually from kits and as they are fairly small and do not take up to much space.

We sometimes have a group project where we all make the same kit or choose individual items to make. We would be willing to give any help to new members and to order kits from suppliers if you would like.

The group has been running for over 20 years at various venues, and we would be delighted if you would like to join us. There are a couple of examples of kits and made items on display in the foyer of the Community Station.

If you are interested, please telephone either Pat Candler on 07763 932 610, Sheila Robson on 07717 040 047, or Ann Richardson on 07305 664 969. We look forward to hearing from you.

The Copper Pot Café is open Mondays to Fridays 8am till 4pm and Saturday from 9am - 3pm. www.mlct.org.uk enquiries@mlct.org.uk 07434 678 999

An Update From Moulsham Lodge Ward - By Ashley Thompson & Simon Goldman Hopefully, you will be able to read this monthly update from your two Moulsham Lodge Liberal Democrat Councillors, Ashley Thompson and Simon Goldman, with blue skies outside and not the constant rain we seem to have had for the last few months.

But now spring is finally here, there are plenty of bright spots around the area we can point to around the ward...

Progress is also being made in terms of the long-awaited junction protection double yellow lines on Gloucester Avenue and the surrounding roads. It would seem that only the way to deter those who park inconsiderately on the corners will be to make it parking offence to do so. The consultations are now complete and we expect to see these implemented imminently.

Let’s start with the situation down at Chislett Row play area. We’re only too aware of ongoing issues with anti-social behaviour (ASB) at this location. Which is why we’re delighted that the Public Safety team have responded to our lobbying by agreeing to install CCTV at this location for a trial period of 6 months, this is now operational as an ongoing deterrent and if ASB is discovered, we will apply for a grant to make the camera a permanent feature.

So there is loads going on and considerable progress in terms of facilities in Moulsham Lodge, but now isn’t the time to be complacent. If you have any concerns or suggestions about how we can make Moulsham Lodge a better place, do email us.

For any local issues, please do get in touch any time.

Take care.

Whilst we’re on the subject of play areas in Moulsham Lodge, we’ve also had some great news regarding John Shennan Field. Funding has been agreed to update the play area at this location and a consultation will soon open, online and elsewhere, so we can get your views on how you’d like things to look going forwards. We will keep you updated on when the consultation will begin. So please do sign up to our local e-news letter by contacting one of us - details are further on.

simon.goldman@chelmsfordlibdems.org.uk ashley.thompson@chelmsfordlibdems.org.uk or follow us on the following platforms: Chelmsford Liberal Democrats Facebook: www.facebook.com/ChelmsLibDems Facebook: Simon Goldman - Moulsham Lodge Councillor Twitter: twitter.com/ChelmsLibDems YouTube: www.youtube.com/@ChelmsfordLibDems

26 www.moulshamtimes.com

Tile Kiln Corner - By Cllr Linda Mascot

During my final weeks in office as Mayor of Chelmsford, it was a pleasure to present awards to Chelmsford volunteers, unveil the new nationwide Fire Service Memorial at the Living Memorial site in Rettendon and celebrate the Sikh spring festival of Vaisakhi in Half Moon Square.

Between May 2023 and May 2024, the Deputy Mayor, Cllr Jude Deakin and myself attended a total of 396 engagements across Chelmsford. At every single engagement I have thoroughly enjoyed, meeting all the volunteers who are supporting our residents and charities for all ages which are helping to combat social isolation by fostering a strong sense of community. I have been lucky enough to see many talented local, amateur drama and music groups as well as attending formal civic events such as the Remembrance Service and Civic Carol Service.

I chose Bright Futures as the theme for my mayoral year, which focused on supporting young people to become confident, successful and happy adults.

In support of this theme, I introduced the first ever Mayoral Cadet for the City of Chelmsford - Cadet Sgt Iona Walledge who attended civic events, parlour visits and ran the charity Moustache Run. She also acted as an excellent ambassador for Chelmsford’s young cadets and promoted the work of the city’s youth organisations.

During my term of office, I’m pleased to say that my fundraising team successfully raised over £15,000 with help from Caprice, the Essex Wind Orchestra, Chelmsford Theatre Pantomime, New City Voices and other events for my selected charity, YMCA Essex. The money will go towards an exciting new project to build supported housing for 16-25 year old young people at the existing YMCA site in Victoria Road.

One particular focus has been on inclusion and diversity - we are so lucky to have such great opportunities to learn from the rich culture of so many people from varied communities who choose to live and work in our city.

What a privilege it has been to represent this great city of my birth as Mayor of Chelmsford and I wish the new Mayor, Cllr Janette Potter, the very best for the forthcoming year. mascotlinda@gmail.com

Two Invitations Right! As I start, an invitation - come along to Tile Kiln Church on Sunday 2nd June 11am2pm, and join in our Big Lunch Community Day! The flier is on this page - take a look.

We’ve free tea, coffee, cakes, games, craft...

Plus bring a picnic and enjoy the sunshine (hopefully!) or buy some food from the food vans. You’d be most welcome!

Okay, now we’ve done one invite, how about another? It’s an invitation to ask a question. That question is ‘why?’

Just over a month ago, Russell Brand got baptised in the river Thames. This is the Russell Brand who has consistently been a controversial character and whom the police are still investigating regarding accusations (which Brand denies) of rape and serious sexual misconduct.

Here’s the question: Why did he get baptised? Baptism is a public declaration of allegiance to Jesus Christ as King. Russell Brand’s public image more than suggests that his only allegiance is to himself! Yet he said in a public post on Twitter (X), “I’m so glad to be surrendered in Christ.”

Why did he get baptised? Why has he given his allegiance to King Jesus? He says himself, in another video shared on social media, that the deterioration of meaning in our world and the failure of value systems and institutions has led him to seek answers.

www.moulshamtimes.com

His baptism is a public declaration that he has found the answers in King Jesus.

I encourage you to search and see for yourself what Brand says - a quick Google search and you’ll find plenty from him (and plenty of commentary from the media!).

I don’t know what you are facing in this life, what nags at you in those quiet moments.

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 www.facebook.com/ tilekilnchurch www.tilekilnchurch. org.uk 27

Quiz Time - Music - Which Artist Recorded the Album 1. Automatic for the People 2. Hunky Dory 3. Renaissance 4. Jagged Little Pill 5. Hounds of Love 6. Dark Side of the Moon 7. Exodus 8. Graceland 9. OK Computer 10. Off the Wall 11. Back to Black 12. The White Album 13. Born to Run 14. London Calling 15. Rumours 16. Nevermind 17. 21 18. Making Movies 19. At Last 20. Tommy

Wordseach by thewordsearch.com

21. Dirty Mind 22. Beggars Banquet 23. Every Picture Tells a Story 24. 1989 25. A Different Class 26. Make it Big 27. Synchronicity 28. Faith 29. Grace 30. Parallel Lines 31. The Joshua Tree 32. A Night at the Opera 33. Music 34. No Parlez 35. Inside In/Inside Out 36. Gang Signs & Prayer 37. Hatful of Hollow 38. Be Here Now 39. Spice 40. The Woman in Me (Answers on page 30 & 31)

28 www.moulshamtimes.com

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Pop Your Moulsham Times in Your Suitcase!

How far from Chelmsford can you take your Moulsham Times? This particular one isn’t far, but this is last month’s edition at the most easterly point of the United Kingdom. It was a very windy day, so I was luck to not lose it in the sea... Lowestoft, 87 miles!

Pop your magazine in your suitcase and take a photograph and send it in to paul@moulshamtimes.com, we will publish the furthest away from Chelmsford and also the strangest locations we can see Moulsham Times in!

Just for fun no prizes!

To advertise in our classifed section please email paul@moulshamtimes.com. It is £28 plus VAT for each issue www.moulshamtimes.com

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Chelmsford Mens Shed - Lead Volunteers Can you spare 3 hours a week? A warm welcome awaits men wanting to join the Shed, but we currently have a waiting list. We need more Lead Volunteers so that the Shed can open more sessions.

Lead Volunteers support the session, help to promote friendly conversation and encourage users to use the Shed effectively and in safe use of equipment.

Full training and support will be given at all times, and you’ll shadow another Lead for as long as you need to.

Some knowledge of woodworking/tools would be extremely helpful.

Knitters needed!

We need knitters and crocheters to join our ladies only group where we make things for good causes.

Beginners welcome! All materials supplied.

Alternate Monday mornings at The Hamptons Centre in Great Baddow.

Could you help someone with dementia do the things they love?

Side by Side is a service to help people with dementia to keep on doing the things they love - and try new things too!

They meet up with a volunteer, decide what they’d like to do, and do it together.

Side by Side is a fun, friendly, superflexible volunteering opportunity through which you’ll receive expert training and support to develop within your role.

Minibus drivers - Chelmsford Community Transport Can you help isolated people to get out and about? We need friendly, patient volunteers to help drive our minibuses so that elderly and disabled passengers can get to social clubs, shops, and medical appointments.

Our passengers cannot travel without the help of people like you, and our service is a real life line to them.

Volunteer Telephone Befriender at Essex Home Help Service We all need other people, but not everyone has someone. Essex Home Help Service are looking for volunteers to support with our Telephone Befriending Service.

We are offering a telephone befriending service which is designed to be supportive, reliable and enable friendships to be built through volunteer befrienders for people who may otherwise be socially isolated.

You will come into our friendly offices in Ford End, Chelmsford for 2 hours per week to make telephone befriending calls.

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Sue Campbell MCFHP MAFHP

Home Visiting Foot Health Practitioner

Treatment of common foot problems • Routine nail care • Corn & callus • Ingrowing toenails • Hard skin

01245 917744 or 07583 477846

Answers

1. REM 2. David Bowie 3. Beyonce 4. Alanis Morrisette 5. Kate Bush 6. Pink Floyd 7. Bob Marley and the Wailers 8. Paul Simon 9. Radiohead 10. Michael Jackson 11. Amy Winehouse 12. The Beatles 13. Bruce Springsteen 14. The Clash

15. Fleetwood Mac 16. Nirvana 17. Adele 18. Dire Straits 19 Etta James 20. The Who 21. Prince 22. The Rolling Stones 23. Rod Stewart 24. Taylor Swift 25. Pulp 26. Wham 27. The Police 28. George Michael

29. Jeff Buckley 30. Blondie 31. U2 32. Queen 33. Madonna 34. Paul Young 35. The Kooks 36. Stormzy 37. The Smiths 38. Oasis 39. The Spice Girls 40. Shania Twain

www.moulshamtimes.com

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