Moulsham Times - May 2023

MoulshamTimes Delivered to 9000 homes and businesses monthly in Old Moulsham, Tile Kiln & Moulsham Lodge - Issue 125 - May 2023

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MT Welcome Hi readers,

Welcome to the May edition.

Due to the the pre-election period, our local councillors will not be writing again this month - we look forward to their return next month. Also, just a reminder that when you go to vote you will now need photo ID. We have a great competition for you this month - check out page 16 for a chance to win camping tickets to Creamfields South at Hylands Park!

The next edition will be out from June 2nd. Do please contact us for pricing on advertising and distribution and we can send you a detailed price list.

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 I was honoured to welcome Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to Chelmsford, where he launched a new Anti-Social Behaviour Action Plan. Chelmsford is usually a very calm and peaceful place but when anti-social behaviour does occur this can have a devastating impact.

on the roads of Essex - they are working flat out. Victoria Road in Chelmsford was also totally resurfaced over the Easter school holidays.

Thank you to everyone who has taken time to talk whilst I have been out and about lately.

If you have any problem, do get in touch with me by email at: vicky.ford.mp@parliament.uk.

The Prime Minister met affected residents at the Essex Boys and Girls Club. He announced extra funding for more Hot Spot Policing, so that our local police can target specific areas. Thank you to those who report incidents of anti-social behaviour; this helps the police build a clearer picture of where and when action is needed.

the enhanced focus on safety.

Chelmsford has recently been reawarded a ‘purple flag’ for safety in the nighttime economy. I joined a big police operation in Chelmsford where during the evening until the early hours of the morning, police deployed the mobile metal detector in different locations to pick up anyone with a knife or any other weapon. Many people, especially women and girls, told me how pleased they were to see

Operations like this are funded by the government’s GRIP programme of high visibility hotspot policing which has been found to reduce the risk of serious violence. In Chelmsford, thanks to the GRIP programme, there is an enhanced police presence around the city centre’s pubs, clubs and bars on every busy Friday and Saturday night and regular patrols of the station areas.

I have been pushing Greater Anglia for increased services between Chelmsford and London, particularly during the morning peak, and now from May additional morning peak services are being added.

From 06:45 to 08:45 (the busiest peak period) there will be trains to London at least every 10 minutes (other than a 12-minute gap from 08:17 to 08:29) and the average gap is just 8 minutes. The transition from the old trains to the new trains will also be complete, improving both reliability and capacity with as many as 200 extra seats on each service.

In Moulsham Lodge, I continue to work closely with Cllr Rob Gisby to try to secure a new location for Post Office services. We recently spoke to representatives from the Post Office head quarters team who confirmed they are in commercial discussions with a potential local provider.

The recent cold snap we had in March brought more potholes and the wet weather in March and April delayed their repair. Thanks to investment of £14.5 million from both Essex County Council and the government, there are 12 additional pothole repair crews operating 4 www.moulshamtimes.com

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Regal Kitchens - Masterchef Quarter Finalist Brings Crowd

Masterchef Quarter Finalist Brings Crowd to Local Kitchen Showroom On Saturday 25th March, Chelmsfordbased award winning kitchen retailer Regal Kitchens welcomed local private chef Yui Miles for a live cookery demonstration in their showroom.

many more in the future.

Regal Kitchens’ showroom, which is situated in Navigation Road is open 10am - 4 pm every day and you can reach their helpful staff on 01245 351 151.

Yui reached the Masterchef quarter-finals in 2019 and prepared dishes from her upcoming cookbook, which is due for release later this year, using the fully working NEFF appliances they have on display.

Exquisite and authentic Massaman and green Thai curries and a salmon Thaistyle salad were on the menu, and Regal’s customers existing and new enjoyed sampling these dishes along with their staff.

This was the third cookery event Regal has held in partnership with Yui, and they are looking forward to holding

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What to Do About Tennis Elbow - By Chris at Forté Physical Health Tennis elbow, also known as lateral epicondylitis, is a common condition that affects millions of people worldwide. It can cause pain and discomfort in the elbow joint, making simple tasks such as lifting and gripping objects difficult. In this article we’ll explore the causes of tennis elbow, as well as some lifestyle factors and exercises that can help alleviate the symptoms.

What Causes Tennis Elbow?

The most common cause of tennis elbow is overuse. Repetitive motions of the forearm and wrist, such as those used in tennis, can cause tiny tears in the tendons that attach to the lateral epicondyle.

These tears can lead to inflammation and pain, which is why tennis players often suffer from this condition. However, other activities that involve repetitive gripping or twisting motions can also cause tennis elbow, such as gardening, painting, and playing certain musical instruments.

the muscles and tendons in the forearm, reducing the strain on the elbow joint.

Wrist Extension Stretch: Start by extending your arm in front of you with your palm facing down. Use your other hand to gently pull your fingers back towards your wrist, stretching the muscles in your forearm. Hold for 15-30 seconds, then release and repeat on the other arm.

Reverse Wrist Curl: Hold a lightweight dumbbell or a resistance band in your hand, with your palm facing down. Slowly lift the weight towards your shoulder, then lower it back down. Repeat for 10-15 reps, then switch to the other arm.

Forearm Flexor Stretch: Hold your arm out in front of you with your palm facing up. Use your other hand to gently press your fingers down towards your wrist, stretching the muscles in your forearm. Hold for 15-30 seconds, then release and repeat on the other arm.

Tennis elbow can be a painful and frustrating condition to deal with, but there are steps you can take to alleviate the symptoms. With a little patience and dedication, you can overcome tennis elbow and get back to doing the things you love.

If you would like more help with a condition like this, please don’t hesitate to get in touch at info@fortephysicalhealth.co.uk, or check out our website at fortephysicalhealth.co.uk.

Until next time, have a healthy and happy month!

Other factors that can contribute to tennis elbow include age, genetics, poor physical condition and medical conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and diabetes. Trauma to the elbow can also cause damage to the tendons, leading to tennis elbow.

If you’re suffering from tennis elbow, there are some lifestyle factors that you can adopt to help alleviate the symptoms. Firstly, it’s important to avoid activities that aggravate the condition, such as those involving repetitive gripping or twisting motions. If you do need to perform these activities, take frequent breaks to rest your arm and stretch your muscles.

Secondly, maintaining good posture can help alleviate the strain on your elbow. Make sure your work station is ergonomically designed, and take breaks frequently to stretch and move your body.

Finally, make sure you’re getting enough rest and nutrition to support your body’s healing process. Getting enough sleep and eating a balanced diet can help your body repair and strengthen the affected muscles and tendons.

There are several exercises that can help alleviate the symptoms of tennis elbow. These exercises work to stretch and strengthen 8

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MT Gardening It feels like summer is almost here - and there’s so much to do!

I don’t know about your garden area, but mine is shooting all over the place as a result.

Climbers have grown ten to the dozen, weeds are plentiful and the neighbour’s magnolia has left its spent flowers all over my patio time for a clean through.

For this coming week I have set myself a target of topping up any mulched areas after first weeding through beds and borders. Once clear, I’ll add a good depth of organic bulky matter such as leaf mould; around 10-15cm should be fine. This has the benefit of reducing water loss from the soil surface, keeping those dreaded weeds at bay, adding nutrients over time, and as my soil is a silty-clay loam, it tends to cap if left uncovered. Soil surface capping is a layer or crust of compacted soil particles formed at the soil surface which may restrict water and air movement and seedling emergence (especially true if you are veg growing or trying to produce a hardy annual border). If caps are left to develop, they can impact on plant growth in the following ways: • •

A soil surface cap can restrict the emergence of seedlings which results in poor germination rates.

Water will run off rather than penetrating the soil and this

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causes soil erosion, which can expose plant roots or wash seeds or seedlings away which results in poor growth.

Restricted gaseous exchange from the soil results in lack of oxygen, reduced respiration rates and poor growth.

In addition to mulching, I’ll be taking a good hard look at various plants to check their health and well-being… I’m looking for any pests and pathogens.

As a keen rose grower, this month I’ll be looking out for the likes of rose black spot and powdery mildew.

Blackspot: A rapidly enlarging purplish or black patch appears on the upper leaf surface. The leaf tissue turns yellow around the spot and the leaf usually drops off. Small black scabby lesions may also appear on young stems and badly affected plants can shed almost all of their leaves and their vigour is greatly reduced. To control this I opt for a non-chemical control such as collecting and destroying all fallen leaves in autumn and spring and then pruning out all stem lesions in spring before leaves appear. I’ve done this already, however any leaves with spots on I’ll remove and incinerate. If you are using a chemical control any of the following fungicides would give some protection to your plants: tebuconazole, tebuconazole with trifloxystrobin or triticonazole.

Powdery mildew: A white powdery fungal growth appears on the leaves and shoots. Upper, lower or both leaf surfaces can be affected. There may be discolouration (yellow, reddish or purple) of the affected parts of the leaf and heavily infected young leaves can be curled and distorted. Mildew growth may also be found on the stems, thorns, flower stalks, calyces and petals and heavily infected flower buds frequently fail to open. The mildew growth on all parts may turn brown as it ages. For controlling, use any of the chemical active ingredients above, or an alternative method is to water plants regularly during dry spells and mulch the soil with 10-15cm of well-rotted farmyard manure/leaf mould to conserve moisture.

Feed regularly to encourage strong growth with high potassium-rich fertiliser. Badly infected shoots are best pruned out and disposed of as soon as the symptoms are seen. During spring, pruning any shoots showing large patches of mildew around the thorns should be cut out.

Lastly, for the first half of April, consider looking at the following tasks: •

•

Continue to weed between plants. I tend to use a hand trowel or fork as a last resort to take out any pernicious root systems such as creeping thistle or the spreading underground shoot systems of bindweed. I’ve started to add them to my homemade liquid feed production process. Check out this useful RHS link: www. rhs.org.uk/about-the-rhs/publications/the-garden/the-gardenback-issues/2013-issues/november/Garden-practice-Liquidfeed.pdf.

Take care to double check all climbers and wall shrubs where limbs are flapping around untrained. Tie them in carefully using garden twine. With the likes of clematis, it is worth tying limbs round support systems such as obelisks. If they are later flowering types, I tend to shorten growth once tied in to encourage shoot breaks lower down the plant and hence increased flower numbers.

Here are a few other tasks for the month of April: www.rhs.org.uk/ advice/in-month/APRIL. Happy gardening!

For any gardening tips please contact Tom Cole, Horticultural Lecturer, Capel Manor College, Bullsmoor Lane, Enfield, Middlesex, EN1 4RR, or send an email to, tom.cole@capel.ac.uk.

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Nick Garner’s Music & Ramblings Spring - or is it summer? - seems to have arrived, but who knows what it is, as it has been hot and cold with wind and rain and parts of the country having hail as well! Still, the blossom is out, the birds are nesting and the bees are gathering the nectar. The grass is now growing also which means the mower is out, although I am being careful of the few flowers I have in my lawn.

It has been a busy time in my house with lots of decorating going on. I am having the whole house done inside and out at present, and as I am writing this my man is doing the last room upstairs. He is also making good any repairs that need doing as he goes along.

The biggest problem has been clearing the rooms as I am rather a hoarder, but I have managed so far! Next it is the downstairs and the outside... Hopefully this is the last time it will need doing in my lifetime. It is looking great I must say, as Shorts is very good and neat and tidy - it is just the getting up early every day to let him in that I find a bit of a strain!

I am amazed at all of the music festivals springing up around us, hence I do not put shows on from mid-July and August - to me there is no point in competing with so much else going on.

I recently went to London to see Elles Bailey which was fun. I did also go to the London Palladium to see Connor Selby and Joe Anderton with Beth Hart. I got to the door to be told the show was sadly cancelled, so went for a drink with Connor and Joe instead. I also got a speeding ticket, which is my own fault of course, although I am normally so careful not to speed.

I have been to see (and play with) the One Tree Hillbillies a couple of times locally. Look out for them playing at the Star & Garter in Moulsham Street on Monday 22nd May from 8.30pm. I also went to Colchester with my guitar to play at the superb open mic at CODA on a Sunday. I must remind myself to do this more often. I am looking forward to this coming month and I am hoping to get out and play

We have a load of bank holidays coming up in May. We have the coronation of King Charles this year, which now gives us three in May. I think we need one added in autumn too, as after August we have to wait until Christmas for the next one, what do you think? We would love to know.

The local elections are coming up in the next week as well, and I think it’s essential that we all vote if you want to be able to voice an opinion as to what is happening around us. I tend to look at the individual and not the party - as for me, it is how well the person individually represents us.

I love my local area of Old Moulsham; it has so much to offer with all the independent retailers in the area, the museum and parks, and so much more. It is also mainly a good and safe area to live. I know that where I am the neighbours and myself do look out for each other. I am one of the older residents now having lived in my house for 25 years, and I will see quite a few more to come hopefully! I have no plans to move as I love my house and where I live.

I must get out on my bike now that I have it all sorted and have a good lock. It will not be too much of an effort to ride as it does have a motor on it. The only downside for me being the weight - with the battery and motor it is quite heavy for an old guy like me.

Do remember if you have anything that may be of interest, then let the Moulsham Times know - or maybe we could put in The City Times for you. Find contact details below or on page three of this edition.

Music Because of the coronation and other events we will not be holding any live shows at the Social Club on the 5th or 12th of May, but we do return with a bang on the 19th May with the mighty Who’s Next along with Age Of Discovery opening the night. All my other shows booked so far are listed in this publication. If you like your folk or folk rock, then the 26th May will be the date for you - the Julie July Band & Dandelion Charn.

We have just had our first show at Hot Box which was great. We had two acts all the way from Finland who wowed all who were there.

Black Frog Presents’ next Hot Box shows will be in June, and we have now confirmed the bass player of Status Quo, John ‘Rhino’ Edwards with his band Rhino’s Revenge. The band includes Leon Cave, drummer of Status Quo, and Craig Joiner of Romeo’s Daughter on guitar. This is Rhino’s album launch tour and tickets are limited and selling fast.

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some more, as well as going to see gigs.

There is lots going on all over the place what with the jams and open mics. To find out what is on where and when, I again suggest looking at The City Times’ What’s On pages and maybe search the web too, as there is always so much going on for our enjoyment.

I am of course working on some more shows for both the Social Club and Hot Box. I will let you all know the details as soon as I can. Take a look at the Black Frog Presents adverts in this magazine to see some of the amazing acts that are coming to play at the Chelmsford Social Club and Hot Box. 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. 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 full details.

You can get tickets for all our shows in Chelmsford from Intense Records, Hopsters and Chelmsford 4Good - please pay cash in person when you buy your tickets. Tickets are also available online from www.wegottickets.com/BlackFrogPresents, or via our ticket hotline at no extra charge - call or text 07508 496 411 and you can then pay 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 share our magazines The City Times and Moulsham Times for us. We continue to publish both magazines online as well at www.issuu.com/itsyourmedia.

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Chelmsford’s Street Art Festival Concrete Canvas Returns Chelmsford’s Street Art Festival, Concrete Canvas, will return this May after securing itself as a key event in the city’s cultural calendar.

Following the huge success of the projects’ inaugural year, Concrete Canvas will once again be transforming blank canvases and giving them a new lease of life with some incredible and inspiring murals.

The festival will run throughout the city centre from Saturday 20th - Saturday 27th May and is set to feature live artwork being carried out by a mix of international and local artists on a variety of building walls, bollards, OpenReach cabinets and CCTV bases. These murals will be in addition to the 2022 pieces and will build upon Chelmsford’s diverse and inspiring Street Art Trail to be enjoyed all year round.

Each artwork location will be allocated to an artist who will then create their mural based on a brief inspired around Chelmsford’s local culture, heritage, nature and various communities. So not only will the new murals brighten up areas of the city centre, but will also help communicate and strengthen Chelmsford’s identity.

Throughout the festival period the local community are encouraged to come along and experience the creation of the artwork in person. The full line-up of artists, locations and installation dates are coming very soon, so be sure to subscribe to the Chelmsford For You newsletter and keep checking the website and socials for updates - or visit the Concrete Canvas HQ inside the Meadows from early May.

The festival will conclude on Saturday 27th May with the Concrete Canvas Street Party, which marks the official launch of this year’s updated Street Art Trail. This is free entry and takes place in the Bond Street Bowl between 10am - 5pm. Alongside live and interactive art, there’ll be a record stall, art stalls, crafts, music, food and more.

BID Manager Sara Tupper says: “Last year’s Concrete Canvas event exceeded all expectations, bringing people to Chelmsford from far and wide, and creating a sense of civic pride within our community.

I’m over the moon that we are able to bring it back again this year and build upon its success. We have a wealth of creativity within our city and it is a real privilege that the BID can provide space for that to be explored and nurtured.”

Project Manager Candy Joyce said: “I’m thrilled that we are bringing Concrete Canvas back for its second year. The new sites around the city will be a great addition to the trail of 27 permanent artworks that were created last year. We are once again able to showcase the talent of over 20 local artists who will be creating artworks alongside another stellar line-up of internationally renowned artists.”

Concrete Canvas is brought to you by the city’s Business Improvement District, Chelmsford For You, and supported by Chelmsford City Council. www.chelmsfordforyou.co.uk Facebook & Instagram: @Chelmsfordforyou

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Non-Spoiler Film Reviews - By Henry Godfrey-Evans

John Wick: Chapter 4 Quite an easy one to advise on. It’s just pure, uncontaminated action, but not just sharp and polished, but unique and clever too. Very easy to recommend - the best John Wick film so far.

How can the fourth instalment possibly be the best? Well instead of only having a single story to tell and then churning out three moneymakers, they just built and built the stakes until this point.

The only thing I would say is that it doesn’t satisfy many other things other than the action, and if you aren’t the biggest fan of the genre you’ll find your attention wandering.

84/100 80 for Brady Four elderly women are chasing Superbowl tickets, having accidentally become huge fans of the NFL and Tom Brady.

Honestly just filled with bottom-of-the-barrel comedy that would barely keep its target audience awake. Some of the acting (Sally Field) gave me some hope, but mostly I was just grimacing at the attempt to sell cheap humour and wholesomeness for £10 a head.

The only solace was that the American football game was quite tense, interesting and nicely shot. Made me slightly interested in researching Tom Brady’s road to fame.

27/100 Women Talking I can see why this was popular, especially in the premise. It was essentially a group of oppressed and abused women in a different (unclear) time having a long discussion about leaving their homes for the greater good.

The dialogue was a mixed bag. In parts, it was fantastic philosophy that never seemed to get snagged on the restriction of a single writer making opposing arguments. However, some of the dialogue was circular and less profound, and the reaction to this film hasn’t really matched my assessment.

To seesaw back to the positives, the performances were often phenomenal, but then it leant so heavily on them. I found even a modest 1-hour 40-minute runtime dragged. I also agreed with the decision not to show the abuse on screen, although the flashbacks helped a lot.

63/100

with one particular character. If you love Guardians of the Galaxy you’ll like this.

78/100 The Super Mario Bros. Movie What do almost all Pixar, Dreamworks and Disney animated films have in common? Yes, you. That’s right, they’re made for both adults and children. In fact their studio bins are probably lined with rejected scripts that simply don’t achieve it.

You’ve probably guessed what I’m going to say...

While the animation is occasionally spectacular, it relies far too heavily on ‘Easter eggs’ and a loyal fanbase. Anyone without a blind loyalty to their childhood was likely bored for most of this film.

It was no better written than an episode of Bob the Builder. I’ll boost the score a bit for the visuals.

40/100 The Pope’s Exorcist I do kind of understand why horror gets a bad rap, even if I do love it myself. The sequence of...

1. Dramatic opening...

2. The half-baked character building...

3. Woah was that a monster..?

4. Yep, definitely was...

5. Let’s kill it and then hug as a family...

6. …can all become a bit tiresome.

But, Russell Crowe being an actual protagonist was quite good. He still acts extremely well and they wrote a fairly good character around him. Most of the rest was a bit more of the same though.

47/100 How to Blow up a Pipeline The movie’s strong climate change message seems to have invited some review tanking, but luckily the film was great, really great.

Ignoring the politics entirely, the way the film opened with no exposition at all and merely a montage of tasks being done, was intriguing. The story was patient and well-paced, with a lot of plot points still being obscure until the final stretch.

Air About the endeavour to get Michael Jordan to sign with Nike - it might sound boring, but it’s not.

Films that end with the same intrigue as the beginning will always be interesting. Too many films close with a final act where you’re just waiting for everything to turn out alright for the good guys.

84/100

It has dialogue that’s purposeful, dynamic and researched, and it’s funny on many occasions too. It really doesn’t draw much of its entertainment value from the sport, but instead on business, risktaking and office politics.

Renfield An awkward comedy about Dracula’s assistant navigating modern methods of standing up to his oppressor. Definitely my kind of premise, but it’s a shame the trailer made it look tacky.

This is the one you watch the rebuild the trust between consumer and cinema.

88/100

Had an absolute blast with the first half or so, as it seemed to know itself very well in terms of comedy and slapstick actions without the need to dilute itself with silly plotlines. I said the first half, didn’t I?

Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves Sorry for the American spelling but I ought to be accurate. The word that summarised my thoughts on this film in the subsequent days was ‘refreshing’. Not because it was a 3-hour long Bulgarian black and white spectacle with no clear genre, but because it’s the sort of weekend fun sort of film that could push Marvel a little bit.

Suzume This will be confusing to read, because it was confusing to write.

Mainly because the plot was confusing and a lot of it was really dull and disjointed. Although it did max out in areas like animation, sound design and emotion. I’m so confused. You should be too.

It did have similar pitfalls in that the ‘emotional turnaround’ was forcefully wedged and most of the plot was fairly standard, but there was room in my judgement to enjoy the cheesy fantasy of it.

It also satirised the video game dialogue of boring heroes really nicely

The problem as usual is that it did fall into the trap of trying to brew up an actual plot after telling a joke every 5 seconds. It just doesn’t work. I can’t help but think this is more prevalent as a reviewer though; as a day out I’d say good choice.

14 www.moulshamtimes.com

If you hate anime, and you know you do (yes, you actually have to try it first) then you will HATE this. Anime lovers however will be adding this to their all-timers, because it is a strong cocktail of everything authentic and iconic about the genre.

Plot is big for me, and there wasn’t the best one here, so it docked way more points for me than most, considering I love anime.

69/100 henrygodfreyevans@gmail.com

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Hi everyone. I hope you are are well and enjoying the spring weather, despite being a bit chilly.

We are away in Kent at the moment and it’s sunny. I was going to sit outside to write this, but I cannot see the screen because of the bright sunshine. Not complaining though. We’ve been to Sandwich today, which is one of the Cinque Ports, the others being Dover, Hythe, New Romney and Hastings - surprisingly there are five! Two others were added later, Winchelsea and Rye. Are they still called Cinque (French for 5) Ports, I wonder?

Anyway, despite all the warnings about this event on Sunday, I will have forgotten by then. Consequently, when it happens I will be rushing about, to check the fire alarm, the car alarms, fridge door open alarm and the microwave, before finally looking at my phone by which time it will be too late!

The ports historically provided ships and men for the king’s navy.

Anyway, Sandwich is a nice little town, but today it was home to one of my pet hates. We wanted to get lunch - just a sandwich (see what I did there?). A nice pub just off the high street had a menu outside, the contents of which showed a range of sandwiches, so in we went.

The friendly bar staff greeted us and asked what we wanted. ‘Just a drink and a sandwich’ I replied. ‘We don’t do food on Wednesdays and Thursdays’, he replied. I get so annoyed - not too unusual these days - when this sort of thing happens! Why don’t they have a note outside on the menu explaining the absence of food on those days?

It’s not rocket science, is it? I guess they think people will just say, ‘well, I’ll just to go hungry then and have a drink then’. No chance!

Just a silly thing. I was walking through Central Park the other day and saw someone with a dog, not unusual I know.

The dog was running round in circles then up and down in a line, and owner had his head bowed concentrating on something in his hand. For a few seconds, I thought that he had the dog on remote control, until I realised he was texting. It did make me laugh.

Modern technology. I see that the government has given Ford permission to sell self-driving cars for use on public roads. Now, I am all for improvements to safety on the roads, but I am a bit doubtful about the impact of these vehicles in the short term. If I was driving at 60mph on a motorway and a car went past on the outside lane, and the driver was reading a newspaper, I am sure I would do a double take and possibly swerve. Maybe safer for the driver of the robot car, but I am not sure about the rest of us!

I am writing this a few days before the National Alert Test is scheduled to occur. The first thing that concerns me is that I presume a smart phone is required (or at the very least a mobile phone) to receive this alert. So, does that mean that if people don’t have one they don’t get the alert? It reminds me of the observation that if you can remain calm, when all those about you are panicking... you must not have a grasp of the real situation. I think that the government should add something like this: ‘If all the mobile phone owners are running around panicking, join in’!

I see that one of the large supermarkets is at it again with their TV advertising.

The latest one opens with someone apparently trapped down a well.

No, I don’t how they got there either. At the top of the well appears a shopping trolley, looking down the well. It turns round and runs to get help explaining, in basket language, I presume, that it needs some rope. It then rushes back to the well, shouts something to the victim, lowers the rope and pulls them out. ‘Well I never did’. Now, I am a marketeer, but I guess they will say that because I can remember this in detail and the name of the supermarket, the advert has done it’s job. I also guess that it was a play on the old TV programme Skippy the Bush Kangaroo so those of us old enough to remember that, could find it funny. But youngsters?

Bin End Chuckles My star sign is Pyrex, I was a test tube baby...

Alright lads, a giant fly is attacking the station. I’ve called out the SWAT team....

Stay well and enjoy the coronation cerebrations.

18 www.moulshamtimes.com

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Grove Road Evangelical Church On Saturday May 6th, Britain and beyond will celebrate the coronation of King Charles III. The Bible urges Christians to pray for their leaders, so that everyone might live safely in a way that pleases God. As Charles is crowned king, let us pray for him, that he sees his duty to serve both the British people and God, just as his mother Queen Elizabeth II did throughout her long reign.

Christians will be celebrating another coronation during May. It is celebrated every year 40 days after Easter Sunday. Ascension Day as it is called, marks the return of Jesus back to the throne of heaven, and celebrates his coronation as king after his triumph over sin, death and all that is evil on Good Friday and Easter Sunday.

The Jewish king David, looking forward to the coronation of King Jesus, wrote what we know as part of Psalm 24. Christians still use these words as a central part of their celebration of the crowning of Jesus as king of the universe: ‘Lift up your heads, O gates! And be lifted up, O ancient doors, that

the King of glory may come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord, strong and mighty, the Lord, mighty in battle! Lift up your heads, O gates! And lift them up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory!’

Christians will this year be celebrating the coronation of Jesus on Thursday May 18th, or on the following Sunday on May 21st, which is the day we will be celebrating his coronation - and we welcome you to join us at our 11am morning meeting.

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

MT History: Essex Castles - By Henri Lewi Three fortresses in Essex provide a unique insight into the changing nature of defensive fortresses that evolved in Europe from the time of the Norman Conquest to the late medieval age, as the nature of warfare evolved.

The simple motte-and-bailey style castle as seen at Mountfitchet Castle in west Essex, evolved into the Norman keep with its tall perpendicular walls that dominated the surrounding countryside; this is clearly demonstrated by Hedingham Castle in North Essex. Tilbury Fort in East Essex is classically described as a ‘Star Fortress’ - a fortress design that had evolved in the late 16th century in response to the increasing use of siege artillery.

The purpose of the tall Norman keep of Hedingham Castle was to provide a defensive base with it’s high thin walls being a simple design to protect the defenders against arrows, catapaults and battering rams. As the military revolution gained momentum from the 14th century onwards, with the increasing use of cannon on the battlefield, the tall simply constructed castle keep became easy prey to the solid shot fired from the battlefield cannon. The whole aim of the tall Norman keep was also to allow a greater distance for the arrows unleashed by the longbowmen and crossbowmen to travel, enabling at that time, both a long and close range defense to be provided by the numerous archers defending the keep. As these keeps could not mount cannon, they could not entirely provide an answer to siege artillery.

The first use of the battlefield cannon is said to have taken place in the latter stages of the Hundred Years War when the French used ‘field artillery’ which proved initially successful at the Battle of Formigny in 1450. In this battle the English, under Sir Thomas Kyriel in their standard defensive posture (massed dismounted knights at the centre and both flanks packed with archers), met the French led by the Comte de Clermont whilst en route to Caen. The French used their cannon to bombard the English flank (composed of longbowmen) to good effect. The English flank broke in an attempt to capture the cannon and the French were able to attack and defeat the now broken English line, demonstrating an effective use of the now superior technology of battlefield cannon to overcome what was always considered to be an impregnable battlefield defensive position.

In the final act of the Hundred Years War in 1451, the English army attacked the French at Castillon who were armed with over 100 artillery pieces in their entrenched positions, with which the French were now able to demolish the English columns on the open battlefield with little loss to themselves. Thus by the latter half of the 15th century the dawn of battlefield artillery had arrived.

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As a consequence, there was a fundamental shift in the nature of warfare away from the medieval nature of heavily armed mounted men and archers fought on a narrow battlefield, to the clash of large armies incorporating mobile artillery and heavy cavalry fighting on large open battlefields.

Similarly, there was a paradigm shift in the method of attack on the static fortress. With the improvements in artillery as seen during the French invasion of Italy in 1494, the use of siege artillery exposed the frailty of Italian Medieval fortifications with their thin high walls.

In response, the Italian city-states developed the ‘trace Italienne’ a fortification with lower thicker walls protected by earth and the presence of armed bastions, which are now known as ‘star fortresses’. Michelangelo first designed these star fortresses or Bastion forts for the city-state of Florence, which proved successful as a defense against siege artillery. By the mid 16th century the star fortress design had spread out from Italy and across Europe.

Tilbury Fort was constructed during the reign of Henry VIII following the split from Rome and the increasing likelihood of a French invasion and the threat to London by elements of the French navy. To counter this threat, the king ordered a ‘device programme’ in 1539 to build a series of defensive forts along the coast to counter the threat from France. The low, thick walls protected by earth bulwarks provided protection from the solid shot from the siege artillery of the time, with the bastions providing a sound base for the placement of defensive artillery.

With the advent of explosive shells in the 19th century, the star fortress and its subsequent evolutionary designs became effectively obsolete.

If you are having a Coronation party please feel free to send in some photos for the June edition.

Paul@moulshamtimes.com

www.moulshamtimes.com

Stability

Spotlight on Stability: What We Really Mean and Why It Is Important I hope you enjoyed the spotlight last month surrounding the what, why and how of ‘mobility’ and the ways we incorporate this in to pilates and all the fantastic benefits it gives you. This third episode in my mini series of articles (Stability, Mobility, Flexibility) brings us to stability; what it means, why it is important and the many benefits, such as reducing pain and improving body movement. Stiffness and painfully tight hips and backs are not just due to reduced flexibility, it can be due to incorrect muscle habits - the over-working of a particular muscle where other muscles are weak. Stabilising and keeping our individual joints strong is part of this topic, but we aim to create overall balance too.

Try standing on one leg, for example, to put a shoe on one foot maybe the very idea makes you laugh, maybe you know you’ll wobble so you hold on to stabilise yourself. Balance comes from our ability to use the joints on our standing leg, but what about day-to-day and every single step you take to walk? There are moments where we stand on one foot, transfer to the other foot to the next step. Ankle, knee and hip all communicate to hold and stabilise the body. Most of us have automatic stability, but a weak knee or weak hip can put stress on the joint every time we stand, potentially causing pain and eventually injury. The vertebrae stacked up in our back are effectively lots of joints, and without effective core muscles, our backs and necks can suffer through not having enough stability day-to-day.

In pilates, we work joint by joint addressing stability, strengthening and focusing on helping normal movements, reducing chance of pain and preventable injury. The following gives you an idea of how we can work on stabilising and strengthening your whole body.

Ankle stability: For the basics of standing and walking we need effective calf muscles. Try standing calf raises - holding on to a chair, rise up off both heels, hold for a count of three and lower slowly repeat x10.

Knee stability: This hinge joint can only bend or straighten, and strengthening involves muscles of the thigh - quadriceps and hamstrings. Strengthening the knee helps signs of aging and wear and tear - including arthritis. Try this: Feet parallel, arms held out wide, take a big step back with one foot, bend from both knees, return the leg and repeat with the other leg. Repeat x10 alternating steps. Hold on if needed.

Hip stability: This ball and socket joint has great potential range of movement with several muscles surrounding, so potential for weakness is also high. In pilates, we strengthen hip joints because they’re our biggest weight-bearing joint. Try this: Lay on your back, knees bent, arms on floor. Clench the buttocks and try to lift from floor for 5 seconds then lower. Repeat x5.

Back stability: The whole back, 33 vertebrae stacked, has huge potential for issues. Strength at every single section gives whole spine stability. One of the most common reasons people come to pilates is the focus on strength and therefore stability of the back, and we work several ways to improve day-to-day back stability. Try this: On all fours on the floor, keep head, torso and back still. Lift one limb at a time off the floor, away from body - hold for 5 seconds.

Shoulder girdle stability, including movement from our arms is so important, our arms are attached to our body through the shoulders, so every tiny thing you do, from making a cup of tea to participating in pilates, requires communication through your shoulder muscles.

In pilates we practise weight bearing on our arms and shoulders as a way to strengthen - for example on hands and knees - but we train the individual muscles too. Try a wall press up: Stand 2 feet from a wall, arms out, palms against wall. Bend elbows, bring chest towards wall then press away. Try to repeat x10.

To chat to us at Hummingbird Pilates and Yoga in Writtle about helping your stability and general movement through pilates, just www.moulshamtimes.com

say you’ve read my article in Moulsham Times when you call 01245 422 556 or email at info@hummingbirdpilatesyoga.co.uk. Our £45 unlimited month trial is the most popular way to start (excluding ante and post natal). With our specialist group classes (8 maximum) no experience is required, just a willingness to try. For all levels and ages* either in-studio or opt to join on Zoom from wherever you are. *

Don’t try anything if you have a back injury or are on medication.

See you on the mat soon!

Erica xx

CCR Latest News

In station news this month, we will soon be releasing details of all of our bookable listening sessions for the Chelmsford Radio Drama Festival.

A listening session is simply where you have a comfortable setting with refreshments to hear a small selection of radio drama. The scripts will also be made available on Kindles etc, so that the dialogue may be followed better. The plays being showcased at our listening sessions will include the work from our workshops with young people, plus a number of other submissions from local organisations, writers and amateur theatre groups. It’s going to be very exciting, and we’re including a session in the dark thanks to Chelmsford Escape Rooms, trying out silent disco style with headphones, and even a potential live performance or two is on the cards. Do keep an eye on our social media for the links when they appear.

We are also delighted to once again be working with the Essex Book Festival team. If you know someone interested in podcasting then do check out our workshops; the first will be on the 3rd and 4th of June in Harwich and for ages 14-18. We’ll be taking a look at climate change and spending some time on board the LV18 (the boat that rocked) to work on our audio project. For more details visit: essexbookfestival.org.uk/ event/make-your-own-eco-podcast-workshop.

The second workshop is for age 14+ and will be happening at Cressing Temple Barns on the 25th June. It only costs £3 which we think is a bargain. More details here: essexbookfestival.org.uk/ event/eco-podcasting-workshop-for-ages-14.

If you’re from a local organisation or school and are interested in us coming along to deliver a radio/podcasting workshop or talk, then please do get in touch via admin@chelmsfordcommunityradio.com.

You can tune in to Chelmsford Community Radio on 104.4FM in the city, or online at www.chelmsfordcommunityradio.com, and also on the CCR104.4 app which is available to download.

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• 10,000 copies of the City Times • 9000 copies of the Moulsham Times • Discounts available for longer runs or when advertising in both our magazines • Editorial/business interview for regular advertisers Email paul@moulshamtimes.com for more information or call me on 01245 262082 22 www.moulshamtimes.com

The Vegetarian Diet AKA Plant Based Diet - By Ola Adamolekun

I find this one a bit controversial - just my opinion. A lot of people think that a vegetarian diet is the best thing since sliced bread. When studying for my Nutrition and Health Coaching qualification, I looked for people to use as case studies and a young vegetarian was recommended.

The reason was that even though she was a vegetarian, she still ate badly. That got me thinking... and I’ll share some of my thoughts in this article. So is a vegetarian diet good for you? I’ll say yes and possibly no. As with any way of eating, there are good and bad points.

beans), lentils and chickpeas.

Seeds and nuts (almonds, peanuts, pecans, pistachios, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds and flaxseeds).

Green peas.

Tofu - most vegetarians swear by this (my son has dabbled with being a vegetarian so I’ve had to cook with tofu).

Mushrooms.

Some grains like quinoa, bulghur wheat.

2.

Ensure that you are getting enough healthy fats and micronutrients like zinc, selenium, iron, and vitamin B12.

Animal sources (including fish) are a great source of healthy fats especially Omega 3 which a lot of people are lacking. So on a plant-based diet, multivitamins and supplements are an option to quickly bump up your intake of minerals and compensate for potential deficiencies. Algae is also a good source of plant essential fatty acids.

3.

Avoid processed foods like the plague. There are a lot of new brands that springing up that contain lots of unnatural ingredients. As I would say to any of my clients, look at the label.

If you can’t pronounce it, it probably shouldn’t be going into your body.

What is a vegetarian diet? According to Myprotein, ‘a simple definition of vegetarians is a group of people who eliminate animal products from their diet - typically meats are the primary food excluded. This means the person following a vegetarian diet doesn’t eat beef, chicken, turkey, pork, lamb, or venison - they may or may not include fish. This may also exclude dairy products as well’.

There are so many advantages of a plant-based diet, like lots of fibre, and less saturated fat which can lead to better heart health and reduced tendency to develop chronic disease. Finally, it helps weight loss and weight maintenance. So, go forth and enjoy those plants!

Health and Nutrition Coach www.beencouragedwellness.co.uk www.facebook.com/BeEncouragedBeStrong Now, plant-based foods are amazing and I enjoy them even as a meat eater. However, there is a growing number of plant-based, options that aren’t natural. So, a lot of people that are eating vegetarian or a plant-based diet are eating even more processed foods than people that eat meat! I mean why on earth should you have vegan bacon?

On that note, I’d like to share some tips if you are contemplating starting a plant-based diet.

1.

Ensure that you are getting enough protein. One of the questions I get asked as a nutritionist is, ‘what is a good source of protein?’. Here are some of my favourite sources: Beans (black beans, haricot beans, edamame beans, kidney

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MT Finance - How Does a SIPP Work?

Pensions can be a highly effective way to make investments for retirement, due to the generous tax relief on contributions - let’s find out how a SIPP works.

A SIPP stands for Self-Invested Personal Pension and works in a similar way to a standard personal pension, allowing you to save, invest and build up a pot of money. However, SIPPs typically give you a much wider choice of investments, which means you can invest in the way that suits you while harnessing valuable tax relief on the money you pay in.

is 55. This is set to rise to 57 in the future, and the rules can always change. You then have a number of options. Lump sums or a series of lump sums can be taken at any time, with the first 25% able to be taken tax free and the remainder taxable.

Alternatively, you can use the pot to buy an annuity, a product that provides a guaranteed income, also taxable, for the rest of your life. This can be attractive for those who require a secure income and do not wish to take investment risk with some or all their pension. Annuities can also be tailored to particular circumstances, such as providing a spouse’s pension on death and there are special, higher rates for smokers or those with health conditions. When buying an annuity with your pot it pays to shop around.

5.

Credits Tax Relief Based on Your Contributions Contributing to pensions has the effect of reducing your overall income, and therefore tax burden. When you make a SIPP contribution, your provider will then credit your pension with basic rate tax relief, usually within a short timeframe. The tax relief will be applied as cash to your account as soon as it has been received from HMRC. You must claim higher and additional rate tax relief for yourself via your tax return or by contacting HMRC.

6.

Can Hold Existing Savings When You Transfer Pensions Over the years you may have collected a variety of pension schemes, especially if you have had several jobs. For those who dislike the clutter of a mixture of pensions, consolidating many types of pension schemes into one modern pension can be a relatively straightforward exercise.

Tax relief is a hidden investment superpower. It can mean, for instance, that the cost of a £1,000 pension contribution is as little as £550. The government tops up whatever you contribute with 20% basic rate tax relief, while higher-rate and additional-rate taxpayers may claim up to a further 20% and 25% respectively.

Key Features of a SIPP 1. Holds a Wide Range of Investments

Most pensions only have a narrow range of investment options, which may be fine for less hands-on investors. However, if you are looking to maximise the range of possible investments a SIPP may be worth considering. Many providers will offer a range of different investment choices, including direct UK and overseas shares, bonds, and gilts (UK government bonds), funds, investment trusts and exchange traded funds (or ETFs).

2.

Makes Use of Annual Tax Allowances Your total pension contributions, including those paid by your employer, are subject to an ‘annual allowance’, which is usually £40,000 gross, though following announcements in the Spring Budget this will rise to £60,000 in the new (2023/24) tax year.

You are also restricted to paying in no more than 100% of your relevant UK earnings - essentially earned income rather than any other form of income such as dividends or interest.

Very high earners get a lower annual allowance, which could limit their maximum contribution to as little as £4,000 a year - but this is rising to £10,000 in the 2023/24 tax year. The rules on when this ‘tapered’ annual allowance kicks in are complicated. Very broadly, it could affect people with income and benefits of more than £200,000 a year.

If you haven’t used your full annual allowance from up to three previous years, you might be able to carry it forward and use it in the current tax year provided your earnings are high enough and you have been a member of a registered pension scheme in those preceding years. Additional guidance and examples can be found on the government’s Money Helper website.

3.

Most UK Residents Are Eligible for a SIPP You are eligible to open a SIPP account if you are a UK resident under the age of 75. You may contribute to as many pensions as you like simultaneously, but please be aware of the pension allowances described above.

You can pay money in when it suits you, either through lump sums or monthly via direct debit. It is also possible to arrange for your employer to make contributions to your SIPP if they offer that flexibility.

If you are currently contributing to a workplace pension, your employer will be contributing too. You should prioritise this form of pension saving to take full advantage, but you could consider a SIPP for extra pension provision.

4.

Flexible Pension Withdrawals Unlike ISAs, personal pensions including SIPPs don’t allow you access to your money until retirement age, which at the earliest

A ‘defined contribution’ scheme, such as a personal pension, can usually be moved to another, similar scheme easily, making tidying up these pensions simple. You can typically transfer a range of different schemes; however, you should always check for any exit penalties when considering a transfer.

There can be more significant pitfalls too. If your pension has ‘Safeguarded Benefits,’ which includes Final Salary or Defined Benefit pension benefits, Guaranteed Annuity Rates and Guaranteed Minimum Pensions, you cannot transfer without a positive recommendation from a regulated advisor. Schemes with these features require regulated advice before transferring and are almost always best left untouched.

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.

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The Singing Chef

This is one of my all time favourite sandwiches... I remember my first time!

I was in London with my mum; she loved London! Before her MS really took hold, she would always take us to see a show and a meal in the school holidays.

She was a single mum of 3 and she’d go to the box office and haggle for seats for us. She was an absolute legend! My first club sandwich was at Planet Hollywood in Leicester Square. It was epic and I’ve tried to recreate it many many times. It had bacon and smoked turkey with coleslaw and salad arranged between 3 slices of bread. A club sandwich can be anything you want it to be, but it must have 3 slices of toasted bread and pay attention to every aspect.

Method Season your tomatoes and dress your salad leaves.

Grill bacon in the air fryer for 7 minutes.

Toast the bread in a panini grill.

Then butter each slice on both sides.

Then added chicken, BBQ sauce and cheese between two of the slices and returned to panini grill.

In the third slice of bread I made a BLT with a generous spread of mayo.

This BBQ chicken club has its own purpose, and that is to commemorate our stunning new garden at O’Connors, complete with a wonderful brick BBQ (much like the one I had at home as a kid) for Nanny Wilson’s Kitchen!

So if you can’t get outside to BBQ, do this instead: Ingredients 2 slices of toasted bread.

Sliced chicken breast.

BBQ sauce.

2 rashers of bacon.

Cheese.

Lettuce.

Tomato.

Put your sandwich together and pop in 4 cocktail sticks in a north/ south/east/west fashion and cut your sandwich into quarters.

Soooooo good!

I

Serve with chips or crisps or if the weather turns again - soup!

Oh and if you can’t be bothered, I got you... You know where to find me: O’Connors in Hall Street.

Sarah is a singing and vocal coach based in Chelmsford and offers singing lessons to people of all ages and abilities. She has a brand new website at www.chelmsfordvocalcoach.co.uk, or you can email her at sarahmtfood@gmail.com. Sarah is also the chef at Nanny Wilson’s Kitchen in O’Connors in Hall Street.

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The Coronation of King Charles is fast approaching, and The Community Station and the Copper Pot Café will be holding a Coronation Viewing Party with cream teas. We will have a large screen in the marquee to watch the event and enjoy this once in a lifetime spectacle. You can order a cream tea from the Copper Pot Café where there are three priced cream tea boxes: Small - £10, Medium - £12 and Premium - £14.50. Contact the Copper Pot Café for details and orders (use contact details below), details also online at www.mlct.org. uk.

Cream teas will also be available to order and take away to enjoy the coronation at home.

Another upcoming event is our Well-Being Day on 24th June. We will have a range of organisations covering all aspects of keeping our mind, body and soul fit and healthy. More details will be posted soon so watch our social media and website.

Our first meeting of Men’s Shed will be taking place in April. This will be to talk about what space we need, what sort of projects we can make on-site and how the project will be funded. To get an idea of what it’s all about and whether you might be interested, have a look at this website at www.menssheds.org.uk. We will be initially working with Chelmsford Council for Voluntary Service (Chelmsford CVS), and Chandler who are our local builders merchant. Please get in touch if this is something you might be interested in.

Also starting soon will be a seated exercise class as well as a regular well-being class called With You In Mind which we will feature next month. We hope to see you soon, if you do come along, bring a friend too and enjoy a treat at The Copper Pot Café. www.mlct.org.uk enquiries@mlct.org.uk 07434 678 999

26 www.moulshamtimes.com

Charities Receive Cheques from Chelmsford Lions Chelmsford Lions Club would like to say a huge thank you to the people of Chelmsford for all their generous donations over the festive period, when Santa and his sleigh collected more than £12,000 for a range of local causes.

To celebrate the achievement with all involved, the club held a social evening on 22nd March at their new meeting place of St Augustine’s Church in Springfield, attended by Deputy Mayor Bob Massey and

Deputy Mayoress Ali Massey. Representatives of charities supported including Farleigh Hospice, Barrow Farm RDA, Helen Rollason, Families in Focus, Parkinson’s, CHESS homeless, New City Girls WI and Havens Hospice, as well as several of the drivers and volunteers who were involved with the collections.

Lions business meetings take place at 8pm on the second Wednesday of every month at St Augustine’s Church, and the club can be contacted on info@chelmsfordlionsclub.org.uk.

Chelmsford and District Diabetic Youth (CaDDY) Chelmsford and District Diabetic Youth (CaDDY) recently held their first virtual duck race and raised £604.56! CaDDY members and supporters purchased ducks for £3 each, and gave them great names - everything from In-duck-ana Jones and Sirius Quack, to Ed the Duck and Ducky McDuckFace.

common to experience embarrassment due to the high demands of monitoring blood glucose levels, denial and resentment coming from a ‘why me’ syndrome. CaDDY provides a safe space to meet with other type-1 children, to share experiences and to form incredible friendships.

The money raised from this fundraiser is being spent to provide hospital care bags. CaDDY gives these bags to children and their families when the children are diagnosed with type-1 diabetes. The bags contain products for use in hospital and information that helps families come to terms with the diagnosis. The bags have been highly praised by families, and are just one of the incredible ways in which CaDDY supports type 1 children and their families.

In a typical year, CaDDY organises parkour workshops, bowling, crabbing, beach days and picnics in the park for type-1 children and their families. Last year’s summer picnic was so successful with 26 families attending! The next events planned are an early years’ group (for children 6 and younger), archery (for children 8+) and a teenage driving experience (for children 13+). All events can be found on the CaDDY Facebook page (www.facebook.com/ ChelmsfordDiabeticYouth).

Created in 2019 by two families whose children had just received their type-1 diagnosis, CaDDY has grown an incredible amount and now supports families from hospitals in Chelmsford, Colchester, Harlow, Basildon and Cambridge.

For parents and carers, it is common to experience anxiety, burnout and depression from different parenting challenges. CaDDY enables parents and carers to share information and support each other, including through their social media networks. For children, it is

Snowboarding Recently I had the privilege of spending a week in Switzerland with some close friends snowboarding. It was an awesome time spent among the amazing mountains of the Jungfrau region.

shared pain and experience.

The vast beauty of the snow-capped mountains, with glaciers wedged firmly in place, was a source of great enjoyment, exhilaration and refreshment, whilst also being a place of potential danger. The friendships I enjoyed had been formed over a number of years as we had journeyed together, not just to mountain locations, but also through a sense of

Often I find that the closest friendships I develop are those with people with whom I have journeyed either through shared experience, or because of the commonality of our experiences. The latter is true for myself and this particular group, who I first encountered as a result of a difficult period of personal loss and grief in my life. As is often the case, I found common ground with these two men - one a plasterer and the other a pastor - but in a completely unexpected way.

Journeying together over the years, the two of them have influenced me as equally I have them.

If you have a child with type-1 diabetes or know a child with the condition, the CaDDY group is here for you - please get in touch via any of the following: caddydiabetesgroup@gmail.com www.facebook.com/ChelmsfordDiabeticYouth www.instagram.com/chelmsford_diabetic_youth

that being someone who has faith in God doesn’t mean we have to compromise who we are.

I love that following Jesus has had such a profound effect on how I am, as I have realised who I am as a result of knowing him. This, in turn, is what I cherish most about my friendship with these two guys, both men who love Jesus and desire that others know how much Jesus loves them.

I hope that you too can experience both the joy and love that God has for you through the friendships you have and the journeys they take you on.

Blessings Pastor James Bell Youth & Community Pastor @ Tile Kiln Church

Do you have a local good news story? If so feel free to email it to paul@moulshamtimes.com

They helped to enable me to convert from skiing to God’s preferred sport of snowboarding, and I helped them in enabling them to see www.issuu.com/itsyourmedia

27

Quiz Time - By John Theedom At the 1988 Olympics, Ben Johnson was deprived of his gold medal - why?

2. How many cents are there in a US dollar?

3. What kind of animal is a samoyed?

4. In the pop world, who ‘Goes To Hollywood’?

5. What colours are the beaks of puffins?

6. What was the name of the club where The Beatles first played in Liverpool?

7. Who are the occupants of the Royal Chelsea Hospital?

8. Who is the Home Secretary?

9. What is Nicolas Sturgeon’s husband’s name?

10. What nationality is Pierce Brosnan?

11. How much do the Oscar awards weigh and how high are they?

12. Why are Love Island contestants losing interest in the show?

13. Ant and Dec do have proper names, what are they?

14. In which US city is there a large statue of a horned bull?

15. In what year did Adele have her first UK number 1 hit single?

16. What was the registration number of Morse’s Jaguar?

17. Rupert Murdoch is getting married for the fifth time, but how old is he?

18. The Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King’s Lynn is being held up by how many props?

19. In which town is Kent’s County Council’s headquarters?

20. From which country does Chianti originate?

1.

21. In the name of the artist LS Lowry, what does the ‘S’ stand for?

22. Which National League football club is nicknamed the Glovers?

23. What is the guessing game based on observation?

24. How many pages were there in Boris Johnson’s defence dossier that he read on TV recently?

25. What art form is described as ‘decorative handwriting’?

26. What year was the first football World Cup? 27. Which London property has the second largest garden after Buckingham Palace?

28. Who is Dame Helen Mirren married to?

29. How many time zones are their in mainland USA? 30. Who is the boss of the John Lewis group?

31. What was Marcel Marceau famous for?

32. In 1962, who starred in the Broadway show I Can Get It For You Wholesale?

33. Which is bigger, A4 paper or A5?

34. What is the name of Boris Johnson’s halfbrother?

35. Who is the female host of Question Time?

36. How much per day is the London ULEZ zone charge for cars?

37. Which food delivery company is cutting 1,700 jobs?

38. How has Brighton and Hove City Council upset their residents?

39. What has Magnum done to their ice cream packs?

40. What was the original name for a Snickers bar?

(Answers on page 31)

Wordseach by thewordsearch.com

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29

Farleigh Hospice trustee?

Could you add value to the overall governance and management of our charity?

Men’s Shed - supervisor A warm welcome awaits men wanting to join the Chelmsford Shed, but we currently have a waiting list. We need more supervisors so that the shed can open for more weekly sessions.

Supervisors support the session, help to promote friendly conversation, and encourage users to use the shed equipment safely.

Full training and support will be given.

Some woodworking knowledge is important, but you don’t have to be an expert.

Chelmsford Museum - gallery assistants Can you help bring history to life? Join our growing team of friendly, enthusiastic volunteers and help us make Chelmsford Museum a safe, fun, educational experience for visitors of all ages.

Read Easy - teaching adults to read Read Easy is a nationwide charity that helps adults learn to read.

New groups are starting in Chelmsford and Harlow, and they need reading coaches. Full training provided.

Become a Farleigh Hospice trustee Do you want to make a real difference in your community as a

Could you commit some of your time regularly to Farleigh Hospice and do you enjoy working with individuals who share your commitment and vision?

We have upcoming vacancies and are looking for applicants from all backgrounds. No previous experience required just commitment, curiosity and challenge.

Shopmobility assistants We are in urgent need of volunteers who would like to help run our friendly Shopmobility office located in the QPark multi-storey carpark opposite the Odeon. Our vital service allows disabled people to access the shops and surrounding city. Help is needed with daily admin tasks, chatting to members, handling payments, and manoeuvring the scooters (great fun!).

Volunteer car driver - Chelmsford Community Transport We need friendly, patient volunteers to help drive vulnerable people to social clubs, shops, and medical appointments in Chelmsford.

You will drive your own car and transport mostly elderly people (pre-arranged) to various places and ensure that they can maintain good quality of life. Interesting conversation guaranteed! Expenses reimbursed.

30 www.moulshamtimes.com

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. He tested positive for banned drugs 2. 100 3. Dog 4. Frankie 5. Red, orange, grey and white 6. The Cavern Club 7. Chelsea Pensioners 8. Suella Braverman 9. Peter Murrell 10. Irish 11. 8.5lbs and 13.5” tall.

12. Because they are banned from continuing relationships outside the show 13. Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly.

14. Wall Street, New York 15. 2011 (Someone Like You) 16. 248 RPA 17. 92 18. 3433 19 Maidstone 20. Italy (Tuscany) 21. Stephen 22. Yeovil Town 23. I Spy 24. 52 pages 25. Caligraphy 26. 1930 27. Winfield House

Film director, Taylor Hackford Four Dame Sharon White Clown and mime artist Barbra Streisand A4 - twice the size of A5 Max Fiona Bruce £12.50 Just Eat By asking them to weed their own streets and pavements 39. Reduced the contents from 4 to 3 40. Marathon 28.

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31

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