I've been part of the Phoenix FM team since August 2009 and I've been presenting the mid-morning show Eat My Brunch since October of that year.
Besides being a radio presenter, I am also a singer/songwriter. Promoting unsigned music and having artists hear their music on my radio show is my passion.
My show has a lot of interaction from listeners on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, who regularly join in on my Question of the Day. I get to interview local charities, businesses, organisations, singers and celebrities.
I love having live music in the studio too - I’ve been lucky to have had some amazing guests over the years.
The show is quirky, different, funny and honest. I don’t half ramble! Give it a try, weekdays 10am – 1pm.
Michelle Ward was joined by Gavin Perrett of Will Protect Ltd.
This month’s EDUCATIONAL SEMINAR is at the Marygreen Manor Hotel, London Road, Brentwood, Essex, CM14 4NR Tuesday 24th July at 6.30pm. Everyone is welcome, there is no cost for this event, it is not a selling exercise, this is to showcase the level of services that Will Protect provide and for you to learn about estate planning.
WILL PROTECT
Will Protect offers you a number of services that can save you time, stress… and money.
The Will Protect team combines specialist skills from across the entire legal spectrum to ensure that our clients are exceptionally well represented and their requirements fully met.
We pride ourselves on providing something extra for our clients. Alongside legal tasks being handled with minimal fuss, we find ways for clients to further benefit from our expertise.
We can…
Mitigate inheritance tax
Manage your estate, providing the most for your loved ones
Minimise your tax bill within HMRC regulations and guidelines
Remove the stress from buying and selling property
Reduce the chance of costly legal disputes for your business
Michelle Ward was joined by jazz vocalist, Simone Perks. Who came in to talk about her love of jazz, her up and coming performance at Writtle Jazz Festival and how to pronounce her name correctly. Forgive me SIMONE! 🙂
INTERVIEW PART ONE
LIVE PERFORMANCE OF CALLING YOU
INTERVIEW PART TWO (Recording of What are you doing the Rest of your Life)
You can catch Simone live at the Writtle Jazz Festival 27th- 29th July
Michelle Ward was delighted to be joined by singer/songwriter, Dan Olsen, in the Phoenix FM studio. Dan’s track HEART INTO TROUBLE has been on the playlist for the last four weeks and it was great to have the creator of the song to sing live and talk about his music.
Joined in the studio by Penny Hollington from Hollington Associates. Hollington Associates is an independent specialist recruiter within the office support market, working with clients and candidates throughout Essex.
Each month Penny will be at Phoenix FM with practical tips to help you get that job! So, if you are a School leaver or looking to change jobs or going back into work after a break, Penny can help you.
Hollington Associates are based in Brentwood, resource support professionals at all levels
Hollington Associates support both clients and candidates through the recruitment process, taking the time to really understand what both parties are looking for, to ensure they get the right person for the right role every time.
With Hollington Associates it’s personal, we meet every client and candidate we work with.
With Hollington Associates it’s about building long term relationships, based on delivering a service that is honest, open and professional.
We offer…
A full recruitment service, finding the ideal candidate for the vacancy
Support during the recruitment process, to create a job specification, screen CV’s, conduct interviews, or assist at offer and pre-employment stage
CV advice and interview coaching for school leavers, graduates and experienced support professionals
Michelle Ward was joined in the studio by Su Patel (Director) of HR Training and Consulting.
Su talked about KNOW YOUR POWER LONDON which is aimed at women to empower them at sometimes the most difficult times in their lives. Su also told her own story during the interview which will inspire you too. Su now has a thriving HR Training and Consulting business and we talked about the role of HR and what it brings to employers and employees.
INTERVIEW
ABOUT THE COMPANY
HR Training and Consulting Ltd. offer a full suite of HR training and support including Employee Relations, Strategic Advice, Management Training & Risk Management. All completely tailored to your Business needs.
Michelle Ward was joined by Andrew Clarkson from Ingatestone Rotary to talk about the SUMMER JAZZ EVENING at Ingatestone Hall Saturday 7th July.
Swing and dance to the “Rockin’ Rhythm & Blues” of The Jive Aces – the U.K.’s No 1 Jive & Swing Band will be performing as well as Classic New Orleans Jazz from The Salty Town Six.
PROGRAMME
5.45 p.m. Gates open
6.15 p.m. The Salty Town Six
7. 15 p.m. Welcome by Lord Petre
7.30 p.m. The Jive Aces
8.45 p.m. Raffle Draw
9.45 p.m. Finish – Dusk
Refreshments
ENJOY YOUR OWN PICNIC AND DRINKS
– dine ‘al fresco
– bring your own seating
There is no need to carry your own food and drinks, as these will be availableA Licensed Bar will be on site provided by
Brentwood Brewing Company
Choose from a selection of:
Real Ales – Wine by glass or bottle
Soft drinks – Mineral water
Food
Our catering supplier will be cooking a variety of dishes, including
– burgers
– hot dogs
Or you can supplement your picnic with dishes from here.
Other Refreshments available:
Coffee – Tea – Icecream
A Licensed Bar will be on site provided by
Brentwood Brewing Company
Choose from a selection of:
Real Ales – Wine by glass or bottle
Soft drinks – Mineral water
Michelle Ward was joined by Kevin Richard (Business Manager/Actor) and Barry Hester (Director/Actor) THE REJECT THEATRE COMPANY to talk about their production of THE RISE AND FALL OF LITTLE VOICE.
A fabulously funny chat with two guys who just love the world of theatre and put on shows the same quality as a West End Production right in the heart of Brentwood (Brentwood Theatre).
INTERVIEW
LITTLE VOICE IS COMING TO THE BRENTWOOD THEATRE! 20th – 21st July
ABOUT THE PLAY
A shy girl rarely ventures outside her bedroom and when her loud drunken mother’s new boyfriend, a small time local promoter, spots her talent for mimicking famous singers he is determined to exploit her talents.
Michelle Ward was joined in the studio by Laura and Sommer both Client Liaison Managers from The Beeches (Brentwood) which stands for Luxury Senior Living with Award Winning Care.
Laura and Sommer came to talk about up and coming events from Wimbledon Day with strawberries and cream, Bollywood Event sampling the music and food of Bollywood and preparations for their 5th Birthday in September.
EVENT UPDATES AT THE BEECHES
The awards keep coming in for The Beeches
Cavell Nurses Trust
CQC Award
Recommend Top 20 Care homes
Great British care Awards with 6 finalists
National Care Awards winner Jana Krapkova who is the Dementia Care Manage
We talked about The Beeches, the facilities and up and coming events.
Michelle Ward was joined by Sylvia Kent and Janet Howson for this month’s Book Club.
Discussing the Billericay Readers Group and this month, our special guest, Janet Howson talked about script writing, her life as a drama teacher and her renewed energy for writing since her retirement.
Michelle Ward was joined by Nicci Swainbank from Hazel’s Pottery Barn and Phil Norton from Billericay Street Pastors to discuss the POT-A-THON on 5th July at Barleylands, Billericay (9am – 9pm). Raising money for St Lukes Hospice and Billericay Street Pastors.
Come along and join the fun events.
Nicci and Phil talk Barleylands, Little Havens, Billericay Street Pastors, Fudge, CNN and more
Michelle Ward was joined in the studio by the writer, director, actor Emma Sweeney and Brentwood Theatre Manager, Ian Southgate to discuss GET INTO THE ARTS FESTIVAL.
GET INTO THE ARTS 23rd July – 5th August and its YOUR chance to get involved/try out acting, dance, production, learn to play the drums and so much more. OPEN TO ALL AGE GROUPS.
FIND OUT MORE HERE
Join us in the foyer and patio of Brentwood Theatre throughout the festival for some great free drop-in activities and events, including:
Michelle Ward was joined in the studio by David Sollis and Rachel Horton-Smyth from Healthwatch Essex.
Healthwatch Essex is an independent voice for the people of Essex. We gather and represent your views about health and care services in the county to help improve them
Michelle Ward was joined by writer Dan Jeffries to discuss Acromegaly. Dan and I are both in remission from Acromegaly, which is an extremely rare pituitarydisorder.
Dan has also written Me, Myself and Eye, his memoir, which has received high praise indeed, writing about Acromegaly and Whyburn-Mason Syndrome.
Dan Jeffries has, and his insightful and hilarious memoir explores what it’s like living with one of the world’s rarest medical conditions – and then finding out you have another one.
Told through an innovative new approach that combines the traditional reading experience with modern technology, Me, Myself & Eye really lets the reader delve into Dan’s life story. Use your smart-phone, tablet or computer to look at family photos, medical documents, scans, videos and even listen to music he’s written over the years. Me, Myself & Eye is a memoir that is both fascinating and insightful, told with a fresh, honest and unique voice.
Michelle Ward was joined in the studio by Punk Folk Songstress, LEIGH LUSCIOUS. Leigh is always entertaining with her punk folk slightly cheeky songs and her funky guitar playing.
Leigh is a regular on the London gig circuit as well as several Facebook Live gigs per weeks for her ever-increasing number of fans.
Her new single VIP (Download JUNE 23RD) and album, WoopDeDoop, is available on ITUNES or CD from her website or gigs.
Interview and Live Performance THE LOOK plus a snippet of her new single VIP and Love is Forever
Inspired by a true story and based on the hit movie, MADE IN DAGENHAM is the uplifting new British musical comedy about friendship, love and the importance of fighting for what is right.
Essex 1968. Like millions of other working women, each morning Rita O’Grady is just trying to get her husband out of bed, get the kids off to school and get to work at the factory on time. But life is about to change forever when it’s announced that the girls in the stitching room of Ford’s Dagenham car plant will have their pay grade dropped to ‘unskilled’. Quickly drawing on a strength she never knew she had, Rita leads her friends in a battle against the might of Ford and the corruption of the Union supposed to protect them. As the girls’ inspiring journey gets bigger than anyone could have imagined, the pressure is too much for some, but can Rita keep up the fight and the happy home she’s worked so hard for?
Michelle Ward was joined by Anita McCarthy, PR & Communications Executive from St Francis Hospice and Emily Gray who is an art therapy volunteer with the Family Support Services Team at St Francis Hospice.
Anita and Emily came in to talk about Volunteering at St Francis and updates on up and coming events.
INTERVIEW
VOLUNTEERING
If you have been inspired and would like to get involved please visit our website for information on all the roles available and to download an application. Or if you would prefer to speak to the Volunteer Services team call 01708 758614 or email volunteering@sfh.org.uk
Volunteers’ gift of time contributes £2 million of service to the hospice
Big-hearted volunteers give the gift of time and skill, contributing £2 million every year to the specialist care service the hospice provides to the community.
As part of National Volunteers’ Week, Saint Francis Hospice would like to say a massive ‘Thank you’ to its 840 volunteers who volunteer a total of 260,000 hours a year because they want to make a difference to patients and families affected by life-limiting illnesses.
And people may also be surprised by the range of roles volunteers carry out in every area of the charity. These include: retail, administration roles, reception, gardening, maintenance, complementary therapy, bereavement services, photography, the inpatient unit, our day services at Pemberton Place and on our confidential telephone service OrangeLine.
Gill Wendelken, Voluntary Services Manager at the hospice, said: “Saint Francis Hospice continues to be proud of its increasing number of wonderful volunteers, who are helping at the Hospice, in Retail and Fundraising.
“So many wonderful local people giving their time, their skills and experiences, to help our patients, families and carers in a variety of ways.
“Our volunteers play such a vitally important role in everything the hospice does for the community.
“And to add to this good news – there is always room for more to join us.”
The hospice will formally thank its volunteers throughout June when it hosts its three annual Thank You evenings to bring its volunteers together to enjoy a meal and drinks.
Long Service Awards for people achieving milestones from five, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 years will also be presented.
Volunteers have a wealth of experience and skills to give and we are featuring just a few of our heroes who reveal how helping people in need has enriched their lives.
If you have been inspired and would like to get involved please visit our website for information on all the roles available and to download an application. Or if you would prefer to speak to the Volunteer Services team call 01708 758614 or email volunteering@sfh.org.uk
Michelle Ward was joined in the studio by the incredible CHELSEY who performed two live tracks as well as hearing her original material, HEART SHAPED LIES.
This singer, songwriter and pianist is making fantastic original music and has a stunning vocal style all of her own. Her vocals are sweet, pure, breathy then she hits amazingly powerful notes along with perfect pitch vocals and beautiful run downs.
INTERVIEW
LIVE PERFORMANCE HEART SHAPED LIES
Available on Spotify, Apple Music and Soundcloud
LIVE PERFORMANCE OF ID RATHER GO BLIND
Special thanks to Mike Jones of Phoenix FM for putting the video and audio together x
Michelle Ward was joined in the studio by BaVard, Ben and Toby Jordan, a musical duo from Leigh on Sea who also happen to be brothers.
Ben on Guitar and Toby on Vocals, they write and perform their own music. The genre is mixed with alternative pop/rock and little bit of country thrown in!
Their music is on iTunes Spotify and all the music platforms including our new track ‘Young and Restless’ which released 26 Jan 2018!
BaVard was born in early 2015 and we now perform acoustically together and with session musicians.
INTERVIEW AND LIVE SESSION
BaVard’s EP ‘Noir’ out now on iTunes and Spotify! Those Days, Just for Me & Make A Difference
The name ‘baVard’ means ‘chatty’ in French which is what us two brothers are… and the ‘V’ represents uniting us as brothers and musicians. We lived in France for 5 years and is where we learnt classical guitar. We still continue with our Classical route alongside rock and acoustic guitar too… and piano!
Michelle Ward was joined in the studio by Shannon of Shannon’s Cakes who are based in Brentwood and supply delicious made to order cakes for any celebration.
From cupcakes, drip cakes, Unicorn Cakes, birthday, wedding, Fathers and Mothers Day Cakes, to 4ft house cakes, Shannon has made them all.
