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Radio Presenter, Singer, Songwriter, chatterbox and I won a weight lifting competition at a local fete when I was 11. I still have the trophy somewhere. I eat too much, talk too quick, have wild hair, laugh like a drain and open my gob before my brain engages.
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.
The attempt will take place on Saturday 9th June at the Essex Cardiothoracic Centre, which is part of the Basildon Hospital campus.
Volunteers from the hospital and Essex Air Ambulance will be assisting with the event so that everyone knows what they are doing and it runs smoothly.
We would like to ensure that the event is worth travelling for and so are looking to add educational sessions and a party afterwards. Of course it’ll also be a great opportunity to meet survivors and others affected by an SCA – which is usually a great experience in itself!
Residents in Brentwood and surrounding areas are being urged to carry out 30 minutes of physical activity every day in June – in a campaign launched by the Active Essex Foundation.
Active Essex Director Jason Fergus came in to talk about the #3030Essex Challenge and how people can get involved. You can hear his interview again here:
The aim of the campaign is to help raise funds and awareness for the charity which harnesses the positive power of physical activity and sport to engage and support the most deprived communities across Essex. It also hopes to encouraging more people start or increase the amount of physical activity they do every day.
People across Essex can choose to carry out any type of physical activity in the 30:30 challenge, such as walking to school or exploring their local area by bike. The challenge can either be completed in one 30-minute burst or by three 10-minute bouts of activity throughout the day. The challenge can also be varied with different sports tried over the 30-day period.
The campaign has been backed by This Morning’s resident doctor Dr Zoe Williams, a GP and clinical champion for physical activity for Public Health England. Dr Williams is an expert in changing behaviours to help improve health and wellbeing in a range of ages and abilities.
Dr Williams, a 30:30 ambassador, said: “This is a wonderful campaign for Essex and I encourage as many people as possible to take on the 30:30 challenge in June.
“Physical inactivity, classed as doing less than 30 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity every day, is the cause of one in six deaths – the same rate as smoking. Therefore, a strong commitment to regular physical activity is absolutely essential in order to maintain positive health and wellbeing. I have seen first-hand how lives have been transformed by becoming more physically active.
“Exercise is increasingly being rebranded as physical activity which makes this commitment much more achievable and fun, and in the 30:30 challenge, unlike other charity fitness challenges, there are no distances to run, no targets to beat, and no fixed activities. Walking, cycling, and everyday chores in and around the house all count. The only rules are 30 minutes for 30 days.”
Currently, one in five Essex residents do not take part in any physical activity or sport, and the levels of inactivity are highest among people on low incomes, women, those with disabilities or life-limiting illnesses, and unemployed people. Recent research also found that only 20% of 15 year olds are active for an hour each day and 30% of children in Year 6 are overweight or obese.
The Active Essex Foundation uses sport and physical activity to inspire hard-to-reach and under-represented communities to become more physically active, lead healthier lives, raise aspirations and confidence, and improve mental health.
The foundation works in partnership with local organisations to help individuals and families living in areas of deprivation, at risk young people, people living with physical and mental health challenges, and BAME (women and girls, black, Asian and minority ethnic), LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) and faith groups.
The foundation’s current project and fundraising activities include working with Motivated Minds, a community interest company in Basildon, to tackle rising issues of mental health disorder, Achievement Through Football to tackle anti-social behaviour in Southend, and Canvey Get Set Youth which engages with youngsters in the Canvey Skate Park and Castle Point areas to create and support a calendar of positive activities.
Get involved in the 30:30 challenge on social media by using the hashtag #3030Essex.
Joined in the studio by Sylvia Kent and Natasha Radford for this months book club.
Talking, Billericay Readers Group, SWWJ, Natasha’s current favourite children’s books and The Brentwood Children’s Literary Festival.
INTERVIEW
Brentwood Children’s Literary Festival is for children (and their grown ups) from pre-schoolers to teens. This year’s festival will run throughout the first week of the summer break – starting on 21st July 2018.
