The Brentwood Buzz

Brentwood is fortunate to have a unending succession of keen amateur and professional singers, dancers, actors and musicians who perform regularly in musicals, plays and concerts in venues throughout the town.

This month Brentwood Musical Theatre Society - formerly Brentwood Operatic Society - is staging Rock of Ages at the Brentwood Theatre, bringing a hit of the 1980s for all those who love a rara skirt and mobile phones the size of bricks.

The Brentwood Buzz joined the team for a rehearsal and to find out what makes the BMTS members give up their time and skills to put on a show.

Brentwood has its own Climate Action Group which is a growing collection of people wanting to talk about what needs to be done to tackle climate change.

But it’s not all climate. Great effort is being made to bring together a community of like-minded people to talk, debate, have picnics on Shenfield Common and, every so often, enjoy and evening of poetry and music.

Hey Joe Music, just off Crown Street, was the venue for the latest evening of words and music, and The Brentwood Buzz was there to meet Brentwood Climate Action chair, Kat Anderson, and singer/songwriter, Lucy Blu.

Find more episodes and information at www.thebrentwoodbuzz.co.uk

There was a time, in the dim and distant past, when Brentwood had two McDonald’s restaurants – one on the High Street, and a drive-thru on the Mountnessing roundabout. Then they both closed and those with a taste for McNuggets or a Happy Meal had to travel to Chelmsford or even Romford for a full fat fix.

But this year, McDonald’s reopened on Brentwood High Street under the watchful eye of former McDonald’s Customer Care Assistant turned current franchisee, Joey Antwi-Kusi. The Brentwood Buzz has been to meet Joey, and to go behind the scenes in the shiny new Brentwood Maccy-D’s.

The Brentwood Buzz celebrates all that's good about the people and places of Brentwood, Essex - but when the 1st Warley Cubs organised a weekend camp at Stow Maries Great War Aerodrome just outside Danbury in Essex, it seemed like a good excuse to Buzz a little further afield.

Stow Maries Great War Aerodrome was used as a base for some of the earliest war planes to take off and land when defending the East of England and London from the Zeppelins of the Great War of 1914-1918.

At the time the airmen and crew lived first in tents, and then in buildings which have largely survived the last 100 years and are now open to visitors. And the tents are back too, as the amazing team at the Aerodrome have started to allow youth organisations to camp overnight and earn some of the stages of the Air Activities badge.

1st Warley Cubs were among the first Cubs to have this amazing experience, so The Brentwood Buzz was there to find out more about the Aerodrome, and what it takes to make a good and safe Cub Camp.

Any parent of a child with autism or ADHD - or any adult living with the joys and challenges neurodiversity can bring - needs to pop in to the Chicken and Frog Bookshop where a new sensory space and a room full of books, resources and toys has been set up over the summer.

The Brentwood Buzz popped in to the shop on Crown Street to see the changes, and found it was already being praised by parents and local psychologists who had been in to browse.

Brentwood is hosting its first International Cultural Festival this September, with talks, films, food and activities from local people who have come to the town from a multitude of countries and cultures.

From those who came to Brentwood to work for the Ford Motor Company, and skilled workers who were invited to the UK to work in the NHS, to those who came from Ukraine to escape the war with Russia, and those who came for love, there are many people living in the town who bring different cultural experiences to this part of Essex.

The Brentwood Buzz has met Preen Chakadonha, who has set up a website www.blackandbeingessex.co.uk, to enable the black community in Essex to share resources, advice and - very importantly - tips on where to find a good hairdresser.

Brentwood High Street has an eclectic mix of shops, from High Street chains to independent stores to charity shops.

One of the charity shops which has been offering the chance to recycle unwanted goods, and to grab a bargain, is the British Heart Foundation outlet, which is celebrating 30 years on Brentwood High Street this year.

The Brentwood Buzz has been to visit the shop to find out what's kept it going for three decades, and to meet some of the staff and volunteers.

My friend, Mark Reed, whose endless positivity and support set me on the road to starting this podcast, died suddenly and unexpectedly on Saturday 5th July.

Mark, a local councillor, a former Mayor of Brentwood, the former manager of Brentwood Theatre, a great supporter of so many local organisations and charities and a fantastic animal wrangler, will be hugely missed by all who knew him.

While working at Brentwood Theatre, he encouraged me to record some interviews about the shows which were taking place, and gave me the chance to host the theatre's own awards, The Brents. He restored my enthusiasm for broadcasting and The Brentwood Buzz was born.

When I needed a forgiving first guest for The Brentwood Buzz, who had endless joy for the people and places of Brentwood, Essex, I knew Mark - aka Mr Brentwood - was the best person to ask. And he was brilliant.

If you knew Mark, I hope this repeat of his interview will remind you what a cracking chap and glorious friend he has been to so many of us. And if you did not know him, this is a chance for you to hear one of Brentwood's finest chaps talking about the town he loved and served so well. Mark was very proud to be my first guest, and that his is the most listened to interview in this series.

RIP Mark. Best buzzings and thank you for everything xxx

We live in an increasingly busy and crowded society, and there are times when the behaviour of others, or even ourselves, can cross a line and cause distress or offence.

Brentwood Connected, which runs the Business Improvement District for Brentwood, Ingatestone and Shenfield, is raising awareness of anti-social behaviour this week by letting us know who to contact if there is a problem on our High Streets or with neighbours, and what they can do to help.

The Brentwood Buzz found some of the team in the Baytree Centre this week so popped in to have a chat.

Every year the churches of Brentwood hold a four day event on the High Street, giving out free burgers, hotdogs, advice, prayer and worship to meet the needs of all and anyone who passes.

This year the local church members were joined by a dozen Americans who've travelled from South Carolina to share their faith - so The Brentwood Buzz has been to meet them, and some of the organisers who make the free lunch event happen every year.