The Brentwood Buzz

Keeping fit used to be leotards and leg warmers, but now it's all about keeping fit for life, so more and more women are turning to resistance training, weights and getting the heart rate up as they get older.

Emma Dove of Emma Dove Studios on Warley Hill in Brentwood has recognised this and opened a gym just for women on 11th January, continuing her personal training work in the town.

The Brentwood Buzz has donned a garish leotard and leg warmers and been to chat to Emma about her work in Brentwood since the 1980s.

As job opportunities and promotions lead to more people finding themselves having to leave their home towns and find work in other parts of the country, or even further afield, it becomes move of a worry to make sure those we leave behind are safe and happy.

Form Brentwood Ursuline pupil, Lucy Piper, recognises this and is passionate about helping as many of our elderly generation, and their families, as possible.  Describing herseld as an "elderly care expert." Lucy helps busy professionals and families find the right care for their elderly loved ones.

Lucy also runs a home help service currently operating in parts of Brentwood, Billericay, Wickford and Basildon which offers help with cleaning, shopping, hospital visits and companionship.

Lucy's been chatting to The Brentwood Buzz about how she came to work in this field, and why she will never forgive the person who designed the Ursuline's famous stripey blazer...

https://www.anylittlething.co.uk/

Olympic athlete, care leaver, and a Brentwood resident of 38 years, Fatima Whitbread is a well-known figure in the town. This week she has been signing copies of her children's book, My Bright Shining Star, at the Chicken and Frog Bookshop. The Brentwood Buzz caught up with her there to find out why she is involved in organising a summit next year for and about care leavers, and ensuring they are seen, heard and valued.

Brentwood is a town with low crime levels and a general feeling of safety. But some people, especially women, feel less safe when out for a run or walking home in the dark.

In the last couple of years Essex Police and Brentwood Borough Council have worked with local martial arts instructors to offer free self defence classes to anyone who wants to sign up to come along.

The Brentwood Buzz has been to join them.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/walk-with-us-self-defence-class-tickets-1010425207997

This week's Brentwood Buzz takes a look at how looking after your feet can change your life.

A big claim, but one Neil McAllister, whose Kinetic Podiatry Clinic is based in the Brentwood Centre, is willing to stand by.

The Brentwood Buzz has been to meet Neil to find out why he chose to work his foot magic in Brentwood.

Sometimes The Brentwood Buzz comes across things happening in Brentwood which just seem unbelievable.

So when we heard a production of Ben Hur was coming to the Brentwood Theatre, featuring just four actors, the Buzz needed to find out more.

So this week's podcast features drama, togas and an unfortunate liaison with RumTumTugger.

Get a group of loud, inspiring, ambitious women together and amazing things can happen.

That's what happened at the Holiday Inn in Brentwood as Ambitious Women in Essex, run by Essex County Council, brought the best of Brentwood's businesswomen together for coffee, cake and conversation.

And The Brentwood Buzz was there to hear why there was just no need for manspeak.

With schools doing less and less music within the curriculum, young musicians in Brentwood are fortunate to have the opportunity to learn to play in an orchestra through Brentwood's Orchestras for Young Musicians.

The Brentwood Buzz has been to meet some of the people who play, conduct and stock the tuck shop at Friday night rehearsals.