At the time of writing our rehearsals for our May concert are progressing very well. Parts of the programme are familiar to many chorus members and it is an enjoyable experience practising the various items and producing the quality rendition that our Musical Director, Alex Chaplin requires.

Our soprano soloist, Emily Yarrow, intends to perform two solo arias in each half. In the first she will entertain us with Michaela's aria from Bizet's 'Carmen', sung in French, and Cherubino's aria from Mozart's 'Le Nozze di Figaro', sung in Italian. In the second half of the concert she will perform two more beautiful arias, in English this time. The first will be an aria for which Emily is particularly acknowledged, One Fine Day from Puccini's 'Madame Butterfly' and the second will be, Adele's Laughing song from J Strauss II 's 'Die Fledermaus'. With these wonderful pieces, the exciting items from the Chorus and the Overtures mentioned in my report last month, this really will be a concert not to be missed!

Spanish children from the Canary Islands seeking Host Families in Harlow

Spanish children from the Canary Islands are seeking host families in the Harlow area to experience a taste of British life during a month long trip to England.

In July, Harlow will enjoy some Spanish sunshine as thirty keen students from the sunny Canary Islands arrive on a four week field trip. The children, aged between 13 and 16 are coming to Harlow to study English and improve their language skills. The students hope to share the homes of local families to practice their English and experience a taste of British life. Maria, (15) who made the trip last year, said "I really loved my month in England. Learning English from a textbook doesn’t compare to actually living with a host family. My English family were lovely and I learnt so much". "I was also able to tell them about my country and share what life is like where I come from" she added. "We have kept in touch and I hope they may come and visit the Canary Islands someday".

Old Harlow & Newhall PCSO Chrisie Goodman

In April the Mobile Police Station was at the bottom of Old Harlow High Street. Lots of you stopped and spoke with myself and PC Neil Armor which was great.

Unfortunately there have been several incidents in Newhall where a number of vehicles parked in the street have recently been broken into and property removed so I thought I would give you a few tips on how to secure your vehicle:

• Close all windows and doors
• Park in well lit areas. When using public car parks look for police-approved Safer Parking Scheme
• Activate the alarm/immobilizer. Consider buying a steering wheel lock.
• Don't leave anything on display, especially valuables and take your belongings with you, or lock them in the boot, preferably before you begin your journey
• If the stereo etc is not removable, replace the existing screws with grub- head screws
• Fit locking wheel nuts
• Keep keys in a safe place and take them with you
• Don't leave the engine running while you go to pay for petrol, etc
• Have the Vehicle Registration Number etched onto all glass surfaces.

If you see anything or anyone suspicious around parked vehicles please call 999.

Surgery Dates:
Saturday 18th May 10:30- 12:00 at Old Harlow Library

Contact Details:
101 ext 300173
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or visit www.essex.police.uk

Ne'er cast a clout 'til May is out! A piece of seasonal advice about clothing but from what the forecasters tell us we may have to keep plants and seedlings wrapped up too! This time last year the leaf buds on the Walnut tree at home had broken into well-formed leaves. This year Mother Nature has told her to hang on for a few extra weeks. The amazing thing is the tree will catch up as the year goes on and so it is with all those vegetable plants we've sown. Come October and we'll wonder what all the fuss was about!

This month I promised you vegetables and what better place to start than with the humble Potato. Because the soil was so cold, we covered this year's Potato patch with black fabric to raise the temperature. We could have used carpet, underlay or even black polythene, it matters not as it will be there for no longer than three to four weeks. Potatoes grow from the ones we plant 10cm (4”) under ground. The harvest grows around and on top of that original seed Potato and would burst through the top of the soil if we didn't earth-up the plant by dragging the soil around to make it higher. We've all seen what happens when Potatoes grow just above the ground. They become green and we have to cut all of that green away before we cook them.

I was delighted to speak with Sarah Packer and Carly Bown who together run local, women’s only fitness classes. CS Just Fitness is taking Harlow by storm.

When did you set up your business?

September 2012.

How did you decide on your company name?

We liked the name *JUST* Fitness but we wanted to make it more personable to us so we used our initials. It rolled off the tongue nicely SC didn’t sound as good as CS so we went with that. We thought the *JUST* was nice and quirky to put in front of each class name.

Where did you qualify/study?

The Premier International Training Academy.

Experience in the business?

We both have Personal Training clients and busy classes; we both teach at 3 popular classes a week.

A small charity making a BIG difference

Streets2Homes is Harlow’s homeless charity working with rough sleepers and the vulnerably housed.

What do we do?

• We help people to find accommodation with a deposit guarantee;
• Help them complete forms and provide an address;
• Help with learning to use IT, write CVs and prepare for job interviews;
• Encourage them to seek appropriate medical help;
• provide a hot meal, washing facilities and fresh clothes;
• and provide company and someone just to chat to.

If we cannot find a room for them we make sure they have a sleeping bag and tent and some food.

We work with tenants and landlords to try and prevent people from losing their homes in the first place.

All Change for All Saints, Hockerill Concert 11th May

Words by Mick Rumens

Due to unforeseen circumstances, our programme ‘Songs from the Shows’, scheduled for Saturday 11th May, has now been changed to an Opera Gala.

We can promise our audience a rousing and tuneful collection of choruses and arias from some of Verdi’s most famous operas as well as those of many other composers. Verdi’s work predominates as this is his bicentenary year. Do come along and enjoy a fun evening with Harlow Chorus and our brilliant soprano soloist, Emily Yarrow who is based in Stansted.

Verdi’s reputation as the greatest of all Italian opera composers is beyond doubt. His dramatic flair and phenomenal expressive range, coupled with an apparently inexhaustible supply of memorable tunes, continue to thrill spectacle-hungry opera audiences to this day. For many music lovers Verdi’s music defines what opera is really allabout, even if in the last resort Wagner was the most influential of the two. The chorus will sing his Triumphal Scene from Aida, the Anvil Chorus from Il Trovatore, the Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves from Nabucco, (both these choruses in Italian), and the ladies will sing the Witches Chorus from Macbeth.

Potter Street PCSO Rebecca Durrant & PCSO Michele Hurst

Beware of Bogus Police Officers

The latest warning follows an alert issued about a bogus caller claiming to be a police officer, who attempts to use the Police non-emergency telephone number 101 or 999 to obtain bank details. The suspect is known to call people and tell them their bank details have been found in possession of arrested suspects.

In an attempt to verify that he/she was a genuine officer, they gave the name of Sgt James Hackett or DCI Charlston (no such officers exist) and invited the intended victim to call them back urgently, within five minutes, on the police 101 or the 999 emergency number.

One victim did call back to find out more but became suspicious because there was no dialling tone and no extension number was given. The victim hung up immediately. The bogus caller does not hang up the phone so you will just be speaking to them again. If possible use a different phone line to dial 101 to contact Essex Police and inform us of the call.