I Have Entered the World of Reviews

Follow this link for my latest article, reviewing "Autobiography" by Morrissey. Published on concourseonline.com (the website for Keele University's student magazine "Concourse") 

http://www.concourseonline.com/cc-review/autobiography-by-morrissey/

What do Preston North End, Bob Dylan, and a powerful belief in the power of Further Education have in common?

A perplexing question, at first glance. But David Law, the Principal and Chief Executive of Chelmsford College holds the somewhat surprising answer in the list of his personal interests. 

Though seeing his students grow and become successful may take its rightful place at the head of this diverse list, the impressive list of venues at which he has seen Dylan perform, surely allows the kingpin of popular folk music to take a close second place.

David Law has been at Chelmsford College since 1996, and has been Principal since 2001. After originally training to teach in schools, he made the transition to further education colleges after just one year. Though David has taught in several different colleges around the country, as well as having family links to the North West, the Leamington native chose Chelmsford due to the friendly atmosphere, "excellent students". And as he says, "you know when you fit somewhere, and somewhere fits you". It is this partnership that has motivated David to remain here, to oversee the improvements to learning, growth in student numbers, and refurbishments to the college infrastructure that has seen an £18 Million investment over the past three years.  

Outside of his professional life, which also spans to a Directorship at the Association of Colleges, David Law holds a keen interest in popular music, and travel. As previously mentioned, Bob Dylan is very important to him, and after seeing him over 20 times in the past thirty years, David admits his fandom may well "border on the obsessive". As for travel, after retirement David plans to take up the "snowbird" routine, of avoiding our cold British winters for somewhere more suitable to hone his golfing skills. 

David remains proud and privileged to be at the helm of the College which continues to be an important fixture of the Moulsham community.

P.A.

A Note on Publication

For those in the Chelmsford area, you can find my article about Dick Madden in the Moulsham Times magazine, which can be found in homes and businesses in the Moulsham area.

For those outside of Chelmsford, please follow the link below to the Moulsham Times website, where you can download a PdF copy of the September issue.

http://www.moulshamtimes.com/

This is a great little magazine, for local people and local events.

Another interview, which I will post on here shortly, will be in the October issue.


P.A.

Dick Madden: A Humble Man

Dick Madden, our local councillor and Cabinet Member for Families and Children has been a Chelmsford resident since 1969. Alongside his wife Kathryn, the ex-Police Officer rose through the ranks of Essex Police, from Cadet to the role of Chief Superintendent, lives in the Moulsham area as it continues to be a well-rounded family and community base.

Since moving to Essex from Gravesend, Kent to become a Police Cadet, Dick has seen many changes in the community, and in his personal life. His career gave Dick many opportunities, from a "thief taker" in his earlier years, to a successful Detective, "or so I'm told". He traversed the many roles of a Police Officer during his "service", from leading a team in solving murder cases, to teaching skills in Child Protection to Police around the world.

It is these skills with which Dick has taken from his career in the Police, to be involved in the charity Child Care. The charity aims to help children distracted from education by issues of social welfare, and make sure they can continue their education. Alongside his charitable work, Dick has been on the Governing body of several schools and is currently a Governor of Chelmsford College. Before he started his current role of County Councillor, he sat on up to 25 Committees at a time.

 When describing his success, Dick's insistence to point to other's testimony shows the selflessness of his  character, which is again supported by the altruistic work with children and young people our Councillor continues to devote himself to.

 As for his future aims, rest and retirement may be on his mind, but if so he does well to hide it. Instead, early intervention schemes for children and families at risk across Essex, and community action and decision making in Moulsham are high priorities for Dick in the next two years.

However your political bias lies, Dick Madden can be seen as a leader of our communities in Moulsham. He is a devoted family man who is dedicated to seeing progress in Chelmsford, and Essex.

I Want to Help People.

I want to help people, who haven’t had the privileges I have.


I want to build schools, teach, give aid, supply medical knowledge, build safe places for the oppressed, form governments that can re-build war-torn countries.


I want to do all this. And I will.


I want to build, but I cannot lift. My arms are not strong from fighting, but weak from resting on laurels.


I want to teach, but I can’t do Maths, because I didn’t learn it, because I didn’t have to.


I want to give aid, but I can’t produce the food needed by people suffering from malnutrition.


I want to give medicine, and teach doctors, but I will never be a doctor.


I want to help form safe governments, but my political fervor is too excitable for political life in this country.


So how will I do all of this?





I will write.








I will report on the good of others, and the terror they replace.


When a school is built, I will publish the news, so others can be persuaded to build more.


When teachers are forced to strike over working conditions that are detrimental to their students, I will take their side, and publish their world, so others will stand in solidarity too.


When aid organisations need help to transport their food, to administer their supplies, I will report on their hard work, and give others hope that their work is worthwhile.


When doctors and nurses are needed, but instead are not allowed to work, due to bureaucracy, idealism, or war, I will tell the story of the people who need them, and tell of the honesty behind the surgeon’s mask.


And when revolutions turn to rebuilding, I will tell the story of their fight for their rights, and their efforts for truth and a brighter future for all.


Some call me an optimist. I think they’re right. I believe in people.


And I believe that everyone’s story should be told.


And I vow to tell the stories, of the dispossessed, of the oppressed, of the men and women who can fight, build, teach, supply, heal and govern.


Because without journalism, we are all confined to what we think, and not what is real.





P.A