Brentwood – The Brentwood Buzz

2026 S4Ep28 Marines and Martial Arts

This week’s episode of The Brentwood Buzz celebrates what it is to be young, ambitious and ready to – as they say in recruitment – demonstrate transferable skills.

Jon Hegan lives in Brentwood and now runs the Jon Hegan Academy in Upminster, teaching Krav Maga, self defence and martial arts.

But before this he was a cadet in Cranham, joined the Marines, left to set up his martial arts business and spend fifteen years working in secure units for young offenders.

It’s been a fascinating and varied career, and Jon is this week’s guest on The Brentwood Buzz.

⁠https://www.kravmagacombat.com⁠

Self-Defence Classes near Brentwood

S4Ep27 Follow The Yellow Brick Road to Brentwood’s Summer Panto

School’s out for summer, and if you’re looking for somewhere to take the children without having to go all the way up to London for a show, the summer pantomime – The Wizard of Oz – at Brentwood Theatre could be just the thing for you.

Staged by friend of the podcast (see S4Ep24 and S3Ep27 on Spotify), Sophia-Marie Hornsey, the show runs for three days and promises fun for all the family.

The Brentwood Buzz has been to Brentwood Theatre to meet the cast.

https://brentwood-theatre.co.uk

https://www.sophisticatedentertainment.com

S4Ep26 The Lemon Curd Lady of Pilgrims Hatch

Running your own business is no easy task, as we’ve heard many times on The Brentwood Buzz when interviewing some of our local independent businesses.

The Lemon Curd Lady – aka Sandra Harnor – sells her curds and marmalades at local farmers markets, fetes and fairs, having set up the business as part of an unexpected retirement plan.

Brentwood’s celebratory podcast, The Brentwood Buzz has been to meet The Lemon Curd Lady to find out what brought her to Brentwood and, most importantly, to have a look through the goods in her fridge!

https://www.facebook.com/p/The-Lemon-Curd-Lady-61583838793590

S4Ep22 Mad or Well-Advised? Lindsay Hollingsworth Directs The Comedy of Errors

In recent The Brentwood Buzz podcasts we have found there is a talented pool of community theatre players who circle effortlessly around the various groups with a lead role here, a bit part there and occasionally even some directing thrown in.

One of those players is Lindsay Hollingsworth, writer of pantos for The College Players, in which she also acts and sometimes directs, when she’s not teaching youngsters to play percussion instruments, or encouraging them to join Brentwood’s Orchestras for Young Musicians.

This summer Lindsay is bringing her directing skills to Romford Shakespeare Theatre for its summer show, The Comedy of Errors, which will be performed outside in Hornchurch.

The Brentwood Buzz has been to meet Lindsay to find out why the arts are so important to her.

https://www.romfordshakespearetheatre.co.uk

S4Ep20 Aligning with Chiropractor Dr Grayson Nolan

Keeping fit, healthy and in shape from childhood to old age is something we all know we should do , even if we ignore good advice at times.

New Zealand born Doctor of Chiropractic, Grayson Nolan, runs The Chiropractic Centre in Brentwood, and Billericay. His passion for the benefits of chiropractic is evident – and probably if we listened to him more, some of us would ache less!

The Brentwood Buzz has been to meet Grayson in his premises in Pilgrims Hatch.

https://www.thechirocentre.com/

S4Ep19 Brentwood Musical Theatre Society’s Family Connections

Brentwood Musical Theatre Society is no stranger to The Brentwood Buzz, featuring in S3Ep19 and S1Ep17 as well as a decent mention in the recent chat with actor Stephen Moyer.

BTMS’s next show is Evita at the Brentwood Theatre from 19th to 23rd May 2026, so we’ve been back to talk to some of the Society’s long standing members and find out why being part of this fabulous community theatre group is a real family affair.

https://brentwoodoperaticsociety.co.uk/

S4Ep18 The Bear in The Room with Artist Jill Busby

Graphic designer and Brentwood mum, Jill Busby, of Hive Art Studios is bringing her artistic skills to the King George’s Playing Fields Pavilion on 14th May with a “Sip and Paint” evening.

Wineglasses are some of the smaller items Jill paints, as The Brentwood Buzz discovered when visiting Jill’s studio.

http://www.hiveartstudio.co.uk

S4Ep17 Alastair Clark – On The Record at Hey Joe Music

Brentwood’s independent record shop, Hey Joe Music, hosted the Essex leg of comedian Alastair Clark’s national tour in which he brings comedy to record shops.

Alastair worked in a record shop for ten years before giving up the glitz, glamour and admin duties of trading vinyl for the glitz, glamour and admin duties of life as a stand-up comedian.

The Brentwood Buzz caught up with him at the end of his gig in Hey Joe’s to talk about the tour, his forthcoming Edinburgh show, and collecting comedy records.

https://www.instagram.com/alastairclarkcomedy/

8th May – Rough Trade, Nottingham, 13th May – The Record Cafe, Bradford, 16th May – Vinyl Tap, Huddersfield, 22nd May – Rough Trade, Bristol, 30th May – The Vinyl Whistle, Leeds, 31st July – DayGlo Studios, St Leonards, 8-30th August – Slow Progress Record and Coffee, Edinburgh, 26th Sept – Rough Trade, Liverpool

S4Ep16 An Actor’s Life for Stephen Moyer

International TV, film and theatre actor, Stephen Moyer, was in Brentwood last night for a fundraising event at Brentwood Theatre.

Stephen grew up in Brentwood and started his acting career at St Martin’s School and Brentwood Theatre – and he’s now the theatre’s patron.

Last night’s Evening With… hosted by Bill Wells (see S4Ep13 for a chat with Bill and with Stephen’s mum, Jean) was a great success. The theatre was packed and there was a huge feeling of pride and fondness for Stephen as he described his early days in theatre and his life now as an actor.

He even had time to talk to The Brentwood Buzz about some of those memories.

S4Ep15 Record Store Day at Hey Joe Music

It was an early start at Hey Joe Music off Crown Street in Brentwood this morning with record collectors gathering from just before midnight onwards for Record Store Day, and the chance to buy exclusive pressings of some of the world’s finest pop musicians.

The Brentwood Buzz joined Marc Sardinha of Hey Joe Music for the early shift and to meet some of the people who are willing to give up a night’s sleep to get the records they want.

https://heyjoemusic.co.uk/

https://www.recordstoreday.co.uk/