Category Archives: Uncategorized

TBB S3Ep19 Backstage with the Brentwood Musical Theatre Society

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 from 21st-25th October, bringing a hit of the 1980s to all those who love a ra-ra 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.

http://www.brentwoodoperaticsociety.co.uk

http://www.brentwood-theatre.co.uk

s3Ep18 The Progress Sessions – Music, Poetry and all things Climate Action at Hey Joe Music

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.

https://www.lucybluofficial.com/

S3Ep17 The Golden Arches Return to Brentwood

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.

S3Ep16 Camping With 1st Warley Cubs at Stow Maries Great War Aerodrome

It’s not often The Brentwood Buzz ventures outside the Borough of Brentwood, but sometimes a great opportunity presents itself and cannot be missed.

This was the case when 1st Warley Cubs decided to spend a night camping at the Stow Maries Great War Aerodrome near Danbury with the aim of earning their Stage 1 and 2 Air Activities Badge – and to learn more about this historic airfield and all that happened here between 1915 and 1919.

Here’s a podcast about the aerodrome, camping with Cubs and how a weekend with friends is just the best thing.

https://www.stowmaries.org.uk/

S3Ep13 The Heart of Brentwood – Celebrating 30 Years of the British Heart Foundation Shop

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.

The Brentwood Buzz is a podcast celebrating all that’s good about the people and places of Brentwood, Essex

S1EP10 The Brentwood Buzz – Mario Corile

Summary

Anyone who has walked past the Spread Eagle Pub on Queen’s Road in Brentwood will be familiar with the wonderful murals which regularly appear on the wall opposite the back entrance to St Thomas’s Churchyard. The artist behind these murals is artist Mario Corile (http://www.corile-design.co.uk/) , and a couple of weeks ago I happened to see him painting his latest artwork on the pub wall. It was too good an opportunity to mis so we had a chat about his work and what brings him to Brentwood on a regular basis.

Transcription

S1Ep9 The Brentwood Buzz – Jane Bennett of Bennetts Funeral Directors

Summary

The cheerful and ever-changing displays in the windows of Bennetts Funeral Directors in Brentwood reflect the company’s long-standing position and importance in the lives – and deaths – of many Brentwood inhabitants.

But if you think the funeral business involves little more than a long car and some men and women in black suits, you may wish to think again. There are qualifications and regulations, training and a good eye for a good hearse needed. Jane Bennet took over her family’s firm more than thirty years ago and had to learn it all from scratch so The Brentwood Buzz has been to meet her and find out some of the finer details of planning a funeral.

Transcription

2023 S1Ep8 Make Your Market in Brentwood

A special additional episode of The Brentwood Buzz today, celebrating young entrepreneurs in the town who have been taking part in Brentwood’s first ‘Make Your Market’ event in the Baytree Centre.

The Covid pandemic made many young people take a good look at their lives and passions, and the outcome seems to have been the enthusiastic decision to make, create and sell all kinds of products. Brentwood has never been a place lacking in entrepreneurial vigour, and Brentwood Borough Council have embraced this by bringing ‘Make Your Market’ to the town and encouraged those aged under 30 to take part.

Things started small today, but they will grow, and there’s no doubt The Brentwood Buzz will be talking to the likes of Charlotte (Minus Cloud Nine), Lucy (Amara London) and Lily (DottysCreatives) again in the future as their business careers develop.

http://www.brentwoodconnected.co.uk

S1Ep7 Marc Sardinha of Hey Joe Music

2023 S1Ep7 Music, coffee and a hefty dose of nostalgia is what you get at Hey Joe!, Brentwood’s only independent record shop. The shop in the Baytree Centre is run by Marc Sardinha, who decided Brentwood was the perfect place for the shop he wanted to open and he moved here three years ago.

This week on The Brentwood Buzz Marc explains why Brentwood offers everything he wants for home and work, and runs through what’s hot and what’s not in the music scene at the moment. And if Sam Ryder or Depeche Mode tune in to The Brentwood Buzz, Marc would be happy for them to come and do a turn at the shop.

If you’d like to know more about The Brentwood Buzz, or think someone you know would make a brilliant guest, please get in touch at TheBrentwoodBuzz@gmail.com or via The Brentwood Buzz on Facebook.

NB Since this episode was recorded in 2023, Hey Joe Music has moved to Ropers Yard Off Crown Street in Brentwood. You can browse for records, have coffee and cake or a wine or beer and Marc has a host of music events and gigs to attend too.

https://heyjoemusic.co.uk/

2023 S1Ep6 Chicken and Frog Bookshop – Natasha Radford

Nestled in the heart of Brentwood’s wonderful Crown Street is the Chicken and Frog bookshop, run by Natasha and Jim Radford. The bookshop provides a focus for young readers wanting to find new inspiration, and for adults who want to read something which might be less widely available online or in High Street chains. The shop embraces diversity and everyone is made to feel welcome – unless they are a chicken…

This week The Brentwood Buzz visits the Chicken and Frog to meet owner Natasha Radford to find out what Brentwood, and books, mean to her.