AAH November 2017

NOVEMBER 2017

5

What’s classed as an essential service?

Presumably Crawley doesn’t like us again?

My back garden is quite small.

There’s a shed, a patio by the back door just big enough for an all-weather ping-pong table, and maybe 20 square metres of grass.

There’s a hole in the middle somewhere that we need to hunt for every time we put the washing line up.

Cutting the grass is a simple job, even for the cheapest mower at Homebase. So, I felt mildly aggrieved when Horsham District Council decided to charge for brown waste collection. I wheeled out my bin twice a year for two consecutive years. When the cost rose to £37 per year, I didn’t renew.

I don’t like to waste money. I can easily recall occasions when I’ve paid out excessively. I bought a silver shirt for £20 from Mad House when I was 18. It had this glitter ball effect that I thought would look good in a nightclub, but my sister saw it, laughed hysterically, and it was never worn again. I’m also still angry about the £7 I paid for eleven soggy cheesy chips at a music festival in 1998.

So, when it came to the garden waste collection fee, I thought: ‘First the glitter shirt and now this.’

Horsham District Council has announced that it is now ending weekly general waste collections.

From February 2018, that bin will also be collected fortnightly.

This has been done with the dual intention of increasing recycling rates (the council has made larger blue lid bins available for a small extra cost) and saving money.

Philip Circus, the cabinet member for waste, recycling and cleansing, has been quoted as saying that the changes will “help save tax payers’ money that can be used to maintain essential public services.”

Once again, I feel mildly aggrieved.

For me, waste collection is the essential service the district council provides. I don’t claim housing benefit, I don’t use leisure centres as often as I should and I buy books from charity shops as I’m useless at returning them to the

November 2017 Ben Morris Words & Design Toby Phillips Photography

NOVEMBER

2017

Thanks

Jeremy Knight/Horsham Museum for pictures of Horsham Park (p49) Sam Hinton for additional pictures of her artwork (p37) Altered Wings in Horsham for allowing us to take the photo above. A feature on the tattoo business will be in December’s AAH

library. So please, just collect my bins with the money I give you in Council Tax and car parking, and you and I will get along just fine!

Over the years, I’ve sat through meetings and seen countless press releases where the council has mentioned cutbacks and criticised its ever-decreasing funding from the government.

It’s now reached the point where the council needs to be essentially a self-funding authority. Which is a challenge.

But it cannot continually cut services in the name of austerity and yet pluck £15million out of thin air to buy The Forum whilst simultaneously setting aside a sixfigure sum for a Year of Culture that is ‘essential’ for precisely nobody.

Bob Cratchit didn’t beg Scrooge for more money whilst Tiny Tim was sat there chomping down on a fillet steak.

There are certain things that the council does very well. But at

times, HDC seems to operate more like a financial institution than a local authority, with the primary focus on growing assets rather than providing essential services. The two could go handin-hand, of course, but are they currently?

Or do we have a council that threatens to raise council tax, or close the library, or raise car park prices again, or sell off more green fields for housing at the slightest hint of having to nibble into its plentiful reserves?

I don’t want a council that cuts back on the services that are important to its residents in order to extend its property portfolio.

In the same way I wouldn’t want a police force which stopped assisting victims of crime and carrying out detective work to instead invest all its resources into mobile speed camera units.

That’s self preservation.

I want a council that serves its residents with integrity and I think there have been occasions where

HDC has let itself down.

How many residents at Kilnwood Vale made the life-changing decision to move to the new estate near Faygate on the strength of its proposed facilities?

You may remember Horsham District Council becoming best mates with Crawley Borough Council, as the development fulfilled some of our new homes quota but was essentially on Crawley’s doorstep. No doubt many residents moved there on the strength of the new health centre and railway station being championed by all sides.

They’re still waiting...

The station is unlikely ever to be built now that Horsham has just nonchalantly ditched its support and instead offered a preference for a new station at the North Horsham development, where construction hasn’t even begun.

There has been no apology to anyone it might have misled.

How about the people who have moved to the Wickhurst Green estate? They were looking forward to a neighbourhood centre with a surgery, playschool facilities and several shops.

No wonder residents have written to the County Times to complain of the “bum deal” they’ve been dealt with the recently approved facility, which is more a block of flats than a community hub.

There’s no surgery, and it’s now been two years since the highly respected Dr David Skipp criticised the “lack of urgency” for the provision of health services to serve the growing population.

Whilst at least some residents of these two estates might still have children young enough to attend the long-promised primary schools that are finally going to open at Kilnwood Vale and Broadbridge Heath in 2019, many will feel that - despite all the promises - the net result of new community facilities within our rapidly expanding town is lame.

Ben

6

To Contact the Editor please email Ben: editor@aahorsham.co.uk

CONTENTS 10

News Round-Up Restaurant Tristan keeps Michelin star and details of festive pantomimes

23

Business Roberts Kitchens creates bespoke designs for contemporary living

25

My Story Vernon Jennings talks about his role in the Barns Green Half Marathon

30

Food & Drink

Wobblegate keeps things natural with its awardwinning juices and ciders

37 Art

Sea life and fantasy collide in the work of Horsham artist Sam Flylightly

43

Group Discussion The New Friends of Horsham Park aim to protect green spaces

49

History We look at the history of Horsham Park and its beautiful mansion house

55

Business Summers Place Auctions is about to auction a family of mammoths

64

Leisure Horsham Swim School is based at a private house on the outskirts of town

COVER STORY: NOVEMBER 2017 Our November cover features Rupert van der Werff at Summers Place Auctions in Billingshurst.

He is pictured with an adult mammoth, one of a family of four found together near the Siberian city of Tomsk. The mammoths will be sold as one lot at the Evolution sale on 19 November.

We visited the auction house in September,

just a few days before a sale. However, the mammoths had already taken their place as the main exhibit at the gallery.

We could potentially have placed Rupert’s business partner James Rylands on the cover.

He is pictured above with a lioness. Other cover options include Sam Hinton with her artwork and Tom Stevens with a range of fruit juices at Wobblegate.

AAH: THE TEAM EDITOR: BEN MORRIS editor@aahorsham.co.uk 01403 878026 / 01903 892899 LETTERS: The Editor, AAH Magazine, 2 Viney Close, Ashington, RH20 3PT ADVERTISING: KELLY MORRIS advertising@aahorsham.co.uk 01403 878026 / 01903 892899 PHOTOGRAPHY: TOBY PHILLIPS www.tobyphillipsphotography.co.uk info@tobyphillipsphotography.co.uk 07968 795625 WEBSITE: www.aahorsham.co.uk We publish AAH online every month. You can read archive editions too.

ADVERTISING Eighth Page Advert: £55 + VAT Quarter Page Advert: £110 + VAT Half Page Advert: £185 + VAT Full Page Advert: £310 + VAT Every Sixth Advert is Free For details or an AAH information book email advertising@aahorsham.co.uk or call 01403 878026 ARCHIVE EDITIONS/PHOTO SALES Past editions can be purchased for a cost of £3.

Contact the Editor.

Images can be purchased, either as digital downloads or prints. Contact Toby for details.

DOOR TO DOOR DISTRIBUTION Horsham: Max Paterson, Jacquie Paterson, Dominic Goddard, John Gatehouse, Kathryn Bland, Lewis Spiller, Richard Judd, Pat Gibbs, The Cocoracchio family, George Voisey, Gemma Voisey, Connor Heald, Paula Hunter, Katie Drysdale, George Williams, Edward Hitchings, Amy Dallas, Joe Tait

Southwater: Connor Brown, Jack Taylor Villages: Samuel Dauncey (Mannings Heath) Adam Browse (Warnham) Tommy Charlwood (Ashington), Ben Morris (Stands), Mike Hoare (Nuthurst), Connor Wykes (Partridge Green), Oak Tree Farm Care (Maplehurst & Copsale); The Palmer family & Amy Butler (BBH); James Hobbs (Thakeham), Callum Matthews (Storrington) PICK UP POINTS 4,000 more copies are available at businesses, clubs, organisations, and community centres across the district.

Our stands can be found at...

Horsham: Sakakini (Carfax), Artisan Patisserie (Market Square), Pavilions in the Park, Horsham Museum, Horsham Rail Station, Roffey Post Office, Crates (Carfax) New House Farm, Swan Walk, The Capitol Village Stands: CoCo’s (Southwater); Billingshurst Leisure Centre, Jengers Bakery in Billingshurst; Coco’s (Billingshurst) Barns Green Village Store and Sumners Ponds, Hutching’s Butchers in Partridge Green, Broadbridge Heath Leisure Centre, Bluecoat Sports (Christ’s Hospital).

NOTES: We would like to thank the Sessions family, who have delivered AAH in Ashington. The boys have had to hang up the bags to concentrate on exams and further education. The round is to be taken on by Tommy Charlwood We’d also like to thank Sakakini jeweller’s in the Carfax. For six years they’ve accommodated an AAH stand. They no longer have the space to store it, so it’s been removed and a new stand will instead be placed just around the corner outside Henry Adams estate agents.

SOCIAL MEDIA We closed the Facebook page as Ben finds it boring. You can still follow Ben and Toby on Twitter @AAHMagazine and @tobyphillips1

10: News

Finnish band Frigg will perform live at The Capitol on 26 November

NEWS ROUND-UP

Horsham Symphony Orchestra opens its 2017 - 2018 concert season with two masterpieces of orchestral repertoire at The Capitol on Saturday 25 November, from 7pm. The first half of the concert features Brahms’ Second Piano Concerto, featuring legendary American pianist Joel Sachs as soloist. After the interval, the orchestra performs Sibelius’ exhilarating Fifth Symphony. Tickets cost £14 from (01403) 750220 or www.thecapitolhorsham.com

Restaurant Tristan on East Street, Horsham, has again been awarded one Michelin star. The Michelin guide praised its “carefully crafted, creative dishes delivered with a modern touch; ingredients are excellent and flavours, distinct and well-matched.” The guide described the service as “enthusiastic and

Pasha Kovalev from Strictly Come Dancing returns to The Capitol with a new show, The Magic of Hollywood, on Thursday 29 March 2018. The show will be packed with glitz and glamour as Pasha takes to the stage with fellow dancer Anya Garnis and his superb team. A 'meet and greet' is held before the show. Tickets for the meet and greet are an additional £20.

Tickets £26.50 from (01403) 750220 or www.thecapitolhorsham.com

friendly and the atmosphere refreshingly relaxed.” Run by chef Tristan Mason and wife Candy, it is now one of only two West Sussex restaurants with a star, along with Gravetye Manor in West Hoathley.

The Pass at South Lodge and Ockenden Manor in Cuckfield have both lost one star status.

The Chief Executive of Horsham District Council, Tom Crowley, has announced his decision to retire next April. Tom came to Horsham in 1980 as a planning draughtsman.

After qualifying as a Chartered Town Planner in 1986, he held senior roles at Horsham and other local authorities before returning to Horsham as Chief Executive in 2005. Tom said: “After 42 years

working for local authorities, I have decided that the time is right to find some new and different challenges. It has been an honour and a privilege to have served as our council’s Chief Executive for the last 12 years. During that time, we have faced many tough challenges but have continued to deliver high quality services and maintain sound finances.”

Round-Up: 11 Christmas Markets will be held in Horsham on Sundays 3, 10 and 17 December (10am - 4pm) and Friday 22 December (9am - 4pm).

These markets feature festive entertainment and live music alongside a range of seasonal food, drink, treats and gifts. The regular market will be closed on Thursday 28 December and Saturday 30 December.

Horsham Churches Together, in partnership with Horsham Matters, will operate a night shelter over the coldest winter months. It will be open from 1 December - 15 March 2018. Guests with a local connection are referred by approved agencies. They are given a hot meal, accommodation and breakfast in a participating church. The night shelter is a response to homelessness in the district and assists in improving guests’ long-term situations in

view of their physical and spiritual needs. Clients wanting to access the night shelter must be referred through an Outreach Worker.

The Horsham Churches Together Christmas Event will be held on the Carfax Bandstand on Saturday 16 December, from 11am – 4pm. A children’s musical nativity is held at 11am, before a nativity trail and Christmas concert at 12pm. The carol service is at 3.30pm. http://horshamct.org.uk/

Punjabi street food specialists Jah Jyot are the proud recipients of a Sussex Food and Drink Award.

A live final of the Street Food category took place on 22 October between Jah Jyot and fellow finalists The Pig & Jacket and Garlic Wood Farm.

MasterChef: The Professionals winner Steven Edwards led the panel of judges. Other award winners include Andrew and Joanne Knowles (pictured) of Trenchmore Farm (farmer of the year) and The Real Pie Company (food producer of the year).

12: News

To submit News & Events for consideration please email Ben at editor@aahorsham.co.uk

Award-Winning Farm Shop New House Farm Shop and Tea Room is located in a beautifully renovated 16th Century barn, hidden in a quiet spot on the edge of Horsham. People come from all over to enjoy our cafe and locally sourced produce.

Strawberry Fields Tea Room Our tea room was voted Best Tea Room in the Sussex Life Food and Drinks Awards 2014.You can enjoy cakes and sandwiches, paninis and Ploughman’s Also, don’t miss our Full English Breakfast (Served until 12pm).

Local Food and Drink Produce

Amateur photographer Michael Vickers will be exhibiting his fascinating images of tigers in an exhibition at Horsham Museum on 29 November - 3 February 2018. Michael, recently featured in AAH, photographs tigers in their

natural environment and provides support to charities protecting wildlife. Prints are available to buy at the exhibition, with Michael donating all profits Tiger Awareness. www.tigersintheforest.co.uk

Steyning Late Night Christmas Evening will take place on Wednesday 6 December 2017, from 6 - 9pm.

Steyning Arts’ Christmas event will be held at the Steyning Centre on Saturday 2 December.

The event offers a chance to buy a unique gift as well as meeting talented artists and seeing their work. www.steyningarts.co.uk

A Fairtrade Christmas Market will be held at St John’s RC Church Hall on Saturday 25 November, from 10am – 4pm. This is a great opportunity to buy ethical Christmas presents, choosing from a wide variety of fairly-traded crafts from across the world. The stallholders are very knowledgeable about their products.

Our locally sourced produce include fresh fruit and veg, freshly baked bread, fresh meat from local farms, beers by local brewers, wines from the Bolney Estate, Sussex cheeses, greetings cards and great gifts!

Tea Rooms and Farm Shop open 7 days a week www.newhousefarmshop.co.uk 01293 851890 New House Farm, Old Crawley Road, Horsham, RH12 4RU Open Every Day from 10am - 5pm

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NEWS ROUND-UP

14: News

The Irregular Choice exhibition continues at Horsham Museum until 9 January

St Mary’s House in Bramber hosts its traditional Christmas Cracker on Saturday 9 December, from 3pm. This celebration of Christmas includes songs, carols and seasonal readings, with choices from Peter Thorogood’s archive of poetry and prose. Actors Susan Jameson and James Bolam, stars of the BBC drama New Tricks, soprano Janice Watson, baritone Giles White and the pianist and

The Crown Inn at Dial Post was named Pub of the Year at the Celebration of Sussex Life Awards 2017. Owners Penny and James Middleton Burn, now in their 12th year of running the pub, said that the award had given them a real boost and thanked their customers. Joanna’s Boutique Tea Room in Storrington (pictured) and WeFiFo, both previously featured in AAH, were also among the award winners.

composer Terence Allbright will be among the performers on the day.

Tickets cost £37.50 from www.stmarysbramber.co.uk

The Winter season of illustrated talks has begun at Horsham Natural History Society. Graham Matthews will be talking about the beauty of the world through a microscope, whilst Alan Stewart discusses glow worms. Talks take place at the Methodist Church Hall, London Road, Horsham, every Monday at 7.30pm, with guests welcome. www.hnhs.org.uk

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Round-Up: 15

Horsham & Mid Sussex Voluntary Action has several opportunities available. The RSPCA apprenticeship team are looking for confident individuals to create online content for apprentices based at offices in Southwater. Horsham and District Children and Family Centre are looking for a friendly volunteer to support their Music and Movement Monday group in Steyning, aimed at under 3s with their carers present. East Clayton Farm is a charity based in

Washington. It needs a farm helper to carry out practical tasks such as tree planting, digging, fencing, painting and other DIY. The Dame Vera Lynn Trust for Children with Cerebral Palsy is looking for a receptionist, leaflet distributors, event volunteers, a finance assistant/book-keeper and child minders.

For details of these opportunities and others, visit www.hamsva.org.uk, email enquiries@hamsva.org.uk or call 01444 258102.

Cats in Space have been added to the bill for Deep Purple’s UK tour in November. The band, featuring Horsham-based guitarist Greg Hart, recently completed a national tour of their own to support second album, Scarecrow, which has

earned glowing reviews by critics including Classic Rock. Greg said: “Deep Purple fans are clearly lovers of quality music, and our tunes are huge, so we’re confident we’ll make a good impression in these arenas. Bring it on - the Cats are coming!�

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Gordon Rushmer holds an intimate exhibition of his art in the watercolour gallery at Horsham Museum & Art Gallery, showing now until 30 December.

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Round-Up: 17

NEWS ROUND-UP

Fishers Adventure Farm Park is gearing up for another festive season, with Santa in his grotto on selected dates from 25 November. The pantomime combines spectacular scenery, music and songs, with performances held from 9 – 24 December. For tickets visit www.fishersfarmpark.co.uk

Horsham Chamber Choir presents Monteverdi: A Christmas Vespers at St Mary’s Church, Horsham, on Saturday 2 December. Hear vespers by Claudio Monteverdi, including Beatus Vir, to celebrating the 450th anniversary of his birth. This is followed by seasonal music from the 20th century including Elgar’s beautiful The Snow for choir, piano and two violins. Mulled apple juice will be served from 4pm and the concert will end by 6.30pm. Tickets £13 (Under 18s, £6) from www.horsham-chamberchoir.org.uk

West Sussex Philharmonic Choir will be singing Saint-Saens’ Christmas Oratorio, Vivaldi’s Gloria and Mozart's Ave Verum Corpus at St Mary's Church, Horsham, on Saturday 18 November, at 7.30pm. Tickets £14 on the door. www.westsussexphilharmonicchoir.org.uk

Manor Theatre Group presents Robin Hood & The Babes in the Wood, at North Heath Hall, Horsham, on 8, 9, 15 and 16 December. Written by members Dennis Manning and Darren Worsfold, the play follows the story of butch bandit Robin Hood and his trusted band of Merry Men as they try to outfox the greedy Sheriff of Nottingham, who has hatched a cunning plan to dispose of his niece and nephew in Sherwood Forest so he can inherit their fortune.

Meanwhile, Nurse Gertrude is desperately trying to protect the Babes from the clutches of the Sheriff’s bungling henchmen. Tickets £12 (concessions £10). www.manorhorsham.com

The Horsham Hearing Centre, specialist audiologists based in the town for over 22 years, is joining a hearing mission to Armenia, to provide expertise to people in need.

Julie Ormerod is among a team of hearing professionals that left for Yerevan on 13 October. It will be the first time a UK team has fitted devices in an overseas mission as part of the worldwide Starkey Foundation initiative – run by manufacturer Starkey Hearing Technologies. The Foundation has provided over 1.9million hearing devices in more than 100 countries. The trip will see experts fitting hearing instruments, working closely with a local medical team. www.hearcentres.com

Scottish band Skerryvore perform at The Capitol on Friday 24 November, at 7.30pm. Having been recognised as the Live Act of the Year 2016 at the Scottish Traditional Music Awards, the exhilarating Celtic rockers return to England for the autumn leg of their biannual tours.

Tickets £18 from (01403) 750220 or visit www.thecapitolhorsham.com

NEWS ROUND-UP

18: News

The children of Horsham Montessori Nursery celebrated the Diwali festival of light by examining intricate designs and talking about the rangoli patterns used. They also explored Indian music and dancing.

Horsham Montessori Nursery recently

To submit News & Events for consideration, email Ben at editor@aahorsham.co.uk

received a ‘Good’ grading in their Ofsted revisit. All parents, staff and children were pleased with the result after a disappointing report earlier this year. Jacky Brown, nursery manager thanked “wonderful parents” for their “constant praise and support.”

Heather’s Horsham Cancer Support Group celebrated 10 successful years helping people affected by cancer on Monday 2 October. Around 30 members and supporters enjoyed afternoon tea and a giggle courtesy of laughter teacher Lesley Raphael from Worthing.

Heather’s is the Macmillan Cancer Support Group for the Horsham area and provides emotional and practical support to anyone affected by cancer. Drop-in meetings are held on the first and third Monday of each month in the Unitarian Church Hall, Worthing Road, Horsham, from 2 - 4pm. There’s no need to book ahead, but for more details call Sue on (01403) 823858 or email heathershorsham@hotmail.co.uk

Saturday 2 December 4.30pm

Monteverdi

A Christmas Vespers Elgar The Snow

Lauridsen O magnum mysterium

Tavener The Lamb

Horsham Chamber Choir Conductor Jenny Hansell

Violins Judy Tarling, May Robertson Cello Louise Jameson Organ David Hansell

St Mary’s Church, Causeway, Horsham RH12 1HE Tickets £13, under 18s £6 Mulled apple juice served from 4pm www.horsham-chamberchoir.org.uk Registered charity number 800117

Round-Up: 19 Horsham Twinning Association will be joined by the Pleasure Singers (pictured) for the French and German group’s annual carol concert at the Unitarian Church, Worthing Road, Horsham on Saturday 9 December. Carols will be sung in English, French and German and will be followed

by Glu wine, mulled wine, stollen (fruit bread), mince pies, French bread, cheese and soft drinks. Horsham town is twinned with Lage in Germany and St-Maixentl'Ecole in France.

The Horsham Painting Group is holding its autumn exhibition and sale at the Quaker Meeting House, Worthing Road, Horsham, RH12 1SL on Saturday 18 November, from 10am - 4pm. Original works by members of the group will be on sale. Admission is free. www.horshampaintinggroup.co.uk

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The charity Christmas card shop at Horsham Museum is now in full swing with a display of great value cards from 15 charities. Horsham artist John Davies has painted two Christmas scenes entitled Winter in the Causeway and Horsham towards Warnham especially for the Sussex Association for Spina Bifida.

John has painted local views for the charity for 25 years. Other local views featured in the charity's exclusive range of cards include Chichester Cathedral by John Robinson and River Adur in Winter

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20: News

We have an Events listings page at www.aahorsham.co.uk

Jack and the Beanstalk will be this year’s pantomime at The Capitol in Horsham. The pantomime, sponsored

by Brock Taylor, will run from 8 - 31 December. This wonderful tale of good triumphing over evil sees Jack Trott, a boy from the village, becoming a hero and winning Princess Apricot's heart. The panto stars Olly Pike, James Fletcher, Chris Edgerley, Jill Greenacre, Lauren Osborne, Richard Alan and Hywel Dowsell.

Tickets from (01403) 750220 or www.thecapitolhorsham.com Picture courtesy of Brock Taylor

A Christmas event will be held in aid of St Catherine’s Hospice at the Holbrook Club on Saturday 2 December, from 7:45pm. Ska and soul covers band Pier Pressure provide lively rendition of classic tracks, whilst comedian Phil Reid and Horsham singer Jodie Denman also perform.

Tickets cost £10 from 07519 847152 or www.skiddle.com

A Craft and Gift Fair will be held at Barns Green Village Hall on Saturday 11 November, from 10 - 3pm. An interesting variety of stall holders will be selling hand-made crafts, personal and seasonal gifts, with refreshments.

Entry is free. The event is held in aid of St Nicolas Church, Itchingfield.

The Alzheimer’s Society Horsham Memory Walk was held in Horsham Park on 22 September. Over 135 people walked, raising £1,200 for Alzheimer’s Society. The event was organised by a group of people living well with dementia – the Horsham Rusty Brains.

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Kitchens

Bedrooms

Bathrooms

Renovations

stylish affordable luxury...

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Making the Kitchen the

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Inventive and Stylish Designs to Suit Individual Needs require underfloor heating for your bathroom or wish to move your kitchen appliances to a different part of the room.

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The Wow Factor For many people, the kitchen is the heart of the home.

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Particularly for those that love to cook, a kitchen must be functional, offering space for both storing and preparing food.

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Stylish Showroom

Bespoke Designs Everyone has their own tastes and requirements when it comes to the design of a new kitchen.

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Complete Package With no two kitchens ever being the same, we know it is vital that we are flexible in our approach.

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Whether you’re searching for a kitchen bedroom or bathroom, why not give us a call or pop by and see us?

You can see just a sample of kitchens at our showroom, conveniently located at the Genesis Business Centre off Redkiln Way, Horsham. The showroom showcases a large range of styles, from traditional to contemporary, as well as space saving cupboard interiors, Neff appliances, sinks, and taps from leading suppliers.

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My Story: 25

MY STORY SO FAR...

VERNON JENNINGS I was born in 1943 in Cheam, Surrey. Our house backed on to a field and on the other side were prefabs, built during the war.

My dad served with the RAF but didn't talk much about the war.

He then worked as a manager at an independent travel agent in Haymarket, whilst my mum cared for me and my older sister. I attended Sutton High School for Boys and later Ewell Technical College in Epsom.

I was very sporty at school, but suffered from asthma and eczema and regularly needed medication.

My favourite sport was badminton as my dad was a coach and ran a junior team. I reached a County level and as a junior won the boys’ singles, doubles and the mixed doubles at under-18 level.

The badminton was becoming quite serious, but unfortunately, before the all-England tournament, I started to suffer more with my asthma and eczema. I underwent some tests and they discovered I was allergic to milk, eggs, butter,

Vernon Jennings talks about his love of dancing and how he became a stalwart of Barns Green through supporting the hugely successful Half Marathon. cheese, grass pollen and a host of other things. I had a series of injections to combat the allergies.

Unfortunately, my body reacted very badly to the treatment. I suffered a severe reaction and my hair fell out. I spent six months in bed, with blankets cradled over my legs as simply the weight of them would irritate my skin.

When I returned to college, I needed to wear gloves as my hands needed to stay at a constant temperature. Being in bed for that amount of time was depressing. To spend that time of my teenage life away from things I wanted to do was hard, but it was a period that I came through.

Eventually, I returned to playing badminton, but only socially.

the wheel from side-to-side even on a straight road. I had to wear a cape when it rained because the water would come in through the leaking sunroof or up through the pedals!

I studied A levels and then took a diploma in building and surveying.

In those days, young people had a sense that they should pursue a profession. I had an interest in surveying, so became an associate at the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors. There was a job going with Wimpey's in Hammersmith, so I worked there, wearing gloves to protect my hands. After four years there, I was next involved in the re-development of Redhill, which was an enjoyable job.

I have always loved dancing. When I was 12, my parents thought it would be a good idea for me to learn ballroom dancing. I would cycle five miles to Epsom to dance, but I didn’t mind as there were four boys and about 20 girls.

I’ve enjoyed dancing ever since, although I fell whilst dancing last year and cracked my hip! All my life, I have attended dinner dances where few of the men dance and I dance with everyone. After my wife has had the first dance, of course. It’s made a great impression on my life and I couldn't recommend it highly enough for young men.

Growing up in the 1960s was fun.

My first car was a Standard Eight, which had a Union Jack as its emblem. The car was fantastic.

There was so much play in the wheel that I would have to turn

I met my wife at St Bartholomew’s Hospital in London, where I would go for treatment. Annie was a nurse and I was a patient, although we didn't start dating until after I’d been discharged. I would go in

26: My Story

Read more incredible stories on the My Life So Far section at www.aahorsham.co.uk/

For three hours, the population of the village doubles, and we are the only half marathon that does that.

Vernon has served as the chairman of Barns Green Half Marathon since 1998

Vernon received the British Empire medal from Susan Piper

to see other patients on my ward and were more seriously ill than I was and I plucked up the courage to ask her out. We married in 1968.

Annie is a very capable woman and worked as a theatre nurse. When we moved to Horsham, she worked at the town hospital.

situations, although undoubtedly the worst prison I went to was Holloway, the women's prison.

Whilst carrying out a drainage investigation, we needed officers with us as inmates would through batteries out of the windows, hoping to hit us.

We lived in Chestnut Gardens off Pondtail Road. The property prices were cheaper than the stockbroker belt of Cheam. We bought the house for £4,200 but struggled to get a mortgage, even for that amount.

We had moved to Barns Green by the time that the third of our three sons – Mark, Philip and Luke – arrived. Then, in 1974, I decided to set up my own business, Vernon L Jennings and Co. I worked from the front room initially and gradually business grew through word-ofmouth. My work involved carrying out building and topographical surveys, covering anything from extensions to large developments.

A firm of architects based in Kingston established a surveying section, so I went to work with them in the hope that I’d become a partner. That never happened but I learned plenty about business.

We had some fantastic clients, including the Home Office and several police authorities. Much of my work involved carrying out topographical surveys for the reconstruction of prisons.

That meant some interesting jobs.

At Dartmoor, one chap serving a life sentence was responsible for the pigs on the prison farm and lived in the pigsty, which was amazing. Prisons were very different, as there was slopping out and the smell could be terrible.

Prisons were basic, without the facilities and amenities that you see now.

We were told to avoid eye contact 9 99 any 9 with prisoners to help avoid

We moved to a new home along Two Mile Ash Road as we wanted some space for animals. The idea was that the children could have a nice environment to grow up in.

We had a Dexter cow, Jacob sheep, chickens, pigs and geese.

Annie used to hand milk the cow and that gave us six pints a day.

She would have to take the stall and container down into the field, whatever the weather! The geese proved to be wonderful security guards as they would sit on the driveway, intimidating anyone who walked by! It was a good life as we had everything we needed and the kids loved the animals.

After a while, the Home Office asked me to do some more work 9 99 at Wetherby 99 for them prison. Some

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Vernon Jennings: 27 prisons were being expanded or improved and that brought in work.

There was a time when I would leave Barns Green at 6:30am and I’d be in a little Jewish cafe in Hampstead, where I had several business contacts, for breakfast at 8am. Now, I’d barely reach Dorking in that time!

Barns Green Half Marathon was formed in 1982. The previous year, the football team were given permission by Alan Train, headmaster at Muntham House School, to use the school’s floodlit pitch for training. In return, the players held a fun run and it proved so successful that they decided to organise a bigger 13-mile run the following year. It was an inspired decision, as it grew quickly and some became an affiliated event.

I was asked to be one of the recorders placed at the end of the race. When people came in to the finish, they were placed into funnels, with two people recording at every funnel. We had to take their name and tags and make sure that everyone was allocated their finishing position. All that information was inputted manually on to a computer and even then needed to be sorted into different categories!

By 1997, the event was in danger of ending. The existing committee felt that they had done all they could and entry numbers were declining. It was no longer making much money for the village. I thought that it would be a pity to let it end, so along with some friends including Chris and Penny Simpson, we resurrected the half marathon. I became chairman for the 1998 race and have held the position ever since, although I have a strong committee who cover everything from sponsorship to parking.

Every year, we raise money for a charity connected to the village in one way or another. These have included Great Ormond Street Hospital, MacMillan Cancer Support and St Catherine’s Hospice.

We had 400 more runners this year than last year, with over 2,000 entries, so it’s still hugely popular. We’ve also had personalities including Dame Vera Lynn and England rugby star Joe Launchbury start the event. Horsham MP Jeremy Quin sent the runners on their way at the 2018 race.

For just one day, we double the size of our community. For three hours, the population of the village doubles and we are the only half marathon that can make that claim! To stage the event requires a huge effort. We need to raise about £42,000 through sponsorship and

I can't stress enough how proud I am to be part of Muntham House School Muntham House School in Barns Green

28: My Story

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A cartoon for Vernon’s 50th birthday highlighted his passions

entry fees, as costs have spiralled.

We even need to pay for road closures, which we didn’t used to.

That is the hardest job for the committee as we don't have big local companies that can contribute a large amount.

In 2016, we introduced a 10km race as people were telling us that they didn’t have time to get fit for a half marathon. This shorter race has proved to be very successful. We had 600 runners in this year’s 10km race and two thirds of the runners were ladies.

I think part of the event’s appeal lies in the route, as it runs through Muntham House School, Christ's Hospital and along country lanes that are closed to traffic. We always have bands and singers along the route, whilst numerous groups and organisations help us on the day. In return, we make a donation to them, as it’s vital we have their continued support.

Muntham House School, which supports boys with challenging behaviour, has been a big part of my life. In 1986, Alan Train asked if I would consider becoming a school governor. I had known him through the half marathon and agreed. Since then, I’ve been on the Estates

Committee and spent several years as Chairman of Governors.

I'm proud of what the school offers.

When I first joined, Muntham House boys were blamed for any damage that occurred in the village. But it is a wonderful school and there have been a colossal number of success stories.

One of the most difficult roles I faced whilst Chairman of Governors was selecting the new headmaster, Richard Boyle. He has done a fantastic job. The school now has 65 boys, so Muntham House must be doing something right.

I remain Chairman of the Estates Committee and still look after the buildings, along with my fantastic team. The staff and governors even laid the concrete floor for an extension and my name is on the plaque. I can't stress enough how proud I am to be part of the school.

The work that they do is unbelievable.

I still working for a few days a week, as I enjoy it. I deal with boundary disputes and architectural work, including the plans for the extension to the village hall. I've survived three recessions whilst self-employed and every time the little bit of money

Vernon Jennings: 29 that you put away during the good times is eaten into. To maintain our standard of living, I’d like to sell our home and build a bungalow on part of our land.

Unfortunately, Horsham District Council refused my application, even though it was supported by the parish council, whilst many villagers, including the neighbourhood planner, spoke on my behalf. It’s been frustrating as there isn’t any consistency in the council’s decision making.

I enjoy sailing in our Contessa 32. We used to sail as a family and would race during Cowes Week. We've sailed to Cork, Saint-Malo and visited friends in the Channel Islands too. Health problems mean that sailing is difficult for us now but we have enjoyed it over the years. If you switch your phone off, you can go anywhere and nobody can disturb you!

Another love of mine has been amateur dramatics. Annie qualified as a theatre designer and in later life became involved in amateur dramatics with the Barns Green Players. One day, they were short of men and I was roped into singing a Nina Simone song. From there, I joined HAODS for several years. I now sing with a choir called the Local Yokels in the village, which amalgamated with a choir from Horsham Rugby Club. We’re a sociable group, but we also put on two concerts a year.

Nigel Currie, who is also involved in the Half Marathon, nominated me for a British Empire medal, which I was awarded in 2015 for my voluntary work. I had to wait for the London Gazette to be published to see if I had been awarded the recognition, as I hadn’t heard anything since being nominated. The investiture was conducted by the Lord Lieutenant of West Sussex, Susan Piper.

It was wonderful, because my friends and family could all attend the ceremony at Muntham House. If it was performed at Buckingham Palace, I would only have been allowed one guest.

At the time, I was embarrassed by the medal as I didn't feel I deserved it.

Everything that I've done in the village, I’ve done because I have enjoyed doing it. I felt that others deserve the award far more. But it was still a great honour.

The Barns Green Half Marathon has raised thousands for many different charities

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INTERVIEW: BEN MORRIS PICTURES: TOBY PHILLIPS

If you have an interesting story to tell and would like to be featured in our My Story section, we’d love to hear from you! Email Ben at editor@aahorsham.co.uk

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30: Food & Drink

2 200 2002 0 -2 20 201 2018

THE GOOD BEER GUIDE

FRUIT Juice Business Is Natural to the

CORE The Story of Wobblegate

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When Wobblegate was launched in 2009, it turned heads for its bold pink and yellow branding.

But there was much more to this range of fruit juice than clever marketing and a host of awards are testament to its natural goodness. We visited Old Mill Farm in Bolney to find out more about Wobblegate...

A Frail Fruit Industry Having finished university, Tom Stevens was looking for something that he could do on the family’s Old Mill Farm.

Orchards at the farm date back to the 1930s and Tom’s father, Glyn, grew apples and soft fruits until the mid-1990s.

“The apple industry died in this country at that time,” said Tom. “Advancement in storing techniques meant that major retailers were importing fruit. It meant the price was driven down and we were losing money, so had to consider other ways to generate revenue.”

Consequently, Old Mill Farm established a farm shop and café, whilst animals ensured children were entertained. This ended when Glyn retired, but

with a gentle resurgence in the UK’s apple industry, Tom considered using the orchards to launch a business of his own.

Reviving the Orchard Cider was one tempting option, as it had been made on the farm in small quantities for generations. But it was simpler to start with apple juice.

“It is complicated to produce a alcoholic drink because of the legislation involved,” said Tom. “Also, you can pick apples and produce frit juice in a very short amount of time, whereas there is a fermenting process with cider that takes a long time.”

With the orchard having been left to its own devices for the best part of a decade, many of the 5,500 trees needed to be managed and pruned.

But, in 2008 and with the help and support from his dad, Tom managed to produce several hundred bottles of juice with Old Mill Farm branding. They were sold in the re-opened farm shop.

The following year, the juice was branded as Wobblegate.

Wobblegate: 31 Tom Stevens with a range of Wobblegate drinks

“Our mission is to see apple juice become the breakfast juice of choice in this country.”

The Wobbly Gate The question of what to name the business was easily answered.

About 150 years ago, different parts of the farm were given names, to make them easier for workers to identify.

One area happened to have a wobbly gate!

The distinctive pink and yellow branding of Wobblegate’s fruit juice owed less to tradition. “I decided to give the product bright branding, as I have never considered apple juice to be a snobby drink,” said Tom. “When it came to locally produced apple juice, it was normally put in green bottles with very boring labels.

You would see them on the bottom shelf at farm shops and they were bottles you might buy grandma for Christmas. I always found that sad, as we grow apples in this country, not oranges. So, our mission is to see apple juice become the breakfast juice of

choice. With that in mind, we chose bright colours and made it friendly and exciting for children.

Apple juice is not pretentious!”

A Clear Example One of the bravest decisions that Wobblegate took was to sell its apple juice in clear bottles. The colour of the juice can alter even with apples from the same tree, depending on many factors. In some bottles, the juice may be clear, whilst cloudy in others.

Sometimes, the juice may have a tinge of pink, whilst others have a hint of yellow.

“We wanted to show the natural process of the juice, rather than hide it inside a green bottle,” said Tom. “Even two batches of the same variety of apple, picked on the same day, can produce a different effect. That’s because the apples may come from different parts of the orchard. The effect

32: Food & Drink

Read more of our Business features on the Food & Drink section at www.aahorsham.co.uk

could come down to isolated rainfall or whether it’s a shaded spot. Our bottles are educational, as they show what apple juice is and what happens in small batch apple production.”

Chris Blin-Stoyle takes in another batch of apples

Pressing Matters For the first couple of years, Wobblegate juices were sold at markets and events including The Big Nibble in Horsham.

Then, in 2011, the business reached out to trade, launching a range of 250ml bottles alongside the range of 750ml bottles.

Outlets including Hutching’s Butchers in Partridge Green, Jeremy's at Borde Hill Gardens, South Lodge Hotel and The Crabtree started selling Wobblegate, as did Small Batch Coffee Roasters in Brighton.

As demand increased, so did pressure on the staff, who were working with a traditional rack and cloth press built for small scale production.

“We were working 14 hour days, grading the apples into buckets and then pressing them,” said Tom. “Even still, we were only producing 800 litres of juice each day and then we had to spend another day bottling. We weren’t coping particularly well until we were able to buy new equipment with support from DEFRA, which allows us to press about 2,500 litres a day. Now we can keep up with demand.”

Core Market There is 15 eating and cooking apple varieties grown on the farm. The majority are Cox and Bramleys, whilst other include Spartan, Fiesta, Jonagold, James Grieve, Discovery, Lord Derby, Newton Wonder and Grenadier.

Wobblegate also brings in apples from other Sussex farms when required to produce its expanding range. Popular products include Crushed Apple, Apple & Pear, Apple & Raspberry and Apple & Elderflower. Other combinations are Apple & Blueberry, Apple & Rhubarb and Squeezed Breakfast Juice, which includes oranges.

“We haven’t been able to continue purely on the fruit that we grow here, so we work with other Sussex farms,” said Tom. “We have our ‘Core’ range and then our WG1 range made with single varieties. We’d like to grow more fruits in the future, but that requires time and investment and we’re not yet big enough to cope with that. Our immediate priority is to ensure that our orchards are as productive as possible and perhaps we’ll grow soft fruits and more adventurous varieties of apple in the future.”

Wobblegate: 33 “We’re seeing a growing trend for canned ciders, with the market growing for canned craft beers too.”

Glyn Stevens prepares for the next pressing

A Wobbly Problem Two years ago, Tom’s brother-in-law Chris Blin-Stoyle joined the business and he was swiftly followed by Pete Hazell.

Pete is responsible for producing the distinctive branding, whilst Chris is largely responsible for production. Tom is usually the one who identifies opportunities in the marketplace.

By bringing different skills to the table, Wobblegate continues to expand. Having based its success around fruit juices initially, the farm is again producing cider.

Wobblegate started producing three ciders in 2012, but opted to change the name of its alcoholic range to The Wobbly Press, so it wouldn’t have a detrimental impact on the juices.

“Our fruit juice is known for its bright colours,” said Chris. “We weren’t comfortable using the same branding with our ciders, as it might appeal to children.

Wobblegate fruit juices have always been marketed as being natural with no added sugar, which also limited what we could do with the cider. So, Wobblegate cider became Wobbly Press Cider with a different look.

“It wasn’t an easy decision, as we’d built up a following and had won a CAMRA award, but we needed to act before it was too late. We’ve been able to more experimental and make The Wobbly Press its own brand.”

The Cider Range With labels drawn up by a local tattoo artist, the cider’s branding is far removed from the Wobblegate look, although created from the same orchard.

The range includes The Boxer, a strong, West Country-style cider. The Marauder is a sweet apple cider whilst The Dame has a distinct strawberry flavour. Brighton Rocks is a 4.5% medium cider and Pink is made with fresh blackcurrant.

“All our ciders are made with apples grown on the farm,” said Chris. “English cider is such a traditional product and most ciders are made in either a heady West Country style or a clear, crisp style with high sugar content. I hope we are doing something that is different.”

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34: Food & Drink

The Wobblegate team is also behind a range of canned and bottled cider called Eden. Coming in two flavours – apple and four berries – Eden adopts some of the fruit juice’s distinctive branding.

Eden was launched earlier this year and is already available in 50 Marks & Spencer stores.

“Eden is different to The Wobbly Press range, as it has a fruity, sweet taste and appeals to a different type of drinker,” said Chris. “We’re seeing a growing trend for canned ciders, with the market growing for canned craft beers too. Next spring, Eden will be available on keg too, so we hope to see it in pubs.”

Sussex drink producer of the year at the Sussex Food and Drink Awards 2018, won by Nyetimber vineyard.

Eden is shortlisted for a Quality Drinks Award, with winners of the national competition announced at a ceremony at Grosvenor House Hotel on 9 November.

“We have won a Quality Drinks Award with two products already,” said Tom. “The judges consider every aspect of the product, from design through to taste, and the awards are attended by major retailers, so it’ll raise our profile considerably if we were to win for a third time.”

WORDS: BEN MORRIS PICTURES: TOBY PHILLIPS

The Cider Range As well as fighting for pump position, Wobblegate has a small shop on the farm, called Whistle & Dixie. In it, visitors can buy fruit juices and ciders, as well as a small range from other local food and drink producers.

It is hoped that a string of award nominations will help further spread word of the brand.

Wobblegate was shortlisted as

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Wobblegate drinks can be bought at several local farm shops or you can visit www.wobblegate.co.uk For more on the Eden range visit http://edenfruitciders.com/ home.html

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Wobblegate was able to buy a new press thanks to a DEFRA grant

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Art: 37

Sam Hinton with Halcyon, recently exhibited through the ASA in Horsham

Different Wavelengths lawn

The Contrasting Seascapes of Horsham Artist Sam Hinton

So, who’s this then?

This is Sam Hinton, a Horsham artist who signs work using the alias Sam Flylightly.

Flylightly?

The name comes from a story that Sam once read about sailors who found a baby at sea.

They needed a name and chose Flylightly.

Sam said: “I didn’t feel a particularly strong attachment to my surname and wanted something different. Six years on, I think it's a bit cheesy, but the name has stuck.”

I’m sensing there may be a whimsical element to Sam’s art…

Interestingly, there are two distinctly different sides to her creative output. Sam likes to alternate between small, detailed watercolour studies and huge, swirling abstracts on canvas that – were it not for a similarity in theme – might appear to be the work of different artists.

How’s that happened?

Sam finds that an alternative style ensures her work doesn’t stagnate. Having drawn detailed ink pictures for a long time, Sam took equal pleasure in the bold strokes of her canvas paintings. She said: “I hit a point when I am very frustrated with a certain style and it's nice to be able to focus on something different.” As well as helping maintain focus, Sam found the more expressive abstract style helped her to control a condition that she struggled with.

What condition?

Sam suffered with Essential Tremor, a nerve disorder that can cause uncontrollable shaking. Sam said: “It came to be a real irritant. I found that the more I focused and tried to control it, the worse the shaking became. It drove me nuts!” Having sought medical advice, Sam disagreed with a professional’s suggestion that she should consider a different hobby. Instead, she

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38: Art

Blue Woman

Read more Art features on the Art section at www.aahorsham.co.uk

Nereid

Wave 2

bought a huge canvas and acrylic paints on her way home! Fortunately, Sam is now able to control the shaking.

So, what themes inspire Sam’s work?

Several pieces in her ‘Imaginarium’ series take inspiration from the fantasy books that Sam read as a child. She said: “When I was young, I always had a book with me. I would get frustrated if the pictures didn't match what I was imagining. Sometimes, I’d even draw my own illustrations and stick them in the book!” However, even more evident is Sam’s love of the sea.

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Are we talking run-of-the-mill seascapes?

Not at all. In her recent range of abstract acyclic paintings on canvas, there’s an adventurous imagery. Hints of jellyfish and octopus are prominent in paintings including Wave 1. Some smaller pieces are more representational but follow similar themes. Nereid, named after the sea nymphs of Greek mythology, casts a feminine figure as part of a coral reef.Halcyon is an intriguing piece that showcases two regular features of Sam’s work: the sea and the female form.

Is that a woman being dragged under by an octopus?

Sam’s abstract paintings entice different opinions on the imagery. She said: “People might look at the work and find certain things, but I see them as very personal pieces of art. I hide symbols and use imagery that might mean different things to different people, but there is a definite meaning to me. My work is autobiographical in a sense as it does chart my own journey.”

Sam Flylightly: 39 “I feel my work is autobiographical as it does chart my own journey.”

Presumably, this journey involves a boat! Where does this love of the sea stem from?

Visit to see her dad in the Florida Keys certainly helped cement a passion for water and sea creatures. “We would go out on the boat into the middle of the ocean,” recalls Sam. “We would jump in to the sea and it was terrifying, as it's like an alien world under the surface. The first time I saw a coral reef, I found it so strange and fascinating. I was also lucky to stay on a private island where unusual animals would wash up on the shore and I would sketch them. They were quick abstract drawings but those sketches still inspire my work now.”

Did Sam study to be an artist?

Having always loved drawing, she did initially follow that path.

As a child, Sam would get hold of her mum’s continuous reams of typewriter paper, draw all over it and then fold it neatly back up!

Fortunately, Sam’s abilities progressed and she landed a place on an Art Foundation

Halcyon, acrylics on canvas

course. However, when it came to seeking a University destination, Sam found herself intrigued by the section next to Art in the prospectus: Anthropology.

Don’t tell me. It’s not actually anything to do with ants, is it?

Not quite. It’s more the study of human cultures and societies.

The broadness of the course appealed to Sam’s inquisitive nature and has inspired her ever since. Sam said: “It was a real eye-opener as you are constantly asking questions to which there are no answers.”

That’s how the teachers at my old school felt. So, how did Sam get back into art?

She never really stopped. Having left university in 2011, Sam has been working whilst continuing to paint in her spare time. Most recently, she’s been a content writer and editor for various websites, primarily on matters relating to finance. Recently, she has shown renewed focus to make her name as an artist. “I feel I've been influenced by

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40: Art

Create my World

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many people to follow a certain path,� she said. “Eventually, I decided to follow my own path. I am proud of being an artistic person and whilst it might not make me a fortune, I wanted to be an artist.�

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Has Sam had the opportunity to exhibit?

She has indeed. Having become a member of the Association of Sussex Artists in 2016, her painting Halcyon was awarded third place in the public vote of this year’s exhibition in Horsham. It is hoped she will continue to evolve and

develop as an artist in the years ahead.

WORDS: BEN MORRIS PICTURES: TOBY PHILLIPS/ SAM HINTON

More information on Sam’s work can be found on her Facebook, Instagram and Twitter pages @SamFlylightly https://www.samflylightly.com/

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Group Discussion: 43

The Park Protectors The Friends Aiming to Preserve Horsham’s Beautiful Park

Members of The New Friends of Horsham Park

A new ice rink in Horsham Park has proved popular in recent weeks, but it has not left everyone impressed.

The New Friends of Horsham Park is a group formed in response to the ice rink. Members feel that the park is not being sufficiently cared for and hopes to work closely with Horsham District Council to protect its green spaces for the future. AAH met chairman Sally Sanderson and members David Dunnington, Eve Delves, Jennifer Cole and Alison Farrell.

Why are you the New Friends?

Sally: There was a Friends of Horsham Park group, but that ceased several years ago. We’ve heard conflicting views as to why.

Some former members have said there was frustration as the group

felt it wasn’t having any influence on Horsham District Council. It may be that the council was equally frustrated as it felt the group wouldn't accept any changes in the park. There is one member of the old group involved with the New Friends, which was formed in August.

Why form now?

Sally: The trigger was the ice rink now in operation in the park.

Before the announcement was made, the council made an application to convert an area of the park from green open space to mixed recreational space. That meant it would no longer be protected parkland. We were upset about that as it results in a further erosion of the park.

Isn’t the ice rink temporary?

Eve: Whilst it may be temporary in

planning terms, that area of the park is out of use for several months as it takes time for the rink to be erected and for the ground to recover afterwards.

Alison: We are very concerned that if the ice rink is successful in the park, its operators - Horsham Outdoor Events - will apply for a long-term permit and an area of hard-standing would be created in that area of parkland. Residents may recall that there was once a nursery on the site, but it was returned to parkland in 2008.

Why not object as individuals?

David: We were shocked by how little our voice counted as individuals. It's very difficult to speak to councillors as some believe that if they talk about it they cannot vote on the issue! We felt underrepresented and one

way to counter that was to come together.

Alison: It’s been quite depressing at times. We’ve attended council meetings concerning the park and it seems that a few people on the council have huge influence over the rest. We also felt we weren’t listened to. We had carried out a survey that evidently suggested that local people wanted the parkland to be protected. But this was swiftly dismissed by one councillor who remarked that the survey only represented 0.1% of the town’s residents. Within a few moments, another councillor claimed to have carried out his own straw poll and that seemed to be perfectly acceptable! Our objections counted for nothing, whereas they are clearly the fount of all knowledge.

44: Group Discussion “We weren’t getting anywhere trying to cross swords, so our focus in on being open and engaging.”

How can you alter that?

David: We hope that we can work more positively with the council, particularly the park management team, as they certainly have ideas that are very good. We weren’t getting anywhere trying to cross swords, so our focus is on being open and engaging. By doing that, we hope our views will be considered.

Sally Sanderson at the Park Bandstand

Sally: The old friends used to be consulted on issues relating to the park. Now, Horsham District Council consults on park issues with Denne Neighbourhood Council. Due to the unusual shape of the Denne ward, the Trafalgar area has more residents living close to the park.

Yet they are not involved in any consultation. We want to represent the views of all local people when it concerns the park.

Jennifer Cole near the ice rink

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You have been accused of being NIMBYs (Not In My Back Yard) Alison: We want to promote fun for families and protect the future of the park. We’re not spoilsports. We know that on Facebook, people have written that they support the ice rink as it’s only temporary and that we should stop complaining.

But we believe there is a real risk that, in the New Year, the council will resurrect a plan for that area to be used permanently and it’ll be another part of parkland gone.

Eve: Most of us agree that the ice rink is a great idea for Horsham, but it needs an appropriate location.

We did conduct a study of people who were objecting to the ice rink proposal and it was clear that there was a mix of people from the town and the district’s villages. We have no objections to events like Funday Sunday and the Horsham Garden

Friends of Horsham Park: 45 Music Festival which have a clear community benefit and everyone tidies up afterwards.

What would be a suitable location?

Alison: The council has said that the rink is being moved from its former site at Camping World on Brighton Road to help local business. If that’s the aim, then the ice rink should be in the centre of town. We accept that there is the possibility that people will walk their children into town through a dark park and underpass on a winter's evening for a meal at one of the restaurants. We’re saying let’s make that a probability by simply having it in the town.

Where in town could you put an ice rink?

Sally: The council are redesigning the end of West Street and the Bishopric, and perhaps The Forum too, which it recently paid a lot of money for. There is space for an ice rink there. It would certainly fulfil the criteria of boosting local business. If the ice rink needed to be in the park for a couple of years until a permanent central site was built, our stance would be different, as we wouldn't be losing green space permanently.

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Is this not part of the park that can be utilised to raise income?

Eve: It is certainly not the heart of the park. However, it is a main access route into the park from the station.

When you walk into the area, you relax as it has some of the most beautiful trees in the park. It is also our understanding that Horsham Outdoor Events are not contributing anything to the park’s upkeep. Some councillors supported the ice rink because the park needed the money, but it appears that there isn’t any!

Alison: In terms of generating revenue, we would also like to see money generated from Park House going back into the maintenance of the house and gardens. Its current use is poor and it looks a little downtrodden. It is certainly not being exploited to its full potential. It’s a Grade II Listed house and garden and used to look beautiful. It should be enhanced, not neglected.

Has the duck pond also seen better days?

Sally: Everyone always wanted to go there as a child and feed the ducks, but now it is overgrown. The basic standard for looking after our countryside parks is low because of the lack of money. We appreciate it’s difficult for the park management

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46: Group Discussion team. At Warnham, the Friends of Warnham Nature Reserve work alongside countryside wardens and consequently it’s an excellent reserve. Potentially something similar could happen at the park.

Alison: It’s a balancing act, as we don’t want to become a group of volunteers doing what the council tells us. The voluntary work at Warnham is fantastic, but I don’t think it’s fair to ask people to contribute their time free of charge to maintain the park. It’s more important now that we raise its profile and push it up the political agenda so that it’s taken seriously.

What should the park be used for?

Sally: Informal leisure space is very important. The park provides space for families to enjoy in their own way. We see gazebos up in the summer months, with families all coming together, which could be a result of people having smaller gardens. This is what a park should be used for. There seems to be a drive towards events, putting pressure on families to spend money, rather

Eve: There is also a feeling that the park needs toilet facilities as currently the Pavilions is the only option.

Alison Farrell in the Park House garden

than encouraging them to have a relaxing time together. As a nation, we have rising obesity and mental health issues on the rise and shouldn’t undervalue the importance of parks.

What about things like Parkrun?

Sally: Events like Parkrun, youth football and boot camps are held in parks across the country. That shows the park is being used and enjoyed by lots of people. It does have a downside.One of the ideas we have put forward is implementing sub-paths on parts

of the Parkrun route. Some people won't like that, because it is impacting on more green space.

But thought needs to be given to find a solution that will allow such events to continue without causing damage along pathways.

What else have you suggested?

Jennifer: Rats are a major concern. Even as we gathered here on the pathway, we saw a ramp scampering along near Park House. That’s a result of litter.

We have suggested is bigger litter and recycling bins.

Do you think the group can attract more public support?

Sally: What we have achieved in the six weeks since we launched is a sign of how strong the feeling is in the town. Everyone may not agree with all our points and even within the group there are different points of view. However, most people are very glad that there is now a group standing up for the park, as it does need a little bit of love.

INTERVIEW: BEN MORRIS PICTURES: TOBY PHILLIPS

You can Email the New Friends of Horsham Park at newfriendsofhorshampark @gmail.com or visit the Facebook page

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History: 49

From Parties to Pools The Changing Landscape of Horsham’s Park and Mansion With a new group formed to protect Horsham Park, Jeremy Knight of Horsham District Council’s Horsham Museum unearths its fascinating history...

As a plot of land, the park receives only occasional mention in documents detailing the early history of the town, when it was farmland.

It wasn’t until the 18th century that John Wicker, a successful brewer and merchant, decided to build what later became known as Park House. It was constructed around the core of a medieval house known as Cockman’s.

During the summer of 1701, Cockman’s was struck by lightning and damaged by fire, so it was rebuilt.

A Place for Parties One of the greatest changes in land holdings in the town occurred when Horsham Common was enclosed, with the Hurst family becoming major landowners.

Under the Hurst family’s ownership, the park became the venue for large celebrations. On 1 August 1832, a party was held to mark the passing of the Great Reform Act. The event is recorded by Henry Burstow in his book, Reminiscences. Burstow wrote that in North Parade, nearly 3,000 people sat down at 62 tables with cold roast, boiled beef and mutton, vegetables and hot plum pudding and beer.

Another 1,000 watched the fireworks display, before there was a grand ball at the King’s Head Hotel in the Carfax.

In 1869, Horsham Volunteer Fire Brigade celebrated its 30th anniversary in the park, with the permission of R H Hurst MP. The procession included engines from Brighton, Lewes, Redhill, Croydon, Reigate and Horsham and dinner for 260 people was provided at the Hurst Arms Inn. The park was used throughout the First World War for events and activities, fundraising and fetes. It was also the centre of celebrations when war ended.

Horsham decided to organise an event before the Government announced a national day of

Horsham Fire Station pictured in 1951 (Pictures: Horsham Museum/HDC)

Horsham Park Bandstand

celebration, so the town enjoyed two separate events. The latter, on 24 July 1919, included a Grand Peace Carnival, open air concerts, Old English Fair, Horsham Town Prize Band, a display of fireworks, battle of confetti and a torchlight procession.

Parkland For Sale On 30 November 1927, King and Chasemore, acting on behalf of Colonel Hurst, offered a portion of Horsham Park for sale. The 16acre area included the mansion.

A Nursery was located in the Park

Colonel Hurst wanted to sell the house, the gardens and some rough parkland nearby, but not the main heart of the park or the parkland near Springfield Road.

In January 1928, the council decided to buy it.

Colonel Hurst originally wanted £23,000 for the house and 16acres of land. An independent district valuer came up with a price of £17,000, so the Colonel reduced the price to £18,000.

In a letter read to the council, Colonel Hurst stated that: “He entirely disagrees with the value placed upon this property and would have no hesitation in

rejecting it, but he appreciates the fact that your council are of the same opinion as himself and he is anxious - as he always has been - that your council should acquire the property for the benefit of the town at a moderate price.”

Whilst the council congratulated themselves at the reduced price, not all ratepayers were happy.

The agreement to buy Park House didn’t end the discussions and in May 1928 there was a public enquiry as it was revealed that the council needed to borrow a total of £20,420 as new fencing and paths would have to

50: History

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be built and the bandstand was to be relocated from the Carfax.

The purchase would include the main building, large range of stabling, garage and outhouses, gardens of about six acres and meadow and parkland of around nine acres, as well as a subway which passed under North Street and the railway lines.

Recreational Need

Horsham Park outdoor swimming pool (Pictures: Horsham Museum/HDC)

The Clerk identified one of the key reasons for buying the park was the need for recreation grounds in the town. Later, the district surveyor laid out plans for the nine acres of parkland.

Two tennis courts were to be altered and turned in to three courts. Of the remaining nine acres of land, a further five tennis courts, an 18-hole putting course and sites for clock golf and a bandstand enclosure had been marked. That still left seven acres of grass land.

The Council only had to wait a couple of months when on the 17 July 1928 a special meeting was called and The Clerk reported that the Government had

sanctioned loans that were just £50 less that the council’s application of £20,420. Horsham Urban District Council could now buy Park House, but it wasn’t plain sailing. The Great Depression was just around the corner.

Pool Construction On 15 September 1933, The County Times announced the launch of the official appeal to support the Horsham & District Employment Fund.

All 5,000 householders in the urban area received a copy of the appeal. An additional 2,000 appeals were sent by post to the larger householders in the rural parts of the district.

Some people found work constructing the swimming pool in the Park. Work begun in the winter of 1933/34, after Colonel Hurst had given an additional half an acre of farmland next to the park. By February 1934, over £1,100 had been raised through the Employment Fund with nearly all of it going to the council to pay for wages.

A remarkable film survives of the

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Horsham Park: 51 As the pool neared completion, local shops including Chart and Lawrence started to advertise swimwear. building work. Shot by amateur film maker Cecil Cramp, this was one of the first films he shot on his newly-acquired camera.

As the pool neared completion, local shops including Chart and Lawrence started to advertise swimwear. The pool opened on 7 July 1934 at 3pm with the Chairman of the council, keen swimmer David Bryce, taking the first plunge.

However, his presence was overshadowed by that of a tribal King from West Africa.

The distinguished guest, Nana Sir Ofori Atta KBE, was hereditary King of Akyem Abuakwa and a member of the Legislative Council of the Gold Coast. He happened to be staying with Colonel J.L. O’Connor DSO MBE, so was invited!

Debt Settled As a financial concern, the pool cost the council ÂŁ1,972. Much of that cost was taken up by employing engineers. The last payment on the debt was paid off after 40 years in the last year of the Urban District Council in 1973.

By 1981, the outdoor pool had been replaced by the first covered pool in the park. That closed in 2001 to make way for the Pavilions in the Park.

Another development that occurred during the 1930s concerned a casualty service, as there was no first aid post or cleansing centre at the pool. The council employed the Light Steel Sectional Construction Co Ltd of Worthing to build a site in the park. This building covered 2,400 square feet and had a concrete base, corrugated sheeting, metal framed windows and a hot water supply.

After being utilised during the Second World War, it became a nursery and was later returned to parkland. In recent years, the area has been home to a volleyball court and, this year, a temporary ice rink.

This account of Horsham Park includes extracts from The History of Horsham by Jeremy Knight, available at Horsham Museum www.horshammuseum.org

The beautiful Park House (Pictures: Horsham Museum/HDC)

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Winter Wonderland Our beautiful grounds, covered in fairy lights will again play host to a selection of local stall holders for those last minute Christmas gifts, a local choir carolling through the night and an appearance from Father Christmas. Along with a variety of food stalls and fireworks display.

Tickets: Adults £8 | Children under 12 £2 | Under 3 Free Tickets are available online here: www.manningsheath.com/winterwonderland 01403 210228 www.manningsheath.com Mannings Heath Golf Club & Wine Estate Hammerpond Road, Mannings Heath, Horsham, West Sussex, RH13 6PG

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WIN A LUXURY CRATES LOCAL CHRISTMAS HAMPER Free entry to our prize draw when you visit the marketing suite before 17 December. T&Cs apply. See our website for details.

Retirement living for the young at heart Enjoy more and worry less at Highwood Mill. Get peace of mind for you and your loved ones when you move into one of our stunning new apartments. Keep your own space and independence, while taking advantage of the fantastic on-site facilities. Invite guests to lunch in Ingram’s restaurant, take a stroll in the woodland garden, pamper yourself in the salon or jump on board our minibus to town. All this comes with the reassurance that care services are available from our on-site team should you need them.

Part exchange service now available.

MARKETING SUITE OPEN TUESDAY - SUNDAY Find us just off the A24 at the roundabout junction with A264

* Event fee and service charges payable. We charge an event fee on subsequent sales of the property. Depending on when you sell your property, the event fee will be between 2.5% - 5% of the market value of your property at the time of sale.

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Business: 55

Wonders of the World

Summers Place Auctions offers the best of the natural world

James Rylands pictured with a leaping lioness, auctioned at Summers Place in September

On 21 November, a family of four mammoths discovered in 2002 will be the headlinegrabbing lot at a fascinating auction.

It is hoped that this unique family of ice age giants will attract bids of over £250,000 when it goes under the hammer at Summers Place Auctions in Billingshurst.

AAH visited the auctioneers just before September’s sale, to find out more about the business and the astonishing array of artefacts it attracts from all corners of the globe and every period in history.

Sotheby’s Days Summers Place was once an outlet of Sotheby's, one of the world’s oldest auction house, having been established in 1744, and still amongst the most prominent.

Having been in Pulborough for six years from 1979, Sotheby’s bought the former convent school at Summers Place, along with 40 acres of gardens, in 1985.

The grand site hosted its first garden sale the following year and over the next 15 years would be the setting for countless remarkable sales. A pair of Portland stone figural groups by Charles Sargeant Jagger fetched

£245,000. In 1996, an 18th century breech-loading fowling gun sold for £34,500, whilst a white plush Teddy bear by Steiff sold for £8,970.

But in 2002, it came to an end when Sotheby’s decided to close its Sussex outlet.

James Rylands, who joined in 1979, said: “Sotheby's made the decision to sell Summers Place and one other regional centre and move everything to its Olympia saleroom in London. At the time, there were about 80 people working here. Some departments could relocate but because of the grounds here, Summers Place had become renowned for garden sales. There wasn’t space for us in

London and it wasn’t seen as being core to its business.

“We continued to host garden auctions at Summers Place in association with Sotheby’s until 2009, when having taken the opportunity to buy the land, we held our first sale as Summers Place Auctions.”

Room for a T-Rex This didn’t have the negative impact that may have been feared. James and fellow specialist Rupert van der Werff found that some buyers preferred dealing with a smaller auction house that had the time to look

56: Business

Read our feature on Horsham Museum on the Special Features section at www.aahorsham.co.uk

The mammoth family are the centrepiece of the Evolution sale

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after clients. Rupert recalls: “To continue as an independent was a gamble, but the alternative was doing something entirely different, so we had to try.

“We were fortunate in that over the years we’d become known as Summers Place rather than Sotheby's anyway, so it was natural to name the business after the location.

“However, it was clear that we needed to offer more than just garden statuary and our aim was to become world leaders in natural history sales.

“At the time, we were just selling a few fossils, which came from my own interest in the field. We had very little indoor space, which we would need if we were going to bring in dinosaurs.

So, we went to Horsham’s planning department and told them that we needed to create a building that could house a Tyrannosaurus Rex!”

Going Jurassic Completed in 2012, the gallery was purposefully designed with an apex roof large enough to accommodate the most ferocious theropod ever to have walked the planet.

Rupert spoke to wildlife writer and consultant Errol Fuller, to see if he could help attract a dinosaur to the saleroom. At its inaugural Evolution sale in 2013, the star of the show was a 57-foot diplodocus, 150 million-yearsold, generating international headlines for the auctioneers.

James said: “The specimen was like the one that was in entrance hall of the Natural History Museum. However, whilst that was a plaster cast, ours was the real thing. We sold the dinosaur to the Natural History Museum of Denmark for £500,000.

“We’ve not yet had a T-Rex in the gallery, as it’s extremely rare that they come on to the market. It is the most iconic dinosaur, as it’s scary and the

Summers Place: 57

Dale Jannels Director, AToM Ltd TEL: 01403 272625

www.atomltd.co.uk When coming to the end of the mortgage term with your lender, it’s rare to be offered any additional products to stay with them as you are ending the mortgage contract (normally 25 years or more). They also fail to advise you to seek further advice about re-mortgaging to another provider.

Summers Place Auctions is known for taxidermy sales

‘Something dramatic must have happened to wipe out two adult mammoths, an adolescent and a baby.’

Jurassic Park films have raised its profile even higher. In 1997, the Fields Museum in Chicago paid $7.6million for a T-Rex (which remains a record) and it looks incredible. It has generated about $15 million worth of additional visitors, so it’s worth every penny!”

A Mammoth Sale Whilst a T-Rex hasn’t made its way to Billingshurst yet, the auction house has had an incredible array of extinct beasts - including an allosaurus.

In 2016, a composite dodo skeleton, the first to be sold for a century, went under the hammer for £280,000.

Summers Place hosts four sales a year, with November’s Evolution event dominated by natural history. This year, lots include a rare skeleton of an aurochs, a cave bear from the Urals and a threedimensional plesiosaur found in Lyme Regis.

But it is the family of mammoths, that are attracting most attention.

Whilst mammoth discoveries are not rare in archaeological terms, a baby mammoth is unusual.

Rupert said: “As far as we can find out, this is the only actual family of mammoths discovered. They came from south-western Siberia near Tomsk, where most mammoths have been found. Usually, they are found in the tundra but these were found in gravel, so the bones

have retained colour.

“Something dramatic must have happened to wipe out two mature adult mammoths, an adolescent and a baby at the same time. It might have been a riverbank that collapsed or perhaps the beasts were trapped in a gorge during a flash flood. We’ll never know, but it was certainly an extraordinary occurrence.

“No museum in the world has such an exhibit, so I would hope that they are bought by a museum as I’d love to see them on public display. We are selling the family as one lot, as it would be criminal to separate them when nothing like this has been found before.”

Communist Lots Whilst extinct creatures may capture the imagination of the public – and those of us in the media – Summers Place Auctions made its name selling garden sculptures and ornaments.

With 40 acres of beautiful gardens to host collections, it wasn’t long before the Billingshurst site was attracting buyers and sellers from all over the world.

Highlights have included a Roman Imperial 1st Century AD marble altar which sold for £163,000 and a bronze head by Dame Elisabeth Frink, which sold for a world record £180,000.

With such space available, it wasn’t long before Summers Place

Despite ages possibly having achieved ‘later life’ status, there are options available and although this might cease on the high street, as their maximum ages tend to be between 70 and 75, there are a huge number of lenders who will still lend. Why should a customer not have a mortgage due to being in advance of normal retirement age? We know people are working well in to their 70’s now and some are deferring pensions until needed.

So, for the right customer, with the right income and right loan to value of the property, a normal mortgage is still achievable.

These lenders will be building societies, or similar, dotted around the country but having been established for decades, even centuries!

They think outside the box, manually assess and will take a reasoned decision, rather than a computer based ‘tick box’ response.

They will also consider interest only options, assuming there is a suitable repayment strategy in place.

Re-mortgaging away from your current lender should not be looked upon negatively. Many lenders will cover the cost of surveying your property, as well as covering the legal fees in transferring your mortgage from one lender to another. But most of all, you should think of number one as this could save you money against your monthly budgets. This can only be a good thing.

Finally, should the above not fit the lenders criteria, Equity Release might be the way forward. Equity Release provides a valuable option for people in, or close to, retirement who may be wishing to realise additional income, raise funds or to consolidate debt. But it must always be considered alongside other financial options in the light of individual circumstances.

Some providers also allow the interest to roll up, so there are no monthly payments.

However, this obviously reduces the equity available in your property. Terms and conditions apply and specialist advice should be sought as this can be a very complex matter and can affect future equity.

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58: Business ‘We have seen children in the gallery and they have stroked a polar bear skin and seen into the eyes of a tiger.’

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was selling everything from Cold War rockets to paneling from the RMS Olympic, the sister ship to the Titanic.

The garden has even welcomed icons of communism.

James said: “Not long after the fall of communism in the Eastern bloc, a dealer called me from a town square in Latvia. He had been offered a bronze bust of Lenin but didn’t know what it might be worth.

“I found out the scrap value and agreed a price. It was bought by Michael Heseltine, who was Deputy Prime Minister at the time. Most of our buyers prefer to remain private, but he has it on public view and has described it as one of the best things that he ever bought!”

Defending Criticism Certainly, there are elements of the Evolution sales that are not to everybody’s taste. As well as fossils, items for sale in the upcoming auction include a 19th century narwhal tusk and tiger skins from the early 20th century.

“We do see people who look at the taxidermy and don’t like it,” said James. “There are a lot of beautiful works of art, made hundreds of years ago, that incorporate ivory and I think they have a very valid place.

‘If these items were being made now, then it would be a different story.

There is legislation on what you can and can’t sell, so we would never have uncut elephant ivory, for example.

Whilst some disapprove of particular items, there are many more who are amazed by how beautiful they are.

There is also often a conservation aspect within people’s interest. Most people who buy such items tend to be very knowledgeable.”

Rupert expresses a similar opinion. “W have seen children in the gallery and they have stroked a polar bear skin and seen into the eyes of a tiger.

“They can't do that anywhere else. By doing that, they are only going to have

Summers Place: 59 a positive experience and gain a sense of the importance of these animals.

“When children hear that these animals have been shot, they usually say that they cannot believe such things once happened. From that moment, the world is a slightly better place and they might be inspired to do something.”

Heavy Artillery The Eastern Bloc has unearthed a wide variety of intriguing items since the fall of the iron curtain, including weapons and artillery.

September’s sale included a Lavochkin V-760 with a dummy nuclear warhead.

At 10.9m long, it wouldn’t fit in most lounges, but buyers usually have inventive ideas.

James said: “The range of people or companies that buy such items is diverse. There is a Soviet-era rocket in the atrium of Hiscox Insurance’s office in York, as it’s used to demonstrate that they ensure everything. Another rocket went to a distillery making premium vodka, as there’s a link to rocket fuel.

“These rockets are remarkably cheap, as they cost millions of dollars to make and whilst they have been disarmed, at auction they sell for between £10,000 £50,000.

“We’re certainly seeing some nostalgia for the Cold War era.

People don't care as much as they did for traditional decoration, so Victorian and Georgian furniture isn’t fetching a high price. People prefer a contemporary interior, so what we are trying to promote is an element of ‘toys for boys’.

“We sold a 1930s French football table for over £12,000, which shows the current generation is looking for a nostalgic element, in the same way that people buy vintage cars that they remember from their youth.”

Tribal art, primarily from Papua New Guinea

Not so Nerdy Another asset of Summers Places Auctions is a fascinating - if occasional unnerving - array of tribal art pieces. A recent sale included a collection of 56 masks and figures gathered from the Sepik River area of Papua New Guinea.

Items from all over the world come up for auction

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60: Business

Read our feature on St Mary’s House in Bramber on the Special Features section at www.aahorsham.co.uk

‘The stories behind some of our tribal items are incredible, especially with the clubs, spears and weapons.’

November’s sale includes a Dayak ancestor human skull decorated with feathers and a carved orangutan skull.

Rupert said: “We’re offering an increasing amount of what used to be called tribal art and is now called African and Oceanic art.

There are some wonderful decorative sculptures that have a lot more presence than the price tag would suggest.

“Most of these pieces came to this country during the Empire days, primarily from Papua New Guinea. We also see items from smaller islands like Tonga and Fiji. The stories behind them are incredible, especially with some of the clubs, spears and other weapons.

“Some of the minerals that we have are mind blowing too. I have always been disappointed that there is a slightly nerdy perception to mineralogy and geology generally. If you look at

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these pieces as art, as opposed to scientific specimens, they are incredible.

“I cannot comprehend why people pay millions for a blue painting by Yves Klein when you can buy a phenomenal Lapis lazuli metamorphic rock for a fraction of the cost. One is real and one is an imitation.

“They make beautiful pieces of decoration and I hope that more people come to realise that.”

WORDS: BEN MORRIS PICTURES: TOBY PHILLIPS

The Evolution auction - featuring a family of Mammoths - will be held on 21 November.

For viewing dates, visit www.summersplaceauctions.com

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No joining fee - limited offer Gym, swim, classes and free fitness tracker app

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The Pavilions In The Park 01403 219209

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Join online today quoting NOV17 or give us a call Whatever place you’re into

Places for People Leisure Ltd working in partnership with Horsham District Council.

Cranfold’s 5 Top Tips for Physio

Treatment Success

By Wendyanne Harrison (MCSP)

and your condition that can be helpful to you – use your sessions to gain as much of that relevant knowledge as you can. Physios are not only here to help you get better, but they are keen to help you stay that way – or even to get you better than you were when you got the problem in the first place.

Owner, Cranfold Physical Therapy Centre Did you know that the modern physiotherapist not only studies anatomy and physiology, but also physics, exercise rehabilitation, electrotherapy (ultrasound etc), hydrotherapy (exercises in water), movement analysis, acupuncture, pain physiology, psychology and manual therapy to name but a few?

They then study the many conditions that can affect the human body: what causes them, and how the disease or injury manifests/progresses.

The physio then applies this knowledge to assess each patient’s individual problems, establish their personal goals, and then works out how to achieve the successful restoration of that person’s normal level of function, using the physio tools at his/her professional disposal.

Although they share a common training, physiotherapists can be found working in any environment where people have pain, disease, injury or illness, so the scope of professional practice is incredibly varied. Your physio will have had a different professional experience from any other, depending on where he/she has worked, what clinical interests they have and their hobbies and background. For example, if they have worked for years in Stroke rehabilitation, they are

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Offer runs from 1 November - 31 December 2017 unlikely to be comfortable treating back pain: whereas the converse would be true for a physiotherapist who works in sport and competes in triathlons, who would be more comfortable working with a runner.

So how do you find the most effective physio for you? Here’s my top 5 tips for success with your physio treatment: 1. Find a physio with the right skill set who you trust and like.

Firstly, ensure they are Chartered (MCSP) and hold professional registration to work in the UK (HCPC). Then ask if they have the relevant experience to help your problem. Most practices will suggest the best colleague to treat you, according to whose expertise and experience would be best aligned to your problem.

It’s also important to find a good personality match: we all work best with people we get on with.

2. Be honest with your physio.

What are your expectations of treatment and what approach does your lifestyle require? If you work long hours and haven’t time to do many exercises, they can give you movements that can be worked into your daily routine. Conversely, if you are hooked on running but your injury doesn’t allow that at the moment, they can give you alternative safe activities that protect the injury whilst still allowing you to get your endorphins fix!

3. Ask lots of questions. Your physio is also a teacher who knows so much about the body

4. Follow the treatment plan and work WITH your physio.

Although there is sometimes a lot that can be done by the physio TO the patient, there is so much more that the patient has to do to help themselves – once they know what that is! We can work manually on your tissues to reduce pain and help them recover, but only you can make your muscles stronger, your posture better, change your movement patterns and habits for the better. Physiotherapy is not a passive treatment; it’s a partnership to tackle the problem together.

5. Continue the good work into prevention. Use your physio experience as a springboard into better health, and a more comfortable life. Actively learn to improve your posture, do Pilates, invest in regular massages, eat better and walk more. Your physio will be able to advise you on what to do to achieve better physical health and comfort.

Details of membership and all our classes are on our website www.cranfoldphysio.co.uk Call Cranfold on 01403 721050 for more information.

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Chartered Physiotherapy, PhysioFit & Clinical Pilates Classes, Podiatric Surgeon, Sports Therapy and Complementary Therapies in Horsham, Cranleigh & Dorking

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64: Leisure

If you need an extra copy of AAH, find an indoor stand at Horsham Museum

WARM Pool Helps Swim

School make a

Splash Horsham Swim School The swimming pool business based at home...

Horsham Swim School is unusual in that it utilises the pool of a private residence. Morriswood, perched in an idyllic spot overlooking the town from Old Holbrook, is the home of Tony and Jo Hogben.

However, it has been used by various swimming schools and instructors for over 30 years.

Tony said: “The pool was used for swimming lessons long before I moved here and thousands of people have learnt to swim at Morriswood.

“Running a swimming pool is very expensive. The water and heating bills alone, without even considering people using the showers, are frightening. So, by renting the pool to local swimming instructors, we offset some of those costs.

“There were several different swim schools using the pool and I came to know some very good instructors.

So, I decided that rather than hiring the venue out to different swim schools, I would establish my own and work with some of the better teachers.”

Finding the best instructors...

Swimming classes stopped for two years whilst Tony obtained a commercial license for his business.

Tony’s position as a Horsham District Councillor meant that everything had to be done by the book!

Swim England supported the application as its own studies revealed a lack of pool space within the Horsham District.

With permission granted, the business was formed in May 2017.

Using his experience as a director of a marketing firm and an online retailer, Tony named the business Horsham Swim School. When it comes to using internet search engines, it pays to keep things simple!

Tony took on the administrative duties, whilst in the pool were an experienced team of teachers, including Linda Hooker, Sharon Sharman and Jackie Reeves Jackie said: “I’ve been a swimming teacher for 15 years. I started off at the Pavilions in the Park before I started running my own classes at Morriswood.

“Along with my sister Linda, I also teach swimming at Handcross Park School, where Tony's children attend. Linda and I have both been

Horsham Swim School: 65

Tony Hogben and Jackie Reeves of Horsham Swim School

The view looking out from Morriswood at Old Holbrook

Take the train to visit Santa in his beautifully decorated grotto in the woods. Here he will chat with every child and give them a quality gift.

Adults will be offered a glass of mulled wine. After your visit complete the train journey back to Stopham Road Station.

competitive swimmers and in fact Linda recently competed for Team GB at the European and World Masters Championships.”

Keeping the temperature right for babies...

It’s been an incredible few months for the swim school, with 400 people having already attended lessons.

After-school classes are held every weekday for children up to ASA level 6 and the pool caters particularly well for parents with babies and toddlers.

Jackie said: “At 33 degrees celsius, the pool is warmer compared to most public pools, making it more suitable for young children, particularly those under the age of six months.

“In some pools, they would get very cold very quickly. When that happens, the parents don't enjoy the experience as they know their child is uncomfortable.

“Parents also like coming here as it’s a private swimming pool with only one lesson going on at any given time. It doesn’t have the noise of a busy leisure centre, which is important as some new mums can be conscience about their appearance after a pregnancy.

“These early experiences in the water are all about building confidence between the baby and the mother or father. All of our classes follow the developmental Swim England training plan, so whilst we may be playing a game or singing rhymes, everything is designed to help a baby’s development.

“Swimming is a life skill and can open up so many adventures. The earlier you can get the children used to the water, the better it is for them.”

Trains operate between 11.00am and 3.20pm and run every 20 minutes. Please ensure you arrive at least 10-15 minutes before the departure time of your train, then check-in at the Ticket Office.

There will be no “on the day” tickets.

Please go to our website and book through our SANTA pages. All visiting members of families must be paid for through the booking pages.

When you have completed the transaction then PRINT it out (this is your admission ticket) and BRING IT WITH YOU ON THE DAY. If printing your ticket at home is not an option then please select “Collect at Ticket Office.” This will add a £2 booking fee to cover our administrative costs and your ticket will be ready for you at the station.

It is possible that the train time that you wished for is fully booked. In this case your booking request will show ‘unavailable’. Please then try a different TIME or DATE.

Adults £6.00 All Children £10.00

HOW TO FIND US: We are located within the WYEVALE, PULBOROUGH GARDEN CENTRE, Stopham Road, Pulborough, RH20 1DS approximately one mile on the A283 west of Pulborough Mainline Station. Free Car Parking.

TEL: 07518 753784 (General enquiries only)

Visit our website for more information:

www.south-downs-railway.com Terms and Conditions listed on the website

Sat 2nd Dec - Sun 3rd Dec Sat 9th Dec - Sun 10th Dec Sat 16th Dec - Sun 17th Dec Sat 23rd Dec

66: Leisure

Sharon Sharman teaches in the pool

Parent and baby classes at Morriswood

“Children will be regularly awarded swimming badges and certificates from the ASA schemes.”

ALL ABOUT HORSHAM MAGAZINE

WRITTEN BY LOCAL PEOPLE AAH is an independent magazine, owned and produced by Ben Morris, a life-long resident of the Horsham District.

Since the magazine was first published in May 2011, AAH has been renowned for its colourful features and superb images by Toby Phillips Photography.

We believe that our editorial content is unrivalled in the Horsham District, with innovative ideas such as our ‘My Story So Far’ and ‘News Round-Up’ features.

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Thousands more copies are picked up from our stylish spring-loaded stands as well as Sainsbury’s and Tesco.

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Keeping the group sizes down...

The classes can help form new friendships, particularly amongst the parents of babies.

One group bonded so well that they all changed their meeting time when one parent could no longer commit to the lesson!

It may have been easier to go elsewhere instead, but there is more to Horsham Swim School than privacy - people also like the professional teaching.

There are five instructors, all female, with three being ASA Level 2 teachers, whilst Sharon has specific training in teaching baby and pre-school children.

Three of the instructors are qualified to teach disabled people to swim. Already, several young people from charities and organisations including the Dame Vera Lynn Children's Charity, have been welcomed.

Horsham Swim School also keeps group sizes to a maximum of six, to provide the best level of tuition.

Jackie said: “It’s very difficult to give instructions from the side of a pool when you are working with a large group. When you have a dozen six-year-old beginners in the pool, they are

not going to know what to do when you ask them to lie back with a float.

“If you are in the water with them, it is very different. You can support their body, put them at ease so they don’t panic and talk them through the process. It also helps to be in the pool with the baby and parent classes, as they are fun and interactional.”

Intensive courses held over the holidays...

The L-shaped pool, which is 12m long and 7m at its widest, is 2.3m deep at one end, meaning it has been hired out

by SCUBA clubs in the past.

As well as having four individual changing rooms and ample parking, the swim school invested in new equipment for the launch of the business earlier this year.

As well as weekly lessons, Horsham Swim School offers intensive courses during the holidays, with four children per class to offer the best chance of improvement. As with all classes, young people are rewarded for their success.

Tony said: “Children will be

regularly awarded swimming badges and certificates from the ASA Discovery Duckling and I can award schemes. It's important to encourage praise and give recognition for progress.

“We believe that there are many more people who could benefit from swimming classes.

We offer a free trial lesson for young parents with babies, where the instructor will show you the basics of climbing in and out of the water safely with a baby and how to hold them securely in the water.

“Hopefully they will enjoy the experience and the baby can start its swimming journey with us.”

WORDS: BEN MORRIS PICTURES: TOBY PHILLIPS

For further information visit www.horshamswimschool.co.uk or call Horsham Swim School on 07497 647220 or email info@horshamswimschool.co.uk

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