JANUARY 2017
5 Pierre Klien: A Giant of Underwear?
Hoping ‘Shaky’ Gets Through Christmas As we say ‘goodbye’ to 2016, there’s a temptation to add ‘and good riddance!’ It’s been a year in which the world has grown tougher, sadder, and perhaps a little nastier. Even as I write this column, just before deadline, the world is apparently revelling in singer Mariah Carey ‘fluffing her lines’ during New Year’s celebrations in New York. Had the pop diva produced a note-perfect performance, it’s unlikely we’d know anything about it. Reinforcing that old mantra that ‘bad news sells’, it’s been a year of grim headlines. Only days ago, The Daily Mail at best undermined - and at worst dismissed - the achievements of the likes of Andy Murray, Ray Davies and a 94-year-old woman who has volunteered with Poppy Scotland for 60 years, by calling for the Honours system to be scrapped. The reason? Well, Posh Spice has been honoured. “I have nothing against Victoria Beckham,” lies The Mail’s Sarah Vine, betraying the cauldron of envy that defines her very being. AAH prides itself on only running positive news stories, which from a global perspective have seemingly been few and far between. We wake each day wondering which celebrity has passed away. I once joked about how much money Noddy Holder and Shakin’ Stevens made in royalties over Christmas. This year, I was just hoping that they’d make it to January alive and well! I was hoping that the festive period might offer a little cheer. Two men spreading a Christian message had a detrimental effect though, as they reminded me that Jesus was probably born on 28 March and ‘Christmas’ was ultimately a contrived sham driven by corporate greed. There was little solace in the seasonal custom of ‘giving’ as I argued with my wife for buying
AAH: JANUARY 2017 Ben Morris: Wrote the Articles Toby Phillips: Took the Photos Thanks: Jeremy Knight of HDC/Horsham Museum for providing images and text for the History feature. All of our readers for supporting us throughout 2016!
gifts online through Amazon. When we were bombarded with boxes filled with ludicrous amounts of packaging to protect relatively small items, I blamed her for the destruction of rainforests and may have suggested that - if tigers do go extinct - it’s her fault for not buying Now 95 in HMV. I added that by contributing to the demise of high street retailers, she was limiting future employment opportunities for our sons, which could in turn impact on our own retirement hopes and dreams. With the benefit of hindsight, I might have gone over the top! Perhaps then, that’s why my wife only bought me a pack of M&S boxer shorts for Christmas! This at least meant that I could finally throw out three pairs of Pierre Klein boxer shorts that were in my drawers. During summer, I popped along to
the car boot fair at Pease Pottage, which I find fascinating. Every stall is filled with questions: How can people only now be getting rid of their Sega Megadrive? How does someone of sane mind expect to get 50p for a VHS of Housesitter starring Steve Martin and Goldie Hawn? How can there be two Ford Orions in any one place outside of a ‘Crap Cars of 1994 Convention?’ I always leave the boot fair with a bag full of ‘goodies’. When I return home, my wife looks stunned as she realises that I’ve spent £17 on 23 items that we’ll never use. Last time, I forked out £4 on the Pierre Klein boxer shorts. “They retail for £10 mate. Grab a bargain!” said the stall holder, in that ‘salt-of-the-Earth-type-butgot-to-make-a-living-somehowain’t-I? kind of way. On Christmas morning, the boxers became an unlikely talking point,
as my wife asked me what on Earth compelled me to buy them in the first place. “Well,” I began. “It’s not very well known, but Pierre Cardin and Calvin Klein, two of the leading designers of men’s underwear, once adopted a son. As extremely successful men, Pierre and Calvin wished for the infant to take on elements of their own name. Inevitably, this caused friction between the two fashion powerhouses, but after much debate the birth certificate read ‘Calvin Cardin’. A few years passed by, and the rebellious Calvin chose not to follow in the footsteps of his famous adopted fathers, and took a job at cafe in Birkenhead. So, Pierre Cardin and Calvin Klein adopted again and it was only fair that this time the baby was named Pierre Klein. Pierre took a great interest in the careers of his adoptive fathers, and declared that he too would conquer the world of men’s underwear. Yet despite their wealth, his fashion designer fathers were fearful that their ambitious son might become a market leader and further restrict profit margins. So they refused to help Pierre and threatened litigation against any retailer that sold his line of stripey boxer shorts. And so one day, after being rejected by every high street outlet, a weary, beaten-down Pierre Klein took his incredible boxer shorts down to Pease Pottage car boot sale. And there, he found the only guy willing to take a punt on a brilliant young underwear designer: Me.” “Either that, or you wasted our money on itchy pants,” replied my wife, which my sons found absolutely hilarious. It ended up being a highlight of the day! Even a year as ‘pants’ as 2016 still had fleeting moments of joy.
Ben
6 ALL ABOUT HORSHAM
AAH ALL ABOUT HORSHAM
AAH ALL ABOUT HORSHAM
JANUARY 2017
AAH
JANUARY 2017
CONTENTS
JANUARY 2017
To submit Letters to the Editor please email Ben: editor@aahorsham.co.uk
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News Round-Up Plans for cinema complex approved and Strictly star set for Capitol show
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Slinfold Club
Sweeping changes have made Slinfold a leading golf and country club
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2016 Review Ben and Toby look back at some of their favourite AAH features from 2016
30
Horsham Fantasia How Camping World became a Winter Wonderland for Christmas
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Business Parkminster Products has built a reputation on its scented candles
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Meal Review Carmela in Horsham is popular for its Sicilian food and family traditions
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History
What Ordnance Survey maps reveal about Edwardian Horsham
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Sport Roffey Karate Club has built a fine reputation on a team mentality
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Community We visit Horsham Market, now under the guidance of Food Rocks
COVER STORY: JANUARY 2017 Our first cover of 2017 features Krystyna Patey, founder of Parkminster Products. She is pictured pouring Mandarin Spice scented wax to create candles at the company’s base in Partridge Green. We visited Parkminster Products on a busy day, when the team were preparing several orders from retailers around the country in time for Christmas. Krystyna hadn’t actually been mixing the
wax herself, but she swapped her scarf for an apron for this photo! You can read all about Parkminster Products in our four-page feature on page 39. Rossella Raciti from Carmela restaurant was close to following her brother Francesco on to an AAH front cover. Other potential fronts included the Father Christmas at Horsham Fantasia and the Crafty Horse Bar at Horsham Market.
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: wwwaahorsham.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: £300 + 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, Andrew Price, John Gatehouse, Matt Bland, Oliver Whorwood, Lewis Spiller, Owen Wirth, Pat Gibbs, The Cocoracchio family, George Voisey, Connor Heald, Paula Hunter, Katie Drysdale, George Williams, Luke Moran, James Bunch, Edward Hitchings.
Billingshurst: Anna Laker, Matt Jillians Southwater: Max Laker, Jack Taylor, Lewis Geal Villages: Megan Green (Mannings Heath) Adam Browse (Warnham) Will Sessions (Ashington), Ben Morris (Stands), Mike Hoare (Nuthurst),Connor Wykes (Partridge Green), Oak Tree Farm Care (Maplehurst & Copsale); Mark Simpkin (Washington), Liam Palmer (BBH) James Hobbs (Thakeham), Callum Matthews (Storrington) Mike Miller (Steyning) 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, 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), Chanctonbury Leisure Centre (Steyning) Village Larder (Washington) and many more. SUPERMARKETS AAH is available to pick up for FREE at Tesco Broadbridge Heath and Sainsbury’s Horsham. THANK YOU: Anna Laker, who has delivered AAH in parts of Billingshurst since our early days in 2011, is having to give up her round. All the best to you and your family! NOTES: We are now looking for a new delivery person in Billingshurst. Please email The Editor for details.
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NEWS ROUND-UP
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To submit News/Events for consideration, email Ben: editor@aahorsham.co.uk
Horsham District Council has approved plans for a multiplex cinema as part of a redevelopment of Swan Walk shopping centre. Councillors raised concerns about the height of the design and its suitability for a market town. However, the North Horsham Planning Committee of HDC agreed that the multiscreen cinema, which could include six screens with up to
850 seats, would boost the local economy. The plans also incorporate four restaurant units and a re-configuration of part of Swan Walk. If you’d like to know more, visit www.horsham.gov.uk and search the planning application number (DC/16/1371). www.horsham.gov.uk
Warnham Local Nature Reserve seeks new wildlife recorders, with a recruiting event held on Monday 16 January from 7.30pm. If you’re interested in wildlife and would like to help monitor the district’s flora and fauna, register on 01403 756238.
The date of the 2017 Goodwood Festival of Speed has changed and has now been confirmed for 29 June – 2 July. Tickets already purchased will be valid for the new dates. www.goodwood.com
Pasha Kovalev is performing at The Capitol on Friday 12 May, at 7.30pm. Winner of Strictly Come Dancing 2014, Pasha tours with his new show Let’s Dance the
Night Away, in which he’ll be joined by dancers including special guest Anja Garnis. Tickets £27 from 01403 750220 or visit www.thecapitolhorsham.com
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Horsham Decorative and Fine Arts Society (NADFAS) host a series of spring lectures at The Capitol, Horsham. The lectures are held on Wednesdays at 10.45am with coffee available from 9.45am. On 11 January, Peter Medhurst GRSM, ARCM will talk on ‘Vivaldi in Venice’ and on 8 February Mark Hill, BA (Hons) presents ‘Legends of Czech Glass’. Martin Heard talks about ‘Tulipomania, Bloom and Bust’ on 8 March, with a talk on ‘The End of a Tradition: The Art of Auguste Rodin’ by Eric Shanes on 12 April. Visitors are welcome. Entry £5.
Horsham Museum and Art Gallery has opened the perfect exhibition for fans of the BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing. Called ‘Twinkle Toes’ the exhibition celebrates 20th century dance dress, with outfits reflecting the changes in decorum that ladies would observe. Some of the dresses on show were made by well-known makers, such as the calf-length 1950s evening dress designed by Julian Rose and a Jean Allen gold metallic ‘dolly’ shift dress worn in the 1960s. ‘Twinkle Toes’ is open until the summer.
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 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 Christmas gifts!
Visit our award-winning tea rooms, serving a Full English Breakfast until midday Farlington student Jacqueline Zhang, has been selected to exhibit at the Royal Society of British Artists (RBA) Spring Exhibition in London. Jacqueline, 18, will have the title ‘RBA Scholar’ next to her work, entitled ‘Seated Figure. She will be invited to
attend a private viewing at the Rising Stars Exhibition in advance of the exhibition, to run from 21 March -1 April. The exhibition showcases representational art, sculpture, printmaking and drawing. www.farlingtonschool.net
www.newhousefarmshop.co.uk 01293 851890 New House Farm, Old Crawley Road, Horsham, RH12 4RU Open Tuesday - Saturday: 10am - 5pm Closed Mondays January - March
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You can follow Ben and Toby on Twitter @AAHMagazine and @tobyphillips1
NEWS ROUND-UP
Work has begun on an £11m spa at South Lodge Hotel in Lower Beeding. The spa will include 14 individual
carried out by Beard Construction at the five-star hotel. www.exclusive.co.uk/south-lodge/
rooms, a double treatment room, gym, thermal suite, relaxation lounge and swimming pool. The work is being
Age UK Horsham District will again be teaming up with Age UK and innocent to raise funds through the Big Knit. People are asked to knit little bobble hats that will be sold on the tops of innocent smoothie bottles. For each one sold, the Horsham District branch will receive a donation. The local branch hopes to knit 8,800 hats. For information or knitting patterns call 01403 751304 or email fundraising@ageukhorshamdistrict.org.uk
wanted We need your little knitted hats.
That’s because every smoothie-sized hat you knit raises 25p to help your local Age UK keep older people warm and well in winter.
You may have been captivated by the recent BBC nature series, Planet Earth II. The final episode, Cities, captured incredible scenes of Peregrine falcons swooping on prey in New York City. Whilst the programme highlighted the success of the world’s fastest animal in urban areas, RSPB Pulborough Brooks is regularly visited by a Peregrine. It can often be seen at
coo war l hats, mh ear ts
Hanger View, perched on a willow tree. Recently, RSPB volunteer Graham captured this Peregrine catching a teal and fighting off crows trying to steal his meal. You can see more pictures on the Pulborough Brooks blog page. If you have any interesting local animal stories, please do get in touch with the AAH editor.
bigknit.co.uk To get your free knitting pattern contact: Age UK Horsham District - 01403 260560 Send all the hats you knit to Age UK:
Age UK Horsham Disitrct, Lavinia House,
Dukes Square, Horsham, RH12 1GZ (we're just behind The Drill Hall)
by: Friday 14th July 2017
at:
4pm
Big Knit smoothies are available in selected retailers throughout October 2017, while stocks last. 25p from every be-hatted smoothie sold in the UK shall be given to Age UK. Age UK is a charitable company limited by guarantee and registered in England and Wales (registered charity number 1128267 and registered company number 6825798). ID201518 10/17. Your local Age UK/Age Cymru/Age Scotland/Age NI will receive 25p from every hat they contribute to the national Big Knit campaign in 2017.
Knitting partner:
Ruby Turner will be performing at The Capitol on Saturday 21 January, at 7.30pm. Renowned for songs including If You’re Ready (Come Go with Me), I’d Rather Go Blind and It’s Gonna Be Alright, Ruby is blessed with a voice to die for
whether performing jazz, soul or R’N’B. To date, Ruby has released 17 albums and is also one of the main singers in Jools Holland’s R&B Orchestra. Tickets cost £22 from 01403 750220 or visit www.thecapitolhorsham.com
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Send in your Music News to editor@aahorsham.co.uk
NEWS ROUND-UP
Horsham District Archaeology Group hosts Gold and Garnets, a talk by Dr Judie English, at Beeson House, Lintot Square, Southwater, on Tuesday 24 January, at 7.15pm. Find out what the jewellery and weaponry of Sutton Hoo and the Staffordshire Hoard tells us about cultural change in Anglo-Saxon England. Members free, non-members £3. Contact horshamarch@hotmail.com or 01403 731695 with enquiries.
Local author Roland DeCarra has published a new book, I Want, described as “Horsham’s answer to ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’. The story is based on 18 months in the life of fictional character Sarah Knowles, a gorgeous 32-year-old, fiercely independent woman and her adventures in life. Roland said that the book - the first instalment in a series of three - gives an insight into “what it’s like to be a modern woman living in today’s world.” I Want is available to order from Amazon, Waterstones and WH Smiths.
The Horsham charity pancake races are provisionally scheduled to be held in Horsham town centre on Tuesday 21 February. The event, organised by Horsham Rotary Club, sees up to 30 business and charity teams competing in pancake races in fancy dress to raise funds for local good causes.
Horsham writer/filmmaker Josh Merritt’s latest short film has been selected for several film festivals. Echoes is about an ageing reclusive rock star who grants a rare interview with an inexperienced, anxious young journalist. After a screening at an international film festival in Eastbourne, Echoes was selected for further festivals in London and Moscow. www.joshmerritt.co.uk
Michelin star chef Matt Gillan, formerly head chef at The Pass at South Lodge, will be working at the new look Red Roaster when it re-opens in Brighton. Matt and local restaurateur Mike Palmer acquired the pioneering Red Roaster Coffee last year with a view to transform the Brighton institution into a world class venue. Australian designer Hana Hakim (World Restaurant Designer of the Year 2015/16) headed the design team. The team have enlisted famed espresso machinist Kees Van Der Westen to custom build kit in Holland, with food dishes to
complement the coffee. The main dining room menu will feature a small a la carte menu alongside six and eight course tasting menus. The second option will be to dine at the counter. Matt, BBC’s Great British Menu winner 2015, said: “Mike calls it ‘Michelin Star for a tenner’, but I prefer that we were known for food that you would be comfortable eating more than once a week, and which you would want to bring your friends back to share.” www.redroaster.co.uk
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Roundabout Talking News, which provides a weekly recording to the visually impaired, needs a volunteer with experience in PR and publicity to help them advertise their services. YMCA East Surrey is seeking volunteer buddies to help young people with moderate learning difficulties to socialise and take part in activities whilst promoting their own independence. Cancer Research Shop in East Street, Horsham is in need of volunteers whilst Carers Support West Sussex has opportunities for Community Liaison Co-ordinators, Group Co-Facilitator and Telephone Support volunteers. Central & South Sussex Citizens Advice is looking for an experienced treasurer to join its committee to help maintain and develop services in West Sussex. Find more local volunteering opportunities by contacting Horsham and Mid Sussex Voluntary Action on 01444 258102, email VolunteerCentre@hamsva.org.uk, or visit www.hamsva.org.uk
Legal services - for when life becomes a little complicated We all need legal advice and support at times. Whatever it might be, our services are available at competitive fixed prices, designed to give you easy access to specialist legal support when you need it most. We can help you with: • Will writing • Setting up a trust
Itchingfield Parish Council is now well advanced with its Neighbourhood Plan. Last year a Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group was set up under the Chairmanship of Ian Walker, and the members have since been tackling specific issues to establish recommendations and potential ideas for the Itchingfield parish, which includes the village of Barns Green. Following a successful household survey and public meeting, The Steering Group has now issued a ‘Call for Sites’ in which interested parties are asked to put forward any land that they wish to be considered for housing, business and community use. For information email jancritchley@itchpc.freeserve.co.uk
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Read our regular column from RSPB Pulborough Brooks on Page 66
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NEWS ROUND-UP
Aladdin, The Capitolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s festive pantomime, has been well received by audiences and critics. The panto, written by theatre manager Nick Mowat, proved popular thanks to a lively, humourous script with stunning sets and costumes. There were also many great turns from the cast, with old heads Richard Alan as The Emperor of China and James Dinsmore as Abanazar having a ball alongside the likes of Ben Ofoedu (The Genie of The Lamp) and CBBC star Olly Pike as Aladdin. Mike Goble (Wishee Washee) Martin Ramsdin (Widow Twankey) Dani Acors (The Spirit of the Ring) and Alice Ellen Wright (Princess Jasmine) all contributed greatly to a hugely entertaining production.
Picture: Anita Momot
Horsham Churches Together organised a Nativity Trail and Christmas themed events on Carfax Bandstand on 19 December. The Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Musical Nativity, directed by Mark and Lou Bradbury of Little Notes, saw Mary and Joseph arrive with two donkeys from East Clayton Farm. The afternoon concluded with the traditional carol service with the joyful carols being accompanied by the Salvation Army
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Band. Horsham Churches Together is grateful to the almost 100 volunteers who took part in the Christmas event, along with event partners including Horsham District Council, Horsham Matters, Little Notes, East Clayton Farm, Mr and Mrs Harwood of Fay Cottage Farm, Coden Events, Food Rocks and High Gain Event Services. www.horshamct.org.uk
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Broadbridge Heath Leisure Centre hosts teen fitness classes for girls and boys aged 11 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 15, starting on 10 and 12 January. On Tuesdays, there is a box-fit class from 3.45 - 4.30pm, with a teen spin class on Thursdays from 3.45 - 4.30pm. Also, a new Weight and Wellbeing class will be held on Mondays at 9.30 -10.30am and 7 - 8pm for adults. For details call the leisure centre on 01403 211311.
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Experience the Country Club
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Gym & Fitness The fully air conditioned gym provides a light, airy and invigorating environment to enjoy a fitness workout. The gym is equipped with Matrix cardiovascular equipment, each with its own integrated touchscreen control and entertainment panel. It also boasts a full range of resistance strength machines and PowerPlates. The Club has also introduced its members to a new, state of the art outdoor functional training zone.
The fabulous Jessica Nail Suite opened last autumn at The Retreat. With its vibrant colours, luxury manicure and pedicure chairs and a glass of Prosecco if you choose, the Suite is the ideal place to feel pampered and get those ‘must have’ GELeration nails for your hands and feet. The Suite provides a striking contrast to our three existing luxury treatment rooms where the emphasis is on peace, tranquility and relaxation.
Slinfold Golf & Country Club
f you’re busy with work or raising a family, it can be difficult to find the time to stay fit and healthy. With many exciting additions and improvements, all the family will enjoy spending time at Slinfold Golf and Country Club, one of the premiere country clubs in West Sussex. We're proud to boast one of the busiest studio timetables in the South East, with over 85 fitness classes every week taken by our professional, qualified staff. We offer both aerobic and holistic classes, including Body Pump, Pilates and MyRide Indoor Cycling classes featuring IC7 spin bikes. With temperature and lighting controls in all 3 of our studios, we can alter the environment to suit each class. It's the perfect ambiance for the perfect exercise experience.
AAH READER OFFER Free Guest Pass
Free Guest Pass worth £15 for all AAH readers. A Guest Pass is a great way to try out the facilities at Slinfold Golf & Country Club. To receive a Guest Pass, simply quote ‘AAH’ when you phone the Membership Team on
01403 792620.
Driving Range
Swimming Pool
Slinfold's health club is home to a pristine 20m swimming pool. The pool hosts Aqua Aerobics classes, with Family Splash Time after school times and at weekends. And with our Sandpit Crèche, fully staffed with DBS-checked childcare professionals, we offer the perfect playroom for our members' children.
The Retreat
Pool & Creche
Golf Facilities The Par 3 short course at the Club was official opened in August. The Academy Course has been specifically designed to offer golfers an alternative to our existing 18-hole golf course. This will complement the use of our new Driving Range, with 13 undercover bays and 4 outdoor bays, to provide an all-round golfing experience.
Non-Members If you’re not a member of the club, don’t worry; there’s no need to miss out on some of our superb facilities. Non-members and visitors can experience and enjoy the Retreat and Jessica Nail Suite, our Driving Range and Academy Golf Course, plus our Lounge Bar with its beautiful views over the Sussex countryside, serving Costa coffee and a daily Specials menu! Whether you need a place to meet a business colleague for a coffee with free Wifi connection, or to meet some friends, the Lounge Bar is here ready to welcome you. For more details about the Club visit www.slinfoldclub.co.uk or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
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2016 From Pop Stars to Peregrine Falcons, from horse carriages to hayfever, AAH Editor Ben Morris and Photographer Toby Phillips choose some of their favourite features from the year
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Read our feature on Nigel Emery on the ‘Art’ section at www.aahorsham.co.uk
JANUARY FEBRUARY
AAH featured Artisan Patisserie in Horsham on the cover, with other articles on Keeper’s Kennels in Lower Beeding and the Nifty Gallery in Storrington. We’ve always enjoyed the Art section and Nigel Emery, who runs Nifty Gallery, was an interesting subject as he has an intriguing variety of work. Toby was particularly impressed by Nigel’s vibrant living room above the shop, which featured several of his paintings. Toby: Nigel is a really laid back guy, as well as being an excellent artist. We chatted about his work and his love for Cuba. Before opening a shop in Storrington, Nigel had a stall on Brighton seafront and it was interesting to chat about his experience, as I once had a stall on Horsham Market when I first became a professional photographer.
February’s AAH was dominated by an in-depth feature on Blue Star Harriers and the fight to keep ‘The Tube’ at Broadbridge Heath Leisure Centre. However, the cover featured Peter Wynne, a pop singer signed by Larry Parnes in the 1960s. Peter recalled his days touring with the likes of Billy Fury for the ‘My Story So Far’ section.
Ben: Peter really enjoyed telling the story of his glory days. It was a lively interview, as whenever Peter described a song - which was often - he would stand up and belt it out, without embarrassment. I’m told that Peter was spotted wearing his shades and leather jacket in Billingshurst High Street, signing a copy of AAH! I hope that’s true!
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MARCH
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In March’s edition, the Letters to the Editor page was hotting up as readers debated whether or not David Bowie was better than Shakin’ Stevens! We ran editorials on Coolham Live Music Club and Trenchmore Farm, although it is the feature on St Catherine’s Hospice that stands out. We spent most of the day at the hospice talking to nurses, patients, therapists, volunteers and managers to build a full picture of the incredible work they do.
Toby: We met amazing people including Mary Price (above) who has worked at the hospice for over 30 years. It must be an emotionally tough job, because the staff naturally form personal relationships with patients. Yet they do their best for people, day in, day out. I’ve returned on several occasions to take photos for St Catherine’s and I always enjoy my visits, chatting to the staff and patients. I’m in awe of the work they do and it’s great that so many Horsham people support their local hospice through fundraising.
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May’s cover featured comedian John O’Sullivan before his sell-out show at The Hawth, with further editorial features on artist Gordon Rushmer and Sussex Lighting. It also included photos of the annual carriage run in Shipley. Toby: The carriages meet at Knepp Castle before making their way through the estate, down country lanes and inevitably to the pub! The horses were immaculately turned out and those on board wore Victorian clothing, providing a timeless feel to the event. I turned up at Knepp on my motorbike, wearing leathers, whilst Ben arrived with his son straight from rugby training. We looked like we were from a different era and shattered the illusion! Still, it is a wonderful event for those involved.
JUNE
June’s cover featured Sydney Rutherford, a singer-songwriter from Horsham. It also included one of the better ‘Introduction’ page photos of Ben and Toby from 2016. Ben: We usually forget to do our ‘silly shot’ until the last possible moment. June was an example of this. We had featured a Horticultural Society, so we decided to base our shot on a floral competition. We set up this photo in Toby’s garden only an hour before press deadline. We tried a picture of us trimming a rose bush but it was awful. This idea produced a better result, but on closer inspection, Toby’s ‘tree’ is actually pretty lousy!
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Read our monthly RSPB Pulborough Column on Page 66
JULY
July’s AAH was something of a food special, featuring Blue India, Sharon Walker Cakes and Hepworth’s brewery. Toby: Blue India was one of the most surprising meals we had in 2016. Of course, it’s amazing going to restaurants like The Pass and Tristan’s, but we need to try places that suit everyone’s budget. I wasn’t expecting much from Blue India, but the food was delicious and the restaurant was bright and vibrant.
SEPTEMBER
AUGUST August’s cover featured Hollie Rogers and was one of Toby’s favourite fronts of the year. However, even more memorable for us was our visit to Parham Park. Ben: We’d been touring the estate with head gardener Tom Brown, when my eye started itching. I rubbed it a little, making it worse, and before long my eye had swelled up and I couldn’t see from it. Having never had an allergic reaction before, I couldn’t believe it when I gazed in the bathroom mirror! As I interviewed Lady Emma Barnard of Parham House, I was holding a wet flannel over my eye. I felt ridiculous, but she was kind enough to act as though nothing was wrong and even raided the cupboards for antihistamines!
September’s edition featured the astonishing story of Adam Leszczar, who survived a perilous journey from Poland to Siberia during the Second World War, after tragically losing his parents. We also ran articles on Horsham Cycling Club, AToM, artist Leigh Ann Gale and RSPB Pulborough Brooks. Ben: We were fortunate in that we saw plenty of wildlife during our visit including herons, buzzards, kestrels,
27
rare butterflies and a Peregrine falcon in the willow tree. Our guide for the day was Emily Summers, who now writes a monthly column for AAH. I hadn’t previously been to Pulborough Brooks, but within a week I was back with my youngest son, who is fascinated by the natural world. Once again, the peregrine was in the willow tree and a local enthusiast allowed my son to peer through his scopes. It’s a fascinating sight for children..
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Read our feature on Knepp Safari on the ‘Special Features’ section at www.aahorsham.co.uk
DECEMBER
OCTOBER October’s AAH featured an extensive editorial on the Knepp campsite and safari in Dial Post. This seasonal campsite has quaint shepherd huts and tipis with antique furniture and - in one instance - a bed frame created from stag oak. Toby: You just wouldn’t expect there to be a safari
down a driveway in a rural village near Horsham! We turned up and it didn’t look promising, and yet the format of the safari is brilliant and the campsite is wonderful. It was a fun day out, although being thrown around in the back of a safari vehicle doesn’t lend itself to the best photos!
NOVEMBER November’s AAH featured articles on the Fishers Farm pantomime, Horsham Chamber Choir and a Fit-to-Box club. We also met ‘street photographer’ Greg Turner, who recently held an exhibition of portraiture at Horsham Museum and Art Gallery. Toby’s main image was a portrait picture of Greg holding his Hasselblad camera. But we also took this second
photo of Greg outside Esquires Cafe in The Forum. Toby: We’ve only featured one or two photographers in AAH, so it was nice to be able to chat about the craft with someone with a shared interest. Ben usually glazes over when I start talking about shutter speeds and aperture!”
December’s cover featured Ian Swainson, head chef at The Pass at South Lodge. We’ve visited the hotel several times over five years and Ian is the third chef to be featured on an AAH cover. Ben: The food at The Pass has been sublime on every occasion, but what impresses us is how welcoming South Lodge has become. I used to find the hotel intimidating, but now at The Pass, the chefs leave the kitchen for a while and have an informal chat, and restaurant manager Tommaso takes good care of us. With two children, I don’t eat out at Michelin-starred restaurants, so our occasional meal reviews at The Pass have become a real treat!
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Rink Outsiders How Camping World Became an Unlikely ‘Winter Wonderland’
David Fearn, the owner of Camping World, created the Christmas Fantasia
When word spread on social media that an ice rink was to be constructed in Horsham for the winter, the response was sceptical, to say the least. There was an expectancy that any such entertainment would be underwhelming and lacking the authenticity to inspire and excite today’s children. But when the ice rink arrived, it proved to be a pleasant surprise, adding some much-needed magic sparkle to Christmas in Horsham. In days when most Winter Wonderlands only make headlines if they are truly appalling, Horsham Christmas
Fantasia managed to generate fanfare through positive word of mouth. The concept is the brainchild of husband and wife team David and Suzanne Fearn, owners of Camping World at Hornbrook Park, Horsham. The shop has the largest outdoor display of tents in Europe during the summer, but the site is empty over winter. So, David thought of different ways to utilise the space. “I spoke to someone who runs an ice rink in Worthing and we set up a company called Horsham Outdoor Events,” he
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Dale Jannels Director, AToM Ltd TEL: 01403 272625
www.atomltd.co.uk A Happy New Year to you all! In the last 12 months, we've seen many new lenders launch in to the mortgage market in addition to the current batch fighting for business by offering low and attractive rates with freebies including valuations, free legals and even cash backs. I see 2017 offering a lot more to First Time Buyers including more products aimed at those with smaller deposits. Shared Ownership opportunities and Right to Buy mortgages will also increase as local authorities push schemes to help get people on the property ladder. The easy business for the high street lenders is for Home movers and those looking to Remortgage. Simple and straight forward, with some of the best rates available and subject to clients credit scores, these should be all computer decision based. Without doubt, the most in-demand side will be the more specialist Buy to Lets, Houses of Multiple Occupation, Holiday Lets, Student Lets, basically whatever will bring in the best return for investment. Despite the Prudential Regulation Authority introducing new rules, and considerable tax changes being implemented over the next three years, this will still be a huge part of the market as returns on savings remain low and people look for other ways to invest and make money.
said. “I visited his ice rink on the seafront and said: ‘This is what I’d like in Horsham, but I want to make it bigger and better.’ That’s the sort of person I am. I have the biggest camping display in Europe and I wanted the biggest undercover ice rink in Great Britain. “My business partner knows a lot about ice rinks and through his contacts I bought this ice rink, as well as the covers and necessary equipment. A part of you fears the worst; you worry that nobody will turn up, which is natural when you’ve made such a big investment. But now our idea is to use the rink year after year.”
Cold Ice Receives Warm Reception The ice rink has been a huge hit, particularly at weekends, with families flocking from across the Horsham district and beyond to experience the real ice of Horsham Christmas Fantasia. David said: “Many people expected us to use synthetic ice, but it’s real. It’s created by running tubes across the base of the rink, using anti-freeze to keep pumping water through at -25 degrees. “It took several weeks of spraying small amounts of
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water on the rink, which is 30m x 20m, to build up layers until the ice is about six inches thick. “Even then, it needs maintenance every hour. When the public have finished skating, our team clear any loose ice with shovels and make it nice and smooth for the next group. “Then, at the end of each day, we add another layer of ice.”
Idea for a Winter Wonderland The ice rink opened in October and was an immediate hit. Suzanne was responsible for building up anticipation on social media sites and responded to people’s questions on Facebook. Before long, Adam Proto – a renowned events organiser who has hosted children’s entertainment in Horsham in the past – was on the phone. David recalls: “Adam told me ‘I don’t think you should stop at an ice rink; you should do a winter wonderland.’ He came in and took over control in terms of producing the event and I’m very pleased about that. “Key to that idea is Santa’s grotto. Adam has helped us create an experience, so children are not just walking into a shed. They enter through a Narnia-style wardrobe before entering Santa’s work room, where the elves are
busy making presents. “A magic key then triggers the arrival of a special vehicle which transports the children to Santa’s cabin in the North Pole at 25 light years per second. “The transport is in fact a genuine ski-lift cabin we’ve brought in, fitted with cushions and decorations. “Our Santa is as good as you’ll ever meet. He has long white hair and a beard and his costume is unbelievable. The presents he hands out to the children are fabulous too. People have told us that our grotto is better than the Harrods grotto, which is very nice for us to hear.”
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33 ‘People have told us that our grotto is better than the Harrods grotto, which is very nice for us to hear.’
Market Attracts Local traders A Christmas market and funfair rides from Irvin Leisure are among the other highlights of Horsham Fantasia. Lil’ Riders provide a sit-on ride for young children, whilst the crazy caterpillar, fairground swings, big wheel, bungee trampolines and a helter-skelter all add to a colourful atmosphere. A café area inspired by a ski lodge helps make the visit more pleasant for adults. There are 19 sheds in the market, selling produce including German sausages and savoury crepes, Christmas gifts, festive T-shirts and scented candles. Stella Luczkowski was selling her small, hand-made Christmas wreaths on one of the stalls. “This is just a hobby for me,” said Stella. “My father used to make wreaths for over 60 years when he ran a nursery on Rock Road in Ashington. I’ve been twiddling berries since I was six years old and I missed doing it. “I bought a tent from Camping World and came across the market, and thought ‘I’d like to get involved.’ “I make traditional holly wreaths, which you don’t see around these days. It’s been fun. It’s not something I’m looking to make a business from; I just wanted to be involved in it for a year and I’m enjoying the atmosphere.”
Stella Luczkowski selling hand-made wreaths at the Christmas Market
34 Will the Rink Return in 2017? Whether the Horsham Christmas Fantasia experience is part of the town’s Christmas future remains to be seen. Differences in opinion between the operators of the site and Horsham District Council could mean that Fantasia will soon be a ghost of Horsham’s past. David said: “The council has not been overly supportive. We wanted to open the ice rink until the end of January but local councillors said we could only stay open until 15 January. We haven’t been given a full explanation as to why that is. “Whether I open it here or not next year is debatable. There have been problems with the parking and a few of our neighbours have been very vocal in their objection. They seem not to like Christmas and don’t want to hear children laughing. “The Horsham Fantasia has been successful and the public love it.
You can buy AAH images from Toby at http://tobyphillipsphotography.pixieset.com
We know that some have written to the council supporting us and even petitioned about keeping the ice rink in Horsham, because it is a good thing for the town. “That is why I want to keep it here. But Crawley Council have enquired about moving the ice rink there in 2017. I’m going to be meeting with representatives of Horsham and Crawley councils in the New Year, so we’ll see how things go.”
Children enjoy the Lil’ Riders tent (below)
Horsham Ice Rink is situated at Camping World, Brighton Road, Horsham. It is open until 14 January 2017. For prices and opening times visit the website at http://horshamicerink.co.uk
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39 Krystyna Patey formed Parkminster Products in 2010
Turning Up the Wick Candle Range Offers Parkminster Products a Bright Future We visit Parkminster Products in Partridge Green, which has recently launched its beautifullyscented Regency range. Krystyna Patey, who founded and runs the company with husband Richard, tells us how her once small, kitchen-based candle company is now burning brightly.
The Regency range is Parkminster Products’ new luxury line
How did the journey begin? Richard has his own design business and I was an event organiser who was looking to do something different. I joined Richard on a business trip to New York and we stumbled across a lovely little craft shop in East Village. They were selling a body scrub with an interesting scent and I thought that perhaps I could produce something similar back home.
So the candles came later? Initially I was making soaps, working with natural Himalayan salts, almond oil and essential oils. For a while, I was primarily making them for friends and family, and attending small craft fairs. The soaps had a nice vintage look and were popular, so I thought about other products I could make. One idea that stood out was candles. Why candles? I’ve always loved candles and occasionally I’ve come across £40 candles that do not have a strong fragrance or burn as well as they should. I felt I could do better. When we started out, we did a lot of research with other candles and there are some
Sharon Nettleton pours out Mandarin Spice scented wax
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Read our feature on Bee Cosmetics on the Business section at www.aahorsham.co.uk
fantastic products out there, as well as some that do not offer good value. There are many variables and you have to make sure that everything is right, from the temperature of the wax, to the combination of fragrances, to making sure that the wick is trimmed to the right length. How did you learn to make candles? Back in 2009, when I first started dabbling in candles, I was teaching myself by watching tutorials online. I was m testing my products on friends
and after a while I came up with two fragrances; a lavender and a rose geranium. When did the business take off? Our early candles were well received at local craft fairs, so Richard suggested that I take the range to Top Drawer, a huge exhibition at the London Olympia for creative retailers. It was a scary prospect, but in 2011 we went for it. We took some reed diffusers as well as our candles and although our display was small compared to most around us, people were
complimentary about my products. To my amazement, we picked up 20 accounts and I thought ‘we’ve got something here.’ Why use the Parkminster name? When I started the business, we lived on the grounds of St Hugh’s Charterhouse, renting a home from the monks. Our house was ‘Little Parkminster’ and I thought that the name wasn’t specific to any single product, so we could expand in the future. We didn’t want there to be any confusion with
Penny Rushton prepares a candle for packaging
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the Charterhouse, or to exploit the monastery in any way, so we added ‘Products’ to the business name. For a while then, you were running the business from home? We were literally running the business from the kitchen table. A Japanese magazine came over to feature us in our early days and took a picture of me sat at the kitchen table trimming my wicks. We expanded beyond the kitchen eventually and two years ago moved into this large unit on the Huffwood Industrial Estate in Partridge Green. Where do you sell your products? We sell our range online, as well as independent retailers. Initially, we were selling a lot to Sussex shops. We continue to supply Flicker-Rose, a lovely gift shop in Steyning, as well as Camelia Botnar Homes & Gardens near Cowfold, Nicky C Lifestyle in Cuckfield, Southdown Galleries in Henfield and Pure White Lines, which was in Horsham but is now in London. We prefer to work with independent boutiques rather than major retailers. Our products are also sold in several outlets in Brighton and London and
41
‘People have always loved our branding because it’s not too fancy and it has a vintage feel’
we’re now selling to retailers across the UK, Europe and even Japan. Several of those retailers have come across us at the Spitalfields Market in London.
mandarin, cinnamon and cloves. We blend the oils together and create the candles, using natural soy wax. However, we have used fragrancy companies to create the scents for our new Regency range, which we launched at Top Drawer last September.
How many products do you have? Gradually, the range has expanded and we now have 20 in our Star range, which is our core collection. Scents include bonfire, English garden, orange blossom and woodland. We sell these in a range of sizes from a small votive candle for £5, to aluminium tin candles and vintage star jar candles with a double wick. Our reed diffuser comes in 10 different fragrances that complement the candles too.
What is the difference from the Star range? The Regency collection is our top end range. Some boutiques prefer higher end products and the Regency range suits them better. We’ve created six new fragrances including Indian Lotus, Italian Mimosa and Malabar Spice. These are more sophisticated scents with a different look for the packaging and branding.
How do you choose scents? We work closely with fragrance houses and they create blends from our own ideas and send them for us to try. We still blend some of the range ourselves. Mandarin Spice, which is one of our most popular Christmas fragrances, is blended here with
Branding seems to be very important to you? People have always loved our branding because it’s not too fancy and it has a vintage feel. There are brands out there marketing their candles with an emphasis on luxury and we felt we could make a product that
Laura Perrott preparing Star range candles for retail
42 was just as good but for a lot less money. We didn’t want the branding to interfere with what was inside the box and that remains the case with the star range. However, the gold foil and image of the Regency building does lend an upmarket quality to our new items. You also have a kiln collection? We work closely with the pottery department at Camelia Botnar Foundation, based in Maplehurst. They make the ceramics for us, featuring the Parkminster Products star. We donate a percentage of the profits from this kiln range back to the Foundation so it can continue with the fabulous work it carries out in the community. Why are stars so prominent in your products? My maiden name is Starr and I wanted to keep it somewhere in the business. For that reason, we adopt a red star for our core range and our candle boxes have star cutouts on the lid.
Parkminster Products? Growth has been meteoric over five years, and now we’ll see where the Regency collection will take the business. Feedback continues to be fantastic as people love the fact that we use natural soy wax and appreciate the variety of our fragrances. In future, I’d love to be in a position where we can make larger batches as our production level is still relatively small. However, one order from a larger boutique store could change all of that. We’ll wait and see...
Krystyna and Richard Patey
‘People love that we use natural soy wax and the
You can view the full range of Parkminster Products, as well as order directly, online at http://parkminster.co.uk
variety of our fragrances’
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Francesco Raciti & Marek Kubosi
Review: Carmela, Horsham
Keeping it in The Family Rossella Raciti
It’s been almost four years since AAH last visited Carmela for a meal review, although photographer Toby Phillips is something of a regular. In the intervening years, not a huge amount has changed at the restaurant, located in a beautiful 16th century renovated house on the corner of Denne Road and East Street. Unlike some Italian chain restaurants in the town with a high staff turnover, visitors are still met by the same familiar faces. Rossella Raciti greets us with a warm ‘Bonjourno’ before brother Francesco, the proprietor, strolls over with a ‘Ciao Ben’ in an accent that makes my monosyllabic name seem inadequate. A short time later, mama Carmela (who works at the family deli in the Carfax) arrives with Rossella’s youngest child. The family bond within the business is only strengthened by chef Marek Kubosi, who has been at Carmela since its opening in 2010 and is now Rossella’s fiancé. If anything has changed, it is Francesco. When he was photographed for the AAH
cover in April 2013, he was a fresh-faced entrepreneur in a casual shirt and jeans. Now, he looks more like the sort of Sicilian restaurant owner you’d see in a Martin Scorcese movie! Before sitting down for our meal, we had a chat to Francesco and Rossella about food, family and the challenges of business.
Has much changed at Carmela since you opened in 2010? Rossella: Certainly the service that we offer is much better. We are more focused on customer service and providing people with an experience. When people come in, we give them a warm welcome and we’ve created a new seating area for those who are waiting for a table or for friends. Do people know it’s a family-run restaurant? Rossella: A lot of people know us as we’ve been in the town a long time, or they know us through the Carmela deli. People are also reading about us on Trip Advisor and
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45 finding out a bit about us, so that helps too. Perhaps because the restaurant is run by an Italian family and is independent, they have a more authentic experience. Has much changed with the menu? Francesco: The restaurant hasn’t changed much but we are improving year after year. We still use the same fresh produce that has always been on the menu and serve our signature dishes like the Rigatoni Carmela and Carmela’s zuppa di pesce. The focus is still on southern Italian food, primarily Sicilian. We have improved the quality of our pasta dishes as we use only fresh pasta and our pizza is of a much better quality.
Restaurant | Take Outs
How has the pizza improved? Francesco: We have a far greater weight of dough now for our bases and we have improved our toppings steadily over time. We only have seven pizza varieties on the menu, but they are good quality, stonebaked pizzas. There seems to be more variety overall on the menu? Francesco: We have swordfish, venison and guinea fowl on our winter menu. In Italy, we call it Faraona, which sounds much better than guinea fowl! We have our own family recipe at Carmela, as the meat is wrapped in
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46 pancetta with dauphinoise potatoes. Sometimes they are not strictly Sicilian dishes so we place these on the Specials board instead. Our customers tend to be more mature so we do not see much of the younger crowd who go out for pizza and pasta. Our customers want a real taste of Italy.
Read our review of La Piazzetta on the ‘Food and Drink’ Section at www.aahorsham.co.uk
Cervo (venison)
You don’t have a children’s menu? Rossella: We don’t have a children’s menu but as an Italian family we make families very welcome. Children can order any pizza or pasta and we will make a smaller portion for about half price. I have three children and I know that it can be very expensive for families to eat out, so I do what I can. We are very good at compromising our dishes so if there’s an element you don’t want, we are happy to change it. We also offer pasta and pizza in gluten-free options and have good vegetarian options. Are you still in touch with modern Sicilian cuisine? Francesco: We go over to Italy several times a year on workrelated trips. Every time we go back we will visit new restaurants to see what they are doing as we like to sample different dishes and good Italian wines. Our knowledge of wines has increased a lot since we first opened. Has the wine menu expanded? Rossella: We are introducing different wines because our customers are asking for a wider selection. We are now working with Casa Vinicola Zonin, the largest private vine growing and winemaking company in Italy. They provide us with some of the best wines from the country. I’ve been out to Sicily to one of the estates and sampled the wines with some bread and cheese, and it was amazing! Customers particularly enjoy the Passimiento, a Sicilian Frappato wine. It’s lovely in winter! Do you have plans for more Carmela restaurants? Francesco: I am happy with Carmela just being a deli and a restaurant. You see people who
try to replicate a formula in different towns and find it is impossible. You cannot clone me or other members of my family so what you create will be a very different experience. We are not interested in opening another shop or restaurant elsewhere under the Carmela name. If we ever did that, it would need a name that is meaningful to the people running it. If you run a pizzeria, you can replicate the formula. But for us it would be a bad idea. So, you are happy with the business as it is? Francesco: We are in a good place. Business is still increasing every year and if it wasn’t for all the taxes we’d be making good money! Which brings us to our meal… Unusually, we visited Carmela at lunch time as the evening was booked up with Christmas parties. This did compromise on atmosphere, as Carmela is a restaurant that is better when
47
‘The marsala wine sauce and spicy market greens provided vibrant colour’
busy. But in terms of the food it was business as usual for the Raciti family, with Francesco working in the kitchen alongside Marek.
STARTERS For a starter, we chose Capesante e zucca (£9.95) which is seared scallops on a butternut squash puree, with chorizo bites. The dish had fabulous colour and the strong flavour of the chorizo worked well with the butternut. However, the scallops were a little overcooked, making them a touch stringy. We also sampled the Frittura di 14:46 Page 1
pesce (£22.95) which in boring old English terminology is a seafood platter. Rossella told us that some couples order this dish to share as a main course, and we can see why. With golden fried calamari, prawns and white fish, served with a salad and peppered mayonnaise, there was plenty to get through. The calamari was uncomplicated but delicious, with a simple, light batter coating over fresh (mostly tentacle free) squid rings with a subtle marinade. We doused half in lemon, but they tasted better with the moreish mayonnaise. At the heart of
Award-Winning Sausages by David Bell Capesante e zucca
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48
Read our review of The Pass on the ‘Food and Drink’ Section at www.aahorsham.co.uk
the platter were two large fillets of lovely white fish, coated in a beautifully flavoured light batter.
Polo al marsala
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Mains include signature dishes Rigatoni Carmela (a pasta dish with Sicilian sausage meat and a gongonzola sauce); Fegato ridotto (pan fried calves’ liver) as well as Pescespada (chargrilled swordfish steak) and spaghetti nero (black squid ink spaghetti). However, we opted for the polo al marsala (£15.95) a dish of chicken breast topped with sage and Parma ham. It looked fantastic with the marsala wine sauce and bright spicy market greens providing vibrancy, and it tasted great too. Chicken breast can so often be an underwhelming dish, but the sweetness of the Marsala – a fortified wine from Sicily – brought the dish to life. Showcasing the development of the menu at Carmela over the years, the £23.95 Cervo (grilled venison fillet) has become a firm favourite with regulars. While adding subtle sweetness, the chamomile let the thick chunks of venison steal the glory. Whilst the strong taste of the tender, mildly gamey fillet might also have benefited from the marsala or a similarly sweet sauce, it was well complemented by a porcini mushroom mash potato. The moist texture of the mash negated the need for a sauce to a certain extent. Again, the dish looked delightful, and demonstrates that the chefs at Carmela are thoughtful and considerate when it comes to flavour combinations.
CONCLUSION Carmela is proudly Sicilian and the fact that it has continued to be a success in a town with several Italian chains is testament to the Raciti family’s ability to evolve with the changing demands of its clientele. The Sicilian hospitality is to be expected. But Carmela still has the ability to surprise with its menu too.
You can visit the Carmela restaurant at 3 Denne Road, Horsham, RH12 1JE or the Deli at 34 Carfax. For more details or to see the menu, visit https://carmelas.co.uk
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For details of a new costume exhibition at Horsham Museum, see the News Round-up
Quick’s Cycle Depot
The Queen’s Head
Horsham Station (pictures in this feature courtesy of Horsham District Council’s Horsham Museum & Art Gallery)
Surveying Town’s History
Ordnance Survey Reveals Insight into Horsham’s Roots Middle Street
A new exhibition of Ordnance Survey maps at Horsham Museum reveal fascinating glimpses of the town in Edwardian times. Recently, Horsham District Council’s building department came across the maps during the move to new offices at Parkside. Having decided that they no longer required the maps, they were sent to the Museum and will now form part of an intriguing exhibition. The Ordnance Survey mapped the country in detail, listing post boxes, showing defaced milestones, public houses and even the type of trees that stood. As well as the maps, the museum exhibition features costumes and objects from the Edwardian era including a YMCA bazaar banner signed by shop traders, with the signatures having been embroidered. Also on show will be one of Cecil Cramp’s famous slide shows of Edwardian Horsham and the celebrated film of 1913 Horsham Cricket Week.
Here, Jeremy Knight, Heritage Manager at Horsham District Council’s Horsham Museum, uncovers secrets of the maps.
Ordnance Survey Charts the Nation On display at the museum are two different scales of maps in imperial measurements. We have the 6 inch to the mile and the 25 inch to the mile maps. They were revised twice for the whole country, once between 1842-1893 and again between 1891-1914. Then it was updated regularly for urban areas or for areas that saw significant change, from 1914 to the 1940s. The maps record most man-made and natural features in the landscape. Every road, railway, field, fence, wall, stream and building is shown, and even smaller features such as letter boxes, bollards on quaysides, mile posts, and flag-staffs feature. Uncultivated land is distinguished
51 A Methodist chapel and a church were built to serve the area, as well as shops in Star Row. By 1896, the area had taken on the name ‘Roffey’, named after a medieval settlement a mile to the north east. A building boom saw the population of the new parish rise by 30% in 20 years from 1891.
Horsham mapped at six inches to a mile The map shows that Horsham still had extensive areas of green fields and - although urbanised - there were farmsteads scattered across the map. For example, Spencer’s Farm still exists standing near the Dog and Bacon,
whilst behind Collyer’s school is Angus Farm. Nearer to Horsham Park is Lambsbottom Farm, over the railway track is Parsonage Farm and further south is Bennetts Farm. There are also two nurseries shown, both near the railway station. The map also shows numerous brick pits. South of Wimblehurst at the junction of two railway lines is Old Clay Pit, whilst by Harwood House stands Depot Brick Field. It also reveals a rifle range near Hills Place, a laundry next to the town’s water works, the wide expanse of the mill bay, a malthouse along Worthing Road, and fishponds at Springfield. The area of the Carfax shows two small circles for the Bandstand and fountain
‘Every road, railway, field, fence, wall, stream and building is shown’ by different symbols for marsh, bog and rough grassland. Types of woodland are distinguished, as are parks, ornamental grounds and orchards. All public boundaries and administrative boundaries (including parish and county boundaries) are clearly shown, apart from certain boundaries within towns. In urban areas, features were generalised and separate buildings blocked together, but many public buildings are named and distinguished from 1897, including inns, hotels, public houses and industrial premises.
Roffey becomes part of Horsham In 1899, Horsham Urban District Council took over the area around Roffey/Star Row. By 1896, maps show that this area had some semi-detached or terraced houses along Crawley Road, whilst developments along Rusper Road and Littlehaven Lane linked Star Row to the hamlet of Littlehaven.
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53 Horsham had a strong self-help and community spirit.
‘Horsham comprised working class people seeking a middle-class status’
Rechabites - Horsham Holdfast Tent meets at Cramp’s Temperance Hotel Horsham Sick and Burial Benefit Society North Western or Horsham Division of Sussex Constitutional Association Horsham Club, Richmond Terrace. Horsham Working Men’s Club, 20 East Street ‘7th Sussex Club’ at Park Street, contains billiard and ping pong tables, reading and refreshment saloon The Crawley, Horsham and District Licensed Victuallers & Beer Retailers Protection Association, est. 1885 Horsham Horticultural Society Horsham Museum Society Horsham Centre of the Commons and Footpaths Preservation Society Y.M.C.A, 12 Shelley Road Y.W.C.A. - Sunday Bible class Church Lads Brigade Horsham Institute Horsham and District Volunteer Fire Brigade Horsham Cricket Club Horsham Football Club Horsham Athletic Club Shelley United Football Club Horsham Lawn Tennis Club Horsham Cycling club Horsham Town Band Horsham Carnival Society The large number of clubs and societies would suggest that
1911 Ordnance Survey maps In 1906, the Liberal Party won the election and to fund their social campaign they decided to tax land. Though it would be declared illegal in 1914 and eventually withdrawn, its implementation led to a great deal of recording. In 1910, the landowners of Horsham received notification that they had to provide details of every unit of land they owned as
part of the financing of Lloyd George’s Finance (1909-10) Act, known as the ‘People’s Budget’. The statistical data gathered by the values provides a wealth of fascinating information. The valuation office was given OS maps on which to work out the plots of land. Some of these 1911 maps are on display at the museum. They reveal: In 1911, 7.5% of the town’s population was engaged in industrial employment; brick making, tanning, milling, and timber yard work. J & S Agate’s yard had seen improvements with a new office and sawmill, though
54 the engine of the saw was noted as ‘old’. The gasworks, opened in 1836, now had three gasometers 60ft, 40ft and 20ft high, three retort houses, a water gas plant, an operator’s room and a showroom. The electricity works used household refuse and was said to be the most economical in the country. Brickworks covered the largest industrial area: Spencer’s was the largest, covering 16 acres. William Lilley’s works in Littlehaven Lane was unprofitable, yet it was producing 200,000 bricks a year. Crossway’s brickfield, south of Crawley Road, covered 8.5a making 30,000 bricks; the assessor thought the seam would run out in six years.
Read our feature on Horsham Gingerbread on the ‘Special Features’ Section at www.aahorsham.co.uk house, vinery and a cottage. In Kings Road, 71.4% were tenants with many absentee landlords, 80% of which owned just one building. It is easy to forget in a society that has such high owner/occupier rates that in 1910 such ownership patterns were totally different; if anything it was the reverse of today, with the vast majority being rented. But what is surprising is the large number of landlords who were not local. What this means is that a substantial amount of money was being siphoned out of the Horsham economy into other areas. It also shows that Horsham was a place where people saw they could invest in property to make money.
Residential 74.3% of the area was built up. Kings Road - the Firs was the oldest house, built before 1850, whilst most recent was No.35. The largest house was Harwood House, with five reception rooms, a housekeeper’s room, servant’s hall; kitchen features downstairs, 11 bedrooms upstairs and several outbuildings including a coach
You can see the maps at Horsham Museum from 7 January – 25 March, with many pictures and artefacts exploring the town’s rich history. www.horshammuseum.org
The Stout House pub
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• Set within 28 acres of landscaped grounds • Choice of property styles and sizes • Brand new country club and apartments opening soon • Value for money: from £135,000*
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Sensei & Sensibility Club Focus: Roffey Karate Club
Partly inspired by the martial arts films of Bruce Lee, Phil Smith started attending karate classes to keep fit and active after hanging up his football boots. He joined a club along with two of his children, who both eventually dropped out after reaching a good standard. Now as a 66-year-old, 4th Dan black belt sensei at Roffey Karate Club, Phil believes his own experience can help others. “Karate is usually something that people come here wanting to do, but when you reach a certain age, you’re not sure how you're going to fit in and you’re conscious of your skill and fitness limitations. “I started as an absolute beginner, which I now see as a
bonus, as when an adult comes along for the first time, I can put myself in their place as I’ve been there.”
The Power of Word of Mouth After gaining his black belt, Phil took over a karate class in Capel. But it was only when he teamed up with fellow instructor Gregg Sandfor and moved classes to the Roffey Institute Hall that the club gained momentum. Roffey Karate Club classes are now held on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, for both juniors and adults. Phil said: “My youngest
daughter, Alicia, was attending Northolmes Junior School at the time and she started coming along. Then some of her friends joined as their parents knew me, so gradually we became a familycentred club. Then siblings joined and often parents came along too, so we’ve grown mainly through word-of-mouth.”
Parents Training With Children For a time, parents and children were placed in separate classes. Several voiced a preference for training together, as it can be more fun and more convenient for everyone.
Since then, the Saturday session, in particular, has blossomed into a class featuring several dads and their children. Hannah Dodge, 7, said: “When I started, I was in the junior class and my dad wasn’t home from work in time to watch me. Then I joined the later class so I could train with him. “I like training with grown-ups because in the younger class you play more games and you don't practice karate as much. “I like karate because it's fun, energetic and it is good for self defence. I've never had to use it in real life, but if I ever had to I would know what to do. I am a green belt now but when I’m older with a black belt, I would like to help run classes too.”
18/10/2016
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ALL ABOUT HORSHAM MAGAZINE
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Traditional Style of Wado Ryu Roffey Karate Club teaches Wado Ryu, a traditional Japanese style incorporating evasive and sweeping defence movements. Phil said: “You see karate in most action films, which can give it a bit of a bad name, as the whole essence of karate is that you learn it with the view that you’ll never have to use it. “We don't train with pebbles or punch blocks of wood for days
on end. Wado Ryu is based on speed and technique, as opposed to power and strength, so the smaller person has a chance. As I've studied Tai Chi for 25 years, I have introduced different elements to classes.”
Parents See Rise in Confidence Occasionally, members train with traditional martial arts weapons, including nunchaku and the Tai Chi sabre. Rather than using real weapons, instructors use wooden or metal training swords
‘You can see how much confidence the younger members gain through karate’
to teach, with the young members particularly keen to learn. Phil said: “You see how much confidence some of the younger ones gain through karate. They give off an aura that shows they are happy with who they are and that commands a degree of respect. “I was speaking to a parent recently who said that her daughter has blossomed since she started karate lessons. That level of transformation doesn't happen every time, but karate can do wonders for a person’s selfesteem.”
Inclusive Club Suits Everybody Roffey Karate Club tends to avoid the competitive side of the sport. Phil said: “I do have people ask about competitions and tournaments and I pass them on details, but in my view the competition side can sometimes be a money-spinning objective. “My students get what they want from the club. If that changes, I will look at how we do things. “In a competitive environment,
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Sensei Phil Smith people can end up feeling less than others, but that's not the case at Roffey. People do the best that they can and set their own goals. “We've certainly made the club more inclusive and people who are concerned about their fitness or flexibility should not worry, as that will come. Bodies change with age and your ability to kick higher and stretch further declines; but you maintain the ability to complete moves with the right technique.”
Steady Progress Through Grading The club may not be involved in much competition, but members are given ample opportunity to improve their grading. There are three grading events a year, as people progress from white belt and then through to red, yellow, orange, green, blue, purple, brown and black belt. Phil said: “I don't want to push people on too fast because they
often reach the point where their karate isn't good enough to achieve a high grading. When that happens, people start to feel inadequate and lose interest in karate. If you maintain a steady rate, you will find that by the time they are old enough to start thinking about brown and black belts, they actually have the character to be successful.”
Karate Brings a Little Respect There is a strong group of teenagers at Roffey Karate Club, with several having joined at a young age, progressing through the grades to a black belt. Andrew Bosbery, 16, said: “I joined about 10 years ago, with a group of friends, and several of us are still here. I've been a black belt for five years and I'm a 2nd Dan. “There is more time between Dan grades than there is for the colour belts, as there is more to
60 p
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3 Piries Place, Horsham, RH12 1EH 01403 588389
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Phil & Alicia Smith
‘I know how important it is to try to engender a club spirit’
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Andrew Bosbery
learn and it involves more of a teaching role. I’ve never been concerned with competitions; I just like the environment here as it's friendly. I think karate gives you a lot of respect and people respond well when they see it on your CV as it demonstrates commitment and good character.”
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important it is to try to engender a club spirit. “In class, everyone is taught to respect everybody and that's from the age of five years old all the way through to the instructors. That really helps the children develop and I think has been the key to our success.”
Team Mentality Works Wonders Phil believes that karate can be of benefit to many people looking to stay fit and active. “One of the downsides of karate is that it is viewed as a solo experience. Having played a lot of team sports, including cricket with Roffey and football with Horsham Olympic, I know how
Roffey Karate Club meets at Roffey Institute Hall, Crawley Road, RH12 4ET. For information call 07708 432682 or 07882 512676, email info@roffeykarateclub.co.uk or visit the website at www.roffeykarateclub.co.uk
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62
Read our feature on Cocoa Loco on the ‘Business’ Section at www.aahorsham.co.uk
Producing
The Goods
Simon Teesdale, Food Rocks
Bread from Chalk Hills Bakery
The People Ensuring Horsham Still Remains a ‘Market Town’ Simon Teesdale
Food Rocks (Market Operator)
Johnno Davies
Chalk Hills Bakery Our bakery used to be in Reigate, where we still have a shop, but we have moved to Horley as we needed to increase capacity. Chalk Hills attend several food fairs and markets in Surrey, but Horsham is the only Sussex market we regularly attend, although we sometimes visit Lewes. We don't have many bakeries left in our town centres as many have struggled against
Johnno Davies at Chalk Hills Bakery
supermarkets with in-store bakeries. Now, you need to have the right product. We are an artisan baker known for our sourdough breads and there is a difference in quality, as our bread is freshly baked every day. There is still a demand for smaller bakeries, but the ones flourishing are those that have evolved to meet the needs of the modern world. www.chalkhillsbakery.com
I have been running Food Rocks with my partner Amy, for three years. We started out organising a food festival in Ardingly and our business grew from there. We have run Horsham markets since September. We also organise occasional foodrelated events including the JOY Festival in Lewes and street food stalls for events like the Henley Royal Regatta. Horsham is our only weekly market. We met someone from Horsham District Council at Ardingly and he asked us to run the Little Nibble, a family food festival that runs alongside the Big Nibble in Horsham. After running that successfully for three years on The Forum, we decided to bid for the contract to run the town centre markets when the opportunity arose. It is totally different from what we’ve been used to, but ties in with our ethos. We've built up good contacts over the last few years, mainly in food but also in crafts, and people have responded to what we are trying to do in Horsham. The market still has a focus on local produce and crafts, but we have tried to enhance the experience with entertainment. Every Saturday, we have live music on the Bandstand under
the name Horsham Rocks, with local musicians performing for a couple of hours. We’re trying to attract people for different reasons and hoping that they will stay in town longer because there is an increasing number of stalls on the market and much more besides. Certainly with Saturday’s farmers market, we want to make it a place where people can do part of their weekend shop, as we have lovely produce stalls selling charcuterie, fish, chutneys, bread, cakes and even biltong. People know that they can come here to buy their produce and also find a few surprises on the crafts side. We like that combination of tried and trusted stalls with something unusual or unexpected. Horsham does need a market as it's supposedly a market town, so we’ll be bringing in more street entertainers and music to add to the atmosphere. There’s also an increasing focus on street food and we’re careful to maintain high standards. We’re very proud that three of our regular stalls (Pig & Jacket, Jah Jyot Punjabi and Garlic Wood Farm) are finalists in the Street Food category at the Sussex Food & Drink Awards.
63 ‘We need a few more high-rollers; people who spend over £15!”
Gabby at Greener Greens
Gabby Brookes-Tullett
Greener Greens Greener Greens is based in Leigh near Dorking, and we sell fresh organic fruit and vegetables from local independent growers. We have been trading on Horsham Market on Thursday and Saturday for about five years. I love the market atmosphere. You have the chance to meet so many different people. Stick me in an office and I am going to be bored, but here there's friendly interaction with the customers. Lots of people still like to buy produce from the market as there’s a lot less packaging involved and people can feel and touch the produce. They like it that the potatoes have just been pulled from the ground and buying produce isn’t clinical like it is in supermarkets. Horsham is the only market we regularly attend, as Greener Greens is predominantly a vegetable box company and people can order from our website.
I think the owner filled in for someone on the market in the Carfax once and enjoyed it, so when an opportunity came along they were happy to became the primary fruit and vegetable stall. Recently, Food Rocks has come in to oversee the market and we’re seeing new stalls coming in. It’s added a fresh impetus. Sometimes, things need changing with new ideas to spice everything up, and that is what has happened on the market. There is a good atmosphere, although we still need people to spend their money. We’re seeing people coming back to the market, which is important because Horsham is historically a market town. What we’d like though is a few more high-rollers. Thats what we call people who spend over £15!” www.greenergreens.com
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64 Nick Hazel
Brighthelm Stone Brighthelm is the old name for Brighton and we make stoneware in a workshop in Cowfold. We sell primarily online but have been coming to Horsham market on and off for about 20 years. We make a wide range of stoneware and are well known for ridge tiles with dragons, griffins, owls, squirrels and all sorts of things. We also make a lot of green man carvings and have a new range of animal character busts, sculpted by Nick Roughton, a Henfield artist. We give them names like Lord Russell, Lady Kitty and Baron Bonaparte. People do respond to us when they discover we are local and make our own stoneware. They are more likely to buy once they know our story.
Nick Hazel at Brighthelm-Stone
65 Simon Redman
Crafty Horse Bar We only launched the business in September and Horsham Market is our first proper event. When we first had the idea, we looked at things like VW Camper Vans, but they cost a lot of money and because they are 40years-old, they can often break down. With a horse box, you can tow it on the back of a reliable car and take it anywhere. They are also cheap, watertight and have a huge amount of space inside them. Our speciality is craft beer. We have a range of canned beers from small breweries, mainly in the south of England. We also have a couple of draught beers including a pale ale from Brighton Bier and London Bohemian lager. As it’s Christmas, we are making a cranberry bellini, just to keep things festive. At the moment, we are finding
our feet and seeing what sells. Our hope is that we’ll be able to tailor our bar to suit what people want for their event or wedding. So if they’re looking for a certain cocktail or Champagne perhaps, we’d be able to cater for them. Obviously, there is a massive market for craft beer these days. John and I have tried most of them and we’ll be offering some of our favourites. Cans tend to work well as we can sell them directly at festivals rather than using plastic cups. We were expecting to launch in the New Year, but the chap who converts these horse trailers into catering units was able to complete our job sooner than we expected. So anything we do over Christmas is really just a bonus for us. www.thecraftyhorsebar.co.uk
Simon Redman and John Lemonius at Crafty Horse Bar
66
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COLUMN
Belinda Walters at Ritajean
Nuthatch ©Chris Prince
RSPB Pulborough Brooks
Don’t Forget January’s Big Garden Birdwatch Belinda Walters
Ritajean Design My stall is called Ritajean Design, named after my mum. I sell greetings cards and postcards of Horsham using photographs that I have taken myself. I have quite a few snow shots of the town and several that were taken along the Riverside Walk as I like to photograph Horsham’s hidden gems. The local pictures sell very well. There are quite a few of the Piazza Italia festival in Horsham as well as tourist attractions in West Sussex, like the South Downs and Bluebell Railway. I make all of the cards myself and have expanded the range with three-dimensional cards. Next year, I was thinking about making wall art that can be framed. Aside from the cards, I have a few additional items. I sell Horsham fudge, which is also sold at the Museum, because it features one of my photographs. I have a few pieces of jewellery, which are remnants from a shop I ran several years ago. I used to run a stall in the Town Hall Market every Saturday, before I took on a little shop, selling new-age artefacts and
clothing. When that all came to an end, I started taking photographs and opened up this stall in the Carfax about five years ago. I usually attend the Thursday market, as I have a full time job which gives me Thursdays off work. But I may look at joining the Saturday market at some point. Food Rocks came in as market operators after the Big Nibble in September. It’s been good as they’ve brought in new ideas in terms of layout and stall presentation, and they’ve also attracted new businesses to the market. Every market does need a change from time to time to freshen things up. The stalls have been moved a little closer to Swan Walk, creating a natural walkway to the shopping centre, and on the other side there’s a walkway to the bus stop, which works nicely as well. For the Christmas Market days, traders from the Thursday and Saturday markets have all joined forces, which makes it busy and vibrant, and the hot food stalls and seasonal goods all attract a lot of people to the Carfax.
Food Rocks host markets in the Carfax, including local artisan produce, street food, crafts, live music and entertainment, every Thursday and Saturday. For more information visit www.foodrockssouth.co.uk
Happy New Year! Although getting out for a brisk walk in the winter sun is a great way to start shifting the festive pounds, some of us would like nothing better than to stay tucked up in the warm with a cuppa and the leftover Christmas biscuits. Add in a pair of binoculars and a notebook and you’ll be geared up ready to take part in the Big Garden Birdwatch, the world’s biggest bird survey, during the last weekend in January. In my opinion, there’s no nicer way to spend an hour than by sipping tea and counting the birds that visit the feeders. Last year, the top four species counted during the survey were house sparrow, starling, blue tit and blackbird, but you’re quite likely to spot glorious goldfinches and tiny long-tailed tits, as well as Britain’s national bird, the robin, which despite traditionally being a ground-feeder, has cleverly adapted over time and learnt to use our hanging feeders too. At this time of year, it’s still important to keep putting out high-energy foods such as peanuts and suet balls, because our feathered friends must continue to build up the fat reserves that protect them from the cold. At Pulborough Brooks, we’ll be having a go at making bird feeders on Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 January. Why not join us and take home a tasty treat for the birds in your garden? The blue tits, goldfinches, blackbirds and sparrows will be flocking to your feeders in no time! The Big Garden Birdwatch takes place from Saturday 28—Monday 30 January. Visit www.rspb.org.uk for information.
Emily Summers RSPB Pulborough