JANUARY 2018
5 The temerity of asking for a discount on pottery
The Turning Circle of a Ford Focus Estate My wife is one of those people who starts to worry if she’s not got absolutely all the Christmas presents sorted by midDecember. As though 10 days isn’t enough time to resolve the dilemma of what small gift to buy her brotherin-law and what else we should buy dad as we’ve only got him those socks from Millet’s. To avert the hysteria that waiting another week would have caused, we went gift-hunting together in Horsham. We headed to TK Maxx early of course, before everything gets knocked onto the floor. After that, I seemed to offend the manager of Samuel Parker in Middle Street by having the temerity to ask for a discount if I bought two of their wonderful giant tea cups by Dunoon. Honestly, I felt so bad about it that I almost bought a Moorcroft vase by way of apology. Like every couple out Christmas shopping, we had our share of discussion, debate and tantrums. There was frustration in WHSmith as there appeared to be about a dozen different promotions in the book section alone, but only two were in the Buy One Get One Half Price deal. There was irritation that Argos had sold out of the card game Dobble and although it was available elsewhere, it cost £3 more! I stormed out of JD Sports in annoyance at my wife’s insistence that we buy a bigger size hoodie for our son, so that he could grow into it. We needed to relax a bit, so we went to Cocoa Loco for a hot chocolate. Just a standard one. I know, you’d think I could afford marshmallows on top for the extra few pence, seeing as I run a fancy magazine with loads of adverts; but I can’t. Whilst in the café, we committed a modern day sin by checking our mobile phone to see if we could find an item of Lego on Amazon for cheaper than we’d seen it in the shops. So began another debate. Yes, Amazon puts
January 2018 Ben Morris Words & Design Toby Phillips Photography Thanks
Jeremy Knight/Horsham Museum for pictures and text for our History feature on facts about the town (p55) Toby Case for text and images relating to the feature on The Royal Commonwealth Ex-Services League (p43) Emily Summers for the column on RSPB Pulborough Brooks (p66) Mark Bradbury at Little Notes, for letting us disrupt a lesson for the photo above! All of the readers who contributed to our Letters page (p60) Come on, have some fun and get involved!
independent stores out of business; Yes, it charged us for using Prime for four months last year when I swear I never signed up for it; Yes, it sells customers’ information without consent; Yes, it is ridiculously wasteful when it comes to packaging and yes, it is one of the world’s most prolific corporate tax dodgers. But its eight quid cheaper! We split up to look for presents for each other for an hour. I did what I usually do and popped into Accessorize for a woolly hat and some slippers. We reconvened by the swans, the logical meeting point (another good reason to keep and maintain it!) before my wife strolled down to The Card Company for wrapping paper. I know, you’d think I could afford to buy wrapping paper from Clinton’s rather than queuing for ten minutes in the cheaper shop just
to save a few pennies, seeing as I run a fancy magazine with loads of adverts; but I can’t. Meanwhile, I walked back to the car on the top level of the Black Horse Way car park. When I returned to the car, several motorists were driving around hoping that a space would become available. I didn’t want to sit there for five minutes whilst others were hunting for a spot, so I pulled out and drove up to the end of the level. For those that have never scaled the summit of the Black Horse Way car park, there is only half a level up top, so you cannot drive round to get out. You need to turnaround. It is for this reason that two spaces are allocated for a turning zone. They are marked out in red, although confusingly, there are still spaces marked out in white too
and there is no signage there to clearly state you can’t park. It’s confusing enough for both these spaces to have been occupied. Still, it wasn’t a surprise to see a parking warden slapping yellow stickers on the windscreens. Being a nosey sod, I wound down my window. “Can’t they park there?” I asked. “No, this is a turning zone apparently,” replied the warden, in a polite way that let me know that he was just doing his job and really didn’t want to be told his actions weren’t in-keeping with the spirit of the season. I drive a 2008 Ford Focus estate with a whopping great scratch down one side where the wife scraped a barrier. I know, you’d think I’d drive something like a BMW or an Audi, seeing as I run a fancy magazine with loads of adverts; but I don’t. Now, driving a big estate, it would have been nice to have used the turning circle, had it been empty. But it wasn’t. Still, I managed to perform what was very close to being a threepoint turn. As it transpired, a comfortable five-point turn was required. It didn’t cause me any bother, as the two drivers of the cars in the red bays - a Fiat 500 and a Mini - had the common sense to park close to the wall. You could argue that this is evidence that they knew that they had parked in a prohibited bay. But still, they hadn’t made things difficult for me or anyone driving anything other than a stretched Limousine. Still, whatever the trials and tribulations of their day’s shopping – hunting around to save a few pounds, arguing about clothes sizes or upsetting shop keepers with Bargain Hunt-style offers – it will all have been ruined by a little yellow sticker that they really didn’t deserve. So, watch out for that readers. I’m sure the council won’t be employing such tactics solely throughout the season of goodwill...
Ben
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To Contact the Editor please email Ben: editor@aahorsham.co.uk
CONTENTS 10
News Round-Up
St Catherine’s holds Tree of Light service and all change in Piries Place
20
Review Giant effects impress at The Capitol’s pantomime, Jack and the Beanstalk
27
Special Feature Horsham Churches are offering the homeless a bed and a hot dinner
35
Community
COVER STORY: JANUARY 2018 Our first cover of 2018, which in centuries to come will be much heralded for bringing about the overdue demise of comedy panel shows, features Gill Harrison. Gill is one of the coordinators of the Horsham Churches Together night shelter programme. Held throughout December, the initiative saw seven churches in the town open their doors to homeless people, offering them a hot meal and a bed. Gill is pictured on the balcony of the Brighton Road Baptist Church, which AAH
East Clayton Farm engages young people through rural work
AAH: THE TEAM
43
EDITOR: BEN MORRIS editor@aahorsham.co.uk 01403 878026 / 01903 892899 LETTERS: The Editor, AAH Magazine, 2 Viney Close, Ashington, RH20 3PT
Charity Toby Case visits The Gambia to discover first hand the work of the RCEL
48
Business
How Little Notes develops and entertains youngsters through real music
55
History Jeremy Knight unearths factual golden nuggets from the museum archives
60
Letters The Editor criticised for not being funny, whilst reader blasts local Tories
63
Music We meet Singergy, a contemporary gospel choir based in Roffey
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, Tom Hayler, George Voisey, Gemma Voisey, Connor Heald, Paula Hunter, Katie Drysdale, George Williams, Edward
visited as part of a feature on the night shelter scheme. We had hoped to set up a picture of one of the guests, but for various and understandable reasons, they didn’t want to be photographed. However, we’re pleased to recognise the great work being carried out by the church and it volunteers. Other cover options included Anna Stroughton, the musical director of Singergy, and two photos taken at East Clayton Farm in Washington.
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: A new AAH stand has been placed outside Henry Adams estate agents in the Carfax. LEAFLETS We can deliver leaflets with copies of AAH, but only to areas where we provide a door-to-door service. Please email editor@aahorsham.co.uk for prices and distribution details. SOCIAL MEDIA You can follow Ben and Toby on Twitter @AAHMagazine and @tobyphillips1
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NEWS ROUND-UP
10: News
The Kondoors perform at Coolham Live Music Club on Saturday 20 January
The former Waitrose store in Piries Place has been demolished as part of a regeneration project. A new Everyman cinema and a 92-bed hotel will be at the heart of the new look Piries Place being developed by Reef Estates. The shopping area’s popularity declined after the closure of Waitrose, with a new store adjacent to John Lewis on Albion Way. Several businesses have closed or relocated, including Look Fantastic, whilst it’s an end of an era
for some as B52’s closed its doors for the last time after its New Year’s Eve party. The new shopping area will include a boutique-style threescreen cinema and a four-storey Premier Inn, whilst The White Brasserie Co plans to open its first Sussex pub on the site too. Work is expected to be completed by early 2019. Horsham District Council has also approved a £7.25m redevelopment of Piries Place car park.
Glen Chipp will be the new Chief Executive of Horsham District Council, succeeding Tom Crowley when he retires in April. Glen is currently Chief Executive of Epping Forest District Council in Essex and has substantial local government experience, having also worked at Bath and North-East Somerset District Council as a Strategic Director from 2009 - 2012. Prior to that, he was managing director of Thomas Cook Airlines. Conductor Jenny Hansell (AAH/T. Phillips)
Jimmy Osmond performs at The Capitol in Horsham on Friday 9 March at 7.30pm. Moon River & Me is a new show full of award-winning music, nostalgic footage and memories of Andy Williams that will touch your heart. Jimmy will sing the songs that made Andy so beloved by millions, including Music To Watch Girls By, Can’t Take My Eyes Off You and Moon River. Joined by The Moon River Band with special guest stars Charlie Green and Emily Penny, Jimmy will also perform several of his own greatest hits. Tickets cost from £32 with VIP packages available from the theatre on (01403) 750220 or thecapitolhorsham.com
The South Downs Riding for the Disabled group, based at Bridge House Equestrian Centre in Slinfold, celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2017. One of the highlights of a busy year was Amanda Worne featuring on BBC programme DIY SOS. Amanda suffered a cycling accident on Bury Hill in 2015, which left her paralysed from the waist down. The inspirational mother-of-four refused to let this get her down and started riding with the South
Downs group just a year later. Whilst the DIY SOS team were carrying out work on Amanda and husband Vic’s home in Arundel, presenter Nick Knowles visited Slinfold to film her riding. The episode was due to air on 4 January on BBC1 at 8pm. Despite her life-changing injuries, Amanda now works part-time at Stoke Mandeville Hospital and has published a book, The Sky Is Not The Limit, under the name of Amanda Newton.
Round-Up: 11
2 20 200 2002 - 22018 20 201
THE GOOD BEER GUIDE Petworth House (Image: The National Trust/John Miller)
A major new exhibition at the National Trust’s Petworth House celebrates William Blake’s relationship with Sussex. Some of Blake’s greatest works, from poetry to painting, will be displayed from 13 January – 25 March. Many of the works were inspired by his experiences in Sussex from 1800 - 1803. The exhibition includes extraordinary works by Blake on loan from the British Museum, National Portrait Gallery and Tate. These will be combined with three paintings by Blake from the Petworth collection and a fourth on loan from the
National Trust’s Arlington Court, Devon. An unmissable addition to the exhibition, on loan from the British Museum, will be the hand-coloured relief etching of Blake’s illustrated epic poem Milton, of which only four are still in existence. There will be a parallel exhibit of the original drawings by the author and President of the Blake Society, Philip Pullman, made for the internationally-acclaimed His Dark Materials books that echo John Milton’s epic Paradise Lost. Entry is by ticket only from nationaltrust.org.uk/petworth
Visit our traditional country pub and enjoy the finest ales, wines and spirits by our Inglenook fireplace or our beautiful garden. Our extensive menu offers home-made food prepared with locally-sourced ingredients. Pop in and enjoy some well deserved refreshment at the end of one of the many beautiful walks in the area.
F FREE FRE R QUIZ Q QU NIG QUI NIGH NIGHT N NI O ON T TH THURSDAYS THU THUR THURS THURSDAY THURSD THURSDA A crowd exceeding 2,000 people packed Billingshurst High Street on 2 December for BilliFest. Children visited Santa and his elves, whilst visitors browsed 40 gazebos offering anything from cheeses to Christmas wreaths. Entertainment included singer Rob Nicholl, BilliUke and a Punch & Judy show. Organised by the Billingshurst Community Partnership, Billifest was supported by The Big Lottery as well as local sponsors Devine Homes, CoCo’s Style, The King’s Head, Truffles, Riverdale Developments and Billingshurst Chamber of Commerce.
Horsham’s Fairtrade Christmas Market, held at St John’s RC Church Hall on 25 November, was a great success. The market offered Fairtrade products from producers in poorer countries, with strict rules ensuring a sustainable price and fair pay for all. Fairtrade raffle prizes were donated by Waitrose, Sainsbury’s, and Co-op, helping the event to raise £410 for good causes. Fairkind, a Fairtrade shop, opened in Pires Place on 1 December, whilst other shops local promoting Fairtrade include Cocoa Loco in Swan Walk. fairtradehorsham.org.uk
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NEWS ROUND-UP
12: News
Pasha Kovalev from Strictly Come Dancing returns to The Capitol with a new show, The Magic of Hollywood, on Thursday 29 March. The show will be packed with glitz and glamour as Pasha takes to the stage with fellow dancer
Mayfair Hair has presented a cheque for £2,730 to the Salvation Army, having hosted an array of fundraising activities. Kay Tyler, owner of Mayfair Hair in East Street, Horsham, organised a raffle with the proceeds going towards the charity’s Christmas appeal. Kay is extremely grateful to all her customers and colleagues who supported the raffle by donating prizes and buying tickets.The proceeds were presented to Major Iain Stewart from Horsham Salvation Army.
To submit News & Events for consideration please email Ben at editor@aahorsham.co.uk
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 thecapitolhorsham.com
St Catherine's Hospice is looking for 100 fundraisers to walk barefoot across red hot embers on Friday 2 March from 7pm. Alongside the Firewalk in Crawley, there's also a brick walk for under 18s keen to tackle a challenge to raise money for their local hospice. No previous experience is needed as expert staff from UK Firewalk will share the secrets with everyone who takes part. Register before 18 January for a reduced cost of £20 at stch.org.uk/firewalk
The Beat Merchants will be performing at Roffey Club, Spooners Road, Horsham, on Saturday 3 February. The band features original members Vic Sendall and Geoff Farndell, with Neil Sendall on drums and Dave Strange on lead guitar. The Beat Merchants were a popular band in the 1960s and supported The Rolling Stones when they played Horsham in 1963. Tickets in advance or on the door cost £3 for club members (£5 non-members) with doors open at 7pm.
A Horsham family at the forefront of the fight against climate change have been recognised with a national award. Carrie Cort, nine-year-old son Adam and mum Jean Francis received a PEA Award (People. Environment. Achievement) in London. The awards acknowledge green heroes from the UK and beyond. Carrie is among a team of Horsham volunteers that run an environmental awareness and education initiative called Sussex Green Living. Jean Francis is a OneSpirit Interfaith minister whilst Adam previously won WWF’s Earth Hour competition. sussexgreenliving.co.uk
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NEWS ROUND-UP
14: News
Horsham Museum hosts an exhibition by the Royal Photographic Society Documentary Group until 28 January
Pupils arrive at Christ’s Hospital Station on 29 May 1902 (Image courtesy of CH)
A new book by Ken Mansell provides a fascinating insight into Christ’s Hospital School. In 1902, the School moved from the City of London to a new home, set in 1,200 acres of countryside south of Horsham. Christ’s Hospital School in the Horsham Era provides an account of changes and major events, including the Second World War and the merger in 1985, when the girls’ School moved from Hertford.
Ken, who was a pupil at Christ’s Hospital from 1953 - 63, also offers historical information and biographical details of 475 notable Old Blues. The A4 hardback, 144-page book contains 185 illustrations. It is the third in the author’s trilogy of publications on CH. The book is priced £16 with £4 postage and packing. To order, email chmuseum@christs-hospital.org.uk with payment by Paypal.
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Billy’s on the Road in Billingshurst has set youngsters a challenge to come up with new names for dishes and to suggest food they would like to see on the menu. Since it opened five years ago, the cafÊ has named dishes Smartypants (scrambled eggs on toast) Scooby Stack (mini pancakes with chocolate spread or maple syrup) and even Fartypants – a pot of baked beans with melted cheese soldiers. Now, owner Billy Willison is asking the children to come up with their own names for a competition which runs until the end of January. The best names and suggestions will go on the new kids’ menu in February and the top entry will win a family meal for four. Children can pick up entry forms from the cafe. billysontheroad.co.uk
Round-Up: 15 William Ward, the co-founder of the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race, has received an OBE in the New Year’s Honours list. The Horsham businessman was recognised partly for his contribution to the GREAT campaign, set up by David Cameron in 2014. William was invited to become a GREAT ambassador in recognition of his work promoting Britain around the world. The Clipper Round the World Race has been running for 21 years, with 712 people signing up to compete in the 2017-18 race on board its third generation of yacht, the Clipper 70. clipperroundtheworld.com
TOOVEY’S The Capitol will screen La Bohème live from the Metropolitan Opera on Saturday 24 February. The world’s most popular opera returns with an exciting young cast in Franco Zeffirelli’s legendary production. Opera superstars Sonya Yoncheva and Michael Fabiano play the heart-breaking couple Rodolfo and Mimi, singing two sublime Puccini favourites. Zeffirelli’s stupendous onstage recreations of 19th-century Paris are sure to take your breath away. Tickets £25 from (01403) 750220 or thecapitolhorsham.com
Horsham & Mid Sussex Voluntary Action has new volunteering opportunities available. Horsham Amateur Swimming Club needs a new Chair to steer and take control of the club. Duties would involve organising committee meetings, succession planning for the committee, ensuring insurance compliance and making pool bookings. Building Heroes is a charity which retrains military veterans for a career in the building trades. Based in Pulborough, the charity is looking for enthusiastic and reliable people to support and increase its fundraising activities. Outreach 3Way is looking for employment support volunteers for their Inspired programme, which uses the people it supports to sort and recycle items from airlines, such as overnight bags and products. It helps people get into employment as well as develop their CVs and skills. hamsva.org.uk/opportunities
"Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful." – William Morris
Entries are invited for our next specialist sale of Arts & Crafts Furniture & Works of Art, Studio Pottery & 20th Century Design on Friday 23rd March For valuations and advice please contact William Rowsell The leading antique and fine art auction house in West Sussex
SPRING GARDENS, A24 WASHINGTON, RH20 3BS 01903 891955 auctions@tooveys.com www.tooveys.com
Around 800 local people remembered someone they love at the St Catherine’s Hospice Tree of Light service at K2 Leisure Centre on 10 December. People placed up dedication stars, listened to reflective readings and joined in Christmas carols led by the Loud and Proud Community Choir from Dorking. During the service Lisa Green, a Nursing Assistant on St Catherine’s Inpatient Unit and Gemma Pearce, Hospice Cook, carried the Book of Remembrance forward and people were also able to look at it before and after the service as they enjoyed mince pies and hot drinks. stch.org.uk
Round-Up: 17
The Arts Society Horsham has announced details of its Spring lectures. Dr Richard Thomas talks about William Cobbett and James Gillray on Wednesday 10 January. The Golden Jubilee Lecture, celebrating 50 years of NADFAS on Wednesday 14 February will see Jane Angeli talk about The Greatest Treasures: Medieval Gold & Enamel Ware. On 14 March, Daniel Snowman’s talk entitled Not Bloody Likely, concerns The Covent Garden Piazza. Lectures are held at The Capitol in Horsham at 10.45am, with coffee available from 09.45am. Entry is £5 payable for visitors.
The Best of Queen, performed by Flash, comes to The Capitol on Saturday 20 January, at 7.30pm. Flash have been performing across the world since 2002. Italian born frontman, Claudio Desideri, plays an uncannily realistic Freddie Mercury with the right look and stage persona. Claudio is joined on stage by a talented band to bring to life the music of one of rock’s greatest ever live acts. This show is presented by Sweeney Entertainments. Tickets £23.50 from (01403) 750220 or thecapitolhorsham.com
Set4Success held its inter-business Quiz Challenge in December, raising funds for the Horsham district’s talented young sports people. The quiz was set by ATOM, a regular Set4Success supporter, with Dale Jannels acting as quiz master. Nuthurst Cricket Club were overall winners, whilst the Sports Challenge Champions for 2017 was Sony DASD. Mike Goody (Invictus Games gold medalist in swimming) and Jade Lally (UK’s No.1 ranked discus thrower) presented the trophies. The picture above shows Sony DASD. If any business or sports group would like to enter the 2018 Set4Success Sports Challenges email jleross@btconnect.com Set4Success is run by Horsham Rotary Club with support provided by HDC and other local groups and organisations.
IT IS TIME TO LOOK AFTER NUMBER 1: GET A MASSAGE. SAVE £100 on a block of 10 treatments or: 20% OFF any treatments booked before the end of February Call 07974 979415
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18: News
To submit News & Events for consideration, email Ben at editor@aahorsham.co.uk
A young team of Horsham film makers are currently raising funds to complete a short film called Unforgettable. Written by Phil Davis, produced by Jacob Thomas and directed by Freddie Hill, Unforgettable is a story about two desperate people of very different ages and backgrounds, coming together at a difficult stage of their life. The cast and crew were planning to shoot scenes in Billingshurst in December. Upon the film’s completion, they hope to take it to film festivals across the UK. A fundraising page has been set up on Indigogo and the film also has a Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/ unforgettablegradedfilms/
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Horsham Museum & Art Gallery will be displaying Victorian costumes during a new exhibition called The Victoria Years A Dress from Each Decade of Victoria's Reign. During her reign, 1837 - 1901, there were many changes in fashion. On display will be a gold embroidered silk dress made of Mugi silk from Assam in India, dating to around 1835. The six month long exhibition shows just a small selection of the museum’s holdings. horshammuseum.org
Horsham Charity Pancake Races will be held in the Carfax on Tuesday 13 February. The event sees up to 30 business and charity teams of four compete in fancy dress along with mascots for coveted trophies. The event, organised by Horsham Rotary Club and supported by Horsham District Council, raises money for local good causes. horshamrotary.org.uk
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20: News
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REVIEW
Jack and the Beanstalk at The Capitol If we’re being totally honest, the glory days of pantomime are behind us. I appreciate that leaves me open for an “Oh No, They’re Not!” in the second line, but we’ll have none of that here! Pantomimes used to play to packed houses up until Easter, but runs have become ever shorter. Maybe that’s due to dwindling demand, or maybe it’s the schedule of soap actors. Whatever the reason, this year’s Horsham’s production of Jack and the Beanstalk didn’t even make it to New Year. These days, there is simply so much to satisfy our cultural desires. We don’t need the pantomime like we once did and we live in times where sexual innuendo is increasingly unsuitable. Indeed, a Manchester pantomime starring John Barrowman and the Krankies was criticised as a mother took offence to the “actual fondling of Jimmy Krankie’s breasts” and the “cheap, smutty jokes.” Quite what the disgruntled customer was expecting from a show involving Jimmy Krankie is
unclear, but when such stories make national headlines, it’s natural that future pantomimes feel the need to dilute the saucier gags. And Horsham’s production certainly came across as playing it a little too safe. It ticked the boxes in terms of content without ever threatening to be outrageous. It didn’t help that the show started slowly with an opening number in which we’re introduced to the “Horsham District,” where the play is set. It came across like a promotional song penned by the district council itself. Fortunately, the choice of music vastly improved, with a considered mix of old favourites and recent hits. Less reliable were the scripted jokes, many of which fell flat. The general public weariness towards Brexit was reflected in the lack of laughs generated by a medley of Euro-themed quips. It might be that President Trump would have been a better target. For adults watching, most of the best moments of humour came from a cast that was experienced enough to jump on any mistake and make a laugh of it. Most of
‘The weariness towards Brexit was reflected in the lack of laughs generated by a medley of Euro-themed quips.’ that ad-libbed banter came courtesy of Richard Alan (King Crumble) and Hywel Dowsell (Dame Dolly Trott). The obligatory “messy” scene, this year involving an ice cream factory, wasn’t nearly as messy or chaotic as it might have been; although the “he’s behind you” part of the story was at least hilarious for the young boy screaming on the front row! Certainly, The Capitol’s pantomime was not without its highlights. The production’s giant, voiced by Brian Blessed, was superb and as with any good trick left you wondering how they achieved it. Lauren Osborn, playing Princess Apricot, gave a
fine vocal performance and her solos earned the biggest applause of the evening. The role of the villain, Fleshcreep, was taken on by Chris Edgerley, presenter of children’s TV show Hi-5. He performed admirably given the audience’s reluctance to “boo” with feeling and the fact that most of his scenes were monologues of evil intentions performed whilst on stage alone. James Fletcher also deserves credit as Simple Simon, gamefully picking up on any slip-ups and doing his utmost to engage the audience. Credit too goes to a committed and highly capable ensemble of male dancers, who gave it their all even when asked to perform ‘I Need a Hero’ in superhero outfits. This number was met by bemused laughter from the audience. Youngsters from local dance and theatre groups contributed to some visually spectacular and well-choreographed numbers too. Still, whilst I don’t want to see anyone fondling Jimmie Krankie in next year’s production, a little more irreverence and chaos wouldn’t go amiss! BM
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News: 23
Horsham Churches Together (HCT) organised a day of Christmas - themed entertainment in the town centre on Saturday 16 December. The day started with a musical nativity at the Carfax Bandstand, with children dressing up in nativity costumes to watch the show, directed by Mark Bradbury of Little Notes. Children and families were able to meet characters from the Christmas story as part of the Family Nativity Trail. As part of the trail, children met real donkeys from East Clayton Farm in Washington, which based itself on The Forum for the day. Meanwhile, messy Christmas crafts were available in a unit in Swan Walk. A Christmas Concert on the Bandstand featured a host of local bands and choirs including the Living Faith Assembly Choir, Cantatrice Voices, Horsham Rock Choir, St Mary’s Church Choir, Salvation Army Band, Warnham Church Choir and St John’s Broadbridge Heath Choir. Mezzo-soprano Liezel Brink-McCulloch also took to the stage before crowds were invited to join in with the carol service. People were given a carol booklet, A Journey to Bethlehem, to help them singalong to hymns including ‘In the Bleak Midwinter’, ‘Joy to the World’ and ‘We Three Kings.’ Further excitement came from dances by Horsham Black Dragon Morris side and the arrival of horses with Santa at the reins. In this edition of AAH, we have extensively featured some of the groups involved in the day’s activities. These include Little Notes (Page 48) and East Clayton Farm (Page 35), whilst we also visited the night shelter, run by Horsham Churches Together to tackle homelessness in the Horsham District (Page 27). horshamct.org.uk
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What was your first job after leaving university? I joined a family run hotel in Bournemouth as Assistant Manager. It had a huge ballroom and attracted ballroom dancing groups from around the UK. And no, I didn’t join in! Prior to joining the financial services industry, I actually spent 18 years in the hospitality industry. 11 years of that was working for a FTSE 100 hotel company managing £6m £30m revenue operations. What other roles have you experienced in Hospitality Management? I went to Hotel School in the south of France as part of an exchange programme to learn to cook and wait on tables formally. I was invited back with a fellow student a year later to represent our college in an International cooking competition against five other countries and came 2nd. At 17, I was in charge of the breakfast section of the Student Olympics in Sheffield where we prepared 6000 breakfasts for 32 days straight. I have trained at Claridge’s in Mayfair, the Golf Open at St Andrews and served many celebrities and royalty. What do you like doing outside of work? My wife and I are always busy looking after our three children and their various activities. I love cooking, especially dinner parties. I escape to my allotment when chance allows but I’m no Percy Thrower! I enjoy playing golf and walking our two Sprocker Spaniels. Charity is also important to me and I am an active member of the
Storrington and Pulborough Rotary Club. I also assist The David Tilley Children’s Foundation linking the UK with their overseas project in Tanzania and support our own St. James's Place Charitable Foundation. What was your first step in to Financial Services? I was always interested in stocks and shares so my first role when I joined the Financial Services industry was a Stockbroker and Financial Adviser for an American firm based in London. I decided to set up my own business in 2012 with St. James’s Place Wealth Management. Why St. James’s Place? In my view, they offer a wealth of expertise to complement the personal service I can provide for my trusted clients. As an Associate Partner of St. James's Place Wealth Management, my clients enjoy exclusive access to a wide range of products and services, and the St. James's Place distinctive approach to Investment Management. Each bespoke solution is tailored specifically to the client’s personal needs,
making it easier for them to manage their wealth. With my client service standards and our collective expertise, I believe it provides a strong basis for investment for my clients. What’s the secret to being a successful Financial Adviser? Fundamentally I see my approach as one of problem-solving for the client - rather than product-selling. The first step is to understand the client’s personal goals and objectives. When you know where they are heading it is easier to find the investment solutions, encompassing all the family’s generations in that plan. Timing is key to achieving the most tax efficient solution. I recognise that each one of my clients is unique, and I aim to build long term relationships that are built on trust. This explains why so many of my clients come from personal recommendations. So, you still conduct all your business face to face? In this age of modern technology, many companies conduct a vast majority of their business online or via email. However, I pride
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Special Feature: 27 Gill Harrison and Steve Dallas are among those involved in running the night shelters in Horsham
IN FROM THE COLD
Horsham Churches Come Together to Help the Homeless We visit Brighton Road Baptist Church, one of seven involved in a Horsham Churches Night Shelter initiative set-up in response to homelessness, to meet volunteers and guests...
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John has been homeless on and off for about ten years. Now aged 50, he uses the night shelter to break up the monotony of life on the street. “My life changed very quickly after the breakdown of my marriage and I found myself on the street. It really is like the rug being pulled from under your feet. I had a flat for a while but I lost that as others were causing trouble and upsetting my neighbours. The manager of the flats bent over backwards for me but the bottom line is I lost it because of the behaviour of people I was trying to help. If I hadn't done that, I would be much better off now. That was about five years ago and I’ve been on the streets ever since. I use the night shelter when it operates and sometimes I’m able to sleep on a friend’s sofa. Otherwise, I sleep in car parks and places like that. I can’t work because of health problems which mean that I need to take lots of tablets for the rest of my life. Some years ago, I spent a few weeks in hospital as I turned to alcohol, but there are no answers there. Everyone says, “You should do something about it!” But it’s not as easy as that. You try getting a job after you’ve been out on the streets even for a couple of nights. Your clothes are soaked through from the rain
and you have to sleep in them too, with nowhere to wash. When you get to the bottom of the slippery slope, it's very hard to climb back up. I always reiterate to people that being homeless is not a night-time occupation. You are always on your guard. I tend to keep myself to myself, as that's who I am, but that can leave me open to trouble. I get quite a lot of abuse from kids. I’ve had trolleys pushed at me and have been urinated on by youngsters trying to look hard in front of their mates. You can't fight back or you’ll end up in trouble and they know that. During the day, I go out and buy the newspaper and read about the football. I’ll visit the library as members can use the computers for two hours a day. I’ll have a look around or do a crossword, but if I’m honest, it is a drab life. It isn’t really a life at all; it is an existence. The night shelter is beneficial as it's a bit of normality from the everyday monotony of being on the streets. As well as a warm place to stay, at some of the churches you can have a shower and get your washing done and things like that. You feel human for a little while and then you turn back into a mutant when you leave in the morning.”
28: Special Feature
Volunteer Doan brought along mince pies. Right: Beds and duvets are transferred between participating churches
Ruth Hodgson: “The outreach workers have been very successful in working with the homeless population throughout the year and getting them off the streets.”
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Ruth Hodgson is community support manager at Horsham Matters, which is responsible for running the Horsham Churches Night Shelter programme. “This is the sixth year of the night shelter and the fourth year that I have been involved. The night shelter was set up in response to a homelessness summit held by church leaders and those interested in tackling the problem. The idea is that we provide our guests with 28 nights of accommodation and try to help them move on to something more permanent. Emergency accommodation is fine, but it’s a sticking plaster. There aren't huge numbers of homeless people in Horsham. We have 10 beds and although we regularly have eight or nine guests, they’re not normally all occupied. The churches that host the night shelter are St John the Evangelist, Brighton Road Baptist Church, Trafalgar Road Baptist Church, Christian Life Centre, London Road Methodist Church and the Salvation Army. The United Reformed Church is trying to come on board too.
We work closely with Worthing Churches Homeless Projects (WCHP) which has two outreach workers in Horsham. They have been very successful in working with the homeless population throughout the year and getting them off the streets. It’s always great to hear that a home has been found for one of our night shelter guests. The outreach workers are available at a drop-in centre at the Salvation Army on Monday mornings (9 - 11:30am) and on Thursday evenings, working with the homelessness prevention team at Horsham District Council. We are fortunate as we have a model that works for all. We can welcome guests into the shelter and we don't need to engage them in other services, as this is done by WCHP. We just need to explain the rules and if our guests abide by them, then they will be made to feel very welcome. They will be offered a cooked meal, a bed, breakfast and then we will hopefully see them again the following night. Four years ago, we had inflatable beds which were very nice. However, one of the churches had a wooden floor
Night Shelters: 29 with splinters and the beds would often puncture! We had to move to camp beds and sleeping bags and that seems to be the best option. We also provide blankets from Horsham Matters, which is all items donated by the public. The shop is hugely popular and the money it raises funds projects such as the night shelter, the food banks and our community youth work. We tend to see the same faces and volunteers come to know the guests well. Most volunteers are from the church, but we welcome help from across the community and that’s important as this initiative is not a platform for conversion to the Christian faith. Our guests are not stupid; they know that the shelter is being hosted by the churches. Occasionally, they might even ask about faith and good conversations are triggered. But that’ll be a conversation and nothing more. Not all the town’s homeless people want to access the night shelter. We don't allow alcohol and there are some who are alcohol dependent. They can find it difficult to spend that amount of time without a drink. Also, whilst a warm, sheltered spot might sound like a great thing, if you are used to sleeping on the street with one eye open in your regular spot, living to your rules, it’s difficult to adjust. With the night shelter, you need to abide to somebody else's rules and sleep with other people a few feet away. That’s not easy for some, particularly when there may be personality differences. So, sometimes people opt to stay away. We only accept guests who have low to medium support needs, are homeless and have a local connection. I suspect that the two men who have been seen recently sleeping in the town centre don't have that. We can't accept them and the reason for that is that there aren't many homeless shelters around and we risk attracting homeless people from a wide area. We only have 10 beds and we are not geared up to accept people with high support needs as this is a church scheme run by volunteers. We do what we can, but we are not professional homeless workers. In total, we have about 200 volunteers, which is amazing. It can be a struggle to get enough people, particularly for the overnight shifts and we know it’s a big ask. The people who do most of the work on the ground are the seven coordinators at the churches, who ensure that there is enough food, that there are volunteers and team leaders for every shift and that the bedding is put up in time. I can't speak highly enough of them.”
Volunteer Dennis sets up the beds at Brighton Road Baptist Church
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“We can serve a traditional English breakfast with sausages, bacon, baked beans, toast and tomatoes, or cereal if they prefer.”
Jill Harrison is coordinator for the night shelter at Brighton Road Baptist Church. “The volunteers arrive for the evening shift at 6:15pm and there is a briefing by the team leader, which tonight is Steve Dallas. The volunteers then put the bed together and assemble a table in the sports hall for dinner. The food is prepared in the kitchen downstairs, but at the Baptist Church our guests eat and sleep upstairs. The registration process starts at 7pm. We tend to see the same people coming back each night and they need to check-in to make sure they are aware of the rules and are abiding by them. Usually, the guests will you have tea or coffee and socialise. Tonight, one of the volunteers has brought in home-made mince pies to enjoy, and dinner will be a chicken stew with dumplings and jam sponge for dessert. The evening shift arrives at about 9pm and the volunteers do a handover. Sometimes, we play card games like Uno, but it’s up to the guests what they want to do before lights out at 11pm. The volunteers need to accompany the guests all the time and this includes staying overnight. The women will sleep out on the balcony of the main hall, whilst the men are in a separate room. Our regular guests all have duvets and covers that are transferred each night between the churches involved in the night shelter. The breakfast shift arrives at 6:30am to release the overnight volunteers. We have a list of who wants what for breakfast. We can serve a traditional English breakfast with sausages, bacon, baked beans, tomatoes and toast, or cereal if they prefer. There is a lot to do but the night shelter has been operating for several years now and thanks to our volunteers, it runs very smoothly.”
The night shelter includes a cooked meal and breakfast at one of the participating churches
Night Shelter: 31
Volunteers cook a hot meal for guests at the night shelter at Brighton Road Baptist Church
32: Special Feature
Read our feature on St Catherine’s Hospice on the Special Features section at www.aahorsham.co.uk
“There isn’t a day centre in Horsham, so you still have 12 hours out in the cold.” Karl, 31, has been homeless on and off for most of his adult life and regularly sleeps on the streets of Horsham. “I've been homeless quite a lot in my life, so I'm used to it. Even at the age of 10 or 11, I would run away from home and eventually went into foster care. I managed to get a flat with the Richmond Fellowship for a while, but all the rules were ridiculous and it was too restrictive for me. In the end, I decided to stay away, which affected my homeless status and put me in an even worse position. Now I am 31 and on the streets. There are quite a few homeless people in Horsham, with about a dozen sleeping rough. There are sometimes eight or nine at the night shelter, although some can’t stay in the churches as they are alcohol dependent. There isn’t a day centre in Horsham, so you still have 12 hours out in the cold every day. We hang around, go to the library or sit down in a coffee shop if we have enough money for a drink. It can be very boring, so if there was a day centre it would just be brilliant. I have friends who beg on the streets because they don't receive any benefits. I don't really do begging at all because I manage to just about get myself financially sorted. There are things to buy, especially when items are stolen. I spend my money wisely as I’ve bought a good sleeping bag and pillow. One of the spots I use to sleep in is the little car parks behind businesses in the Carfax. It’s nice to use the night shelter and although it’s run by the church, the only place that has felt a bit preachy was the Salvation Army. I’d like to stay at St John the Evangelist Church more, as they’re very friendly and have a brilliant cook! It’s just nice to be around people who don't treat you like a criminal. In Horsham, some people look down at you on the street as it can be that sort of town that thinks it's posh.” INTERVIEWS: BEN MORRIS PICTURES: TOBY PHILLIPS
If you are interested in finding out more about the night shelters, please visit the website at http://horsham-matters.org.uk/ night-shelter/
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Community: 35 Jean Rolfe at East Clayton Farm
SECRET SANCTUARY East Clayton Farm Uses Animals to Engage Young People Pitched at the foot of the South Downs, a charity is offering the chance for people in need to engage in rural life. We visited East Clayton Farm on Storrington Road, Washington, to speak to Development Manager Jean Rolfe about the unique experience it offers. What is East Clayton Farm? East Clayton Farm is a 120-acre site close to the South Downs. It is a place where young people can engage with animals and practical farm work in a supportive environment. Our farm buildings also provide homeless or long-term unemployed adults the chance to live in a rural environment until they can find a home of their own. How is this funded? The farm is owned by the National Trust and in 2005 the Lorica Trust was granted a 99-year lease on the land. At the time, the buildings on the land had fallen into disrepair, so during the last decade we’ve restored the farmhouse and converted the outbuildings to fulfill our objectives.
What is the Lorica Trust? The Trust focused on homelessness along the south coast, providing overnight beds for people on the street. The charity then altered its mandate to be more proactive in preventing homelessness in the first instance, rather than dealing with the aftermath. Chairman Robin Hobson and other trustees had the vision to create a farm that enables people to be outside enjoying the fresh air whilst developing new skills and building self-esteem. Now, the sole focus of the Lorica Trust is this project at East Clayton Farm. Are you associated with the Church? It is a Christian set-up in the way that we use the farm to help people who need help. We don't preach but we run the farm on Christian principles. At our board meeting, the trustees will pray
36: Community
2
East Clayton Farm relies on the help of a large and dedicated team of volunteers
Andy Sharpe, a trustee, with one of East Clayton Farm’s Anglo-Nubian goats
and I personally think that makes it very special as you have five people being honest in terms of what is important to the farm. There is no hidden agenda. That approach might not work for every charity, but it works here.
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How many people can you accommodate? The upstairs of the farmhouse has been converted into five flats. We work in partnership with YMCA Dowsnlink to accommodate people moving on from homelessness. There is plenty of demand, but one of our biggest challenges is moving them on from here as we find most don’t want to leave! For some people, moving into a more unsupported space is a bigger step than they realised. We have also converted the old carving shed and dairy into Bradbury Court, which has eight independent living apartments for highly dependent young adults. They have their own bathroom, bedroom, kitchen and lounge and are supported by 24-hour care. Most have mobility issues and are dependent on support. There is a huge need for more homes like it, yet there is nothing like it around. It is totally unique. What do residents give back in return? The concept of the partnership with the YMCA is that the people who stay here need to engage with the farm. That might be mucking out in the morning, closing the animals up at night or helping run the site at the weekend. We also work with partner organisations and groups who refer young people to our training and volunteering programmes, such as our Alternative Provision Children (APC). The focus is on supporting them and engaging them as much as
East Clayton Farm: 37 “For a young person to be given responsibility for a donkey is a big deal and they develop a rapport.” possible. The formula is bespoke as there is not a one size fits all solution. Does the rural location help young people? It can depend on an individual’s personal challenges. Often, the isolation of the farm is a good thing because they don't have access to the sort of things that might have been causing problems in the first place. The flipside is that it’s hard to reach busier towns because of the lack of public transport here, so people are away from friends and family. So, the farm needs to give them focus and be an engagement tool. What do they do to keep busy? I previously spent 10 years as the CEO of a charity working with disadvantaged young children. Through learning-based
engagement, we would help them get back into employment, education or training. We did that very successfully, primarily through horticulture and teaching rural skill, such as hedge laying. Here, we use animals to engage young people and the impact is 100 times greater. Sometimes, you can see an increase in their self-confidence within one day.
Young people benefit for building a bond with the animals on the farm
Why does the farm have such an impact? A key reason why this provision works is that young people don't necessarily realise that they are a beneficiary. They are here to help us run the farm and are treated as part of a team. We all sit down together for coffee, discuss what jobs need to be done and then everyone gets on with it. We don't assign people to specific roles; we work together. Therefore, they feel part of
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“We want to generate an independent income rather than becoming a charity that is grant funding dependent.�
East Clayton Farm: 39
East Clayton Farm now offers donkey walks to members of the public
Volunteers and residents of the farm clean the stables
something. They aren’t just being instructed or told what to do.
pigs that can be very useful as an introduction to animals, as well as a few dogs on the farm. Much of the land here is also used for grazing sheep.
How important are the animals? They are hugely important, particularly with APC cases as often the children will build a relationship with them. Donkeys are good at recognising faces and they will bray when they see you coming. Some young people we see here are not used to having responsibility for an animal, so to be given responsibility for a donkey is a big deal and after a
while they develop a rapport. The donkeys do not care where you came from or how much trouble you're in. All they want is to be fed, groomed and taken for a walk! They’re non-judgmental and that is why so many young people love to care for them. What other animals do you have? As well as six donkeys, we have two Anglo-Nubian goats, two pigs and a flock of bantam chickens. We also have rabbits and guinea
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What positive changes can the animals bring about in a person? Donkeys can be quite naughty and challenging. Sometimes, it doesn't matter how hard you push or pull on an animal, it doesn’t want to budge and you need to consider a different approach. That can be an eye-opener. The
staff will discuss such things with the young people, ask them how it made them feel and compare it with how their own behaviour makes others feel. On one occasion, a boy was walking a donkey and it bolted. The boy was scared as he couldn't stop the donkey and was worried it might run towards the road and get hurt. A teacher who was accompanying the boy compared that with how she felt when he ran away from school, as he had done several times. It was a genuine moment of
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40: Community
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clarity for the boy. I’m told he hasn’t run away from school since. Every day, I am still surprised at the impact animals can have. Do you rely on volunteers? We have a team of about 160 volunteers and without those we wouldn't be here. Some like to help with the animals whilst others help with work around the estate such as tree planting and hedge laying. We are always looking for more people to help on that side of things. We also work in partnership with West Sussex County Council and South Downs National Park on various projects around the farm. Who else does the farm benefit? We’ve also had dementia groups visit. One lady with dementia visited and her care worker was speechless, as she’d not engaged in meaningful conversation with the patient, but the patient loved the donkeys. She talked about the pony she had as a child and knew how to groom them. It was a special moment. We have plans to build a dementia-friendly circular path soon. What is the next step for the farm? We recently received funding from the Henry Smith Foundation to create own learning and development centre. We hope this will allow us to offer nationally-accredited qualifications recognised by schools, colleges and employers. These will be in areas such as conservation, agriculture and animal care and will help people staying with us or visiting us on a regular basis to make the next step. We’re also hoping to work more proactively with local companies. We are well supported by businesses and some come here for social responsibility days, which is great. In future we’d like to build a stronger relationship with these to help our guests with interview techniques or possibly even work. Is the charity’s future secure? Wherever possible, we want to generate an independent income rather than becoming a charity that is grant funding dependent. Grant funding allows us to get projects off the ground, but it isn’t a sustainable way of working. So, our donkeys effectively earn their own keep, as we offer donkey walking experiences. We’re fortunate in that we can literally walk across the road and there’s a public bridleway which leads right on to the South Downs!
INTERVIEW: BEN MORRIS PICTURES: TOBY PHILLIPS
If you are interested in finding out more about the farm, how to book a donkey walk or even adopt an animal, please visit the website at https://www.eastclaytonfarm.org.uk
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Charity: 43
Helping Our Heroes
Horsham’s Toby Case visited The Gambia as part of his role with the Royal Commonwealth Ex-Services League
The Royal Commonwealth Ex-Services League (RCEL) is a charity which is committed to helping the men and women, or their widows or widowers, from across the Commonwealth who have fought for Britain. Toby Case from Horsham, a Commonwealth Council member, visited The Gambia to discover first hand how those most in need benefit from the organisation’s work...
world, RCEL is unable to deliver more than 20 meals a month. Its aim is to provide a meal a day to each veteran. It can be a frustrating reality, but with donations and legacies, support from various organisations (principally the Royal British Legion, ABF The Soldiers Charity and the Royal Canadian Legion) the RCEL makes a huge difference by providing a little to those who have nothing. To someone who has nothing, even a little means a lot, and can provide dignity in later years. Whilst raising money to help veterans is important, making sure that money gets to the right people is crucial. Many of the 49 countries RCEL operates in pose a variety of challenges. A core requirement is having able, dedicated and trustworthy individuals in each member organisation to distribute funds. RCEL audits member organisations on a rolling basis, conducting approximately 10 visits a year.
Worthy Beginnings During the First and Second World Wars, approximately 7.5 million Commonwealth soldiers fought alongside British Forces, with some 800,000 ending up as casualties. They volunteered to fight, to give Britain freedom and security and so, given their sacrifice, they could not in good conscience be left without help. To deliver that help, the RCEL was formed in 1921. Across the world, RCEL currently has 56 member organisations, which coordinate the dispersal of funds to veterans in 49 countries. It has helped more than 14,000 veterans each year for more than a decade, and its core aim remains to ensure that no Commonwealth ex-serviceman or woman is without help if in need. We take things like a roof, daily food and access to medicine for granted. However, there are millions, including thousands of people who helped us in WW2, who are not guaranteed even these most basic things.
Royal Patronage The RCEL is privileged to have Her Majesty The Queen as its Patron and, since 2015, honoured to have His Royal
The Gambia Toby Case with Private Momodou Barry, who served in Burma
“Whilst raising money to help veterans is important, making sure that money gets to the right people is crucial.” Highness The Duke of York as its Grand President. Prince Andrew plays an active role, chairing our conference in Kuala Lumpur in 2016 when representatives of virtually all the 56 member organisations gathered. He also chaired our Commonwealth Council meetings in London. Age, infirmity and cost mean that representatives of member organisations cannot routinely attend London, yet the business of
the charity must continue and decisions be taken. That falls to Commonwealth Council members, such as myself.
Reaching those Most in Need In 2016, a total of £3,070,956 was distributed, helping 9,835 men and women. Such is the level of demand that in some parts of the
In 2017, The Gambia organisation was to be visited and I took the opportunity at my own expense to travel with the Chief Executive of RCEL to meet some of the veterans and widows I had heard about, raised money for, but never met. We nearly couldn’t go. The Gambia was in political turmoil in January 2017, the outgoing President having rejected the outcome of national elections and vowing to stay on. British holidaymakers were evacuated on Foreign Office advice and troops under the ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States) banner and led by the Senegalese military, entered The Gambia to maintain peace. It meant a highly visible military presence during our visit, but The
44: Charity Boto Marong served in the Royal Army Medical Corps between 19421947. We gave him a grant which will pay for much needed rice and medicine. Gambia remained the ‘smiling face of Africa.’ We experienced friendliness and positivity everywhere we went and seeing soldiers safeguarding security reminded me why RCEL was so important and why I was there.
Widows and Veterans
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Bakoto Jobe is widow to Corporal Kebba Keita of the 1st Gambia Regiment who fought in Burma
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As we travelled around I met so many fascinating individuals including Private Momodou Barry, who served in Burma and is now reputedly over 100-years-old, and Sergeant Yorro Keita of the 2nd Battalion The Gambia Regiment, who was discharged in 1947. Ajasuteh Beyai, the widow of Corporal Jothaba-Beyai. All had stories to tell. On our trip to Farafenni, a dusty town about 100km east of the capital Banjul, we stopped to visit a veteran but his house was shut up and on speaking to someone in the road we were told he had died the previous week. We carried on to a small village called Badibu where we met a veteran called Boto Marong. He had served in the Royal Army Medical Corps between 1942 - 1947. He stated he was 99 years old and told us he remembered his Commanding Officer, a Captain Hickey, and returning from Burma on a large white ship. We gave him an immediate grant which will pay for much needed rice and medicine. The following morning, after a night in Farafenni without electricity or water, we visited Bakoto Jobe in her village of Kinti Kunde. She had been a widow since 2012, was being looked after by her son, but had very little. I gave her a personal donation.
Broader Help Just as the veterans and widows need help, so do RCEL’s member organisations, in very different ways. The persuasions of governments can make dispensing aid easy or difficult,
RCEL: 45
Dale Jannels Director, AToM Ltd TEL: 01403 272625
www.atomltd.co.uk There are many awards issued throughout the year in various industries. Some you are nominated for. Some you can vote for yourself. Others are awarded to celebrate the volume and quality of the business you produce. Thankfully, the latter applies to the latest award that AToM received in December.
Sergeant Yorro Keita of the 2nd Battalion The Gambia Regiment with Chris Warren, secretary-general of the RCEL
Haddy Ngum, the leader of the widows, submits RCEL funding proposals for others
and can impact on risk and costs. So, in The Gambia, the Member Organisation had saved money and cultivated excellent contacts, through the offer of a free office at the Ministry of Defence. But it had been evicted from there when President Jammeh, the former President, decided that Gambia should leave the Commonwealth in 2013. The organisation had been paying for an office ever since. Therefore, as part of our programme of visits, we also met non-veterans, including the British High Commissioner, the Head of the Gambian Army and other very senior military figures. We asked for the office to be given back and passed on our thanks for other kindness shown - for example the British High Commissioner hosting a wreath laying ceremony and event on Remembrance Sunday.
The President It was a tribute to the connections of the Gambia member organisation
Boto Marong served with the Royal Medical Corps served in the Second World War
that we secured a meeting with the new Gambian President, Adama Barrow. He spoke to us candidly about the challenges facing his country, how he was committed to Gambia rejoining the Commonwealth and his passion for democracy. He was an immensely energetic and inspiring figure, who we briefed on the work of RCEL. With the excitement and focus being on the opportunities of the future for Gambia, I asked him to keep the veterans of the past in mind. An educated and compassionate man, he understood the message. The good work goes on...
WORDS & IMAGES: TOBY CASE
At an awards ceremony held at the fantastic Weston Park Stately Home in Shropshire, AToM was confirmed as the Best Buy to Let Distributor for HMOs (Houses of Multiple Occupation) in 2017 from specialist lender Precise Mortgages. This was superb recognition for the amazing and highly knowledgeable staff we have at AToM and specifically those who specialise in the Buy to Let sector. Well done team! I mention credit scoring/ searching quite a bit, but it really is so important in the current financial world when lenders are deciding to lend to you, or not. Most lenders credit score applications based upon the amount of credit you have, whether you are on the electoral role and your recent payment profile on any existing credit. The number of recent credit searches you have on file will also have an impact. So, just be wary when getting quotes for car or home insurance, mobiles, etc that each of these might register a search against you, especially if you’re planning to review your mortgage in the near future. We have seen a number of good product innovations during the last few weeks. One that sticks out is a recently launched new buy to let that allows the customers personal income to top up any rental shortfall. Usually the mortgage on a buy to let is calculated on the rental it achieves. Occasionally this may not achieve the loan required. To allow surplus income to be used to ‘top this up’ is a great addition and innovation. The Buy to Let sector generally is becoming very competitive and despite an increasing number of options and new lenders launching in to the market, demand is still increasing. Whilst first time buyers struggle to get on the property ladder (hopefully the recent stamp duty changes may help?) and savings interest rates remain low, many continue to invest long term into property and there's no immediate reason why this should change. However, with all of the recent tax changes on Buy to Lets, you should not only seek professional mortgage advice, but also tax advice from an accountant who understands property.
Sponsored by If you are interested in finding out more about the work of the RCEL, please visit www.commonwealthveterans.org.uk
Cranfold’s New Year’s Resolutions for
For a Healthy Year
By Wendyanne Harrison (MCSP)
Owner, Cranfold Physical Therapy Centre Cranfold’s New Year’s Resolutions for a Healthy You! Happy New Year. Did you know that according to a ComRes poll for Bupa from November last year, 32% of Britons plan to make a New Year resolution. Across all the polls, health is the priority for those committing to a change in the new year. Here’s the top 10 list of UK resolutions: 1. Lose weight 2. Get organised 3. Spend less, save more 4. Enjoy life to the fullest 5. Stay fit and healthy 6. Learn something exciting 7. Quit smoking 8. Help others achieve their dreams 9. Fall in love 10. Spend more time with family Interestingly, only one of those is about material gain – the rest are all about quality of life. We want to feel better, fitter and happier in our daily lives. Unfortunately, a 2007 study from University of Bristol found that 88% of people who make New Year's resolutions fail while the NHS reckon only one in ten of us will be successful. So, why is it so hard to do things that will make us feel so good?
“We all have busy lives and many of us tend to see to other things first, leaving our own well being at the bottom of the priorities.” As physios, we come across issue this all the time with patients who need to adhere to exercise programmes to achieve their goals of regaining function and strength following injury, illness or operations. We all have busy lives and many of us have responsibilities to others – work, home, family – and tend to see to these things first, leaving our own well being at the bottom of the priorities. So, over the years we have developed Strategies to help our patients achieve their goals – seeing as it’s new year, I’ll share those trade secrets with you:
1. Cleary define your main goal (eg: return to running/ lose 2 stone) 2. Immediately then break it down into short term manageable goals (eg: achieve 5 single leg heel raises/ plan 2lb loss a week average) 3. Have regular reliable support from a mentor you trust, preferably who is also invested in your success (eg: your physio/weight watchers.) Accountability keeps us on track and crucially - you will not be in it alone. If you fail, you let them down too: when you succeed they will be genuinely over the moon with you.
4. Actively celebrate your short term goal successes. Our brains are programmed to repeat what was successful, so dwelling on positive achievement releases endorphins in your brain. These are extremely strong brain motivators. You will want to feel that good again next week! 5. While keeping an eye on the main prize, don’t keep focusing on that in the short term. You are not at that stage yet. You are not supposed to be at that stage yet. Achieve each small step and the end goal will be there before you know it. 6. Expect to have small set-backs, accept them and don’t dwell. They are normal. No-one has a straight line recovery. It’s OK. So is 2018 going to be the year you achieve your goal? We’d love to share your journey, so if you want expert advice and help with that injury or pain, or simply want to get fitter with safely, call us now on 01403 721050 to make your first appointment. Let’s do it together!
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48: Business
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NOTES You may have heard of a phenomenon called the Mozart effect. It’s the theory that listening to classical music may not only help soothe a baby, but possibly even make them smarter. The Mozart effect was born in 1993, when scientists at the University of California at Irvine found that pupils who listened to one of the composer’s piano sonatas before an examination came out with better results. In the following years, the impact of the Mozart effect on a child’s development was occasionally exaggerated, to the extent that the Governor of Georgia ensured that a classical music CD was given to the parents of every newborn baby! Whilst studies since don’t substantiate the theory that classical music will necessarily make a baby smarter, music itself can certainly have a positive impact on a young child’s mental and physical development, particularly in terms of improving concentration and self-discipline. Classes run by Horsham-based company Little Notes uses music
to enhance a child’s development, working with parents to create a fun, interactive environment. Here, Mark Bradbury - who founded the company with wife Lou - explains why so many families are making a big song and dance out of Little Notes...
Getting started “After the first of our three daughters was born, Lou attended a music class for toddlers and wondered where the musicians were. All the parents were singing along to a CD and it didn't have the heart of real music making. We felt we could offer something that had a more positive impact, so Little Notes was formed in 2005. Lou and I both trained at the Royal Academy of Music and have performed in a wide range of chamber choirs, ensembles and professional companies. Lou has vast educational experience whilst I have sung at venues such as Glyndebourne. We felt we had the skills to create an authentic family bonding experience through music. We held our first
Little Notes: 49
Mark Bradbury leading a Little Notes session in Horsham
Little Notes sessions at The Capitol in Horsham, thanks to fantastic support from Michael Gattrell, who was the theatre’s general manager at the time. More than 60 people turned up and we knew we were on to something.”
The right spark “Lou was running the classes initially and I became more involved as popularity grew. We created a programme where instruments and singing were at the heart of each class. Lou plays piano, flute and is a professional
“We use music as a tool to develop a child’s imagination and you can see the effect it has.” recorder player. I play the flute and guitar. When you’re running the classes with live music, you are always in control as your pace is not dictated by a CD. You don't have to wait until the end of a track. Instead, you develop a repertoire of material that allows the musician to read the room and be flexible. If you see children aren't engaged, you can
do something else. You can get them up for a dance, lie them down for a sleep, play a game, bring out the puppets or engage them with instruments. This requires a very different skill and it can take time to learn. It's one thing being able to play an instrument, but quite another to engage young people. It requires the right people with the right
spark. If you have it, it is the most rewarding job. I love the fact that I could be in a professional theatre production one night and the next morning be jumping around a room playing the flute!”
The sound of music “We play a mix of musical styles as it has a positive impact on brain development. A study by the Institute of Education shows that listening to classical music can improve listening skills, whilst music and singing helps children be more expressive with speaking and reading. We might play
50: Business
For enquiries regarding the purchasing of images, email Toby at info@tobyphillipsphotography.co.uk
“We do encourage the parents to be a bit daft sometimes too and for many, the class is a highlight of the week.”
Little Notes uses music and props to develop a child’s imagination
something by Haydn and put some words to it, but the children have no idea it’s highbrow music. Other times, we might listen to rock music or a little bit of jazz as we create a journey with each class. There is a piece of music by Bach that we return to every now and then, playing it on the harpsichord. We have a spider theme that the piece is perfect for and the children create a spider’s web whilst listening to it. We use music as a tool to develop a child’s imagination and you can see the effect it has, even on babies. We also use props to help feed a child’s imagination. For example, in December when some of our songs took on a Christmas theme, we used shower wash balls as snowballs!”
From lullabies to choirs “We have a range of classes to suit different ages. Our lullaby lounge is perhaps the most special class, because we are working with babies under the age of six months. In this class, we encourage parents or grandparents to sing along too, and it always ends with a relaxation time and a lullaby. At the other end of the spectrum, we have some broader classes for people at pre-school and even a school age class. These tend to focus on more complex music-making and imaginative play. In between, there are classes for 12 - 24 months and 2 - 3 year olds, which tend to involve lots of stories and
Little Notes: 51
games. Over the course of 10 years, we have developed a programme that continually alters to suit the time of year as we have masses of material to work from. We also launched a Big Notes choir at the request of several parents. We have a great time with the choir and work alongside a brilliant pianist, meaning I can just put my singing hat on.”
A family experience “With all Little Notes’ classes, it’s vital that parents are engaged. Our aim is to develop the relationship between parent and child right from the very start. Recently, a mother at our lullaby lounge class said she was moved by the experience as she felt she had engaged with her baby in a different way. The class gave her the opportunity to just relax and look in to her baby’s eyes for a while. Often, parents are so busy that we cannot find the time for something so simple. The classes allow for that special time, away from distractions like mobile phones and television screens. We do encourage the parents to be a bit daft sometimes too and for many of them, the class is a highlight of the week for them as well as their child.”
Accessible for all “At Christmas, Little Notes was involved in seasonal events organised in the town by Horsham Churches Together. Lou and I attend church, but we’re careful to ensure that there is no religious content to Little Notes classes as we want it to be accessible to all. We have a few friends who we knew from the church that are very good musicians and they kindly gave up their time to perform on the bandstand with
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52: Business
Read our Business features on the AAH website at www.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 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!
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“We always considered the possibility of establishing Little Notes classes outside of Horsham.” us. Natalie Loveless, the vicar of St Leonard's Church, was playing the trumpet alongside me on the guitar at the Christmas event.”
Expanding Business “We always considered the possibility of establishing Little Notes classes outside of Horsham. A fantastic cellist, who also studied at the Royal Academy of Music, started a class in Dorking. When she moved to Cardiff, she continued to run Little Notes classes there, whilst Lou and I took over the Dorking class. Since then, we’ve put everything in place for people to take on a Little Notes franchise. A weekly class is also held at Chichester Festival Theatre. We have high hopes that a new class will soon be launched in Amsterdam as well as others in Brighton and Tunbridge Wells. These have been collaborations with musicians we know and trust, who have joined us for the journey.
Having held our Horsham classes in the Studio at The Capitol for a couple of years, space became an issue, so we changed venues and now meet at the Christian Life Centre. The last few years has been a learning curve. We’ve developed the classes and passed on our knowledge to others and Little Notes is still evolving. We're growing from something very local to something that is developing to an international level whilst still maintaining its roots.”
WORDS: BEN MORRIS PICTURES: TOBY PHILLIPS
For more information about classes and the benefits of music for young children, visit the Little Notes website at www.littlenotes.co.uk
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History: 55 Horshamosaurus Rudgwickensis (Image: HDC/Horsham Museum & Art Gallery)
HIDDEN HISTORY
The Flint of Horsham
In the 1930s, an archaeologist visited Horsham Museum, then located in the basement of Park House, looked at some tiny flints and published an article on his findings. John Clark announced to the world that there was a unique style of working flint only found in the Horsham area. When Britain became an island in around 5,500BC, Mesolithic people in the area worked flint in a way you do not find in Europe. Some 80 years later, the working flint remains unique evidence of a distinctive culture here.
Jeremy Knight of Horsham Museum looks back at some interesting facts about the town, from the dinosaur named in its honour to the Victorian parachuting disaster in Albion Way...
The Fireman who Defined an Era In 1877, Thomas Honywood, the volunteer captain of Horsham Fire Brigade, announced to the world that there was a period that existed between the old stone
age and the new stone age, or the Palaeolithic and Neolithic. He suggested that this “singular race of human beings may have had their existence at least 5,000 years ago.� Today, we know this as the Mesolithic period and Horsham’s amateur archaeologist 9 99 9
was the first person to make such an observation in public.
Horsham has its Own Genus of Dinosaur Horshamosaurus Rudgwickensis, described as an ‘armadillo on steroids’, was named by Dr William Blows in 2016. It is so named because the unique fossil specimens of this dinosaur were found at s Rudgwick brickworks. Initially identified as belonging to an iguanodon, the bones were later thought to be those of a 9before it was given 99 99polacanthus
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56: History
The 15th century window at St Mary’s was blown in back in 1839 (Image: HDC/Horsham Museum & Art Gallery)
Horsham Museum hosts an exhibition of images by wildlife photographer Michael Vickers until 26 January
The girl who Alice in Wonderland was based on honeymooned at Sedgwick Park in Horsham. (Image: HDC/Horsham Museum & Art Gallery)
‘Campbell was thrown from the balloon and suffered a badly fractured skull.’ its own genus. At roughly five metres in length, the dinosaur would have been longer than the type species of Polacanthus. The bones are on public display in the museum.
A Place Where Pigs Breed! It is relatively well known that Horsham was first mentioned in a land charter in 947. However, the charter of 963 is not so well known. It refers to Denne, a place where pigs breed, whilst Horsham Horsham is described as a place for horses. Interestingly, Slinfold is a pen for sheep, Cowfold a pen for cattle, Henfield means High field and Colgate, Faygate and Monks Gate are gateways in to St Leonard’s Forest.
Window Fixed After 25 Years In 1864, the Parish Church at St Mary’s was leaning badly and needed its roof removed. The entire side of the church was jacked up, correcting a two-foot lean in less than two hours. Not only that, the 15th century window that had been damaged in 1839 by fierce winds was re-constructed from original fragments that had been found in the rebuilt east wall. It took until November 1865 for the work to be completed.
The Designer Gaol The world’s first gaol built to the designs of the great prison reformer John Howard, was Horsham Gaol in East
Hidden Horsham: 57 Street, completed in 1775. The first prisoner was the builder who went bust during construction! It was a great deterrent to crime, as prisoners had their own cell, so it was much like solitary confinement.
The Street Named After a Donkey Horsham has a street named after a donkey, but not one named after the Queen of England who lived in the town. Ben’s Acre is named after Ben, a donkey that lived in the field before the houses were built there on the fringes of St Leonard’s Forest. However, Catherine Howard, Henry VIII’s fifth wife who was brought up at Chesworth, has no such honour.
The Honeymoon Venue for the Real Alice The original Alice of Alice in Wonderland honeymooned at Sedgwick Castle where her sisterin-law lived. She would many
years later visit the newly-opened Horsham Museum, then in the basement of Park House.
Famed Illustrator Dies Walter Crane died in Horsham Hospital on 14 March 1915, having moved to Warnham a couple of years earlier. He was one of the most influential and celebrated children’s book illustrators of his time and was also a strong believer in the socialist cause.
Aeronaut Crashes into Houses In July 1895, Neil Campbell, an aeronaut, was attempting to parachute from his balloon into a meadow in the town centre. Unfortunately, the balloon collided with the top of the houses in Albion Road and Mr Campbell was thrown from the balloon. He suffered a badly fractured skull and thigh together with internal injuries.
Tiger Lilies illustration by Walter Crane (Image: HDC/Horsham Museum & Art Gallery)
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58: History ‘The Wedgewood family supported the building of a canal near Horsham in the 1790s.’ The Town’s First Swimming Baths
The first railway engine to arrive at Horsham (Image: HDC/Horsham Museum & Art Gallery)
The first swimming baths were opened in Worthing Road. The water was heated by water lying over a concrete disc being warmed by the sun and then being drained in to pool. It wasn’t a commercial success and closed down, so children chose to swim in the leech-infested Mill Pond instead!
The Poet Bigger then Shakespeare? Today, Shakespeare is famous the world over. But in his day, he was just one of a number of poets and playwrights jostling for public awareness. One of the most popular of the time was William Browne, whose Britannia Pastorals 1 & 2 (published in 1614) were better known and thought of by his contemporaries than Shakespeare’s works. He moved to Denne Park and married Timothy Eversfield, who lived at Denne Park House.
The Canal Never Makes It The Wedgewood family supported the building of a canal near to Horsham in the 1790s, but lack of numbers meant it was never built. The town also campaigned for a railway in the 1830s, which didn’t materialise. A single track was eventually built to stop a railway line being built from Portsmouth via Horsham to London which would have taken business from the company that went from London to Brighton and then along the coast.
The following account of Horsham events was compiled by Jeremy Knight of Horsham District Council’s Horsham Museum & Art Gallery, edited by Ben Morris. For a full list of the museum’s art and photographic exhibitions, visit horshammuseum.org
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LETTERS Cyclist scratched the Bumper of my new motor!
The crowd for the unveiling of 16 boring birch trees was considerably less...
Alan Colson of Roffey writes: I read with interest your article regarding the cyclist creating a hold up and should he be bothered about getting out of the way (P5, AAH Dec 2017). He was endangering himself; if a less patient driver had been behind him he may well have been passed and pushed to the edge of the road, causing an accident. Cycling standards do not seem to be improving either, especially among the younger people. If you pass a school close to the end of the day they seem to come at you from all angles, very often without a care in the world. Cyclists do not have to pass a test, do not have to pay road tax and even worse, do not need insurance. As for the insurance, many of the injuries are caused by unthoughtful riding, but we are expected to pick up the bill through our taxes if they cannot claim from the driver. Also, a few years ago I had purchased a brand new car and a few weeks later a cyclist rode too close and scratched the front bumper with his pedal. But could I claim; no! He had no insurance.
As for Horsham, I cannot agree more with Steve Swain (Letters, Dec 17). I to moved to Horsham 30 years ago, when I relocated from Buckinghamshire with my job, and I to think that Horsham is steadily going downhill. After all the thousands of pounds that have been spent in the past on such things as the swans in Swan Walk, the Shelley Fountain and the waterfall, to let them all go for the sake of a few more pounds in maintenance is a crime. Editor: I must take issue with your point about deteriorating standards of cycling among youngsters. Perhaps at your old school, pupils observed everything they learned in their cycling proficiency test. But that wasn’t the case when I was one of the many kids riding to and from my school in Horsham without a helmet, taking shortcuts across paths, gardens and roundabouts to try and beat my best time home! However, I agree with your view on the town’s landmarks. I don’t know why HDC is opposed to any form of public art and appear instead to be driven by a pursuit of the mundane.
editor@aahorsham.co.uk @AAHMagazine
HDC - How about a refund? David Spencer of Horsham writes: Having contacted Horsham District Council over the reduction of our refuse collection in February 2018, I am amazed at the response received from Cllr. Baldwin. I had two concern/questions. 1) I requested a larger bin to cover the halving of the collection service. Refused. 2) I requested a credit for the reduction in the collection service for the last two months of this fiscal, as we are all paying for a service within our Council Tax that we are not going to receive for the last two months of this Council Tax year. I can't think of any other time when you have paid for a service at an agreed cost for a year that is then cancelled without getting a refund. Cllr Baldwin responded with: 'Whilst I take your point about a small refund for the change to alternative weekly collection, you know it isn’t going to happen as the refund would cost more to administer.' I am at a loss to understand that he agreed that I am correct in T. Greenwood of Horsham writes: I read with interest your Editorial regarding cyclists (P5, AAH Dec 2017). Until, that is, the very last line. I thought you balanced your frustration at being stuck in a queue with the viewpoint of the cyclist very well. Why then, did you then write that you veered him off the road into stinging nettles? I appreciate that this was meant to be a joke. But I can assure you it wasn’t worth the build-up, as there was little intelligent humour present. I consider the remark to be quite irresponsible of someone evidently aware of the dangers of cycling on the road.
wanting a small refund for lack of contractual service in one breath and in the second breath says it's not going to happen. For the cost of a very small computer programme, all households could be given a credit on next year’s Council Tax or just don't reduce the collection service in April when the Council Tax year begins. Am I the only one who thinks this is corporate theft of Council Tax payers’ money by HDC? Editor: Well, I personally am happy for HDC to have the extra few quid, so they can use it to invest in more retail space, car parks or commercial units to generate more income, which I am absolutely sure they would plough right back into essential local services, like collecting the bins! Or maybe to just buy themselves another investment property instead... Editor: In the original editorial, I wrote that I veered the cyclist off the road and over a cliff. Then, his bike got caught up on a branch on the way down. The branch snapped and he fell to a ledge where a golden eagle had made a nest. The bird was so angry by the intrusion that it picked up the cyclist with its talons and dropped him the rest of the way to the ground, where the cyclist made a big hole, as you’d see with Wile e Coyote. When he reappeared with a bump on his head, his own bike landed on him. But I didn’t have the space to write it all, so I went for stinging nettles instead. Either way, you’re right. It’s not funny.
Does Mr Cook believe we have a competent administration?
ALL ABOUT HORSHAM MAGAZINE
North Horsham: I remember when this was all just fields!
L.N Price of Horsham writes: Mr Cook (Letters December 2017) thinks you are too critical of the council. I share you view that there is a great deal to be critical about of the council at both District and County level. Both councils need to be held to account. The common denominator being that, for all bar an all too short but refreshing interlude in the 1990s when the Lib Dems ran both councils, HDC and WSCC have been under consistent Tory control with the adverse consequences that we all witness today. At HDC level, does Mr Cook really believe we have a good, competent administration, particularly after the debacle over the local plan? The lack of HDC provision of social and affordable housing is a disgrace with scheme content dictated by developers rather than the council. HDC’s otherwise good refuse management is compromised with the WSCC Hop Oast recycling centre closed two days a week with the consequence of increased and costly to address fly-tipping. I assume he accepts the lack of democratic accountability in that the majority of key council policy decisions are made behind closed doors by the Cabinet with limited or no opportunity for scrutiny? Perhaps he remembers the meeting of the Planning Committee to consider the North Horsham proposals where the Tory Chairman lost control of
the meeting and called in the police because a member of the public had the temerity to seek to ask questions under the three minute rule, but the Chairman apparently found them too challenging! For WSCC, education remains grossly underfunded both in absolute terms and compared with other shire counties, uniting parents and teachers to march on Downing Street to seek improvement. Whilst police and fire services numbers and budgets have been cut, social care provision reduced in real terms, transport and road maintenance budgets cut, libraries threatened and strategic planning lacking vision. All whilst both councils are run by the same party who are in Government, so perhaps we should not be surprised by their limited achievements and ability. But despite the valiant efforts of the opposition on both HDC and WSCC to try to hold the Tory administrations to account, until voters realise that they are being ill served, so vote differently at elections, the status quo will continue. Editor: In my experience, local Liberal Democrats have been great; campaigning for what they believe is best for the district. But when it comes to elections, I wouldn’t be too optimistic. The public tends to vote on national perceptions and let’s face it, the party is hopeless on that front. The Lib Dems hierarchy don’t really look up to it, do they?
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.
ADVERTISING IN AAH Each month, the magazine is delivered to 15,000 homes in Horsham, Southwater and villages including Broadbridge Heath, Mannings Heath, Ashington, Partridge Green, Copsale, Storrington and Washington. In addition, AAH is distributed to hundreds of businesses. Thousands more copies are picked up from our stylish spring-loaded stands as well as Sainsbury’s and Tesco. The magazine is also published in a high resolution format online at www.aahorsham.co.uk
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Music: 63
A SING OF THE TIMES The Contemporary Gospel force of Singergy
Singergy is a contemporary gospel choir for over 18s that meets at St Andrew’s Church in Roffey every Monday night. With a repertoire that includes songs by Lana Del Rey and James Bay, the choir is attracting new members looking to hone their vocal craft. We sat in on rehearsals and spoke to choir conductor Anna Stroughton and members Jo Polley, Lou Shaw, Darren Paine and Maxine White. Anna: There was a choir called Step up and Sing, which was established several years ago. When that came to an end, I stepped in and restructured the choir with a new name, Singergy. Having started in September 2016
with about a dozen members from the old choir, we now regularly have over 25 people attending.
gospel choir, which is precisely what this is.
Darren: I came across the group on Facebook and decided to try out as I wanted to see if I could sing. I hadn’t sung properly since leaving school, but years ago I was told I had quite a good voice. So, I contacted Anna and went along for a voice test and have loved it ever since. When I first joined, I was the only male in the choir, but now there are several of us.
Anna: We sing arrangements in a gospel style, which is good fun. I want to make sure people enjoy themselves whilst singing, so we choose upbeat, soulful numbers. Some are traditional gospel songs with a modern twist, whilst others are modern songs arranged in a gospel style. There is certainly a demand for a gospel choir in Horsham and people are amazed by the sound we can produce.
Jo: I've been with Singergy since it was first formed. I've been a singer for many years and been involved in other choirs, but I was looking for a contemporary
Lou: The demographic of the choir is quite young, in comparison to most. That’s partly because the arrangements are fun and funky. Some of the songs we
perform are by current artists, including Lana Del Ray. That injects a little bit of energy. I’ve never found myself clock watching here! Jo: Even when we are singing modern songs, they will have gospel undertones. We have performed our own rendition of gospel songs such as ‘Joyful, Joyful’ from Sister Act, which was one of the films that first made me want to sing gospel music. We’ve also taken on more unusual numbers including U2’s ‘Beautiful Day’ with a gospel arrangement. Lou: I've never really liked U2 and when we were presented with ‘Beautiful Day’, I admit I gritted
64: Music
If you need an extra copy of AAH, find an indoor stand at Horsham Museum
“We’re not just turning up to do karaoke; Anna wants us to be better singers.” Maxine my teeth! But it worked brilliantly with a gospel arrangement. We’ve also sung ‘Heaven’ by Emile Sande, which you wouldn't necessarily label as gospel but again our arrangement made it very uplifting.
Anna Stroughton, musical director of Singergy
Anna: There is quite a variety to our performances. Some songs feature solos, others are split into several parts and we also sing a cappella numbers. We’ve even tried a few raps! We’ve performed an a cappella arrangement of ‘Hold Back the River’ by James Bay, combined with a traditional soul song called ‘Down to the River to Pray.’ We love to mix old songs with new songs to give a contemporary edge. We are currently working on ‘Let the Sun Shine,’ a contemporary song that has gospel elements. We have also just worked on ‘(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher’ as well as an a cappella
arrangement of Lana Del Rey’s ‘Young and Beautiful.’ This is a song you wouldn't normally hear from a gospel choir, but it has a haunting arrangement. Maxine: We’re not just turning up to do karaoke; Anna wants us to be better singers. She is quite strict when it comes to technique, as she wants to develop us collectively. Lou: I sing backing vocals for a local tribute act called The Almost Elvis Band, which has also been featured in AAH. I find that the choir really helps my performance. Anna is very technical when it comes to singing. We have fun, but she does teach proper techniques as well and provides private tuition to several of us in the choir. Anna: I try to help everyone be as good as they can possibly be. It’s
Singergy: 65
Lou Shaw also sings with The Almost Elvis Band in Horsham
Darren Paine is one of several male members of the contemporary gospel choir
important to feel valued and trusted as an individual in a choir. With some choirs, those who are less confident can be hidden away at the back, but there is real power in helping people be as good as they can be and ensure they sing with confidence. One lady here used to become nervous and panicky when singing a solo, but has since grown in confidence and performed an excellent solo at our end of year show. I aim for excellence within the choir but also encourage everyone who walks through the door to give it a good go. That way, we become a better choir. Darren: Anna is fantastic for me personally, as she pushes me out of my comfort zone. She encourages us to do things that we don't necessarily want to do initially. For me, that was performing a solo. It felt like a big mountain to climb, but last year at the Christmas performance, I sang ‘Ordinary People’ by John Legend. I don’t think it was a brilliant rendition, but I did it and now I hope to sing another solo next year. Don't get me wrong, the thought of doing it scares me to death! But I still want to do it. Maxine: There are solo parts in many of the songs we sing, which offers an opportunity for many members of the choir to have their first taste of singing alone. Jo: Singergy sessions involve a lot of technique. You can’t just rock up, sing and go home! The sessions are structured, so we learn vocal techniques as well as rehearse songs for shows. There is an expectation for us all to practice our technique at home. Maxine: Initially, Anna would ease us in gently and it took longer to learn each song. Now, we practice more at home
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66: Music COLUMN RSPB Pulborough Brooks
Image: RSPB/Jodie Randall
Fresh Air Will Do You Good
“We entered Pitch Battles, the BBC talent contest for choirs, and made it through to the audition stage.” Anna and perfect them when the choir meets on Monday nights. Lou: I’ve been in other choirs and sometimes there can be a lot of hanging about as everyone is brought up to speed. Singergy is more dynamic and we work on the finer details more quickly. Certainly though, everything sounds different when you’re singing with the choir. You might sound great when you’re singing in the kitchen by yourself, but when you are part of a choir, it tends to be more of a challenge. Everybody sounds like Beyonce in their own car! Maxine: We perform several shows over the year. We sing at The Hawth in March, whilst in the summer we play events like the Horsham Garden Music Festival in the park, which was interesting although such an open space doesn’t offer the right acoustics for a choir. We are soon going back to The Black Jug, where we have played before. It’s interesting in the pub, as it is always busy and
we all squeeze into a corner with people watching under our noses. Anna: In the summer, we entered Pitch Battles, the BBC talent contest for choirs. We made it through to the audition stage, which was exciting. I think some of the members thought we might all be famous! It didn’t turn out quite like that but it was a great experience to be involved in a show with people like Gareth Malone, and added a different dimension to the choir. Jo: We have a wide range of people in the choir, but the common denominator is that we all love singing in the gospel style. It is a very friendly group that sticks together. There are no egos; everyone is incredibly supportive and that creates a good environment to develop and push yourself to improve. Anna: People like the sense of family here and that they are worked hard, in a good way.
There is a focus that challenges members of the choir and people enjoy that. Some have even said that Singergy is their weekly therapy session! Maxine: When I first started here, we only had about a dozen regulars. Now, we see about 25 people every week and the interest is building. New faces join every term, which keeps the choir healthy and means we’re always improving.
INTERVIEWS: BEN MORRIS PICTURES: TOBY PHILLIPS
Singergy meets on Monday nights at St Andrew’s Church, Roffey. For more details visit the website at www.singergychoir.com
After the sparkle of Christmas has worn off, it can seem as if winter will never end. The dark evenings are a lot darker without the fairy lights and it’s far too easy for us to spend our time cocooned in our houses, as if we have joined the hedgehogs in hibernation, rather than venturing outside. The great outdoors has been proven to have fantastic positive effects on our physical and mental health. A range of studies have shown that stress and anxiety levels are significantly reduced when we’re outside, and our heart rate, blood pressure and muscle tension lessen considerably too. The combination of fresh air, open space and greenery allows the body to relax and gives the mind something different to focus on, emptying it of the day-to-day worries we all carry. If you’ve suffered with coughs, colds and snuffles, a liberal dose of fresh air could help with that too; while we’re cooped up inside with family and colleagues, we’re all generously sharing our germs with one another, so frequent walks outside could help reduce your chances of being struck down again. You don’t need to go on an epic mountain hike to feel the benefits of the outdoors; take yourself for a walk during your lunch break, explore your local park or even take up gardening. Of course, we have an ample supply of fresh air and greenery at Pulborough Brooks, so you’ll have plenty of opportunities to try a bit of “ecotherapy” this new year.
Emily Summers RSPB Pulborough
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