AAH (All About Horsham) October 2022

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OCTOBER 2022 CONTENTS

News Round-Up

Horsham District pays its respects to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and holds Proclamation of King Charles III

Crafts

23

29

Storrington artist Sarah Russell uses a variety of glazes and textures to create beautiful pottery

Business

James Anderson of Slipped Discs has taken his passion for vinyl records on to Steyning’s High Street.

37 Fashion

Amy Sinclair has incorporated her drawings of animals into a stunning range of luxurious silk scarves

Food & Drink

43

The Model Bakery has been at the heart of the Steyning community for 50 years, but its future is less certain...

COVER STORY

The October 2022 cover features artist and designer Amy Sinclair at her home in Mannings Heath. Amy has produced many drawings of animals, but we were more interested in her new range of silk scarves that incorporate her artwork. The one she is sporting on the cover is called ‘Unlocking Your Dreams’, as each scarf comes with a card carrying a positive message. Unsurprisingly, Amy has a good understanding of colour coordination, which meant that every change of scarf meant an outfit swap too, giving us plenty of variety for the photos in the feature (page 37). Other cover contenders included Helen Hitchcock of Sakala in Steyning, James Anderson of Slipped Discs in Steyning, and Sarah Russell of Pots & Pansies in Storrington. Lots of stuff from the southern end of the District this month!

In association with Self Select Distribution, AAH is available from free pick-up points at Tesco Extra in Broadbridge Heath and Sainsbury’s in Horsham. For other pick-up points, see right.

49 Music

After winning Horsham Battle of the Bands, Hollie Rogers has gone on to perform with a string of top artists

54 Culture

Helen Hitchcock’s love of India inspired her to open Sakala, one of the most vibrant shops in the District

Farming

59

66

The West Grinstead & District Ploughing Match & Show was held in Dial Post, with the focus on the next generation

Final Word

A referendum will be held on the Horsham Blueprint Neighbourhood Plan, which impacts several town wards

ABOUT THE MAGAZINE

AAH is an independent monthly magazine, owned by editor Ben Morris, a life-long resident of the Horsham District. It is distributed to doors and pick-up points around the Horsham District.

EDITOR: Ben Morris editor@aahorsham.co.uk (01903) 892899

AAH, 2 Viney Close, Ashington, RH20 3PT

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SPECIAL OFFER: Every 6th advert is free of charge, like a coffee shop! We can also design adverts if you need help at no extra charge.

PHOTOGRAPHY: Alan Wright alanwrightphotography.co.uk Email: alan.wright@alanwrightphotography.co.uk 07747 617387

Alan works for AAH on a freelance basis and is available for all commercial work.

www.aahorsham.co.uk

AAH is published online on the 1st of each month. Archive editions are online too.

DISTRIBUTION

The magazine is delivered to about 13,000 homes in Horsham, Southwater and villages.

DOOR-TO-DOOR TEAM Jacquie Paterson, the Judd family, Katie Drysdale, Hazel Garner, Jill Shuker, the Arliss family, the Bloomfield family, Eve Lovett, Lara Green, the Gavira family, Harvey Dold, Alessandro Cavallo, Jack Nicholls, the McCormick family, Charlie Merchant, Harry Baker, the Walker family, Ben Raymond and Joseph Down (all Horsham), The Brown and Chapman families (Southwater), the Palmer

family (BBH), the Murray family (Wickhurst Green) Luke Butcher (Mannings Heath), Lynsey Hare (Billingshurst), Derek Bradnum (Nuthurst) The Morris family (West Chiltington)

PICK UP POINTS & AAH STANDS

Thousands of copies of AAH are also available in our stands at businesses, clubs and shops.

Horsham: The Living Room (Swan Walk), Henry Adams (Carfax), Crates Local (Carfax) Pavilions in the Park, Horsham Rail Station, New House Farm, New Street Butchers, At Home Estate Agents (Caterways), The Holbrook Club, Gwyn’s Bakery (Bishopric)

Village Stands: Billingshurst Leisure Centre, Bluecoat Sports (Christ’s Hospital), Leonardslee Lakes & Gardens (Lower Beeding), Warnham Village Stores (Warnham), Slinfold Golf Club (Slinfold), Steyning Leisure Centre and Cobblestone Walk (Steyning), Spring Gardens Nursery (Washington), Joanna’s Boutique Tearooms (Storrington), The Milk Churn (Rudgwick), Meadow Stores and Cafe (Thakeham), Golden Plaice (Ashington)

Supermarkets: Tesco Extra in Broadbridge Heath, Sainsbury’s in Horsham.

NOTES

Thank you to the Voiseys (Gavin, Suzie, George and Gemma) who have delivered AAH around Pondtail Road since June 2014. They have finally passed on the round. Best of luck to you all!

Joseph Down has taken over the round. We also welcome Ben Raymond to the tea. Ben has taken on part of the Lambs Farm Rd round.

AAH is printed with FSC® certified paper. This means it has been sourced from sustainably managed forests and other controlled sources, and its site of origin is proven and traceable under FSC certification.

STATELY HOME

Notes from the Editor: Family Day For The Queen’s Funeral.

When it was announced that the State Funeral of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II would be a national bank holiday, I had a thought. A thought not a whole lot of you will be impressed by.

‘I can go kayaking!’

I’ve always been a bit apathetic about the monarchy and wasn’t enamoured by the prospect of watching a solemn procession wind its way through a weeping city. For a while, I’ve been wanting to take the kayaks down Cuckmere Haven and maybe out around the Seven Sisters with one of my sons. If the tides are with us and there’s not much wind, we could finally do it. It’ll be nice and quiet too!

My wife, who is more attuned to modern sensibilities, suggested that it might not be a wholly appropriate way of marking a period of national mourning. Besides, what if we got into difficulties? Imagine the embarrassment if the lifeboat volunteers were called away from their TV screens to rescue some selfish, irresponsible idiot. I’d be lambasted, like the dad who took his two-year-old child up Snowdon in winter and they had to send a mountain train up to save the poor little popsicle.

So, we instead invited my parents, sisters and their families round to ours. Seeing as I’d mentioned the possibility of a barbecue, they all turned up, and 12 of us and two excitable dogs squeezed into the lounge to watch the funeral, like 28 million others, apparently. Although that can’t be right, can it? There are 67 million people in this country - what were the other 39 million doing? Kayaking?

While I’m sure that millions sat in respectful silence, it wasn’t like that at my house. Although there were moments for all of us when we just wanted everyone in the room to shut up, there was always someone commenting or making a joke about something they’d spotted. Who knows, maybe lightening the mood was our way of glossing over the emotions of the day.

Someone remarked that the orb – the gold jewelled ball on top of the Her Majesty’s coffin – looked like the Holy Hand Grenade from Monty Python and the Holy Grail. ‘Five, is right out!’ said my nephew, who’s not yet reached the age where quoting Monty Python has an aftertaste of embarrassment. We then debated whether the orb, spectre and Royal crown were secured by hidden screws, or if it was only the meticulous balancing skills of the pallbearers that kept them upright?

‘No More Nails?’

We speculated (for too long) on the possible inner conflict of the bishop who dropped a piece of card on the marbled floor of Westminster Abbey when he opened the Order of Service. He thought about picking it up, but that could have caused his ecclesiastical headdress (only now do I know it’s called a mitre) to fall off.

‘If that happened, it’d be carnage!’

I heard four trumpets playing and warned everyone that it could mark the start of the two-minute silence, although I was unaware of the time. ‘The Last Post’ didn’t sound as I’d expected it to – it wasn’t how it’s played on Remembrance Sunday. So, I confidently announced that it wasn’t that time just yet, before realising I was completely wrong and had been talking for the first few seconds of the silence. My niece stared at me with bulging eyes, as if the cavalry would burst through the front door at any moment and arrest me for treason.

Later, thoughts turned to the grieving Royal family, which in some ways isn’t all that different to ours. They just have a bigger lounge. We watched as The Queen’s personal piper, Paul Burns, played ‘A Salute to the Royal Fendersmith’ as Her Majesty was finally laid to rest. And for the first time that day, the room was silent.

NEWS

ROUND-UP

Announcements & Events from across the Horsham District Email submissions to editor@aahorsham.co.uk

The Horsham District paid its respects following the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on 8 September.

Books of condolence were opened at the Council offices at Parkside, The Capitol and Horsham Museum, while the public were invited to lay floral tributes in the Garden of Remembrance at St Mary’s Church in the Causeway. As a mark of respect, flags were flown at half-mast in the Carfax and at Park House.

Horsham District Council Chairman, Cllr Kate Rowbottom, said: ‘We have not just lost a monarch but the matriarch of our nation. The Queen has been an enduring presence of strength, stability, duty and dedication for so many years. We all owe her our profound gratitude.’

The Lord-Lieutenant of West Sussex, Lady Emma Barnard, who resides at Parham, said: ‘This solemn day is one of profound sadness, as news of the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II goes out across the world. It is a milestone in our history, and it marks the gentle and dignified close of the longest reign of any monarch this country has ever known. She was part of us all, held fast in the hearts of millions of people with the deepest respect, admiration and, above all, love.’

In line with official protocol, the initial Proclamation of King Charles III was held on Saturday 10 September at St James’s Palace and then ‘cascaded’ throughout the UK. The local Proclamation was made by Cllr Rowbottom at the Carfax Bandstand on Sunday 11 September at 3pm. Cllr Martin Boffey performed a fanfare and, after the Proclamation, the National Anthem was sung, with crowds and officials gathered to observe the historic occasion.

A Service of Commemoration was held at St Mary’s Church, Horsham, on Sunday 18 September. The sermon was given by the Rev’d Canon Lisa Barnett, Team Rector of Horsham, and prayers were led by clergy from churches across the town. Readings were given by the Vice-Chairman of HDC, Cllr Ian Stannard, and Chief Executive of HDC, Jane Eaton. Cllr Stannard said: ‘The Queen visited Horsham and our district twice and it was wonderful that at this special service of commemoration the people of the Horsham District were able to honour her and show their love and respect.’

The Chairman of the Council and officers from HDC joined with the nation in observing a two-minute silence at 11am on 19 September, the day of the funeral.

The Queen visited West Sussex on many occasions. The most recent was in November 2017, when she visited Canine Partners in Midhurst and watched a production by a youth theatre company. In 2003, crowds lined the streets as Her Majesty and Prince Philip came to Horsham, visiting The Capitol and a new sundial in The Forum before heading to Christ’s Hospital. Archive images can be found on the ‘Past Pictures’ section of the WSCC website.

Officials and members of the public gathered in the Carfax to hear the Proclamation (Photo: HDC)

There has been a development regarding the proposed McDonald’s restaurant and drive-thru at a new business park in Billingshurst. Horsham District Council rejected the first application by landowner Dunmoore Group, after residents voiced concerns about the 100-seat restaurant. The applicant then submitted a revised application, but it was swiftly withdrawn.

The Horsham District Jobs and Skills Fair will be held at the Drill Hall, Denne Road, on Saturday 5 November, 10am2pm. The event is popular with jobseekers and provides an opportunity to meet local employers and find out about training opportunities. Local employers can book a stand at horsham.gov.uk/jobs-and-careers/ get-help-to-find-a-job/horsham-districtjobs-and-skills-fair

Horsham Fireworks Night will be held on the cricket ground at Horsham Sports Club, Cricketfield Road, Horsham, RH12 1TE, on Saturday 29 October. Gates open at 5pm for the fair and food stalls, with the firework display scheduled to begin at 7.30pm. Saver tickets cost £8-10 (£15 on the gate, if any remain, children under-5 free. For tickets, visit the Sports Club office, M&J News on East Street, or visit https://bit.ly/HorshamFireworks

Horsham Rugby Club hosts a fireworks night with bonfire at its Coolhurst ground on Hammerpond Road, RH13 6JP on Saturday 5 November. There will also be fairground rides, food stalls, licensed bar and live music. Gates open at 5pm. fireworks.horshamrufc.com

Slinfold Bonfire & Fireworks Night is held at the Red Lyon, RH13 0RR on Friday 4 November, 6.30 – 9.30pm. Hot food and drinks available. For tickets, search ‘Slinfold’ at eventbrite.co.uk

Leonardslee Lakes & Gardens hosts Leonardslee Illuminated on 24 – 27 November, 3 Nov – 4 December and 7 – 21 December. The 240-acre, Grade I listed estate will be transformed by illuminations, large-scale installations and atmospheric soundscapes. Guests can enjoy a Victorian funfair, Christmas market and seasonal food and drink, before walking the mile-long trail. Tickets £18, (Under-16s £10) from leonardsleegardens.co.uk

Award-winning comedian Paul Foot brings his new show, Swan Power, to the Capitol Theatre on Saturday 15 October. Paul has appeared on many TV and radio shows, including Never Mind the Buzzcocks. Swan Power sees Foot exploring interfering ambulance drivers and Billy Zane’s valuable diamond. Tickets £16.50 from thecapitolhorsham.com

Stane Street Sinfonietta continue their series of concerts celebrating Sussex creatives with an exploration of the work of Percy Bysshe Shelley, at St Mary’s Church, Horsham on Friday 4 November. The Sinfonietta is a professional chamber orchestra featuring musicians living or working in Sussex. For the next concert, they will be joined by Radio 4’s Chris Aldridge, who’ll read some of Shelley’s poems, and Angharad Lyddon, a finalist in the Cardiff Singer of the World 2019. Lyddon sings Respighi’s ‘Il Tramonto’, a heart-breaking setting of Shelley’s The Sunset. There’s also music by Beethoven, Bridge, Walton and Vaughan Williams, plus John Hawkins’ Another ‘Orpheus’, inspired by words from Shelley’s poem, ‘Hellas’. Tickets £22 (£5 under-18s) from stanestreetsinfonietta.com

HAODS presents 9 to 5 The Musical at the Capitol Theatre, Horsham on 9 - 12 November. The musical is based on the 1980 hit movie, featuring songs by Dolly Parton. Set in the late-70s, the story follows the exploits of three women as they fight to overcome the misogynistic views of American workplace. Their story of friendship and revenge is outrageous, thought-provoking and a little romantic. Tickets £19.50 from (01403) 750220 or thecapitolhorsham.com

TOOVEY’S

To be auctioned in our sale of jewellery on 2nd November ~ a fine, late 19th century gold, silver, emerald and diamond necklace, pre-sale estimate £20,000 30,000 (plus Buyer’s Premium 29.4%)

Looking to sell your jewellery?

Entries are invited for our forthcoming jewellery sales on 2nd & 30th November

For free, no-obligation valuations please call to arrange an appointment

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

Leonardslee Illuminated (©Ray Gibson)

Angharad Lyddon

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Michael Parkinson is just one of the stellar names appearing at this year’s Petworth Festival Literary Week on Thursday 27 October – Sunday 6 November. The festival features novelists Robert Harris, Kate Mosse and Ben Okri; historians Simon Sebag-Montefiore, Ben Macintyre and Al Murray; from the political world, MP Jeremy Hunt and Boris Johnson biographer Andrew Gimson; and autobiographies from the likes of Hugh Bonneville and Antiques Roadshow stalwart

Ronnie Archer-Morgan. There is also a serious purpose to much of what happens across the week. Epidemiologist Mark Woolhouse presents a talk entitled, ‘The Year the World Went Mad’, and other environmental talks include Charles Clover’s ‘Rewilding the Sea’ and Rebecca Nesbit’s ‘Tickets for the Ark’. The festival embraces younger readers too, with Children’s Laureate Joseph Coehlo appearing on Sunday 30 October. petworthfestival.org.uk

Slinfold poet Margaret Hughes’ new collection, A Time of Reflection, provides an insightful commentary on the challenges of the last few years in verse. Lockdowns, the death of Prince Philip, hat making, the Bishop's Palace Gardens and West Dean Gardens all inspired Margaret’s poetry. A Time of Reflection, published Tim Saunders Publications, is available in all good bookshops and https://tsaunderspubs.weebly.com

The Horsham branch of the Arts Society has announced details of its next two lectures at the Capitol Theatre, Horsham. On Wednesday 12 October, Julia Korner presents her talk entitled, ‘The Conservation of Paintings’, with a practical, step-by-step guide to art conservation through the ages. On Wednesday 9 November, Brian Stater talks about ‘The Stirling Prize –Britain’s Architectural Oscars’. Lectures start at 10.45am and last one hour. Non-members welcome. Tickets £8 on the door.

Al Murray (©Pete Dadds)

More than 550 people took part in the St Catherine’s Hospice Midnight Walk in Horsham on Saturday 3 September. After two years of cancellations due to COVID, the charity’s popular event gave people a chance to walk in memory of a loved one, with their efforts set to raise £80,000. The night began at The Bridge with a warm-up by Jo Michaels, and after completing the challenge, walkers enjoyed refreshments and prosecco. stch.org.uk

The Hurst Café has opened at the former Hurst Road Youth Club in Horsham. It provides young people (Year 7 upwards) with a place to meet friends and relax. The café has social areas with consoles and comfy sofas, games and activities including a pool table, and a hard court for ball games. The café serves hot and cold drinks and snacks. The Hurst Café is collaborative project between 4theYouth and HDC, with youth workers on hand. @Hurstcafe

Horsham Artists has announced the return of its annual exhibition event, the Contemporary Art Fair, after a two-year break. The fair will be held at Parkside, Horsham District Council’s building in Chart Way, Horsham, RH12 1XH, on Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 October, with a preview evening on Friday 21. It features the work of over 30 local artists and makers within a wide variety of artistic disciplines including landscapes, abstracts, precious metal jewellery, knitted textiles, figurative sculpture and even upcycled objects. The fair is an opportunity to see artists demonstrate their knowledge and skill in a programme of free workshops and talks, giving an insight into how original art is produced. Download the brochure at horshamartists.org

Hepworth & Company has opened a new Tap Room at its brewery in Pulborough, so visitors can enjoy its beers alongside street food and live entertainment. Matt Tobin, Tap Room & Events Manager, previously managed The Star in Petworth, and ran online retailer, Beer Hop. The Tap Room is open Monday – Saturday with hot food available on Thursday and Friday nights through a roster of ‘pop-ups'. hepworthbrewery.co.uk

Horsham

artist Paul Baden at the Art Fair in 2019 (©AAH/Toby Phillips)

SOUTHERNCOUNTIES

A number of voluntary positions are available across the Horsham District. Sussex Green Living require a Recycling Volunteer to help educate the public about the environment. Holding Space, which provides low-cost counselling to families, parents and children struggling with their mental health, are looking for qualified counsellors to join their team of volunteers. Horsham Table Tennis Club are looking for volunteers to help at their Ready and Able Club, an inclusive club for disabled adults. Finally, Carers Support West Sussex, which supports carers living in West Sussex, is also seeking volunteers. For details on any of these roles, email volunteering@horshamdistrict.gov.uk volunteerhorshamdistrict.co.uk

There will be a themed 70s Evening to support the Horsham Branch of Parkinson’s UK at Mannings Heath Village Hall on Saturday 22 October, from 7pm. The night includes a disco, bar and raffle. Tickets £10 from Dennis Saunders on (01403) 259694, Carol Matthews on (01403) 263882 or Cath Stead on (01403) 731072.

Slinfold Concert Band perform a fundraising concert for The Phoenix Stroke Club at St Mark’s Church, Holbrook, RH12 5PU, on Sunday 23 October, 3 – 5pm. Tickets £12.50 (refreshments included) from trybooking.co.uk/BUYE

Local saxophonist Andy Walker and his Friends present a Jazz Evening at St Mary's Church Centre, the Causeway, Horsham, on Saturday 5 November, 7.45pm (doors at 7pm). Enjoy an evening of swinging jazz and a fish and chip supper. Tickets £20 with all proceeds going towards the St. Mary's Church Fabric fund. Tickets £20 from Carfax Waterstone’s or the Church Office on (01403) 253762.

The Horsham branch of Blood Cancer UK hosts a Bridge Drive at Warnham Park, Warnham, RH12 3RP on Thursday 10 November, 10am – 3pm. The event includes prizes and a raffle. Costs £100 per table (£25 each) to include coffee, biscuits and lunch. Contact Nicola at secretary.horshambloodwise@gmail.com or call (01403) 243492.

Horsham

A new bronze plaque has arrived in Piries Place to sit alongside the statue of William Pirie. The plaque, positioned in front of the statue, provides details of the sculptor Lorne McKean and Pirie’s local connections. A new bronze step has also been attached to the rear of the carriage after it was damaged during building works. The statue of Mr Pirie, a former Headmaster of Collyer’s, and his donkey has stood at the heart of Piries Place since 1993.

Barnstormers Comedy returns to the Capitol Studio on Sunday 10 October, from 7.30pm. Comedians confirmed include Andrew White, (pictured) fresh from another successful show at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival; Howard Read, an award-winning regular on the stand-up circuit; and Patrick Monahan, seen recently on BBC’s The One Show. Regular MC and compere Kevin Precious holds everything together. Tickets £10 (£12 on the night). Recommended 18+. For tickets call (01403) 750220 or visit thecapitolhorsham.com

Jim Hills, well known in Horsham for his contribution to sport and youth clubs, passed away on 18 August, aged 86. He took over the running of Horsham Boys’ Club in the late 50s and coached a wide variety of sports locally. Jim also served as a magistrate. In later life, he ran Jim Hill Sports, firstly in Billingshurst and later Coolham, and enjoyed supporting his daughter and granddaughter at showjumping competitions. Jim died in Wales, having moved there in 2021. A memorial service was held at St Mary’s Church, Billingshurst, on 1 October.

Jim at his shop, Jim Hills Sports, in April 2016

Phillips)

Jim (centre) was involved in many sports and here is seen presenting trophies to local runners at a cross country championships.

Tanbridge Badminton Club is celebrating its 40th anniversary. The club started playing at the old Tanbridge House School in Horsham, as a result of a group of people attending a badminton evening class. The club, which meets on Friday evenings at The Forest School, Horsham, is open to new members of any experience, with the focus on fun. Contact secretary Nelia Palmer on (01403) 267331 or email candn.palmer@btinternet.com

A consultation is being held on the proposed designation of a new conservation area in Horsham. If adopted, the area would include parts of Norfolk Road, Norfolk Terrace, Wellington Road, Chichester Terrace, Barttelot Road, Park Terrace, Park Street and East Street, and would be called the Park Terrace Gardens Conservation Area. Find our more at www.horsham.gov.uk/ planningpolicy/planning-policy/ currentconsultations

Muse Developments held a “community consultation” on its plans for the former Novartis site on 29 September. Muse is hoping that Horsham Enterprise Park will be a ‘vibrant, sustainable neighbourhood’ at the former Novartis site in Parsonage Road, Horsham. Its proposal includes about 260 new homes, with 35% ringfenced as affordable homes, as well as employment space, a ‘sympathetic preservation and conversion’ of the listed building to include the retention of the landmark tower, and a landscaped boulevard through the centre of the site, complemented by public spaces. Muse will be working alongside sister company, Lovell Partnerships, a provider of innovative homes, for the scheme’s residential development. horshamenterprisepark.co.uk

The deer rut is one of nature's great wildlife spectacles and one you can witness at the National Trust’s Petworth House and Park. Join a two-hour guided walk in Petworth Park to learn more about the rut and observe seasonal behaviour. Walks run on 3, 5, 7, 10, 12, 14, 17, 19 and 21 October, 10.30am - 12.30pm. Binoculars recommended. £5 per person, children free. nationaltrust.org.uk/petworthhouse-and-park or call 0344 249 1895

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The old Novartis building in Horsham has listed status

Phillips)

(©NT/Laurence Perry)

Outstanding GCSE results for Duke of Kent School Pupils

We at Duke of Kent School could not be prouder of the Year 11 cohort, 2022!

Hard work, collective endeavour and a positive spirit mark them out, after what has been a challenging time for young people. The outstanding GCSE results reflect their very best efforts and the support of our whole school community.

Our Year 11s achieved an overall GCSE pass rate of 96%, with a commendable 80% of our pupils gaining at least one grade 7 or above. Indeed, over half of all the grades awarded were a grade 7, 8 or 9. The cohort average across all subjects was a grade 7, with grade 9 making up 14% of the total. This is a truly fantastic achievement for our pupils and has enabled each one of them entry to their first choice of school or college.

The whole Duke of Kent School community is delighted for our students, who although will be leaving us this year, are always welcome. Their achievements speak loudly, but we will also remember them for being kind, for being resilient and for their witty sense of humour. They leave us with a raft of memories and battles overcome during some challenging times. Congratulations, Class of 2022!

Mr Allen Head of Pupil Progress

Duke

FINE BLEND

CONTRAST IS KEY AT POTS & PANSIES POTTERY IN STORRINGTON

Sarah Russell has spent most of her career as a garden designer, but a passion for pottery has recently become more than a hobby. Here, she talks about the art of throwing and her hopes for Pots and Pansies Pottery…

POT PAINTINGS

When my children were little, I painted terracotta pots. I would add pictures or basic effects like sponging and crackle glazing, plant them up and sell them at local fairs. They were popular and recently I came across a customer who still has one that she bought 25 years ago! But it was a hobby, and I never made my own pots. Then I watched The Great Pottery Throw Down and loved it! I felt so inspired that I attended a course at Clay ‘n’ Glaze, a pottery studio in Pulborough run by Wendy Yates. Wendy has since moved to

Devon, but I continue to learn from one of her former pupils, Matt Smith, who runs a pottery studio in Chichester.

SWEET SPOT

Things progressed when I bought my own potter’s wheel. Wendy had a second-hand wheel for a left-handed potter, which I happen to be. I didn’t have a shed or spare room to put it in, but it just about fit in the kitchen! This coincided with the start of lockdown, meaning I had plenty of time to practice. My early work wasn’t brilliant, but I kept going and started to grasp the importance of centring the clay ball and gradually shaping it until you hit the sweet spot. I still have the first thing I made. The glazing is terrible, but I’m proud of it and still use it to store tea bags.

FIRED UP

I was making small things in my spare time, when I wasn’t occupied by garden design. Gradually, pottery started to take over the house, with pieces piled up in the living room, kitchen and spare room. I didn’t have my own kiln, so I’d build up a collection before sending them off elsewhere to be fired. Most of what I produced was given to friends and family, and it was only when a neighbour bought six items that I started to think about making money from pottery. When my parents passed away, I was left a small inheritance and used the money to invest in my hobby. I bought a shed, a kiln of my own and some quality glazes, which are expensive. My garden design business is called Pots & Pansies, so adding a pottery element to it was perfect!

Sarah Russell, owner of Pots and Pansies in Storrington (©AAH/Alan Wright)

Pots and Pansies Pottery (©AAH/Alan Wright)Pots and Pansies Pottery (©AAH/Alan Wright)Storage containers (©AAH/Alan Wright)

Sarah Russell throws on the potter’s wheel (©AAH/Alan Wright)

HANDLING ISSUES

Pottery is time-consuming and part of the challenge is managing the process. Once a piece has been thrown, you need to wait until it’s bone dry before firing it for the first time. If it’s damp, it will explode in the kiln. When it comes to adding handles, you must be careful, as clay shrinks as it dries. Handles can shrink faster than the mug and that can cause cracks at the join. When it comes to lids, it is difficult to get a perfect fit. The lid is trimmed off while clay is leather hard, but when you fire clay in the kiln, it shrinks significantly. With white stoneware, it reduces in size by about 12% and it can be twice that with porcelain. You need to bear that in mind, especially when you’re making lids or objects that will accommodate other components, like lamp bases.

DANCING COLOURS

Glazes are added after the first firing. This is my favourite part, as I love the contrast between shiny and matt glazes. Adding a flux glaze lowers the melting temperature of other glazes underneath, so all the colours melt and create a fusion of

movement. You have an idea of what it might look like, but when you open the kiln after the second firing, it’s always a surprise to see exactly how glazes have interacted. You see the cascading effect caused by the flux, as the blended colours dance down to create unique patterns.

SHINY THINGS

I think there’s a consistent look to my work. I often use a sandstone clay underneath and add a bright glaze, often using shades of blue, to give contrast. I personally like to make things with a shiny surface! Occasionally, I use techniques such as chattering, when a texturing tool is used to create a rippling effect on

A selection of Sarah’s distinctive pottery (©AAH/Alan Wright)

‘Blended colours dance down to create unique patterns.’

Traditional Values...

...Modern Approach

the surface of the clay. This takes practice! As well as mugs and bowls of all sizes, I make oil pourers, storage jars for tea, coffee and sugar with bamboo lids, artificial tea-light holders, lamp bases and even holed vases, ideal for floral arrangements. They vary in price from £5 to £100, so there’s something for everyone. My drinking vessels come in every size, from espresso cups to tankards. We all have our quirks when it comes to hot drinks, with some of us liking a bucket of tea in the morning and a small coffee at night, and others vice versa! Some customers choose different shaped cups for their family, while others like to have a range of sizes in a similar pattern, as they think it’ll look funky in the cupboard.

MAKING A STATEMENT

I try to attend the market in Horsham Carfax at least once a month. I’m also part of a pop-up shop in Petworth which goes on tour to Chichester once a month too. In the run-up to Christmas, I’ll hopefully be at the Carfax more regularly, selling a new range of festive items like Christmas tree candle holders. If I don’t have what you’re looking for, I welcome commissions and am currently working on a raspberry pink jug for a customer. I love making large bowls, as the effect of the glaze is so dramatic. Looking forward, I want to push myself to throw more of these bigger items, as they are statement pieces. I am still running the garden design business, but have scaled that down as – at this stage of life – my heart is in pottery. I get joy from it and hope to do it full-time eventually. I love the creativity it offers and the feeling I get every time I open the kiln to see the little treasures I’ve made!

INTERVIEW: BEN MORRIS

ALAN WRIGHT

Further

Email: sarah@potsandpansies.co.uk

Pots and Pansies (©AAH/Alan Wright)

VINYL FANTASY

SLIPPED DISCS IN STEYNING EXPANDS ONTO THE HIGH STREET

Slipped Discs began life in Cobblestone Walk, Steyning, at the start of lockdown. The business recently moved on to the High Street, offering vinyl that covers the entire history of recorded music. Owner James Anderson talks to AAH about Frank Zappa, cassette nostalgia and Stranger Things in a quirky ‘Top 10’ format…

10 ABSOLUTE BEGINNERS

I’ve always been into music and started collecting vinyl when I was 13. I would go to the car boot sale near Brighton Station every Sunday morning, hunting out bargains. Back then, you couldn’t easily look up a record’s value on a phone and the only reliable guide was Record Collector magazine. People would put all their old records in a box and sell them for a few pounds, but some were worth 20p and others much more. I saw records for £1 that are now worth over £100. I made my share of mistakes, but through trial and error, built up a good knowledge of vinyl and my university degree was largely funded by selling records.

9 GET LUCKY Daft Punk

The first record I made a substantial profit on was Trespass by Genesis. It was a first label variation, released on pink scroll. I paid £4 and sold it online to a collector for £50. Occasionally, you can get lucky. In the run-up to the Platinum Jubilee, I managed to get hold of ‘God Save the Queen’ by the Sex Pistols on 7” vinyl. When I played it, the original promotional flyer slipped out of the sleeve. The flyer alone sold at auction for several hundred pounds.

8 WANNA BE STARTIN’ SOMETHIN’ Michael Jackson

After graduating, I worked as a studio engineer, but opportunities dried up, so I retrained as an electrician. I combined the two jobs to become an electrical design engineer and flourished, but I couldn’t shake my dream of opening a record store. It was always in my mind. So, in March 2020, I went to view a small unit in Cobblestone Walk, which provides start-ups with a foothold. The very next day, the country went into lockdown! However, I opened Slipped Discs as soon as I could.

The opening coincided with an unexpected resurgence in cassette tapes. Cassettes attract a very different market to vinyl. A lot of the interest was fuelled by 80s nostalgia, yet there was also demand for classical, country and easy listening, which was a surprise. The cassette revival was over in a few months, but I was right on trend and that helped the business in the early days. There’s still a market for cassettes, but people are not paying the crazy prices they were in lockdown.

James Anderson uses a Loricraft record cleaner (©AAH/Alan Wright)

David Bowie

7 TIME WARP Rocky Horror Picture Show Soundtrack

The cassette fad was short lived (©AAH/Alan Wright)

James with classic records by Kate Bush, Creedence Clearwater Revival and Velvet Underground (©AAH/Alan Wright)

The business survived COVID and after two years in Cobblestone Walk, I moved to a premises in the heart of Steyning High Street, opening in early July. I bought a classic Morris Minor postal van and had it sign-written too. The store is engineered towards making record collecting accessible to all, with new sealed vinyl as well as pre-loved records and rarities. There are classic albums that everyone wants in their collection –Pet Sounds by The Beach Boys, Hunky Dory by David Bowie, Sgt Pepper’s by The Beatles – and you can find playable versions for £5 or pay £100 for an original pressing in good condition. But we have classical, jazz, blues, soul, rock ‘n’ roll, hip-hop, pop, and everything in between!

IF I COULD TURN BACK TIME Cher

Record collecting is traditionally an old man’s game, but more young people and women are getting involved, which is great. Many of the best-selling artists of today, including Taylor Swift, Billy Eilish and Harry Styles, are releasing records on vinyl and that’s encouraging new collectors. There’s also demand for classic records from the 1990s and early 2000s, when CD was king. Very few people bought vinyl, so a small number of LPs were originally pressed. As a result, records like The Bends by Radiohead or (What’s The Story) Morning Glory by Oasis are worth several hundred pounds. You could buy the CDs for about a pound on eBay.

4 GET INTO THE GROOVE Madonna

Younger collectors often make the mistake of getting cheap portable record players. They are buying new records, which aren’t cheap, but play them on poor sound systems. I recommend investing in a good vinyl player. A record cleaner is important too, as even if a record looks in good condition, there can be surface dirt or debris in the grooves that affect playback. I run all my vinyl through the cleaner before selling it, so customers get the best sounding version of any album. I use a Loricraft, made by SME, who develop some of the best record cleaners in the world. Amazingly, they’re also based right here in Steyning.

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Some of the rarities displayed at Slipped Discs (©AAH/Alan Wright)The store caters for all tastes in music (©AAH/Alan Wright)

I’M STILL STANDING Elton John

There are countless examples of first label pressings and limited-edition coloured vinyl that are prized by collectors. The first pressing of Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon featured a blue triangle and they’re worth money. And if you ever come across Led Zeppelin’s debut album with turquoise lettering on the sleeve, keep hold of it! One elusive vinyl that has become legendary amongst collectors is Growers of Mushroom, the debut record by a British rock band called Leaf Hound. An original in mint condition swaps hands for up to £10,000. It didn’t sell at the time but is now seen as a pioneering record. Unfortunately, I’ve never come across it.

Trends change. Rock 'n' roll from the 50s doesn’t sell as well as it once did, while progressive rock has dipped. Punk and new wave from the late-70s and early-80s are flavour of the month. To be on trend takes a little luck, but early hip-hop is certainly in demand now and records like De La Soul’s 3 Feet High and Rising are highly sought. This time last year, Hounds of Love was one of the harder Kate Bush records to sell. I would struggle to get £15 for an original, but now it can fetch about £125. That’s the Stranger Things effect. I think the next series is set in 1987, so I’m anticipating what songs might appear. Prince seems a solid bet, but if anyone involved in the show wants to give me a tip, I’d be grateful!

Starting the business was a gamble, as it meant giving up the security of a well-paid job with a company car. But it was worth taking and I have no regrets. I did wonder if record collecting had reached its peak, but the number of young people collecting is still growing. I think that’s because it has a sense of nostalgia that the era of the download can never replicate. I sell online too, but interestingly, it is shop sales that are more buoyant, as people enjoy the experience.

INTERVIEW: BEN MORRIS

PHOTOS: ALAN WRIGHT

Further information: Visit Slipped Discs at 58a High Street, Steyning, BN44 3RD Email: slippeddiscssteyning@gmail.com slippeddiscssteyning slippeddiscs1

Slipped Discs in Steyning (©AAH/Alan Wright)

2

RUNNING UP THAT HILL Kate Bush

1

THE GAMBLER Kenny Rogers

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SILK ROAD

AMY SINCLAIR’S LONG JOURNEY INTO ‘WEARABLE ART’

Amy Sinclair (©AAH/Alan Wright)

So, who’s this then?

Amy Sinclair, a young artist from Mannings Heath. As well as drawing wildlife in a fine art style, Amy makes silk scarves that incorporate her art.

Let’s start with the drawings then…

As a child, Amy loved animals and would draw them on the walls of her home, much to her parent’s chagrin. She recalls her mum once trying to swat a fly she’d drawn, although Amy suspects that might have been a form of gentle encouragement! She said: ‘Eventually, mum was so annoyed about me drawing everywhere that she designated a section of wall for doodling. I usually drew animals from books, but I also loved Disney films like 101 Dalmatians, and would draw my favourite characters.’

And she pursued this interest?

At college, Amy developed a talent for textile design and developed her fine art and photography skills too. However, when it came to her career, the well-intentioned advice of family and friends influenced her decision making, and Amy chose to embark on a teacher training course...

I’m guessing by the dots that it didn’t end well?

Amy eventually dropped out of the course, realising that teaching wasn’t her true calling. She said: ‘It was a dark period in my life. I suffered with depression and anxiety, and there were times when I really doubted myself as an artist. But once I’d decided not to pursue a career in education, I put everything into my art. Even if it didn’t work out, at least I would have tried.’

Back to the drawing board then...

Amy regained confidence as an artist and focused on her time-consuming, highlydetailed drawings of animals, making them available as originals, limited-edition prints, and cards. Many are in black and white on a plain background, similar in concept to established artists like Gary Hodges, and the wildlife of Africa and Asia features prominently. Amy said: ‘Some of my drawings are of endangered species, such as the lynx and tiger, as I want to highlight how important it is to look after our wildlife.’

How did the crossover with textiles come about?

Amy first explored the idea during a textiles project. She researched designers creating ‘wearable art’ and began to develop her own ideas for marrying art and fabric. She was also fascinated by wallpaper designs and this interest can also be seen in her silk scarves. There’s a lot of detail in the patterns, but the designs need to be more than just pretty; they need to be cleverly designed too, due to the many ways they can be worn.

One of Amy’s fine art drawings

Just wrap around the neck, don’t they? There are countless ways in which silk can be used. It can be worn the classic way around the neck, or tied in a French knot. It can be employed as a head scarf (as The Queen often liked to), utilised as a bag strap or adapted as a hair bow.

Amy said: ‘There are hundreds of ways you can use ia silk scarf. I wear fabrics one way one day and the next employ it in a completely different way, to the extent people wouldn’t even realise it’s the same item. This means that designing them is complicated, as you need to think about where to position patterns and pictures. If it features a horse, there’s no good positioning it so that the half a head will be hidden in a French knot. Also, patterns must run along the edges to give balance. You need to think both creatively and practically to make it work.’

Sounds complicated…

Amy’s textiles often feature several hundred different Photoshop layers, with pictures, colours and patterns, which are all then condensed and printed on to fabric.

Does it have to be silk?

Not only does colour translate very well on silk (compared to materials like polyester) it also makes the scarves a luxury product. On silk, colours even maintain vibrancy on the reverse side.

Amy said: ‘I will spend two or three months on one drawing, so after putting in all that hard work, I wouldn’t want to

Amy Sinclair with one of her silk scarf designs (©AAH/Alan Wright)

transfer the images on to a cheap material where it loses quality. That would be disrespecting the work I’ve put in.’

What animals does she draw? Cranes, horses, lions, butterflies, elephants and many more feature in her work. The scarves usually have an element of contrast, with black and white drawings enhanced by surrounding colours and patterns. Amy said: ‘As I’m passionate about wildlife, it’s natural to make them the focus of my work. One collection has an ‘Asia meets Africa’ theme and if you study closely, you’ll see the shape of the continents in the design.’

These are scarves with a message then... Amy actually names each piece and they come with a card with an inspiring message. She hopes buyers interpret the meaning in their own way. She said: ‘The fashion industry has a way of dictating how women should look and this can cause a lack of confidence or even contribute to eating disorders. The fashion industry - and society in general - needs to be more accepting of our differences. I want to make a small difference through my work. If I call a piece ‘Unlocking Your Dreams’ and one person feels valued when they put the scarf on, then that’s a result for me, as it reflects how I feel when I wear a luxury item.’

Amy with one of her silk scarves (©AAH/Alan Wright)Amy working on a wildlife drawing (©AAH/Alan Wright)

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Many of our cakes and sweet treats are handmade on site. Locally sourced ingredients feature throughout our menus including local craft bakers’ breads and burgers from our very own beef herd.

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These are luxury products then? Amy said: ‘It is possible to buy silk scarves for £50, but they are usually made cheaply in Asia and my products are designed, sewn and printed in the UK. I don’t want to contribute to the negative environmental impact of fast fashion.’

Where are her products available? Art prints and cards are available on Amy’s Etsy page, as well as local outlets including Camelia Botnar in Cowfold, New House Farm in Horsham and Stone Baked Co in Slinfold. The scarves are a new product and Amy is still building a website to sell them through, while also approaching fashion boutiques in London and the south-east.

Does Amy plan to extend the range? She might create a range of kimonos and hair scrunchies! She continues to enjoy drawing too and is currently working on several commissions of pet and wildlife pictures. After a long and sometimes difficult journey, Amy says she’s now in a good place. ‘For too long, I listened to what others thought I should do. I wish I could speak to my younger self and say, “follow your heart!” Trust in your instincts and you’ll be happier for it.’

INTERVIEW: BEN MORRIS PHOTOS: ALAN WRIGHT

Further information: etsy.com/shop/AmySinclairDesign Email: amysinclairdesign@gmail.com

Amy Sinclair (©AAH/Alan Wright)

ROLLING ON

YEARS IN

The Model Bakery in Steyning is celebrating its 50th anniversary as a family-run business this year. With a steadfast commitment to traditional baking, the business was named ‘Best Foodie Shop’ at the Steyning Food and Drink Festival. We meet brothers Phil and Peter Friedli as they embark on a search for a successor…

SWISS ROOTS

Max Friedli was born in Switzerland and trained as a confectioner before heading to the UK with meagre savings in 1954. He travelled around the south of England before settling at Cowdray Park, a country house in Midhurst famous for hosting polo. Phil Friedli said: ‘Our dad was renowned for making fancy tarts and cakes, and there was

high demand at Cowdray. He worked 16-hour days and hardly ever took a day off. Having arrived in this country with very little, he dreamed of one day owning a business and that was his constant motivation.’

BAKERY BEGINNINGS

Max became friends with another hardworking immigrant from the Czech Republic, Stefan Pyszko. Stefan opened a bakery in Twickenham and Max joined him as confectioner. Then in 1972, Max headed south to open his own bakery in Steyning. Phil said: ‘There has been a bakery on this site since 1905. It was initially Bristow’s, in the yard opposite, but moved here when this site was developed. It later became Green’s Model Bakery and dad kept the name, although

we’ve never found out why it was called that in the first place.’

FAMILY HERITAGE

While Max was busy making bread, rolls and various sweet treats, wife Ruth would be serving customers. Ruth was also Swiss and had her own baking heritage, as her family ran a bakery in the village of Därligen, near Interlaken. Phil recalls: ‘Mum always wanted to go back home to Switzerland, but dad was happy here. He’d always dreamt of owning a business and had worked hard to achieve it. Wen we were children, we didn’t see much of him, as he would start very early in the morning and when he came home, he’d be exhausted and go straight to bed!’

Phil Friedli at the Model Bakery (©AAH/Alan Wright)

SNEAKING OUT

A second Model Bakery opened a few hundred metres away in Church Street, only a couple of years after Max had taken on the High Street shop. At the time, Steyning Grammar School was split in two, with younger pupils and boarders at the historic site in Church Street and older pupils attending school at the other end of the village. Max realised that by having two shops, he could attract more children at lunch. Peter Friedli said: ‘Times have changed now, because schools have their own tuck shops and vending machines. But in those

days, kids would sneak out to the sweet shop or our bakery for a Chelsea bun. They’d have lunch, but mums would give them 50p for a treat. Now, schools are like Fort Knox and pupils aren’t allowed outside!’

TRAGIC STORY

Ruth has worked at throughout her life and until the pandemic was still a familiar face in the shop. She retired two years ago at the age of 86 after serving countless loaves of bread over half a century. Sadly, Max passed away in

2002, having suffered with Multiple Sclerosis for many years. Phil said: ‘It’s a tragic story, as dad contracted MS two years after buying the business. Having come over to England as a young man, he worked tirelessly and finally achieved his ambition aged 48. Then he worked through MS for 27 years until he died.’

WORKING MENTALITY

Max and Ruth’s three children had grown-up working at the bakery to help the family business. The brothers had their own ambitions,

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Peter Friedli at the Model Bakery (©AAH/Alan Wright)

with Peter training to be an engineer and Phil a carpenter. However, they were needed as their father’s health deteriorated and ended up taking over the reins. There have been ups and downs, but this year, the family celebrated 50 years of The Model Bakery. Peter said: ‘In the early days, our parents were wise and paid off the mortgage and bills as quickly as possible. A lot of their generation had that mentality. They made sacrifices and barely had a day off, let alone a holiday. But that’s why the business survived when so many others didn’t. There used to be at least one traditional bakery in all the surrounding villages, but they’re all gone.’

ARTISAN TALK

The Model Bakery is one of few bakeries that continues to bake the traditional way, with a fresh batch prepared and baked on site each morning, before the shop opens. In addition to the best-selling loaves (white, wholegrain, granary malted, baguettes, etc) they bake sourdoughs at the weekend, while cornbread is another good seller as it isn’t offered elsewhere locally. But there’s one word you won’t hear uttered in the shop and that’s “artisan”! Peter said: ‘Bread has been part of our culture for thousands of years. Ancient Egyptians had sourdough, so it makes me laugh when people act as though these are new ideas. Whatever bread these so-called artisans claim to have invented, the chances are that they’re wrong!’

LAVISH TREATS

One thing that has changed with time is the selection of cakes and fancy treats on offer. The time that goes into making sweets and pastries – and the rising costs of ingredients - has made it difficult for bakeries and patisseries to survive, as customers can struggle to justify lavish delights. So, despite the family’s confectionery heritage, the high-end cake selection has decreased slightly and the Model Bakery now buys in some of its lower-priced cakes. Peter said: ‘Even in the mid-80s, it cost £1.50 for a fancy patisserie treat. Everyone would admire them and remark how beautiful they look, but they couldn’t afford to buy one. Now, those cakes would cost £4 and even London patisseries struggle to break even.’

Emily and Sarah at the Church Street bakery (©AAH/Alan Wright)

‘Ancient Egyptians had sourdough, so it makes me laugh when people act as though these are new ideas.’

BAKING BLAST

The brothers are committed to three more three years, but are ensure about carrying on beyond that. Phil said: ‘Our parents never got to retire. They just carried on and I don't know if we have that mentality. I started working here when I was 14 and I'm nearly 60 now. I’m thinking it would be nice to relax at weekends or even go on the occasional holiday with my partner. But it’s difficult to find someone to step in and continue the business. Peter’s daughter works in civil aviation and has already seen more of the world than the two of us combined. Why would she give that up to carry on the business, when that involves

getting blasted by 240 degrees every time you open the oven door?’

GREAT SUPPORT

Phil and Peter are frustrated at the lack of training courses for traditional occupations like baking. Phil points out that there used to be baking colleges all over the country, but most have disappeared. Apprenticeship schemes have appeal, but often businesses can invest time and money into training someone, only to lose them a year later. That means it is harder to find bakers wanting to set up on their own. Whatever the future holds, the family will always be grateful for

the support they’ve received. Peter said: ‘Steyning is a close-knit community and we’re grateful to everyone who has supported us over 50 years. If everyone just went to Tesco, we wouldn't survive, but fortunately, some people still appreciate a loaf baked the old-fashioned way.’

INTERVIEW: BEN MORRIS PHOTOS: ALAN WRIGHT

Further information: Visit the Model Bakery at: 119 High Street, Steyning. BN44 3RE 20 Church Street, Steyning, BN44 3YB

The Model Bakery on Church Street (©AAH/Alan Wright)

Doughnuts at The Model Bakery (©AAH/Alan Wright)

HOME GIRL

GIG TO PROMOTE

Horsham singer-songwriter Hollie Rogers has released an album, Criminal Heart. As she prepares for a homecoming gig, Holly talks to AAH about her hopes for the record...

When did your musical journey begin?

I’ve been singing and playing guitar since I was a teenager. I started gigging locally, but as a full-time primary teacher, I couldn’t commit fully to music. So, in 2016, I quit teaching in a bid to fulfil my dream of being a singer/songwriter. I knew if it didn’t work out, I could always go back into teaching.

You tasted success early, right?

After only a couple of months, I entered Horsham Battle of the Bands. I won the acoustic competition, which was exciting! It was a nice way to start my journey and gave me confidence. I started gigging more often and going to networking events, meeting musicians, promoters and industry insiders. This involved a lot of travelling to London and I felt I had to move there to give myself the best chance. So, that’s what I did.

Did it work out?

It gave me the opportunity to support great artists including KT Tunstall, who I’ve loved ever since she performed ‘Black Horse and the Cherry Tree’ on Jools Holland all those years ago. I have also opened for Suzanne Vega, Paolo Nutini and Ralph McTell, and played at festivals, including Glastonbury. But all this came from relentless emails and networking. For every success, there have been hundreds of rejections. It gets demoralising when you’re sending music out and it’s ignored 99 per cent of the time, but it makes you enjoy the good moments more.

How would you describe your music? I never know what to say when people ask that! I have played blues nights, country music festivals and folk clubs and never felt out of place, as there are elements of folk, rock, roots and Americana to my songs. I can only really talk about influences, who include Joan Armatrading, Joni Mitchell, Damien Rice and Laura Marling. I also love bands like Blondie and there are tracks of mine where rockier influences shine though. Certainly, many of my heroes are powerful female vocalists.

You’ve just released an album, Criminal Heart. Tell us about it…

There are 12 songs on the album, with ‘Youth’ being the first single. It ends with ‘City of Colour’, the only piano-based track on the record. That song is about leaving your job and moving to London to pursue a new career. The songs are all very personal.

People can forget that songs tend to describe the songwriter’s emotions and these can be painful. So, it’s rewarding when a song you’ve written and is personal to you connects with a listener.

The album has been a long time in the making…

Some songs go back a long way, even as far as the Battle of the Bands. I wanted to get the sound right and be completely happy with what I’d done. I’ve had opportunities to make a record before, but waited until I had the right team around me, both in terms of the band and studio expertise. For many years, Horsham musician Tom Holder has played double bass for me and he remains integral to my sound. But other elements were not in place. That’s why I sat on the songs for so long.

Singer/songwriter Hollie Rogers (©Scott Chalmers)

Hollie Rogers (©Scott Chalmers)

What changed?

I went to Masterlink Studios in Surrey to shoot a live session for their YouTube channel. Most singers who play there perform with the studio band, Redtenbacher’s Funkestra, led by Austrian bassist Stefan Redtenbacher. They'd never heard of me and I’d never met them before, but we went into the studio to record ‘Youth’ and a bit of magic happened. Everything clicked and I knew I wanted to record with them. Stefan co-produced the album. I can’t read music, yet he was able to interpret what I was looking for. The photo on the album’s sleeve was taken by Scott Chalmers, who I met after winning the Battle of the Bands, as a photoshoot was part of the prize package. I liked what Scott did, so got back in touch with him when I needed new shots. We’d just about finished when he came out with a headdress loaded with flowers and asked if I’d pose for one more. I was apprehensive, but the shots looked amazing!

You describe yourself as ‘fiercely independent’. Are you happy to remain an unsigned artist?

I have seen friends sign to record labels, but it doesn’t always work out well for them. A lot of money is injected into promoting music initially, but if nothing comes of it, they have lost creative control over their songs. I realised I would struggle to deal with that, as I’m a control freak. I will try different things, adding a cello or something and gauging the opinion of others, but ultimately, I have control. They’re my songs, so I want to dictate track listings, where the drums come in, who plays in my band, where the album launch is held and everything else!

There must be downsides to being independent though?

Of course, as you don’t have the financial clout of a label behind you. The hardest part is managing everything with no budget. When it came to posting out copies of the album, I had been taking pre-orders for so long that my whole flat was covered in envelopes, with piles of signed and unsigned CDs and vinyl scattered about. But I thought it was nice that the musician behind the album was the same person sending them out, especially when they’d helped fund the record.

Hollie Rogers and Tom Holder in Horsham Park in 2016

Phillips)

‘We went into the studio to record ‘Youth’ and a bit of magic happened. Everything clicked.’

You are now back living in Horsham…

It reached the point where I no longer felt the need to be in London. That’s partly because I had made the connections I needed and partly because the live music scene has changed since the pandemic. People are not buying tickets until much closer to the event and lots of gigs get cancelled as a result, as it looks as though the demand isn’t there. But it’s great to be back living in Horsham. I didn’t realise how much I missed the town until I started bumping into old faces!

Are you taking the record on tour?

Yes. It is mostly solo or duo (with Tom Holder) gigs, apart from the final show at The Capitol on 30 October, where I have Stefan and the seven-piece band. It'll be the biggest show I've done, as I want to end with a bang. I wasn't sure if I would be established enough to play there, as I’m an unsigned artist and it’s a big venue. I was worried about nobody coming too and thought that if I could sell 100 tickets, that would be okay, as at least I wouldn’t play to an empty hall. I couldn’t believe it when I

sold that many tickets in the first few days! It made me feel all warm and fuzzy!

What are your hopes for the album?

I think about success and what it means a lot now. If all this was to end tomorrow, I would have great stories to tell. After so many years, my criteria for what success is has shifted. When I started singing, I thought success meant fame and fortune. Now, I think that if I can afford a place to live and support myself, then that’s success. I’m the lucky one, as not many people spend their days doing what they love.

INTERVIEW: BEN MORRIS

Further information: hollierogers.com @hollierogersmusic Search ‘Hollie Rogers City of Colour’ or ‘Hollie Rogers Youth Masterlink Session’ on YouTube.

Also

Hollie Rogers (©Scott Chalmers)

Helen Hitchcock runs perhaps the most colourful, vibrant shop on Steyning High Street.

Sakala sells clothing, jewellery, homewares and gifts made by carefully selected craftspeople and businesses in India, Nepal and Turkey. Here, Helen describes her love for the subcontinent and explains why Sakala has found a market in a rural Sussex town…

LOVE OF TRAVEL

I have travelled all my life and that passion stems from my father. He was an engineer assigned to the Royal family and was there whenever The Queen and Prince Philip went on tour. He was responsible for making sure the Royal cars were in working order, and when they sailed on Royal Yacht Britannia, that vehicles were loaded securely. He travelled throughout the Commonwealth during the 1950s

OF INDIAN

and 60s and would come home with fascinating items from far-flung destinations. It made me realise there’s a big world out there waiting to be explored. When the Royals headed to Balmoral, dad would load up our own car and we’d drive around Europe. So, I caught the travel bug from a young age.

VISCERAL FEELING

I visited India for the first time after turning 40. From the moment I stepped foot off the plane, I felt I was home. The feeling was almost visceral. I did the golden triangle route of Delhi, Jaipur and Agra, but on the flight home, was already planning my next trip! The next time, I ventured away from the tourist trail and stayed at the amazing resort of Elsewhere, on the Goa coast. It is owned by a fashion photographer,

Denzil Sequeira, and the land has been in his family for generations. It transpired that his grandfather once owned a Rolls-Royce that my father worked on in Bombay, so we had these surprise links and became good friends. Denzil introduced me to members of the community, including the headmistress of the local school. They were lacking books and computers, so I offered to help them out. In the years since, I have made more friends in Elsewhere and helped to fund teacher training, scholarship programmes and other community initiatives.

CIRCLE OF LIFE

For a long time, I ran my own events company and was among the UK’s first wedding planners. One of the last events I was involved in was at Oxford University, where attendees included Bill Clinton and Benazir Bhutto. But I gave up the business and moved from London to Steyning 11 years ago. I was more focused on India and wanted to find new ways to help my friends in Elsewhere. So, I opened a small shop in Cobblestone Walk in Steyning and called it Sakala, a Sanskrit word for an all-encompassing circle, or a circle of life. Initially, I sold jewellery

New House Farm Shop and Tea Room is located in a beautifully renovated 16th Century barn in a quiet spot on the rural outskirts of Horsham. People come from all over to enjoy our cafe and local produce.

Strawberry Fields Tea Rooms

Enjoy cakes, sandwiches and Ploughman’s from our Strawberry Fields Tea Rooms, with outdoor seating available. Menu includes baps, sandwiches, toasties and cake, with full English Breakfast from 10am-12pm

Locally

Our locally sourced produce includes fruit & veg, fresh bread, local meats (including Bangers Galore), local beers and gins, wines from Bolney Wine Estate and Leonardslee, Sussex cheeses, unique gifts, and much more!

Helen Hitchcock at Sakala, Steyning (©AAH/Alan Wright)

used gemstones sourced in Goa, with the idea that some of the profits would be invested back into the community. I always ensure the craftspeople I work with receive a proper living wage. I've seen rooms of children making glass bangles and I don’t care if they do only cost 15p – I won’t sell them in my shop!

SPLASH OF COLOUR

Gradually, the shop expanded and we moved to a new location in The Courtyard, then to an even bigger unit on the High Street, where we’ve been for four years. People love Sakala as there’s a story behind everything we sell. We have colourful Godhadi quilts that are handcrafted in Goa, copper bowls they are hand-beaten in the back streets of Pune, and

beautiful pillows made in the Shisha tradition. There are natural fabrics from different regions of India made of cotton, wool and cashmere. You may think there wouldn’t be much demand for such things in Steyning, but a lot of local people have Indian connections. Also, we can be a bit grey and monotone in this country and we occasionally need a splash of colour in our lives. So, people can’t resist coming in, as we’re the brightest shop on the

Dad’s memory might be fading but he can still tell stories about his old jag...

High Street. For those who are more reserved and aren’t quite brave enough to wear the brightest colours, we have white embroidery clothing that is classy, feels wonderful to wear, and yet is a more subtle form of Indian fashion.

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Sakala, Steyning (©AAH/Alan Wright)

RICKSHAW CHALLENGE

I couldn’t travel to India during the pandemic, so established new contacts in Turkey. We now have a room devoted to Turkish textiles and wares, working with craftspeople in the same way. Another room is used for all sorts of functions, from live music to murder mystery nights.

Prior to COVID, I travelled to India several times a year to source items for the shop, but my planned visit in January will be my first trip in three years. I have been involved in many projects in Elsewhere, including providing children with something called a life board, which is used as both a desk for studies and as a water carrier. We’ve also provided solar power and water filters to villages in the Western Ghats, sponsored children through high school, and planted trees in the Himalayan region to help fight deforestation. Next year, I will be joined by colleagues Sarah and Martina as we take on the Rickshaw Challenge as Team Sakala. It will be a great adventure, and at the same time, I know the money raised will make a positive difference to people’s lives.

INTERVIEW: BEN MORRIS

PHOTOS: ALAN WRIGHT

Further information: Visit Sakala at:

50 High Street, Steyning, BN44 3RD sakala.co.uk

sakalasteyning

The West Grinstead & District Ploughing & Agricultural Society held its annual Ploughing Match & Show on Saturday 17 September.

The Society, which celebrated its 150th anniversary last year, promotes the interests of the rural community and the annual ploughing match is held to celebrate the best of arable and pastoral farming. As well as ploughing and livestock competitions, attractions such as ferret racing, gun dog scurry and falconry display attract a wider audience.

The event shifts annually between several farms in the Horsham District, with this year’s held for the first time at Field Farm in Dial Post, kindly hosted by David Exwood and Christ’s Hospital Foundation.

The beating heart of the day are the ploughing matches, with classes covering everything from vintage tractors to modern machinery equipped with the latest ploughs, showing the development of farming through the ages. Independent judges assess the neatness and accuracy of the furrows (the trenches dug into the ground by the plough). This year’s overall champion ploughman was William Tupper from Bignor, with a John Deere tractor and Kverneland 2-furrow plough, whilst Gary Rutter from Hampshire was vintage champion ploughman.

The Society also organises field competitions throughout the year, with farmers coming together at the annual show for the presentation of these awards too. These competitions cover all aspects

of Sussex farming including baled hay, grain, leys (fields for grazing), ploughing, livestock and vineyards, while farm diversification and conservation are also recognised.

Rowan Allan, Honorary Secretary of the Society, said: ‘There is pride at stake in the ploughing competitions, but equally there’s an important social element to the show. Farming can sometimes be a lonely occupation and days like this offer people the chance to speak to others living and working in our rural areas. There’s bound to be a bit of friendly rivalry, but farmers also share ideas and enjoy seeing machinery of all ages in action.’

Some farmers in modern tractors create neat furrows with startling speed and

PLOUGHING MATCH & SHOW CELEBRATES RURAL LIFE PLOUGH ON

Ian WIlliams demonstrates horse ploughing (©AAH/Alan Wright)

There are many classes of ploughing (©AAH/Alan Wright)

Calf Handling competition (©AAH/Alan Wright)

Judges inspect the furrows closely (©AAH/Alan Wright)

efficiency. Others toil, using equipment from times when farming involved even greater physical labour. Bob Jameson of Billingshurst demonstrated a steam-winched plough, powered by two locomotives at opposite ends of the field. One of the engines, a John Fowler & Co built in 1912, took part in the Coronation parade of Queen Elizabeth II. With two men required to turn the heavy plough around and others working the engines, it takes a lot of manpower to function.

Delving back even further in the agricultural timeline, Ian Williams demonstrated horse ploughing. A fourth-generation

farmer from Chalvington, he’s the last person in East Sussex to show this traditional method. Ian said: ‘This has long been a family passion. It’s important that we keep it going, as it’s our heritage and you can’t tell the story of agriculture without the horse plough. The new tractors look lovely and cover the ground quickly, but at what cost to the environment?’

‘When you see a horse plough in action, you certainly respect what our farming ancestors went through. Today, Dolly, 16, and Belle, 14, are pulling the plough. I don’t work them hard, but there was a time when a pair would

walk about 11 miles each day, with the ploughman behind them. He would do that all through winter, as they couldn’t plough the land until the ground had softened.’

Sophie Cross was among those demonstrating vintage equipment and is pictured above driving a Massey Ferguson TE20 with a 1920s reaper-binder, used to collect and bundle crops. She has grown up around farming, with her family being tenants of a large beef and sheep farm in Portslade.

Sophie said: ‘My dad has several vintage tractors and we enjoy taking them out to

Bob Jameson’s steers his steam-winched plough (©AAH/Alan Wright)

rural shows. The West Grinstead match is a great social event for us and it’s nice to see quite a few other younger people here who also have an in interest in agriculture.’

GROUPS & CRAFTS

The day presents an opportunity for groups and organisations to promote their hobby to the public. The Saxon Stickmakers, a collective of about 20 enthusiasts who run workshops at Amberley Museum, were showing off handcrafted wooden sticks, some featuring distinctive handles made with deer antlers. However, long-serving member Kenneth

Wood says that attracting young members is harder than ever. ‘It is one of the problems we face and most of us are getting on a bit. Sadly, if it hasn’t got a keyboard attached, most young people don’t want to know!’

One exception is Rowan Sampson from Horsham, who was only too happy to talk about the Sussex & Kent Weald Stationary Engine Group. Rowan’s family own a rapid grinding mill built by Bamford’s in 1924. It was last used to provide power to a water pump to a Surrey house. Rowan said: ‘My grandad’s passion for engines has been passed down to my dad and now me, so it’s always been in the family. When my grandad got hold of this

Lenders respond to market chaos

Only one word to start this month’s column with – chaos! At the time of writing, a number of lenders have stopped lending completely and most others have increased their rates substantially.

The pound has devalued, and the markets are reacting to the recent budget. However, whilst this has reduced options, and there may be challenging times ahead, the mortgage market is most definitely not shut. Some are comparing this to the crash of 07/08, but it bears no comparison. The current mortgage market has plenty of funding and once the current volatility is over, there will be plenty of mortgage options available, albeit at slightly higher rates than previously.

The difficult bit is time. Firstly, as the cost of funding has risen substantially over the last few weeks, lenders have had to withdraw products with little or no notice. In the main, mortgage brokers tend to get 24 or 48 hours’ notice. But more recently this has been less than a couple of hours in some instances. One lender withdrew rates on a Friday, and informed the broker market on Saturday. We recognise this change has to occur to save the financial status of the lender, but nevertheless it’s frustrating for the end consumer.

Secondly, a mortgage offer may be issued. But if you need to change property, or change the loan size, the lender may only use the current products available to issue the new mortgage offer.

Finally, most lenders are some two to three weeks behind (some eight weeks!) Some surveyors the same. So, if you are in a rush, you’ll need to check the lender’s current service standards before applying to them, and ensure you provide everything required at the outset. You don’t want a lender looking at your case after three weeks, to then reach out to you and request further information, that, once provided, is then back in the queue for three weeks.

More, now than ever, it’s time to seek professional help. A good mortgage broker will have close relationships with their lender partners and have a good knowledge of what’s happening in the market place. If you are looking to review your current mortgage options, some lenders allow you to book rates up to six months in advance. So get in touch with your local mortgage broker and start having those conversations. Time now really does cost money.

YOUR HOME MAY BE REPOSSESSED IF YOU DO NOT KEEP UP REPAYMENTS ON YOUR MORTGAGE.

Sophie Cross at the wheel of her family’s classic MF (©AAH/Alan Wright)

engine, it had been lying in a hedge for years. He managed to restore it and we like demonstrating how it works at shows like this.’

SUPPORTING YOUTH

The Society runs a bursary scheme to support young people venturing into fields such as agriculture, forestry and conservation, offering not only financial support for agriculturalbased college courses at Brinsbury or Plumpton, but also providing mentoring and work experience through its membership. At the Ploughing Match & Show, livestock competitions can give children their taste of handling animals.

One popular event is the Young Person’s Lamb Handling competition, won by Janneke Boers. Among those taking part were brothers Billy and Freddie Townsend from Worthing. The brothers don’t live on a farm but have become interested in rural ways since their older brother started working at Myrtlegrove Farm in Patching. Freddie said: ‘We’ve been going to the farm every day after school. Today, we’re showing three sheep – Suzie, Buddy and Gloria. You need to walk around the ring at the right speed, but the most important thing is to keep the lamb’s shoulder by your leg. It’s good fun and we’d both like to work on a farm one day or do something with cars or tractors!’

Rowan Sampson with his stationary engine (©AAH/Alan Wright) Brothers Billy and Freddie (©AAH/Alan Wright)

‘As A Society, we would like to involve more local schools, perhaps inviting pupils to farms to learn about agriculture.’

FAIR TRADE

Many businesses and charities set up trade stalls, including Auntie Val’s, which sells jams and chutneys made by disabled people, and West Grinsteadbased Cocoa Loco, which uses fairtrade, organic chocolate (we recommended the lemon drizzle bar!)

For others, the day presents a chance to show off their handicraft talents. The Wealden Guild of Spinners, Weavers and Dyers set up a marquee, with members spinning woollen gloves, scarves, jumpers and more. Barry and Andrea Stoner of Brigstone Farm, West Chiltington are members of the Guild and run Sheep Wool Info & Friends for like-minded folk. Barry said: ‘The price you get for a woollen fleece isn’t very high, especially when you factor in travelling to market, so we decided to spin our yarn instead. It’s a good hobby and we’ve made friends through the Guild. Today, we have members demonstrating not only spinning wheels, but also hand spinning techniques, using methods dating back thousands of years.’

QUEEN TRIBUTE

This year’s event was held in the wake of the death of The Queen, with two one-minute periods of silence held during the day. The hardship of the people of Ukraine was recognised too, with this year’s chosen charities including Ukraine Farming Families.

After the 2020 event was cancelled due to COVID (the first time the show hasn’t taken place

Janet Richens spins wool at the Show (©AAH/Alan Wright)

Kenneth Wood, Saxon Stickmakers (©AAH/Alan Wright)

since the foot and mouth crisis) the Society can reflect on two strong years that have helped bring the farming community together. As it looks to the future though, there is a need to ensure the event stays true to its traditions, says Rowan Burt.

‘Whilst we want to offer a wide range of attractions and appeal to people in the towns and villages of the Horsham District and beyond, we do turn down exhibits and trade stands if we don’t think they’re right for

the event. We don't want to become a glorified car boot sale. We have established county shows in Sussex, but this is an agricultural show. We want to see it grow but not to such an extent that it is too big for our largely volunteer-based Society to run.’

‘However, we’re keen to bring in new educational initiatives, like the bursary scheme, and would like to involve more local schools, perhaps inviting pupils to visit local farms to learn about agricultural methods.

Also, we want to ensure that we keep pace with modern farming. It is constantly evolving and we reflect that by introducing new competitions that cover farm diversification and conservation too, which are increasingly important.’

WORDS/INTERVIEWS: BEN MORRIS

PHOTOS: ALAN WRIGHT

Further information: westgrinsteadploughing.co.uk

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The falconry display was popular with youngsters (©AAH/Alan Wright)

Demonstration of a vintage baling machine (©AAH/Alan Wright)

West Grinstead based Cocoa Loco (©AAH/Alan Wright)

FINAL WORD

HORSHAM BLUEPRINT: HELPING SHAPE THE TOWN’S FUTURE

Horsham’s Blueprint Neighbourhood Plan is ready and the people and businesses of the town (within an area formed by Trafalgar, Denne and Forest Neighbourhood Councils) are invited to choose whether to accept it or not by a referendum on Thursday 20 October.

The Plan, created over many years by residents, businesses, workers and visitors, will designate 23 specific areas within Horsham Town as ‘Local Green Spaces’ and will also ensure that green corridors (such as the Riverside Walk) are maintained for people and wildlife. The plan does not allocate sites for housing development but includes many important policies, such as providing affordable homes and keeping Horsham a distinctive market town.

Residents of Forest, Denne and Trafalgar will shortly be receiving Polling Cards and businesses have been invited to register for their separate business referendum.

How did the Plan come about?

In 2015, The Council designated Horsham Blueprint as a Neighbourhood Forum under the Localism Act of 2011. The Act enables local communities to develop their own Neighbourhood Plans, which when adopted form part of the local planning framework. The Forum, consisting of representatives from Denne, Forest and Trafalgar Neighbourhood Councils together with civic groups including the Horsham Society, worked in consultation with the community and businesses to develop the draft Neighbourhood Plan. This consultation included public exhibitions in Swan Walk, surveys and engaging at local community events.

The completed draft Neighbourhood Plan was subject to public consultation during the spring of 2020 and the Plan was revised based on comments received. The resultant Neighbourhood Plan was then submitted to Horsham District Council, who conducted a further round of public consultation. It was then assessed by an Independent Examiner who confirmed that the plan was sound, subject to some minor modifications. Both Blueprint and HDC accepted the examiner’s modifications.

The pandemic played its part in delaying the Council from publishing a Decision Statement until August 2022. It's the publishing of the Decision Notice that triggers the Referendum timeline.

What does the proposed Blueprint Neighbourhood Plan contain?

During the consultation, there was a significant level of agreement on priorities for Horsham, which helped formulate a vision and broad objectives for the proposed plan. These were translated into 15 policies in the plan that will influence development of the town over the next 14 years.

For some, aspects of the plan will be disappointing. For example, many hoped that Rookwood and Muggeridge Field would be designated as Local Green Spaces, but these sites did not satisfy the criteria laid out in the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). It should also be noted that Horsham District Council is currently undertaking a review of the Horsham & District Local Plan, which may in due course trigger a review of the Neighbourhood Plan.

Broadly, the policies cover:

Location & Energy Efficient Design & Character of Development & Housing Needs: to ensure that the design of any development enhances the character and heritage of our town, as well as being environmentally friendly and energy efficient.

Retaining & Enhancing the Vitality & Viability of Horsham Town Centre: to maintain the economic health in balance, employment in offices and retail with residential development. A Sustainable Horsham as a Visitor Destination & Welcoming Public Realm for everyone from the very young to the elderly and the infirmed:

to support and encourage Horsham Town development and expansion of tourism facilities, accommodation, attractions and activities as a vibrant attractive place to visit and stay.

Protecting Existing & Encouraging New Commercial Premises: to promote the area as a good place to start and build a business particularly in the digital and energy sectors.

Local Green Space & Green Infrastructure: to help protect much loved green spaces in Horsham, 23 green spaces have been identified in the plan, including Horsham Park and Chesworth Farm, in addition to the small pockets of green space which line many streets and to ensure green corridors are maintained for people and wildlife.

Transport & Sustainable Movement: to ensure that residents have a network of attractive streets and public spaces which encourages pedestrian use and cycling.

Further information:

The Neighbourhood Plan can be viewed at horshamblueprint.org

Chesworth Farm in Horsham (©AAH/Toby Phillips 2014)