AAH FEBRUARY 2017 by AAH (All About Horsham)

FEBRUARY 2017

5 How to finish 4th in the Olympics and be remembered

An Opportunity to Honour Alfred Shrubb This month’s history feature tells the story of a remarkable Slinfoldborn athlete called Alfred Shrubb. You may not have heard of Alf. Aside from an annual fun-run in Slinfold and a little display at Horsham Museum, there’s little to commemorate his achievements. However, in the early years of the 20th century, Alf was one of the best middle and long distance runners on the planet. In this internet-age, news of record-breaking performances travels fast. But it took many years for Alf - who first discovered his ability whilst running to a fire in Southwater – and a Mohawk called Tom Longboat, who lived at an Indian Reserve in Ontario, to be generally regarded as the best of their generation. Had Alf won Olympic gold medals, it’s likely he would today be held in higher esteem. But in his day, the Games were not the pinnacle of sport. At the St Louis Olympics in 1904 (a year in which Shrubb broke seven records in one night alone in Glasgow), a Cuban postman ripped off the bottom of his street trousers so that they looked like shorts, and at the last moment decided to enter the marathon. During his run, he stopped at an orchard, ate some rotten apples and fell asleep. After a nap, he still felt ill, but nonetheless staggered across the line. He finished in fourth place. American gymnast George Eyser won six medals. That’s despite having a left leg made of wood. Shrubb didn’t attend the St Louis Games, although his best time of that year would have seen him win the four-mile race by two whole minutes. Statistics suggest that he would have won at least seven Olympic golds between 1904 - 1912 had he been selected for Great Britain teams which were then dominated by wealthy Oxbridge athletes.

honoured more in Canada, where he moved only after retiring from athletics.

FEBRUARY 2017 Ben Morris: Wrote the Articles Toby Phillips: Took the Photos Thanks: Jeremy Knight of HDC/Horsham Museum for providing images and text for the History feature. Sir Michael Checkland, Mick Oakey & Amy Baker for providing additional photographs

Were we now talking about a seven-time gold medal winning Olympian, then it’s possible that the new Broadbridge Heath leisure centre, being built two miles from Alf’s home in Slinfold, would bear his name. Instead, it will almost certainly be named The Bridge. The Bridge is not a bad name. Obviously, there’s a nod to local links with Broad Bridge itself, which is so unremarkable that you know nothing about it. There’s also the metaphorical link of the bridge across the A24 ‘bridging communities.’ So The Bridge makes sense, albeit in a ‘posters featuring corporate buzzwords in a 1998 building society waiting room’ kind of way. Shrubb’s name may have been considered, but perhaps Alf’s achievements have been diluted

with the passage of time. With no appearances at the Olympics and with world records at distances no longer used in major competitions, who exactly are we honouring? A man who broke the two-mile record and lost a race against a horse? Shrubb may have been the Mo Farah of his day, but his achievements are only remarkable in the context of his time. So, I will not get on my high horse and suggest a re-think on the naming of The Bridge. I’m frankly relieved it’s being built at all, in these times when an increasing number of residents are beginning to wonder when we’ll start seeing ‘community facilities’ and ‘schools’ amongst all the new houses being built. But I do hope that the council finds some way of acknowledging the achievements of a great man who, it should be noted, has been

Perhaps in future, we might give more thought to honouring notable local people, living or deceased, when a suitable occasion arises. We commemorated romantic poet Percy Bysshe Shelley with a malfunctioning fountain, whilst artists John Guille Millais and Bainbridge Copnall have street signs bearing their name. But it is rare Horsham gives due consideration to such matters whilst planning. I for one, would love to see ‘David Gilmour from Pink Floyd Lives Somewhere Around Here Lane’ in Wisborough Green, or ‘Where Harry Enfield Thought Up Stavros Railway Station’ in Horsham. Perhaps the proposed incinerator could be named The Exterminator in honour of the late Daleks creator, Raymond Cusick. Thankfully, I’m not in charge of such matters… This is a time of monumental change for Horsham, with new neighbourhoods rising and high hopes for new theatres, schools, sports grounds and community centres. Such changes will alter the face of the town forever, hopefully in positive ways. Perhaps, rather than naming landmarks and locations after the trees and meadows that stood there before they were sacrificed in favour of government-imposed housing quotas, we might honour the men and women who have shaped – or continue to shape – Horsham’s history. Not just for sake of it. Just when the time is right and it fits. Like The Alfred Shrubb Leisure Centre just might have fit.

Ben

To submit Letters to the Editor please email Ben: editor@aahorsham.co.uk j

Page 1

FEBRUARY 2017

CONTENTS 10

News Round-Up

Horsham FC bids for new ground and anger over incinerator proposal

My Story So Far Sir Michael Checkland recalls his days as Director -General of the BBC

One to Watch Following a trip through South America, Amy Baker has written a book

COVER STORY: FEBRUARY 2017 Our February 2017 cover features Sir Michael Checkland, formery Director-General of the BBC, at his home in Maplehurst. Sir Michael thought that AAH photographer Toby might want to take the shot in a ‘nostalgia’ room, featuring pictures and memorabilia from his broadcasting career. However, Toby spotted an overloaded bookshelf and next to it was a desk

dominated by a gramaphone, presented to Sir Michael on his retirement from the BBC. There was just enough room for Toby to set up his studio lights, giving us our first ‘My Story So Far’ cover star since Peter Wynne in February 2016. Had Toby taken an upright image at Premier GT, that may well have been the cover, whilst a photo of the Shires at The Queens Head was another contender.

AAH: THE TEAM

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EDITOR: BEN MORRIS editor@aahorsham.co.uk 01403 878026 / 01903 892899 LETTERS: The Editor, AAH Magazine, 2 Viney Close, Ashington, RH20 3PT

(Nuthurst),Connor Wykes (Partridge Green), Oak Tree Farm Care (Maplehurst & Copsale); Mark Simpkin (Washington), Liam Palmer & Sam Coles (BBH) James Hobbs (Thakeham), Callum Matthews (Storrington)

Super and luxury cars on show at Premier GT in Washington

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PHOTOGRAPHY: TOBY PHILLIPS www.tobyphillipsphotography.co.uk info@tobyphillipsphotography.co.uk 07968 795625

A trip to Luxor inspired Mick Oakey to try Egyptian stone carving

WEBSITE: www.aahorsham.co.uk We publish AAH online every month. You can read archive editions too.

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), Chanctonbury Leisure Centre (Steyning) Village Larder (Washington) and many more.

Art

Meal Review

The Queens Head in Barns Green keeps things simple and traditional

History Alfred Shrubb was a famed runner who was denied Olympic glory

RSPB Emily Summers looks out for the snipe this winter at RSPB Pulborough Brooks

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, Andrew Price, John Gatehouse, Matt Bland, Lewis Spiller, Owen Wirth, Pat Gibbs, The Cocoracchio family, George Voisey, Connor Heald, Paula Hunter, Katie Drysdale, George Williams, Luke Moran, James Bunch, Edward Hitchings, Amy Dallas, Joe Tait Southwater: Max Laker, Jack Taylor, Lewis Geal Villages: Emily Hoskins (Mannings Heath) Adam Browse (Warnham) Will Sessions (Ashington), Ben Morris (Stands), Mike Hoare

SUPERMARKETS AAH is available to pick up for FREE at Tesco Broadbridge Heath and Sainsbury’s Horsham. THANK YOU: Mike Miller, who has been delivering AAH in Steyning for over a year, Megan Green (Mannings Heath Round) and Lewis Geal (Timber Mill, Southwater) who have moved on to new opportunities. WELCOME: Amy Dallas (delivering in Wimblehurst Rd/Old Millmeads area), Joe Tait (Trafalgar Rd estate) and Sam Coles (New BBH development) with Emily Hoskins taking on the Mannings Heath round. NOTES: There is now an AAH stand outside Crates in Horsham’s Carfax. If you have nothing better to do, you can follow Ben and Toby on Twitter @AAHMagazine and @tobyphillips1

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NEWS ROUND-UP

To submit News/Events for consideration, email Ben: editor@aahorsham.co.uk

Horsham Football Club is hoping its latest application for a new ground at Hop Oast will be successful. The Hornets hopes to build a 3G football ground with a main pitch, training pitch, clubhouse, stands, parking and landscaping on part of the former nine-hole golf course at

Horsham Golf and Fitness. The proposals would be partly funded by residential development on part of land (owned by Horsham FC) at the Holbrook Club, which would in turn safeguard the future of the popular sports and social club.

The application is likely to be heard by members of Horsham District Council’s planning committee in March. For more details search reference DC/16/2856 for the Hop Oast application or DC16/2855 for the Holbrook application at www.horsham.gov.uk/planning

Experience the music of Dire Straits when Money For Nothing perform at The Capitol on Saturday 18 February at 7.30pm. Fronting the band is the brilliant guitarist and Mark Knopfler sound-alike Aled Williams. Hits include Money For Nothing, Brothers In Arms and Romeo and Juliet. Tickets £22.50 from 01403 750220 or www.thecapitolhorsham.com

Enterprise Inns has announced its intention to re-open The Cock Inn pub in Southwater as soon as possible. Enterprise has said that the pub closed due to the publican’s decision to leave.

Following the success of last year’s Piazza Italia District Tour, a spin-off of the Horsham based Italian festival, the 2017 tour will again be held on Sunday 2 April. The event sees a range of spectacular vehicles touring Horsham, Billingshurst, Pulborough, Storrington,

Steyning and Henfield. The three-day Piazza Italia festival will then be held in Horsham town centre on 14, 15 and 17 April. AAH is putting together the official programme once again, and we’ll keep readers updated on developments over the coming months.

Horsham cover band Quo-Caine has vowed to continue “the great work of the mighty Quo” after the sad passing of guitarist Rick Parfitt. Status Quo bass player John 'Rhino' Edwards will be taking his band, Rhino’s Revenge, on a European tour, coming to The Holbrook Club in North Heath Lane, Horsham on 13 May. Quo-Caine (inset) are honoured to be the support act. Singer James Batchelar said: “It's a privilege to

Transition Horsham hosts its annual Seedy Saturday at Horsham Quaker Meeting House, Worthing Road, Horsham, on Saturday 18 February, from 10am 2pm. Bring your own seeds, labelled, dated and in packets, to swap or pick up seeds you need for a small donation. There will be stalls from Transition Horsham, Horsham Organic Gardeners Society, Green Living, Flax Farm, Warnham Nature Reserve, Horsham Horticultural Society, Heather Glenny (flower painter), Groundworks, Brinsbury College, Southwater Horticultural Society, Chesworth Farm and Noel’s Honey. There will also be a raffle and refreshments. Free entry, donations welcome. www.transitionhorsham.org.uk

be playing with a member of Quo and we're hoping Rhino will join us for a couple of numbers. It's a real scoop for Horsham and the show is unmissable for rock and Status Quo fans alike.” For tickets call 01403 751150 or visit the Holbrook Club. VIP tickets from www.rhinosrevenge.com

At the Toovey’s Christmas toy sale, a James Bond’s Aston Martin DB5 (Corgi Toys No. 261) complete with its original diorama box, sold for £130. Chris Gale, a toys specialist, said: “It was released in October 1965, a year after Goldfinger was released. They sold more than 100,000 in the first few weeks and they made nearly four million of them.” Meanwhile, a boxed Railton New Wonder Car (Britains No.1656) sold for £220 and an Avro York airliner G-AGJC (Dinky Toys No. 704) from 1946 made £75. The next specialist toy sale to be held at Toovey’s is on Tuesday 21 March. For details of auctions, including decorative paintings, silver and plate, jewellery, ceramics and antique furniture, visit www.tooveys.com

SHARE THE W NDER Spring Open Morning Saturday 4th March 2017 Get sticky in The Beehive, go trekking in the woodland and catch a lift to the SkyLab. It’s amazing where a little imagination can take you. Pennthorpe provides a truly independent education for children aged 2-13. The school lies just 20 minutes west of Horsham, with a dedicated bus service.

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NEWS ROUND-UP

You can follow Ben and Toby on Twitter @AAHMagazine and @tobyphillips1

Following a successful nationwide tour, Horsham actor and producer Jack Lane brings his acclaimed Wisdom of a Fool show back to The Capitol on 31 March – 1 April. The one-man show, a sell-out in Horsham in 2015, tells the story of Norman Wisdom. To coincide with the show, son Nick Wisdom (inset) will be exhibiting a fascinating display of his father’s memorabilia in The Capitol Gallery from 20 March.

Fishers Adventure Farm Park in Wisborough Green was targeted by thieves on the night of Tuesday 3 January. Gerald Dewey, who was on night security, fell on the ice whilst in pursuit, smashing two teeth and needing 10 stitches to a cut on his upper lip.

Nick said: “It’s appropriate that the exhibition will be at The Capitol, with my family having lived in West Chiltington for 22 years.” www.wisdomofafoolplay.co.uk

Fortunately, no animals were harmed. Tim Rollings, Owner of Fishers Farm, said: “After a break-in last year, we introduced serious security measures, so it is devastating to be targeted again.” If anyone has any information about the crime, contact Sussex Police.

Horsham businesses, charities and organisations are invited to enter teams to compete in the eighth annual Horsham Charity Pancake Races in the Carfax on Tuesday 21 February, from 12pm. This enjoyable community event is organised by The Rotary Club of Horsham in partnership with Horsham District Council, with the aim of raising money for local charities. Teams of four, preferably in fancy dress, take part in an 80m relay race using their own frying pan and non- slip shoes. Cups and prizes aare awarded for the best fancy dress, best over 40’s team, winning charity team, best flipper and the overall winning team. There will also be an egg and spoon race for mascots, which may include Horsham FC’s Howie the Hornet and the Nando’s Chicken. The event is sponsored by Ringway and supported by Sainsbury’s (who will be supplying the pancakes), Waitrose, Non-Stop Party Shop, Rawlison Butler, South East Hearing Centres and Horsham Rotary Club. Entry forms can be obtained from horshamrotary@btconnect.com

The Gatwick Area Conservation Campaign (GACC) has expressed disappointment after the Government announced rules for night flights for the next five years. GACC chairman Brendon Sewill, said: “Gatwick has more night flights than any other London airport. We are disappointed that there is to be virtually no reduction in the number of flights. People across Britain are kept awake by aircraft and GACC’s aim is to see a ban on all night flights.” The GACC did, however, welcome a Government suggestion that the permitted level of noise at night may be cut by 20% over the next five years. www.gacc.org.uk

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NEWS ROUND-UP

Teams of tenacious walkers are being sought to take part in an overnight endurance challenge in the summer. Trek the Night will be held along the South Downs Way on 15-16 July to raise funds for children’s charity Action Medical Research. The 40-mile challenge starts at the ancient site of Devil’s Dyke, with teams reaching the finish line on Beachy Head outside Eastbourne on Sunday afternoon. Enter at action.org.uk/ trek-night-south-downs-way

A second-hand sale will be held at Barns Green Village Hall on Saturday 18 March, from 10am-12pm. There will be a great variety of items for sale at this friendly village event with bric-a-brac old and new, books, toys, small furniture, jewellery and household items. There are tables to rent at £12 each, with a raffle and refreshments available. Funds raised will go to local projects. For details and bookings contact Pip on 01403 738477 or email briarlodge.ian1@gmail.com

The Friends of Horsham Museum must have had a cancellation, as they’ve asked AAH editor Ben Morris to present a talk on Wednesday 8 February. Ben will talk about the history of the magazine at Wesley Hall Methodist Church, London Road, Horsham, at 7.30pm. Tickets £5 on the door.

Bill Lucas, thought to be the country’s oldest Olympian and Bomber Command pilot, turned 100 on 16 January. Bill, who lives in Cowfold, competed in the 5,000m at the 1948 London Olympic Games. He also flew on various missions during the Second World War, which deprived him of what was potentially his best opportunity to win an Olympic medal. Bill (pictured in 2012) was joined by his wife Sheena, as he celebrated his birthday at a party organised by Belgrave Harriers, his athletics club. Bill was featured in an AAH ‘My Story So Far’ feature in September 2012. The article can still be found on the ‘My Story So Far’ section at www.aahorsham.co.uk

15 A new business based near Billingshurst hopes to find a market for its stonewashed natural linen bedding. Piglet has developed a range of durable, low maintenance linen bedding made with 100% natural French flax, which becomes softer with wear. Piglet’s first collection includes fresh blush pink, cool grey and classic white pillowcases and duvet covers in Double and King size. Piglet founder Jessica Alexa Mason said: “Linen is warm and cosy in the winter and fresh in the warmer months. The traditional stonewashing process makes the fabric especially soft and the subsequent pre-washing ensures that the bedding won’t shrink, lose its shape or fade after purchase.” View Piglet’s products at www.pigletinbed.com

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Direct from London's West End, the prestigious Wam Bam Club brings an explosive cocktail of burlesque, comedy, circus, music and magic to The Capitol on Thursday 16 February at 7.30pm. After 10 years of exclusive performances at iconic London venues, experience the premiere of this sensational new touring show in Horsham. Let the resident showgirls and boys indulge you in a spectacle of glitz and glamour with a chocolate box selection of the finest cabaret acts. Tickets £24.50 from 01403 750220 or www.thecapitolhorsham.com

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Read our regular column from RSPB Pulborough Brooks on Page 66

NEWS ROUND-UP

The Johnny Cash Roadshow returns to The Capitol stage on Friday 17 February at 7.30pm. Endorsed by the Cash family, the band features award-winning Clive John as Johnny Cash and Jill Schoonjans as June Carter, performing songs from Cash’s career from Walk the Line and Folsom Prison Blues to Hurt, Johnny Cash’s last release in 2002. The chemistry of Johnny and June is brought to the stage and this show is enhanced by accompanying video projection. Tickets £20 from 01403 750220 or www.thecapitolhorsham.com

Residents have reacted with dismay at plans to build a recycling, recovery and renewable energy facility in Langhurst Wood Road, near Warnham. Britaniacrest has submitted a planning application to West Sussex County Council to create a £150million industrial incinerator that could sort through 200,000 tonnes of waste per year. Waste that cannot be recycled would be incinerated to create electricity. The size of the proposed building, at the site of the former Warnham and Wealden Brickworks, has caused concern amongst residents, who turned out in force on 14 January to raise awareness of the plans. Norman Clarke of No Incinerator 4 Horsham, said: “Residents were truly horrified and many knew nothing about

the Britaniacrest application. We were able to illustrate that the 96m chimney would be taller than the Statue of Liberty and as big as Big Ben, as well as discuss the traffic that it would create by shipping in industrial waste from all over the south east.” Jeremy Quin, MP for Horsham, met with local people to discuss their concerns. For details about the application visit http://buildings.westsussex.gov.uk/ ePlanningOPS/searchPageLoad.do and type WSCC/062/16/NH in the ‘Keyword’ panel. I know, these things are never simple with the WSCC website! You can also visit the campaign website at www.ni4h.org which includes a film about the proposals.

Horsham Lions’ sixth annual Swimarathon will take place at Pavilions in the Park on Sunday 12 March, in support of the Chestnut Tree Children’s Hospice in Arundel. There is no entry fee and schools, clubs, organisations and individuals are invited to take part in teams of up to six swimmers, plus an adult non-swimming team captain. The event is held from 1-5pm, with eight teams beginning their swim at hourly intervals. Half of the money raised will help the children’s hospice, and half will be donated to good causes selected by entering teams. The event is sponsored by Horsham firm Assurity Consulting. For entry forms visit www.horshamlions@freeuk.com or email tomosborne1947@gmail.com

Horsham Twinning Association has a vacancy on the committee for a Chairperson, as the current post holder will be standing down in March. The group visits Lage, Germany and St Maixent l’Ecole, France every few years and our French and German friends come to Horsham. Members stay with host families or in a local hotel. Entertainment is provided by host towns and there are plenty of opportunities to visit the local attractions and take part in excursions. The Twinning Association also arranges social gatherings and visits during the year. If you are interested in finding out more, please email the secretary at dennissaunders888@btinternet.com

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NEWS ROUND-UP

For details of Horsham Museum exhibitions visit www.horshammuseum.org

Horsham and Mid Sussex Voluntary Action seek volunteers who could help Sussex Community NHS Trust by becoming a ward assistant at Horsham Hospital. There are several team building projects which local charities are looking to fulfil. They range from organising a tea party or a fundraising event, to decorating and gardening, to helping with IT. Horsham Festival is looking for a secretary to join its committee which organises the popular arts event (pictured) whilst the YMCA Horsham needs people who can commit one hour a week to help mentor vulnerable young people. Home-Start CHAMS are looking for volunteers who could help raise funds by skydiving on 15 July. For more volunteering opportunities contact Horsham and Mid Sussex Voluntary Action on 01444 258102, email VolunteerCentre@hamsva.org.uk or visit www.hamsva.org.uk

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A 300 year-old sock hand-crafted from fine Irish linen is one of the star exhibits of a new Horsham Museum and Art Gallery exhibition, Stitching Time 1597 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 2017. Along with the odd sock, the exhibition features an Elizabethan night cap finely embroidered in gold and silver thread and a sampler stitched by Catherine Lintott, one of the top businesswomen of Georgian England. Other highlights include intricately-embroidered Chinese clothing, a Nigerian Hausa gown, bark cloth from the Pacific islands, Regency waistcoats and work by contemporary textile artist, Iris Bishop. Stitching Time 1597 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 2017 is open now and runs until 17 March. www.horshammuseum.org.uk A holistic therapist has been recognised for her work with a pioneering recovery programme helping chronic fatigue and pain sufferers. Su Winsbury, of Hollytree Healing Centre in Barns Green, was praised at a conference staged by The Chrysalis Effect at Wotton House, Surrey. Su first trained in reflexology then reiki, Indian head massage and an emotional freedom technique known as tapping, before becoming a Chrysalis Effect practitioner. www.suwinsbury.com

NEWS ROUND-UP

David Migden and the Twisted Roots perform at Coolham Live Music Club on Saturday 4 March. Opening will be the excellent singer and songwriter Lisa Marini and her trio. Ben and Tom Waters perform at the popular club on Friday 31 March. Ben is arguably the finest ‘boogie woogie’ piano player in Europe and his son Tom is a promising saxophone player. Then on Saturday 29 April, Ron Sayers Jr Band, featuring Charlotte Joyce, take to the stage. The band is ably supported by local blues rock quartet, Catfish. There is no licenced bar at the club so feel free to bring your own refreshments. For tickets email coolhamtickets@gmail.com 9 99 99 99 www.coolhamlivemusicclub.com or9 visit

Horsham District Council’s Horsham Museum and Art Gallery are delighted to showcase Benjamin Smith’s work in the new exhibition Silence and Slow Time – the fine art of Benjamin Smith. The stunning exhibition by this award-winning artist shows how the techniques of painting, drawing and composition created by the great painters in the European art tradition are still relevant today. Ben draws on the rich tradition of art academies, where artists perfected their skills through drawing and painting casts, busts and life models. The exhibition has a number of such works on display, including a bust of Constanza and portrait of Homer. Silence and Slow Time is now open and runs until 24 March. www.horshammuseum.org.uk

Horsham District Archaeology Group hosts a dayschool on the Archaeology of Death and Commemoration at Easteds Barn, Easteds Lane, Southwater on Saturday 25 February, from 10am – 4pm. The dayschool is hosted by Simon Stevens, senior archaeologist with

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MY STORY: 23

MY STORY SO FAR

Michael Checkland I was born in Birmingham in 1936, the youngest of three children. My dad worked in a hardware store on Broad Street, so it was very much a working-class upbringing. During the war, we had an Anderson shelter in the garden and my mother would carry me down every time there was an air raid. My brother and sister were evacuated and my dad was a fire warden, so it would just be the two of us huddled up. I went to primary school, passed my 11-plus and progressed to King Edward VI Five Ways Grammar School. I was keen on sport and during lunch breaks we would catch the bus to watch cricket at Edgbaston. My dad first took me to watch Birmingham City play football when I was seven. I remember being amazed by how far Frank Mitchell could head the ball, as

Sir Michael Checkland, who lives in Maplehurst, talks about his career at the BBC, from an

ambitious accountant to a Director-General under fire from Thatcher’s government

they used heavy leather footballs back then. I became a life-long Birmingham supporter. I would support them at home games and watch Aston Villa in between. There were no divided loyalties - I went to see Birmingham win and Villa lose! Although I won a scholarship to Birmingham University, my Head Master told me to apply to Oxford, as he felt I had a chance. My family were worried that it would be very different for me. However, Wadham College has long had a reputation for being relatively radical, in that it accepts a high proportion of grammar school students. It wasn't just

public schoolboys, so it was easier to assimilate there than it might have been at other Oxford colleges. Before Oxford, I committed to National Service in the RAF. I’m glad I did so, as it broadened my experience of life and introduced me to different people before I entered the protected world of Oxford. I studied Modern History and was captain of the Wadham College football team and also played for Oxford Pegasus. The consensus was, if you had a History degree, you either joined the civil service, became a teacher, or went to work for the

BBC. I ignored all of these options, instead gaining a professional qualification, as well as an academic one. I took accountancy exams and became a graduate trainee at Parkinson Cowan, which made gas cookers. I moved to Thorn Electronics Ltd in 1962, but wasn't getting much job satisfaction. In 1964, I saw an advert for the BBC, which was launching a second channel, BBC2. They were employing about 2,000 people and I was part of that intake, as an accountant. The BBC wasn’t used to people with academic and professional qualifications, so it wasn't a very difficult interview for me!

I moved to Horsham at that time and would commute to London. Those early years were exciting as in 1966 we introduced colour. Everybody was suddenly interested in snooker, as it was a good show for colour television.

Michael and Sue pictured the day he became Director-General

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I held various positions within finance at the BBC for 10 years. I was involved in the costings side of programming, which provided me with an insight into how they were made. The next stage of my career came about when I was asked to manage Planning and Resources at BBC Television. This was a dramatic change of direction, as I had been Chief Accountant and suddenly I was involved in allocating studios and resources. My job was enabling programmes to be made, rather than choosing which programmes were made. The work was varied, as the BBC also provided outside broadcasts. One such broadcast was the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest in Brighton, where ABBA won with Waterloo. That was a difficult event to organise due to the significant risk posed by the IRA. Security was very high and we even discussed if we should cover the event at all. But it all worked out and ABBA absolutely deserved to win. In 1982, I was appointed Director of Resources at BBC Television. One of my jobs was to find the resources for a new soap called EastEnders. We bought an old studio at Elstree which was adapted to become Albert Square. My role also enabled me to attend major sporting events, including the Olympic Games and FIFA World Cup. During Italia ’90, I was driving through Turin with

Bobby Charlton, who was working for the BBC. Everybody was waving to us but also getting out of our way, because it was Bobby Charlton of course! I was once asked by Huw Wheldon, then Managing Director of BBC TV, if I had considered doing anything beyond finance. He said: ‘You're interested in sport, so why not try working on Match of the Day?’ I rejected the idea and occasionally wonder what would have happened if I had gone down that route. I became Deputy Director-General in 1985. Soon after, Alasdair Milne left his post as Director-General. The Birmingham Mail ran an article suggesting I was a frontrunner for the job, although at the time I was considered an outsider, with David Dimbleby and Michael Grade amongst the favourites. However, during my interview, I spoke for 20 minutes and at the end everyone was still listening.

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Michael meets Prince Charles

I was appointed BBC Director-General in February 1987. I outlined several key objectives. BBC Journalism had experienced a rough time and needed strengthening, so my intention was to bring news and current affairs throughout the BBC together, to create a journalistic hub. It was my view that the BBC had become too London-focused, and also needed to exploit commercial opportunities around the world. I had previously been Chairman at BBC Enterprises, the commercial arm, so I could see the potential. This has since evolved into BBC Worldwide, which makes an awful lot of money that can be invested back into programming. During six years as Director-General, I feel I achieved my aims. The BBC was under substantial threat from Margaret Thatcher's government at the time. She didn’t support the licence fee and several members of her government were hostile towards us. They believed we shouldn’t be making popular shows and that the BBC’s output should be more highbrow. I believe - and most of my colleagues agreed – that the BBC needed a popular base, with comedy, sports and entertainment shows. It should also incorporate serious programming, focusing on the arts and current affairs. I did have dinner at Downing Street and lunch at Chequers whilst I was Director-General. Every Wednesday, I would also have a political lunch with a member of the Cabinet or the Opposition, so I came to know most key people in Parliament. My nickname was ‘Chequebook Checkland’ which was coined by a journalist, although nobody ever used

Sue and Michael meet Maria Cristina Bezzi-Scali, the widow of inventor Guglielmo Marconi

Michael speaking at a conference

Michael with David Watson, Vice Chancelllor of the University of Brighton

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it to my face. Journalists used it because I had a financial background, whereas previous Director-Generals had come from the editorial side. The reason I was selected for the job was that - at the time - the issues with the government and the survival of the BBC was more about resources and financing than it was programming. I was perceived as someone who was good with money and the BBC survived that hostility because we proved we were trying to run the place efficiently. I presented Terry Wogan with a 50th birthday cake during filming for Wogan. It was a nice gesture that acknowledged the good work he was doing. We would host a light entertainment party every year where I would meet many stars, but Terry became a friend. We went to international rugby matches together in Ireland and Paris, as we were both fans. The obituaries were all true – he was genuinely a very nice chap. Once a year, I did appear on a

BBC series called See for Yourself. I sat alongside Marmaduke James Hussey, Chairman of the BBC Board of Governors, and we were asked questions by the public, with presenters including Sue Lawley mediating. One person asked ‘Why do you always employ stick insects as presenters?” I looked puzzled, but she was referring to the slim presenters. Someone asked ‘Why do Irishman run the BBC?’ He was referring to Wogan and Political Correspondent John Cole. A show like See for Yourself was a high-risk idea and other Director-Generals have said that they wouldn't have done it. But I knew my job well and was comfortable to face questions. I also became Vice-President of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), an alliance of public service media organisations. I helped ensure that the BBC was involved in negotiations to keep major sporting events, including World Championship Athletics, Winter and Summer Olympics and the FIFA World Cup. The BBC has managed to maintain those deals.

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27 After an initial five-year appointment, I was offered a one-year extension, before my Deputy, John Birt, took over. The BBC made some big shows during those years – Only Fools and Horses, Blackadder, The Singing Detective – but key to my spell was that we managed to fend off the government’s criticism. My biggest success was that we survived the onslaught. People have asked me about Jimmy Savile. Honestly, I don't know why we didn't know (about what he was doing). But then the prison service didn't know, the NHS didn't know; none of us realised what was going on. There was an enquiry and I was called to speak, but all I could say was that I didn't know anything. People look incredulous when you say that, but it's true. Of course, I regret it. It’s terrible that we didn’t see what was happening. It’s terrible that the rest of society didn’t see.

‘I presented Terry Wogan with a 50th birthday cake during filming for Wogan’

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Even after retirement, I was involved in broadcasting for many years. I became a trustee of (international news agency) Reuters and served on the jury of The Peabody Award for five years. I also sat on the board of the Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA). It was our role to regulate ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5. There were all sorts of issues relating to advertising, watersheds, decency, and whether ITV News at Ten could move back to 10:30pm. As a Brummie, I became Chairman of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, when Simon Rattle was Musical Director. I was involved with the appointment of his successor, Sakari Oramo, who is now Conductor of the BBC Symphony Orchestra. Locally, I was chairman of Brighton Festival and during that time was involved in the redevelopment of Brighton Dome, which is one of the things I am most proud of. I was also Chairman of Horsham Fanfare, which started in 1995 and staged the type of event that the town had never seen before. We opened-up the park for Jools Holland’s Rhythm & Blues Orchestra and The Bootleg Beatles. The aim of Fanfare was to involve the local arts community, but also to widen the cultural experience of residents. I wouldn't do the job unless it was supported by Horsham District Council. Chief Executive Martin Pearson gave us a £20,000 grant on the understanding

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that the fanfare delivered a district-wide festival. We staged Macbeth at Bramber Castle, opera at Parham House and The Capitol, and Fanfare opened with the Christ's Hospital School Band. Numerous local art, theatre and music groups were involved. The Fanfare was only possible through the council’s support, the hard work of the committee and particularly the staff at The Capitol. I did that for five years before passing on the reins and was very sad when it fell apart. I don't know what happened, but I suspect that once Martin Pearson left the council, it became difficult to obtain the grant. The reason the current Horsham Festival focuses on local events is because it doesn't enjoy the support we had from the council and The Capitol. In my view, you need both to drive it forward. For 10 years from 1992, I was Director of the National Youth Music Theatre (NYMT). Several young people, including Jude Law and Sheridan Smith, have gone on to big things. I was also Chairman of the National Children’s Home, now Action for Children. It was a Methodist-based charity and I've long been a member of London Road Methodist Church. In fact, in 1997, I became Vice- President of the Methodist Church. One other important role was as Chairman of Horsham YMCA, at a time when The Y Centre was being built. The final strand of my post-BBC life is in higher education. I was appointed Governor at Birkbeck College, London, which offers evening classes that appeal to mature students. This role was important to me as I believe in second chance education. I was also Governor at Westminster College, Oxford and Chairman of Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE). I was appointment by a Labour government to help raise quality across the board and create new medical schools, including the Brighton and Sussex Medical School. I have enjoyed the multi-faceted range of jobs since retirement as they've all reflected my interests.

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However, it was my years at the BBC that allowed me to do these other things in later life. Sue and I married in 1987, both for the second time. We moved to Maplehurst and have been there for 30 years. Sue still takes part in the annual village scarecrow competition. Between us, we have six sons and daughters, some close by and others in such countries as Australia and Vietnam. This has meant that we travel a lot. The one place I would still love to visit is Easter Island. I was due to be on holiday in Chile this month. However, just before Christmas, I suffered a heart attack. We had been to Christ’s Hospital to watch Les Miserable and I drove there, spoke to people and apparently enjoyed the show. But I don’t remember any of that. The next day, I had a heart attack and needed a triple heart bypass. After five weeks in hospital, I am now recovering at home. I consider myself fortunate that I wasn’t out in the Atacama Desert when I had the heart attack! As to my thoughts on the BBC today, I’m delighted that the licence fee has been retained. I'm delighted that nobody has attempted to strip the range of programming, and I'm pleased that the BBC Trust has gone, as I never liked the old structure. In recent years, the BBC has taken to new technology in a positive way. You only need visit the website to see how strong it is. That can be dangerous, as when the BBC becomes too dominant, people feel threatened by it. The current Director-General Tony Hall, who was Director of News and Current Affairs in my day, has done well. He moved BBC3 online, which was right because of its young audience. There will always be criticisms of individual programmes, but I don't agree with people who say there's nothing on television these days. If you look around, there’s plenty. I am a stoutly proud BBC man. You can travel all around the world and everywhere you go, the BBC is still the hallmark of quality broadcasting.

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ONE TO WATCH: 31

THE STORY OF MY

Miss Adventures ‘Don’t trust men wearing too much wooden jewellery!’

With the occasionally baffling advice of friends and family in mind,

Amy Baker set off on an incredible lone journey through South America.

Now, the promising writer has written a book on her experiences... After my second year of university, I flew to Thailand for a month with five friends. Our trip was typical of young travellers, in that we visited Bangkok, Chiang Mai and experienced a full moon party on the islands, but the trip made me realise that I didn't have to go to Greece or Spain every summer.

Amy in the Argentinean Andes

After completing a Law degree, I considered taking a solicitor training course. However, I wanted to see more of the world. I would take jobs

just to raise enough money to go travelling. I returned to south east Asia and travelled around Australia too.

company producing in-flight magazines, but sadly the reality of travel journalism wasn’t as I had expected.

Without a clear career path, I wrote articles for a backpacker magazine based in Sydney, which gave me a taste for travel writing. Upon returning to London, I found there were few journalism jobs around, particularly in travel writing, so I briefly worked as a showbiz reporter. It was awful, aside from the occasional party. I then worked for a publishing

In November 2013, I flew to Buenos Aires and for the next six months travelled through Argentina, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador and Colombia. I didn’t go with the intention of writing a book. My aim was to have some travel articles published, but this didn’t happen as I was enjoying myself too much! I was constantly taking notes on arduous bus journeys and

Read our article on MOTD commentator and author Steve Wilson at http://www.aahorsham.co.uk/content/motd365

towards the end of my trip, I started considering how I could make use of these notes.

Amy at a carnival in Barranquilla, Colombia

Amy at Huayna Potosi in Bolivia

In hindsight, I wish I had written down full descriptions of the places that I’d been to – the sights, sounds and smells. Instead, I was writing down my experiences of the people I met and the stupid or unusual things that happened along the way. On reading through my notes, I found that lots of these stories could be classed as life lessons, which gave me an idea for a book. Before I left, everybody had an opinion about my travel plans and offered parting words of wisdom. One family friend said: “Have a lovely time, and try not to be raped.” Others sent statistics about violent crime in Colombia, or links to stories about lone backpackers vanishing in the middle of nowhere. Someone even suggested that I stay away from men wearing too much wooden jewellery! So, my idea was to structure the book in a way that I could ‘test’ the advice

offered by friends and family against words of wisdom from renowned figures, including Mother Theresa and Salvador Dali. One friend told me to “avoid eating rat.” I didn’t sample rat, but did eat guinea pig on a stick in Peru and was ill for several days. Another tip was: “Don't hang out with hippy types, as they love orgies.” When you say these things, they sound ridiculous, but they do make you laugh. If you were to heed all the advice you are given, you’d never travel anywhere. People were showing me YouTube videos of daylight shootings in Brazilian slums and were voicing fears because I was a woman travelling alone. But I knew I was following the beaten track and that I would almost certainly be okay. Obviously, as a female travelling alone, there are things you do to stay as safe as possible. But I've come across more cases of violence towards male than

Amy enjoys the ‘swing at the end of the world’ in Baños, Ecuador

female tourists, as they tend to be targeted by ‘honey trap’ scams. One male traveler I met was robbed at gunpoint in Lima. Yet I found people to be kind and hospitable to women travelling alone. It’s important that women don't feel that the world is inaccessible because they are travelling by themselves. There were elements of danger on the trip, because I went with the attitude of ‘let’s see what happens’. When I look back at some of the things I did, I certainly think I was naive at times and didn't think things through. I would occasionally find myself in ridiculous situations by being too trusting and perhaps I needed some of the advice I was given, which is partly the concept of the book. One time in Colombia, I was with friends who were trying to buy drugs. When I remember that, I shake my head and think ‘Amy Baker, what were you doing?’ I was a total idiot. Something happened and we could very easily have found ourselves in danger, but thankfully we sensed something wasn’t right and walked away. This incident helped me to realise that you can't drift through life thinking everything and everyone is wonderful.

Award-Winning Farm Shop ‘Miss Adventures is based on observational humour and doesn't take itself too seriously’ Bogota, the Colombian capital, isn’t a particularly pleasant place. You wouldn't want to be walking around on your own at night. However, Colombia is the most wonderful country. The people are kind and want to speak to you to practice their English. They are grateful to tourists willing to give Colombia a chance. It's just beautiful with mountains, lush jungle and an incredible party scene on the Caribbean coast. I was planning to only spend five weeks in Colombia but ended up staying there for three months, forsaking Brazil! Bolivia is also a stunning country with great variety. My book is not about telling people what they should and shouldn’t do, or where they should visit. Some backpackers say things like “How have you not been there?” Wherever you’ve

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Amy takes in the view at Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia

been, they've been to 10 places that are better, which is annoying. It’s easy to get wrapped up in what others tell you, but you should just enjoy your own journey. Whilst I'm in no position to tell people what they should do, I hope my book offers advice about how you might have a more fulfilling travelling experience. My own stories may offer subtle insight that others can learn from. If you are a female planning a trip away alone, the book will give you an idea as to what can happen, but I think it will encourage you, rather than scare you away. When it came to getting published, I was told I needed to send three sample chapters with a synopsis of the rest of the book. There were a few rejections and some publishers didn’t respond at all, but a friend put me in touch with an agent who helped me. It was exciting putting a business case together and working out a ‘hit list’ of publishers to target. Some liked the idea, but didn’t want to take a risk on a writer with no significant social media following. I was eventually offered a deal by Summersdale.

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There wasn’t anything particularly intrepid about my route, as I stayed on the backpacker trail for the most part, so the book might be shoe-horned into the ‘privileged backpacker’ genre with many others. But I try not to write in that way. Miss Adventures is based on observational humour and doesn't take itself too seriously. I hope it appeals to anyone interested in visiting South America, and also to parents with children who might be planning a trip there, as it offers an honest account. Having said that, I’m terrified of what my parents are going to think of it! They don’t yet know the full extent of my adventures. However, they do know that, at the end of the day, I came home alive and well.

Miss Adventures: A Tale of Ignoring Life Advice While Backpacking Around South America by Amy Baker is available online through AMY BAKER Amazon or Waterstone's book shop in Horsham. For information visit www.amybakerwrites.com ADVENTURES A ta ce whlile of ignoring life advnid e backpacking arou

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36: BUSINESS

LIVING THE DREA Nick Hall and David Trigg

Petrol Heads fuel Their passion at Premier GT in Washington Over the Easter Bank Holiday weekend, tens of thousands of people will once again gather in Horsham for the Piazza Italia festival. This year’s Easter Monday supercar parade will be sponsored and led by a convoy from Premier GT Performance and Luxury Car Specialists in Washington. Since moving to their new showroom at Rock Business Park, an increasing number of motoring enthusiasts have been enticed by the rare and unusual cars gracing the Premier GT showroom floor.

After spending 10 minutes mesmerised by a 1978 Ferrari 512BB - an early ‘pin-up’ from the golden age of supercars - we spoke to joint owners and self-confessed petrol heads David Trigg and Nick Hall. Are you all about supercars? David: We sell a wide range of performance and luxury cars, from classics to modern supercars. We’re always on the lookout for cars that offer something different to our clients. We consider its specification, colour, history, mileage, condition and provenance.

27/01/2017 16:27 Page 1

Dale Jannels Director, AToM Ltd TEL: 01403 272625

www.atomltd.co.uk So! You have no credit problems: you have a good income: no debts and you are looking to buy a property or maybe remortgage. But then, your bank, with whom you’ve been a loyal customer to for many years, reports back that you have a low credit score and the computer says “no”. They will not offer you a mortgage! This is a dramatically increasing scenario. The world of credit scoring (tick box mentality) is in our day to day finances and there’s no arguing with the lender once their technology has made the decisions.

EAM

Currently we have models by Porsche, Lamborghini, Maserati, Ferrari, Audi, TVR and even a Dodge Viper. For clients seeking luxury, we offer cars by Bentley, Aston Martin, Jaguar, Mercedes and a selection of top specification Range Rovers, including the latest Vogue and Sport models. You are not associated primarily with any single manufacturer? David: We’re fortunate in that we have the freedom to choose which cars we sell, although we are very particular. Currently in the showroom, we have cars ranging from the Ferrari 512BB, which is a highly coveted classic supercar, through to a 2014 Lamborghini Huracán, a modern supercar, with only 2,000 miles on the clock.

‘In order to get best advice, make sure you do your homework’

Fear not! There are a number of options still available to you which include lenders who will assess an application manually and seek to offer assistance to such customers. It does not just include those turned away by the high street for low credit scores. It could be a case scenario that needs a bit of lateral ‘out of the box’ thinking by an underwriter keen to say ‘yes’. This could include cross collateral security for clients who are asset rich: a sympathetic view for those who have trouble in proving ‘real’ income: customers who need guarantors: those in later life, or maybe just need someone to sit down, review the whole picture and advise on the best route to take.

Presumably you attract a certain kind of buyer? Nick: Often it is an emotive purchase, made by somebody wanting to own a piece of supercar history or experience the thrill of a modern supercar. People looking for such a car can choose to visit several different manufacturers or alternatively, they can come here and see a more diverse selection of cars that each holds a certain appeal. Why are classic supercars so desirable? David: There is often a desire for someone to drive a car that they once had a picture of on their bedroom wall and also they are a sound financial investment. So, basically our clients can buy the

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09:46

Page 1

ALL ABOUT HORSHAM MAGAZINE

Why not put the money in a savings account? David: People will always look for areas to confidently invest their money and by purchasing classic and modern classic cars, they have an investment that is not only going to grow faster than their money in the bank, but also they have something they can look at, drive and enjoy. A good condition, low mileage Ferrari Testarossa (1984-91) could have been bought for £60,000 a decade ago and would now be worth comfortably triple that amount. So, it’s understandable that people are putting money aside for classic cars.

Nick Hall with a Ferrari F430

car they dreamed of as a child with the confidence they are going to see a strong return on their purchase. We have more and more clients who are investing their money in cars. Some are building their collections whilst others may already have upwards of 20 appreciating cars.

These are investments that can be enjoyed… Nick: They can be. Cars such as the Ferrari F430 are something to enjoy at the weekend rather than an everyday driving vehicle. If you have the money and have dreamt of driving one, you can buy such a car with the comfort of knowing that it’s unlikely to decrease in value if it is well looked after.

Premier GT sell Range Rovers as well as supercars Presumably they don’t all increase in value? Nick: Certain new supercars will of course depreciate initially. Rather than being bought as an investment, this type of car appeals to somebody who wants the thrill of a modern supercar experience. Instead of buying a car and only taking it out for special occasions, they want a car that they can have some fun in, put some miles on the clock, and experience the pinnacle of automotive technology. At least until another supercar catches their eye? David: We certainly have a few clients who change their cars every six to 12 months as they want a different experience. That is what car enthusiasts are like. Whether it’s classic cars or modern supercars, our job at Premier GT is to help them fuel their passion.

10:11

‘We run the business as if we were customers – if we are excited about a car, we know others will be too’

We always aim to build a special relationship with our clients, old and new, based on trust and a mutual passion for beautiful cars. And that bond is very useful when it comes to helping them choose a car they love. How do you decide which cars to bring to Premier GT? Nick: We are both very enthusiastic when it comes to buying our cars, so whilst of course we consider the business when making a

purchase, this is also our passion. Consequently, when we have an opportunity to acquire a car that ticks the boxes in terms of quality and provenance for Premier GT, we will do our best to bring it here. David: We buy with our heads and our hearts. We run the business as if we were customers – if we are excited about a car, we know others will be too. However, you can’t buy every

supercar available? David: We look for and buy very individual cars. We recently bought a Ferrari California in special-order Mugello red with distinctive crema ‘Daytona’ seating and £20,000 of optional extras, as we knew that this unique colour combination and specification would be appealing to our clients. Our Huracán may be one of 30 for sale across the country, yet the distinctive colour combination and specification

means it is the only one like it. People gravitate here because we offer something different that will stand out. Do you have a favourite car? Nick: David and I often debate which cars to bring here! However, when it comes to favourites, we agree that we don’t have one, as they’re all special in their individual ways. We sold a Cobra recently, which is a car I adore and yet it’s not a car I could

David Trigg with a Lamborghini Huracán

You can buy AAH images from Toby at http://tobyphillipsphotography.pixieset.com

drive every day. I thought that the Ferrari 458 was incredible and then the Lamborghini Huracán turned up and in terms of driving experience it was another level. My expectations are continually being exceeded. It’s like a drug – you constantly want to experience more. How do you prepare cars for the showroom? David: Every car is prepared to the highest standard so that when they are driven into the showroom, they are as close to new as they can possibly be. Clients often travel a long way to

view the cars and they need to feel confident about a purchase. So, when it comes to repairs, we deal directly with the manufacturer. Good customer service must be important when you’re only appealing to a select group of people? David: It’s vital, otherwise they’re likely to look elsewhere when they next buy a car. We recently met a client who came to Premier GT having been specifically searching for a black Ferrari F430 with cream leather interior, which we happened to have. A short

time later, he returned for a Range Rover for his wife. It really is incredible how many referrals and recommendations we receive – it makes us very proud. Often it’s easy to immediately connect with our clients as we already share a lifelong love of anything with four wheels. Our aim is to look after our customers as carefully as we do our cars.

also important that clients can visit us and deal directly with people who are so passionate about cars. They know we will sell them a car that is in excellent order and prepared to the highest standard, provide competitive funding options if needed and provide great after-sales care. It's an ongoing relationship.

Is it an advantage being based in West Sussex? Nick: People certainly like to buy local. Customers have said that it’s great to have somewhere like Premier GT on their doorstep. It’s

How did you two meet? David: I met Nick when he bought a Ferrari F430 from me. We became good friends through our

Premier GT sell Range Rovers

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;It can be difficult working in partnership with a close friend, but we both pull in the same directionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

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We are a small, family-run business offering top quality upholstery for both modern & traditional furniture, now from a larger workshop in Plummers Plain. mutual love of cars. After a few years of friendship, we had a chat about working together as equal partners and the rest is history. Nick: It can be difficult working in partnership with a close friend, but we both pull in the same direction. As a result, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve surpassed our expectations and we have created a fantastic business built on passion and enthusiasm. Why choose to be based in Washington? David: This new showroom is perfect for us as itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sleek, modern and allowed us to expand the size of the showroom. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re also more central to where we

We are passionate about what we do and take pride in our craftsmanship and our customer service. We can give any piece of furniture a new lease of life using VTCFKVKQPCN OGVJQFU CPF VGEJPKSWGU (TQO HTCOG VQ Ć&#x201A;PCN Ć&#x201A;PKUJ YGoXG IQV KV EQXGTGF Our online gallery has just some examples of our work, which covers three piece suites, antique chairs, dining chairs, headboards and more. We can also cater for your bespoke needs by creating exclusive pieces of furniture. Proud supporters of Charlieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Beach Hut Fund

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Read our feature on Washington Coachworks at http://www.aahorsham.co.uk/content/washingtoncars wanted to be, with easy access to the capital and Surrey, as well as the coastal towns and cities. We have easy access to the A24 which is useful for test drives. It’s an ideal location. Do you have to provide a little more for supercar clients? David: We're fortunate in that we’re also near Goodwood so we’ve taken clients on hospitality days to The Festival of Speed and The Revival. This year, we’re also planning driving days on which drivers can meet at Premier GT and enjoy a bacon sandwich, before we take the cars out. That could be to Goodwood or just for a scenic drive before we come back to the showroom to watch the Grand Prix on our big screen. We have also planned driving trips further afield in the summer, including Ireland, the Champagne region, Le Mans for the 24 hours and Mondello Park near Dublin for some track action. You’re also involved in local events? David: We are working closely with Garry Mortimer-Cook of Horsham District Council, as we are sponsoring Supercar Monday at the 2017 Piazza Italia festival. The organisers are very passionate about the event, which we responded to. We’re expecting to bring in a convoy of about 25 cars and we’re hoping to provide a lot of car-based entertainment for everyone attending, including a race paddock and hospitality for our clients. What will this entail? David: We have many connections in the motor racing world and we’re hoping to entice a few friends with rally cars and perhaps even ex-Moto GP World Championship bikes to display at Piazza Italia. There’s a possibility that one of these could be a Barry Sheene Grand Prix Suzuki. We’re keen to build relationships locally and our involvement in Piazza Italia is a key factor to that.

Premier GT will be present on Supercar Monday at Piazza Italia on 17 April. For more on Premier GT call 01903 254800, email sales@premiergt.com or visit the online showroom at www.premiergt.com

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ART: 45

A Life of Luxor

It’s been called “the world’s greatest open air museum” for its ancient monuments, temples and tombs. But whilst people from all over the world flock to Luxor to see the Valleys of the Kings and Queens, not everything is the real deal. In fact, it was the cheap imitation stone carvings being flouted to tourists that inspired one Egyptology enthusiast to create his own sculpted portraits. We spoke to Mick Oakey, keeping Egyptian traditions alive in the unlikely setting of Dial Post.

How it all began… My interest in Egypt stems from my childhood. I still have the old family encyclopaedia that I loved when I was young, and the most thumbed pages are the Ancient Egypt and Aviation sections. In 1972, Tutankhamen’s treasures were displayed at the British

The demise of skilled stone carvers in Egypt’s historic cities inspired Dial Post Egyptology enthusiast Mick Oakey to give it a try.

Using traditional methods, he now chips away at his own tributes to the Gods.

Museum and as an 11-year-old my parents allowed me to travel to London by train on my own. A first trip to Egypt... I first visited Egypt in 1985 with my wife, and we have returned many times since. On each occasion, I would bring back a souvenir made by one of the many skilled craftsmen. However, since the turn of this century, most of what is sold is no longer handmade. Instead, it is made with cheap Chinese resin and is useless by

comparison. On my last visit, I found only one man carving using traditional methods. There used to be 20 such men working in Luxor alone. With so much rubbish about, I said ‘I can do better myself!’ to which my wife responded, ‘Well, why don't you then?’ The skills were there… I misspent my youth making model airplanes. If you need to work out how to replicate a spoked wheel or an instrument

panel, it is just a matter of problem-solving and you learn different techniques. Stone carving is similar. It is a matter of buying the right tools and figuring things out. After a little trial and error, I read books on Egyptian stone carving and discovered I wasn’t going too far wrong.

A good workman... I like to make replicas of the things from Ancient Egypt that inspire me. So, whilst I use modern tools, my methods are not hugely different. An Ancient Egyptian carver would have used copper chisels, which would have

Head and shoulders of a Vizier Ramose from the tomb of the New Kingdom (about 1370 BC), inspired by the original near the Valley of the Kings

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needed to have been sharpened every six strokes by an assistant, who would ensure the craftsman had a constant supply of freshly sharpened chisels. With all the will in the world, my wife wouldn't be prepared to do that for me! I use a variety of different sized chisels, as well as dental tools when carving out the eyes and the finer details. One chunk at a time... For most of my carvings, I use Portland Stone, which I source directly from a quarry in Portland. I bought seven gravestone-size slabs of limestone and they are stacked up in the garage. I chop off a chunk when I want to create a new sculpture. When carving, you can either use a ‘sunk relief’ technique, which is carving down into the stone, or ‘raised relief’, where the background is cut away. With sunk relief, it is hard when you are working around the crevices. Carving nostrils can be a nightmare! It’s all for the Gods... You rarely see a frontal portrait in Ancient Egyptian work. The Egyptians didn't have any compunction about twisting the body around, so you would have a face sideways, then the front of the body and the feet would be turned sideways, because they wanted to show the essence of

every part of the body. It is all about symbolism as this was all created to please the Gods. When you visit a tomb or a temple in Luxor, the carvings can be very high up, where few people can see them. Yet they are made with the same degree of care, because they were not made for people to see. Bastet, the cat Goddess... My first carving in 2011 was of a small female figure carved in a stone plaster tablet. I have carved the goddess Bastet as a cat, which

is a piece inspired by the famous bronze Gayer-Anderson cat in the British Museum. Another limestone

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The lioness Goddess Sekhmet, based on a figure in the Temple of Kom Ombo in southern Egypt

Mick Oakey chips away in the garden of his home in Dial Post

Head of a large hieroglyph of a hawk, based on an original at the Temple of Karnak in Luxor

14:46 Page 1

piece depicts the lioness Goddess Sekhmet, based on a figure in the Temple of Kom Ombo in southern Egypt. It is typical of Ancient Egyptian sculpture, in that it depicts a Goddess of human form with the head of an animal. Another shows the upper body of nobleman Ramose. It took me about two years to pluck up the courage to start on his elaborate wig! Carving is a hoot... My signature is an owl emblem - the Egyptian hieroglyph for M. The marks next to the owl are Ancient Egyptian numerals specifying the year the piece was carved. The upside-down U is a 10, and each vertical stroke is a one. Carving a full picture... Egyptian stone carving is only something I can do in my spare time, as I am Managing Editor of a quarterly magazine called The Aviation Historian which takes up most of my time. The big carvings can be time consuming, each taking about 60 or 70 hours to complete. I rarely carve for more than a few hours a day though, because it’s easy to lose concentration. Backache can cause you to make mistakes and there’s little room for error. If you chop off a nose, you can't put it back on!

‘The big carvings can be time consuming, each taking about 60 or 70 hours to complete’

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48 Improving with age... I have certainly improved my technique over the years. I look back at some of my early carvings and can see imperfections, although to most people they may look okay. One of the nice things I can do is repair damage that is in the original Egyptian carvings. Many have been damaged through time, but I can repair that damage to a degree in my own carvings and fill in those missing parts. The appeal of Ancient Egypt... I am vice-chairman of Sussex Egyptology Society, one of about 30 regional Egyptology groups around the country. There are many people interested in Egypt,

Head of an offering-bearer, inspired by a figure in the Old Kingdom tomb of Kagemni at Saqqara, near Cairo which is why there are often TV programmes about it on documentary channels. If you go to the British Museum, the Egyptian section attracts far more visitors than even the Roman and Greek sections. People are fascinated by the mysteries of

Akhenaten Head of the "heretic" Pharaoh of the New Kingdom, Akhenaten. This carving was inspired by a piece in the Metropolitan Museum in New York. Much of the art in Akhenaten's reign has a very distinctive style, with elongated features and exaggerated lips.

49 Pharoah Thutmose Head of Pharaoh Thutmose IV of the New Kingdom (about 1390 BC), inspired by work in the Temple of Karnak in Luxor. He is dressed for battle, wearing a special helmet-like crown with a coiled cobra (a sign of Royalty) at his brow.

Ancient Egypt, so my work is generally well received by the public. Something different at the ASA... I exhibited work as a guest at the Association of Sussex Artists (ASA) exhibition several years ago, after which they invited me to become a member. Most of the carvings I create for the ASA are speculative, so sometimes they sell and sometimes they don't. Nobody else in the ASA was making this sort of art, which is probably why I was asked to join. The response from the public has been good and in the first year that I exhibited, I was given a joint first in the sculpture category of the public vote,

which I was thrilled with. Moving Away from Egypt? I am also inspired by nature, mainly things in the garden, so I have also carved leaves and animals too. Friends have suggested that I try different styles, perhaps sculpture from the temples of India. But Egypt is what I'm truly passionate about.

For more information on Mickâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s stone carvings, as well as jewellery and other products he makes with wife Lynn, visit www.iret.co.uk

What can a Cranfold Physio

Expert do for me? By Wendyanne Harrison (MCSP)

‘Our friendly physios are expertly and gently able to help you’’

Owner, Cranfold Physical Therapy Centre As recent finalists in Cranleigh BIG Awards, and having treated over 20,000 patients, our Cranfold physios are movement experts. Many have post graduate qualifications in Acupuncture or Pilates and all specialise in joint, bone, muscle, tendon and ligament problems. These can be the result of an illness, injury or operation, or may just be due to wear and tear. These often result from overdoing an activity, but could also be from just sitting at a desk poorly. Our bodies are excellent at compensating for a minor stiffness or niggle by subtly altering our movement patters. You may not even notice you are doing it until you start to feel discomfort. Our physios analyse and gently adjust those faulty movements, working with you to improve and correct them. They may use combinations of manual therapy, massage, exercises and stretches, as well as giving advice and home programs. So whether you are recovering from a hip replacement, suffer with back pain, or have a sports injury, our friendly physios are expertly and gently able to help you.

• No waiting – we offer appointments within 48 hours • You do not need to have a referral to have treatment • Treatment begins on Day 1 • BUPA registered. Self-payers welcomed

Meet the Team We will introduce our growing team over the months in AAH. Amanda Kemp is a sports enthusiast in both her personal and professional life. She has worked professionally with cyclists, runners and netball teams, as well as working as a physio in a school.

Amanda said: “I really enjoy the challenge of treating sports people, and love seeing the benefit that physio brings to people with pain and stiffness – it’s so rewarding seeing them improve.” A keen cyclist and runner, Amanda is also an experienced skydiver, having been a part of the World Champion Women’s 4way formation Skydiving Team in 2006 - she has even stunt-doubled for Lara Croft! In addition to her many talents, Amanda is a qualified Pilates Instructor and takes a Pilates and PhysioFit:knees class in Cranfold.

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Gary Davies serves up at The Queens Head

Scampi and tartare sauce

MEAL REVIEW: 53

STEP BACK IN TIME

When visitors to Sumners Ponds in Barns Green ask if there are any traditional English pubs nearby, the response is very specific. “Walk to the end of the driveway, turn left, walk for 100 metres.” There they will find The Queens Head, a quintessentially English public house. If you were to write down the 10 things most commonly associated with traditional pubs, you’d find them all here. Oak beams protruding from a low ceiling at various angles? Check. Polished horse brass and brass plates decorating oak beams? Check. Inglenook fire place with a wellstocked pile of dry logs? Check. Varied array of iron fire pokers, shovels, brushes and pliers with a

REVIEW: THE QUEENS HEAD Chapel Road, Barns Green, RH13 0PS

A warm welcome awaits at this beautiful, traditional English pub, which has resisted the temptation to follow the ‘gastropub’ route. centuries-old coal bucket? Check. Photos of village cricket, football and rugby teams going back decades hanging on the walls? Check. Tankards belonging to regulars swinging above the bar? Check. The words ‘Mushy Peas’ and ‘Treacle Sponge’ on a chalkboard menu? Check. Hairy dog under a wooden table? Check. Dark red patterned carpet? Check.

Chap with a beard sat at the bar wearing a flat cap? Well, he wasn’t wearing a flat cap… The Queens Head has been a key part of the village for centuries, but there has been changes in personnel of late. Now residing at the pub are Ben and Becks Shire, with their young family and pet spaniels. AAH spoke to the husband and wife team over a pint of Sussex Best.

How long have you been at The Queens Head? Becks: We have been here since February 2016. A friend of ours, Tim Skinner, bought the lease but he is busy running one of his other pubs, The Three Crowns in Wisborough Green. We have known Tim for a long time, so he asked me if I would be landlady here. He still works closely with us on key decisions. Ben works full time at The Butterfly Project in Horsham, so when he’s here at the pub he’ll do anything from maintenance to washing-up to changing the barrels. Is this your first pub? Becks: This is my third pub. My first was The George Abbott at

18/10/2016 09:46 Page 1

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ALL ABOUT HORSHAM MAGAZINE

Syrup sponge and custard

What was your aim when you first stepped through the door? Becks: We just wanted to make sure that the pub was at the heart of the community again. We wanted people to know that if they want to have a pint after work, or meet up with friends for the evening, or pop along for a

meal with the family, then this is a good pub to come to. Is there a vibrant community in Barns Green? Ben: It is a very communityfocused village. As well as the pub, there is a social club, village hall, playgroup, school and shop. Barns Green has its own theatre group and choir, where Becks is a member, and I am on the committee of the youth club. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re also involved in the annual Half Marathon, which Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be competing in, whilst Becks is on the fundraising committee. Barns Green is one of those places where everybody knows one another.

Leek soup with bread

Just changed the barrel?

the bottom of Guildford High Street, and I then ran The Railway in Burgess Hill. They were both Greene King pubs, so this is my first pub tied to Enterprise Inns. Running a pub is hard and involves long hours, but it's worth it. I love talking to different people all the time and I couldn't do that in an office.

10:11

55 and initially we thought about going down that route. But once we had settled in, we spoke to Tim and we all agreed that The Queens Head is a traditional pub that needed to be traditional with its menu. Pies had been very popular in previous years, so we looked at making them a key feature of the menu once again. Where do you source your pies? Becks: We teamed up with Pieminister, who deliver fresh,

handmade pies directly to us. They have a very good following and are well-known on the festival circuit. We met with people from Pieminister, talked about their ethos of using organic, free range produce, and we thought that they would be a brilliant partner for us. They offer high quality pies every time with some great quirky flavours, and we don't have to worry about whether it will look good on the plate as they always do.

What else is on the menu? Ben: Over winter, we reduce the menu slightly, so we have pies and pub classics including bangers and mash, burger and chips and fish and chips. In the spring, we’ll be launching an extended menu with more dishes and sandwiches too. With the exception of some basic items, our food is fresh, so we have to run a smaller menu in the quieter months otherwise we’d be throwing food away.

www.sumnersponds.co.uk

THE CAFÉ BY THE LAKE

Do you rely solely on village trade? Ben: We do have a lot of people from Barns Green popping in, although we also draw in people from Itchingfield, Christ’s Hospital and Southwater. People are happy to drive a few miles for a nice roast dinner. We are also very busy in the summer, because Sumners Ponds is just down the road. That's why it's important that we are welcoming to families with children and pets. Summers are lovely here, as we have a big garden and it’s a safe place for young people. Are you now a food-focused pub? Becks: When we first arrived, we had to decide what food would suit the pub. The Three Crowns is a gastropub with an excellent menu,

Open all year round and open to all! Choose from a delicious range of seasonal dishes or an enticing selection of specials.

Enjoy breakfast, lunch, cream teas and cakes or an evening meal in beautiful surroundings beside the lake. Our fully licenced bar offers a wide range of wines, beers and spirits. Open for evening meals and drinks from the bar until 10.30pm Tuesday to Sunday. All are welcome!

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Food Service Monday 8am – 3pm; Tuesday – Sunday 8am – 3pm/6pm – 9pm

Reception: (01403) 732539 / Cafe: 732734 Email: info@sumnersponds.co.uk or cafe@sumnersponds.co.uk

Sumners Ponds, Chapel Road, Barns Green, RH13 0PR

Pork loins with mash potato

The Deer Stalker pie with chips and root veg

Read our feature on Joanna’s Boutique Tearoom on the ‘Food and Drink’ section at www.aahorsham.co.uk

Becks and Ben Shire

3 Piries Place, Horsham, RH12 1EH 01403 588389

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Who is the head chef? Becks: Gary Davies runs the kitchen in the evening. He only joined us a couple of months ago, although he worked with me in Guildford so I knew what he could do. More recently, he has been working in catering at Mercedes-Benz World. Sue Roberts works in the daytime and she has been cooking for about 40 years. You also host music events and themed evenings? Ben: We host a night of acoustic music on the first Wednesday of each month, a charity quiz on the second Tuesday and a curry night on the third Wednesday. Dave Grout, who lives in the village and used to organise the music festival on the Green, helps book local acts for some of the music nights. We have a long garden with speakers, so in the summer we can host acoustic music outside too. Have you changed much of the pub’s interior? Ben: I used to drink in here 20 years ago, as a friend of mine

lived just around the corner. When I came here with Becks, I walked through the door and it was exactly the same. Nothing had changed. Over the last year, we have been decluttering. But it is difficult, as many items and pictures hanging on the wall are owned by villagers. We have photos of sports teams dating back decades, and even a random selection of Isle of Wight mugs hanging from the ceiling. We have taken a few things down here and there, but we don't want to upset anyone as the pub is part of the community and villagers have put their stamp on it in various ways down the years. Which ales do you serve? Becks: We have London Pride, Harvey's Sussex Best Bitter and Spitfire Gold. I have two pumps for guest beers, one of which usually has the Best Bitter from Long Man, and on the other we rotate lots of different beers including Timothy Taylor and local brews from the likes of Dark Star and Firebird. In the summer, we serve cider on a sixth pump. We do have a lot of ale drinkers

“There needs to be pubs where people who don’t fancy cooking for the night can just pop along and enjoy a cozy evening with good, home-cooked food’

here as we serve a good pint. Who do you think The Queens Head appeals to? Ben: We are a traditional pub serving good food. There are plenty of lovely gastro-pubs around, but there also needs to be pubs where people who don’t fancy cooking for the night can just pop along and enjoy a cozy evening with good, home-cooked food.

Our Meal We sat down for our meal on an old wooden table that’s seen its fair share of beer mats over the years. Leaning against the window are a few books, including one simply called Sussex. Not that it would be particularly helpful as a guide to visitors. It’s a 1949 edition of a book primarily focused on Sussex towns and villages with churches, with a few simple illustrations. Barns Green is not listed in the index. I would later discover that old books are often delivered to tables along with the bill, just to provide something interesting for people to read. The menu was two sheets of A5 card on a clipboard. One sheet listed all the

Pieminister pies, at £6.50 each. Flavours include Moo (British beef steak and craft ale), Deer Stalker (wild British venison, bacon, red wine and green lentil), Free Ranger (British chicken and ham hock with leek and thyme) and Heidi (Somerset goats’ cheese, sweet potato, spinach and red onion.) Sides come with an additional charge, although pie and gravy with mash potato and roasted root vegetables costs

a very reasonable £12.50. The second menu lists a handful of ‘Picks and Nibbles’ as well as three ‘Kitchen Classics’ and two fish dishes (fish and chips or scampi and chips) for those not enticed by the pies. For starters, I chose the scampi with tartare (£4.50) which, whilst cooked from frozen, was presented in a charming little dish with a plentiful side of sauce. Toby

opted for the leek soup (£5.50) which was nicely flavoured and served with petit pain. With pies being the focus of the menu, for main course I plumped for the Deer Stalker with hand-cut chips and roasted root vegetables, which were particularly moreish. I have to admit, having been sceptical about sourcing pies from a Bristol pie maker (even an award-winning one with an

12 YEARS IN THE GOOD BEER GUIDE

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Chocolate roulade with vanilla ice cream

Becks Shire, landlady at The Queens Head

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ethos of using responsibly sourced ingredients), I was pleasantly surprised. There was a good gamey filling with the firm flavour of the lentils offering a warm contrast. However, I would still take a slice of good home-made pie over a supplied one, every time. Toby went for a dish from the Specials board. His pork loin and mash potato was coated in a pleasant tarragon sauce, with seasonal vegetables. At just £10.50, it was a warm and enjoyable dish that offered very good value for money. We both enjoyed guilty desserts, in the shape of the stickiest syrup sponge you can imagine, and a chocolate roulade with vanilla ice cream (both £5.50). Like all our dishes, they were served with a simple elegance. As Ben and Becks eluded to, The Queens Head menu cannot match that of some of the better food-focused pubs in the Horsham area, and neither does it aim to. So, for those of you who read our meal reviews to experience the district’s culinary delights, there are better options. However, pubs serving good pub food at these low prices are now few and far between. So if you do ever have the urge to enjoy good food in a warm and welcoming pub, then The Queens Head ticks all of the boxes. It’s a beautiful pub, and long may it be a step back in time.

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HISTORY: 61

Slinfold’s Forgotten Star Alf Shrubb with a haul of medals and prizes won through his athletic prowess (All pictures courtesy of Horsham District Council’s Horsham Museum & Art Gallery)

How Alfred Shrubb Became a World-Famous Runner

As you’ll probably know, Broadbridge Heath Leisure Centre will soon be replaced with a new £12.3million facility. When it came to naming it, the name ‘Shrubb’ was mooted, although in something of an anti-climax, The Bridge was given the nod instead. It may well have been an opportunity to celebrate Alfred Shrubb, who is now rightly remembered as one of the great athletes of his time. As well as smashing world records, he would attract large crowds in Horsham as he took on extraordinary challenges, including racing a horse. In stark contrast to his athletic

prowess, he would later open a tobacco shop in the town centre. Here, Jeremy Knight, Heritage Manager at Horsham District Council’s Horsham Museum, looks back at his colourful life... Alfred Shrubb was born on 12 December 1879, the fifth child of William and Harriet, who lived in Slinfold. With the arrival of Christ’s Hospital School, there was a demand for builders, so Alfred followed his father into the trade. Standing at just a little over five foot tall, Alfred lacked height and weight, but he possessed excellent stamina and would run to work daily across the fields.

In June 1899, a fire bell sounded and whilst respondin, Alfred happened to come across Fred Spencer, captain of Blue Star Harriers, who was also running to the scene of the fire. When Alfred he comfortably kept pace, he was invited to join the athletics club.

Alf Enjoys Taste of Success Alf had an unusual running style, but it didn’t stop him winning. He lost his very first competitive race, even though he had a 10yard head start in the 440-yard dash. He soon proved that the distance

For details of a Fabrics exhibition at Horsham Museum, see the News Round-up

Alf races A. Aldridge in Horsham Park

was too short, as he comfortably won the one mile race to the surprise of fellow Blue Star runners. In January 1900, he won the club’s three-mile championship handicap race in 15:55, beating Fred Spencer by 20 yards. That year Shrubb ran in 23 club races and won them all. He also won the Sussex county four-mile race at Bexhill and subsequently joined South London Harriers.

Alf (far right, middle row) coached the Harvard Athletics team

World Records Tumble at Ibrox This success led to national and international level races, where Shrubb continued to win. He became All-England champion at the 25th National Cross Country Championships in 1901, covering the 10-mile course in 63.45, some 350 yards ahead of the next competitor. Two years later, he would smash the three-mile record in 14:17, a record that would stand for 29 years.

Alf continued to improve, and by 1904 he held 15 world records. Perhaps his finest hour came on 5 November 1904 at Ibrox Park, Glasgow, where he broke seven world records including the one hour distance record. The tally of world records held by Shrubb included 2,000 yards, 1 ¼ miles, 1 ½ miles, 1 ¾ miles, 2 miles, 4,000 yards, 3 miles, 5,000 meters, 4 miles, 5 miles, 6 miles, 10,000 metres, 7 miles, 8 miles, 9 miles, 10 miles, 11 miles, and in one hour running 11 miles or 1,137 yards. Some of these would stand as British records for 49 years. Shrubb also spent six months in Australia, where he proved hugely successful in competition. On his return on 5 June 1905, there was reputedly 300 people to meet him as he arrived at Horsham station.

Harsh Punishment for Accepting Money Running as an amateur competitor, Alfred Shrubb had to

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A portrait by a Horsham photographer

Shrubb took part in races all over the world after dominating in national competitions

find other ways of making a good living. So, he opened a tobacconist in Horsham, selling an extensive range of tobacco, cigars and cigarettes. However, his reputation took a knock in 1905 when he accepted prize money (£40 5s 11d over two years – around £2,500). The sporting authorities made an example of Shrubb, banning him from all amateur events for life. Consequently, he could not compete at the Olympics. However, Rob Hadgraft’s book The Little Wonder: The Untold Story of Alfred Shrubb, reveals that the Games did not always showcase the world’s best athletes. For example, Great Britain was barely represented at the 1904 Games in St. Louis, where Shrubb’s best time would have seen him win the four-mile race by two full minutes. Statistics suggest that Shrubb would have won seven individual golds at the Olympics between 1904 – 1912 had he competed, or

ALL ABOUT HORSHAM MAGAZINE

‘At the 1904 Games in St.Louis, Shrubb’s best time would have seen him win the fourmile race by two full minutes’

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.

been allowed to compete. Cliff Comber, who organises the annual Alfred Shrubb Memorial Races in Slinfold, told AAH: "Shrubb had to travel around the country to compete and he couldn't afford to do that without earning, so he took the prize money. At that time, our Team GB athletes were mainly Oxford and Cambridge educated and there were no working-class runners as they could not afford to compete at amateur events. It was an injustice, as Shrubb was the real deal."

Alf Takes America by Storm Shrubb turned professional on 22 January 1906 and the following year he set sail for America to make his fortune in an unsuspecting nation. He won his first two races in front of a stunned 20,000 crowd. He then spent eight months touring

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A crowd gathers outside The Bedford as Shrubb, who was nicknamed ‘The Little Wonder’, attempts to race a horse

COLUMN RSPB Pulborough Brooks

Picture: Graham Osborne

Nathan Shrubb competed in and won the inaugural Alfred Shrubb 5km in Slinfold in 2010 (Pic: Chris Woolgar)

Perfect Time to See Ice-Skating Snipe

fame in Canada, but was largely forgotten in his home town of Horsham. However, Cliff Comber’s Alf Shrubb Memorial 5km race sees runners compete for the Shrubb Trophy. At the inaugural race in 2010, Nathan Shrubb – a distant relative who runs for Morpeth Harriers – was invited to compete. Fittingly, he won comfortably. Whilst he may not be commemorated in the new leisure centre, Alf Shrubb is pictured at The Tube, the indoor sprint track at Broadbridge Heath, whilst

‘The Alf Shrubb Memorial 5km race in Slinfold race sees runners compete for the Shrubb Trophy’

Horsham Museum has a display of some of Alf's books, medals and records as well as a three-handled ‘Loving Cup’ presented by the sons of the Empire Association in Massachusetts in 1908, a pair of Alf’s running shoes, and a Vienna striking clock presented after a race win. Slinfold's village sign now has Alf's name alongside that of David Sheppard, the former England cricketer. Having retired from athletics, Alf Shrubb operated the historic Cream of Barley Mill in Bowmanville, Ontario,

until 1949. He died on St George’s Day 1964 aged 84 and is buried not far from Alfred Shrubb Lane, Bowmanville.

If you’d like to know more about Alf Shrubb, there is a permanent exhibition of his memorabilia at the museum. Rob Hadgraft’s excellent book, ‘The Little Wonder: The Untold Story of Alfred Shrubb’ is available to buy on Amazon.

I have a little challenge for you this month consider it an eye test with a difference! There’s a certain species of bird that is notoriously tricky to spot with the naked eye, even when it’s sat a few feet away from you, and we have quite a number of them here on the Brooks. I’m talking about the sneaky snipe, a skulking wader with a long beak and feathers streaked with brown and buff. Now is a great time to see snipe, particularly here on the reserve where they have been displaying nicely in front of our hides, probing the squelchy mud for invertebrates. They aren’t always so easy to spot though. Their striped feathers provide a very effective camouflage that makes it almost impossible to pick one out when they are stationary, so much so that the term “sniper” was coined during the 18th century in reference to any marksmen skilled enough to shoot one of these birds. Snipe have a rather wonderful courtship display during the breeding season, known as “drumming. The male will fly high up in a circular pattern before diving, reaching speeds of around 30mph. As he dives, his specially-adapted tail feathers vibrate, producing the drumming sound that has been compared to the sound of bleating sheep. It’s easy to understand why one of the folk names for snipe is “flying goat.” Your challenge, should you choose to accept it, is to visit Pulborough Brooks and find a snipe! You might not witness any drumming but, if you’re very lucky, you may witness a demonstration of their iceskating abilities, as caught on camera by one of our volunteers.

Emily Summers RSPB Pulborough