AAH (All About Horsham) February 2020

FEBRUARY 2020

COVER STORY

All About AAH AAH is an independent magazine, owned by Ben Morris, a life-long resident of the Horsham District.

EDITOR: BEN MORRIS editor@aahorsham.co.uk 01403 878026 / 01903 892899 The Editor, AAH Magazine, 2 Viney Close, Ashington, RH20 3PT ADVERTISING: advertising@aahorsham.co.uk 01403 878026 / 01903 892899 PHOTOGRAPHY: TOBY PHILLIPS tobyphillipsphotography.co.uk info@tobyphillipsphotography.co.uk 07968 795625

IN THIS

EDITION Our News Round-up includes details of the Horsham Pancake Races, plans for a new winery and an interview with Jackson Laing, star of the RSC’s musical, The Boy in the Dress

Toby is available for all kinds of photography, from portrait work to corporate shoots. To find out more about his work, visit his website at https://tobyphillipsphotography.co.uk WEBSITE: www.aahorsham.co.uk We publish AAH online every month.

You can read archive editions too.

Advertising in AAH The magazine is delivered to 15,000 homes in Horsham, Southwater and villages including Broadbridge Heath, Mannings Heath, Ashington, Partridge Green and new estates at Highwood and Wickhurst Green.

Thousands of copies are picked up from our stylish stands across the District. The magazine is also published online.

ADVERTISING Eighth Page Advert: £55 + VAT Quarter Page Advert: £110 + VAT Half Page Advert: £185 + VAT Full Page Advert: £310 + VAT Double Page Advert: £520 + VAT Every Sixth Advert is Free For more details or an AAH information book email advertising@aahorsham.co.uk or call 01903 892899

The February 2020 cover features Scott ‘Skipp’ Innes and Craig Sawyer at Southwater Country Park.

They will paddleboard 1,000 miles in Yukon Territory, one of the world’s most inhospitable places.

For this shot, Toby perched at the end of the jetty as the two men paddleboarded towards his camera. It was important to place the paddles at similar angles and maintain an even speed, so it took several attempts. The editor was close by, holding a studio light while standing in the water at the end of the slipway.

Other potential covers included DJ Conrank in Piries Place Car Park and The M Bar’s Benz Suwangmongkol.

DOOR TO DOOR DISTRIBUTION Horsham: Jacquie Paterson, Dominic Goddard, The Judd family, The Rollingson family, George Voisey, Katie Drysdale, George Williams, Sam Lucas, Hazel Garner, Sam Uphill, Jill Shuker, Owen Bloomfield, The Arliss family, Charlotte Wellbelove, The Gavira Family Southwater: Connor Brown, William Britton, Tassia Chapman Villages: Nathan Williams (Mannings Heath); Lynsey Hare (Billingshurst), Harry Kent (Ashington), Derek Bradnum (Nuthurst) Ben Morris (Stands) Tanneka Scadding-Hunt (Partridge Green), Oak Tree Farm Care (Maplehurst & Copsale); The Palmer family & Amy Butler (BBH) James Hobbs (Thakeham), Tom Matthews (Storrington) PICK UP POINTS & STANDS 4,000 more copies are available at businesses, clubs, organisations and community centres across the district.

Horsham: Henry Adams (Carfax), Pavilions in the Park, Horsham Museum, Horsham Rail Station, Crates (Carfax) New House Farm, Swan Walk, The Capitol, New Street Butchers (New Street) At Home Estate Agents (Caterways), The Holbrook Club Village Stands: CoCo’s (Southwater); Billingshurst Leisure Centre, Coco’s (Billingshurst) Barns Green Village Store, The Bridge Leisure Centre (BBH), Bluecoat Sports (Christ’s Hospital), Leonardslee (Lower Beeding), Warnham Village Stores (Warnham), Slinfold Stores (Slinfold), Steyning Leisure Centre, Spring Gardens Nursery (Washington) and Joanna’s Boutique Tearooms (Storrington) LEAFLETS We can deliver leaflets with AAH. Email editor@aahorsham.co.uk £40 + VAT per 1,000 copies (£45 for A4 leaflets) SOCIAL MEDIA Follow us on Twitter @AAHMagazine and @tobyphillips1 NOTES New AAH stands have been delivered across the area, with new pick-up points at Joanna’s Boutique Tea Rooms in Storrington and Spring Gardens Nursery in Washington

Music producer Diccon Mayfield, aka Conrank, has a big following in China. We also meet quilling artist Rebekah Jenkins and Helen Le Grand, founder of Peawee Designs

The Horsham Cellar has a new wine dispenser, while Piries Place has a great new Asian restaurant, The M Bar. Heading out of town, we meet the cast and crew of the Barns Green Players’ annual pantomime

Two paddleboarders prepare for the daunting Yukon 1000. Also, we grapple with the young champions at Horsham Mixed Martial Arts Academy. Finally, with The Drill Hall under threat, we look back at its history.

Ben Morris (Editor) and Toby Phillips (Photographer) try the new wine dispenser at The Horsham Cellar Email your thoughts on Ben’s column or any AAH feature to: editor@aahorsham.co.uk

Notes from the Editor

How Important is Six Thousandths of a Second?

Working in the marketing department of a razor blade company must be challenging.

All superlatives for the brilliance of a razor have already been used. And the importance of any technological advancements have been diluted.

Gillette, for example, revealed the Trac II, its first two-blade razor in 1971. It’s since been succeeded by the Mach 3 (1998), the Quattro (2003) and the five-blade Fusion in 2006. With each evolution, the tiny improvements in the “closeness” of the shave has been marketed like a giant leap for mankind.

Finally, we reached a point where there was nowhere for the marketing gurus to go. The men depicted in the adverts were the best of us – fighter pilots, athletes, astronauts or guys who really care about babies. Unless they release a 15-blade razor that’s used by immortal Gods, they’re stuck in a limbo.

Indeed, some razors are now being promoted along nostalgic lines, as though wooden grips and one blade does the job perfectly well and that everything we’ve been told over the last 50 years has been a big con at our (considerable) expense.

I believe we may soon reach a similar scenario with the incessant advancement of the internet. Download speeds are now so fast

that latest upgrades or evolutions make only a tiny difference to the amount of time you spend waiting for something to happen on your computer. For instance, the £1.5billion project to install a fibre optic cable on the bed of the Arctic Ocean reduces the lag time of signals between London and Tokyo by six thousandths of a second.

Now, when I was 14-years-old, the internet was in its infancy. The few that had it used a dial-up connection, which caused arguments as logging-on meant unplugging the telephone! In 1993, access was limited to 56kbs (kilobits per second), so it would take ten minutes to download a low quality song.

During that time, you’d hear variable static frequencies, like people in a zombie movie trying to contact the outside world on a busted transistor radio.

Now, my 14-year old son will complain as he plays Fortnite, an astonishingly detailed combat game which pitches him against 99 players from all over the world.

“What’s going on with the internet?” he’ll complain. “There was a glitch literally as I was taking a shot!”

I try to explain that there hasn’t been a time when it was any better. There was no golden age of faultless internet connection. I remind him that as a schoolboy, I would wait for 27

minutes loading a demo cassette for a one-colour game which came free with Your Sinclair magazine.

Today, the world is different. The average UK download speed is 64mbs (megabits per second) and many of us have Superfast broadband (up to 213mbs). Already, it’s been deemed too slow and we’re moving towards Ultrafast broadband, for up to 1000mbs.

Horsham District Council looks likely to embark on a costly roll-out of Ultrafast. This might have triggered a critical response from me, had the Council simultaneously announced a hefty Council Tax rise, as West Sussex County Council has done. To HDC’s credit, it hasn’t. Also, there’s no denying that the roll-out will help us all access its services in a faster, more efficient way.

However, the next level beyond Ultrafast is Hyperfast, which is over 1000mbs. But like razors, perhaps we’re at a point where future evolutions will be almost negligible.

Maybe, going forward, regular investment in broadband infrastructure is placed a little further down the pecking line, in terms of necessity.

I’d like to think that some local services that are put under intense pressure or even cut entirely are worth a little more than six milliseconds of our time...

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News & Events The popular Horsham Beer Festival is held at the Drill Hall (Photo: AAH/Toby Phillips Photography)

Send to: editor@aahorsham.co.uk

Horsham District Council is considering the future of the Drill Hall on Denne Road, Horsham.

The historic site faces the prospect of being closed and converted for affordable housing.

The Council’s review into community facilities revealed that use of the Drill Hall is low and that a new purpose-built facility at Berkeley’s growing Highwood estate would better serve the public’s need. HDC has described the Drill Hall as ‘old, poorly designed for modern needs, with high running costs.’ It

Marisha Wallace brings her UK tour to the Capitol, Horsham, on Friday 13 March, at 7.30pm.

One of the West End and Broadway’s most beloved leading ladies, Marisha has wowed audiences in Dreamgirls, Waitress and The Book of Mormon. She recently starred in Disney’s blockbuster, Aladdin. Inspired by the likes of Aretha Franklin, Etta James and Ella Fitzgerald, Marisha’s voice infuses jazz, gospel and R&B with a dose of soul. Tickets £26.50 from (01403) 750220 or visit www.thecapitolhorsham.com

added that it would take a reconstruction programme costing £1million to continue in use. Councillor Jonathan Chowen (Cabinet Member for Leisure and Culture) said: “I consider this to be an exciting opportunity for us to create a modern, multi-purpose new facility. Not only will it be more fit for purpose and flexible for the benefit of the wider community, but it will also be more efficient to manage and ultimately much kinder to the environment. At the same time, it enables us to free up a site which can contribute significantly to providing more

Horsham’s Vegan Fair will return to the Drill Hall, Denne Road, Horsham, on Saturday 25 April, at 10.30am 4.30pm.

There will be health and beauty products, household items, plant-based nutrition, ethical clothing, as well as a series of talks held throughout the day on various aspects of veganism.

All profits will go to the Born Free Foundation and Animals Asia. Entry £2 (Under 16s free). For details, visit the ‘Horsham Vegan Fest’ Facebook page.

affordable homes in the town centre.”

The Council added that any new site could house a nursery group, scout group and provide a home for Horsham Amateur and Operatic Dramatic Society (HAODS).

However, its announcement has caused a public outcry. Horsham Blueprint considers the alternative facilities being proposed to be “wholly inadequate” and contrary to the draft Neighbourhood Plan. It has created a petition which as of 27 January had attracted over 4,450 signees (search ‘Save Horsham Drill Hall’ at www.change.org)

West Sussex Philharmonic Choir will hold a Tea Time Concert at The Barn, Causeway, Horsham on Saturday 29 February, at 3pm.

In a departure from their usual repertoire, the Horsham-based choir will sing numbers from West Side Story and Fiddler on the Roof, together with a medleys of 1960s hits, including Rhythm of Life and classic songs by Lennon and McCartney. Tea and cakes will be served afterwards. For tickets, visit www.westsussexphilharmonicchoir.org.uk

Horsham Kinder Living Show 2019 (AAH/Toby Phillips Photography)

Horsham Kinder Living Home Show will be held at County Hall North (Parkside), Horsham, RH12 1XH on Saturday 7 March, at 10am – 4pm and Sunday 8 March at 10am – 3pm.

The fifth staging of the annual event offers advice and inspiration for anyone looking to repair, decorate or extend their home in a sustainable

way. Since it was first held, more people have become aware of environmental issues from extreme weather to deforestation. The Kinder Living Show highlights way to make a difference. Local businesses, charities and not-for-profit groups provide information, enthusiasm and creativity. Earthkind will bring their organic whole foods and

there will be expert advice on energy, waste and water saving.

Transition Horsham’s 11th annual Seedy Saturday is also part of the show, whilst the tech team from Horsham Repair Cafe will be on hand to help with broken or slow laptops and appliances. www.kinderliving.co.uk

Horsham District Health Rides provides free, volunteerled rides in the district.

The next programme begin with a cycle from Broadbridge Heath to Sumners Ponds, Barns Green, on Wednesday 12 February. There will be another 12 rides (held until November) with routes including Southwater Country Park, the Down's Link to Rudgwick and the Shelley route.

The Steyning to Shoreham section of the Down's Link is among new routes.

The programme also includes two starter rides in Horsham Park, designed to increase the confidence of those new to cycling, returning after a break or unsure about their fitness. For information, visit www.hdsd.org.uk/ Inclusive-Activities/horsham-districthealth-rides Shopfest hosts a Spring Craft & Gift Fair at Leonardslee Lakes & Gardens, Lower Beeding on Friday 27 March Sunday 29 March, at 10am - 4pm.

Shopfest and The Handmade Affair champion creative and independent businesses, with exhibitors showcasing inspirational products, with pop-up stalls and workshops. www.leonardsleegardens.co.uk

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The Pancake Races in 2017 (AAH/Toby Phillips Photography)

Businesses, charities and organisations are invited to enter the Horsham Rotary Charity Pancake Races in the Carfax on Thursday 20 February, from 12pm.

The Pancake Races are held during half term, so that families can enjoy the entertainment. Teams of four (often in fancy dress) enter 80m relay races, using their own frying pan on a course designed to encourage a mix of skill and speed. There are cups and prizes awarded to the winners, including one for Best Fancy Dress. Mansell McTaggart sponsor the event, which raises money for good causes.

To enter (ÂŁ40 per team) email secretary@horshamrotary.org.uk

Nature Tots (SWT/Miles Davies)

TOOVEY’S Entries are invited for our Spring fine art sale on 18th March

For free valuations and advice, please contact Tim Williams or Nicholas Toovey

Sussex Wildlife Trust is holding Nature Tots sessions at Chesworth Farm, Horsham and Woods Mill, Henfield, in March.

Run by trained Forest School Leaders, the sessions provide an opportunity for parents and children to learn from nature in woodland, meadow and coastal habitats. Activities include den building, pond dipping and mini-beast discovery. Sessions are also held at Rye Harbour, Seven Sisters and Tilgate Park. To book, call (01273) 497561 or visit www.sussexwildlifetrust.org.uk/ naturetots Horsham Museum is hosting an exhibition on the district’s Greatest Book Collector until Saturday 28 March.

Major John Roland Abbey, a resident of Storrington, was dyslexic and could hardly write a sentence. However, that didn’t prevent him from indulging in building up book collections that were internationally known. To mark the 50th anniversary of his death, Horsham Museum & Art Gallery has a display exploring this fascinating collector. It features pictures of his bindings (now belonging to the late Sir Paul Getty’s KBE Wormsley Library) as well as a superbly-bound copy of A History of Sussex, bought by Abbey in 1941. www.horshammuseum.org

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house the equipment required for the pressing of grapes and fermentation, bottling and storage of wine. It would also include a 120-seat restaurant and tasting room to create a special experience combining art, cuisine and wine.”

The winery at Mannings Heath could also process grapes produced at Leonardslee Lakes & Gardens, which the Benguela Collection acquired in 2017. It is home to a small, experimental Pinotage vineyard, which winemaker Johann Fourie is using to evaluate growing conditions for a grape usually seen as South Africa’s signature variety. www.manningsheath.com

Horsham Film Festival 2019 (Toby Phillips Photography)

The proposed winery at Mannings Heath Golf and Wine Estate

Mannings Heath Golf and Wine Estate has submitted plans to build a new winery, tasting room and restaurant.

The building is required for the production and storage of wine from the 150 tonnes of grapes grown annually at the estate’s vineyard.

Penny Streeter OBE, CEO of the Benguela Collection wine and hospitality group, acquired the golf club in 2016 and soon planted a 37-acre vineyard, with Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier grapes. The first crop is due in 2020 with the release of wine likely in 2023. Penny said: “The building we are planning is essential to

The Horsham Film Festival 2020 Awards will be held at the Capitol on Thursday 13 February, at 7.30pm. The festival nominates films from first-time filmmakers and experienced

professionals in categories including Best Drama, Comedy, Documentary, Animation and the Your District award. Tickets £10 from (01403) 750220 or www.thecapitolhorsham.com

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digital cinema projector at the Capitol (above) will cost about £95,000, whilst digital touchscreens aimed at tourists and visitors will promote town businesses and events at a cost of £80,000.

The level of Council Tax for 2020/21 is marginally increased by £2.99 a year from £149.53 to £152.52 for an Band D property.

Councillor Ray Dawe (Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Finance) said: “At a time when the pressure on local authority finances remains great, it is commendable that as a result of prudent financial planning, the Council is delivering as strong a budget as

this, while still delivering services and investing in future projects.”

There will be some increases in car parking, with the cost of a rural car parking disk rising to £15 and The Forum and Swan Walk car parks charging until 8pm. The cost of garden waste collection rises from £39 to £41.

If agreed, the proposals will be recommended to Full Council on 12 February.

West Sussex County Councillors have approved a Council Tax rise of 4.99%, the maximum allowed without a referendum. Bills for a Band D home will rise by £66 a year.

John Coles Photography

At a meeting of the Horsham District Council Cabinet on Thursday 23 January, councillors were expected to agree the 2020/21 revenue and capital budget.

The budget will generate a surplus, as the Council aims to deliver a £13.3million capital programme that includes more affordable housing and initiatives to help the district become carbon neutral. Money is also set aside for the improvement of rural car parks in Henfield and Pulborough, with £150,000 for a fountain upgrade in The Forum and £113,000 for a discovery hub at Warnham Nature Reserve. A replacement

RudeSix play The Rec Rooms, Horsham on Saturday, 29 February.

RudeSix are a youthful band on a mission to revamp ska and reggae music, covering old school tunes from Toots and The Maytals and Max Romeo, The Specials and The Selecter. There will be support from a ska DJ. Tickets £10 (£15 on the door) https://therecrooms.com

WHAT’S ON AT THE CAPITOL

www.thecapitolhorsham.com

Box Office: 01403 750220

Stock image of secondary education (iStock/Flairimages)

The Southwater Local History Group has produced a reprint of Southwater A-Z: A Miscellany.

The book covers old houses, long-lost landmarks like the brickworks, windmill and railway station, as well as people who have lived in the village. The book was published 10 years ago and sold out, so new copies have been printed. Priced ÂŁ13.50, it is available from Jeremy on (01403) 731247 or j.senneck@btinternet.com

Steyning Grammar School has announced its decision to relocate its Sixth Form to a new site in Upper Beeding and take steps towards joining the Bohunt Education Trust (BET).

Currently, Steyning Grammar School (SGS) is split between three sites. The oldest part of the school – dating back 400 years - is in Church Street, in the heart of the village. It is used for Key Stage 3 education (Years 7 - 8).

The Shooting Fields site caters for Years 9 – 11, as well as Sixth Form students. A third campus at Rock Road, Storrington (formerly Rydon Community College) is also used for Key Stage 3. The Governors plan to sell the Church Street

site, describing it as “no longer fit for purpose.�

Pupils currently using it will move to Shooting Fields. Meanwhile, Sixth Form provision will move to The Towers Convent School.

The Towers has announced it will be closing this summer, after serving Upper Beeding and the surrounding area for 117 years.

To support these developments and to “continue and strengthen further the educational outcomes that the School provides�, SGS is planning to join the Bohunt Education Trust (BET), a leading multiacademy trust. www.sgs.uk.net

The Duke of Kent School in Ewhurst recently underwent the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) exacting Regulatory Compliance Inspection.

The school has been deemed to be fully compliant in every respect, with no action points recommended. This follows the trend of Duke of Kent’s ISI Educational Quality Inspection in 2017 when the school was rated ‘Excellent’ in all domains. www.dukeofkentschool.org.uk

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The Horsham 10K Road Race, organised by Horsham Joggers, will be held on Sunday 17 May. The race, part of the Sussex Grand Prix League, starts and finishes at Horsham Rugby Club and is popular with club runners and fun runners alike. It is an ideal challenge for park runners looking for the next step up. There is a shorter event for under-16s, with entry costing £5. Early entry is advised at www.horshamjoggers.co.uk/ horsham-10k/

Development is now underway on greenfield land in North Horsham (AAH/Toby Phillips Photography)

Thakeham Homes has put forward a proposal for a new 3,500 home ‘garden community’ in West Grinstead.

The developer’s plan includes provision of two primary schools, a secondary school and community facilities. It would also require changes to the A24 junction at Buck Barn, with a new roundabout and flyover mooted.

West Grinstead residents have raised strong objections to the proposal to build in the rural location, citing traffic concerns, pollution levels and the negative impact on the area. More than 10,000 people have signed a petition against the plans.

An online statement at www.savewestgrinstead.com reads: ‘We understand that there is a need for new homes and our Village Plan includes a proposal for more than 100 new homes on brownfield land. This must be better than random developments on greenfield sites on the basis of side deals between landowners and developers, with no thought for sustaining and maintaining unspoilt countryside. The impact of building 3,500 homes in unspoilt countryside at Buck Barn will have far reaching effects, especially for West Grinstead, Partridge Green, Shipley and Dial Post.’

Currently, no planning application has been made and the site is likely to be just one of several rural locations considered as Horsham District Council considers its long-term development strategy. Adversane, Billingshurst and further expansion in Southwater are also being put forward as options by various developers, as is a large new neighbourhood to the west of Ifield, between Horsham and Crawley.

Meanwhile, construction work is underway in North Horsham, a development already approved by the Council.

Rachel Nicholl and Kate Elliott

Family Law Partners has announced its expansion into Horsham, with Director Kate Elliott heading up a new team. Kate is an experienced family lawyer, having been trained at a City firm before working at specialist family law practices. The team is strengthened

by Rachel Nicholl, Associate Solicitor. www.familylawpartners.co.uk/ family-solicitor-horsham/ Drenched Mini Water Polo’s Under-11 team are set to be the first in the UK to participate at HaBaWaBa International, the world’s largest water polo tournament for children.

Drenched was founded in 2016, with many joining from local swim schools. Amongst

the players heading to the tournament in Lignano Sabbiadoro, Italy on 21 - 28 June will be Horsham’s Ben Lőffler, who took up water polo after attending a Drenched trial at Windlesham House School.

Coach Matthew White said: “HaBaWaBa is a unique event

To Have and to Hire Events Ltd, based in Billingshurst, won the award for Best Venue Stylist in the South East at The Wedding Industry Awards (TWIA) 2020. TWIA has been designed to recognise innovation and creativity in business. An expert judging panel assesses each shortlisted contestant to ensure only the industry’s finest are credited. Sara Ellis, Founder of To Have & To Hire Events, said: “It’s such a deep feeling of happiness and gratitude to be recognised by not only our clients, but also industry leaders for all our hard work.” www.tohaveandtohireweddings.com

with over 100 teams from all over the world. We are hoping to have a lot of fun learning, making new friends and testing ourselves against teams from the world’s best water polo nations.”

For details of future taster sessions, visit www.drenchedschool.co.uk

@Home Estate and Lettings Agency’s Community Chest scheme continues to encourage property sellers to donate a proportion of their fee to help support local, community based and volunteer run organisations.

Since launching in 2017, beneficiaries have included Know Dementia, Phoenix Stroke Association and Southwater Village Hall Pre-School.

The Supporters of Castlewood School recently received £100 as a result of a ‘Name the Bear’ competition that staff ran at Southwater Christmas Festival. www.athomeestates.co.uk

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American musician Mike Farris performs at Thakeham Village Hall on Saturday 14 March. The Nashville rocker’s 2015 release Shine for all the People won a Grammy for Best Roots Gospel album. Mike keeps it earthy and personal on his latest release, Silver and Stone.

Anna Pancaldi also performs.

All of her releases have charted in the Top 10 of the iTunes singer/songwriter charts, including recent release Sweet Charity. Tickets for the Coolham Live Music Club event (regular venue in Coolham was not available) cost £20 from coolhamtickets@gmail.com

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The Amazing Bubble Man performs at the Capitol Theatre on Friday 10 April, at 2pm. Louis Pearl has been forin 30 Jacksonthrilling Laing (frontaudiences left) in The Boy the years Dress with the art, magic, science and fun of bubbles. £13 from (01403) (PhotoTickets courtesy of RSC) 750220 or www.thecapitolhorsham.com Horsham District Archaeology Group hosts a day-school looking at post medieval archaeology at Dial Post Village Hall, RH13 8NJ, on Saturday 29 February, at 10am-4pm. The group welcomes Simon Stevens BA, MCIfA, Senior Archaeologist with Archaeology South-East.

Tickets £16 (non-members £25) from (01903) 872309 or email horshamarch@hotmail.co.uk

Blue Badge Guide Richard Shenton will give a talk on Horsham’s Religious Curiosities at Ashington Community Centre, Foster Lane, RH20 3PG, on Friday 14 February, at 7.30 - 8.30pm.

Richard talks as part of the Speakers Corner programme.

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ONE TO WATCH

Dennis is shared between four actors, so that they can keep on top of school work.

So, who’s this then?

Jackson Laing, a Horsham boy playing the title role in a major new musical production by the Royal Shakespeare Company’s (RSC) at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre.

How did he land the role?

Jackson had performed in local shows and summer schools around Horsham before attending an open audition for Matilda The Musical, a 2018 adaptation of the Roald Dahl classic by the RSC. He landed the part of Bruce, which opened the door to future opportunities.

JACKSON LAING

Why is he in a dress?

Because the production is The Boy in the Dress, an adaptation of the children’s book by David Walliams.

I guess he’s read it?

Jackson has read most of Walliams’ books and The Boy in the Dress – the first by the comedian - is his favourite. “I always loved the character of Dennis as he reminds me of Billy Elliot, one of my dream roles.”

How does he feel about the costume?

Jackson is taking it all in his stride. In rehearsals, he had to wear a dress and wig and although it felt strange initially, it quickly became like any other costume.

What’s the story about?

It follows star footballer called Dennis, who takes to cross-dressing while at school. The production has been running at the theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon since 8 November 2019, with the last show scheduled for 8 March 2020.

What about school?

Having a major role does take up a lot of time for Jackson. However, the role of

Jackson Laing in The Boy in the Dress (Photo courtesy of RSC)

DRESS FOR SUCCESS Is he a half decent footballer?

Jackson used to play for his school team, so he’s got the necessary skills for the role. Finding time for sports is hard when rehearsals take up so much time, but he still plays football with his dad whenever he can.

Are there big stars in the show?

There are experienced actors in lead roles including comedian, actor and presenter Rufus Hound as Dennis’ dad.

The musical also features new songs from Robbie Williams and Guy Chambers, the team behind Angels and many other of the former Take That singer’s hits.

Jackson said: “The show has a great soundtrack and I especially love performing big numbers like Disco Symphony. It suits the moment in the play perfectly, when Dennis tries the dress on for the first time.”

To book tickets call 01789 331111 or visit www.rsc.org.uk

Does Jackson do much singing?

His role involves singing in almost every song, with some key solos. “My favourite song to perform is You Can’t Expel Us All,” says Jackson. “It is a massive, uplifting number and you can really feel the audience getting behind you.”

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CONRANK

Horsham’s Diccon Mayfield Makes His Mark in China

Diccon Mayfield, AKA Conrank, talks about his journey from Tanbridge House School to Shanghai, where’s he’s made his name as a top Dubstep DJ and Producer...

I started taking an interest in music when I was 15. I lived on Victory Road in Horsham and around the corner was a petrol station where Killa Kela (Lee Potter) worked. He would become one of the world’s best beatboxers. We became good friends and he taught me how to beatbox. I joined him at live shows in London and a couple in Europe.

I left Horsham to study Media Production at university. In time, I grew tired of beatboxing, as it didn't speak to me musically. So, I learned how to be a DJ. My interest in dance music grew when I co-founded a hip-hop DVD magazine called Indelible with a friend from Tanbridge. We travelled the country, documenting the music scene, and were even on MTV for a while.

I enjoyed video production, but it was still music that moved me the most. I spent two years in London and had great times with my friends, but it was impossible to focus on creating music, as we were out every night. I needed to disappear and immerse myself in it. So, in 2010, I packed my bags and headed to China.

When I left the UK, I was making good music, but it was not at a commercial level. I thought that if I continued to improve, it might go somewhere. When I arrived in Shanghai, there were very few promoters or DJs on the scene. It was not a hub for dubstep or drum and bass music. But over the next decade, electronic music exploded in China. That’s exactly what I wanted; to be part of a shifting social scene.

Initially, I had only two contacts.

One was a friend of Killa Kela, who I stayed with for a time. The other was a promoter, who helped me get a foot in the door at a club. I performed live at The Shelter, which became one of the

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most legendary dance clubs in Asia. It was awesome! Even though it’s since closed, The Shelter was a big influence on my music and life and I have the entry stamp tattooed on my arm.

Success didn’t come overnight.

During my time in China, there have been times when I’ve needed to take residencies in clubs, sometimes playing commercial records. Playing Lady Gaga wasn’t what I dreamed of, but sometimes you must be patient and take opportunities when they come along. In this scene, your career can go up, down or plateau for a while.

Overall, there’s still an upward trajectory for me.

I had an unexpected boost when I helped promote a Chinese website. A marketing guru had the idea of me hitting the streets and cooking egg fried rice.

Something about a Brit cooking rice captivated people and the video went viral, clocking up 20 million views on a Chinese video streaming site. This earned me the nickname ‘Chaofan Ge’ or ‘Fried Rice Brother’. Only recently, I was in a small town in China when someone shouted, “Chaofan Ge!” That drew people to my music, but I didn't want to sell my soul, so I resisted the temptation to become DJ Chaofan Ge. Instead, I use the name Conrank. When I was first collaborating with Killa Kella, I needed a name that flowed after his. ‘Con’ is the second part of my Christian name and ‘Rank’ was a term prominent in dubstep at the time. So, I brought the two parts together.

For ten years, I’ve travelled around China, playing in Shanghai and most major cities.

Sometimes, I have performed live to several thousand people.

However, I had a desire to become better known internationally.

Quite unknown to me, my music was being played in America. In 2014, I released an EP featuring a track called Exhale Therapy, a collaboration with famed American producer DJ Shadow (best known for his criticallyacclaimed UK Top 20 album, Endtroducing…) Following this, I released music through his Liquid Amber imprint, which put me on more people’s radar. Then an EP I released through Saturate

“I grew up listening to bands like The Prodigy. So, to be able to work with them last year was mind-blowing.”

Records in Germany was picked up by dubstep producers in America. This all led to me being invited to the States to play 25 shows. It was incredible, as I went to amazing cities like San Francisco, New York and Seattle.

My sound is electronic music, based on dubstep and drum and bass. Dubstep originated in Croydon and there is still a significant following here, but we don’t have the promoters to support the scene. In America, you can be an underground act, essentially unknown in mainstream terms, yet sell out venues of 5,000 people.

Bass Nectar, a DJ most people will not have heard of, performs to thousands of people and is a leading producer. Having him support me by playing my records has been huge, as he has dedicated fans that research the songs he plays. We’ve also collaborated on a track, Easy Does It, which has been well received.

When it comes to writing, I use keyboards and synths, but my main piece of production software is an Ableton device.

This helps me include loops, samples, basslines and anything I need. Some producers work to a set format, often starting with drums and expanding. But when it comes to creating music, I have an open mind as I never know when inspiration will come. I use vocals – ranging from snippets from sample packs and even my own voice – on about half of my tracks. Occasionally, a track requires new vocals, where I work with a singer.

When you first finish a song, it’s normal to think it's the greatest thing you've ever done! You hear it as a fan and dance around the studio. Then after two weeks, when you’ve carved away at it, you start thinking it's terrible. It’s only when you play it and gauge

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the reaction of a crowd that you know if it’s any good. When it drops and you see people go crazy, the feeling is unlike anything else.

I grew up listening to bands like The Prodigy. So, to be able to work with them last year was mind-blowing. A producer suggested I contribute an idea for a remix EP of songs from The Prodigy’s most recent album (No Tourists). I did a version of Timebomb Zone and they loved it.

I have released several EPs, mostly through Liquid Amber, as well as a full album, entitled What’s a FKNG Conrank? though Circus Records.

One track, Drum in Time, has been a big hit in the clubs and has even inspired a remix competition, attracting 250 entries. Circus is a legendary dubstep label, with artists like Flux Pavilion and Doctor P, so it’s great to be involved with them.

Conrank has spent the best part of a decade performing in China (Photo: Conrank)

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It’s an indescribable feeling to keep people dancing for an hour on music you produced. That’s why I get hyped-up and energetic on stage, especially when you’re playing to thousands of people. Sometimes though, you have to play to 25 people, so it’s not glory all the way.

In the last ten years, I’ve only played one UK show, in London. I will soon return home with my wife, Lulu, a fashion designer I met in Shanghai.

I hope to play live here more often in future.

Although dubstep is still a hard sell, the UK remains a melting pot for cutting-edge music and Horsham is well represented. Carl Cox lived in the town and has been one of the world’s leading DJs for 20 years. Many of my childhood friends are also successfully involved in music or film production.

I’m releasing a new single at the end of January, No, a collaboration with American producer Mersiv. I’ll also be releasing an EP with an independent label, Wakaan, hopefully leading to another album with Circus later this year or early 2021. In the meantime, I’ll carry on performing, pushing my music as much as possible.

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WORDS: BEN MORRIS PHOTOS: TOBY PHILLIPS/CONRANK

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THE QUILL D REBEKAH JENKINS DESCRIBES HER LOVE OF QUILLING This month, we meet two artists creating craft-based work. Helen Le Grand makes quirky decorative pieces from pebbles.

But first, Rebekah Jenkins describes a passion for quilling in her own words...

Quilling involves cutting, shaping and gluing strips of paper together to create art. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been used for centuries to decorate books, make jewellery or to craft everyday items.

You can buy paper and tools specifically for quilling, helping you to curl, twist, loop and manipulate paper. Unfortunately, I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know that when I first decided to try!

Quilling brings out textures and hair, making it ideal for animal pictures

About 10 years ago, I went back to college, retraining as an illustrator. I was looking for ways to combine my passions for art, textiles and crafts when I came across an artist called Yulia Brodskaya. She had created an astonishing image of an old man surrounded by pigeons. I fell in love with the picture and was gobsmacked when I found out it was made entirely with paper. That inspired me to try quilling.

For my first attempt, I used normal paper. It was too thick and the finished piece was a disaster. I tried again with quilling paper and my skills gradually improved. My first serious effort was of a peacock feather. It was a mess, but I loved it!

I don’t mind how laborious quilling is. Essentially you cut, shape and dip in glue, repeating the process thousands of times. Many people wouldn’t have the patience for it, but quilling sings to me. I love the texture and movement. The threedimensional aspects create differing effects depending on the light, so it captivates me.

People are amazed when they see a piece up close, as they’re much more complex than a photo can portray.

As it’s so textural, quilling is good for highlighting hair and fur. I've cared for the elderly for most of my working life, so

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“The threedimensional aspects create differing effects depending on the lights.”

I like depicting beards and wrinkles in older people.

However, the style doesn’t lend itself to youth. That’s why most of my output is animal pictures. I receive a lot of commissions for cats and dogs.

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I have my first exhibition at The Capitol Art Gallery soon and have attempted to create an A-Z of animals. Some letters are tricky, but luckily there’s Xantus’s hummingbird and a Ulysses butterfly. There are a few still to be made, but the idea is that the exhibition represents wildlife of land, air and sea and pictures come in a range of sizes. Even a small one can take over ten hours to complete and I tend to revisit them after a couple of days, as you notice things that need tinkering.

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For my gorilla picture, I chose a black background and used white and grey strips to bring out the contours of the fur. The pink of a flamingo also works well on black, whilst some animals are given brighter colours to create something different.

Rebekah’s barn owl highlights her quilling skills

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The biggest piece I have made was for the St Catherine's Heart to HeART trail. I’ve supported the hospice several times, so I was looking on its website for fundraisers and stumbled across it. They wanted artists to put their mark on free-standing heartshaped canvases. It was perfect!

As each piece was being displayed outside, I hardened the paper with resin and made ‘For the Love of Nature’, with two swans as the focal image. At the time, I had taken a year off work to focus on my art and this project alone took up six weeks. I couldn’t attend last October’s auction, but it sold for £10,000. I hoped somebody might pay £500 if I was lucky, so I was over the moon to have raised so much for St Catherine’s.

Just a few weeks ago, I was on Kirstie’s Handmade Christmas, presented by Kirstie Allsopp on Channel 4. It’s a show for crafters making things for Christmas and I was on an episode featuring paper crafts. They filmed me at home in Horsham last September, but I had to wear a festive jumper and put up decorations to keep up the pretence! I travelled to Devon for the main part of filming.

My craft piece for the show was a mouse on a candy cane, which I had to make in three hours. That didn’t allow time for the extra touches of shadow and texture I would normally add, but it was still a great experience. I didn’t win, but it’s not an elimination

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“Some people tell me that quilling is a craft, not an art. It used to bother me.” show and all of us contestants became such a close-knit group that we didn't mind who won.

After the show, I had a flurry of enquiries and lots of new followers on social media. This year, in addition to the Capitol Art Gallery, I’ll be exhibiting at Horsham Museum and Art Gallery in July. I have also been commissioned to create a landscape quilling image for the first time. Later this year, I’ll start work on a series of wildlife pictures for a display at Warnham Nature Reserve.

Some people tell me that quilling is a craft, not an art. That used to bother me. I would get defensive and say, “It’s paper art!”

Eventually, I realised that it doesn't matter what people call it; just that I enjoy it.

For more details on Rebekah’s work, visit her Facebook page (search Bekabeepaperartist) or Instagram (@rebekahjenkinspaperartist) WORDS: BEN MORRIS PHOTOS: TOBY PHILLIPS

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ROMANCE IN THE STONES

At first glance, you might think it would be easy to replicate Helen Le Grand’s quirk creations.

But there’s more to her quaint, pebble-based animal art than meets the eye.“If you try it, you’ll soon discover that it’s difficult,” said Helen. “You need the right pebbles, colours and an eye for layout. It can easily go wrong and certainly my early pieces were not as good as what I’m making now.”

Surprise Success Helen was on a dog walk when she first stumbled upon the idea. She noticed a stone shaped like a bird, took it home and added a few simple touches to create a scene.

The design impressed her family and gave Helen the confidence to launch Peawee Designs, the name her late father always gave to pets.

“I studied Art at A’ level, so I've always been creative,” says Helen.

“I initially sold to people that I know,

but then a friend suggested trying Horsham Market. She runs a Colour me Beautiful stand and said I could go along with her, just to see if I sold anything. It went very well and since then, business has soared. At times, I’ve had to work into the early hours of the morning to meet demand, and I’ve surprised myself at how well it’s done.”

Sticker for Quality Helen buys bags of stones online or from local garden centres, as taking pebbles from beaches is illegal in the UK. Occasionally, friends will even leave smooth or interestingly shaped pebbles outside her house.

The stones are sorted into shapes and colours, with Helen carefully selecting the right pebble for an individual piece.

“I’m very fussy, as it needs to be the perfect size, shape and colour,” she says. “That is the process that takes up the most time. I'll then paint if it needs it, or hand-write messages,

Birds and cats feature prominently in Helen’s work

Helen meticulously sorts out the pebbles by shapes and colour

before framing each one individually. It’s vital to have a high-quality frame with a colour that complements the picture, as people hang them up at home. When I first started, I used a cheap frame. But I'm a stickler for quality and now insist on using a thick, sturdy frame, with a certain palette in mind.

Customers appreciate that attention to detail.”

All About Animals Most of Helen’s output focuses on animals. Certain species lend themselves to her quirky style, with birds – particularly robins at Christmas - cats, sheep and cows featuring prominently.

Commissioned pieces have also included dogs, turtles and koalas, sent to Australia as a gift.

Helen said: “My bestseller is a robin perched on a log with the words, ‘Robins appear when loved ones are near.’ I enjoy creating animals as pebbles don’t work as well when you’re depicting people. I like the simple concept, but pebble people are too childlike.”

“I enjoy creating animals as pebbles don’t work as well for depicting people.”

Helen occasionally takes her Peawee Designs stall to Horsham Market. She also has a small display of items for sale at Horsham Museum and at Strawberry Fields Tea Rooms at New House Farm.“I’ve managed to sell my pictures in 12 shops, but I would like to reach about 20 outlets this year. In addition to the art, I run a business as a beauty and hypnotherapist, which I’ll continue as I have regular customers. But it is Peawee Designs that’s keeping me busiest at the moment!”

For more details visit www.peaweemore.com or email Peaweedesigns@outlook.com Instagram: @peaweedesigns Facebook: @peaweedesigns WORDS: BEN MORRIS PHOTOS: TOBY PHILLIPS

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Customers can sample six different wines at The Horsham Cellar, with fresh cheeses and Italian charcuterie from Carmela Deli

HORSHAM CELLAR

FIND A FAVOURITE TIPPLE WITH NEW WINE DISPENSER A new dispensing machine at The Horsham Cellar allows customers to sample fantastic wines from across the world.

The Horsham Cellar stocks superb wines from all over the world

Operating like a vending machine, it can store up to six wines, dispensing 35ml, 75ml or 125ml measurements. Luke Smith, owner of the independent wine merchant in the Carfax, said: “The machine uses Argon gas to replace the space in the bottle as wine is dispensed, keeping the wine in perfect condition.”

“It is half refrigerated, with the other half kept at an ambient temperature, allowing it to store both white and red wines. This gives people the chance to try quirky, interesting and even premium wines. Customers can taste a £50 bottle for a couple of

pounds, just to experience it or perhaps to see if they like it before buying. However, we have wines that suit every budget.”

“We have introduced a card much like a credit card - that can be topped up and used whenever you like. During February, we’re giving customers £5 free credit when they buy their first £10, so it’s a good time to come in.”

Special Events The Horsham Cellar opened in September 2018 and has established a loyal customer base thanks to Luke’s vast expertise and the shop’s wide range of quality wines from across the world.

Special tasting events are held in a room downstairs, with booking

guests having the chance to try new and exciting wines.

Luke said: “From the outset, we’ve tried to demystify the wine tasting experience. Some people are nervous about it, but we provide a fun, relaxing evening. You don’t need to know about wines to have a good time.”

“Our Friday evening tastings have become increasingly popular as word has spread. Those who came initially have told others about it and we see the same faces returning. Customers can also come into the shop during regular opening hours and sample wines, as we’ve created a pleasant, informal area where people can sit down. We’re also collaborating with Carmela Deli in the Carfax to offer fresh Italian charcuterie and cheese plates.”

Alpine Takeover Luke has long been passionate about wine, having spent 12 years in the trade. He previously worked for PLB, working in partnership with producers in Spain, Portugal, Australia, New Zealand, California, Chile and Argentina.

He moved to Nyetimber, a worldrenowned producer of English sparkling wine, available at The Horsham Cellar. Luke has also worked for French wine producer GCF (Grands Chais de France) giving him an invaluable insight into the most famous wineproducing nation of all.

He uses this knowledge to stock high-quality wine from family-run producers, with bottles ranging from £6.99 to over £100. Through the dispensing and preservation machine, he hopes to introduce people to new tipples.

“I like to have a theme to the wines in the machine,” says Luke.

During February, we’re giving customers £5 free credit when they buy their first £10.

“This week, there’s been an alpine takeover with six wines from the Alto Adige, a popular skiing region in the northern Italian Alps.

We have three crisp, aromatic white wines and three heart-warming reds from two producers in the region.”

“In February, we’re planning a Bordeaux takeover. It’s a region wine-lovers know well, but there's always something new to try. Then during the ‘Feria de Horsham’ Latin festival in the summer, we’ll host Spanish tasting evenings with the best picks from the country in the dispenser.”

“So, it’s a great way to experience a range of flavours from different regions. With about 300 wines offered during the course of the year, the dispenser is a useful way to learn about wines and - most importantly - find out which ones you most enjoy.”

The Horsham Cellar 51 Carfax, Horsham, RH12 1EQ Tel: (01403) 588118 https://thehorshamcellar.co.uk info@thehorshamcellar.co.uk

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

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

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

New range of Luxury Gifts & Tea Treats by Cartwright & Butler www.newhousefarmshop.co.uk 01293 851890 New House Farm, Old Crawley Road, Horsham, RH12 4RU Luke Smith, owner of The Horsham Cellar, pours a glass from the new dispensing machine

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M BAR A Modern

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The M Bar has quickly established itself as one of Horsham’s most popular bars.

Located in the former B52’s unit at the heart of a rejuvenated Piries Place, cocktails including the Porn Star Martini and The Silver Fox have helped it attract a well-heeled clientele.

While stylish drinks ensure busy weekends, The M Bar is also enticing diners with a stylish fusion of Asian cuisine…

The Origins The M Bar offers Sashimi and Sushi

Delicious meat skewers are cooked on a robata

For anyone who visited Wabi, some faces may look familiar at The M Bar. At its heart are key personnel from the Japanese restaurant, which closed towards the end of 2018.

Former Manager Benz Suwangmongkol fronts the project, in partnership with former Wabi colleague Nico Spurrier and Sophie Burstow, whose father, Don, was one of the original Wabi owners. The M Bar is named in tribute to Sophie’s late mother, Melanie, owner of China Brasserie and a well-respected businesswoman.

Sophie said: “I’ve always wanted to follow in mum’s footsteps and it meant a lot for me to dedicate

this bar to her memory. My dad is a well-known businessman in town and I managed to persuade him to support me in the venture. So far, it’s been a great experience, although we’re still on a learning curve.

There is a fantastic team in place and I’m happy for Benz and Nico to lead the way.”

Long Time Plan Opening their own place is something that Benz and Nico have been talking about for a long time. Having become friends at Forest School, they worked together at Wabi, which is now a Brewhouse and Kitchen.

The closure of the Japanese restaurant was a sad day for staff who had become a close-knit group.

“I spent fours there as manager,” said Benz. “We had loyal customers and a strong team that didn't want to disband. When it closed, we went our separate ways, all seeking to gain more insight and experience in the trade. But we always said that when the time was right, we would get back together. We hoped this would happen as it is like a family. We have Yossi and Luke

Benz Suwangmongkol pours a cocktail

in the kitchen, as well as bar staff, waiters and even doormen from Wabi.”

“However, we don’t want to copy Wabi. This is our own concept.

We looked at what worked at Wabi and also why it didn’t work in the end. It served beautiful dishes, but there was too much on the menu. Certain items like black cod were difficult to source, so it was brought in from far afield, which meant it was expensive. Also, the intensive

preparation of some dishes meant that we occasionally required seven chefs, even when there were only a handful of customers.”

“So, we have streamlined the menu at The M Bar, selecting and modifying the best and most popular items, adding our own twist.”

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Asian Fusion The M Bar serves a variety of dishes, primarily as tapas, ideal for sharing. The food is inspired not only by Japanese cuisine, but also Thailand, Korea, China and Vietnam.

Initially, the kitchen was led by Yee Wang, the experienced Head Chef at China Brasserie in North Street. Yee, who has invested in The M Bar, created an Asian fusion using traditional cooking methods. Yee will soon return fulltime to China Brasserie with Luke Green, another former Wabi employee, ably stepping forward.

Benz said: “With a name like The M Bar, people think of us solely as a drinking establishment.

However, we want to successfully balance the bar and restaurant.

The night-time trade is wonderful, but our food is great too.”

“People are gradually finding out about us as word spreads and hopefully by summer, we’ll be busy throughout the week.

Certainly, there isn’t anything else in town like it. Other restaurants serve Asian dishes but we offer a more relaxing experience. It’s somewhere you can enjoy a nice bottle of wine or Champagne

The downstairs area at The M Bar

Firecracker chicken with Gochujang sauce

“Meat skewers are cooked on a robata, a method commonly used by Japanese street vendors, with food cooked over hot charcoal.” alongside quality food that’s different to what you’ll find elsewhere.”

Character Building In February, Luke will be tweaking the menu, keeping the dishes that have proved popular whilst adding new and seasonal plates.

Meanwhile, Nico hopes that the finishing touches he has been busy making to the building and facilities will bring the extensive refurbishment project to its conclusion.

“When we took over the unit, it was an empty shell,” he said.

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licensing approvals to serve alcohol.

Taking on a unit that had been completely gutted was beneficial in one sense, in that we had a clean slate to create our own vision. The building does have great character, particularly the upstairs area with its oak beams. But it also means it’s taken time to come up with the right look for our brand.”

“Sophie has worked closely with a design specialist, Concept, for the principle ideas and we have boosted this with additional touches like LED lighting. People often remark on that attention to detail.”

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Bangers Galore is a family run business created by David Bell in 1998.

Having twice been named National Sausage Making Champion, David also triumphed at the South Eastern Prime Stock Winter Fayre, with his Cumberland sausage chosen as Overall Champion.

Asian Flair As a dining experience, The M Bar works best when sharing a selection of dishes.

The menu includes delicious meat skewers cooked on a robata - a method commonly used by Japanese street vendors where food is cooked over hot charcoal.

The bao buns (pork belly or chicken Karaage) have been one of the most popular dishes. The pork belly (£6.75) was lovely, with slow roasted pork, pickled cucumber and daikon (Japanese radish) brought beautifully together by the sweet tang of a Sriracha mayonnaise.

To add colour to the table, a couple of nibble dishes help. We tried the Edamame (soybeans) seasoned with Maldon sea salt and lemon (£4). Dim Sum options include chicken and vegetable gyoza (£5) and Shumai pork & prawn (£6.50) topped with Tobiko (flying fish roe) and Sriracha soya sauce.

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its shell and deep-fried, so that the earthy flavour can be appreciated. The firecracker chicken is another favourite, with the crispy dish getting a hefty kick of Gochujang sauce, a red chilli paste that lends the dish its name.

There is of course maki (fish/ vegetables and sushi rice on seaweed sheets) and nigiri or Sashimi (Sushi balls with wasabi paste and raw fish) options too.

And for those seeking a more hearty meal, there are dishes more akin to traditional main courses, cooked on the Teppanyaki (hot plate) and grill.

These include lamb chops with honey Sriracha sauce (£18) and the Teppanyaki 7oz ribeye steak with Ponzu sauce (£18). We went for a beautiful salmon dish (£18), with the refreshing fish complemented by a spicy miso sauce and a wonderfully flavoursome crispy nori rice on a deep-fried seaweed sheet.

Something New By presenting something different amongst an abundance of culinary experiences in the town centre, The M Bar is already winning over diners.

“We’ve already got regulars coming in,” says Benz.

“Currently, we don’t need to worry about Friday or Saturday nights. But we do need to work on promoting the restaurant, as what we offer is very good and the team provide excellent customer service.”

“We have people here that are fluent in Japanese, Korean and Chinese who know Asia and its cuisine, which will only benefit us going forward. I’m sure that when people try us out, they will definitely come back!”

Visit the M Bar at: 19 Piries Place, Horsham RH12 1EH www.thembar.co.uk or email: info@thembar.co.uk Tel: (01403) 253063 WORDS: BEN MORRIS PHOTOS: TOBY PHILLIPS

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SOMETHING FOR ALL AT BARNS GREEN PLAYERS

The Barns Green Players prepare for the 2020 pantomime, Beauty and the Beast

The Barns Green Players has been pivotal to village life for generations.

Still as strong as ever, the Players staged their annual pantomime at the village hall in January.

As AAH watched the dress rehearsal, director Graeme Muncer, cast members Neale Francis and Juliet Montague, technician Simon Gale, head of wardrobe Felicity Currie and stalwart Pauline Muncer assured us that everything would be alright on the night!

Neale: Barns Green Players was formed from the village youth club after the war. Later, it joined forces with the local Women's Institute and the Players is still popular today.

Pauline: I first joined in 1971, when the group was already well established. At that time, we performed a play in autumn and organised a Drama Festival too.

People came from all over Sussex to perform One Act plays and we had adjudicators too. It was great fun, but eventually ended.

Graeme: These days, we have two or three productions a year.

Typically, there will be a Two Act comedy in May and most years we’ll host a Review, allowing people to perform sketches. This is a chance for actors to test themselves on stage and for writers to try out new material. It’s good fun, as we’ve done classic comedy by The Two Ronnies and such things. Then after Christmas we have the pantomime.

Pauline: A long time ago, when I was one of the younger members of the group, some of us decided that we wanted to perform a panto. The first one was Aladdin in 1972. Gradually, we stopped doing old-time musicals and the panto became an annual event.

But I have gone from playing the young lead to being a prompter off stage!

Neale: We have a particularly good reputation for pantomime.

Some people enjoy our shows because they are intimate and more relaxed than big town productions. The Dame will go into the audience and have fun with them, whilst there’s always a lot of ad-libbing and slapstick on stage too.

Graeme: I have lived in the village since I was three-years-old and have only been away for two years since then. I’ve been involved with the Players since I was 12, as my parents were members, so it’s been a big part of my life. I’m playing the Dame this time, which is fun as I can slap on a bit of make-up, slip on a bra and have a laugh. I don't have to worry about the lines as much as the others!

Pauline: Barns Green is a wonderful place to live and has a great sense of community. It hasn't changed much and I wouldn't live anywhere else. The Players are key to it being an active village, as the group offers so many things for people to do.

You don’t need to feel lonely

here, as there's always something that needs doing.

Juliet Montague (left) takes on two roles in the pantomime

Neale: Whatever your hobby, you can get involved. You don't have to act. I've been a member since I was 14-years-old and I remember my dad, David, always playing the villain in the panto. So I always wanted to do something similar. But out of a membership of 85, there’s only 20 or 30 who regularly want to act. The rest are backstage painting scenery, making costumes or helping in the kitchen. We like everyone to be involved as the group is part of the community.

Felicity: I was out with a few friends who were already involved in the group and they happened to hear that I had her sewing machine. I offered to help for one night and nine years later, I essentially run the wardrobe department, albeit with a great team at my side. I've never had any desire to go on stage, but many of us have skills to contribute in other ways.

Neale: Some of the sets we have are incredible. We have a working

“Whatever your hobby is, you can get involved in the group. You don't need to be an actor.” fountain on stage and if you look closely at the clock faces on the furniture, they’re real time pieces. There’s great attention to detail which audiences appreciate. I play the role of Lumiére and several people have been involved in making the arms for my costume.

Felicity: The candle arms are essentially made of drink bottles and foam, but there’s a working electrical candle device too, so it’s been fun to design. Beauty and the Beast has interesting characters, so making the costumes and props has been fun, but challenging. Normally, there wouldn’t be quite so much for us to do backstage, as we’re very good at sharing with other theatre groups.

Felicity Currie (right) keeps busy behind the scenes

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Simon: As well as being involved with the Players, I’m on the Barns Green Village Hall committee. What we’ve done as a group is to make the hall more cohesive, improving the parking and facilities so that it works to the benefit of the whole community. The Players have invested profits from previous shows into lighting and sound equipment.

That not only means we’re able to stage better productions, but that other hall users benefit. For the pantomime, there are three of us working on the technical side, operating six computers from a small room. It’s become so technical that we’ve even had other groups visiting to see how we do it!

Pauline: I've recently been out to Dubai, as I have a son living out there, and watched a professional production whilst there. I genuinely thought that it wasn't a patch on what we do in Barns Green. It’s always a wonderful event that the whole village turns out for.

Felicity: In Barns Green, everyone knows one another and we even have seen people who have just moved into the new Ashmiles development become members.

One told me that joining us has made the alteration to her new life much easier.

Juliet Montague as the Beast

Neale Francis gets to grips with his costume as Lumiere

Neale: Sadly, there aren’t as many village theatre groups as there once was. Billingshurst and West Chiltington are still active, but amateur dramatics societies have gone in Ashington and Southwater.

We were down to about 30 people at one point, but we’ve always had a strong committee, including Simon.

He is a technical wizard and even managed to create rain in our last play, Allotment Gate.

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Pauline: The group hasn't changed. At its core, it’s always been people from the village. We have lots of talented youngsters in the group and older members too, but attracting people from that middle age group is difficult, particularly men, as they have young families and jobs. For this show, Graeme has been able to bring in some of his contacts, which is wonderful as they’ve brought new life to the Players.

Graeme: I acted in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at the Theatre Royal, playing Boris the Spy. Although the Players is my home group, I've acted in productions staged by other local amateur dramatics societies and it was nice to be in a Theatre Royal show. I managed to drag two or three of the cast to do Beauty and the Beast.

Juliet: I'm from Haywards Heath, but I met Graeme at the Theatre Royal where I was in the chorus and was understudy for the role of Truly Scrumptious.

Originally, I was going to play the Prince in this panto, but now I am the Beast too. It’s fun as the sound team is distorting the Beast’s voice! As well as Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, I’ve been in a production of Jesus Christ Superstar in Brighton, but acting is just something I do for enjoyment. I've never done a pantomime before, so this is a new experience for me. Having known nothing about the group beforehand, I’ve been impressed, especially by the work backstage as they take so much pride in their work. It’s made me realise that I really need to learn my lines!

Graeme: This year’s pantomime has been written by Nigel Currie, another long-serving member. He also wrote sketches for our recent Review as well as last summer’s play. I am directing and I’ve got a talented cast and crew to work with, so it should be good!

Graeme Muncer plays the Dame in Beauty and the Beast

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Simon Gale leads the technical team

Juliet: I have several solos along with Belle. As well as songs from Beauty and the Beast, we’ve got contemporary tunes from The Greatest Showman, as well as others. It’s been interesting to see everyone working together, constantly tweaking and introducing new things, even at the dress rehearsal.

I’m told that’s normal for the Barns Green Players!

Simon: We have held open auditions as it's nice to have new blood, even if they’re from outside the village! We have children here whose parents have been members too and they are the lifeblood of the group.

Pauline: I haven’t been onstage for about 15 years and these days I’m a prompter, giving people their lines when they miss their cue. For me, I just love being a small part of the show as The Players has really been my life.

We’re lucky to still have this group and others like HAOS in Horsham, as they’re a good place to meet people.

You’ll find that there are many ways you can get involved - often in ways that you never imagined.

For more about Barns Green Players or to become a member, visit: www.barnsgreenplayers.co.uk or email: members@barnsgreenplayers.co.uk WORDS: BEN MORRIS PHOTOS: TOBY PHILLIPS

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YUKON CHALLE FRIENDS SET FOR 1,000 MILE PADDLEBOARD TRIP Two friends are preparing for a 1000 mile adventure through one of Earth’s most hostile and isolated environments.

Craig Sawyer from Southwater and Scott ‘Skipp’ Innes, from Surrey, will paddleboard in the Yukon 1000 this July. AAH met Team SHAC (named after Skipp’s business, Surrey Hills Adventure Company) in the comparatively tame setting of Southwater Country Park...

Where did the idea come from?

Craig: We both enjoy a challenge and had heard about longdistance Stand-Up Paddleboard (SUP) races like the Trent 100 and SUP 11 City Tour, taking in cities

across Europe. Then we heard about the Yukon River Quest, described as “the second longest paddleboard race in the world.” We wondered what the longest was and that’s when we discovered the Yukon 1000.

Can anyone enter?

Craig: The organisers reject more entries than they accept.

We have lots of paddleboarding experience, but in terms of major endurance adventures, we’re novices. I ran the Barns Green Half Marathon once and Skipp has walked backwards for 24 hours for charity, but that’s it!

We applied but didn't think our entries would be accepted. I was on a family holiday in August, relaxing on a sun lounger with a

beer when I received the news.

At that moment, my thought process couldn’t have been further from paddleboarding in the Arctic Circle.

Tell us about Stand-Up Paddleboarding…

Skipp: It derives from surfing, but you use a paddle to move through the water. You can also kneel or lie on a board and propel with your arms. It can be quite leisurely and is achievable to most people, which is why it’s the fastest growing water sport in the world. What I like most about it is that it focuses the mind. There’s a lot said about mindfulness and I find paddleboarding takes you straight there. Everything beyond the

world around you disappears and you connect with the natural environment.

What SUP experience do you both have?

Craig: There are various paddleboarding disciplines, from paddling down rivers to surfing and white-water paddling. There are specialist boards for each style, from inflatables to 14-foot touring style boards, like the ones we’ll be using. Between us, we have a broad knowledge of them all. Skipp has embarked on lengthy paddles in Thailand, along the River Kwai and around its islands. All our experiences will be useful.

Where is it held?

Skipp: The Yukon 1000 takes place in Yukon Territory in Northwest Canada. Most teams are in two-man kayaks.

They allowed paddleboards to enter two years ago and to date only six SUPs have finished. The race starts at Whitehorse in Yukon Territory and ends at the Alaskan Pipeline Bridge on the Dalton Highway. You must stay in pairs and only have ten days to complete the challenge. Near the half way point, there is a town where you can stop. Even if you reach that point, you have achieved the second longest SUP race. If you’re not there

within a designated time, you can’t continue as that’s the point of no return.

What are the hardest sections?

Craig: After only 30 miles we cross Lake Laberge. They say that if you do that in good time, you should finish the race, but many fail as it has no current. If you’re battling against the wind and waves, it drains your energy. If you can get past that, the river flows more quickly, but there are still two rapids including Five Finger Rapids before the halfway point. Then you head into the wilderness, which presents a different challenge.

“It’s hard to prepare, as the river changes every year as glaciers melt and alter the course of the river.”

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How different?

Skipp: From a navigational perspective, the second half is daunting, as there are no roads and very few people. It’s hard to even prepare, as the river changes every year as glaciers melt and alter the river’s course.

Brown and black bears are sighted along the Yukon (Photo: Yukon 1000)

Craig Sawyer and Skipp Innes will be well equipped for the journey

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When are you supposed to sleep?

Skipp: The rules state that we must stop for at least six hours every day, from 11pm – 5am.

Within that time, you need to secure the equipment, cook and eat, prepare your camp, filter fresh drinking water, dry your clothes and prepare for the next day. We are practicing before we leave, trying to get the routine down to 45 minutes, which will give us five hours to sleep.

How fit do you need to be?

Craig: It’s going to be extremely demanding. We both do fitness training, mountain biking and other activities, but this is different. I hadn’t done any long-distance boarding before, so I spent four hours on the River Wey and cramped up so badly I could hardly move! But I enjoy a challenge and have worked on my strength, as well as nutrition. Now, we can both paddle for much longer and are confident about the challenge.

We’re now going out for eight or nine hour trips. You can't properly recreate the situation that we’ll be facing, so all we can do is stay healthy, injury free and get used to eating the food we’ll consume on the journey.

What dangers do you face?

Craig: Exhaustion and hypothermia are the big two. In the daytime it can be pleasant, but the temperature can drop to minus ten degrees at night.

Obviously, the river is freezing so you don't want to fall in.

Hopefully that won’t happen, but we carry safety equipment within our jackets including a fire-making tools, whistles, emergency blankets and first-aid kit. Our clothing, food and camping equipment will be attached to the boards, which we’re leashed to. So, if we fall off and need to detach ourselves for safety, we still have the essentials as well as a tracker for emergency evacuation.

“The Yukon Territory is home to brown bears, black bears, wolves and wolverines.”

Is wildlife a threat?

Craig: The Yukon Territory is home to brown bears, black bears, wolves and wolverines.

There are more bears and humans on the river and they can be inquisitive, so you must be careful when camping.

Someone we spoke to about the Yukon 1000 paddled past a black bear floating down the river on its back, like Baloo in The Jungle Book. We’ll need to search for fresh bear tracks before setting up camp and any food containers are airtight to reduce the risk of attracting unwanted visitors. We’ll carry bear spray and some competitors even have guns, but we won’t be doing that. It’s an added weight and we don’t have vast firearm experience.

Will you be trying to win the race?

Skipp: We've researched the teams that we’re up against and some have achieved impressive feats already. There’s people who have rowed across the Atlantic or walked to Antarctica and there’s even a World Champion paddleboarder. Then there’s us! So, our aim is to finish safely.

You’re also raising money for charity…

Skipp: We’d like to generate funds and awareness for Surfers Against Sewage, fighting pollution in the world’s oceans.

We all love the sea, whether that’s walking on the beach, swimming, surfing or going out on a paddleboard, and we all want to see it clean.

For more details, visit the Team SHAC Yukon 1000 Facebook page or www.yukon1000.org

WORDS: BEN MORRIS PHOTOS: TOBY PHILLIPS

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MMA REVOLUTION SUCCESS FOR HORSHAM MIXED MARTIAL ARTS ACADEMY The Horsham Mixed Martial Arts Academy has enjoyed remarkable success, with a string of Brazilian jiujitsuEuropean and World Champions in its ranks. We meet jiu-jitsu coach Sonny Weston at the club’s impressive new base in Coolham...

How long has the Horsham MMA Academy been going?

We started 18 months ago, but what we’ve been through in that time has been phenomenal. Initially, we held classes at Pavilions in the Park in Horsham, before moving to The Bridge in Broadbridge Heath. The facilities there are fantastic, but we had to set up the mats every time and it was hard to book convenient slots. So, we began searching for a home of our own, eventually finding a unit on a small industrial estate in Cowfold.

It doesn’t look much from the outside…

It’s like a Tardis, in that people are impressed when they walk in and see what we have done. My brother Dean, has been very supportive of this project and many others have contributed with time or finances to create what we have. As well as new mats, changing rooms and coffee bar, there’s a mural on the wall by leading urban artist, Richard Holmes. We’ve had some stumbling blocks along the way and are grateful to the Council for granting us retrospective planning permission, as we were naïve in such matters initially. Now, we can move forward.

What do you teach?

Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) incorporates different fighting disciplines and you can adapt your style to compete. I’m fortunate to have a fantastic coaching team alongside me, including trainers from the wellrespected Crawley Lumpini Muay Thai club.

Cris Leahy leads the judo coaching and

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I lead Brazilian jiu-jitsu sessions.

We also have MMA, but only for those with more experience.

What experience do you have?

I started as a Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fighter. I dived in at the deep end and had several bouts before realising that I had to improve my technique. One of my opponents was trained in Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) and although I was stronger, he was technically a better fighter and defeated me. Under the guidance of Keith McKenzie, a renowned instructor based in Crawley, I went through a learning curve, eventually becoming a black belt.

Sonny Weston leads Brazilian jiu-jitsu coaching at Horsham MMA Academy

What is Brazilian jiu-jitsu?

It’s a martial art based on wrestling to submission. There's no hitting involved. Instead, there’s grappling, chokes and holds. What I love about the sport is that it's not all about strength and size. Smaller people can defeat bigger opponents and older participants defeat young men with the right technique. It’s about looking for positions which trigger a submission by wrestling with your arms or wrapping your legs around an opponent until

“Brazilian jiu-jitsu gives children confidence. I see them walk in here and some look frightened of their own shadow.” they tap out, either physically or verbally.

How has it become so popular?

Jiu-jitsu has been around for centuries and originates in Japan. However, its success today is down to members of the Gracie family from Brazil, who developed their own style and dominated the sport. When the Ultimate Fighting Championships (UFC) was born to see which martial art was the most effective, Royce Gracie surprised a lot of people as he beat much bigger opponents. Because of his performance, many UFC competitors now train in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. As young people love UFC, more jiu-jitsu clubs have

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been formed. My children enjoy jiu-jitsu, but personally I wouldn’t want them to compete in MMA because of my own experiences.

What is the difference between gi and No-gi in Brazilian jiu-jitsu?

The gi is the name of the traditional, loose-fitting uniform used in martial arts. In BJJ, we train with and without the gi as there are competitions for both.

The gi gives you something to hold on to, as non-gi clothing is tight and you cannot grapple easily. But the skills you learn in one format informs the other.

As a club, you’ve enjoyed remarkable success…

I can barely believe it, but we currently have 37 World and European medallists at different age groups. We competed in the Junior World Championships in

Wolverhampton in July 2019, as well as the European Championships (both hosted by Elite BJJ Events), winning 16 golds. To reach that level in such a short space of time speaks volumes about the club, our coaches and the children. I was very proud of their achievements, as Brazilian jiu-jitsu is a tough sport. I went thinking that if I returned with one World Champion, I’d have done a good

job. So, to come home with such a haul was beyond expectations!

How are you so successful?

Every coach teaches differently.

Some focus on positions and point scoring, whereas I coach how to look for a submission. It may be that one of my students is losing on points but wins the fight with a late submission.

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What ages do you run classes for?

We start from five-years-old and our adult members include people in their sixties. It’s a very familyorientated club, with many siblings and parents involved. We move slowly through the belt system and you need to earn it to progress from a white belt, on to grey, yellow, orange and green. The seniors progress from a white belt to blue, purple, brown and black belts, with the very best achieving stripes that determining additional levels of expertise.

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What is the benefit of Brazilian jiu-jitsu?

Primarily, it gives children confidence.

I see them walk in here and some look frightened of their own shadow.

But after a while, they are transformed. It's not a soft sport; it’s tough and you will get knocks. But if you don’t mollycoddle them, you’ll find they do pick themselves up and go again and in time you see their confidence grow. As with all martial arts, respect is vital. Once you have sparred with an opponent, you’ll always see a mutual respect. All egos are left at the door here.

Is it a good form of selfdefence?

Without criticising other martial arts, some can be ineffective in close combat. Elements like punching from the hip are not very useful when it comes to selfdefence, whereas wrestling or grappling is more likely to be a skill that would help. That's another reason why people want to come here to learn.

WORDS: BEN MORRIS PHOTOS: TOBY PHILLIPS For more details visit: horshammartialartsacademy.com Capon Hill Farm, Station Road, Cowfold, RH13 6GY Tel: 01403 864444 Email: brazilian.jiujitsu@yahoo.com

‘When it comes to self-defence, wrestling or grappling is likely to be a skill that would help.”

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THE DRILL HALL A celebration dinner for H & E Lintott Ltd, held at The Drill Hall on 23 December 1953 (Photo: HDC/Horsham Museum & Art Gallery)

HOW A MILITARY HALL BECAME A SOCIAL HUB The future of the Drill Hall on Denne Road is in doubt.

Horsham District Council, which owns it, is considering closing the historic site and converting it for affordable housing.

There is a campaign to prevent this from happening, with 4,500 people signing a petition to keep a facility used by the community for exhibitions, beer festivals, dances, quiz nights, political hustings, business events, live music and much more. It seems an ideal time to look back on the hall’s history…

The Hall’s Origins Colonel Warren served in the First World War with the 4th Battalion of the Royal Sussex

Regiment and it is thought to have been his idea to build a new Regimental headquarters.

He raised the finances and in 1922, land was purchased on Denne Road. Other officers from the Regiment helped him, including Colonel Godman, an architect who designed the Drill Hall. It was built through the fundraising efforts of the Regiment and in a period of economic recovery, unemployment (The General Strike was in 1926), money was in short supply.

The Drill Hall was opened to the public on 23 December 1927, as a club for ex-servicemen, a headquarters for the Regiment, a recruiting office to encourage new recruits to the Territorial Army and a venue to integrate army and civic life together.

The Progressionaires were a popular band that often played at the Drill Hall (Photo: HDC/Horsham Museum & Art Gallery)

The West Sussex County Times described the parade of officers and men to the railway station, where they met G.O.C-in-Chief Lieutenant-General Sir Robert Whigham, who inspected troops

before marching back through the town to the Drill Hall, where it was officially opened. Sir Robert Whigham was reported as saying: “In the Territorial Army, your military training

should go hand in hand with your civic duties, and the more you can combine the two, the better it will be for all of us.”

A Social Hub

1015 Air Cadets continue to use the adjacent buildings (Photo: AAH/Toby Phillips 2011)

THe Drill Hall is used by the Association of Sussex Artists for its annual exhibition (Photo: AAH/Toby Phillips 2013)

It was clear from the outset that while the hall’s main function was as a military headquarters, it was also intended to be used as a social venue. This explains why the building contains the largest sprung dance floor in Sussex!

The first significant social event held there was the Hunt Ball for the Crawley and Horsham Hunt.

Ever since, events have included political rallies, trade fairs, sporting events, wrestling bouts and circuses. But for many, the Drill Hall is remembered as a place for dancing.

These were often organised by the Army, but also by local companies and groups. Many dances just after the Second World War were organised by the local Labour Party.

Dances held before the war tended to be quite formal affairs. As well as the Hunt Ball, there was the Police Ball, the

Young Farmers’ Ball and on Saturday night there was the Vicar’s Hop. The music was traditional, with waltzes and foxtrot and one of the most popular groups was Stan Redford’s band.

Dances continued during the war. These were popular with the locals, as well as with the Poles and Canadians stationed in the area. One popular band during this period was the RAF band, The Squadronaires.

When American and Canadian troops were stationed in Britain, they brought with them a new brand of music and dancing. Big band swing by the likes of Artie Shaw’s band and Glenn Miller’s band gave rise to new dances such as the Jitterbug and Jive.

These dances were more frantic and frowned upon by many older people. Some dance halls would have signs saying, “No Jitterbugging!”

Horsham, like all towns, had its own bands, including The Progressionaires, who could play the favourites of the day to a very high standard.

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Stephen Jackman FBHI (Post Grad Diploma, West Dean/BADA)

West Burton, Nr Pulborough 01798 831286 www.clockcourses.co.uk

Dale Jannels Director, impactsf Ltd

TEL: 01403 272625

www.impactsf.co.uk

Be Wary of Payment Shock on Mortgages Many people met their husband or wife at Drill Hall dances (Photo: HDC/Horsham Museum & Art Gallery)

Wrestling Bouts In the 1930s, the Horsham Chamber of Trade decided to organise a Commonwealth Trade Fair and the Drill Hall was the venue.

Newspaper advertisements show that circuses were held there too, as were wrestling matches. Dale Martin promoted bouts featuring the likes of heavyweight Chief Thunderbird, reportedly the ‘official Red Indian Heavyweight Champion of Canada’.

He arrived in “full feathered headdress plus a special scalp haircut,” as he took on a Swedish opponent nicknamed Anaconda.

Another heavyweight contest was between the “Black Panther from Trinidad” who pounced on his opponent’s back.

It was also the setting for the West Sussex Painting Group’s annual show and today, it is used by the Association of Sussex Artists for its annual exhibition.

Use of the Drill Hall for such events was curtailed in the 1970s when it was feared that it might become a possible target for bombing by the Irish Republican Army. This led to increased

‘The Jitterbug and Jive dances were frowned upon by many older people.

Some halls would have signs saying, No Jitterbugging!’ security, but gradually its use for public functions increased once more.

Hall Restructured The Observer Corps moved to the rear of the Drill Hall in 1938 and following their efforts during the Battle of Britain, the Corps was renamed the ‘Royal Observer Corps’ in April 1941.

Later, as the war continued, the Corp became part of the RAF. It was here that the full-time, paid women members of the Corp plotted on a map, the comings and goings of enemy and allied aircraft, as well as V1 rockets or doodle bug bombs.

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In historic columns I have used the word 'panic' to describe the possible rush to secure a good mortgage deal before they vanish when rates rise. It’s not quite at that stage just yet, but we have seen some small rate rises recently. We’ve also seen some reductions, so uncertainty prevails!

However, there is another important term I think worthy of mentioning now and this is ‘Payment Shock’. A well worn term during the mid to late 90's and one which I think Mr Jannels ' senior' may have played a part in coining! It describes the potential increase in monthly mortgage payments when an incentive period, for example a fixed rate, comes to an end and the mortgage moves to the lenders standard variable rate.

It is worth reflecting that a one per cent uplift on a mortgage of £200,000 may mean a monthly increase of circa £166 and, in many cases the rate may well increase substantially more than this. Imagine the impact of a two or three per cent rise! Not unusual if the lenders standard variable rate is in the late four per cent range. We know one that’s over six per cent!

“It is important for mortgage borrowers to consider the potential of any rate increase.”

We try to keep a listening ear open to those in our sector who are considered 'gurus' and their predictions on interest rate rises and when they will happen. In truth, no one can be certain, other than that they will rise, although this has been mentioned for over ten years! It is important therefore for mortgage borrowers to consider the potential of any rate increase (payment shock) and how it will affect them. A good time perhaps to consider a new fixed rate?

Finally, a commentator once wrote about consumers carefully researching prices for a new dishwasher or fridge and then shouting from the rooftops when they have saved £20 from shopping around. And, why not? Yet the financial press and advisers alike will regularly lament on the fact that borrowers will allow their monthly mortgage payments to continue regardless when they could be saving multiples of £20 every month especially when such a saving could go towards paying for life insurance, that they may not currently have!

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The Town Crier

Column by RSPB Pulborough Brooks Traditional dances like the waltz and foxtrot were popular at Drill Hall dances (Photo: HDC/Horsham Museum & Art Gallery)

The Royal Sussex Regiment, like the Drill Hall, altered over the years, amalgamating with the Queen’s Royal Surrey Regiment, the Queen’s Own Buffs and the Middlesex Regiment to form the Queen’s Regiment. This was amalgamated with the Royal Hampshire Regiment to become the Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment.

In the 1960s and 70s, much of the army was restructured and the Drill Hall was no longer used as Territorial headquarters.

However, in 1971, it was

The hall continues to be used for the varied activities of the people of Horsham. re-opened as the headquarters of the 7th battalion of the Queen’s Regiment. The Hall was officially re-opened by Michael Warren, the son of Colonel Warren. At the ceremony, Michael Warren said: “I hope that not only will the Drill Hall be successful as a

home for the 7th Battalion, but that it will be hired, as it was in the past, by the townsfolk of Horsham for their many functions.”

The hope expressed by Mr Warren has indeed come to pass.

Since it’s acquisition by Horsham District Council, the Drill Hall continues to be used as a venue for the many and varied activities of the people of Horsham.

Even today, adjacent buildings are used by military cadet forces, including the 1015 (Horsham) Squadron Air Training Corps.

And many people still reminisce about the Drill Hall, often as the place where they met their spouse.

AAH thanks Horsham District Council’s Horsham Museum & Art Gallery for supplying information on the history of the Drill Hall, as well as archive photography and cuttings.

EDITED: BEN MORRIS PHOTOS: HORSHAM MUSEUM & ART GALLERY

Although we can contend with rain, wind and ice in February, on the brighter days we can just feel the promise of spring.

I’ve already seen the fresh rosettes of primrose leaves and heard the drumming of woodpeckers. I can also hear one of my favourite voices of all – that of the wren – loudly proclaiming that he is here and he is ready for the season ahead.

For a tiny bird, who weighs about the same as a £1 coin, the wren punches above its weight. When singing he perches on top of a branch, tail cocked and yellow beak open wide, visibly shaking with the effort. I liken him to a town crier –he has something important to say and he wants us to hear it!

The wren’s song can carry up to half a mile and as I walk through the woodland it feels as though I can never not hear it as I wander through one territory after another.

Despite their usual territorial behaviour, periods of harsh weather can bring these birds together and they will roost communally, huddling together for warmth. They may have found a nice ivy-covered tree to snuggle up in, or perhaps a hole in the wall, but they will also use roosting pockets and nest boxes. There are records of over 60 wrens using a single box over winter, so why not put up a nest box and give a Jenny Wren or two (or 60) a home!

Anna Allum RSPB The Hollywood circus include “midgets” and an aeriel display by the “Girl Stars o’ the Air” (Photo: HDC/Horsham Museum & Art Gallery)

The Horsham Football Supporters Association held an annual ball at the hall (HDC/Horsham Museum & Art Gallery)

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