JANUARY 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 We have our usual News Round-up, including pictures of Light-Up Horsham and the results of the General Election. There’s also a review of the Capitol pantomime, Peter Pan
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 January 2020 cover features Libby Baker, Women’s Captain at Horsham Boxing Club. The photograph was taken ringside at the club’s base in Horsham Park on a busy, bustling Monday night training session. Boxing is most commonly associated with men, but the club has several females coming through with encouragement from the coaching team. We could have used several of Toby’s photos from the night. He clearly felt at home, as he regularly attends Boxercise sessions there! Madhav Purcell and the father/son shot of Hicham and Zack Rhioui were possible covers, as was a shot of Extinction Rebellion at Carfax Bandstand.
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 stands at Slinfold Stores and Warnham Village Stores. The magazine is also now available at Wisborough Green Stores & Post Office, Faygate Village Stores and Hepworth’s Brewery in Pulborough.
Steve Ford, a pilot from Billingshurst, has written a book on his lifetime in aviation, whilst a new team is hoping to transform a pub’s fortunes at The Tipsy Fox in Southwater.
Toby takes some stunning photos at Horsham Boxing Club, before we meet members of the local branch of Extinction Rebellion. There’s also a focus on the annual Fairtrade Christmas Market in Horsham
Artist Cherry Parsons has a varied output, although it’s her seagulls that have got people talking. Finally, we visit Horsham Bowling Club as the members head indoors for the Short Mat season.
Ben Morris (Editor) and Toby Phillips (Photographer) pretend to exchange Christmas gifts in the Carfax. Email your thoughts on Ben’s column or any AAH feature to: editor@aahorsham.co.uk
Notes from the Editor
The Lidl Matter of Being First in Line There are going to be many people in Horsham who welcome the new Lidl. Perhaps it’s close to home or work, or maybe it’ll cut the cost of your weekly shop by a few pounds. But you have to wonder what compelled people to queue up on opening day. It’s not like there was even a celebrity doing ribbon cutting duties, as proper celebrities are hard to come by these days, aren’t they? Even Strictly Come Dancing has had to redefine the term to include partners of someone who’ll one day inherit a big house with its own zoo. And neither was Lidl handing out free vouchers or goodie bags to those early customers. Otherwise, I’d have been there too. So, people must have queued with the intention of telling others that they were among the first people (apart from construction workers, contractors, planning inspectors, staff, security guards etc) to step foot inside. Who knows; maybe with the passing of time we’ll remember them as Lidl pioneers and cherish their memories. “Grandma, why do you have a framed receipt for a pineapple on the wall?” “Well dear, a long time ago, a Lidl opened in a town called Horsham. It’s underwater now,
although you can still take a boat and go diving in the ruins. Anyway, I was second in the queue, desperate to make the first purchase. I picked up the first thing I saw, at the end of the fruit aisle. The woman in front of me grabbed a bag of Doritos but got distracted by a special offer on mince pies and I nipped in ahead. You should have seen her face!” “Wow, is it true, Grandma? Were you really there at the opening of the 760th or something Lidl store in the country?” There are certain things that people wait for that are understandable. A meteor shower or a passing comet; maybe the premiere of a new film or even the Next sale on Boxing Day. But queuing for a bag of 15p ‘pick of the week’ carrots os lost on me. Calm down people! It’s a Lidl! The other big news was that Horsham is doing Christmas again. It was eleven years ago that the council decided to significantly cut its budget for festive lights and years of austerity has ensured that decision was never reversed. The days when the switching on of the town lights was a special occasion have been all but forgotten. Businesses were asked to make contributions
instead and some were happy to do so. One result of this well-intentioned campaign was a fenced-off Christmas tree with two large boards displaying the logos of sponsors. It didn’t quite exude the magic of Christmas! Most of us will entertain a red and white Santa Claus, so long as he’s not actually plastered in Coca-Cola branding… This Christmas, however, the light projection and sound show in Market Square captured the imagination of youngsters. In fact, it’s been almost unanimously enjoyed by visitors of all ages. The show (photos in the News Round-up) was organised by Horsham District Council to celebrate the end of the Horsham Year of Culture 2019. The YoC hasn’t been an indisputable success. The flagship event – an open-air production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Knepp – was cancelled due to poor ticket sales and the council incurred heavy losses. On the flip side, it has helped raise the profile of local music, film, art and theatre. That the Year of Culture’s swansong should prove to be not only its highlight, but also an idea of the organising team’s own volition, will perhaps offer a hard-earned sense of redemption. Maybe even a feeling of a job well done…
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News & Events
(Photos: Toby Phillips Photography)
Send to: editor@aahorsham.co.uk
A festive light and sound projection display in Horsham proved to be a resounding success. Throughout December, Bill’s Restaurant (at the Old Town Hall) and Market Square was illuminated with projections combining festive themes with modern technology. The display was organised by Horsham District
Council to mark the end of the Horsham District Year of Culture 2019 and utilised the skills of local firms including RMV Productions and Creative Technology. The ten-minute show was held every 15 minutes from 4 – 8pm, from 30 November until Thursday 31 December (aside from Christmas Day). It was supported by local businesses including main sponsor
Wakefields Jewellers, Impact Specialist Finance, The Horsham Cellar, Barratt Homes, Doodie Stark and The Café at No.4. Jonathan Chowen, Cabinet Member for Culture and Leisure at HDC, said: “It was something completely different, free for everyone to enjoy and a very fitting finale to the incredible Year of Culture 2019.”
The Horsham branch of Bloodwise (formerly Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research) hosts a Bridge Drive at Warnham Park, Warnham, RH12 3RP on Wednesday 22 January, 10.30am - 3pm. The cost is £80 per table (£20 per player) to include coffee, biscuits and lunch. For details, contact Nicola on (01403) 243492 or email secretary.horshambloodwise@gmail.com
The Fizz
West Sussex Philharmonic Choir are keen to welcome new singers for a weekly rehearsal and concert at the end of each term. There’s no audition; just turn up to see if you enjoy singing. The choir meets at The Barn, Causeway, Horsham (free parking available) on Tuesday evenings, 8 - 10pm. Rehearsals start on 7 January for April’s concert of Handel’s Messiah. Email pennystewart888@gmail.com or visit www.westsussexphilharmonicchoir.org.uk The Fizz bringing their Up Close & Personal tour to the Capitol,Horsham on Saturday 2 May, 7.30pm. The original band (Cheryl Baker, Jay Aston and Mike Nolan) as Bucks Fizz won the 1981 Eurovision Song Contest with Making Your Mind Up, becoming household names thanks to their iconic skirt-ripping routine. They have since enjoyed many hits including Land Of Make Believe and My Camera Never Lies. The band was also named Best Group at the 1982 BPI Rock & Pop awards (now the Brits)
and won an Ivor Novella Award. In 2019, the band performed live and recorded Smoke & Mirrors, due for release soon. Cheryl Baker said: “The Fizz story has so many ups and downs – winning Eurovision, travelling the world, that terrible coach crash and so much more. This will be a show full of music, stories, laughter and your opportunity to ask us a question.” Tickets £28 from (01403) 750220 or www.thecapitolhorsham.com
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Four former Horsham District Councillors have been named Honorary Aldermen for outstanding service and dedication. Brad Watson OBE, Sheila Van Den Bergh and John Bailey were all conferred with the title at an Extraordinary Council Meeting on 11 December. Vivien Lyth-Coates was also conferred but was unable to attend. Brad was a member of the Riverside ward from 1977-1991. Sheila was an HDC councillor from 1983-1995 and 1999-2011 for Billingshurst. John Bailey was a councillor from 2003-2019, representing the Rudgwick. Vivien served from 1996-2007 for Steyning and Ashurst.
Horsham Museum & Art Gallery hosts A Flock of Sparrows, celebrating the art of Dr Geoffrey Sparrow, running now until 7 March. A true Edwardian, Dr Sparrow came to Horsham 100 years ago after serving with distinction in the First World War. For the next 50 years, he portrayed the countryside and town, illustrating scenes of everyday life with wit and charm, revealing a master of the caricature. To mark 50 years since his death, Horsham Museum hosts a major retrospective of work from its own collections, supplemented by loans from the public who also enjoy his creativity. www.horshammuseum.org
Jeremy Quin, pictured in 2015 (AAH/Toby Phillips Photography)
Jeremy Quin was re-elected MP for Horsham at the general election on Thursday 12 December with a decreased majority. The Conservative candidate received 35,900 votes, with a vote share of 56.8%, down 2.8% on the 2017 election. Louise Potter (Liberal Democrats) was second with 14,773, followed by Labour’s Michael Jones (9,424), Green Party’s Catherine Ross (2,668) and Jim Duggan of The Peace Party with 477 votes. The turnout of 72.9% was narrowly down on 2017. The Conservative majority stands at 21,127, although there was an 11% increase in the vote share for the Liberal Democrats.
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Pictures from the 2019 Americarna, Caribbean Festival and Feria de Horsham (Toby Phillips Photography)
2020
EVENTS CALENDAR JANUARY - JULY
14/02
05/03
Valentine’s Day
Women’s Day
12/03 Mother’s Day
12/04 Easter Sunday
17-23/06
Rosé Week
21/06
21/07
Father’s Day
Summer Music Series www.manningsheath.com
Piazza Italia will be missing from Horsham’s annual events calendar in 2020. The Easter weekend festival has been a hugely popular celebration of Italian cars, motorbikes, food and culture since 2007. However, organisers Horsham District Council has cut it from the schedule. There are no plans as yet for Piazza Italia to return in 2021 although it is hoped the
Italian market will be back soon. There is still an impressive line-up of events including the Great British Weekend (8 - 10 May), Plum Jam (24 May), Feria De Horsham (7 June), The Caribbean and Latin American Festival (21 June), Big Nibble (31 August 1 September) and Americarna (27 September). For details visit www.horshamtimewellspent.co.uk
The Barns Green Players perform a pantomime version of Beauty and the Beast at Barns Green Village Hall on 17 - 18 and 24 - 25 January. The script comes courtesy of cast member Nigel Currie, who has written three of the Players’ recent pantomimes. Graeme Muncer, who starred in a summer production of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at Brighton’s Theatre Royal, directs and has persuaded several actors from the Brighton show to join the show.
Graeme said: “We have been rehearsing since September and will put on an outstanding show.” There will be singalongs, sweets for children and opportunities for the audience to join in. Afternoon performances are at 2pm with evening shows at 7.30pm. There is a licensed bar. Tickets £13 (£9 on Friday 17 January) for (01403) 731566 or from the Players’ website.
Toby Phillips Photography
Lidl opened on the corner of Foundry Lane, Horsham on 12 December. The new store includes a bakery and will create in the region of 40 jobs. Lidl was founded in Germany but is now one of Europe’s biggest food retailers with over 760 stores and 13 regional distribution centres in the UK alone. The company prides itself on providing customers with the highest quality products at the lowest possible price. The store is open Monday – Saturday from 8am – 10pm and Sunday at 10am – 4pm. The car park is not going to be big enough...
A new luxury dog and cat grooming salon has opened at Hillier Garden Centre, Brighton Road, Horsham. Merryweathers is a pet spa and boutique shop selling everything from dog coats, collars, leads and harnesses to dog perfumes and birthday cakes. The business is named after the pet cocker spaniel of founder Melanie Whitehall-Smith. www.merryweathers.dog The St Catherine's Hospice Firewalk will be held in the Carfax, Horsham, on Friday 13 March, 7pm. The hospice is looking for 100 fundraisers to walk barefoot across 15 feet of red hot embers, in the safe hands of event partners UK Firewalk. Early bird registration (before 17 January) is £20 with people asked to raise £150 in sponsorship. Sign up at www.stch.org.uk/firewalk
Horsham Symphony Orchestra opens its spring concert at the Capitol with the world premiere of On This Day, In This Life, written for the orchestra by Horsham-based composer Mark Elvin, on Saturday 14 March. This is followed by Nino Rota’s Trombone Concerto (with NYO principal trombonist Lawrence Schofield performing as soloist) and Dvorak’s Sixth Symphony. Tickets £16 from (01403) 750220 or www.thecapitolhorsham.com
Horsham Folk Club welcomes Flats and Sharps, a four-piece bluegrass outfit from Penzance, on Sunday 2 February, 8pm. Their energetic live shows blend strong harmonies and stonking solos. Horsham Folk Club meets at The Normandy Centre, Denne Road, RH12 1JF. Admission £8 (members £5). For details visit www.horshamfolkclub.co.uk
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Steve Dummer, conductor of HSO in 2017 (Toby Phillips Photography)
The Blockheads play at The Rec Rooms, Horsham, on Saturday 15 February. Originally fronted by Ian Dury as Ian Dury and the Blockheads, the band has continued to perform since his death in 2000. Current members include Derek ‘The Draw’ Hussey (vocals), Chaz Jankel (guitar and keyboards), Norman Watt-Roy (bass), Mick Gallagher (keyboards and piano), John Turnbull (vocals and guitar) and John Roberts (drums). If Watt-Roy is unavailable due to a conflict with Wilko Johnson dates, his duties are covered by Nathan King. Tickets £25 from https://therecrooms.com
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Horsham Climate Cafe, run in partnership with the Horsham Quakers, is now being held at the Quaker Meeting House, Worthing Road, Horsham, on the first Saturday of each month, from 2 - 4pm. The Climate Café is held after each morning’s Horsham Repair Café, gives people the chance to meet informally and talk about climate change while enjoying homemade cake and hot drinks. The organisers are encouraging young people (11 +) in particular to attend and share ideas to reduce their impact on the environment. www.sussexgreenliving.co.uk
(Photo: Toby Phillips Photography)
Nearly 1,000 people came together to remember a loved one at St Catherine's Hospice Tree of Light ceremony on 8 December. The service took place at the K2 Leisure Centre and gave people a chance to hang dedication stars on Christmas trees and hear reflective readings and performances from Melodious and OneVoice Community Choir. Sarah Clapp spoke about the care her mum Morag received from St Catherine’s and how it allowed her to stay in the comfort of her own home, surrounded by family and friends. To make a donation visit www.stch.org.uk
Toby Phillips Photography/AAH
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Dr Janet Pennington will give a talk on Chanctonbury Ring at Ashington Community Centre, Foster Lane, Ashington, RH20 3PG, on Friday 17 January, 7.30pm. The talk, entitled Witches Warlocks and Wellingtons, is part of the Speakers Corner programme. Admission £3 (students free) with doors open at 7pm. Free tea and coffee. For information email Tony Moss at alhmoss@gmail.com
The RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch will take place on Saturday 25 - Monday 27 January 2019. It’s a chance to take part in the world’s largest wildlife survey and help monitor the health of garden birds across the country. Just choose an hour any time over the three days and enjoy time with nature counting birds. A submission form is available at www.rspb.org.uk/birdwatch
A jay pictured at RSPB Pulborough in 2016 (Chris Moore/RSPB)
Saxon Weald recently opened a development of eight new homes for affordable rent in West Chiltington. Once a horse grazing field, the site at Steele Close was built in partnership with Westridge Construction. It features an additional six homes for shared ownership purchase from The Rural Housing Trust. The new homes are exempt from the Right to Acquire, enabling Saxon Weald to support West Chiltington Parish Council’s desire to provide more affordable homes. To mark the opening, Saxon Weald presented a cheque for £500 to West Chiltington Parish Council. www.saxonweald.com The Group, a club for unattached men and women aged 50+, meets in a pub in Horsham on the fourth Monday of every month. The first meeting of 2020 will be on Monday 27 January, 8pm. For more details and venue, please visit www.thegroup.org.uk
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Leonardslee Lakes & Gardens in Lower Beeding won the Beautiful South New Tourism Award at The Grand Brighton Hotel in December. After receiving the award from travel journalist and broadcaster Simon Calder, Adam Streeter, General Manager at Leonardslee, said: “Our team will continue to ensure that Leonardslee is a great place to visit and that its special wildlife and plant collections are protected for future generations." www.leonardsleegardens.co.uk The Ashington Centre Community Trust host an Open Day on Saturday 25 January, 10 - 3pm, as part of Village Halls Week. The Trust has engaged community groups and hopes to have a number of stalls and displays in the community centre, as well as a pop- up cafe and photos of village history. The Scout Hall and Youth Club in Ashington will also be open with family activities planned. Village Halls Week runs from 20 - 26 January.
West Sussex County Council is seeking views on primary and secondary education, with changes to the admission process in the Horsham District among the main topics of discussion. The consultation is asking residents to submit views on: • Admissions numbers for primary and secondary schools in West Sussex. • Key dates in the admissions process. • A proposal to change the catchment area of the Kilnwood Vale Development in North Horsham from Crawley to Horsham.
The consultation also invites views on two proposed changes to the oversubscription criteria for all maintained schools: • To include a priority for children of staff who have worked for more than two years in the school they are applying to. • To give children who are subject of a Special Guardianship Order (SGO) who have not previously been looked after by the local authority a similar priority as children looked after with an SGO. The consultation closes on Friday 31 January. To submit your views search ‘schools’ at https://haveyoursay.westsussex.gov.uk
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Sue Stafford, who worked for the RSPCA for 32 years, has published her memoirs. Sue lived in Horsham for 20 years and worked for the animal charity when it was based at The Manor House, Causeway. Called Dogs Behind Closed Doors, the memoir includes stories from her local training and fieldwork in the north-west of England. Sue joined the RSPCA in 1983, long before the charity headquarters moved to Southwater. After completing Inspector training, she was posted to Stockport and spent seven years there, during which she was promoted to the role of Chief Inspector. Later, Sue led the Wirral and Cheshire group and spent 15 years working in the field before returning to Horsham for an office post “I had witnessed animal cruelty as a child,” recalls Sue. “I was walking one day and saw someone throwing a dog into a canal with something weighing it down. I remember feeling horrified, so when I joined the charity, I was aware that people could be cruel. What I have never understood is why people choose to acquire a pet and then treat them badly.” Much of Sue’s memoirs focuses on fieldwork, which she believes would be of more interest to readers. It includes details of her first case as an Inspector and memorable incidents. “Some cruelty cases involve people who themselves live impoverished lives,” she says. “They may be struggling to feed themselves or their children and consequently animals suffer. Other cases are harder to explain, because the owners are educated and
Lodge Hill Centre in Pulborough hosted a Christmas Pudding Concert to bring an end to its 20th anniversary year. The audience enjoyed music by Andrew Bernardi, the Stradivarius Piano Trio and the String Academy, while Dame Julie Walters and Julia Donaldson CBE captivated the audience with a series of readings and anecdotes. Steyning Book Shop brought a selection of Julia's children's books to be purchased, with the author singing them personally. Proceeds from ticket sales, raffles and a contribution from book sales raised over £3,000 towards furnishing the new Disability Suite, scheduled to be built next year. www.lodgehill.org.uk
comparatively wealthy. Once, I attended a detached house in a nice area of Derbyshire, where the lady of the house was sweeping her already immaculate driveway. When she saw me, I knew something was amiss as guilt was written across her face. Sure enough, there was a starving springer spaniel tied up in her garage.” Sue says that laws protecting animals have been greatly enhanced over the years. When she started, legislation was based on the Protection of Animals Act 1911. Thanks to the RSPCA and others, this has been replaced with the Animal Welfare Act, which places a duty of care on animal owners. Sue said: “The old law meant
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that suffering had to have taken place before you could even act. Now, if there’s a situation where an animal’s basic welfare needs are not met, we can take decisive action. But for me, job satisfaction always came from intercepting a situation that was going downhill and giving owners the information and guidance they needed to care for an animal properly. The ‘P’ in RSPCA stands for prevention, not prosecution.” After retiring early, Sue left Horsham and now lives on the Isle of Skye, where she can indulge her passion for wildlife. The book is available through Waterstones in Horsham as well as Amazon and www.waterstones.com
A new table tennis table was installed in the Forum area of Horsham Town Centre in October. The table was donated by West Grinstead supplier UK Table Tennis. Horsham District Councils Sports Development team invited along Horsham Table Tennis Club coaches Bilal Rehman-Furs, Barrie Thorne and Luke Randis to support passers- by who stopped to have a go. The event was also supported by Brighton Table Tennis Club’s T21 squad.
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The cast of Peter Pan with staff from panto sponsors Brock Taylor. (Photo: Toby Phillips Photography for Brock Taylor)
REVIEW: PETER PAN
Does the Capitol Panto come up Trumps? The actor John Barrowman once said that he was passionate about pantomime because it was often a child’s first introduction to theatre. “If a child has a great experience at a pantomime, they will continue to come year after year.” So, whether camping it up as a Dame, sneering menacingly as a villain or flying on the end of a wire in green tights as the hero, pantomime actors have a big responsibility. If Barrowman is right, the future of the Arts depends on it. The responsibility of pleasing children – and parents who have paid out for tickets which aren’t cheap – is not lost on the cast of Peter Pan, which will complete a successful three-week run at the Capitol on Sunday 6 January. Kids and grown-ups have been howling with laughter at the pantomime, directed by Theatre Manager Nick Mowat and sponsored by Brock Taylor.
Peter Pan has been well received by audiences
The backdrops and costumes are as impressive as usual, but while Peter Pan’s arrival did have a touch of magic about it, the production didn’t rely solely on quirky visual effects. No attempt was made to hide the wheels under the crocodile and there were several well-received gags relating to the movement of a boat across the stage. “My feet
are worn out from all this rowing!” It was a hark back to the silly, irreverent roots that make pantomime so quintessentially British. Even the obligatory “It’s behind you!” charade was stripped back to basics, with the ghost being nothing more than a man with a white sheet over his head.
Performances by the cast demonstrated a confidence in the script. There was little need for self-mocking jibes when a joke didn’t land, as most of them did. It helped that there was perhaps a more daring tone to some of the gags this year. Residents of one village in the district were referred to as “sandwich filler…because they’re all in bread!” And it was nice that the annual mocking of Crawley was less self-aggrandizing this year too. However, “Three Chavs from Crawley” did appear in a riotous version of The 12 Days of Christmas and their ridiculous shell suits brought the house down! As the end of a tiresome year dominated by politics, it was a relief to hear little mention of it in Peter Pan, although President Trump is too good a villain to have been spared. There was a sprinkling of his most famous quotes from Anton
Anthony Sahota plays the title character in Peter Pan
“James Fletcher provided energy and enthusiasm and his timing allowed Hywel Dowsell’s outrageous Dame to shine.” Fosh’s wonderfully hammy portrayal, including a moment where Trump is asked how to keep the Indians at bay. There’s a playful pause as we all know what’s coming... “We’re gonna build a wall!”
Whatever place you’re into
But the stars of the show were Hywel Dowsell as Mrs Smee and James Fletcher as Mini Smee. Fletcher provided energy and enthusiasm and his timing allowed Dowsell’s outrageous Dame to shine. He also demonstrated no lack of talent when it came to delivering tongue-twisting dialogue with aplomb. If I was a pantomime writer, I might describe him as a cunning linguist. Between them – and with support from a talented ensemble in nonstarring roles – they created the perfect blend of mishaps and mayhem. Mistakes and wardrobe malfunctions were made when they were supposed to be and people were squirted with water when they needed to be! It was up to others to move the story along. Without meaning any disrespect to the cast, Peter Pan gave evidence that the town’s pantomime doesn’t necessarily need a well-known name to be a sell-out. Anthony Sahota – whose biggest claim to fame is that he appeared on BBC talent show Let It Shine in 2017 – was a perfect Pan and Rebecca Lafferty gave a brilliant vocal performance as Wendy. Nicholas Collier was excellent as a playful villain and Nicola Hume (who spent six years as a breakfast show presenter for Heart Sussex) reveled as a mouthy mermaid. It would be great to see Nicola return in future, as she clearly has a knack for comedy.
“Bring out the adventurer in you!” Our colourful arena features 11 fun themed climbing experiences and 19 individual climbing lines, suitable from from the age of 4.
It wasn’t faultless – like most pantomimes, the finale seemed to take an eternity! But for a child, it’s just about the perfect introduction to theatre. “Oh, no it isn’t.” Shame. Just ran out of space…
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WORDS: Ben Morris Places for People Leisure Ltd. working in partnership with Horsham District Council.
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LIFE IN AVIAT
Pilot Steve Ford of Billingshurst Publishes First Book Steve Ford’s debut book details fascinating stories from his life and career in aviation. 20 West sees the Billingshurst pilot share the adventure, joy and tragedy of the airline industry. Here, Steve outlines his reasons for writing the story and why he hopes it’ll be enjoyed not only by those with a passion for aviation, but anyone who enjoys travelling. My father was a flight engineer for Caledonian Airways at Gatwick. My brother and I grew up in an unusual environment. As unaccompanied minors, we were essentially passed around station engineers all over the world. Throughout the 1960s, the air industry was much like that of
shipping, with many ad hoc charter flights as worldwide economies rebuilt after the war. So, we’d meet up with our parents in Africa, America or wherever they happened to be at the time, so the book charts a journey through 60 years in aviation. My interest in flying developed when I served an apprenticeship with British Caledonian at Crawley College. I joined the company aged 18, working at Gatwick, but I had a strong desire to fly and gained a pilot's licence at Shoreham Airport. Eventually, that led to commercial flights. Although I spent some time flying for British Aerospace at Hatfield and flew for Novair, for the last 23 years of my career I was a pilot for Virgin Atlantic. My last flight
before retirement landed at Gatwick at 6:01am on a dark, wet and blustery morning. I felt it was a fitting end to my career, having worked in the airport hangers way back in 1978. It has taken me five years to write and produce the book. 20 West covers a period of enormous change within aviation, which of course is a key employer in the region thanks to Gatwick. It's not just pilots, cabin crew and engineers, but a raft of industries which support it. There are countless people who have worked across the industry that could write a book and their experiences would be equally as fascinating and important as my own.
As I’m not a professional writer, I had a lot to learn. It was a vertical learning curve! I've tried to make the book autobiographical in structure but not in content, so it allows the reader to be part of the journey. That way, it’s not so much about me but the people who make the aviation industry so dynamic. The name of the book, 20 West, refers to a line of longitude over the Atlantic, which planes cross over. It’s normally the point for long haul pilots where the sun starts to rise over the horizon. There is tragedy in the pages of the book, as incidents have occurred during my career. There’s no point looking back through rose-tinted glasses as the industry can be dangerous. Everyone involved has a serious responsibility whether it’s refilling the plane,
shuttling passengers or piloting the plane. I have witnessed loss of life and experienced things that make you question your own limits and ability. The most significant event - and something I will always carry with me - was the events of 11 September 2001. I flew into Boston the night before and was still there when the planes flew into the Two Towers. I was with the crew and we had to make decisions in real-time. It was difficult to understand what was unravelling and we considered crossing into Canada at the time as we’d lost communication with the UK. Then of course I had to fly back on what was our airline’s first flight out of Boston after the attacks.
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ALL ABOUT HORSHAM MAGAZINE
ALL LOCAL PRODUCE! AAH is an independent magazine, owned and produced by Ben Morris, a life-long resident of the Horsham District. Since the magazine was first published in May 2011, AAH has been renowned for its colourful features and superb images by Toby Phillips Photography. Our editorial content is unrivalled in the Horsham District, with colourful features on businesses and people and our brilliant ‘News Round-Up’
ADVERTISING IN AAH The magazine is delivered to more than 13,000 homes in Horsham, Southwater and villages including Broadbridge Heath, Mannings Heath, Ashington, Storrington, and new estates at Highwood and Wickhurst Green. AAH is distributed to hundreds of businesses, whilst thousands of copies are picked up from our stylish stands across the Horsham District. The magazine is also published online at www.aahorsham.co.uk
EIGHTH PAGE ADVERT: £55 + VAT QUARTER PAGE ADVERT: £110+ VAT HALF PAGE ADVERT: £185 + VAT FULL PAGE ADVERT: £310 + VAT DOUBLE PAGE FEATURE: £500 + VAT SPECIAL OFFER - Every Sixth Advert Free of Charge FOR ALL ENQUIRIES CONTACT BEN
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“A good pilot manages modern technology and uses it for the safest outcome.” There is a misconception about planes becoming so automated that the workload and skill-set of pilots isn't what it once was. Tragedies highlight the importance of a good pilot and the most obvious example is Chesley Sullenberger, who landed the plane on the Hudson River. That day, automation could not solve the problem and he applied his aviation skills. A good pilot manages the modern technology and uses it for the safest outcome.
Even though flying has become the norm for many, the experiences you’d have now as a pilot would be every bit as rewarding as mine were. Things happening in the wider aerospace industry like SpaceX and NASA’s Artemis programme are capturing people's imagination in new ways. It is part of our DNA to explore and those pursuing a career in the aviation or aerospace industry will not be disappointed. They will be able to look back in six decades and realise they too were part of aviation history. I still fly as a part-time instructor for Goodwood Flying School. It’s great as I stay in one time zone and it doesn't involve night flying! Many commercial airline pilots fly light aircraft for pleasure as it’s addictive. For many of us, it’s just a way of life.
WORDS: Ben Morris PHOTOS: Toby Phillips Photography 20 West is available in paperback (£8.99) and e-book format (£2.99) on www.amazon.co.uk To contact the author, visit www.20WestBook.com
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QUALITY DOOR-TO-DOOR HOLIDAYS 2020 JANUARY Bembridge Coast (Warners Entertainment Break) Tyrolean Winter Wonderland FEBRUARY Holme Lacy (Warners) Snowdrops in the Cotswolds MARCH Sidmouth in Springtime Historic York & Harrogate APRIL Backwaters of France - NEW Dutch Delights Enchanting Normandy The Channel Islands MAY Spring Cruise to Amsterdam - NEW Seaside Mystery Holiday Island Hopping on Baltic Coast – NEW Spring in the Scottish Highlands JUNE Potters Resort Big Band Weekend Wales on Rails – NEW Waterways of Scotland Rhine & Moselle Cruise CrosiEurope JULY Summer in Sidmouth Delightful Derbyshire Tyrolean Alps & Fairytale Castles The Isle of Man from Tip to Toe The Scilly Isles
THE OBERAMMERGAU PASSION PLAY 15 September 2020 for 10 days There are a few places left for our tour to the picturesque Bavarian village of Oberammergau, where the world-famous Passion Play takes place every ten years. Most of the inhabitants are involved, with hundreds of actors on stage and a huge choir and orchestra. Our two-centre holiday also takes in the Black Forest, a land of lush meadows, pine-clad hills, rushing rivers and chocolate box villages.
AUGUST Swiss Alps & The Bernina Express Scenic Shropshire Gower Peninsula & The Royal Mint Norwegian Fjords Cruise - NEW The Edinburgh Tattoo SEPTEMBER Highlights of the Northeast + Kynren Sligo & the Wild Atlantic Way Royal Deeside Bavaria & The Black Forest Brittany & the Finistère - NEW
OCTOBER Liverley Liverpool Autumn in the Lake District Spain’s Costa Verde Treasures of Cheshire NOVEMBER Littlecote House – Warners Entertainment Break Eastbourne Bargain Break Thursford Christmas Spectacular German Christmas Markets DECEMBER Christmas Markets River Cruise Dunster by Candlelight Festive Break to Sidmouth Christmas in Crianlarich DAY TRIPS Our Excursion Brochure, available on request, features days out to National Trust properties, shows, plays & musicals, river & canal trips, museums, galleries & exhibitions, lunches & cream teas, mystery drives and many others. There are convenient pick-up points in Horsham, Southwater, Storrington, West Chiltington, Pulborough, Billingshurst, Washington and Ashington. Door-to-door service is included providing that the pick-up address is one of the Taxi-included Postcodes listed in our Holiday Brochure.
THE TIPSY Historic Southwater Pub Transformed by New Team The Cock Inn has been consigned to history with The Tipsy Fox swaggering confidently into its place. After an extensive refurbishment that saw the Southwater pub closed for three months, The Tipsy Fox opened its doors to the public on 29 November. AAH visited soon after to meet Simon Edwards, who shares the responsibility of running the pub with Andy Keeley.
Simon Edwards and Andy Keeley will also be taking on The Bear
Are you a local boy? I’m originally from Horsham and my parents have lived in Southwater
for the last 20 years. In 2004, I emigrated to the USA due to my work in the aviation industry, before returning 15 months ago. I am semi-retired now and wanted to come back to a rural environment that’s less hectic than America. One of my aims upon my return was to take on a pub. Do you have previous experience? I used to assist at The Greets Inn, Warnham, when a friend ran it a long time ago. That gave me a feel for working in a busy pub. I only met Andy for the first time after coming back to the UK but
FOX we became good friends. Once day, we were discussing what we perceived a good pub to be and decided to put our ideas into practice.
It lacked a consistent food offering too, as sometimes the kitchen was open and sometimes it wasn’t. The pub was surviving, if it was even doing that.
Why pick The Cock Inn? It was the first pub we looked at and the one we wanted from the outset. Sooner or later, we hope to introduce the Tipsy brand to other country pubs in the area.
Was the building itself in good condition? When we arrived in June 2019, the pub had been closed for several weeks and we kept it shut for a further three and a half months to carry out improvements. As it’s a listed building, there are constraints as to what we could do. Some parts date back 500 years, so it was important to enhance those characteristics. We took up the scaffold board flooring and uncovered substantial
How was the pub faring when you arrived? It was in serious decline. In my opinion, The Cock Inn didn’t have a great feel to it. The interior was dated and there hadn’t been proper investment for a long time.
Gabriella Edwards behind the bar of the new-look Southwater pub
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 TO THE SHOP! New Coffee Liqueur from Cabin Pressure Spirits www.newhousefarmshop.co.uk 01293 851890 New House Farm, Old Crawley Road, Horsham, RH12 4RU Open Tuesday - Sunday from 10am - 5pm (Closed Mondays)
Pan-fried salmon fillet with buttered crushed new potatoes
“Not only did we want to change the look, we wanted to update the pub’s image and that includes the name.” problems which took time to put right. However, we were never in a rush to open so we waited until we’d created a warm, welcoming feel. The bar area has been transformed… There’s an entirely new front to both bars. We’ve had all the electrics rewired and plumbing updated and we introduced our own vision regarding the colour and tone of the pub, so it’s been a substantial undertaking. We also have a new glass-topped bar with thousands of two pence coins displayed, which reflects incredible colour under the spot lights.
“Sausages Worth Bangin’ on About!”
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. 5$// All our sausages ‐ from the &+$03,2 1 classic Traditional to the adventurous pork, chilli & chocolate ‐ are made from premium ingredients, using British Red Tractor approved pork. 29(
“Once you’ve had ‘em, you’ll want ‘em some more!”
We are passionate about our sausages and hope you enjoy eating them as much as we enjoy making them! Find us at Horsham Market every Saturday, or visit www.bangersgalore.com for your nearest stockist.
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Why change the name? We wanted a fresh start. We spoke to Enterprise Inns (brewery and leaseholder) and told them our plan. Not only did we want to change the look, we wanted to update the pub’s image and that includes the name. One idea was to call it The Brickworks as the village was known for that industry, but we wanted something quirky. After a few glasses of wine, we came up with The Tipsy Fox. You’ve introduced a food menu… We now serve food every day with Sunday roast too. Our head chef Umut Sakalli is originally from Turkey. He has worked in Jamie Oliver’s restaurant and came highly recommended. He’s not only a great chef but a great guy and we’ve never seen anyone prepare so many sauces! All the dishes are freshly prepared and we’ll be looking to work with more local suppliers. You’re already working with a local baker? Most of our desserts are made by Sharon Walker, who runs her own business in the village. Sharon also makes our bar treats including Victoria sponge, gluten-free brownie and millionaire shortbread. You seem to have kept prices competitive… We’re a village pub, not a town centre location. So, we need to be competitive to provide a local service and hopefully entice people from Horsham to head out towards the country. We’re fortunate to have several members of
staff who live in Southwater and know the pub and some of the people who walk through the door, which contributes to the friendly feel. What are your plans for the garden? One of the reasons we chose this was because of the potential of the huge garden. It has been untapped, but we’re working through the winter to transform it for Spring. We want to make it a space for families to enjoy with a playpark and we’re also talking to The Butterfly Project on one idea. You also have plans to take on more pubs? We are expecting to take over The Bear in Market Square, Horsham, on 8 January. It will not be the same offering as The Tipsy Fox as The Bear is a traditional drinking establishment. There’s not the same expectation for food, so we’ll be introducing pizza and toasted sandwiches but not a full menu. For us, it’s a unique opportunity to get a feel for the town with half a mind on other ventures in future.
AAH REVIEW We took our seats in an elevated and festively decorated corner of the pub, overlooking the striking new bar. There was a steady flow of customers coming in for a drink, although being the first full day of food service, the kitchen wasn’t busy. The colour scheme – a combination of greys with a splash of historic photos, local artwork and quirky fox prints – help to create a pleasant aura, as do the tables and chairs. There’s little consistency between one and the next, creating a deliberately rustic feel. Our drinks and menus arrive courtesy of a friend, Plum Jacobs, who helps organise the excellent Plum Jam in Horsham, an annual celebration of air-cooled Volkswagen Campervans. There’s a range of modestlypriced starters including calamari (£5.95), crispy duck spring rolls (£5.75) and pan-fried corn fritters with smashed avocado and tomato chutney (£5.45). More intriguing are two salads available as a starter (£5.75) or main course (£11.25). The lentil and quinoa
Award Winning Rural Dining Pub
Lentil and quinoa superfood salad
Plum Jacobs at The Tipsy Fox
Pan-fried corn fritter
Fruit crumble by Sharon Walker
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superfood salad includes feta cheese, pomegranate seeds, green beans and sliced new potatoes on a bed of dressed leaves. It was fresh, colourful and more importantly enjoyable. The main menu also avoids anything too extravagant, instead playing safe with traditional fare including home-made pie, cod & chips, beef burgers and chicken escalope. Only the 8oz prime rib-eye steak (£17.95) and the lamb shank (£15.95) cost north of £13.50. Toby opted for the lamb, slow cooked for 12-hours and served with creamy mash potato, red cabbage and gravy. It was a lovely meal with flavoursome meat falling off the bone. We also tried the pan-fried salmon fillet with buttered crushed new potatoes, French beans and parsley oil (£13.50). Once again, it was a neatly-presented dish with good flavour combinations. The fillet was a touch overcooked for my taste as the fish lost some translucency in the centre, but it was still a fresh, enjoyable meal.
We then polished off a lovely fruit crumble with custard courtesy of Sharon Walker, featured previously in AAH. Her other desserts include pear and ginger sponge, sticky toffee pudding and gluten-free brownie, all priced £5.50. All in all, it was a very pleasant experience and the new-look Tipsy Fox is unrecognisable from its predecessor. The only disappointment is that the garden project is yet to get properly underway. While it’s understandable that it’ll take time, I suspect that the pub won’t be wholly embraced by the family-orientated village of Southwater until it’s complete. Hopefully by next summer, The Tipsy Fox will truly be an asset to the community.
WORDS: Ben Morris PHOTOS: Toby Phillips Photography Visit The Tipsy Fox, Worthing Road, Southwater, RH13 9HG Tel: (01403) 733009 Visit the Facebook page for details of events and offers.
Head chef Umut Sakalli
Church Street, Warnham RH12 3QW
(01403) 265028 CASK CAS CA M MA MARQUE MAR MARQ MARQU AWA AWAR AWARD A AW
2 200 2002 0 - 2019: 20 201 2019 2 THE GOOD BEER GUIDE
Slow-cooked lamb shank with pureed potato
Visit our traditional country pub and enjoy the finest ales, wines and spirits by our Inglenook fireplace or our beautiful garden. Our extensive menu offers home-made food prepared with locally-sourced ingredients.
CA CAS CASK MA MAR MARQ MARQU M MARQUE AWA AW AWAR AWARD A
Pop in and enjoy some well deserved refreshment at the end of one of the many beautiful walks in the area.
QU NIGHT: QUIZ QUI N NI NIG NIGH NIGHT : LA LAST L LAS THURSDAY T TH THU THUR THURSD THURS THURSDA OF O THE T TH MONT MONTH MO MON M Like us at The Sussex Oak Warnham
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The new team have given the pub a fresh look
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Open Weekend
2020
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Horsham Boxing Club has a number of promising male and female boxers within its ranks
PACKING A PUNCH Old Hands Showing the Next Generation the Boxing Ropes
Tucked away in a corner of Horsham Park, Junior and Senior boxers are being put through their paces by a small but dedicated team of coaches. Among them is John Essex, who has been at the heart of Horsham Boxing Club since it was founded nearly 30 years ago in a converted toilet block, thanks greatly to the hard work of the late Bob Morris.
John continues to coach alongside his son. Danny Essex joined the club when he was only a boy and followed in his father’s footsteps by coaching long after hanging up his gloves.“When I was young, boxing kept me off the streets,” says Danny. “The boxing club was somewhere I knew I could always go, as it has a family environment. For a small club, it’s produced some good boxers with Simon Hopkins, Mark Thornton and several
others turning professional.” “In terms of Juniors, the club is as strong now as it’s ever been. When London hosted the Olympics in 2012, we saw a surge of people coming along. The success of boxers like Anthony Joshua has also helped as it keeps boxing in the headlines. Most people join for fitness or because they want to learn how to defend themselves. You hear about attacks more and more, even here in Horsham. God
forbid anyone here ever has to face anything like that, but being fit, healthy and knowing how to defend yourself can make a big difference.”
Intensive Schedule There’s a busy timetable, with training sessions held six days a week. Boxercise sessions are held twice a week for both Seniors and Juniors, offering a combination of circuit training
and technique development. A common misconception is that people will be thrown in at the deep end and begin sparring immediately. But it’s a slow process and some prefer to avoid the contact side, simply enjoying the tough workout. For those aiming to fight in the ring, there’s more intensive training on the art of boxing, with John, Danny and Clint Chapman offering their knowledge and expertise. When a boxer is ready for the ring, they are matched with opponents at other clubs and Horsham’s own showcase – often held at the Holbrook Club – attracts hundreds of spectators. Like his father, Danny can call on plenty of experience when it comes to showing others round the ring. He boxed on the white-collar circuit before turning professional in Malta. His finest hour was winning an I.P.A
Madhav Purcell Club Captain
reverse the result in future. There are sure to be many bouts to come, as he thrives on being in the ring.
Madhav was initially introduced to Horsham Boxing Club by his mother, as he was getting in trouble at school.
“I remember my first bout at the Holbrook Club, where I stopped my opponent in the 2nd round,” he said. “I was nervous and everyone was telling me to stay focused, as there’s a huge wait before you enter the ring and hundreds of people are watching. You get an enormous adrenaline rush which is hard to describe. It’s a combination of excitement, nervousness and pressure like nothing else and that’s what I love about the sport.”
Two years later, he is proudly Club Captain at the age of 18, and believes that boxing has had a huge impact. “It has changed my life,” said Madhav. “The first time I stepped in the ring and sparred, I knew it was what I wanted to do.” Madhav knows the sport is not for everyone. He warns that anyone turning up for the first time expecting to hit a punchbag will be disappointed.
“It’s not an easy ride! It involves a lot of training before you start sparring. But if you’re willing to learn and develop, you will notice a big difference.” Already, Madhav has had seven fights, winning four and losing three. Of his losses, two have seen him edged by the same opponent in split decisions and he’s confident he can
Currently training four times a week, Madhav is looking forward to championships in April.
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“It’s great to see women’s boxing become more popular and I’d encourage more to come down.”
Clint Chapman has joined the coaching team
title on the island. However, he then suffered a collapsed lung while swimming at the age of 26. He couldn’t quite regain the fitness or confidence he had previously, so switched his focus to coaching. “Even when I boxed regularly, I was always coaching as well,” said Danny. “Something that Horsham Boxing Club has always done very well is to encourage some of the boxers coming through to help the Juniors. They have a positive influence on the young boxers and they benefit from it too. “Currently, the Senior section isn’t as strong as the Juniors, at least in terms of numbers. Boxing tends to work in cycles as a group will come through together, spurring each other on. When they move on, it takes time for the next wave to emerge. We’ve seen that in
recent years, with the likes of Dan Purchase moving on having represented the club well for a long time.”
Female Fighters What the club does have now is a strong group of female boxers. There are good role models for younger members including Libby Baker, the Women’s Captain and Amy Judge, has performed well at the Winter Box Cup. When she first joined the club, Libby was quiet and shy but boxing has changed that.“I settled in very quickly and felt at home here,” says Libby. “There’s a family feel here and it’s made me more confident. As Captain, it’s great to see women’s boxing become more popular and I’d encourage girls to come down, as boxing is great for fitness.”
WORDS: Ben Morris PHOTOS: Toby Phillips Photography For training details, visit www.horshamboxingclub.co.uk To contact the coaches email info@horshamboxingclub.co.uk
Danny Essex coaching Madhav Purcell
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Zack Rhioui Junior Captain Forest School pupil Zack is Junior Captain, whilst his father Hicham assists with the fitness elements of Junior training. Zack first attended a training session when he was nine as he was keen to learn self-defence. “I just thought about what would happen if anything does ever happen to me and I want to be able to protect myself,” he says. “I did martial arts previously but I wanted to try something else too. Boxing has made a difference as I get a bit more respect now, as people know that I box as they’ve seen me in the newspaper and online.”
Zack joined the club with a school friend and he believes that helped a lot in the early days. The two would train together and pair up. His friend has since left, but Zack has settled in and now has five bouts under his belt. He continues to make rapid progress. “My strengths are power and movement, but I need to improve on keeping my hands up,” he said. “My dad and the other coaches keep telling me that! The coaches can seem quite strict, but it’s only because they want me to stay disciplined in the ring, do the right things and make sure I don’t give easy points away.”
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Amy Judge One of several promising female boxers at the club, Amy first joined a year ago, having spent several years with a club in Redhill where bouts were few and far between.
Prior to that, Amy enjoyed kickboxing but switched sports to build up her upper-body strength. “I tried one boxing session and it suited me,” she said. “Something clicked straight away and I found it more exciting.” Since joining Horsham, Amy has improved rapidly and has fought several bouts and competitions.
In October, she entered a Development championships where she was named Southern Counties Champion. Then in December, she went to the Women's Winter Box which attracted more than 250 fighters from 16 nations. Once again, Amy made it through to the finals before missing out in the 48kg class.
“The Winter Box Cup is a great showcase as it shows what girls are capable of in the ring,” said Amy. “We’ve come a long way and our sport is still growing. Although I didn’t win in the final, it was a great experience and it’s all part of my learning curve. I'm just happy to be in the ring, as that’s where I feel you really develop as a boxer.”
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Climate Rebels
Extinction Rebellion Horsham: Fighting for Action
Horsham Extinction Rebellion members bang the drums for climate change in the Carfax on 30 November 2019
This time last year, Extinction Rebellion (XR) was a determined if little known contingent of climate change campaigners. A year later, there are over 600 branches scattered across the world, including Horsham. Its cause is one that’s virtually universally acknowledged as vital, yet XR divides public opinion. For some, it shines a light on an “unprecedented global emergency”and applies pressure on apathetic governments. For others, its actions too often have a negative impact on ordinary people. This was most famously evident in October 2019, when commuters turned on XR protesters
disrupting the Underground. However, members of Horsham XR continue to fight for positive change in climate policy. AAH spoke to several members and other climate change activists as they gathered in the town at the end of November, days before the General Election. We started by interviewing Horsham XR figurehead Luke Berry... How was Horsham Extinction Rebellion born? We initially formed a network of people from within Sussex Green Living and the South-East Climate Alliance (SECA), both of which have provided a lot of support. From a group of about
five people, we quickly grew as XR is good at linking people interested in joining. When was the local group formed? The Horsham branch was formed in late summer. The movement continues to grow around the world and at Horsham XR we now have about 150 people on the mailing list and a similar number in our Facebook group. At least 50 people attend each meeting. Why is XR popular? Because people car about climate change. A recent poll revealed over 80% of the British public is concerned about climate change (Ipsos MORI,
August 2019) so it's a massive issue. Speaking for myself, I saw that Extinction Rebellion was achieving results that haven’t been seen in the last 30 years of activism. That success inspired me and many others to get involved. Why has XR had more impact than other campaign groups? History has taught us that governments don't listen to petitions and ignore marches until they blow over. But peaceful, non-nonviolent acts of civil disobedience work. We have seen it with the Suffragettes, the American Civil Rights Movement and with Gandhi’s Non-Violent Resistance (NVR) in India. It gets people asking questions.
What is XR looking to achieve? Extinction Rebellion wants action from governments. If everyone who cares about climate change decided immediately to make positive environmental choices in every aspect of life, you would still see planes flying overhead and oil drilling. The actions of individuals are a drop in the ocean. What we is trying to do is trigger a conversation between a grassroots movement, world governments and international corporations. Can you succeed? Human nature being what it is, it’ll take time. I am comforted by studies that show that the civil action of 3.5% of the population makes change inevitable. In this country, that’s about two and a half million people. I hope we can reach that figure before it's too late. Are young people more willing to engage? There has been a march through Horsham, as part of a global climate strike (20 September 2019). Many children took part in that. XR Horsham is also engaged with schools as we want to support teachers and parents willing to empower young people. Allowing them to follow the example of people like (Swedish activist) Greta Thunberg helps, as pressure from children can be powerful.
The Horsham branch has been well supported
Luke Berry of Horsham Extinction Rebellion
The XR protests in London were initially very effective... After the protests last April, there was a big increase in people signing up to XR. As a group, we have three key aims, the first of which was to demand that the government declare a state of climate emergency (the other two are for a legally-binding policy to reduce carbon emissions to net zero by 2025 and for a Citizen’s Assembly to oversee this work - Ed). Even within XR, there’s not total consensus on the demands. Some think it’s a case of ‘aim for the stars and we might reach the moon’. However, we all recognise it's a step in the right direction.
The government did declare a state of emergency… Which was a success for XR, but it soon became apparent that it was a token gesture. It wasn’t acted upon. So, having shut down most of London in April, demonstrations later in the year focused on Westminster, targeting the government. We didn’t want to disrupt people's lives too much but when that happens, it’s with the aim of raising awareness. But disrupting the public isn’t going to win people over, is it? There have been actions taken by individuals that XR did not sanction. Even Roger Hallam, co-founder of XR, was arrested at Heathrow Airport for flying a drone. His actions were not sanctioned as it was deemed too disruptive and hurt ordinary people. Sometimes, Extinction Rebellion can be more political than political parties! Members are often sceptical of actions as we’re all engaged in a critical way. However, we are united by a shared vision for change. If that vision doesn’t work for you, then you can walk away. There may come a day when I do that, but right now, I see XR as the only hope. How do people respond to the group in Horsham? We have lots of people say they’re supportive and engage with us. Others mutter when you hand them a leaflet as views are polarised. Some have pre-conceived ideas of what kind of people we are. They think we haven't got jobs, but we all work hard and try to fit this into our lives wherever possible.
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Clive Cobie Is this a new painting? I have used it for previous demonstrations. I took it to The Time is Now march organised by the Climate Coalition in Hyde Park. I was walking across Parliament Bridge and was nearly blown over the side! Why do you get involved in climate change marches? I’m fortunate to live in 65 acres of ancient woodland and have seen first-hand the human impact on nature. When I first moved there 20 years ago, every Spring I would see thousands of caterpillars hanging on silk threads. The birds would feed their young on them. But for the last five years, I haven't seen one. Minor changes to the climate have a huge impact on insects. In Germany, scientists have been testing over a 20-year period and have recorded an 80% drop in flying insects. That’s all related to lights - street lights, buildings and vehicles. There’s a biodiversity crisis. It’s easy to hide from something you’re worried about, but enormous issues involve enormous change and we need to get the ball rolling.
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Jo Needham is often involved in fabric printing at Extinction Rebellion gatherings in Horsham town centre
Jo Needham When did you join XR Horsham? I went to the first meeting and have been involved ever since. I was talking about climate issues with friends and we were all worried about the world our children would grow up in. We heard about an XR group starting in Horsham, so we went along together. What were your initial thoughts? There was scepticism, but the group was generating a lot of public support. People were perhaps more supportive than they had been and wanted to talk about Extinction Rebellion and its aims. Then came the incidents on the London Underground, which I think about 90% of our members had voted against. But they went ahead and did it anyway... Were you frustrated by that? Furious, because public perception was shifting and more people were taking a stand against climate change. But in a group of half a million people, individuals will take action that not everyone necessarily agrees with. Did you notice a change in the public’s attitude towards XR after that? Yes. Somebody said: “I appreciate what you're doing, but you shouldn’t be drawing on the Cenotaph.” I couldn’t agree more! There’s a set of values that we signed up to and in my view those guidelines were not followed (during the Tube protest). What is the aim of today’s event? We are gathering today as part of a global climate strike. We are also asking people to consider each political party’s climate policy when casting their vote, as this general election will decide whether we see action or inaction over the next few years. As a group, XR is non-political, but we hope to influence parties into adopting climate policies. How can we individually make a difference? Nobody at XR tells others what they should and shouldn’t be doing, although being a member does make you review your lifestyle. The main aim is to collectively pressure the government to make it easier for us all to make informed choices. As an individual, you should be able to go to a supermarket for food without worrying about its carbon footprint. There should be legislation in place to help us avoid items that are causing harm to the environment.
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Sara Eloquin When did you join XR? I went to the first public meeting at Horsham Unitarian Church. I saw what happened in London (last April) and it made me realise the situation was serious. I was already a vegan at that point. I’ve seen footage of animals caught up in fishing nets on programmes like Blue Planet and it’s not something I want to contribute to. I’ve also read that a huge percentage of soy produced in the world is for livestock feed. That’s another way that eating meat contributes to deforestation. So, a culmination of many things made me want to take action. Did you join the London protests? I spent two and a half days with XR in October. I heard (Guardian columnist) George Monbiot speak, then things changed after the Tube protests. I was upset by what happened as it isn't a reflection of the organisation. I felt I had to explain myself to family and friends, which was awful. It’s a shame, as we were getting strong public support. What are you campaigning for currently? Today, I’m here to speak to the public about climate change. Later, there is a hustings event, giving Parliamentary candidates in Horsham the chance to explain how their party’s political manifesto addresses climate change (before the election on 12 December). Later, there’s a climate strike organised by the Campaign Against Climate Change (CACC) that XR is supporting. I have chosen not to see clients today and many others have taken time off work to highlight these issues as it’s time to pay attention. INTERVIEWS: Ben Morris PHOTOS: Toby Phillips Photography For details about Horsham XR group meetings, ‘like’ the Facebook Page (xrHorsham) or follow the group on Twitter @XRHorsham
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Siwok Crafts Horsham Fairtrade promotes fair pay, working conditions and sustainable farming in the developing world. The Horsham district has several businesses proudly promoting Fairtrade ethics, including Cocoa Loco in West Grinstead - who create a beautiful range of chocolate treats - and Fairkind Child, selling hand-made toys and clothes in Piries Place, Horsham. Both were present at
Rosemary Tadman the popular Fairtrade Christmas Market at St John’s RC Church Hall on 30 November 2019. The event features small, independent businesses working with cooperatives in the developing world, offering shoppers ethically-sourced clothing, jewellery, beauty products, upcycled gifts and much more.
Hundreds of craftsmen there use traditional methods and scented local wood to carve animals and Siwok is the Wichi Indian name for the red-crested woodpecker, found in the Chaco forest. They also make household items and even nativity sets.
We sell crafts made by the indigenous Wichi tribes, who are one of the largest groups of indigenous people living mainly between the two rivers, Bermejo and Pilcomayo in northern Now, there’s a co-ordinated Argentina. My husband worked effort to ensure they earn a for the South American Mission living wage by selling their crafts Society and one day, his boss overseas. As well as attending returned from Argentina with a markets like this one, we sell to beautiful wooden toucan. He Fairtrade shops, helping us to asked if it was possible to sell preserve Indian culture in the them in the UK, saying it would region. make a huge difference to many Horsham, West Sussex RH12 1AG people. www.siwok.org.uk
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I've been running the business for 15 years, although this is my last Fairtrade market before I stop to focus on other projects. The business started after I had travelled in India and Nepal, where I saw how poor people are in some communities. Fairtrade cooperatives make a real difference, so I decided to sell woollen garments hand-made in Nepal, as well as incense from India and silver from Chiang Mai in Thailand. There used to be more Fairtrade markets around, but some have closed as the race to hit rock bottom in terms of price sadly continues. Fairtrade food products sell well, but when it comes to fashion items and crafts, the price is often people’s only concern. They don’t ask why an item is cheap. The reason is usually because the people who made it were not paid properly. That’s a message we need to constantly reiterate.
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I've long been interested in supporting African communities. Even as a girl, a family friend was involved in promoting fair trade. I remember when Bob Geldof organised Band Aid, I was quite offended, as there was no mention of the people in black communities who had been helping for years. Someone once told me that to be an effective donor, you need to empower the donee. Rather than presenting a gift, engage them and that will have more of a positive impact. So, my idea was to make soap, body butters and lip balm, using raw ingredients like coconut oil and shea butter (from the African shea tree) from African cooperatives. I named my business Ni-Ka, combining the names of the Nile and Kagera rivers. What is great about events like this one in Horsham is that customers have an awareness of the ethical side of your business. They’re here as they’re making a conscious choice to support people in other parts of the world. www.facebook.com/pg/Nikadeluxe
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Nicola Peel My role as a solutionist involves solving problems and one that has defined much of my life’s work has been environmental challenges in the Amazon basin. My work has seen me film pink river dolphins in remote lagoons and highlight the effect of the oil industry on the indigenous people of the Amazon, where some of the highest childhood leukaemia rates in the world are recorded. More recently I’ve worked with educational bodies to promote the use of agroforestry to the indigenous people, which helps to keep the forest standing for future generations.
I also sell products hand-made by the tribespeople using vegetable ivory, natural fibres and seeds. They are very beautiful, although in truth my stall is cover for raising awareness of environmental issues! The money I raise goes towards helping some of the poorest Amazonian communities build rainwater systems. I am flying to South America again in January to hand over my projects, as I have vowed not to fly again. I must walk my own talk. I've been lucky, as I travelled a lot when I was younger. But if we are in a state of climate emergency, I must stop. It’s a make a hard choice to make, but the right one. www.nicolapeel.com
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The company was founded in May 2013 by Susie Ma. When Susie was younger, she made beauty products out of natural ingredients with her grandma, and would sell them in jam jars at Greenwich Market. Susie eventually went on The Apprentice in 2011 and although she wasn’t hired, Lord Sugar later contacted her and became an equal partner in the business. Tropic uses sustainably sourced ingredients made from plants, fruits, nuts and seeds and the company is also carbon neutral. The branding is beautiful and as an environmentallyfriendly business, we promote refillable products. The Tropic range isn’t sold in shops. Instead, it is sold through Ambassadors like myself, both online and at events like this. We also host pamper parties, consultations and give presentations to ladies’ groups, so we can talk about the products and highlight the positive choices we can make to help the environment. www.tropicskincare.com/ carolinegolding WORDS: Ben Morris PHOTOS: Toby Phillips Photography For more on Fairtrade visit http://fairtradehorsham.org.uk
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GULL DONE GO Artist Cherry Parsons Discusses her Varied Work
Lunch atop a Skyscraper has become one of the world’s most iconic photographs. The snap of eleven workers sat on a steel girder during construction of the Rockefeller Centre, New York in 1932 has been subject to countless parodies over the years. The Simpsons, the cast of Friends and the Despicable Me minions have all been depicted in a similar scene. Horsham artist Cherry Parsons created her own artistic interpretation. Who Forgot the Fish? depicts 11 seagulls enjoying chips over Brighton. Two birds have even brought along sachets of tomato
ketchup and tartare sauce. This and other paintings of seagulls have become Cherry’s most recognisable work. Yet the success of this humorous collection has been a surprise to the artist. “I started painting seagulls simply as I had a lot of blue paint left on my palette one day,” said Cherry. “It was too much to wash away, so I painted two square canvases in blue and left them. I painted a seagull on one square and called him George, after the actor George Segal. The second seagull was Steven, named after Steven Seagal. They seemed to work as a pair, so I called the
Who Forgot the Fish? imitates Lunch atop a Skyscraper
Cherry also paints striking landscape and seascapes
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pieces Who Me? and Yes You! They were just a bit of fun, but friends and family kept saying that they liked the seagulls as they’re silly and make you smile. The idea snowballed to the extent that the life and times of George and Steven are now depicted in 16 paintings. Because they are small square canvases, they can hang individually or as a montage of two, three or four paintings, so there’s flexibility.”
There really is something for everyone!
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“A few people who initially said they didn't like seagulls later bought one!”
Naturally, one of Cherry’s paintings shows seagulls at Brighton & Hove Albion FC’s Amex Stadium
“Because of the seagull’s association with Brighton, I painted my own version of the New York skyscraper photo with the Royal Pavilions in the background. That’s become one of my bestselling prints. The seagull pictures are very playful; I work on the principle that if they make me laugh, they’ll make others laugh too. Strangely, a few people who initially said they didn't like seagulls have later bought one!”
Northbrook Memories Art has been a lifelong passion for Cherry, but it is only in recent years that she’s been able to devote more time to it.
Cherry also paints life in Horsham
The seagulls steal the show at Horsham Museum
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Cherry was steered away from attending art college as a teenager and instead went into the fashion trade, opening a store along Guildford Road, Horsham. That venture ended when her first child arrived, although Cherry maintained a love of painting and other creative hobbies while raising a family. When her eldest daughter went for an interview at Northbrook Art College in Horsham, Cherry went along too and was unexpectedly offered a place on the Foundation course. “I was chatting to the tutor and he asked, ‘Does your daughter get her interest in art from you?’ As she did, he asked if I might be interested in the part-time course. It was a fabulous experience as I could study everything from glass to ceramics to computer design. I was essentially playing with materials and the teaching was hugely beneficial. We lived in North Parade at that time and sadly could only watch from our garden as Northbrook went up in flames years later. That was heart-wrenching, as it had been a wonderful place for me to learn.”
Varied Influences Cherry has continued to work and learn from different tutors to expand her knowledge. She attended classes run by Rosalyn Sprey, Head of Art at Farlington as well as John Thompson at Nymans Gardens. Cherry also joined Horsham Artists Open Studios (HAOS), exhibiting in the Art Trail with
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A ticking time-bomb of Interest-only mortgages Recent figures published by UK Finance showed that over the past seven years, the total number of interest-only mortgages has fallen by more than half (54%), from 2.5m in 2012 to 1.23m in 2018. The number of interest-only loans set to mature by 2020 shrank by 91,000 in 2018 to 126,000 loans, a drop of 41.9% compared with 2017.
The Horsham artist recently exhibited her work at Horsham Museum & Art Gallery
floral painter Judith Smith and botanical artist Deborah Crago. These influences help increase the variety of Cherry’s output, which includes portrait and landscape work. “I'm a firm believer in attending different courses,” said Cherry. “It helps you to evolve as an artist. Also, painting can be an isolating hobby, so it’s nice to meet people and have that camaraderie within a group.” ‘’As I’m a Horsham girl, I like painting the Causeway, Denne Hill, Horsham Park, the River Arun and even tractors ploughing the fields at Devil's Dyke. We also love going on holiday to Majorca and I paint pictures from there. Portraits are important to me as well. One of my favourites shows my granddaughters looking over our garden wall into a fishpond. I changed the scene to place it at the seaside, but like most of my paintings, it’s very personal to me. Sunshine, light, water and people are my main inspiration; seagulls have been a more recent diversion!”
Art for Everyone Recently, Cherry exhibited at Horsham Museum and Art Gallery, where it was the humour of the seagulls that attracted the most remarks. Having worked tirelessly to create new paintings for the exhibition, as well as HAOS Art Fair, Cherry is now preparing her schedule for 2020. Wherever she decides to sell and exhibit, Cherry is keen to offer original work, prints and greetings cards to suit every budget. “Somebody who likes a painting might not be able to afford the original,” she said. “So, I try to make my work affordable for all. As for my future direction, I will try new ideas. I’ve recently been working on a ballerina painting which has got a great response on social media. But I’m not sure it will repeat the success of the seagulls.”
WORDS: Ben Morris PHOTOS: Toby Phillips Photography Cherry’s art is available at http://cherryparsonsart.com/
Interest only is a tricky subject to tackle. It has received so many negative headlines in recent years and so many black marks from the mainstream press (rightly so in many cases) that it’s not always the easiest topic to broach. However, despite “The number of this, it has also proved to be a product which allowed borrowers with many borrowers to get onto interest-only the property ladder who were otherwise unable to do deals are falling.” so. Many of whom were able to build up sizable equity pots due to rapid house price rises in many areas. And, where a suitable repayment vehicle has been in place, no issues have arisen at all. Support is the key word here. The number of borrowers with interest-only deals are falling but there is still a huge quantity out there who would benefit from speaking to a mortgage adviser. With interest-only, as the name says, you’re only paying the interest and the outstanding balance remains. And there is no question that these will grow both in popularity and volume as more and more credit-worthy borrowers are falling short of the strict underwriting requirements of mainstream lenders. Lenders have to be fully aware of this ticking time bomb and be in a position to start providing responsible and appropriate solutions to such customers. With a big spike in homeowners coming towards the end of interest-only deals in 2030, there are still many customers that need to understand the options currently available and our industry needs to continue to investigate and develop new ways of helping such customers in the next ten years. But for now, if you’re coming to the end of your interest-only mortgage, seek professional advice….early.
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Horsham Bowling Club Rolls on Through Winter There’s an enlarged photo on the wall of Horsham Bowling Club, with Chairman George B. Simpson rolling the first wood on 17 May 1906. Back then, the club was based at the Bishopric, where it would remain for more than a century. It was a men-only club, with a limited number of ladies permitted to join in 1926 before eventually being given equal status in 1986.
In 2015, the Waitrose and John Lewis development forced the club to seek a new home. It turned out to be a blessing in disguise, as an ideal location was found next to Tythe Barn on Pondtail Road, where the club has gone from strength to strength. Mike Wilson, Membership Secretary, said: “The founders of the club had the foresight to buy the Bishopric land. More than 100 years later, that allowed us to
purchase the new site. Some long-serving members didn't necessarily want to move but we had little choice and it was a matter of securing the best deal. There was just a derelict green on the new site but we transformed it with a purposebuilt clubhouse and one of the best bowling greens in the County. From us having a clubhouse with no heating that was only open in the summer months, we now have a facility open all year, which people from
clubs across the region love coming to.”
Short Mat Season The modern new facility has attracted new members drawn to Horsham for the quality of its playing green and clubhouse. However, perhaps the biggest draw is that it allows members the chance to play during the winter months. While the outdoor green isn’t covered, the
Horsham Bowling Club has a strong women’s contingent, with several players having earned their County badge
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clubhouse was deliberately designed to accommodate three short mat bowling rinks. What started as a trial has grown beyond expectation, creating an influx of new players, particularly from the local Holbrook area. Mike, who is also Short Mat Bowls Captain, said: “Short mat is very different to bowling on the green. The woods are the same size but the mats are much shorter, so it’s difficult to play aggressive shots. There is a block of wood in the centre that players need to avoid, but you can’t bowl too far wide otherwise the wood goes off the mat. So, you need woods with less bias than those you would use outdoors. But still, the aim is to get closest to the jack and it’s a great game where the competition element is still important.”
Even Playing Field In mid-April, the mats are put away and there is more space for tables and chairs, as the doors to the outdoor green open-up until October.
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During the green season, the club plays about 70 friendly matches as mixed, ladies and men’s teams. The ladies play in the Nellie Mercer League and the men play in the Surrey/ Sussex Border League. Key fixtures for the men include matches against Worthing Pavilion for the Friendship Cup,
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There are many trophies, plates and shields to compete for at the club
whilst the mixed fixture against Marine Gardens Worthing for the Centenary Bowl and the match against Horsham Park for the Town Challenge Trophy are important too. Men and ladies participate individually in County competitions and represent the club in County Club competitions too. For the first time, the overall Club Captain is one of the ladies, Irene Gettins, who was encouraged to join after visiting the new venue shortly after opening. “Bowling is one of the few sports where the skill level between men and women is negligible. That’s why
it’s so popular with couples, as they can compete on an even playing field. We have three ladies who have their County badge.” “One of the many good things about this club is the variety of competition. You can just play friendlies or internal matches, or you can play against other clubs, which can be more formal and competitive. We also have leagues designed to develop the skills of new players, so you can learn from more experienced members. The whole idea is that people enjoy their time here and don’t feel intimidated.”
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Table Manners
Membership Secretary Mike Wilson
Social Scene
The club hosts competitive and friendly ties
weekly social evening with hot food and a quiz.
Offering short-mat bowling has not only improved the social side of the club; it has boosted finances by generating revenue throughout the year. This means it can afford the upkeep of the outdoor green. People can join as outdoor or short-mat members, but most like to do both. The club also has social membership, for those who enjoy the camaraderie and friendship but can’t or do not wish to play. The clubhouse is open every day for members, with friendly matches, league fixtures and competitions held throughout the week. There is also a
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For Ali Hilton-Childs, Secretary, the game has helped her stay active in retirement. “I am here most days and my husband is also a member. I enjoy playing golf as well and suppose joining the bowling club was partly about planning for whatever may happen in future. That sounds awful, but as I get older, I know there is a wonderful community that will always be here for me.” “I’m competitive too, so that element is catered for. So, with the social and competition sides of the club, it fulfils what I need. The club can provide for
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whatever sort of person you are, whether you just want to enjoy yourself by doing something new or want to be competitive. And what’s really nice is that I can have a drink and walk home afterwards!”
WORDS: Ben Morris PHOTOS: Toby Phillips Photography Horsham Bowling Club is always happy to meet new bowlers and anyone thinking about taking up bowls or short mat bowls can get in touch to arrange a visit. info@horsham-bowling-club.co.uk www.horsham-bowling-club.co.uk
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Column by RSPB Pulborough Brooks In preparation for this month’s Big Garden Birdwatch, I’m going to celebrate the joys of sitting with a cup of tea watching the to-ings and fro-ings around the feeders. The most numerous and frequent visitors – blue tits – are rather polite and seem to take their turn. It’s first come first served, but no one outstays their welcome and if a queue is forming they have a nibble and move on. The coal tit and marsh tit have more of a ‘grab & go’ tactic – they are a little nervous and retreat with their seed or mouthful of suet to the safety of a nearby bramble patch. Long-tailed tits arrive, often as a gang, and hang acrobatically off the coconut halves. Now for the great tit – a bit of a bully – he doesn’t care who else has been patiently waiting! A charm of goldfinches occasionally descends to raid the sunflower seed feeder. They busily feed and monopolise the station for a few minutes before taking off all at once and flying into the distance chattering and gossiping as they go. The chaffinches are messy eaters – again favouring the sunflower seeds but seemingly spluttering out more that they swallowed. So make yourself a cuppa and acquaint yourself with the characters at your dining table and don’t forget to take part in this year’s Big Garden Birdwatch! If you sign up now you can benefit from 20% off in our shop! rspb.org.uk/birdwatch
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