AAH (All About Horsham) July 2024 by AAH (All About Horsham)

AAH (ALL ABOUT HORSHAM) JULY 2024

NEWS ROUND-UP

WILDLIFE

The devoted team at Rangers Lodge Wildlife Hospital care for a wide range of animals.

Steyning Farmers Market celebrates its 25th anniversary in heart of the

launches its much-anticipated range of English sparkling wine.

The July 2024 cover features Catherine Dodd, owner of Catherine’s Originals, a vegan chocolate company. Catherine is pictured in a cabin at the company’s new factory in Walberton, nr Arundel.

You can see that they have gone to great lengths to hand-paint their logo on the cabin wall, which is blurred behind Catherine in this photo. We did have another good shot of Catherine with some of her vegan chocolate selection boxes and with the logo in focus in the background. However, it clashed with the AAH logo, so didn’t work as a cover and was used within the feature instead (p57). There was also a photo of Catherine with partner and co-owner Jamie Miller, but the pastel tones of Catherine’s branded hoodie was a better fit for the cover.

AAH is an independent magazine founded in 2011. It is owned by Ben Morris, a life-long resident of the District. Here’s our cover from 10 years ago (July 2014) featuring Guy Bridgewater at St Mary’s Church, Horsham.

EDITOR

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

AAH, 2 Viney Close, Ashington, RH20 3PT

PHOTOGRAPHER

Alan Wright alanwrightphotography.co.uk 07747 617387

Alan works for AAH as a freelancer and is available for all commercial work.

Other cover contenders included Graham Timmins of Adur Brewery at Steyning Farmers Market, Karen Bowden at Rangers Lodge Wildlife Hospital and Maurice Bacon, founder of the Joust at Loxwood Meadows.

As a free magazine, AAH is grateful to the support of all its advertisers. If you’d like to find out more about promoting your business in AAH, please do get in touch with Ben. We offer every 6th advert free of charge, like a cafe. We can also design ads if you need help on that front.

ADVERT RATES (Per month/edition)

Eighth Page: £60 + VAT (93mm x 63mm)

Quarter Page: £115 + VAT (93mm x 133mm - portrait or landscape)

Half Page: £195 + VAT (190mm x 133mm)

We also have the long, upright shape

Full Page: £325 + VAT (A4 with 4mm bleed)

Double Page: £550 + VAT (A4 with 4mm bleed

ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES

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

2 Viney Close, Ashington, RH20 3PT

DOOR-TO-DOOR DISTRIBUTION TEAM: Jacquie Paterson, Jill Shuker, Bloomfield family, Gavira family, Alessandro Cavallo, Charlie Merchant, Alec Baker, Walker family, Ben Raymond, Joseph Down, the Browning family (Horsham). Katie Drysdale & William Fuglsig (Highwood), Chapman family (Southwater), Palmer family (BBH), Luke Butcher (Manns Heath), Derek Bradnum (Nuthurst)

SPRING-LOADED STANDS

AAH is also available in our stands at local businesses, clubs and shops.

Horsham: Swan Walk (outside M&S), Henry Adams, At Home Estate Agents, Crates Local (all Carfax), Gwyn’s Bakery, Johansson’s Cafe (Bishopric), Horsham Bedding Centre (Medwin Walk), John Lewis, Pavilions in the Park, Horsham Rail Station, Horsham FC, New House Farm, New Street Butchers, Holbrook Club, Steban’s Salon. Village Stands: Newbridge Nurseries, The Bridge Leisure Centre (BBH) CoCos’ Salon & Beeson House (Southwater), Billingshurst Leisure Centre, Coco’s Salon (Billingshurst), Bluecoat Sports Centre (Christ’s Hospital), Leonardslee Lakes & Gardens (Lower Beeding), Warnham Village Stores (Warnham), Slinfold Golf Club (Slinfold), Steyning Leisure Centre and Cobblestone Walk (Steyning), Spring Gardens Nursery (Washington), Chanctonbury Leisure Centre, Joanna’s Boutique Tearooms (Storrington), The Milk Churn (Rudgwick), Meadow Stores (Thakeham), Golden Plaice (Ashington), Rusper Village Stores (Rusper), Roffey News and Post Office (Roffey)

Supermarkets: In association with Self Select Distribution, AAH is available at Tesco Extra in Broadbridge Heath and Sainsbury’s Horsham.

A huge thank you to Alessandro Cavallo, who moves on having delivered AAH in the Dutchells Copse

EDITOR’S NOTES

CRUSHING DREAMS FOR ANOTHER GENERATION OF FANS

My eldest son turned 19 in June and is now the same age I was during the 1998 World Cup in France. I had to check that, as it doesn’t seem possible, but it’s true.

Like me, he loves the beautiful game and while he doesn’t follow any particular team during the regular season, finds himself gripped by football fever during major tournaments. During France 98, I watched England’s matches at the St Leonard’s Arms, or the Lenny, as it was affectionately known. It’s no longer there (it’s now a Tesco Express) but for several unproductive years it was like a second home. I even played for the pub’s Sunday football team, which was almost exclusively comprised of my friendship group.

The Lenny was far from being the only pub that witnessed raucous scenes during England games. If anything typified that era, it was drunken youths in Ben Sherman shirts knocking over pints of Carlsberg while celebrating a Beckham free-kick and singing about Britannia’s ruling of the waves. A toppled table didn’t matter much when beer cost two pound a pint, but I should think football fans now would be tetchy in the wake of such overzealous celebrations, as every goal would equate to about £50 going down the drain (or through the sticky floorboards, anyway). Alas, such scenes are less common in these more civilised times. However, young people so still possess an unwavering belief in our national team.

Before the first ball had been kicked, my son boasted about a wager he’d placed on England to win Euro 2024, with striker Harry Kane to end the tournament as top scorer. Despite odds of 20-1 (which in theory means it could happen once in 80 years, with the championships only held every four) he was talking about his potential winnings as if it was an inevitability. I wasn’t happy that, as a student already eating into an overdraft, he had wagered as much as £10. So, I embarked on one of my frequent lectures on gambling being a fool’s errand (actually, I said “mug’s game” as I must’ve just seen Danny Dyer in a Paddy Power advert) and then drifted into a tirade about the number of betting adverts aimed at young people these days. I’m sure he’ll learn, and hopefully not in too hard a way.

He presented in evidence of his confidence in England’s success, the talent of players like Phil Foden, Jude Bellingham and Bukayo Sako. I couldn’t help but recall the similarly blind optimism that I had invested in the likes of Steven Gerrard, Paul Scholes and Michael Owen in days gone. After checking Wikipedia, I was reminded that at France 1998, we began with an underwhelming victory against Tunisia before losing to Romania in a performance blasted by pundits and the press. It has echoes of England’s progress this year, with a narrow win against Serbia followed by a draw against Denmark. Despite Owen’s memorable goal against Argentina, we were knocked out (on penalties, inevitably) in the Second Round.

As I write, we’ve just played our final group game against Slovenia, which ended in a rather drab goalless draw. Over the course of little more than a week, my son’s unshakable belief in success has been replaced by sheer frustration at England’s struggles to realise its potential. Of course, I’ve seen it all before. We used to sing fondly of that tackle by Moore, and when Lineker scored, Bobby belting the ball and Nobby dancing. But for the past quarter of a century, the only memories have been bad ones. I still see that tackle by Phil, Seaman chipped by Brazil, Beckham flicking his heel, and Ronnie winking.

I know many of you don’t care for football and will be looking forward to it being over, so that you can watch something on TV other than 22 men diving around (I have noticed an evolution in diving recently, whereby a player slaps the ground to suggest their injury is genuine and that they’re not just trying to get an opponent booked, even though they are actually still faking it, thereby rendering a useful indication of a significant injury meaningless). My wife is one such person and I play a game in which I count how long it takes for her to compare the theatrics of footballers to the fearless honour of blood-splattered rugby players with cauliflower ears.

But as frustrating as it may be for such people to have football dominating their TV for a month, it’s nothing compared to the suffering of an England fan. Oh, unless you happen to be Scottish.

Watching England games remains as frustrating as ever (©iStock/Ridofranz)

Conquer St Leonards dragon

Experience the thrill of a 32.5m zipline

Play in a miniature Leonardslee House

Navigate balancing beams

Wallaby talking tubes

Leonardslee members get FREE entry to the Play Park and 50% off to The Labyrinth Challenge .

Challenge

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Tel: 01403 282573 | Email: admissions@farlingtonschool.com | www.farlingtonschool.com

NEWS ROUND-UP

Three members of West Sussex County Council and West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service staff have been recognised in the King’s Birthday Honours.

Sabrina Cohen-Hatton, Chief Fire Officer for WSFRS (right) has received the King’s Fire Service Medal, awarded for distinguished service or gallantry. Sabrina said: ‘I am extremely proud to serve

Horsham Children’s Parade returns on Sunday 7 July. The parade starts at Denne Road at 11am and ends at midday in Horsham Park, where it will mark the opening of Horsham Rotary Club’s Funday Sunday. Hundreds of children from schools across the district will showcase creations and costumes made in workshops with community artists, with a theme of ‘Spirit of Sport – The Olympics & Paralympics’. The carnival atmosphere will be provided by infectious beats provided by Boom Tribe, Brighton School of Samba and drumming band the Kings of Dhol. horshamchildrensparade

within the fire and rescue sector and being awarded for a job that I have genuinely loved doing for the last 23 years is a huge honour.’

Mary Nye has been awarded the British Empire Medal. Mary, a Crossing Patrol Officer at Holbrook Primary School, has given 51 years’ service in the role.

Mary, 90, said: ‘I have accepted the honour not just for myself, but on behalf of all the School Crossing Patrols in West Sussex who care so much about the schoolchildren that they are willing to go out in all weathers to see them safely across the road.’

Also mentioned in the honours list was Emily King, West Sussex County Council’s Assistant Director (Communities), who received an MBE for her work and support for communities.

Capel Military Show will be held at Aldhurst Farm, Temple Lane, Capel, RH5 5HJ on Friday 5 –Sunday 7 July, 9am - 5pm. The annual military show and family fun weekend includes helicopters, tanks, battle re-enactments, car crushing and naval gun firing. In commemoration of the 80th anniversary of Operation Overlord, a pair of Spitfires will perform a series of fly-pasts on the Sunday. Children’s entertainment includes inflatables, big tank rides, climbing walls, archery, laser quest and airsoft ranges. There will be catering stands, licensed bar and ice cream. capelmilitaryshow.com

Summer Open Air Cinema brings outdoor Saturday night film screenings to Leonardslee Lakes and Gardens, Lower Beeding, in the coming months.

Screenings include Notting Hill on 27 July, Grease on 17 August, Wonka on 7 September and The Greatest Showman on 21 September. Leonardslee also hosts the Labyrinth Challenge X, a family-friendly obstacle course event, from 8 – 11 August. The 1000ft long inflatable obstacle course includes five action-packed zones and over 34 unique challenges and obstacles. leonardsleegardens.co.uk

Crossing Patrol

Officer

Mary Nye

(Photo courtesy of WSCC)

D-Day veteran Geoffrey Weaving was among those invited to attend the D-Day 80th anniversary event in Portsmouth on 5 June. Geoffrey, who lives in Skylark House, Horsham and recently celebrated his 100th birthday, met King Charles, Queen Camilla and Prince William. On D-Day, Geoffrey was a 20-year-old serving on HMS Astral as a wireless operator. His ship led Canadian landing craft to Juno beach, laying marker buoys for safe channels. They also helped with the construction of Mulberry Harbour. You can read AAH’s interview with Geoffrey from December 2023 online at aahorsham.co.uk/content/geoffreyweaving

A series of events were organised by Horsham District Council and the Horsham Branch of the Royal British Legion to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings on 6 June. St Mary’s Church was the focus of a ‘Ringing out for Peace’ bell ringing ceremony, part of a national initiative with churches across the country taking part. Rev Canon Lisa Barnett of St Mary’s led prayers at the Carfax War Memorial, followed by entertainment on the Bandstand from The Spinettes (inset). Representatives from the

Royal British Legion, Horsham District Council and St Mary’s Church came together to light a beacon at 9:15pm. The beacon was lit at the same time as the five beacons lit along beaches of Normandy, representing the light of peace after the darkness of war. There was a short address by Cllr Nigel Emery (HDC Chairman) and Zäl Rustom, Chairman of the Horsham Branch of the RBL.

Cllr Nigel Emery and Zäl Rustom light the beacon

(©Toby Phillips)

The Floral Fringe Fair will be held at Loxwood Meadow, RH14 0AL on Saturday 31 August – Sunday 1 September, 10.30am –5pm. Last year, the eclectic fair was held at Loxwood for the first time and found a perfect home at the magical meadow. The fair includes artisans, makers, bakers, growers and vintage collectors, wellness stalls, food stalls offering everything from wagyu burgers to Mediterranean street food and many drinks stands. Music comes from Mythago Morris, Steampunk Morris, Happy Days Big Band, Taylor Maid folk and in-house singer Kerry Le Bern. Interesting pre-1980s cars and motorbikes welcome, adding to the vintage atmosphere. Visitors are encouraged to dress in vintage, quirky and steampunk clothing, or just wear a fabulous hat! Picnics welcome, as are well behaved dogs on leads. Discounted tickets available at floralfringefair.co.uk

ABC Animal Sanctuary in Juggs Lane, West Chiltington, RH20 2JS hosts its Annual Open Weekend on 31 August – 1 September, 11am – 4.30pm. This family-friendly event allows visitors to meet the animals and groom a pony, with live music, face painting, stalls and refreshments. Entry £5 (U14s free). Well behaved dogs welcome on leads. All proceeds go towards animal care. abcanimalsanctuary.co.uk

TOOVEY’S

Friday Lates live music and food nights are returning to Horsham for the spring and summer. Organised by Horsham District Council and Food Rocks Markets, events take place every Friday from 6 - 8pm throughout July and August at the Carfax Bandstand. Acts include Giovanni Spano & DeVience (inset) on 19 July and a ska night with The Gangsters on 26 July. In addition, Horsham Museum & Art Gallery is hosting its own late evening openings, giving visitors the chance to enjoy live music in the garden. horsham.gov.uk/community/ events-in-horsham-district

A rare Jaeger-LeCoultre 18ct gold-cased perpetual calendar gentleman's wristwatch, import mark London 1938 ~ auctioned in our May sale of watches for £50,000

Horsham Harmony Choir hold their summer concert at YMCA Football Club, Gorings Mead, Horsham on Friday 19 July, 7:30pm. The choir perform a varied programme including popular and gospel music, as well as folk songs. There is no admission charge but donations gratefully accepted in aid of Phoenix Stroke Club in Horsham, which supports people who have suffered a stroke or have a neurological condition. Parking on-site with bar. If you’re interested in joining the choir, visit horshamharmonychoir.co.uk

Time to sell?

The auction market for vintage watches is buoyant! If you are considering the sale of your watches, our experts will be pleased to provide valuations free of charge and without obligation at our Spring Gardens salerooms. Please ring to arrange an appointment.

Next sale of watches: Thursday 1st August

The leading antique and fine art auction house in West Sussex SPRING GARDENS, A24 WASHINGTON, RH20 3BS 01903 891955 auctions@tooveys.com www.tooveys.com

Floral Fringe Fair

(©AAH/Alan Wright

Nearly 700 people took part in St Catherine’s Hospice’s Midnight Walk on Saturday 8 June. Walkers took on a distance of 2, 7, 13 or 20 miles, starting and finishing at The Bridge Leisure Centre in Broadbridge Heath, with routes going through Horsham town centre. Their routes were marshalled by enthusiastic volunteers who cheered walkers on and kept them going throughout the night. The local charity’s flagship fundraiser, which aims to raise £120,000, saw people don glitter face paint, light-up boppers and

orange tutus before stepping out on their own or as part of a team. Many people walked in memory of someone close to them and a poignant memory wall at the start was filled with tributes to loved ones. People also remembered someone they love in a special remembrance area in Horsham Barn during their walk. At the end of their challenge, walkers were cheered across the finishing line and given a medal before enjoying a celebration breakfast with a glass of prosecco. stch.org.uk/events

We have over 25 years’ experience in organising group trips to the theatre, local and national attractions and short breaks.

We ensure a hassle free experience, with someone always on hand to offer guidance, with discounts on tickets to nationwide attractions. Our programme takes in West End theatres, stately homes, palaces and gardens, river cruises, steam train rides and afternoon teas. For our short breaks, we visit beautiful towns and cities, as well as an annual trip to continental Christmas Markets.

Our upcoming trips include:

WAR HORSE Monday 9th September

Based on Michael Morpurgo’s novel, this moving musical features life-sized horses by the Handspring Puppet Company. £77.50 per person.

ABBA VOYAGE. Thu 17 October & Fri 7th March

ABBA appear as digital avatars in a ‘ground-breaking’ concert at a stunning, purpose-built arena. £109.50 per person (Dance Floor tickets on Oct date, seated tickets on Mar 2025 date)

Comptons Tennis Club held an Open Day and celebrated its 60th anniversary on Sunday 19 May. The Lower Beeding club, founded by keen players living in the Comptons Lane area of Horsham, threw open its courts for members and interested visitors. The day included a tennis fit session with head coach Rhys Hanger and assistants Julie Hanger and Luke Anderson, with free coaching sessions also held for juniors, rusty rackets and intermediate players. The club has seven clay and newlyresurfaced hard courts. clubspark.lta.org.uk/ComptonsTennisClub

The Heron Way 10km trail run will be held on Sunday 6 October. All runners receive a medal, with trophies for winners. Kids can join in with a Children’s Fun Colour Run on the school field. All proceeds to Heron Way. Entry £18 early bird (by 31 August) or £20 on the day. Kid’s run £5 per child. heronwaypta.org.uk/10k

Floral Fringe

Enjoy 100 stalls of vintage items, artists and makers, plants, gardenalia and great food and drink at this old-fashioned yet alternative fair in the beautiful Loxwood Meadows.

Classic cars l Live music l Morris dancing l Green man & his Queen l Green man scarecrow contest l Forest Bathing l Audience dancing l Beers & Spirits l Wide range of food stalls for all diets.

Dressing in style warmly welcomed as are dogs on leads. August 31st and Sept 1st (Not Bank Holiday), 10.30am - 5pm Loxwood Meadow, RH14 0AL

1. Experienced Design

We’ll get to know you and your project requirements, providing you with a highquality design and fixed price quotation.

2. Project Coordination

We’ll professionally survey your property, and provide you with a fitting schedule, to be undertaken by our in-house team.

3. Installation

Our award-winning tradesmen will fit your project to very high standards. Plus, we’ll guarantee our work for 12 months.

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Mon-Sat

The Mary How Trust has organised a Big Summer Quiz hosted by ‘Inn-Quizzator’ Doug Brown at West Chiltington Village Hall, Mill Road, RH20 2PZ, on Saturday 27 July, 7pm. Teams of four to eight with a top prize of £100. Bring your own food. Sponsored by Martin Lundy-Lester. Tickets from mhtsummer.eventbrite.co.uk

l The Mary How Trust also hosts live music with Olly Hite (above) at Felpham Sailing Club on Saturday 3 August, 7pm.

Horsham Bridge Club holds an Open Day at The Bridge Leisure Centre on Monday 22 July. Anyone can come along and find out about the club’s bridge courses for beginners and improvers. They can also see a club session in action and enjoy a taster lesson, with events held all day and into the evening. The event is part of the national Festival of Bridge, raising funds for Cancer Research. For details, contact Alan on 07396 821375.

As part of 2024 national Volunteers’ Week, Horsham District Council hosted an awards evening at Slinfold Golf and Country Club on 5 June, recognising volunteers who make a positive difference to communities. Winners were Jacqui Clark, Horsham and Crawley Samaritans (Biggest Heart), Terry O’Leary, St Catherine’s Hospice (Trustee of the Year), John Bearman, Thakeham Village Hall (Long Service), Roy Bayliss, Rotary Club of Horsham (Special Recognition), Ethan Kearl, Springboard

(Permanent Smile), Billingshurst Community Larder volunteers, Family Church (Dream Team), Aaron Van Der Pijll, 4TheYouth (Young Volunteer) and Nathan Harman, Rangers Lodge Wildlife Hospital (Outstanding Contribution). The awards were presented by the Deputy Lord Lieutenant, Rev. Rupert Toovey DL, and the High Sheriff of West Sussex, Philippa Gogarty. For volunteering opportunities visit volunteerhorshamdistrict.co.uk

Schroders unveiled an extensive solar farm installation at its Horsham campus in June, marking a significant milestone in the group’s sustainability journey. The farm encompasses 2,606 solar panels which will generate 1.13MWh/year of electricity, about 25% of the site’s annual consumption. Furthermore, 58 electric vehicle charging stations have been installed to support employees switching to hybrid and electric vehicles. It was formally launched by Dame Elizabeth Corley, Chair of the Schroders Group. In addition, the project is expected to produce a net gain of 12.8% in terms of biodiversity through initiatives such as installing bat and bird boxes and creating habitat piles. Situated near a biodiversity-sensitive area, the Horsham campus has been conscious of fostering a culture of sustainability among its 600 staff. This has involved collaborating with employees as well as charity partner Horsham Matters, to encourage green initiatives. schroders.com

Housebuilder Cala has joined forces with Samaritans to introduce mindfulness benches as its Hawksbourne development at Mowbray, Horsham. The rustic benches offer a place for quiet reflection and have been installed to face opposite directions to give residents the option to talk to each other or enjoy their own company. The installation of the benches follows the refurbishment of the Horsham and Crawley Samaritans branch last December, where Cala helped revitalise the space. cala.co.uk

Members of the Probus Club of Horsham Weald appointed a new president at their AGM at the Bridge Leisure Centre.

Incoming president John Sewell paid tribute to predecessor Derek Sturt, while Clive Palmart was appointed vice president. The club has a full programme of activities, outings and lunches arranged for members and their partners. Membership is open to retired and semi-retired business and professional persons. For information, contact Derek Fuller on (01403) 782828.

Horsham Park Bowls Club runs open sessions throughout the summer, inviting people to ‘Try Bowls for Free’ on Mondays at 6.30pm, Tuesdays from 10am – 12pm and Saturdays from 11am – 1pm. All are welcome, with equipment provided and members on-hand to help. horshamparkbowlsclub.co.uk

The Shelley Memorial Project and Horsham District Council have announced the winning sculptor for the proposed commission of a memorial to poet Percy Bysshe Shelley. Chichester-based sculptor Vincent Gray’s concept, which features a neoclassical style bronze quill and extracts of Shelley’s poetry, will proceed to the commissioning stage. The panel felt the design would be an ‘iconic, intellectually engaging monument which celebrates the philosophies, beliefs and vision of Shelley’ Over 1700 people took part in a consultation, which included a vote on four shortlisted concept designs, with Vincent’s design receiving the most support. David Hide, Chair of the Shelley Memorial Project, said: ‘The next stage is to work with

Vincent to develop the concept, in line with feedback from the consultation and from other stakeholders, to progress from the concept to a final design. We would like to thank all four sculptors – David Annand, Broadbent Studios, Vincent Gray and Robert Ward – for presenting us with an excellent set of designs.’

The Shelley Memorial Project have set a fundraising target for the completion of the memorial, which is likely to be installed in Horsham Park. To support the project, email shelleymemorialproject@btinternet.com

Pictured: Sculptor Vincent Gray (second from left) with a model of his concept, members of the Shelley Memorial Project and Cllr David Skipp, HDC Cabinet Member for Leisure and Culture.

Children’s author Alice Chambers launched her second book in the Bob the Bear series, Bob The Bear Visits the Beach, at Natty Noo in Horsham’s Carfax On Saturday 1 June. Alice read the book and there was also a colouring competition, won by Farlington pupil Tatty, aged six. Alice has been writing children’s stories for over 45 years and self-published her first book The Adventures of Bob the Bear two years ago. The book is available on Amazon. storiesbyalicechambers.com

Horsham’s hidden secrets will be revealed at the next Friends of Horsham Museum & Art Gallery talk on Wednesday 17 July, 7.30pm. Former Curator Jeremy Knight will be in the Wesley Hall at London Road Chapel, Horsham. The talk, entitled Illuminating the Past: Discovering Horsham’s hidden stories, includes a talk about several ornate manuscripts held in the museum archives. Refreshments available. Entry £5 for members/guests (cash only).

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Changing Lives

Slimming World is a weight loss plan like no other. Millions have reached their dream weight with our generous no-hunger eating plan. Add an activity programme that starts when the time’s right for you, plus mindset-shifting, habit-changing support that will get you to target and help you stay there.

It is an easy to follow plan with no food off the menu - the choice is yours. And with a range of frozen meals from Iceland as well as our new meal kits which launched on the 28th of May, losing weight has never been easier.

And to attest to that, here is just one member’s story...

Sharon’s Story

In January 2023, I was very unhappy with my weight. I couldn’t tie my shoe laces, I was out of breath when walking, putting up the caravan awning left me needing to take a break every 20 minutes and I could barely fit into my size 20 clothes. My blood pressure fluctuated and tended to be too high.

With a clothes size 22 looming, I knew I had to make a change, so I joined the Roffey Slimming World group.

BEFORE

I have embraced the Food Optimising plan and love trying new recipes. My favourite is the Mushroom Risotto. I cook the same meal for the whole family, which is an added bonus as I had previously followed diets which resulted in having to cook two different meals, which is not sustainable in the long term. I lost 6½ stone and I am now at my target weight. I could not have done it without the support of the members in the group.

I am more confident in what I do and wear. I no longer have to hide in loose-fitting clothes and wear a size 12/14 with confidence. My skin is clear and my hair shiny. I power walk two miles without getting out of breath, much to the consternation of my 16-year old who struggles to keep up! My recent health check revealed that my blood pressure and cholesterol numbers were lower than ever. And putting up the awning on the caravan? Well, I am able to do that without stopping till the job is done. Slimming World has truly changed my life.

Contact your local Slimming World Consultant and join a friendly and super-supportive group today!

Monday, Broadbridge Heath, 5.30pm & 7pm

Laura 07724 146832

Tuesday, Rushams Road, 5.30pm & 7pm

Mike 07971 863805

Wednesday, YMCA Football Club, 5.30pm & 7pm

Sarah 07956 962220

Thursday, Southwater, 5.30pm & 7pm

Laura 07724 146832

Friday, North Heath Hall, 9am & 11am

Sarah 07956 962220

Saturday, Roffey, 8am & 9.30am

Wendy 07753 883181

Find out more about a weight loss plan like no other by visiting our website

Sussex’s best dining spot with a view

Switch off from the mid-week rush with a dining experience that feeds your senses.

Head Chef Jonathan Spiers uses fresh ingredients from local suppliers and our kitchen garden. Delivering a Mediterranean-inspired menu, with plenty of plantbased dishes, that are as healthy as they are flavourful.

Soak up the sunshine on the terrace and enjoy South Downs views from the entire restaurant. Open all day for breakfast, lunch and dinner over summer. Or why not pop in for a little coffee and cake instead?

Quote AAH in the ‘Additional Requests’ section when booking online or calling to book, to receive your complimentary savoury bites dish.

Complimentary savoury bites dish for bookings Monday to Thursday between June and September

ELECTRIC DREAM ELECTRIC DREAM

Leading manufacturers supported an electric vehicle (EV) event at the Council’s Parkside premises in Horsham on 24 May.

Tesla, BMW, Volkswagen, Mini, Renault, Lexus, Ford, Skoda and the London Electric Vehicle Company all displayed cars at the free event, organised by Horsham District Council in partnership with Let’s Experience Electric.

Funded by DEFRA’s Air Quality Grant, the event provided an opportunity for visitors to learn about zero emission transport and also test drive EVs in

the town centre. Cllr Colette Blackburn (Cabinet Member for Climate Action and Nature Recovery) chaired presentations and a Q&A session at Parkside. These included speakers from Connected Kerb, who are responsible for the roll-out of EV charging points throughout West Sussex, as well as experts from the Energy Savings Trust, who shared information on grants and funding available to help individuals and businesses make the EV switch.

Former professional rugby player Martin Offiah MBE, now a Brand Ambassador for Connected Kerb,

Daniel Wragg of Station Garage Skoda with the eye-catching Enyaq (©AAH/Alan Wright)

New House Farm Shop is located in a beautifully renovated 16thCentury barn in the rural outskirts of Horsham. Our locally sourced produce includes fruit & veg, bread, meats, beers, gins and wines, Sussex cheeses and local crafts!

Strawberry Fields Tea Rooms

DREAM

shared his experience of switching to EV, having been introduced to electric vehicles by fellow England international Andy Gomarsall.

‘After Andy gave me a lift in his BMW i3, I was hooked!’ recalled Martin. ‘I bought an i3 for my wife and a Tesla for myself the following year and have since experienced the positives and challenges that come from owning an electric vehicle.’

‘Now through my role with Connected Kerb, I try to tackle misinformation and show people what can be achieved with a growth mindset. I’m fortunate to have a driveway outside my home and most of the trips I make can be facilitated by home charging. I know others are

not so lucky, but organisations like Connected Kerb can give everyone that same level of convenience, helping them make the transition. In West Sussex, The County Council and other local authorities such as Horsham District Council are helping us to provide a network of public charging points, both in car parks and on the street.’

‘By 2035, the government is due to phase out the sale of new diesel and petrol cars to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels. By building an EV infrastructure in West Sussex that is affordable, reliable and accessible, we can make sure we’re ready for that.’

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

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HEAD TURNERS

The inaugural event was supported by local dealerships displaying a range of EV models. Marshall Volkswagen, which operates in 18 locations including Horsham, brought along the ID 7, an all-electric hatchback, as well as its head-turning ID Buzz, a five-seater family adventure vehicle that embraces the classic style of Type 2 Campers. A long wheelbase model is expected soon, offering an improvement on the Buzz’s current electric range (about 250 miles) and potentially acting as a stepping stone to an EV VW Camper.

‘It’s good to be in the community, talking about EVs.’

Mark Kemp, Sales Executive at Marshall VW, said: ‘It’s good to be out in the community, speaking to people about switching to EV. I used to be anti-EV, the definition of a petrolhead, but I’ve spent a lot of time driving models in the ID range and have fallen in love with them. They’re fun to drive, have incredible performance and are more economical in the long-term, in addition to the environmental benefits they provide. Perhaps in future the Council can expand the Discover Electric event. I love events like Piazza Italia and maybe there’s scope to do something similar with EVs in future.’

Hendy Mazda and Hendy Ford, based in Broadbridge Heath, also attended the event. Mazda took along a fully-electric MX-30, one of the more affordable electric SUVs on the market. Station Garage Skoda displayed a stunning 4x4 Enyaq vRS. Sales Executive

Mark Kemp of Marshall VW with the ID Buzz

(©AAH/AW)

Vines of Redhill displayed a BMW iX2 while Ryan Canter Club promoted its services (©AAH/AW)

Daniel Wragg, who recently returned from Prague for a first glimpse of the exciting new hybrid Kodiaq, said: ‘It’s great that members of the public have a chance to see a wide selection of electric cars and test drive several in one place, without the pressure of visiting several dealerships. I have found most people are open-minded about EV and are interested to see what’s available from different manufacturers at various price points. The event is a good idea and hopefully we will be able to bring along more Skoda vehicles to any similar events held in future.’

CHEAPER OPTIONS

As well as being a chance for top manufacturers to connect with potential buyers, Discover Electric presented opportunities for local businesses too. JLC EV, based in East Sussex, has a range of practical, affordable electric vehicles ideal for commercial use and city life. These include the City 1, with a 10kWh lithium battery and a top speed on 44mph, available from £12,999 + VAT.

Simon Mortimer, Sales Director at JLC EV, said: ‘We also have the City 2, a two-seater electric van ideal for deliveries and tradespeople. Also in the range is Nipper, a 4WD UTV with an electric rear tipper, and two other EV vans designed for commercial use. We recently sold 14 vehicles to a university, as they’re ideal to use around the campus, while others have been sold to hotels and national parks, or adapted for use as hot and cold food storage units. We specialise in light, affordable and economical vehicles with a limited range, so they’re not designed for motorways and speed is limited. However, for some organisations, charities, universities and businesses, they’re perfect.’

The Ryan Canter Club is a Partridge Greenbased, family-run business offering a fleet concierge service. The company has been trading for over 25 years and now places more focus on the EV market. Director Jason Clough said: ‘We act as fleet managers for companies of every size,

from start-ups to PLCs. Historically, businesses and tradespeople have been reluctant to switch to EV because the range is limited and they can’t afford to have vans off the road while they’re being charged. Now mileage ranges are improving and there are financial incentives to consider too. So, we now have an EV arm to our business called Go Electric, with rapid chargers to help EV fleets, making them not only a cost-effective alternative to diesel or petrol but a practical one too.’

It is hoped that Discover Electric may return, although the Council says that the first event achieved its objectives. Helen Peacock, Head of Sustainability and Green Spaces at HDC, said: ‘Air quality is one of the environmental concerns

relating to our green agenda to achieve carbon neutrality for the District by 2050. As vehicles are one of the biggest emitters of CO2, we felt it was a good idea to promote electric vehicles. With this being a predominantly rural district, we know EV isn’t a solution for everybody. However, we felt we could inform people about EV and bust a few myths, while also giving members of the public the chance to test drive EV models from local dealerships.’

‘We’re pleased with how the event went and will now take stock and reflect on how to possibly expand such events in future. We hoped to include a display by a local E-bike specialist that supplies bikes to our community wardens, but unfortunately they couldn’t be here. That

would be something we would like to introduce, as reflecting the local economy is vital. As for the possibility of an EV car rally in the town, that would be difficult, especially as Horsham now has a BID scheme with their own ideas and initiatives that they’re moving forward with. However, as a Council, we’re always looking at ways to support sustainability across the District so that residents and businesses can help us reach our environmental targets.’

WORDS: Ben Morris

PHOTOS: Alan Wright

Further information: For more details please visit: www.horsham.gov.uk/discover-electric

Martin Offiah, Brand Ambassador for Connected Kerb (©AAH/AW) Simon Mortimer, Sales Director at JLC EV (©AAH/Alan Wright)

WILD THINGS

On the rural fringes of St Leonard’s Forest in Colgate sits Rangers Lodge, a unique wildlife hospital.

It is owned and run by Jane and Ross Burrows, who dedicate not only their time but also a large percentage of their home to caring for sick and injured animals. What makes Rangers Lodge unusual is that it is one of the very few places that takes in injured UK wildlife including deer, foxes, hedgehogs, squirrels, birds, bats, owls, geese and ducks.

Recent arrivals include Marigold, a fawn who was attacked by a dog and brought in by a member of the public. Marigold has formed a close bond with Sweetpea, another fawn who

was abandoned when a dog chased its mother. Three Tawny owl babies including Tee (named as he was found on a golf course) are on their way to recovery, while the hospital has also been incubating duck eggs found at Gatwick Airport, where their mother had been found dead. Against all the odds, the first chicks hatched on 8 June.

Jane said: ‘There are many wonderful charities, sanctuaries and organisations that care for domesticated animals such as cats and dogs, but most do not take in wild animals. However, we care for them all here. We see lots of hedgehogs, especially at this time of year when they’re more liable to

Several tawny owls are cared for at Rangers Lodge (©AAH/AW)

Ross

and Jane Burrows at Rangers Lodge Wildlife Hospital (© AAH/Alan Wright)

Decision in Principle impacts homebuying

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A DIP, also known as an Agreement in Principle (AIP), is a statement from a mortgage lender indicating how much money they might be willing to lend you. It is based on an initial assessment of your financial situation, including your income, expenses and credit history. While it is not a formal mortgage offer, it provides an indication of your borrowing potential and is normally valid for one to three months.

THINGS

be injured by hedge trimmers, and deer that are often hit by vehicles. There’s a lot of demand as we’re the only wildlife hospital between Leatherhead and Brighton, so we cover not just the Horsham District but also Crawley and surrounding areas.’

‘Last year, we took in about 400 animals and although hedgehogs are our most common visitor, you never know what will come down the driveway. One lady recently brought in Duchess, a beautiful buzzard that hit her windscreen only a few miles away and was injured. We also looked after a grey heron who was

found covered in oil and after a clean and some recovery time, we were able to release him close to where he had been rescued.’

RELEASE ME

The end goal is always to release an animal back into the wild. Over time, Rangers Lodge Wildlife Hospital has adapted its approach so that human dependency is reduced as each animal nears complete rehabilitation. Soft release pens have been built on the fringes of the forest, where foxes in particular can gain confidence in wild surroundings before being released.

One of the main reasons to obtain a DIP is to show sellers and estate agents you’re a serious buyer. In a competitive market, sellers are more likely to entertain offers from buyers who have already taken steps to secure financing. A DIP indicates that you have undergone a preliminary check by a lender and are likely to obtain a mortgage, making you a more attractive prospect compared to those without one.

A DIP helps you understand the amount you can potentially borrow, so you can narrow down your search to homes within your budget. This prevents the disappointment of falling in love with a property beyond your financial reach. By having a clear idea of your borrowing capacity, you can focus on realistic options, making the home-buying process more efficient and less stressful. Properties can receive multiple offers shortly after being listed. Having a DIP in place allows you to act quickly when you find the right home. Since you have already completed the initial steps with a lender, you can make an offer promptly, potentially outpacing other buyers who might still be arranging their finances.

Finally, a DIP is more than just a preliminary step; it’s a strategic tool that enhances your credibility as a buyer, clarifies your budget and accelerates the home-buying process. By securing a DIP before making an offer, you position yourself as a serious, prepared and reliable buyer, increasing your chances of successfully purchasing your dream home. A DIP can be obtained by any mortgage person, not just the agent’s in-house representative. So, engage a mortgage broker who can further streamline the process, providing expert guidance with access to whole of market mortgage options.

Karen Bowden, Trustee, said: ‘The aim is to always release animals into the wild, as we don’t have permanent residents at Rangers Lodge. Sometimes, an animal cannot be released as they have permanent injuries, so we work in partnership with animal sanctuaries, where they can live their lives with care and support. Sometimes, if an animal is too badly hurt or sick, it’s better for them to be put to sleep. That is always a hard decision, but we have to do what’s right for the animal.’

‘During rehabilitation, we gradually reduce our interactions with an animal. We often hand rear babies, fox cubs for example, but after the weaning stages back away and watch from a distance. We still clean their enclosure, provide food and give them medication, if required, but when they’re ready, we move animals outside where they have more space, then introduce them to soft release zones. Jane says that a tame fox is a dead fox, so it’s essential we keep our interactions down to an absolute minimum, as if they approach humans in the wild, they put themselves in grave danger. It’s difficult, as when they’re cubs you want to coo and cuddle them, but for their long-term prospects, it’s better not to.’

‘Wherever possible, we release an animal close to where it was found, as they may have family there. When that’s not possible, we work with partners who can provide a safe place for wildlife, with an example being a little owl that found a new home thanks to our friends at Warnham Local Nature Reserve.’

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FULL HOUSE

Rangers Lodge Wildlife Hospital is located down a narrow lane that heads into St Leonard’s Forest. The house has been in Ross’ family since 1956, when he was a baby and his father was a forest ranger. The wildlife hospital was established after Ross and Jane inherited the house about 20 years ago. For Jane, it was a natural evolution, having cared for animals all of her life.

Jane said: ‘Even when I was a child, I had a shed full of animals. Friends and neighbours used to bring injured animals to me and I’d nurse them back to health and re-release them into the wild. Once, I was in the middle of an exam and a teacher came to get me as a gerbil had hurt its leg and they needed my help!’

‘Throughout my life, I’ve taken in animals and when we moved to Rangers Lodge, we had the space to establish a wildlife hospital. Gradually, people have found out about us and now our entire home is dominated by animals. Our living room is full of hedgehogs, the utility room has injured birds and foxes, and anyone chatting in the kitchen has to deal with the squawking of parrots! We would eventually like to take some of the space back by building a dedicated hospital outside, but that is a long-term goal.’

‘The aim is always to release animals back into the wild.’

FUNDRAISING AIMS

To achieve this, Rangers Lodge has become a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) that makes it easier to apply for grants. However, grants alone are not enough to cover the cost of food, shelter and medical bills, and the hospital relies on the support of individuals and the generosity of other organisations and businesses, including veterinary practices.

Running the lodge also requires support from a devoted team of about 60 volunteers, including Fundraising Coordinator Lisa Clegg. Lisa said: ‘People come in for one day or

Geese at Rangers Lodge

(©AAH/Alan Wright)

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LOXWOOD JOUST BRINGS MEDIEVAL HISTORY TO LIFE KNIGHT TIME

Since the inaugural event in 2012, Loxwood Joust has become increasingly popular and this year will be held over three weekends for the first time. AAH met organisers Maurice and Danny Bacon to discover how the Joust has grown to become the UK’s most immersive medieval festival…

EVERLASTING LOVE

In August, thousands of people will descend on a tranquil meadow near Billingshurst for one of the Horsham District’s most colourful annual events. There is still a lot of work to do. New seating is currently being built around the jousting arena to offer improved viewing for spectators, while a wooden beam has been added to encourage displays of heroism and swordsmanship by rival knights. The Royal Pavilion remains under construction, but with a smattering of luxurious additions, will be ready for Queen Helena’s arrival on 3 August.

This medieval kingdom is far removed from how Maurice Bacon made his name in the music industry. He was only a schoolboy when in 1966,

he became the drummer for a pop band called Soul Survivors. After the band changed its name to Love Affair, they released a cover of Everlasting Love and Maurice celebrated his 16th birthday with the song at Number 1 in the charts.

Love Affair enjoyed three more Top 10 hits, including Bringing on Back the Good Times, before calling it a day. Maurice then joined prog-rock band Morgan before embarking on a long career in various areas of the music industry including publishing, production and recording. He found particular success in management, guiding Kula Shaker for 14 years and the Mediaeval Baebes for 25 year. It was through his involvement with the latter, an award-winning all-female vocal ensemble, that would inspire the idea for the Joust.

Maurice said: ‘The Mediaeval Baebes sang at several renaissance festivals in America, where Tudor villages were recreated and tens of thousands of people attended. They were wonderful events and I searched for something similar in the UK but couldn’t find anything of the same scale, so decided to create one myself.’

The Loxwood Joust has become the UK’s leading medieval festival

Initially, we hired Berkeley Castle in Gloucestershire. Although the primary aim was to showcase the Mediaeval Baebes, the event included jousting and battle re-enactments too, and it turned out to be more popular than we expected, with 7,000 people attending.’

‘We decided to hold the event annually, attracting 24,000 people over two weekends at its peak, but then in 2007, extensive flooding in Gloucestershire had a devastating impact on the Joust. It left me thinking that the best option would be to buy some land and host the event ourselves. We needed about 25-acres that was accessible from a main road and with a good catchment area. It took three years, but eventually we found this incredible 28-acre site in Loxwood. Just walking through the fields and woodlands gives you a magical feeling and when the sun shines through the canopy, it’s simply beautiful, so we knew it was the perfect location.’

‘The first Loxwood Joust was held in 2012 and it has grown ever since. Although we call it a Joust, it’s much more than that and is now the most immersive medieval festival in the country. We also have battle re-enactments, a Children’s Kingdom and a Living History Village, with interactive activities including chain mail making and a sword school. From the moment they park the car, families enter a medieval world and immerse themselves in the Kingdom of Loxwood, and that is unique.’

HARDY AS NAILS

Having grown from one weekend to two, this year’s Joust will be held over three weekends for the first time. As well as the return of favourites including falconry displays and medieval torture shows, there will be some great live music on the Woodland Stage. The Mediaeval Baebes play the first weekend, with pagan folk band Trobar de Morte taking to the stage on the second and third. Camping is available on the third weekend (again for the first time) with added evening entertainment including live comedy on Friday 16 and music from Captain’s Beard on Saturday 17 August.

Danny Bacon, who organises the event with dad Maurice, said: ‘The immersive experiences are a huge part of what makes the Loxwood Joust special. Visitors can make their own copper bowl or a bangle in the blacksmith’s forge, or learn the craft of chain mail making. We also have a sword school, new archery and axe-throwing contests, as well as medieval handfasting and friendship ceremonies. So, there really is something for everyone.’

‘Last year, we attracted international media attention when the actor Tom Hardy attended the Joust. He had joined Invicta, a Battle Heritage team that engages in full contact battles. They offer a very different spectacle to our battle re-enactments and this year we’ll be hosting a round of a Battle Heritage tournament on the third weekend.’

Our appropriately named on-site café and bar with its thoughtfully created Breakfast and Seasonal Menus offers a selection of hot and cold options for your indulgence

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Impressive displays of swordsmanship at Loxwood Joust

Collecting heads of the dead at the Joust

ROYAL APPOINTMENT

Each year, the organisers create a storyline to add to the drama, with knights and nobility, jousters and jesters, witches and wandering minstrels, torturers and sorcerers and many others all playing a part. As part of an evolving plot between rival jousting teams, this year’s event includes added involvement from various sets of jousting fans, with the Loxwood Boars-supporting Baconites set to clash with fans of the Horsham Hornets. At the heart of most of these narratives is the Queen of Loxwood, and visitors can join her at the Royal Banquet to experience medievalinspired dining.

Paul Flannery, Artistic Director, is responsible for writing the plots and for recruiting actors for the

Joust. He said: ‘Lady Helena was the rightful heir to the throne but she was forced into exile by the despicable Lord Villain. Following last year’s rebellion, which included many children from the audience building a protective shield around her, the Queen has assumed her rightful place on the throne. We’re always thinking of ways to engage children and encourage them to discover medieval history, so we set quests that take them around the site, with rewards for completing the trails. Adults enjoy puzzles and games too, so we offer more complex trails for them!’

‘One of the joys of the Joust is that everyone follows the same narrative. Whether you talk to the Queen, the Bards or the wandering minstrels, all the colourful characters that exist in the Kingdom of Loxwood play along and this creates a

magical aura. Although we don’t accurately recreate what happened in 15th century Loxwood, it’s a wonderful event that gives people a taste of what life was like 500 years ago while also escaping reality for a day!’

WORDS: Ben Morris

PHOTOS: Alan Wright/Loxwood Joust

Further information: Loxwood Joust is held on the 3 – 4, 10 – 11 and 17 – 18 August. Tickets are on sale and workshops, camping, parking and banqueting experiences must be booked in advance from loxwoodjoust.co.uk

Maurice Bacon, Founder of Loxwood Joust (©AAH/Alan Wright)

Paul Flannery, Artistic Director (©AAH/Alan Wright)

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FRESH FEELING

STEYNING FARMERS MARKET CELEBRATES 25TH YEAR

Steyning Farmers Market celebrated its 25th anniversary at Steyning High Street Car Park on Saturday 1 June.

The first market was held in June 1999, organised by a group of local farmers led by Derek and Vicki Crush, with support from the Steyning Business Chamber. From humble beginnings with just a handful of stalls, mostly small producers based on the Wiston estate, the market now attracts over 35 producers a month, selling a wide range of products including fruit and vegetables, bread, tea, spirits and ales, dog treats, plants and flowers, wood carvings and local game.

Derek said: ‘We were growing produce on our farm in Ashurst and were mostly selling wholesale to shops and Brighton Market. We thought we would do better by selling directly to the public instead. As a member of the local business chamber, I spoke to other producers interested in establishing a market, before approaching Horsham District Council. The Council was keen to support us as the idea was that the market would encourage people into town and benefit High Street businesses too. With so much out-of-town shopping available these days, you need things in place to attract people to small towns and that’s what we’ve managed to achieve.’

‘When you grow fresh produce, you need somewhere to sell every day of the week, so we have helped establish other markets in Dorking, Arundel, Chichester and Shoreham. Steyning has been one of the most successful and several of the stallholders that were here 25 years ago are still on the market today.’

SURVIVING COVID

After Vicki’s passing eight years ago, Derek handed over the reins to daughter, Louise. Lou has continued to run the market every month in the car park, occasionally moving indoors to the Steyning Centre when the weather is bad. The market was even able to carry on through the pandemic, with producers listing items

Derek Crush and daughter Lou, who now runs Steyning Farmers Market (©AAH/Alan Wright)

Jaju Beans and Leaves (©AAH/AW) Steyning Market (©AAH/AW) Jacqui Marshall, Chanctonbury Game (©AAH)

online for customers to place orders for collection. This further cemented its reputation in the community, says stallholder Jane Ford.

Jane (pictured on page 41) owns Jaju Beans and Leaves, tea and coffee specialists based in Saltdean. She said: ‘I used to do lots of different markets and events, but now cherry-pick my favourites and Steyning is among them. I have been coming for eight years and am fortunate to have many loyal customers. I have noticed a positive change in recent years too. During lockdown, everyone pulled together to make the market work. People who had never been

to a local market before suddenly relied on them as shops were shut or lacked stock. Since then, demand for some local markets has fallen away, yet Steyning has maintained many of those new customers and become one of the best in the county.’

from estates on the South Downs, including pheasant, partridge, mallard and venison. Founded by Anthony Skeet, the business also sells to London markets, but has many regular customers in Steyning.

‘Steyning has become one of the best markets in Sussex.’

Other regulars include Albion House Bakery, based in Eastbourne, selling its award-winning breads and pastries. Chanctonbury Game, now based in Ashington, has been a mainstay throughout the market’s history, selling free range, freshly-shot game

Another family-run business at the market is Sussex Roses, based in West Chiltington. Established in 1996, founders Paul and Cathy Streeter sell a wide range of roses and bouquets, while also catering for weddings, funerals and other occasions.

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Our shop has a full range of garden, ground care and estate equipment from brands including Husqvarna and Stiga. Machines are correctly assembled, inspected and come with a manufacturer’s warranty. Our workshops are run by an experienced team, keeping machinery in top condition.

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Trevor Heathfield of Albion House Bakery (©AAH/Alan Wright)

Jess and Cathy of Sussex Roses (©AAH/AW)

Cathy said: ‘We used to be cut-rose specialists, but now have more varieties so we make up more mixed bouquets. We have about 10,000 rose bushes and grow 14 varieties on our farm, including Jacaranda, a scented rose with a lovely cerise pink colour and wonderful scent. We’ve been part of Steyning Market for about 20 years and love it as people come out to spend and support local businesses. There is a real sense of community among the stallholders too. Our daughter Jess was only eight when we first joined the market has grown up with a whole family of traders around her.’

Offering a very different range of plants are brothers John and Brian Court from Lodge Hill Farm, West Dean. Having run a dairy for many years, the farm diversified and now focuses on arable, with a nursery specialising in perennial plants too. They sell at farmers’ markets and Steyning is one of their most successful, says John. ‘We find county markets in places like Steyning, Petersfield and Arundel are better for us than those in larger towns like Winchester, Chichester and Horsham. More of those who visit the markets are keen gardeners and we find people tend not to go to bigger town centres to buy plants. They go for a coffee instead!’

Home Decorating

Market regulars John and Brian Court of Lodge Hill Farm (©AAH/Alan Wright)

BEER TODAY, SCONE TOMORROW

Many of the traders on the market are based in Steyning. The Adur Brewery was launched in 2008 and sold a few years later to the Adur Valley Co-operative. Today, a handful of ale enthusiasts including the jester-hatted Graham Timmins enjoy making real ales at the brewery.

Graham said: ‘Markets are a good way of reaching new customers and talking to them about traditional methods of brewing. We currently make six beers and the market means people can try before they buy. Our bestsellers include Ropetackle Gold, a light, refreshing golden ale, and Chillinger Gold, which has a taste and aroma of root ginger. We brew Steyning Special too, a strong bitter that harks back to the Edwardian era. We do find people appreciate having a local brewer making beers in time-honoured fashion.’

Kim Cook is a familiar face to many, having owned Steyning Tea Rooms for 10 years until its closure in 2022. Kim has since established The Steyning Sconery, building a business around one of the most popular items at the tea rooms. She said: ‘I make several varieties including plain, sultana and rhubarb, as well as gluten-free and vegan scones.’

‘We’ve been on the market two years and have regulars who come every month to buy their favourite scones. Rhubarb is our bestseller, although it’s rare I leave with any scones left in the baskets. I also sell online and send the

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Graham Timmins of Adur Brewery (©AAH/Alan Wright)

scones all over the country. However, I love Steyning Farmers Market as there’s a nice atmosphere and it gives us a chance to talk to customers.’

RANGING BENEFITS

For the 25th anniversary, a few special events were held, including a tombola, with proceeds going to Steyning Area First Responders. Visitors could also try out a juicing bicycle, sampling cocktails and juices made solely from produce available at the market. However, it’s mostly the familiarity that ensures people keep returning, says Lou Crush.

‘We have always focused on stalls that make and sell their own produce,’ she said. ‘We have broadened the market to offer Spanish and Sicilian delicatessens, bringing produce that can’t be grown locally, but mostly it’s local. We try to avoid duplication too, as space is limited and we want every stallholder to have a chance of making a good living. You can’t do that if you have 10 stalls selling cakes and you’re not offering variety to customers then either. While we have many loyal stallholders, we’re always on the lookout for something new and most months we welcome an artisan craft stall to add a different element.’

‘Another reason why the market has been so successful is that it has benefited the High Street too. Steyning is much busier on market days and people explore the shops too. As it’s only once a month, some traders sell produce at local shops throughout the month, so the market boosts the local economy in many ways, just as mum and dad hoped it would when they first established it all those years ago.’

WORDS: Ben Morris

PHOTOS: Alan Wright

Further information:

Steyning Farmers Market is held in the High Street Car Park on the first Saturday of each month, 9am – 1pm.

Steyning Farmers Market

Paws Dog Treats

Kim Cook, The Steyning Sconery (©AAH/Alan Wright)

SPARKLING

Leonardslee launched its eagerly-awaited range of English sparkling wines on 8 June.

Penny Streeter OBE bought the historic, grade I listed Leonardslee Lakes & Gardens in Lower Beeding in 2016, as part of her vision to create a Sussex wine estate. The first vines were planted the following year, with Chardonnay (60%), Pinot Noir (30%), Pinot Meunier (10%) grapes alongside a trial planting of Pinotage, the first of its kind in the UK.

Using a traditional method of sparkling wine production (with the second fermentation taking place in the bottle, like Champagne) the estate has launched three wines – Blanc de Blancs, Brut Reserve and Brut Rosé –each made using grapes grown on 38-acres of vineyards on the Streeter family’s Sussex estate. Penny was joined by son Adam Streeter, General Manager at Leonardslee, in welcoming guests from the wine, media and hospitality industries for a series of tasting events in June, several days before bottles

Penny Streeter and son Adam at Leonardslee (© James Ratchford)

FORM

hit the shelves. During one of the events, attended by AAH, Adam said: ‘Now we’re finally able to enjoy the fruits of our labour, it feels like the perfect moment to reflect on our journey as a family. If you had told us years ago that one day we would be here at Leonardslee, launching an English sparkling wine that could potentially rival Champagne, you would have been laughed out the room!’

‘Back then, I was expecting to take over our family business, Street Beats Disco, where I worked as a DJ at children’s parties. That’s not how things turned out though, and that’s mostly down to the women in my family, particularly my remarkable mother and grandmother, who have been the driving force behind everything we’ve achieved. They tried many things and when they failed, they got up and tried again. There have

been difficult times along the way, but the fact they’ve created all of this is absolutely no fluke.’

AFRICAN ODYSSEY

The Streeters are no longer novices in the wine world, having enjoyed phenomenal success at Benguela Cove Wine Estate in South Africa. Benguela Cove has established a reputation as a leading wine and eco-tourism destination, producing award-winning wines under head winemaker Johann Fourie.

When Penny took ownership of Benguela Cove in 2013, Johann was one of several winemakers that were buying grapes from the estate in order to produce incredible wine of their own. Realising the potential of the 70-hectare estate, Penny set about establishing Benguela Cove as a leading estate in its own right. With

The Race to Secure Rentals

Intense competition amongst tenants is driving a rapid race to secure a tenancy as properties are marketed for less time.

Tenants’ struggles

Two-bedroom rental properties are now listed on Zoopla for an average of just 25 days, which is approximately 10 days shorter than the pre-pandemic norm.* Despite setting up property alerts on Rightmove, prospective tenants frequently miss out on viewings, particularly when the only available slots are during working hours. For those who do secure a viewing, the intense demand and limited supply of rental properties frequently force them to make a snap decision on whether to be put forward as a perspective tenant.

Looking forward

The situation is unlikely to change anytime soon due to a limited number of homes entering the market. A survey by the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) found that 31% of its members plan to reduce the number of properties they rent out, while only 9% intend to expand their rental offerings. It is in no surprise increased investment is necessary to make more homes available for rent. In positive news, the association also suggested that guarantor agreements could be beneficial for tenants who might otherwise find it difficult to secure rental accommodation.

How tenants can be ready to move

There are several ways to help a tenant secure a rental property. Listed below are a few suggestions:

1. Start looking early and plan ahead

2. Register with a selection of local agents

3. Know your affordability

4. Have your deposit amount ready (usually calculated as 5 weeks' rent)

5. Keep an eye on agents’ websites and social media as sometimes they advertise there before Rightmove.

* Reported by estate agency Savills

Megan Taylor

Johann leading its winemaking operation, she created a tourist attraction with a vineyard safari, bars and restaurants, hotels and villas and even a pirate-themed mini golf course. In 2023, Benguela Cove was named among the world’s top 100 vineyards, cementing its place on the global winemaking map.

With the South African venture well and truly established, Penny turned her attention to England. She said: ‘Building a winery and having a good product is only half the battle; getting it out in the marketplace is just as important. To help achieve this, we looked to England to become a global brand. We could see an emerging market for English wines, yet most producers were only selling their bottles in local farm shops. It was a million miles away from the wine experiences offered in South Africa, so we began looking for locations in the south of England where we could offer a different kind of destination. We needed somewhere that not only had potential for vines, but also a car park and restaurant to help us create a world-class experience.’

SECRET GARDEN

That led Penny to buy Mannings Heath Golf Club in 2016. The following year, the Streeters added Leonardslee to their Sussex portfolio, featuring what has been described as ‘the finest woodland gardens in England’. The 240-acre estate was established by Sir Edmund Loder, the great Victorian plant collector, but had been closed to the public for a decade by the time the doors re-opened in 2019.

Barry Anderson during grape-picking season

Since then, the Michelin-starred Interlude Restaurant has opened, as has a hotel within Leonardslee House.

‘The concept of a blue swallow resonated with Penny.’

Mannings Heath now includes the 18-hole, competition level Waterfall course and the 9-hole Kingfisher course, while the Vineyard Hotel is key to its food and drink experiences. It was on part of the Kingfisher course (previously 18-holes), where the first vines were planted, before further sites were identified at Leonardslee. Winemaker Johann recalls: ‘I was previously on a panel of wine experts that evaluated English sparkling wines, and I was intrigued by their evolution and quality. In blind tasting, they often outperform Champagne, so for me, it was an exciting opportunity to travel to England and be a part of Penny and her family’s journey. We did a great deal of research, tasting wines from different regions and identifying locations with the ideal climate to make wine. One part of the Kingfisher course ticked every box and so what had been a fairway with bunkers became a vineyard in 2017.’

‘Lots of wine estates claim their product is unique by highlighting the chalk or granite content of the soil. Well, what we have in our soil is golf balls! On the first day, we collected them in baskets, but soon gave up as there were too many! We faced climate challenges too, as the weather is very different to that of South Africa, while the vines were targeted by deer and rabbits too. But we have overcome these issues and now have 38-acres of vines, comprising Chardonnay, Pinot Meunier, Pinot Noir and Pinotage.’

‘We decided against buying in grapes from other estates and launching a Leonardslee brand quickly, as it didn’t fit in with our approach to sustainability. Whatever is poured into the glass should take you back to its origins, so everything in our bottles is made from fruit grown and nurtured on our own vineyards. We work with nature, not against it, always looking at ways to reduce mechanisation and fertilise naturally.’

BLANC CHECK

The first Leonardslee wines are Blanc de Blancs, Brut Rose and Brut Rose. Blanc de Blancs is made with 100% Chardonnay grapes. In tasting, it has fruity aromas on the nose with hints of lime, toasted bread and hazelnut. The palate is creamy and textured, with explosive acidity and a long, elegant finish.

While conditions were very kind in 2020, the next year was more challenging and the winemakers had to adapt to get the best from the grapes. The Brut Reserve 2021 Vintage (70% Chardonnay, 20% Pinot Noir and 10% Pinot Meunier) features bright aromas of green apple and subtle berries, complemented by yeasty and brioche notes. The lively acidity is wellbalanced with a tangy finish and a fresh floral aftertaste. Brut Rose 2021 Vintage comprises 56% Chardonnay, 31% Pinot Noir, 3% Pinot Meunier and 10% Pinotage. It has aromas of red berries, Turkish Delight and pomegranate with undertones of violets on the nose, with an aftertaste of strawberry, nougat and grapefruit.

The bottles’ distinctive branding tells the unique story of the Streeter family. Barry Anderson, Managing Director at Mannings Heath Golf & Wine Estate, said: ‘We engaged with Studio Parr and one of the concepts created included a swallow. This resonated with Penny, as the bird’s migration represents her own journey between South Africa and England. So, the label has a swallow with four smaller swallows to represent her children, with flight lines symbolising the South Downs. The beautiful shades of blue and copper used on the label are lifted directly from the blue swallow too.’

For Penny, the release of the first Leonardslee wines marks the start of an exciting new chapter. She said: ‘I’m just a normal person who set out to try and provide for her family. That was all I ever wanted to do. But it has been a remarkable journey and for it to culminate here, at the beautiful gardens of Leonardslee, looking out across the vineyards as we taste our wine for the first time, is a very special moment for us.’

WORDS: Ben Morris

Further information: To buy wine or join the Wine Club, visit leonardsleegardens.co.uk/the-vineyard

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A NERVE STRIKE A NERVE

Horsham Nerve Pain Practice uses a method of electrotherapy to offer pain relief for a wide range of neuropathic conditions. AAH visited the clinic to meet founder Keith Atkinson and nerve pain practitioner Leigh Robins…

Keith, when was Horsham Nerve Pain Practice founded?

I established the practice in 2011. Prior to that I ran MF Medical Ltd, supplying the NHS with ultrasound, regional anaesthesia and pain management equipment and hosting workshops to show health care professionals how to use it. I had the idea of offering such services to individual clients and after gaining qualifications in electrotherapy, established the first private practice in the UK offering this specialised nerve-related treatment.

Why focus on nerve pain?

It is a problem for so many people, with about a third of all GP appointments linked to neuropathic pain. Neuropathic pain occurs when a health condition affects the nerves

relaying messages through the spinal cord and peripheral nervous system to the brain. It differs from the autonomic nervous system, which encompasses nerves that run from the brain to organs, including the heart and lungs. People with peripheral nerve pain often suffer for long periods of time, even after being prescribed with medication.

How is neuropathic pain usually treated?

Typically, people will be prescribed strong medications and painkillers such as Tramadol, Amitriptyline or Gabapentin to ease pain. As a next step, the patient may be sent to a pain clinic at a hospital and undergo physiotherapy. Physiotherapy and osteopathy can help people with musculoskeletal pain affecting bones, joints, ligaments and muscles. However, it’s not always a solution for those with a pinched nerve causing severe pain, numbness or weakness. A lot of people come to us having been through this system, with some also having been given steroid injections. At that point, they may see us as the last chance saloon.

neuropathic pain, with a ‘dramatic reduction of pain’ noted in 19 cases. It is a fast acting and extremely effective treatment for certain clients. It is certainly highly effective in treating sciatica, where symptoms can include shooting pains in your lower back or buttock, running down the back of your leg, often to your feet and toes. I would consider the treatment for any peripheral nerve pain. I’ve treated successfully conditions like trigeminal neuralgia, post herpetic pain and even various types of foot pain. We also find it helps with conditions like Bell’s palsy, a temporary or partial paralysis of the face.

Why isn’t it widely used on the NHS?

of the standard protocols advocated by hospital Trusts. There are certain NHS pain clinics using the technique and to the best of my knowledge Aldershot pain clinic were major promoters of the treatment. As a private clinic, our treatments are in demand and we now have a second therapist, Leigh Robins.

‘The Stimpod is highly effective in treating Sciatica.’

Leigh, do you have a background in healthcare?

NERVE

How do you treat pain?

We use a neuromodulation device called the Stimpod NMS 460, a machine licensed in Europe for the relief of chronic neuropathic pain. It uses pulsed radio waves to activate the motor response in the nerves and decrease pain. The Stimpod probe sends current five inches into the body, which is what you need to treat deep nerves such as the sciatic nerve. It transmits two-waves, with the first being a square wave which acts as a blocking mechanism to prevent pain passing through the nerve. In layman’s terms, we are essentially rebooting the nervous system, with a high frequency curved wave helping to heal the nerve and make the process more comfortable.

How successful is the treatment?

There have been various studies conducted around the world. One clinical test was done by the Pain Management Centre at Guys & St Thomas’ Hospitals in London. External stimulation was applied to 35 eligible patients complaining of peripheral

Personally, I would like to see neuromodulation devices being used during the early stage of patient care, as it’s relatively inexpensive. The consultant who first carried out the study at St Thomas’ called it a ‘breakthrough in chronic neuropathic pain’. However, it is currently outside

I spent 25 years in nursing, including 20 years working for the NHS. As well as being a midwife at the Princess Royal in Haywards Heath and East Surrey at Redhill, I spent several years working in Brisbane, Australia. Like many of my clients, I had a hip replacement and went through the long process of NHS treatments, with eight months between seeing a GP to surgery. The longer it takes, the more problems manifest and we see clients who have reached the point where even walking a short distance is too painful. Our most common treatment is for sciatic pain, which

Osteopathy, Complementary & Alternative

Meadows Wellbeing opened in June 2020 in the heart of Billingshurst and has grown rapidly under the thoughtful direction of founder, Jon Meadows. Jon devised the wellbeing centre to fulfil a dream of providing a full range of complementary and alternative therapies to support patients at his flourishing Osteopathy practice, which many locals will remember as Billingshurst Osteopaths.

Jon, who has 30 years’ experience as an Osteopath and lives in Horsham, said: ‘Often, I feel that my patients would also benefit from the care of a therapist with different skills to mine, and this inspired me to develop Meadows Wellbeing, encompassing a comprehensive range of complementary and alternative therapies and treatments to support the overall wellbeing and health of my patients.’

The five-strong Osteopathic team provide Structural and Cranial Osteopathy, treating conditions including back and neck pain, joint pain, trapped nerves, headaches, sports injuries, pain associated with arthritis, as well as cranial treatment for newborn babies. There is also a dedicated Mental Health Support team providing Counselling, Psychotherapy, CBT and Hypnotherapy.

Other treatments include Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine, Sports Injury, Rehabilitation and Sports Massage/Soft Tissue Therapy. Meadows Wellbeing also offers a Foot Health Clinic, Reflexology, Homeopathy, Reiki, Aromatherapy, Swedish/Holistic and Pregnancy Massage. There is also Health Coaching, Blood Flow Restriction Training, Medical Herbalism, Indian Head Massage, Hot Stone Massage, Luxury Facials and Ear Wax Removal.

is particularly debilitating and the success rate with this treatment is very high. We help them get their lifestyle back and it’s rewarding when people who were previously housebound are again able to do the things they love, such as walk along the Downs.

Did you have to undergo specific training? To gain accreditation, I completed a detailed online course on the nervous system and treatments using external neuromodulation. I then shadowed Keith across the full range of conditions before I gained certification to use the neuromodulation device. Combined with 20 years’ medical experience, I’m now fully qualified and confident to deal with any nerve condition. Often, clients come to us without great expectations, as they think they’re beyond help. Some have consulted medical practitioners and with facial pain such as trigeminal neuralgia or post shingles pain, may have even considered major dentistry in a bid to solve their problem. About 70% of our clients leave completely pain-free and another 10% feel some improvement. However, what we offer doesn’t work for everyone and we don’t promise miracles.

What reassurances do you offer, Keith? If we have not made sufficient progress after three sessions, we stop. People are reassured by that, as it shows we’re not doing this to give false hope. In most cases, people notice a difference after their first session and some see pain disappear immediately, but if there is no improvement after three sessions, we draw a line. It’s always interesting to find out how long pain stays away for, as that varies. One of my

first clients, who lives in Steyning, remains pain free more than a decade later. One client with trigeminal neuralgia, which gave her severe facial pain, had become quite reclusive because of her symptoms, but had a breakthrough after just two sessions.

What about the future?

Currently, we’re the only private practice offering this focused treatment and due to word of mouth, we’ve had clients travelling from as far as Scotland and Wales. This is not ideal, so I’m working on setting up similar units in other parts of the country, with people

trained to the same high standards as Leigh before they can gain accreditation. I’m hoping to have the first few units up and running before the end of the year. So, in due course, I’m hoping clients will be able to find a nerve pain practice closer to where they live.

WORDS: Ben Morris

PHOTOS: Alan Wright

Further information: Call the practice on (01403) 256332 or visit horshampainrelief.co.uk

Brighton Road Lower Beeding RH13 6NQ

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START-UP OFFERS SELECTION BOX FOR VEGAN MARKET

Catherine’s Originals is a start-up that offers a classic chocolate selection box for vegans. Ambitious owners Catherine Dodd and Jamie Miller have established their own factory near Arundel, but their dream of making plant-based chocolates has been far from plain sailing, as AAH discovered…

Catherine, where did this idea come from?

It came about after a difficult couple of teenage years. Both my parents have been successful in business and always inspired me to achieve great things, but I never excelled academically and had to work very hard for good grades. During my GCSEs, I was hospitalised with symptoms relating to stress, which was tough for a 16-year-old. I decided against college and my parents supported me, as always. However, I spent the next two years in a downward spiral, isolating myself from friends and consigning myself to my room.

One Christmas, all the family came round to our house, yet I had a feeling of not wanting to enjoy myself. Like many people, we always have tubs of Roses and Quality Street at Christmas for everyone to share. I‘ve been vegan since I was 12, so have missed out on that part of Christmas. However, that was what inspired me to create the world’s first vegan selection box. I was going through a dark time, yet it led to a life-changing decision.

What was the first step?

I looked to see if there was anything else like it already on the market. Plenty of people were making vegan chocolates, but they were mostly luxurious, artisan products at a higher price point. I wanted to offer a classic selection box with familiar flavours at an affordable price. So, that’s what I set my mind to. I studied the shapes and sizes of chocolates in Quality Street and Roses,

as well as the wrapping, branding and packaging, then started thinking about the name. My initial idea was Originals, but my dad and my boyfriend Jamie convinced me to adopt my name. We registered the business in April 2021 and spent the next six months searching for a chocolatier to help us make the products.

Jamie, when did you become involved? I met Catherine while I was still at university. Catherine was aiming to sell her first selection boxes at Brighton Christmas Market and I helped her to find a chocolatier in Glastonbury who could teach us about production and guide us through the first batch. Catherine bought all the ingredients, but days before we were due to go, the chocolatier cancelled our visit! We had no contingency plan and didn’t know what to do next. Fortunately, Catherine contacted Vantage House, a catering

Catherine

equipment specialist based in Henfield. They had a kitchen used for machine testing and let us use it for a few weeks, recognising we were a start-up and needed help. We had no idea what to do, yet through trial and error we made 30,000 chocolates in three weeks, entirely by hand. Then all we had to do was wrap them!

‘I wanted to create a selection box for vegans like me.’

Why was wrapping them important, Catherine? Everyone advised us against wrapping each individual chocolate, as it’s complicated. But I was stubborn, as my dream was to create a selection box like Quality Street with coloured wrappers. So, every night, I would take home a batch of about 3000 chocolates and stay up until the early hours with my mum, wrapping each one by hand. We did that for 12 straight days until we had 30,000 chocolates, enough for 800 boxes. We set up a stall at Brighton Christmas Market for three days and although it rained constantly, we sold out, which gave us huge encouragement.

What are your different flavours?

We started with 10 chocolates but soon dropped toffee, leaving nine. Bite Me Bails is a soft-centred caramel, Snap Me is made with desiccated coconut and Popped Cherry is our take on a soft-centred strawberry. We have a heart-shaped coffee truffle called Dangerously in Love, as well as Tease Me (honeycomb), Milky O’s (hazelnut praline) and The Cookie Muncher (cookies and cream). Heart Breaker has an orange and almond flavour and is named after a boy who broke my heart when I was a teenager, as he hated orange chocolate! Baby I’m Blue is totally original, with flavours of lavender and chamomile. They’re all different shapes so that vegans can experience the same excitement as everyone else at Christmas. All our ingredients are sustainably-sourced, backed by organisations including Fair Trade International and Cocoa Horizons, with the packaging recyclable too. We hope we can help set new standards in the industry by placing more importance on sustainability.

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Did you resolve your production issues?

During 2022, we sold selection boxes at farmers’ markets and set a target of making 20,000 boxes for Christmas. The greatest problems we have encountered relate to wrapping. Leading brands have modern machinery for each individual chocolate and they work quickly and consistently. We don’t have such machines and had no idea how hard it would be to find one that could wrap nine different chocolates. Failing to research this properly was the biggest single mistake we have made. We contacted factories across the UK but none could meet our demands. So, after making chocolates for Christmas 2022, we had no choice but to call on family once again and hand wrap every single one. It was at that point we realised that we needed our own factory if we were going to succeed in the long term. Then Jamie heard about an award that transformed our fortunes...

What was this award, Jamie?

To earn extra money during my studies, I worked for Deliveroo. During a delivery round in Horsham, where I live, I received an email about The Big Pitch, a Dragons’ Den style competition in which riders pitch a business idea to a panel of experts. So, I filled in an application about Catherine’s Originals. We filmed a video presentation which helped us reach the final, then cycled to Deliveroo’s headquarters in London to make our pitch to a panel including directors of well-known brands. We were amazed when we were awarded £25,000. The timing couldn’t have been better, as we had endured a run of bad luck.

Wright)

Symmons

How has the brand grown since then?

In 2023, we put together a plan for the factory and reached out to potential investors. We found a small industrial estate in Walberton that was ideal for the factory and did most of the renovation work ourselves, with help from Catherine’s brother, William. We had further support from grants and schemes including Low Carbon Across the South East (LoCASE) that allowed us to buy new machinery. We needed training so that we could operate the machines, as we still had only 20 days of chocolate-making experience at that time. However, we still had to find a good wrapping machine. Scott Symmons became our first employee as we increased production, confident that we could find a wrapping machine somewhere. One manufacturer in America quoted us £1m, but eventually we negotiated a good price for a second-hand machine that we could just about afford. We found an engineer who adapted it to suit our needs and although it isn’t perfect, he has done a very good job.

It must have been stressful, Catherine?

It was, as investors were beginning to doubt that we could achieve our sales targets. We had launched a website too and announced that selection boxes would be ready by 1 December, but as the day drew closer, we were not ready. But we pulled it off, even if two of the nine chocolates were too complex for our wrapping machine and went into the selection box unwrapped. By mid-November, I was selling at Winchester Christmas Market every day, while Jamie and Scott were in the factory shipping the online orders. We made 900,000 chocolates in two months and sold out, which was incredible.

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Where did the extra demand come from?

Winchester market was great, but many more sales came through the website. A vegan influencer bought a box and posted about it on a vegan Facebook group with about 100,000 members. Suddenly, orders were coming in every few seconds. Those are the moments when all the hard work is worthwhile. It was a reminder too that I was not the only one longing for a dairy-free selection box at Christmas!

You’ve now added another product?

Our Wonky Buttons are partly inspired by Cadbury’s Dairy Milk Buttons, as we wanted to offer a grab bag at a lower price. The bags have a mix of white and milk chocolate with caramel and cherry fillings. The buttons are imperfect in that they’re not quite circular, so they’re a unique product. We made a limited run and the bags sold out within two weeks.

What are your ambitions for the business?

Our selection box is a work-in-progress and we’re continually adjusting the production process. Eventually I would love for Catherine’s Originals to become more than just a chocolate company. Businesses like Bournville and Cadbury’s helped to shape the community around them and that’s something I’d love to replicate with my values, which focus on the environment. Obviously, we’re at the beginning of our journey but in my mind, Catherine’s Original s will be so much more than chocolate; it could encompass restaurants, hotels and even a farm for rescued animals, reflecting my passion for nature. Whether or not any of that’s possible, only time will tell!

WORDS: Ben Morris

PHOTOS: Alan Wright

Further information:

To order visit catherinesoriginals.com catherinesoriginals

FLASH MOB

HORSHAM PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY CELEBRATES 75 YEARS

Horsham Photographic Society is celebrating its 75th anniversary in 2024. Despite the recent loss of lifetime president Roger Baker, the society continues to thrive in the digital age. Here, we look back at the society’s history, accompanied by members’ photos from a recent inter-club competition…

FIRST EXPOSURE

A photography club known as the Horsham and District Camera Club has been active in town since at least 1923. The club held a competition in which winners were awarded a silver trophy and in 1964, this trophy was rediscovered and donated to Horsham Photographic Society. It is still presented annually to the winner of the Print of the Year competition. It is not known for how long the original club survived, but Horsham Photographic Society held its inaugural meeting at the Town Hall on 5 October 1949. The first chairman was P. G Mirfield ARPS and there were about 30 members from many walks of life, although photography was an expensive hobby at the time.

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By 1950, there were 37 members, paying an annual subscription of 10 shillings, with meetings held in Albion Hall. Among the early members were businessmen who could afford luxury Leica cameras. Medium format cameras such as the Rolleiflex 120, using 2¼ inch square negatives which gave only 12 photographs per film, were also popular. Talks were given on flashlight photography, photographic chemistry and other techniques, with self-portrait and print competitions held. The following year, members photographed Horsham and an album with more than 150 prints was presented to the town; this now resides in Horsham Museum. In 1953, Roger Baker joined as a teenager, paying a junior subscription of 7/6d (37.5p). Almost 60 years later, he would play an important role in updating the 1951 photographs.

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‘Misty Morning’ by Horsham Photographic Society member John Pitty

SPLASH OF COLOUR

In the early 1960s, some members had cine cameras and created their own movies. These included The Music is Murder (1962) and Migraine’s Elusive Case (1963), filmed in Horsham Park, the local police station and Gatwick Airport. These were shown to the public in the Co-operative Hall, but have since been lost. The society was named as the top photographic society in West Sussex by the West Sussex County Times and by 1964, membership had jumped to 48 members. They were mostly men, so the club offered half price subscription to encourage more women.

‘The cost of processing a film equated to a week’s wages.’

In 1968, the society protested to the local MP and the Chancellor of the Exchequer about a 50% purchase tax levy on photographic equipment and materials. The same year saw some members beginning to work with colour prints, which was a more expensive process and gave less reliable results than colour transparencies. Home processing of colour prints from negatives was difficult and even more expensive than commercial prints. It is not unsurprising that black and white remained popular, but even so the cost of processing a film of black and white prints equated to almost a week’s wages for a labourer.

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‘Mating Terns’ pictured by Anne Bathie

PHOTO FLOURISH

For reasons unknown, the society’s Silver Jubilee was celebrated a year early in 1973 with an exhibition called Phototex 73. This was held in the Causeway Barn and was opened by Victor Blackman, a top Fleet Street photographer.

The 1980s saw another substantial increase in membership as photography became more affordable and sub-groups were established for natural history and portraiture. In 1988, an audio-visual group was set up, creating short film stories using two projectors to show slides set to suitable music. The society continued to flourish as it approached the millennium as it adapted from the dark room to digital.

In 2009, Roger Baker was chairman as the society celebrated its Diamond Jubilee with an exhibition at Horsham Museum. It also held a competition for local schools and an open competition that attracted many entrants. Roger was awarded a Life Presidency when he retired as chairman at the end of 2009, and he would continue to celebrate the society’s success for many years to come.

MOBILE NETWORK

Today, the society has as many women members as men. The sub-groups no longer exist and are incorporated into the main group, which has a combination of competitions and speakers. There is a wide range of digital and print competitions, while the advancement of mobile phone cameras beckoning an exciting new age in which people never miss an opportunity for a brilliant photograph.

The society meets every other Wednesday in Horsham at 7.45 – 10pm and new members are always welcome. The 2024 programme includes a Natural World competition in August and a Street and Travel photo competition in September, while speaker John Nathan displays photos from the Falklands, South Georgia and Antarctica in October.

‘Life Cycle of Tulipa’ by Eleanor Coate

‘On Romney Marsh’ by HPS member Graham Wilcock

Roger Baker was lifelong president

FINAL WORD

POLLINATION EDUCATION STATIONS FOSTER COMMUNITY SPIRIT

CARRIE CORT

Carrie Cort is the CEO of Sussex Green Living, an award-winning environmental charity that promotes environmentally-friendly lifestyles. Here, Carrie highlights a project that provides a safe-haven for bees and other pollinators at places across the county.

Sussex Green Living has been helping get the Horsham District buzzing again by installing Pollination Education Stations.

Working in collaboration with businesses, parish councils, schools and churches, we have been introducing insect sanctuaries, lovingly crafted from reclaimed pallet wood, to become safe havens for pollinators. Each station includes an educational plaque that provides information about the importance of pollinators and how we can help them, with a QR code linking to tips on environmentallyfriendly and sustainable living.

The Pollination Education Station (PES) project was launched in February and now they’re popping up all over West Sussex. It was first developed as part of a Green Business Network in the spring, when SGL worked with PMW Marketing, who helped develop the campaign pro bono as part of their 30th anniversary offer to help local charities. Horsham business Envitia sponsored the first PES, installed in March, and have since sponsored a PES for North Heath Community School.

The first school to receive a Pollination Education Station (PES) was Castlewood Primary in Southwater, thanks to a grant from Southwater Parish Council and a donation from SGL. The PES was installed on World Bee Day (20 May) to highlight the importance of involving young people in beekeeping and pollinator conservation efforts. Another recent installation was at St Mark’s Church in Horsham, where children had great fun hunting for cones, twigs, moss and bark to fill the station. They planted rosemary, mint, oregano, chives, sage and lemon balm and plan to add thyme, primroses, snowdrops and crocus and growing hyssop, borage and ivy next to it.

We’ve also installed a PES at Ecclesden Park in Angmering, Billingshurst Primary School, William Penn School in Coolham, Meadowburne Place in Eastbourne, Ersham Park in Hailsham, Trafalgar Infant School, North Heath Community Primary School, North Heath Trading Estate and Ryebank Gate in Yapton. The PES trail is set to grow further with planned installations at Shelley Primary School and in Crowborough. We have also set our sights on installing more stations in rural villages around the Horsham District and beyond.

Our aim is to highlight the importance of pollinators and why we need to protect them. Bees, wasps, butterflies, moths and bats are increasingly under threat from human activities. They face threats from invasive insects, climate change, air pollution, pesticides and monocropping, which is the practice of growing a single crop year after year on the same land, which can be profitable but damages soil ecology and has contributed to a significant reduction in bee numbers and that of other pollinators.

Nearly 90% of the world’s wild flowering plant species depend – either entirely or in part – on animal pollination, as well as more than 75% of food crops.

‘Our aim is to highlight the importance of pollinators such as bees.’

We’ve had great help from collaborators including Storrington-based Lily’s Cottage Upcycling and Men’s Sheds Horsham. The husband-and-wife team at Lily’s Cottage transform old pallets into new wildlife habitats. Men’s Sheds Horsham is a hub for men to get creative with woodwork, metalwork, bike repairs and more, all while fostering community spirit. We’ve also received support from sponsors including Barratt Homes, David Wilson Homes, Envitia Ltd, Horsham Trafalgar Neighbourhood Council, Southwater Parish Council, St Mark’s Church Horsham and Wates Developments.

Every third mouthful of the food we consume is thanks to pollinators, so this project helps shine a light on the crucial role they play.

We are thrilled to see such robust community engagement and support for the Pollination Education Stations. However, we hope more businesses, churches, schools and councils will collaborate with us at SGL and add a PES and one of our education plaques to the trail. Alternatively, if you would prefer to have your PES made within your own community, let us know so that we can help!

For more information about the Pollination Education Stations, visit www.sussexgreenliving.org.uk/renature

Pupils at Billingshurst Primary School fill their Pollination Education Station in an effort to help pollinators such as bees (©Sussex Green Living)

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