AAH (All About Horsham) June 2023

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News Round-Up

Children’s Parade and Funday Sunday return to Horsham, while the District is hit by water shortages.

Sport

Horsham Rugby Club travelled to Twickenham for the biggest match in its 95-year history.

Food & Drink

Brød + Wolf offers organic coffee and baked produce with a Scandinavian vibe, as well as popular wine evenings.

Community

Chesworth Farm has opened a new Wildlife Garden, giving visitors inspiring ideas on how to attract animals.

Royals

As Horsham celebrates a new monarch, we look back at how the town has marked previous Coronations.

COVER STORY

The June 2023 cover features India De Silva, owner of Brød + Wolf in the Carfax, Horsham. We arrived at the organic cafe and bakery early on a Monday morning, when there wouldn’t be many customers about, and Alan was able to take this shot of India from the doorway. Ben, AAH Editor, is hiding at the back of the cafe holding the lead of India’s dog, Wolfie, who had to be bribed with treats!

Other cover contenders included Tony Cook in the new wildlife garden at Chesworth Farm, Sarah Esser-Haswell performing at the Bandstand during the Coronation celebrations, and Trevor and Dan Evershed,the father and son team at the North Sussex Soccer Academy.

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Youth

The North Sussex Soccer Academy offers coaching and plenty of fun for children as young as four.

52 Markets

A round-up of markets across the District, including Horsham, Henfield, Billingshurst and Steyning.

Entrepreneurs

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Horsham hosts a round of the Young Market Trader of the Year competition, featuring many promising start-ups.

Construction

King & Stevens Ltd, a family-run firm in West Grinstead, celebrates its 50th year in the plant hire industry.

Final Word

Laura Finucane of the MSK Partnership writes about a successful community health test at The Bridge.

ALL ABOUT AAH MAGAZINE

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

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

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SUPERMARKETS

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

Jacquie Paterson, Hazel Garner, Jill Shuker, Arliss family, Bloomfield family, Eve Lovett, Lara Green, Gavira family, Harvey Dold, Alessandro Cavallo, Jack Nicholls, Charlie Merchant, Harry Baker, Walker family, Ben Raymond, Joseph Down (all Horsham). Katie Drysdale & William Fuglsig (Highwood), Chapman family (Southwater), Palmer family (BBH), Luke Butcher (Mannings Heath), Lynsey Hare (Billingshurst), Derek Bradnum (Nuthurst).

AAH SPRING-LOADED STANDS

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

Horsham: Swan Walk (outside M&S), Henry Adams (Carfax), Crates Local (Carfax) Pavilions in the Park, Horsham Rail Station, John Lewis, New House Farm, New Street Butchers, At Home Estate Agents (Carfax),

AAH is now available to guests at Random Hall Hotel, Slinfold, while a small number are also delivered to Rudgwick Village Hall at the request of locals. A new stand is being made and will pop up soon at The Bridge leisure centre in BBH.

The Holbrook Club, Gwyn’s Bakery (Bishopric) Village Stands: Newbridge Nurseries (BBH) CoCos’ Salon & Beeson House (Southwater), Billingshurst Leisure Centre, Coco’s Salon (Billingshurst) Bluecoat Sports (Christ’s Hospital), Leonardslee Lakes & Gardens (Lower Beeding), Warnham Village Stores (Warnham), Slinfold Golf Club (Slinfold), Steyning Leisure Centre and Cobblestone Walk (Steyning), Spring Gardens Nursery (Washington), Chanctonbury Leisure Centre and Joanna’s Boutique Tearooms (Storrington), The Milk Churn (Rudgwick), Meadow Stores (Thakeham), Golden Plaice (Ashington), Rusper Village Stores (Rusper) Supermarkets: Tesco Extra in Broadbridge Heath, Sainsbury’s in Horsham.

LEAFLETS

We deliver leaflets at a cost of £40 per 1,000. Email editor@aahorsham.co.uk for details.

NOTES

Many thanks to the Arliss family, who have been delviering AAH in parts of North Horsham for five years. Ruby is the last of the siblings to have had the round. We wish you all the best for the future!

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

EDITOR’S NOTES

DO RECORD-BREAKING FINES FOR WATER COMPANIES MATTER?

Let’s imagine we live in a small, American town in the mid-1980s. A corporation is pumping raw sewage into the surrounding rivers and people are getting sick, including kids, who no longer swim there. But the company boss keeps on pumping that sewage, as he’s making a fortune, and all the corrupt sheriff does is look the other way. There’s only one thing left to do: hire The A-Team.

If you can find them...

A game of cat and mouse ensues. For a while, it looks as though the polluting corporation will win the day. But in the end, the mercenaries deploy some ingenious - if unorthodox - tactics, using whatever they can find in an abandoned barn to create a cannon that fires raw sewage all over the evil boss and his posse. In the final scene, Hannibal Smith lights a cigar and makes a profound remark about corporations putting profits before people. Then B.A Baracus angrily adds something like ‘And if I hear about any more kids getting sick, we’ll be back, sucker!’ Everyone remembers that B.A was strong and didn’t like planes, but his affection for children is often overlooked.

In West Sussex, we don’t have a band of Vietnam war vets convicted of a crime they didn’t commit, going around righting society’s wrongs. If we had, I wonder what they’d make of Southern Water? That’ll be the Southern Water that pumps untreated waste water into our seas. Like last August, when videos of sewage gushing from a pipe at the beach in Bexhill made the national news, cancelling many a trip to the seaside. The same Southern Water that was fined a record £90m in 2021 for polluting rivers and coastal waters in Hampshire, Kent and Sussex.

Last month (before all the drama of the water shortages that hit Horsham in mid-May) the Environment Agency published data from all the water and sewerage companies in England, showing the frequency and duration of spills caused by storms and flash floods. While such floods cause major problems wherever they occur, we do seem to be particularly vulnerable in the south. If you look at a map of sewage hotspots reported by Surfers Against Sewage (who do a brilliant job of highlighting the issue) the overwhelming majority are in the south east and south west.

Following the Environment Agency’s report and recommendations, the government told water companies to install monitors on all its storm overflows by the end of this year (devices are now fitted in 963 of Southern Water’s 978 storm overflows). These overflows are essentially a safety valve that releases excess storm water from the sewers into rivers and seas during periods of heavy rainfall and melting snow, to ensure the sewer system isn’t overwhelmed. This is a step in the right direction, although monitoring the overflows won’t actually stop them from happening. It’ll just mean that when it does, we can hold water companies to account and dish out a massive fine.

But does dishing out a massive fine make a difference? You would like to think so, wouldn’t you? And yet, in the same year that Southern Water was the worst performing water company in the UK, the CEO received a £550,900 bonus. That more than doubled his normal salary, which was already nearly five times that of an MP. In fact, the Liberal Democrats analysed the salary of executives of the UK’s 22 water companies and found they were collectively paid £24.8m, including £14.7m in bonuses.

I should point out that Southern Water has a new CEO, who only took up the post in July 2022, following his predecessor’s ‘intention to retire’. This new CEO has vowed not to take a bonus this year, which you might think is the least he could do, but nonetheless, that’s a tidy sum.

Anyway, I digress...

The net result of the overspills and sewage leaks in recent years has resulted in Water UK committing to spending £10b on storm overflows between 2025 – 2030, with new technology used to replace ‘Victorian’ systems. It was Southern Water who coined the term to ‘Victorian’, by the way. I guess they’ve never had any opportunity to do anything about that in the last 122 years, having to get by on shoestring budgets and paltry executive bonuses...

Anyway, just as I was thinking how refreshing it was to hear some good news for a change, they hit us with details of how these improvements are going to be paid for. By us, of course! Higher water bills for the rest of our lives. A hundred years, say the experts, all under the indisputable cover of an urgent need to modernise sewerage systems.

If I was a water company investor right now, I’d be chomping on a fat cigar, with the words of Hannibal Smith ringing in my ears. ‘I love it when a plan comes together!’

There is a tenuous link to The A-Team in the following editorial

NEWS ROUND-UP

Announcements & Events from across the Horsham District

Thousands of homes and businesses lost their water supply on Saturday 13 May. This was due to low levels of chlorine being detected at Southern Water’s Hardham Water Supply Works, where water is sourced from reservoirs at Upper Nash and Itchenfield. Around 40,000 customers in Horsham and villages including Billinghurst, Broadbridge Heath, Pulborough, West Chiltington, Rudgwick, Barns Green and Slinfold, experienced no water or low water pressure during the weekend.

A bottled water station opened at Billinghurst FC, with further stations established at Pulborough’s Toat Cafe and Horsham Park and Ride on Sunday, with lengthy queues forming. Deliveries of bottled water to vulnerable customers were organised, with 19 tankers supporting hospitals and supplying places most in need. Chlorine levels stabilised at about 1pm on Sunday 14 May, although some still had intermittent problems, particularly in Turners Hill, where water was ‘injected’

straight into the local supply network. Problems in other parts of the county continued into the week, with water stations established in Crawley, as it took longer for the water pressure to return to normal levels at the Itchenfield Reservoir. The issues were fully resolved on Tuesday 16 May. Southern Water has apologised for the disruption and will be contacting customers about bill rebates, based on its Guaranteed Standards Scheme (GSS). southernwater.co.uk

Horsham District Council has worked in partnership with market operators Food Rocks to organise evenings filled with food, drink, and live entertainment every Friday throughout June. Friday markets will be open for business from 12pm, with entertainment starting from 6pm. Highlights include a Jazz Night (2 June), Shoreham sea shanties group Wellington Wailers (9 June), Mythago & Broadwood Morris dancers (16 June), acoustic pop from Bloomfield Avenue (23 June) and La Escuela De Bachata (30 June). For details, visit horsham.gov.uk/community/events-in-horshamtown-centre

The Jazz, Gin and Blues Festival will be held at Loxwood Meadow, RH14 0AL, on Sunday 30 July, from 12pm (music from 1.30pm). Curated by Simon Bates, founder of Loxwood Jazz Club, acts include the Nigel Price Organ Trio, BPM, The Simon Bates Quartet with Harry the Piano, Ashton Jones and Harry Green. Guests can also participate in a saxophone workshop. Gin comes from independent producers including Cabin Pressure Spirits, with ale from Langham Brewery, cider from Silly Moo and mead from Loxwood Meadworks, and a wide range of food stalls. Advance tickets £25. Free Parking. jazzginblues.co.uk

The new skate park in Horsham Park hosts an open day on Saturday 3 June, 11am - 6pm. The event is aimed at encouraging more people to have a go at skateboarding, BMX, scooter and in-line skating. Horsham District Council is working in partnership with professional demo group Team Extreme to organise the event, with pro-riders leading workshops and coaching sessions.

Competitions for riders of all ages and abilities will be held later in the day (registration opens at 11am). U18s must have parental consent and helmets are required.

@horshamskatepark2022

Mythago Morris (©Toby Phillips)

Farlington School will launch a year-round nursery, Little Farlington, catering for ages six months to four years, will open in September 2023. Ros Clayson, Head of Farlington Lower School & Nursery, said: ‘Our extensive grounds complement our approach to outdoor learning and Forest School. Our youngest learners will embrace possibility at every turn, as they explore, discover and adventure.’ Email admissions@farlingtonschool.com

Southwater Village Hall has a new outdoor classroom and artificial grass area for its preschool. It was opened on 12 May by Heather Clark, who recently retired as Preschool Manager and Village Hall trustee after 27 years of service. The Preschool’s running has passed into the capable hands of Emma Buckland. The new facility was funded by the Preschool Committee and grants from Southwater Parish Council and the Co-Op.

Horsham Children’s Parade returns on Sunday 9 July. The parade starts in Denne Parade, Horsham at 11am and ends at midday in Horsham Park, where its arrival marks the opening of Funday Sunday. Hundreds of primary school children from the Horsham District will be involved, showcasing creations and costumes made in workshops with community artists. The theme for the parade is ‘Classic Stories – Old and New’, to inspire characters from authors such as Roald Dahl, J.K Rowling, Julia Donaldson and Onjali Q Raúf. Carnival music is courtesy of Boom Tribe, Brighton School of Samba and others. The parade is held in association with community arts organisation Same Sky, supported by Arts Council England and Horsham

Folk Traditions

A CHORAL EXPLORATION OF FOLK MUSIC FROM THE BRITISH ISLES

District Council, and sponsored by Gatwick Airport. All are welcome to watch for free. horshamchildrensparade

l The Rotary Club on Horsham hosts a Centenary Funday in Horsham Park on Sunday 9 July, 12 – 5pm. This year’s Funday Sunday has a special twist as it marks the 100th anniversary of the local branch of Rotary. As well as the Children’s Parade, other highlights include face painting, funday trail, coconut shy, sports club demos, and live music from Horsham Rock Choir, West End performer Nathanael Landskroner and Strum Lovin’ Criminals, Benson’s Funfair will also be in the park and there will be a wide range of food and drink.

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Conductor Timothy Peters

Pictured: Iliana Praline by Kylie Minogue Iliana Oyster by Kylie Minogue

Children’s Parade 2022 (©Happy

Horsham Museum & Art Gallery is hosting an exhibition on the life of Frederick DuCane Godman (1834 – 1919). Godman was a natural scientist and collector who built South Lodge in Lower Beeding. The exhibition features artefacts from the museum’s collection, loans from private lenders and institutions, and contributions from Godman’s relatives. Perhaps the pinnacle of his work was the Biologia Centrali-Americana, a 63-volume encyclopaedia documenting the biodiversity of Central America. Edited by Godman and his friend Osbert Salvin, the first part was released in 1879 and was finally completed in 1915. George Champion, who specialised in insects, was part of Godman’s research team and a morpho peleides caught by Champion is among the butterflies on display, loaned by his great grandson, James Champion. Other items include Godman’s election certificate to the scientific academy, endorsed by Charles Darwin, and a collection of Islamic ceramics once displayed at South Lodge and later donated to the British Museum. Frederick DuCane Godman: The Legacy of a Collector is at Horsham Museum until 23 September. horshammuseum.org

Horsham District Council is now under the control of the Liberal Democrats, following the local elections on Thursday

4 May. Liberal Democrat candidates won 28 of the 48 seats on the Council (a gain of 15) with the Conservatives taking 11 (a loss of 18). The Greens were also well supported and are now represented by eight councillors, with one independent (Malcolm Eastwood, Henfield). Claire Vickers, formerly Leader of the Council, was among the Conservative candidates to miss out in the Southwater north ward. 67 Polling Stations were open across the District from 7am - 10pm, with the count taking place on 5 May at The Bridge Leisure Centre. The average turnout at the election was 37%. The results and can be found at: horsham.gov.uk/council-democracy-andelections/elections/election-results

The Freemasons of Horsham’s Aviation and Combined Services Lodge celebrated their 50th anniversary in May. The lodge was founded on 5 May 1973 by Captain Vic Townsend DFC and 21 others, most of whom had served in the military and later pursued careers in civil aviation. The Lodge committed to ‘tend to the Masonic needs of brethren and gentlemen who have in the past served, or are presently serving, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, or her late respected father, His Majesty King George VI, in the Armed Forces of the Realm, and particularly those engaged in aviation in all its forms, especially in the Gatwick area.’ Secretary Mike Alderson said: ‘If you are looking to explore what Freemasonry can offer, get in touch. You don’t have to wait to be asked to become a Freemason, it’s a myth!’ aviationlodge8504.org.uk

Frederick DuCane Godmann (©Horsham Museum/HDC)

St Mary’s Church in the Causeway, Horsham, hosts its annual Flower Festival on 22 – 25 June. There will be 30 displays inspired by books of the Old Testament, including the stories of Moses, David and Goliath, and Jonah and the whale. The theme is aimed at developing on the interest and understanding of the Old Testament shown after the St Mary’s Bible Marathon in March. The displays come from the church’s own arrangers and groups, as well as local schools and other churches. There will be an opening Service on Wednesday 21 June at 7:30pm, before St Mary’s Primary School perform Country Dancing in the Causeway (weather permitting) on 22 June at 2pm. The festival is then open Thursday to Saturday, 10am - 6pm and Sunday at 12 - 5pm, with the Bethany Cafe open throughout and lunchtime musical recitals planned too. The festival ends with a celebration concert by St Mary’s Choir on Sunday 25 June, at 6pm. stmaryshorsham.org.uk

Storrington Flower Club has announced details of its summer programme. On 28 June, Linda Bryane presents a demonstration

entitled ‘Celebration of Senses’, then on 26 July, Michelle King’s presents ‘Once Upon a Time’. Club meetings are held once a month at Sullington Village Hall, RH20 3PP, on a Wednesday at 2pm. Floral demonstrations are followed by refreshments, with floral designs raffled. All are welcome to attend (£6 on the door). Email chrissyldesmond@gmail.com

Several beautiful and interesting gardens are opening for the National Garden Scheme (NGS) throughout the summer.

Sedgewick Park House in Horsham is holding a pop-up opening on Thursday 22 June. With formal gardens by Harold Peto, the gardens has fantastic views of the South Downs. The Old Vicarage in Washington has 3½ acres of gardens set around an 1832 Regency house. It opens every Thursday until 12 October and also on Monday 28 August.

Fittleworth House near Pulborough (pictured) was built around 1720 from locally quarried stone. The gardens open on Wednesdays 7, 14

Petworth Late hosts a Summer Solstice on Wednesday 21 June, 7 -10pm. Visitors can spend the summer solstice watching the sunset in the Pleasure Garden of the National Trust property, nestled in a 700-acre deer park, while South Downs Folk perform. Entry £10. Petworth House also hosts a free Festival of Colour community day on Sunday 11 June, 10am - 5pm. For more details on these event, visit: nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/sussex/petworth

and 21 June, 12 and 19 July, and 9 August.

Foxglove Cottage has a fabulous garden in the heart of Horsham, recently featured on Gardeners World. Enjoy tea and cake, browse plants for sale and chat to the knowledgeable owners, Peter and Terri Lefevre. It opens on Wednesday 5 and Sunday 9 July. Other gardens opening include 4 Ben’s Acre (by arrangement) and Oaklands Farm, Shipley, on Saturdays 3 June and 15 July.

The NGS supports Macmillan Cancer Support, Marie Curie, Hospice UK and Parkinson’s UK. For more information, including entry costs and times, visit ngs.org.uk

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Horsham Chamber

Choir will perform a folk concert in the Hall of St John’s Roman Catholic Church, Horsham on Saturday 24 June, 7.30pm. Under the youthful and vibrant baton of Tim Peters, the Choir will perform with BBC Radio 2 Folk Award nominees The Drystones in this, the first in a series of concerts celebrating choral folk from around the world. The music will come from the British Isles, with modern interpretations of songs such as Wild Mountain Thyme and Danny Boy from Scotland, Suo Gan from Wales and I Love My Love from Cornwall. Tickets on the door or in advance from horsham-chamberchoir.org.uk

Coolham Live Music

Club welcomes Dom Martin to GT’s Stables on 11 June, followed by Rudy Warman and the Heavy Weather on 23 July. Both gigs have sold out, but the club has announced that Liverpudlian band Xander and the Peace Pirates will make a rare trip south for a gig on 9 September. The band, who recently performed in Nashville, is fronted by Keith Xander, who was born without a lower right arm but has mastered the electric guitar using a prosthetic. Jazz Morley also plays on the evening. The event is likely to sell out quickly, so don’t delay. coolhamlivemusicclub

Christ’s Hospital Choral Society marks the Coronation of King Charles III with a concert of The King’s Music at The Chapel, Christ’s Hospital School, RH13 0LJ, on Saturday 17 June, 7.30pm. The concert, on the day of the King’s official birthday, will feature Handel’s Zadok the Priest, Parry’s I Was Glad, Vaughan Williams’ Old Hundredth Psalm Tune, as well as pieces by Elgar, Stainer, Ireland, and Howells. The concert will be conducted by Verity Bramson, the choral society’s new Musical Director, with Jon Lee as accompanist. The event will supports Chestnut Tree House Hospice. Tickets £12.50 (£10 concessions/£5 children) from (01403) 247434 or visit chchoralsoc.org

The Petworth Festival will take place on 11 - 29 July. Events will take place in 12 venues including Petworth House Stables, St Mary’s Church Petworth, Midhurst Rother College and Champs Hill Music Room. The programme includes classic performances by saxophonist Jess Gillam, choral group Tenebrae and pianist Jeneba Kanneh-Mason, gigs from The Manfreds and jazz/funk outfit Shakatak, comedy from Clive Anderson and Henry Normal, and traditional music from Gigspanner Big Band, Lisa Canny, sarod players Amaan and Ayaan Ali Bangash, and Gambian kora player Jali Bakary Konteh. petworthfestival.org.uk

Ayaan Ali Bangash

Sussex MSK Partnership held a Community Appointment Day at The Bridge Leisure Centre in Broadbridge Heath on Thursday 18 May. The event saw over 300 invited physio patients access professionals and specialties under one roof, in one appointment, without waiting lists, to help their musculoskeletal problems. The event also provided a test as to whether a more community-centred approach could improve patient care. For more on the event, read the ‘Final Word’ column on page 66 of the magazine. sussexmskpartnershipcentral.co.uk

Deborah and Mike Scholes will attempt to make ballooning history in June. Deborah aims to become the first female pilot to command a transatlantic crossing in a hot air balloon, while husband Mike hopes to be the first registered blind crew member to acheive the feat. The Cuckfield couple are scheduled to launch from the town of Sussex in New Brunswick, Canada, on 7 June, or when meteorological conditions are favourable. They will fly an 88ft Rozière balloon at altitudes up to 18,000ft, with the 3,000-mile journey expected to take five to 10 days. A previous attempt in July 2019 was postponed, partly due to Mike’s cancer, but he is now fully fit and raring to go. The couple have secured sponsorship from The Refire Group and will support Blind Veterans UK. Mission Control is based in Horsham. transatlanticballoonchallenge.com

Sussex Pathfinders

Rambling Club is an independent club whose members share a common interest in walking in the Sussex countryside and beyond.

Throughout the year, the group organises a half day walk (5 - 6 miles) on Saturdays and a full day walk on Sundays. All are welcome. Upcoming half day walks include Billingshurst on 1 July, Storrington on 8 July, and Nuthurst on 12 August, with full day walks in Thakeham on 16 July, Stopham Bridge on 30 July and Henfield on 6 August. sussexpathfinder.org.uk

The Horsham Artists’ Art Trail will run over the weekends of 10 - 11 and 17 - 18 June, 10am – 5pm. By following the trail, you will discover 36 artists and makers in 13 locations across the Horsham District. These range from artists’ homes, studios and retail spaces in central Horsham to venues in villages including Mannings Heath, Henfield, Coolham and Storrington. The trail includes paintings, prints and textiles, jewellery, sculpture, upcycled crafts and more. Entry is free. A Horsham Artists Art Trail brochure and map can be downloaded at horshamartists.org

Ian Walder of Southwater is holding an exhibition of his art at The Warnham Barn, Rookwood Golf Course, Horsham, RH12 3RR, on Saturday 24 June. The exhibition raises funds for the West Sussex North Branch of the MND Association, with 20% of art sales and all the raffle proceeds going to the charity. Ian, 57, at was a regular long-distance runner and gym user, until a shock diagnosis of motor neurone disease (MND) in 2022. ‘My diagnosis has called me to take stock and focus on what is important, says Ian. ‘I wanted to “shake the bucket” for the MND Association, which does so much to support patients and their families.’ ian@vincentpress.co.uk

Manor Theatre Company, an awardwinning amateur dramatics group based in north Horsham, present Cash on Delivery at North Heath Hall, Horsham, on 9 - 10 June, at 7:30pm. Michael Cooney’s comedy farce revolves around Eric Swan (played by Dennis Manning), who has pocketed thousands of pounds through fraudulent DSS claims. When lodger Norman Bassett (Patrick Casey) opens the door to DSS Inspector Mr Jenkins (Jonathan Hope), mayhem ensues. ticketsource.co.uk/manortheatre

Nigel Winter has published his second book, The Churches of West Sussex, a follow-up to 2020’s The Quiet Churches of Sussex. The book features the author’s personal reflections on local churches including All Saints at Buncton, most of which he visited by bike. The book is on Amazon (paperback or Kindle, with proceeds to The Salvation Army.

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Horsham artist Angela Brittain at her home studio (©AAH/Alan Wright)

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Kidstri UK host a series of multi-sport races for children aged eight – 16 over the summer months. They include Billingshurst Triathlon at The Weald School and Leisure Centre on Sunday 16 July, with a novice duathlon held too. Kidstri also hold an Aquathlon in Billingshurst on Sunday 8 October, with only swimming and running components (triathlon includes cycling too). KidsTri events are held to British Triathlon guidelines, with courses visible to parents and spectators.

kidstri.co.uk

The Conker Activity Trail returns to Leonardslee Lakes & Gardens on 10 June

-23 July, 9am - 5pm. The Conker Activity Trail is designed to help lay the foundation of good mental health in children, mirroring the imaginative stories of author Hannah Peckham. Upon arrival, visitors can pick up a free activity book at reception and follow Conker, the lovable chameleon, around the gardens in celebration of Hannah’s awardwinning book, Conker the Chameleon. In addition to the activity trail, Hannah will host a book reading on Saturday 17 June. leonardsleegardens.co.uk

Lodge Hill Activity

Centre in Pulborough hosted a launch event for the Veterans Volunteer Service (VVS) on 25 April. The VVS is run by military veterans, harnessing the skills and experience of people from across all services to provide positive reinforcement and training for young people. The project is also aimed at helping veterans leaving the forces settle back into civilian life. At Lodge Hill, the VVS will deliver part of its resilience programme, with young people participating in various scenarios and team building activities on the 32-acre site.

Pictured: Gary Hart (VVS founder), Rev Canon Roger Hall (VVS patron), Col Sir Brian Barttelot (President, Lodge Hill Trust) and Matthew Wykes (Chair, Lodge Hill Trust).

Kidstri event in Horsham Park, 2013 (©AAH/Toby Phillips)

Home Instead, which provides expert home care in the Horsham area, regularly organises free Dementiafriendly film screenings at Everyman Cinema in Piries Place, Horsham. Upcoming films include Fisherman’s Friends: One and All on Monday 12 June, Miss Potter on 10 July and Midnight in Paris on 7 August. Screenings are suitable for older people with memory problems, their partners, family members and carers. Arrive at 10am for 10.30am screening. To book free of charge, call (01403) 248227 or email admin.horsham@homeinstead.co.uk

The Friends of Horsham Museum and Art Gallery host a talk focusing on the life of the poet, Percy Pysshe Shelley, by Dr Andrew Hodgson at Wesley Hall, London Road Methodist Church, Horsham, on Wednesday 12 July, 7.30pm. Dr Hodgson (University of Birmingham) will be joined by Oliver Clarkson (University of Warwick) and Will Bowers (Queen Mary University London) to explore Shelley’s sense of Horsham as a home or otherwise, and his correspondence with Hurstpierpoint’s Elizabeth Hitchener. Members £5 (Guests £7.50). Cash only. For details, email Paul French, Chairman of the Friends, at: fhmag1893@gmail.com

Cllr Dr David Skipp was elected Chairman of Horsham District Council for the civic year 2023 - 2024 at the Annual General Meeting, held at Parkside, Horsham, on 24 May. Cllr Nigel Emery was appointed Vice-Chairman. Cllr Skipp takes over the role Cllr Kate Rowbottom (pictured above), who is retiring from the Council.’

Horsham Symphony Orchestra presents its summer concert at the Capitol Theatre on Saturday 24 June. Fantastique! opens with Tchaikovsky’s dramatic Romeo and Juliet Fantasy Overture. Horsham-based BBC Young Musician percussion finalist, Toril Azzalini-Machecler (pictured), then takes the stage to showcase Emmanuel Sejourné’s Concerto for Marimba and Strings. After the interval, HSO perform Berlioz’s orchestral showpiece, Symphonie Fantastique Steve Dummer conducts. Tickets £18 (concessions £16/U18s £5) from thecapitolhorsham.com

Fisherman’s Friends

MAY (Saturday)

The Haywood Sisters, a retro girl group 5:00pm - 9:00pm

LIVE MUSIC SERIES

Mannings Heath Golf & Wine Estate is hosting a fantastic new music series, Soundscapes of Summer. This summer, we're celebrating the British sunshine with a line-up of incredible local artists.

JOIN US for an evening of good live music, delicious food, spectacular views, and great company!

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THI SUMMER Soundscapes of

JUNE (Sunday)

Father's Day edition with a local artist and delicious BBQ 12:00pm - 4:00pm

JULY (Saturday) Rock n Roll with Danny Fisher 6:30pm - 10:30pm

AUGUST (Sunday)

The Violet Jive 12:00pm - 4:00pm

HISTORY BOYS

HORSHAM RUGBY CLUB ENJOYS ITS BIGGEST DAY IN 95 YEARS

Horsham Rugby Club enjoyed one of the greatest days in its history on Sunday 7 May. The 1st XV took to the hallowed turf of Twickenham Stadium, home of the England national team, to compete in the Men’s Regional 2 Final of the Papa John’s Community Cup. Despite a narrow defeat to Old Northamptonians, it was a day the players and supporters will never forget. Here, Head of Rugby Nick Stocker and Club Chair Richard Ordidge relive a recordbreaking season…

Richard: It has been an incredible year for Horsham RUFC. We led the Regional 2 South East division for most of the season and by Christmas were clear at the top of the table. We stuttered in the New Year and lost a few games, but still won the league with a round of games left to play. Next season, we are stepping up to Regional 1 South Central, which is the highest level in our 95-year history. This puts us in level five of the rugby pyramid, akin to football’s National League.

Nick: Rugby’s national cup competitions have been restructured in recent years. They used to run much like the FA Cup, with knockout rounds held throughout the season, culminating in a final at a famous venue, such as Twickenham. After consulting with clubs across the country, the Rugby Football Union (RFU) decided to hold cup competitions after all league games had been played. The winners of all three Regional 2 divisions in the South East were put into a mini league, with the highest ranked runners-up from the three leagues making up the fourth team. First, we travelled to Thames region winners Hammersmith & Fulham, who we beat 14 – 37. Next, we hosted Letchworth Garden City, who dominated the Anglia division and were undefeated all season until we beat them 45 - 14. Our final fixture was against Tottonians, but they had nothing to play for and forfeited, confirming us as group winners.

Richard: That took us through to the semifinals to face St Austell, winners of the South West pool. We had to make contingency plans to travel to their ground in Cornwall, as we didn’t know if we would be drawn home or away. That is one of the problems caused by an end of season competition held on consecutive weekends! It was only on the Monday that we were informed we’d be at home, which was fortunate. We did a fantastic job of mobilising our supporters at short notice. People will always follow a successful team and as the season reached its climax, we saw some big crowds. A typical game attracts about 150 supporters, but we saw upwards of 700 at some of our most crucial fixtures. This made a huge difference against St Austell, as we won 22 - 20, with Declan Nwachukwu scoring a hat-trick of tries to send us to Twickenham.

Richard: The final was held in the midst of the Coronation celebrations, yet 1,000 fans came with us to London. We hired 12 coaches, all

Horsham RUFC faced Old Northamptonians at Twickenham (©Darryl Sears/DAS Sport Photography)

Horsham hired 12 coaches for fans

About 1,000 supporters made the journey

Supporters formed a ‘tunnel’ for the players

setting off from our ground. We would have hired even more, but they weren’t available because of the Coronation! The team at Visit Horsham did a superb job at publicising the final and that helped attract a large crowd. We also received ‘good luck’ messages from Horsham FC, Horsham YMCA FC, Horsham Cricket Club and many others, as the match galvanised the whole community. It has been a long time since Horsham reached a national final in any sport, and who’s to say when it will happen again, so people wanted to be part of it.

Nick: It was a hugely unifying event and the support was phenomenal. We had boys and girls from the minis joining us as well as former players and coaches, loyal supporters,

and some who had never watched a rugby match before. A parent of a boy in one of our minis squads asked if the 1st XV could sign his shirt, as he’d been so proud of the team that we’d worn it to bed that night. When you hear things like that, you realise the impact of the achievement.

Richard: The supporters formed a tunnel as our players arrived, which was a lovely touch and added something extra to the experience for everyone. However, the team couldn’t actually gain admittance to the stadium without having their bags searched. We were all joking, wondering if the England national team had to go through the same level of security!

Nick: Three finals were held earlier in the day, so ours was the fourth and final match, after the Counties 1, 2 and 3 Final. Because of the tight schedule, we warmed-up on a small training area outside the ground, and only the

Declan Nwachukwu showed searing pace (©DAS Sport Photography) Richard Tredgett powers over the line (©DAS Sport Photography)

‘When you’re a homegrown team, there is greater sense of loyalty and camaraderie.’

kickers had stepped foot on the pitch to practice for a few minutes before kick-off. So, you could forgive the players if they were nervous as they stepped on to the grass for the first time. To sit in England’s changing room, on seats where so many legends of the game have been before, was a proud moment for the players. It doesn’t get any better for someone playing at this level. Our captain was Tom Johnson, who has always been a fierce competitor but whose season has been largely blighted by injuries. He performed very well at the end of the season and indeed in the final itself.

Richard: Most players in the 1st XV has come through the youth teams at Horsham. We don’t pay players, so everyone is here because they love the game. There are a few lads who live outside the District, but the vast majority live in the town and surrounding villages, or have a close connection to it, so they all wear the shirt with pride. When you’re a homegrown team, there is a greater sense of loyalty and camaraderie in the squad. The supporters get to know the players better too, as they’re not hired hands with no affiliation to the club, playing for a season or two before moving on. That’s why it was an emotional day for many people.

Nick: Unfortunately, we lost 35 - 40. We started strongly and led 21 – 7, scoring tries through Aaron Linfield, Richard Tredgett and Jordan Smith, all of which were converted by Oli Chennell. Then we found ourselves 33 –21 behind as we went off-pattern for a while. We played too much in our own half, invited pressure, and our mistakes were punished. With ten minutes to go, we scored a try after Joe Blake’s breakaway run led to Ed Mannhardt going over. We pushed for a final score to give us the win, but conceded once more. We scored a fifth try through Jonny Goward with the final play, but it was too late. It was frustrating, as the match was there for the taking.

Nick: The defeat has given us added i ncentive and we will be back, mark my words! There are two ways to get to Twickenham again. The first is to be relegated next season and win the Regional 2 title once more, but obviously that’s not something we want to do. The second is to

Horsham RUFC at Twickenham

Oli Chennell converted superbly (©DAS Sport Photography)

win the Regional 1 title, which will be tough, particularly at the first attempt. The team is in a good place, with the right blend of youth and experience. Players like Jamie Redmayne and Richard Tredgett have been great servants to the club and are still performing at a high level, but we also have the likes of Oli Chennell, Joseph Blake, Declan Nwachukwu, Aaron Linfield and others who are still young and are only going to improve.

Richard: Little old Horsham is now playing a level of rugby that is really quite serious. We will be facing traditionally much bigger clubs next season including Bournemouth, Brighton and London Welsh. We will have to travel further than ever before, meaning a greater commitment from players and coaches in

terms of their time and effort. But that is the nature of success and we’re looking forward to seeing how we fare against higher quality opponents.

Nick: In many ways, our recent success is the culmination of everything we’ve worked towards for a decade. Ten years ago, we had no women or girls’ squads, and the changing rooms were almost condemnable. The new changing room block served as a catalyst for change. It meant we could introduce women’s rugby, which led to our eligibility for the artificial pitch, which was funded by the RFU. We now have three men’s teams, two women’s teams and a very strong minis and colts section, as well as great support and sponsorship from local businesses. There’s now a

real sense of community and team spirit at the club, and it feels like a family.

Sometimes, it’s quite a dysfunctional family, but the Twickenham experience has brought us closer together and reminded us all why we love this game called rugby.

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For more about the various squads at Horsham RUFC, visithorshamrufc.com

Interviews: Ben Morris

Photos: Courtesy of Darryl Sears/DAS Sport Photography & Horsham RUFC

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Joe Blake with the ball for Horsham (©DAS Sport Photography) Nick Bell throws the ball at a lineout (©DAS Sport Photography)

Great Autumn & Christmas Holidays from your door!

THURSFORD CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR

23 November and 3 December for 3 days

Kick-off the festive season in style with a visit to this unmissable Christmas Show in Norfolk. It is the largest and most lavish production of its kind in the UK and features music, carols, dancing, a Wurlitzer organ and a cast of over 100. We have very good seats this year, in the central raised or deluxe areas. From £359

ROADMARK AUTUMN MYSTERY HOLIDAY

28 September, 5 days

Another of our famous Mystery Holidays, this tour includes a four-night stay at a four-star hotel, a canal boat trip and visits to a National Trust House & Garden and a Norman castle. Includes a new quiz with prizes. From £539

WONDERFUL WELLS

6 October, 4 days

This medieval city includes a magnificent cathedral and the 800-year-old Bishop’s Palace. Includes visits to Salisbury and Winchester. With three nights at the Swan Hotel. From £425

AUTUMN IN SIDMOUTH

13 October, 5 days

Our autumn tour to the Royal York & Faulkner Hotel includes a visit to Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens, a ride through the Axe Valley on the Seaton Tramway, and a boat trip with awardwinning Stuart Line Cruises. From £565

HOLME LACY HOUSE

23 October, 5 days

Warners Holme Lacy Hotel is based around a 17th-century mansion in rural Herefordshire. Stay for 4 nights, with fabulous entertainment, great food and excursions to Ludlow, Hereford and the Brecon Beacons. From £516

HEREFORDSHIRE & WORCESTERSHIRE

6 November, 5 days

Stay for 4 nights at one of Roadmark’s favourite hotels, the 4-star Abbey Hotel in Great Malvern. We drive through the Wye Valley to Ross-on-Wye and visit Tewkesbury and Worcester. In Autumn, these rich landscapes come alive with spectacular colour. From £469

THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS IN SIDMOUTH

30 November, 5 days

Our visit to the East Devon seaside town will have a ‘Christmassy’ theme, with mulled wine and mince pies, sherry, traditional Christmas Dinner, afternoon tea, quiz and live music. £475

BATH & BRISTOL CHRISTMAS MARKETS

8 December, 4 days

Enjoy Christmas shopping in three of our finest cities. On day 1 we visit Winchester, home to one of the best Christmas markets in the UK. Day 2 will be spent in the World Heritage City of Bath, where streets are transformed into a magical festival experience. Day 3 includes a guided tour of Bristol, with time to explore the Christmas Market. Staying for 3 nights at the 4-star Mercure Bristol Holland House Hotel. From £369.

TURKEY & TINSEL AT THE HOTEL REX

11 December, 5 days

This four-night festive treat includes a visit from Father Christmas, evening entertainment, a drive through the Purbecks to Swanage and a visit to the pantomime. From £479

WARNERS BEMBRIDGE COAST

18 December, 5 days

A relaxing festive break on the beautiful Isle of Wight. The hotel includes a heated pool. Includes entertainment, island tour and ‘Santa Special’ on the Victorian Steam Railway. From £399

CHRISTMAS IN THE ENGLISH RIVIERA

23 December, 5 days

Fabulous food, great entertainment and friendly service are the hallmark of Torquay’s Livermead Cliff Hotel. Includes a Champagne cocktail reception, Christmas Day luncheon, Babbacombe Christmas Show, festive cruise on the River Exe, and the Roadmark Christmas Quiz. From £799

CHRISTMAS IN MALVERN

23 December, 5 days

Places are selling fast for our Christmas tour, centred around Worcestershire’s lovely Malvern Hills. The Abbey Hotel is in the centre of Great Malvern adjoining the ancient priory. Includes a cocktail reception, traditional Christmas Day lunch, entertainment and Santa visit. From £799

WIN A LUXURY CHRISTMAS HAMPER!

All new holiday and excursion bookings made from June onwards will be entered into our draw to win a Christmas Hamper full of locally sourced food and drink and valued at over £200. The draw takes place on 17th December when we will draw one Booking Reference Number out of the hat. The lucky winner will be notified shortly afterwards.

Thursford Christmas Spectacular

New premium sparkling rosé from Billingshurst

Boco locally available

The Horsham Cellar

Horsham Carfax

Joanna’s Boutique Tea Room

Storrington

The Billi Tap

Billingshurst

Pretty Things

Horsham

The Chequers Inn

Rowhook

Brod + Wolf

Horsham

Firebird Brewery

Rudgwick

Jeremy’s 2

Cowfold

New House Farm

Horsham

The Fox Inn

Rudgwick

Kissingate Brewery

Lower Beeding

Random Hall Hotel

Slinfold

Order online at housecoren.co.uk

Please enjoy Boco responsibly

ORGANIC GROWTH

BRØD + WOLF OFFERS A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE IN HORSHAM’S CARFAX

Brød + Wolf is one of Horsham town’s most exciting new businesses. Since opening in the Carfax in November 2022, the café and organic bakery has expanded, hosting popular wine evenings, while its inaugural supper club planned for June. AAH spoke to owner India De Silva to find out more…

What is Brød + Wolf?

Brød is the Scandinavian word for bread, while Wolf derives from Wolfox Coffee, an organic roastery that first established Brød + Wolf as a micro-bakery. So, the name combines two elements of what is offered: bread and coffee. Our ethos is inspired by a Scandinavian concept of refined simplicity and we use good quality, fresh, organic ingredients to create authentic flavours.

This is not the first Brød + Wolf then?

The first Brød + Wolf opened in Brighton and since then two more have opened in Hove. The founder of Wolfox, Fabio Lauro, has grown the brand to include not only the coffee roastery and bakery, but also restaurants, Japanese vegan sushi bars, and even a boutique hotel. It’s a very exciting company, and having been involved in its growth as the former Director of Operations, I was keen to establish the first Brod + Wolf outside of Brighton right here in Horsham.

Why Horsham?

While searching for a home of our own, my husband and I moved temporarily to Horsham. We fell in love with the town, as it has something for everyone. We live near Chesworth Farm, which offers beautiful countryside trails, yet within a few minutes we can walk into the centre of town. I’m originally from Portugal and JJ is Sicilian, yet we met in Bournemouth and have settled in Horsham!

We’ve been amazed by the support we’ve received from the community. There is an incredible camaraderie, particularly amongst the independents in the Carfax, and we find that lots of people want to support small businesses.

Are you an independent business?

Very much so. Although we have adopted the Brød + Wolf name, JJ and I founded Operation Wolf Ventures to run this venue in Horsham independently and we’re determined to make it a success. Although this is the first Brød + Wolf

Lauren Willett, Manager at Brød + Wolf in the Carfax (©AAH/Alan Wright)

Brød + Wolf Horsham (©AAH/Alan Wright)

outside Brighton, many people in Horsham are familiar with the brand as it has a great reputation, so using the name helped us to hit the ground running. Naturally, we’re conscious of the need to maintain the high standards of the brand. We’re fortunate to have a brilliant team working alongside us, including our manager Lauren Willett, who will sadly be leaving us soon but has played a key role in our success to date.

What do you serve?

Organic, sustainably sourced coffee, as well as a range of fresh bread and pastries. As well as Brød + Wolf’s own organic bakery, we also work in partnership with Sødt, an artisan bakery in Petworth that operates with a similar ethos. Our pastries include cinnamon buns, almond croissants, pain aux raisons, artisan sausage rolls, macaroons and a selection of brownies, cookies, biscuits and cakes. Our freshly made sandwiches have been very popular, especially the chicken, basil and mayonnaise sandwich, one of JJ’s creations! Most of our sandwiches are familiar favourites served with a modern twist, and people appreciate fresh artisan bread filled with good quality produce.

You have also launched a wine bar...

Since April, we’ve hosted wine evenings on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, from 5 – 10pm. This is new for Brød + Wolf and has proved so popular that after only a month, it’s already necessary to book ahead. At various points in my career, I have been very wine-focused and trained as a sommelier to further my interest and knowledge. Running a wine bar at Brød + Wolf is something I’ve wanted to do for a long

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Pastries and baked produce at Brød + Wolf (©AAH/Alan Wright)

Croissants at Brød + Wolf (AAH/AW) Cakes and Treats at Brød + Wolf (AAH/AW)

time, and we’re working in partnership with The Horsham Cellar, which provides the wine for the evenings.

Do you serve food in the wine bar?

We have a range of ‘nibbles’ including olives, brød, baked cheese, rillettes du porc, and burrata. There’s also a range of cheese and charcuterie platters, with several of our cheeses sourced directly from small French producers, while the saucisson is from Carmela Deli in the Carfax. Our organic salad bar has been very well received too. This is predominantly gluten free and vegan, with the

options changing with the seasons. There are some very good restaurants in Horsham serving some great food, but we’re offering something a little different, which is great quality produce, served with beautiful presentation in a casual environment.

What’s next?

We have recently introduced an outdoor enclosure, giving us additional seating in the Carfax. This is a lovely boost for us and the town, with customers able to enjoy a glass of wine, a beer or coffee in the summer months. In June, we will be hosting our inaugural supper club.

India De Silva, owner of Brød + Wolf in Horsham (©AAH/Alan Wright)

Boco by House Coren is on the wine list (©AAH/Alan Wright)

‘Many people in Horsham are familiar with Brød + Wolf, as it has a great reputation. That helped us to hit the ground running.’

This involves collaborating with a leading chef, the first being Chef Swann on 7 June. Guests will enjoy a six-course menu, as well as bread, amuse bouche and a welcome cocktail, all in an intimate setting with only 20 covers. If it goes well, we hope to make the supper club a regular feature. When Restaurant Tristan in East Street closed, the town lost a special dining experience. Although we’re not a Michelin-starred destination, I do feel that some people are looking for dining out experiences with a difference and by welcoming chefs working at a high level, that is something we hope to offer.

Any more ideas on the horizon?

The Carfax has a great tradition of music and events and that is something we want to contribute to in future. We’re also looking at new ideas to provide our customers with an experience, so watch this space!

Words: Ben Morris

Photos:

Further information:

Alan Wright

Visit Brød + Wolf at 18 Carfax, RH12 1EB @BrodwolfHorsham

Lauren Willett at Brød + Wolf (©AAH/Alan Wright)

Organic salad bar (©AAH/Alan Wright)

Baked goods at Brød + Wolf (©AAH/Alan Wright)

SEEDS OF SUCCESS

NEW WILDLIFE GARDEN AT CHESWORTH

Chesworth Farm is a popular, scenic escape for many Horsham residents. Although only a 10-minute walk from the town centre, the Council-owned site offers unspoilt rural views and an abundance of flora and fauna, making it a wonderful place for families to explore.

Last month, a new wildlife garden and viewing platform were opened, improving the experience for visitors and encouraging more animals to the 90-acre farm.

AAH visited to find out more…

CREATING A GARDEN

Ed: 07812995475 |Carl: 07754337926 Email: thetreemensusse x@gmail com

The proposal for the wildlife garden was mooted to the Friends of Chesworth Farm – a group of volunteers who help maintain the site – back in 2022. Tony Cook’s idea was to transform an area around the Volunteer Centre, which had been largely neglected and was

overrun by brambles. As well as volunteering at Chesworth, Tony is involved in several other groups that help improve or create natural habitats, including Horsham Green Gym and Gatwick Greenspace Partnership. However, it was a home project that he looked to replicate on the farm. ‘During lockdown, I devoted my garden entirely to encouraging wildlife,’ said Tony. That is essentially what we’ve done at Chesworth. We have increased plant diversity and re-used or recycled materials to help attract animals. Our hope is that people will walk around the garden and see features they could replicate at home.’

NOTHING FLASHY

The garden was officially declared opened on Saturday 13 May, with Baroness Kate Parminter on ribbon-cutting duties. Friends and guests,

including Jane Eaton, Chief Executive of Horsham District Council, explored the garden’s features, which represent about 600 hours of the volunteers’ time.

Tony said: ‘There is nothing flashy about the garden. We have created a small, raised pond out of an old bath that we rescued from the River Arun, and a bog marsh that is already attracting amphibians. We’ve made log piles for creepy crawlies and used deadwood to attract stag beetles. The bug hotel is the one that used to be at Warnham Local Nature Reserve, and we have also made a compost heap out of old pallets. Hidden under a mound is a hibernaculum, an underground chamber that provides a habitat for amphibians and reptiles in the colder months. For this, we have used concrete benches that were previously in The Forum, filling spaces in-between with hardcore and wood to give wildlife the ideal spot in which to hunker down. Another feature is a ‘rocket beehive’, which mimics a hollow to attract bees and hornets.’

Tony Cook at the new Wildlife Garden (©AAH/Alan Wright)

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Tim Thomas at Chesworth Farm (©AAH/Alan Wright)

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WILD ISLES

New plants have been introduced with the same aim of encouraging wildlife, including two planters made from park benches with rotten legs. Five fruit trees have been planted, all growing Sussex varieties including Green Custard (an apple tree originally grown at J. Cheal & Sons of Crawley), Doctor Hogg, an apple tree dating back to the Victorian era at Leonardslee Lakes & Gardens, and Crawley Beauty, another variety from Cheal’s. Brambles have been cut back (although some has been kept to attract certain species) while plant specimens growing elsewhere on the site have been added to the garden to maintain a native theme.

Tony said: ‘Several of the Friends’ group have hedge laying experience, so we built a dead hedge that’s good for invertebrates, birds, frogs and small mammals. Already, we have already seen an abundance of species, including slow worms, grass snakes and newts. We keep a

record of the flora and fauna sighted, and the signs are very encouraging. It might not be the prettiest garden, but it’s an example of how we can all do small things to help wildlife.’

David Attenborough’s Wild Isles not only highlighted the diversity of the UK’s wildlife, but also how depleted our habitats have become. It also showed how we can engage with wildlife on a local level, which is what we’re doing here. There is no guarantee that any one pile of logs or small pond will attract a hedgehog, a newt, a snake, or anything at all, but if we make 100 of them, it’ll certainly make a difference. If we’re able to work with neighbours to create wildlife corridors between gardens, then that’s even better, as connectivity is hugely important.’

A viewing platform overlooks three new ponds (©AAH/Alan Wright)

Baroness Kate Parminter opens the platform (©AAH/Alan Wright)

‘Attenborough’s Wild Isles showed how we can engage with wildlife on a local level, which is what we’re doing here.’

GRAZING LIVESTOCK

In addition to the garden, improvements have been made to part of Chesworth Farm that links with the Horsham Riverside Walk. The Riverside Walk is a 13-mile loop that goes around the town (generally following the Arun). A boggy section at Parlour Mead has been undergoing improvements, funded by developer contributions to the Council and also donations from the Friends. This project includes a new viewing platform, offering views of Parlour Mead and Tip Field, as well as three new ponds created by The Environment Agency.

Tim Thomas, a member of the Friends and local ornithologist, said: ‘These ponds are all different and attract a variety of species. One utilises drainage water from surrounding fields, another is fed by streams and ditches, and the third will be filled by rain water, as there’s evidence to suggest newts do particularly well in such an environment. They’re not going to be beautifully landscaped, as we’re allowing nature to take course. However, we have planted two black poplar trees, donated by Wakehurst. I hope that we will eventually see newts and birds such as herons, egrets and woodcocks at these ponds. Horsham District Council has livestock animals that roam parts of the farm too. They will help shape the landscape by grazing and disturbing soil around the water’s edge, which aids regeneration and promotes biodiversity.’

NATURAL BALANCE

One of the challenges faced by HDC’s Parks and Countryside Rangers, and indeed the Friends of Chesworth Farm, is balancing public access against the need to protect wildlife. The new path and viewing platform are an improvement on what came before, with people previously having to walk through a wet and boggy part of the site. On the flip side, consideration must be given to the potential impact on wildlife and birds, including the common whitethroat, which nests nearby.

Tim Thomas said: ‘Chesworth is a wonderful place, as it’s a free space that the public can explore and enjoy. However, more people and

more dogs cause more disruption, so we’re mindful of that. We have a good balance at the moment, and species are thriving here. We’ve seen barn owls nesting on the site and the new viewing platform gives people a chance to catch a glimpse of them in flight, without imposing on their nest. As long as visitors continue to be respectful, we hope we will see even more species flourishing here.’

Words: Ben Morris

Photos: Alan Wright

Further information: horsham.gov.uk/parks-and-countryside/ chesworth-farm www.friendsofchesworthfarm.com

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The Wildlife Garden at Chesworth Farm (©AAH/Alan Wright)

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ROYAL KNEES-UP

CELEBRATIONS ACROSS TOWN FOR KING CHARLES’ CORONATION

People across the Horsham District celebrated the Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III over an extended weekend of events on 6 – 8 May.

Throughout the town and wider district, there were street parties, Big Lunches, fetes and vintage car rallies that brought communities together over the Coronation Bank Holiday weekend. The Capitol Theatre hosted a sell-out live screening of the Coronation ceremony, with many people staying on to see a special broadcast of Her late Majesty The Queen’s Coronation. On the day of the Coronation, West Street Entrepreneurs and Food Rocks hosted markets in the Carfax, while a Royal Dog Competition was held in the Bishopric.

On Sunday, glorious weather helped attract large crowds to the town centre for events and activities organised by Horsham District

Council. Highlights included musical and theatrical performers on the Carfax bandstand, Piries Place, Market Square, West Street, and Horsham Museum and Art Gallery. Actors dressed as Royal Palace guards roam the town, while members of amateur dramatics group HAODS promoted their production of Betty Blue Eyes. Morris sides including Mythago and Magog provided traditional dancing, while there was music from Horsham’s diva Sarah EsserHaswell and the Big Notes Choir in the Carfax, with The Sussex Band of the Royal British Legion performing in Horsham Park and the Fortune String Quartet playing in the garden of Horsham Museum.

With a vintage double decker bus bar keeping the drinks flowing, there was a celebratory atmosphere that continued into the evening, with music by the likes of Strobe, Bloomfield Avenue and singers Emma Lindars and

Armed guards in Piries Place (©TPP)

The Sussex Band of the RBL (©TPP)

Bloomfield Avenue perform on the Carfax Bandstand (©Toby Phillips Photography)

KNEES-UP

KNEES-UP

Giovanni Spano at the Carfax bandstand. Elsewhere, there was a host of street parties and celebratory events, with an impressive array of classic cars parking up in Steyning, while The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh popped into Cranleigh’s Big Lunch event and tried a Coronation chicken pie. Bank Holiday Monday saw the launch of the Big Help Out, a national initiative to help boost volunteering .

In the following pages, we look back at how Horsham town has celebrated the coronation of a monarch in the past. From barrels of beer and plum puddings for the poor, to big band nights and street parties, we’ve always known how to throw a party. But our look back through the archives, done with the help of historian Jeremy Knight, raises one question: Why were there no King Charles III commemorative mugs for the schoolchildren?

Celebrations in the Carfax (©Toby Phillips Photography)

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QUEEN VICTORIA

News of the death of William IV reached Horsham on 25 June 1837, five days after the King’s passing. One year later, on Thursday 28 June 1838, the town celebrated the Coronation of Queen Victoria.

The time between the two events provided time for planning, meaning that souvenirs could be given to each child and that copious refreshments were provided, as recorded by Henry Burstow in his 1911 book, Reminiscences of Horsham: ‘Early in the morning, the church bells began to peal. All shops were closed by 11.30am, when the children in the town – about 800, including myself – assembled in the Causeway. Each child was provided with a knife, fork and mug, and a ticket on which was printed, “Victoria, Crowned 28th June 1838.”

‘Headed by a band, the procession marched round the town and then to Swan Field, so called from its connection with the Swan Inn, West Street. There were several booths into which barrels of beer were rolled and quickly consumed by people anxious to prove by their drinking capacity their devotion to the Throne. There was also a temporary wooden bandstand

erected upon which the old Town Band played and drank. A substantial dinner of roast beef and plum pudding was provided for the poor in the field, and also for the inmates of the County Gaol and Workhouse. Public dinners were also given at the Anchor and Richmond Hotels, and a ball at the King’s Head was one of the most drunken days that I remember.’

KING EDWARD VII

Following her death, Queen Victoria’s body was transported by train, passing through Horsham on its way to London. When Horsham marked the coronation of Edward VII, it celebrated Britain’s past with an historic procession organised by the Horsham Carnival Society. Themes included Sir Francis Drake continuing to play bowls when informed of the approaching Spanish Armada, and Horatio Nelson’s heroics at Trafalgar.

Coronation Day was going to be 26 June, but was postponed to 9 August. An organising committee was established, starting with services at St Mary’s, St Mark’s and Holy Trinity. Music was played by the Horsham Town Band on the Carfax bandstand. This was followed by an

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People all ages enjoyed the celebrations (©Toby Phillips Photography)

Diva Sarah Esser-Haswell (©TPP)

‘Is that really them?’

(©TPP)

Piries Place (©TPP)

Old Peoples’ Dinner at the King’s Head Assembly Rooms, and an assembly of societies and children in the Carfax and North Street. At 2.30pm, there was a procession involving the Town Band, Fire Brigade, Salvation Army Band and the Church Lads’ Brigade Band, followed by a children’s tea and more music.

KING GEORGE V

Horsham celebrated the Coronation of George V on Thursday 22 June 1911. The core element was once again a procession, with ‘cars’ representing various historical events (not motor cars, but carriages with tableaux) including the Battle of Waterloo and Britain’s overseas colonies.

Celebrations began at 10am with the national anthem performed by the Horsham Town Band and the Horsham Recreation Silver Band. The Silver Band continued to play, while the Town Band led the Territorials on parade to St Mary’s, where members of the Horsham Urban District Council were waiting for the 11am service. The Old People’s Dinner was held at the Corn Exchange, before the party headed to the Horsham Central Picture Hall. At 3.30pm, schoolchildren of

Horsham were presented with mugs (Horsham Museum has a couple in its collections) and this was followed by a tea for children in Manor House Meadow, where there was also an ‘Ascent of Fire Balloons’ and games. At 7pm, the historic procession was followed by music and a ‘Battle of Confetti’.

KING EDWARD VIII

Horsham, like the nation in general, had looked forward to the Coronation of King Edward VIII. A sub-committee of the council was formed to co-ordinate events and activities, and committed to giving every school child in Horsham Urban District a mug, produced by the British Pottery Manufacturers Federation. However, after the story about the King’s relationship with Wallis Simpson came out, Edward VIII abdicated and George VI was declared King. In Horsham, the order for King Edward VIII Coronation mugs was cancelled! But, as the County Times reported, there was still a Coronation to prepare for; just not the one intended...

‘Preparation for the Coronation celebrations will be resumed early in the New Year. The work had been proceeding rapidly until the crisis

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Celebrating with a drink at The Black Jug (©Toby Phillips Photography)

arose over the desire of King Edward VIII to marry Mrs Simpson and the announcement of his abdication. The accession of the Duke of York and his being proclaimed King George VI last Saturday, with the official decision that the Coronation should take place on May 12 1937 as originally arranged, enables the committees to be ready to proceed as soon as Christmas is over.’

The Electrical Works were built in 1902 to provide lighting to Horsham, and on 22 Feb 1937, it was agreed that floodlighting equipment could be hired to light the council offices and Town Hall for the Coronation celebrations. Out of its event budget of £273, nearly £150 was spent on electrical lighting!

QUEEN ELIZABETH II

Some fascinating film footage has survived from the local celebrations of Queen Elizabeth II’s Coronation in 1953. Screen Archive South East has footage of the Carfax bandstand decorated as a huge crown and a street party at Upper Bennetts Road. It includes fancy dress competitions, running races and children being handed commemoration mugs.

A Horsham Souvenir Programme was produced, detailing events in the town. There was a Coronation Tea at the Drill Hall on Thursday 4 June, arranged by the Townswomen’s Guild and the W.V.S. The Grand Procession started in Bennetts Road and went through town before ending at North Parade. There were 37 entrants from schools, clubs and organisations, with Blue Star Harriers having a theme of ‘The Boyhood of Raleigh’ and Horsham Young Farmers’ Club presenting ‘Tortures Through the Ages’. Other

highlights included a display by Dagenham Girl Pipers, The Guard Corps of Drums and a Grand Firework Display in Horsham Park.

A Coronation Ball at The Drill Hall on Friday 5 June included the first appearance in Horsham by Stanley Black and his Orchestra, featuring musical, radio and television stars of the day including Diana Coupland (who went on to start in ‘Bless This House’) and Monty Norman, the composer of the James Bond Theme.

Words: Jeremy Knight

(edited by Ben Morris)

Photos: Toby Phillips Photography/ Posters courtesy of The Friends of Horsham Museum

Thanks: Richard Park, who provided a copy of the 1953 Horsham Souvenir Programme for this feature. To the Friends of Horsham Museum for providing posters from the Albury Collection, which can be viewed online athorshamposters.com

You can watch the 1953 footage at: https://screenarchive.brighton. ac.uk/detail/2275/)

Fortune Strings performed at the Museum (©Toby Phillips Photography)

Giovanni Spano got the crowd going (©Toby Phillips Photography)

Bandstand music (©TPP) Will enjoys the music (©TPP)

Dan and Trevor Evershed at the North Sussex Soccer Academy (©AAH/Alan Wright)

THE EQUALISERS

ALL ARE WELCOME AT THE FOOTBALL ACADEMY WHERE THE FOCUS IS ON FUN

On Saturday mornings, youngsters flock to Horsham Park to enjoy football sessions run by North Sussex Soccer Academy.

The Academy welcomes children of all abilities from the age of four, with some continuing until they are 11-years-old. The sessions are held every Saturday from 10 – 11.30am in Horsham Park (near to The Rec) with children split by age across four pitches. Sometimes, bad weather means a session is cancelled, but the organisers do their best to provide football throughout the year, with the emphasis firmly on fun.

Dan Evershed, a coach at NSSA, said: ‘When you are coaching four-year-olds, it can be challenging to organise drills, as they just want to run around and chase the ball! For most of the children, our sessions are their first experience of football, so the most important

thing is to make sure they have fun. We do teach them how to pass and dribble, but we also play games that keep them moving and smiling.’

‘By the time they are six or seven, most children have an understanding of the game and some may be playing in local teams too. But others are still coming along for the first time at that age and its important to give them the opportunity to develop their skills and enjoy the game, without them feeling out of place as they might do in a team, where there’s a degree of competitiveness.’

‘At eight or nine, most are looking to join local teams, such as Horsham Sparrows and Roffey Robins. We help parents find a club for their child if they want to continue playing, as we have developed contacts over the years. In some instances, new teams have been formed

from the players here, within a certain age group. We often see the nine and ten-year-olds come back in the summer, so that they can keep playing once their regular football season is over.’

FOUNDING FATHER

The North Sussex Soccer Academy was founded in 1994 by Ted Streeter. Ted is wellknown in sporting circles, having devoted most of his life to playing and coaching in Sussex, including a stint heading Youth Development at Brighton & Hove Albion FC. When he retired two years ago, the Academy was taken over by his friend and long-serving coach Trevor Evershed, who continues to run it with wife his Louise and son Dan.

Young players gather at Horsham Park (©Alan Wright)

North Sussex Soccer Academy (©Alan Wright) North Sussex Soccer Academy (©Alan Wright) North Sussex Soccer Academy (©Alan Wright)

Trevor said: ‘I brought Dan along for the first time in 1995 and after a few weeks, offered to help Ted. Dan was in tears on his first visit here as he wasn’t sure if he’d like it, yet we’re both still here 28 years later. There’s always been a community feel to the sessions, as Ted had the right ethos and a good team of people around him, including David Barnard, who we sadly

is that the sessions are pay-as-you-go, so parents can bring their child down to see if they enjoy it. There’s no long-term commitment, it’s affordable, and it’s convenient for families that way. We’re open to everyone, so we see new faces here every week, which makes it very easy for the children to fit in quickly.’

PROFESSIONAL PLAYERS

Over the course of nearly three decades, the Saturday sessions have provided an introduction to football for thousands of local children. Some are excited and raring to get stuck in, while others are nervous and need

Shooting drills at NSSA (©AAH/AW) Girls and boys play together (©AAH/AW) Kids can support Newcastle again! (©AAH/AW)

There was a time when it wasn’t unusual for a hundred children to turn up on a Saturday. An abundance of other sports available –and of course video games – means the Academy doesn’t draw quite so many these days, but it still has about 50 regulars. Inevitably, some have gone on to become very good footballers. This includes Harry Lee, a defender signed by Brighton and Hove Albion, who has also represented England at U18 level. Others who have played at a high level include Will Collar (Stockport County) and James Tilley (Crawley Town), while others have played for Horsham FC.

Louise, who collects the £5 fee for the session and handles administrative duties, said: ‘It’s wonderful when young players go on to play at a high level, as that is what most of the boys dream about. But our aim is to encourage children to enjoy football and continue playing locally. We will often be in town and someone will say ‘hello’ and have a chat about football. With Ted, it was more a passion than a business, and we’ve maintained that ethos. As well as Saturday mornings, we organise courses during school holidays, with various games and end-of-week awards, and there’s always a pleasant family atmosphere.’

GIRLS WELCOME

Recent years have seen a rapid growth in the popularity of the women’s game, with clubs forming across the country. Thea Ryder is studying sports coaching at university and has played for local teams

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.

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

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Current Opening times:

Monday to Sunday 9am to 4pm Food Service: 9am to 3pm

Tel: 01403 732539

Web: sumnersponds.co.uk

Instagram: @sumnersponds

Facebook.com/SumnersPonds

The Horsham Park sessions are a great introduction to the beautiful game (©AAH/Alan Wright) NSSA (©AAH/Alan Wright)

‘We see new faces here every week, which makes it very easy for the children to fit in quickly.’

including Horsham Sparrows and Roffey. For the past two years, she has been volunteering at the Academy to improve her coaching skills and gain experience of working with young people. But there is one thing she would like to see, and that’s more girls!

Thea said: ‘There has been progress, but football is still a male dominated sport and sadly we only see a handful of girls on a Saturday morning. In my opinion, more needs to be done to promote football at schools, to engage girls at a younger age. Currently, most of the focus is on hockey and netball, which are great sports too, but I think that for continued growth in the women’s game, we need to see more development at a grass roots level.’

Another of the Academy’s volunteer coaches, Doug Cave, says that the Saturday morning sessions are a good place for youngsters to learn, as there’s no pressure.

He said: ‘Even at the age of eight or nine, some football clubs and some parents get carried away by the excitement, and there’s too much emphasis on winning. It is difficult for new players to go into that environment. We’ve been around long enough to know that the most important thing is to enjoy the game and our hope is that some of these kids will carry on playing youth football ranks.’

‘The exceptional ones may go on to play for Horsham FC, but those players might appear once every few years. However, I spent many years playing for local clubs like Slinfold and the game has provided me with great memories. It’s not all about reaching the top.’

Words: Ben Morris

Photos: Alan Wright

For more details, please call 07557 060654 or visit the North Sussex Soccer Academy Facebook page.

NSSAHorsham

Thea Ryder is encouraging more girls to play (©AAH/Alan Wright)

Coach Doug Cave sees many benefits to playing sport (©AAH/Alan Wright)

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KEEP IT LOCAL

EXPLORING THE GREAT MARKETS OF THE HORSHAM DISTRICT

Piries Place Vegan Market

Last Saturday of the month

Conveniently placed in the centre of Horsham in the newly-developed Piries Place piazza, this market takes place on the last Saturday of each month, from 9.30am - 3.30pm, the next event being on Saturday 24 June.

Featuring up to 16 stalls, the market offers tasty food, from plant-based artisan ‘cheeze’, pies and savouries to delectable cakes and sweet treats, with gluten-free options of course! In addition to a couple of hot food stalls, you will find anything from make-up and body care to eco-friendly household goods and gifts, all vegan and cruelty free!

Carfax Markets

Thursdays & Saturdays

Held every Thursday and Saturday, from 9am – 4pm, the Carfax markets have a wonderful range of food, drink, produce and crafts. On Saturday, the focus is on local produce with about 50 stalls featuring products either made or significantly enhanced within 40 miles of Horsham.

Regular stalls include award-winning sausages, butchery with a range of locally-reared meat, fishmonger with fish landed on the south coast, freshly-laid eggs, bread and patisserie, organic fruit and vegetables, delicious cakes, cookies, brownies and macarons, biltong, nut butters, sausage rolls, chilli sauces, chocolate, pies, cheese, dog treats, flowers and plants, plus a growing number of guest traders. There’s also jewellery, clothing, crochet, pottery, artwork, homewares, candles, woodwork and much more. Local crafters and

artists often demonstrate their skills and are happy to talk about the process and provenance of their products, with many making products to order.

There are regular music performances on the bandstand too, with brass bands and traditional entertainment in the mornings and acoustic performers and bands playing at lunchtime. This provides the perfect backdrop for a street food lunch, cup of coffee, or perhaps something stronger: we have a great selection of local ales, wine and spirits. Global eats include mouth-watering Vietnamese, Thai, Korean, Indian, Syrian, Slovakian, South African, French, Japanese and more.

We have two exciting new events for 2023. Food Rocks Sunday Lunch features great food, drink and music around the bandstand and is held on the last Sunday of the month from May to September, from 11am. Food Rocks Friday runs from 12 – 8pm every Friday in June. For details of traders and special events, visit horshammarkets.co.uk

Whether you are a fully-fledged vegan or just dipping your toe in the plant-based world, you are sure to find something of interest at this great market. All profits from pitch sales are donated to local charity Holbrook Animal Rescue, and Animals Asia. For details, visit @veganfesthorsham or email veganfesthorsham@gmail.com

West Street Entrepreneurs Markets, Horsham

Held every Saturday

Coden Events are proud to operate West Street Entrepreneurs Markets every Saturday at the bottom of West Street, near Wilko.

We have an eclectic mix of traders with fresh produce, antiques, local online businesses and general produce. Regulars include Coden’s Greengrocers, Bon Bon (antiques/brocantes), Swans and Swifts (fashion/accessories), Vintage Bric-a-Brac, Food by Georgia (cakes and savouries), Flowers by Sean and Plants by Raynor, with many more stalls each week.

We work with the surrounding shops and businesses to enhance the area and provide an exciting and varied shopping experience. The market has been operating for 25 years and has become part of the fabric of the town. We also recently hosted the NMTF Young Trader Market, encouraging new young traders into the industry too (see separate feature). Our opening hours are 9am - 4pm in winter, 9am - 5pm in summer. We are always on the lookout for new traders, so if you would like to know more, please email zac@codenevents.co.uk

Kukuya Kitchen (©AAH/Alan Wright)

The Hungry Guest Bangers Galore

Coden Greengrocers (©AAH/Alan Wright)

Vegan Market (©AAH/Alan Wright)

Henfield Artisan Market Second Sunday of the Month

Henfield’s new artisan market has a great buzz and brings together both local high-end artisan makers and food and drink producers. It is located in a large, dedicated space with stalls in brightly-coloured blue and white gazebos.

We have an amazing range of talented craft stalls offering jewellery, pottery, woodwork, leather crafts, candles and art, to name just a few, as well as local floristry. If you are more of a ‘foodie’ then sample our delicious range of

Cabin Pressure Spirits (©AAH/Alan Wright)

Steyning Farmers Market

First Saturday of the month

Steyning Farmers Market is on the first Saturday of every month, from 9am -1pm. Supported by Steyning and District Business Chamber and Horsham District Council, the market is held in the High Street Car Park.

The market only adds to the appeal of this wonderful, busy high street, full of independent shops and cafes. It is a great way to buy directly from local producers, with opportunities to stock up on everything from vegetables, meat, cheese, fish, bread, cakes and pies to delicious spices, dips and sauces. You will also find stalls selling plants, flowers, tea and coffee, as well as local breweries, vineyards and distillers.

Greening Steyning are ever-present, collecting hard-to-recycle objects, and you can also bring items to be fixed by one of the local repair café volunteers. We have live music to entertain you whilst you shop and many organisations promote events and initiatives throughout the year. It’s a lovely community event, with a relaxed and friendly atmosphere that is not to be missed.

Billingshurst Artisan Market

Third Sunday of the Month

The market launched in October 2022 in the heart of Billingshurst village. We were able to start with the help of Horsham District Council, who have supported us ever since, along with Billingshurst Parish Council and Visit Horsham.

The market is held in the Six Bells car park and attracts about 30 – 35 stalls every month with varied produce and crafts. You can find anything and everything from local plants and sheep wool compost to handmade earrings

locally-made meats, cakes, savoury food, hot sauces, spirits and much more. The market is growing in popularity and we are now offering local musicians a venue to perform in too. We work hard to make sure everyone receives a friendly welcome and create a great vibe for stall holders and customers. It’s a great place to meet up with friends or just bump into people you haven’t seen for a while! Find us in Coopers Way Car Park, BN5 9EQ (formerly the Budgen’s Car Park)

and vegan doughnuts. Most traders are from within a 20-mile radius of Billingshurst and some are based here in the village.

We have little waste and do not allow carrier bags or unrecyclable containers unless compostable, to help a sustainable, circular economy. Pitch fees are only £25 to encourage small businesses to flourish and we have supported the young traders’ scheme, providing a free pitch and other support to help them on their way. Our first new stall holder from this scheme joined us in May, selling her own artworks. As a CIC and not run for profit, monies made from our markets after expenses go back into the community.

billingshurstartisanmarket.com

Steyning Farmers Market (©AAH/Alan Wright)

Billingshurst Artisan Market (©AAH/Alan Wright)

Billingshurst Artisan Market (©AAH/Alan Wright)

FRESH IDEAS

SUCCESSFUL COMPETITION FOR YOUNG MARKET TRADERS

Horsham hosted a heat of the UK Young Market Trader of the Year competition on Sunday 30 April.

Organised by Horsham District Council in association with the National Market Traders Federation (NMTF) and local market operators, the event provided up-and-coming businesses with an opportunity to showcase their products. There was a broad range of goods including handmade chocolates, cakes and savouries, bags and accessories, crochet and home décor, eco-friendly household products and artisan liqueurs.

Viburna Spirits, an artisan liqueur company, was declared the winner. Jade’s Sweet Bakes, Plastic Free Refills, Resident Pheasant

and CWJ London were all highly commended. These companies go forward to the South-East Regional Final at Borough Market in London on Sunday 16 July and then potentially the national final in Stratford-on-Avon later in the summer. The judges were led by a team from the NMTF and included John Bartlett (Sussex Faire), Ben Morris (AAH) and Sarah Gorrell (BBC Radio Sussex).

The NMTF Market was one element of a spring campaign by the Council to attract new, young traders to the District’s markets. It was held alongside the West Street Entrepreneurs’ Markets, which was launched in January. The Entrepreneurs’ Market provides a platform for many types of stalls,

ranging from traditional fruit and veg to antiques.

Zac Coden of Coden Events, which runs the West Street Entrepreneurs’ Markets, said: ‘The young market entrepreneurs’ competition was a success and we will definitely partner with the NMTF to bring it to Horsham again next year. We were impressed by the variety of goods on offer, from sustainable household products to high quality cakes, chocolates and liqueurs, and it was a joy to welcome so many new traders and customers. We are actively looking to support more young traders in Horsham and were encouraged by the number of people who approached us on the day to enquire about having a stall in

Horsham as part of West Street Entrepreneurs’ Markets.’

WORDS: Ben Morris

PHOTOS: Alan Wright

Further information:

For more on Horsham markets: visithorsham.co.uk/category/ markets

For more on the NMTF YTM: nmtf.co.uk/campaigns/ytm23/ For more about having a stall at a Horsham District Market: horsham.gov.uk/business/district -markets

Over the next few pages, we feature some of the young market traders to find out about their hopes for the future.

Resident Pheasant

Anna Laird

A friend ‘gifted’ me some chocolates during lockdown, but the box didn’t fit in my letterbox. I had the idea of starting a chocolate gift box company that did things differently, and at that precise moment I spotted a pheasant in the garden. That is where the name comes from!

We specialise in letterbox gifts that contain either three, six or nine chocolate bars. Customers can select the flavours online and add a free message. Our dark bars include orange, mint, 70%, ginger zing and orange explosion, and the milk chocolate range incudes honeycomb, fudge, sea salt, caramel sea salt and billionaire shortbread. We

also have a white chocolate bar, Eton mess. Each flavour has its own branding, inspired by vintage patterns. Lots of people say, “I had curtains like that once!” I’m a self-taught designer and create the branding myself, working with a chocolatier who crafts bars, buttons, chocolate bombs and other novelty items. Everything is eco-friendly and we use a compostable film too, so there is zero plastic.

Although our focus is online trade, markets like this one in Horsham give people a chance to try our products and learn about our business and ethos.

residentpheasant.co.uk

@respheasantuk

Renovated 16th Century Barn

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

Strawberry Fields Tea Rooms

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

Pick Your Own Strawberries

You can pick our famous strawberries, a perfect day for all the family. Please check our Facebook page and website for updates about on when the fruit is ready for picking.

Anna Laird, Founder of Resident Pheasant: Chocolate with Attitude (©AAH/Alan Wright)

Jade’s Sweet Bakes

Jade Field

The business started in lockdown, as I wanted something to do with my four children. Two years later, it is a full-time business for me. I was obsessed with brownies, but couldn’t find any that I really loved in my home town of Hastings. So, I made my own and shared them with family and friends.

My sister was encouraging and suggested that I set up a business, but I wasn’t so sure. She ploughed on regardless, setting up an Instagram page that gave me a platform. We developed a partnership with Hastings FC, where our bakes sell well, and also visit pop-ups and markets across Sussex.

The Family Law Partners office is in central Horsham. We also advise clients in Billingshurst, Cranleigh, Crawley, Godalming, Guildford and surrounding areas.

The range of products has expanded too. We like to be different and quirky, making things you wouldn’t expect to see in a bakery or shopm like cookies with ganache centres, cornflake blondies, and brownies with Smarties. Other treats incorporate Frodo bars or Milky Ways. My children are helpful and give me ideas, including the Oreo cookie bar, which is now a bestseller. You can’t argue with kids, as they know sweets better than anyone!

@jades.sweetbakes

A different approach to family law

Our Horsham team deliver exceptional client care and promote the use of alternative dispute resolution to help minimise both the emotional and financial cost of separation.

We can help you with:

• Divorce and Separation

• Dissolution of Civil Partnerships

• Cohabitation disputes

• Children matters

• Prenuptial and Postnuptial agreements

• Cohabitation agreements

• Mediation and Collaborative Law

For a confidential conversation and to learn more about our fixed fee appointments contact our team:

01403 599215

info@familylawpartners.co.uk

www.familylawpartners.co.uk

Jade Field talks to Sarah Gorrell of BBC Radio Sussex (©AAH/Alan Wright)

AnyBobs

Kathryn Bland

I started crocheting just as a hobby, but it reached the point that I had made so many things that I needed to sell some. I went along to a couple of Christmas markets last year and although the business is still young, I hope to attend more markets in Horsham.

I try to appeal to a wide range of ages, so I have hair accessories like scrunchies, seasonal items such as woolly hats, as well as pillows and blankets made with baby-safe wool, which is kind to sensitive skin. One of the most popular items is the HugAlls, which are cuddly creatures that can be made happy or sad, or other facial expressions!

I hope that they will become a product that I can brand in future, as I like the idea of customers being able to choose not only the size and colour of their HugAll, but also its mood. Perhaps they could come with a certificate too, like the soft toys at Build-A-Bear workshops. But first, I need to establish a portfolio of products and build my presence online

@_AnyBobs_ AnyBobs23@gmail.com

One of Kathryn’s HugAlls (©AAH/Alan Wright)

Jess Scott, DragonSprite (©AAH/Alan Wright)

DragonSprite

Jess Scott

I make hand-made items relating to fantasy games and cosplay. Most of what I do is aimed at fans of Dungeons & Dragons and other live-action role-play (LARP) games. In DND, you play with a 20-sided dice and a 20 is an important score. I place a dice within potions and you can shake it to see your score, adding a little extra fun to the game. The potions all come in different colours, but are not fragranced and are purely decorative. Lots of people like to use them for ‘life and death saving’ throws in DND. I also sell candles, wax melts and cosplay accessories such as elf ears. The candles and melts are also DND themed, with names including Charm Person, Critical Success and Bardic Inspiration. Each one has its own own distinctive scent.

I live in Horsham, where there is a strong DND fanbase, but no local shop catering for them. Gobsmack Comics is great, but it doesn’t have a stay-and-play area, so some of us cosplay enthusiasts are hoping to establish regular events where we can meet for LARP games.

I launched my business at the end of 2019, attending markets around Greenwich and continuing online during the lockdown. I make my products using leather, from handbags to small accessories such as hip flask pouches and passport holders.

I receive a lot of commissions, so people can choose their style and colour and customise it for their needs and lifestyle. Price varies, as some leathers cost more than others, and bags or wallets with extra compartments take

longer to stitch. We offer a ‘buyback’ scheme so when customers upgrade their CWJ London bag, I’ll buy back their old one to ensure it’s reused.

As I am diabetic, I’ve made a bag that stores my medical equipment. This is an idea I’m trying to develop, as medical bags usually have a clinical look and I’m sure I’m not alone in wanting something that is affordable and stylish, as well as functional.

DragonSprite (©AAH/Alan Wright)

Charlotte sells a range of leather goods (©AAH/Alan Wright)

Viburna Spirits

Benedict Derbyshire

While walking my dog during the pandemic, I started picking fruit from the hedgerows in Cornwall and accumulated quite a lot. I had the option of making a pudding or a liqueur and chose the fun option!

In my naivety, I thought I was picking sloes, so my plan was to make sloe gin. What I made tasted wonderful, but it wasn’t sloe gin. I realised I’d actually been picking kea plums, so my first spirit was a happy accident! The business grew from there, and I called it Viburna Spirits, as vibernum is Latin for hedgerow.

I have seven liqueurs including a limoncello, coffee liqueur, blackberry liqueur, toffee coffee and a crème de Cassis, made to a traditional French recipe dating back to the 1890s.

Selfishly, I base everything I make on what I like, and hope that others enjoy it too. I am a huge fan of the espresso martini and our coffee liqueur is fantastic on its own, or to use in a cocktail. I find most limoncello in the UK is too bitter and sour, so have created something new, with more floral notes, and it can truly be enjoyed after a meal.

Although we are based in Oxted, Surrey, we have visited market towns in Sussex and Kent too, introducing people to the products. A lot of people try samples and then buy a selection of miniatures, and hopefully come back to order larger bottles on our website. So, markets are ideal for reaching potential customers.

viburnaspirits.co.uk @viburna_spirits

The Melting Pot

Sarah Griffin

My business is only a few weeks old, as I am studying confectionery and patisserie at Westminster Kingsway College, while also working at Kipling’s at Newbridge Nurseries, close to home in Broadbridge Heath.

At college, we recently learned how to make filled chocolates, and I loved it so much that I decided to make my own at home and establish a small business. I make 12 chocolates, with four fondant cremes (strawberry, raspberry, orange and Irish cream), four ganache (chocolate, hazelnut, orange and peppermint) and four caramels (salted, cherry, lime and lime and passionfruit). They are made with natural ingredients and they are all available as dairy-free chocolates too, so we are vegan-friendly.

If I was to pick a favourite, it would be the lime caramel. It’s a twist on the traditional hard-boiled chocolate limes, which have a lime outside and softer chocolate centre. I’ve just turned the two around! The business is only in its infancy and I do not have much stock at the moment, but I hope to be able to give it more focus once I have completed my college course.

Sarah Griffin, The Melting Pot

Viburna Spirits (©AAH/Alan Wright) Toffee Vodka (©AAH/Alan Wright)

Benedict Derbyshire, founder of Viburna Spirits (©AAH/Alan Wright)

The Melting Pot (©AAH/Alan Wright)

Plastic Free Refills

Jozef Wozniak

I was previously a waste analyst, travelling around the country visiting landfill and other waste streams to assess and weigh composite materials, sending the data to local authorities to hopefully improve their recycling systems. It was a messy job, and took me to all corners of the UK. I built up a knowledge of what happens to our waste and how small differences can make a significant difference.

Sink sponges really niggled me, as so many people buy cheap ones from the supermarket and chick them out when they’re oily or dirty. It’s incredible how many you see in landfill. I needed a change, so I took this knowledge to form Plastic Free Refills, promoting ethical and sustainable products. I was living in Wales prior to Covid and started the business there, before moving back to Horsham, where I grew up. People in Horsham are more in tune to sustainable products and recycling. We sell products by the likes of Arundel-based ecoLiving, including eco-friendly loofahs and bath sponges. Sea sponge really doesn’t want to be taken out of its natural habitat so you can wash yourself in the bath!

The refill service is also popular, with shampoo, conditioner, cleaning products and laundry detergents available, so people can refill empty bottles. It’s cheap too, which is something that surprises many people.

plasticfreerefills.co.uk

plasticfreerefills

HEAT PUMPS

The government’s Boiler Upgrade Scheme can help offset the cost of installing a heat pump. Receive up to £5000 towards installation of an air or ground source heat pump.

SOLAR PV

Ground Mounted, In Roof & On-Roof Sytems for the home, with commerical systems also catered for. Make large saving on your energy bills with clean green energy.

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www.landsmart.eco Email: enquiry@landsmart.eco Tel: 0208 687 5588

EV CHARGERS

We take care of the paperwork. That means we inform your Distribution Network Operator and help you claim any government grants you may qualify for.

SMART ENERGY

Monitor and manage solar energy production by diverting the extra PV energy to heat water, or activate other smart devices.

Jozef runs a refill service and also sells eco-friendly products (©AAH/Alan Wright)

Jozef Wozniak at Plastic Free Refills (©AAH/Alan Wright)

Special Offer on all Scooters

Free 12-month service, 3 months free insurance and £50 voucher on a scooter accessory.

Ultra Lite Mobility Scooter: Illusion

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Ultra Lite weight Rollator: Zoom Plus

£189 (exc. VAT)

Comes in three sizes and is lighweight and easy to handle. Features include a new braking system, soft-roll EVA tyres giving increased control on laminate flooring, and improved shock absorption and comfort. Folds quickly and effortlessly for travel and storage.

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We offer a full range of riser-recliners, high seat fireside armchairs and complementary sofas. Designed and crafted by skilled craftsmen using the very best materials to create upholstery that will stand the test of time.

AIMING HIRE

KING & STEVENS CELEBRATES 50 YEARS AS A FAMILY-RUN FIRM

King & Stevens Ltd in West Grinstead is this year celebrating its 50th anniversary as a family-run business. We meet founder Keith King and his wife Susan, who have passed on the reins to son Darren and daughter Jane Medhurst.

QUAINT VILLAGE

When Keith first moved to West Grinstead in 1953, it was a very different place. The South Downs Line was still in operation, linking Horsham to the coast at Shoreham, and it would be another 13 years before the last train left the station.

West Grinstead was also known for its stables. Tony Grantham was a leading jockey, having won the Cheltenham Gold Cup, and his father

was a renowned horse dealer and liveryman who conducted much of his business at the village pub, The Tabby Cat. As a lad, Keith would take horses from the station to the stables. By the time he co-founded King & Stevens Ltd in 1973, the railway line had closed, dramatically altering the local landscape.

Keith said: ‘In the early years, we ran the business from home, only moving to our current location on the A272 between Cowfold and Buck Barn in 1986. There was still a humpback bridge on the road, over the old rail line, and when they removed it, some of the brickwork was buried in our yard. As the years have passed, the road has become increasingly busy. There was a time when I could pull straight out of Park Lane on to the main road 99 times out of 100. Now, I have to wait for traffic 99 times out of a 100.’

BUILDING A BUSINESS

After serving an apprenticeship as a mechanic in Partridge Green, Keith started King & Stevens with a friend, maintaining the name after his business partner departed. The focus of the business has evolved over the years to meet demand, although plant hire has always been central the company.

For a while, gas companies kept them busy, as they required diggers to build trenches for the laying of supply pipes. James Longley & Co was another regular customer, hiring heavy plant machinery to develop racecourses, including Cheltenham and Goodwood. When Keith noted a growing trend of construction firms investing in their own plant machinery, he decided to pursue new revenue streams.

Louisa, Darren, Susan, Keith and Jane at King & Stevens Ltd

(©AAH/Alan Wright)

King & Stevens Ltd (©AAH/Alan Wright) King & Stevens Ltd (©AAH/Alan Wright) King & Stevens Ltd (©AAH/Alan Wright)

He said: ‘We had the idea of making our machinery available for self-drive hire, for DIY builders working on small-scale or even single property developments. At the time, few businesses offered that service, and we were not aware of anyone else doing that in West Sussex. We couldn’t do that with heavy plant machinery, but it was possible to do with smaller machinery, such as mini excavators and dumpers. When another business specialising in construction tools came up for sale in Burgess Hill, we bought that too, so we could offer not only plant hire but also tools for the construction and horticultural industries.’

DO IT YOURSELF

In recent years, Keith and Susan have stepped back from day-to-day operations, but King & Stevens remains very much a family business. Son Darren trained as a motorcycle mechanic before joining the company, while daughter Jane runs the plant hire and office, and Louisa handles accounts.

Jane said: ‘Darren has been pivotal to expanding the shop, which now stocks a huge range of tools and gardening equipment and is an authorised dealer for leading brands including Husqvarna and Stiga, as we have evolved to offer gardening equipment too. Now, our customers work not only in construction. They are tree surgeons, landscape gardeners,

Approved

for:

tradespeople and DIY builders, so we have different facets of the business that complement one another. Some come to us for cherry pickers or plant hire, such as diggers, rollers, dumpers and chippers. Others hire tools including carpet cleaners, generators, hedge trimmers and angle grinders. Now there’s a

Also Approved for

Monza Sport is an approved service dealer for Fiat, Alfa Romeo, Abarth and now Jeep, offering the highest levels of customer satisfaction.

We offer servicing & MOTs, parts and tuning services, aircon re-gas, tyre fitting and 4 wheel laser alignment We have special labour rates for older cars and offer courtesy cars

We have a vastly experienced Service Manager in Keith Avey and one of the country’s best technicians and diagnostic experts in Kevin Riddles On four occasions we’ve topped the JD Power customer satisfaction surveys for Alfa Romeo (*No 1 out of 165 Fiat, Alfa Romeo and Chrysler Jeep dealers for customer satisfaction in the UK, Jan - Mar 2018)

Cleaning plant machinery at King & Stevens (©AAH/Alan Wright) Louisa King, Jez Piper and Jane Medhurst (©AAH/Alan Wright)

‘The business has loyal customers, as it offers flexibility as an independent, family business.’

Jeep owners concerned about the closure of Horsham Car Centre can now have their Jeep serviced and warranty work carried out by Fiat Group trained technicians at Monza Sport Call us for details

wide range of tools and gardening equipment in the shop, from lithium-battery powered leaf-blowers to ride-on lawnmowers. Sometimes, people forget we’re traditionally a plant hire company, but that’s still an important part of what we do!’

EXPERIENCED TEAM

King & Stevens has a vastly experienced servicing team too. They look after the plant machinery and tools that are available for hire, and also repair and service equipment belonging to customers. The business has many loyal customers, as it offers flexibility as an independent, family-run company.

Keith said: ‘It’s been a hard slog to stay in business 50 years, but we’ve always found a way. It helps that we always owned the property and that helped us get through tough times and recessions. If anything, the climate today is tougher than ever, with not only more competition but more health and safety regulations.’

‘For those of us who have been around for a long time, these rules can seem over the top, but it’s something we have to abide by and we are a Safe Hire Certified Company, accredited by Hire Association Europe. Darren, Jane and Louisa and the team around them are very good at balancing all the business requirements while still looking after our customers. My wife and I are proud that it’s still a family business, although it’s very much theirs now. They’re more than capable of ensuring it keeps going for many more years to come!’

WORDS: Ben Morris

PHOTOS: Alan Wright

Further information: (01403) 864487 hire@kingandstevens.co.uk kingandstevens.co.uk

Dave Van Der Pijll, Darren King and Alex Dalrymple (©AAH/Alan Wright)

Alex Dalrymple at King & Stevens Ltd (©AAH/Alan Wright)

FINAL WORD

MSK PARTNERSHIP’S COMMUNITY HEALTH TEST AT THE BRIDGE

‘Musculoskeletal health is critical for human function, enabling mobility, dexterity, and the ability to work and actively participate in all aspects of life.’

(Briggs et al 2021)

MSK disorders affect around ten million people across the UK and account for the fourth largest NHS programme budget spend of £5billion in England. We now know they account for the biggest part of the workload of the health service, 40% of which is due to potentially preventable risk factors.

The impact of Covid has seen waits for community service increase and access for people with MSK conditions harder than it has ever been locally. This has a huge potential to impact MSK conditions becoming more chronic. For some people, advice and guidance are all that is needed to support their self-management, but for others, more comprehensive intervention is needed.

We have evidenced the incredible impacts that personalised care has on people and the NHS. The transformative experience this has on those receiving and delivering care when the conversation shifts from ‘what’s the matter with you?’ to ‘what matters to you’. We also recognise that some people need support beyond their MSK condition and that connecting people to the community they live in is an important part of their health and wellbeing, and potential recovery.

With all this in mind, Sussex MSK Partnership wanted to create an event that identified what matters most to people and act on the information we find out, by providing the right

care for that person on the same day. The concept of the Community Appointment Day was born, offering people access to multiple specialties and healthcare professionals within one appointment, under one roof.

We took our team out of their regular clinical setting to meet people where they were in their community. Over 300 patients were invited to The Bridge Leisure Centre to connect with a range of professionals and specialities tailored to their individual needs. With a holistic lens and personalised approach to care, every attendee had an initial conversation to help us to fully understand what matters most to them and what they may be feeling about their health and wider life story. We asked questions to help build a bigger picture of a person’s expectations, goals, what selfhelp they may have tried so far and what they wanted from their time with us.

Based on this conversation, people were then signposted to the most relevant areas of the hall for their needs. We made time for individuals and clinicians to assess and explore symptoms together in partnership, really getting to understand how people were being impacted, whilst building the knowledge, skills, and confidence together to help them make decisions on the next steps that worked best for them. Our rehabilitation team were

on hand to tailor exercises for individuals and support them in understanding the impact of physical activity and why movement matters.

As we know people with MSK conditions will often present with other health and social concerns alongside symptoms, we invited a range of local community service providers, including Citizens Advice, Horsham District Wellbeing, Mind, Samaritans, and more, to join us in our Community Hub. This area supported individual needs by providing advice, information, and guidance, whilst promoting health and wellbeing for all.

The Community Appointment Day at The Bridge Leisure Centre was positively received by both service users and staff working in the service. Although many people weren’t sure what to fully expect from the day on arrival, people left with an overwhelming sense of having been listened to. Most people felt they had a better understanding of their concerns and more knowledge and guidance of what they could take away, to move forward in their health journey. Not only was there a benefit for our service users, but our staff too. The day provided an opportunity for the team to step out of their normal day, support each other, and work together, all whilst having sight of what’s available in the community to support people beyond just an MSK problem.

We aimed to empower patients to take control of their health journey and it feels like The Community Appointment Day did just that. sussexmskpartnershipcentral.co.uk

Over 300 patients were invited to the Bridge Leisure Centre (©AAH/Alan Wright)

‘So good to be able to talk to someone who understands your problem. Everyone was so helpful. This day is a really good idea!’

User Feedback

Laura Finucane (FMACP FCSP) Consultant Physiotherapist Clinical Director, Sussex MSK Partnership Central Sussex MSK Partnership is a unique local, not for profit partnership bringing together primary care, specialist musculoskeletal care, community and mental health and well-being experts to deliver the whole musculoskeletal service in central Sussex.

At Home

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