Ashdown Forest Living April issue

April 2012

Arthur Conan Doyle 70th Anniversary of Aspidistra A Bow to Davy Jones Call 01342 300152 to advertise

Business Directory & Community Magazine

serving the Residents of Ashdown Forest & nearby

17,000 copies delivered Door to Door Covering:

Nutley, Forest Row, Danehill, Chelwood Gate, Lindfield, Crowborough (West), Groombridge, Ashurst, Coleman’s Hatch, Fletching, Hartfield, Upper Hartfield, Frant, Sheffield Green, Hadlow Down, Wivlesfield, Maresfield and other places in & around the Ashdown Forest Area

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Index: Support Local Business

Dear Residents, Welcome to the April issue of the Ashdown Forest Living.

This month we are very lucky to be able to bring you,’The 70th Anniversary of Aspidistra’, jewel of World War II propaganda which brings a new facet to light of Ashdown Forest’s history.

Arthur Conan Doyle lived in Crowborough for a good deal of his life and frequented the Ashdown Forest and villages in this area, many of which feature in his stories. His omnipresent Sherlock Holmes leaves a legacy that is one of the most enduring of modern times. We are therefore pleased to be publishing a further insight into his life in Brian Pugh’s 2 page feature.

As you look to improve your house and garden this Spring please consider using our directory as the majority of our businesses are locally based.

If you are involved in community/charity work in the area, please drop us a line if you need extra publicity.

Accountant/Book-Keeping Family Chiropractic Clinic 15 TNMC Business Services

29

Kate Humphries, Counsellor 15 Reconnective Healing 15 Hire Fitness 21

15

Wiltshire Farm Food

6

Animals Cats Protection

Architects David Fry

Art Juliet Murray, Cogcrafts Concepts

7

Beauty Pretty Permanent Make-Up 17

Blinds Penumbra Blinds Blinds & Curtains Chez Soi Interiors

27 13 18

Bowls Isle of Thorns Bowls Club 19

Café/Function Venue/ Restaurant/Bar Brambletye Hotel

7

Car Scuffs Sussex 21 Nutley Motor Services Ltd. 21

Happy Easter!

With Best Wishes,

Care

Tally & Chris

TLC Nurses

Ashdown Forest Living To advertise call 01342 300152 info@ashdownforestliving.co.uk

Nanny Angels Cleaning Black Maids Ovenaid Dirty Ovens 6 8,10 12 12 12 14 16 16 22,24,26 26 28 30

This publication uses vegetable based inks on chlorine free paper

6 6 17 23

Dental Riverview Dental Centre 20

Computer The Computer Studio Sussex Doors

Home Maintenance Services/Products Allzones Roofing 3 Co Prob Windows/ Refurbishment 13 AI Plumbing 13 Ashdown Painting & Decorating 23 CEC Electrical Services 9 EPH Plumbing & Heating 13 Baileybridge Construction 25 Mid Sussex Timber 2 Fernwood Polishing/Wood Refurb 16 MRJ Electrical Services 9 MRM Plastering 27 MM Roofing 27

Kitchens Kitchens Bespoke Absolutely Kitchens

25 23

Offices for Rent Pippingford Manor

9

French Tuition German Tuition

11

Weightloss

Heating Oil Geoff Boorman Fuels

LG Burberry Landscape Contractors/Tree Surgeons 29 Richards Fencing 28 Sargents Tree Services 31 JH Vartan 29 AA Drives 29 Trencher/Mini-digger 29 Country Estate Management 29

11

Doors

19

Garden/Landscape

7

Tuition 4 4

Health/Wellbeing/Fitness

Rachel Ricketts

Lotte Berk Fitness Studio 23 Atlas Profilax 16 Aloe Vera – Sarah’s Story 7

32

Sussex Windows & Doors 9 Co Prop Window Installers 13

Windows

Local Weather?

Need a Local Busin ess Service? , ur latest issue Can’t find yo py? co a e se want to Visit our website for all of this & more.

Ashdown Forest Living Notice: Ashdown Forest Living prints various articles, features, and advertisements. Although these appear in Ashdown Forest Living, any opinions expressed are the opinion of the author, these are not necessarily the opinion of the publisher. © Copyright Ashdown Forest Living 2011. The contents of this publication are written specifically for our readers, no part may be reproduced elsewhere without express and prior permission.

• April 2012 • Ashdown Forest Living

5

Cleaning

Contents Recipe Arthur Conan Doyle article A Bow To Davy Jones Easter Miss Moneywise Quick Quiz/Sudoku Fabulous Garden Project English Language Aspidistra Fletching for Father’s Day Gardening Tips What’s On

9

Children

Food/Drink

www.ashdownforestliving.co.uk

info@ashdownforestliving.co.uk • tel: 01342 300152

The Ashdown Forest Living has grown from strength to strength with the majority of our customers continually renewing because our advertising has proven results.

“I jumped at the chance to have an ad in the ‘Ashdown living’ wh en I heard about it. The fact that it is del ivered by the Royal Mail means it gets to all those properties in and around the Ash down Forest area that are hard to reach.

This was proved to me when I won a job in Crowborough, at a house with 1km drivew ay! I’ve had great results advertising in this publication and will continue to do so for as long as it is around.”

at now th t you k g, our le o t d in te rest Liv st wan We “We ju t Asdown Fo y different. r u e o v h k graphic o o wit lo m e ld d ss wou g the rural esents busine u repr accessin end with yo he business n o ly re et, t ur sp hole. hilst o r budg and w e 30% of ou 75% of the w e m k o ore li only s ed is m rk! “ acquir od wo the go p u p Kee & Mel Helena rses u N C TL

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Please mention the Ashdown Forest Living when responding to adverts • April 2012 •

Fillet of Salmon with Lemon, Dill & Broad Bean Butter Sauce Serves 4

Simple and elegant with the taste of early summer

Method 1. Pre-heat oven to 180 °C/350°F gas mark 4.

Recipe by Chef

Dean Samsudin

at the Brambletye Hotel

Ingredients 100ml lemon juice 1 shallot, finely chopped 2 tbsp double cream 175g (6 oz) diced cold unsalted butter, for sauce Plus 1 oz butter for frying Salt & pepper 1 tbsp chopped dill

2. Put lemon juice and shallot in a pan and boil to reduce until almost gone - careful not to burn pan.

3. Add cream and bring to the boil again.

4. Whisk in diced butter little by little til thick, then season.

5. Heat butter and vegetable oil in non-stick pan and colour salmon on both sides.

6. Place in oven, then bake for 6 mins. Take out pan, turn salmon over and allow to rest in the pan.

7. Gently re-heat butter sauce (it must not boil) and add broad beans and dill. Spoon onto 4 warmed plates and place salmon in centre of each.

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Business papers in a box waiting for tomorrow to come?

Do you want to make time for you?

If you can answer “YES!” to any of the above call James at: TNMC Business Services 01825 722601 or 07753 821128 • April 2012 • Ashdown Forest Living

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OFFICES TO RENT

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9/3/12

18:07

Page 1

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Please mention the Ashdown Forest Living when responding to adverts • April 2012 •

On board the S.S. Briton Robinson seated centre Conan Doyle behind his left shoulder

There’s More to

Arthur Conan Doyle than Sherlock Holmes

By Brian W Pugh, Curator of The Conan Doyle (Crowborough) Establishment

In a previous issue of Ashdown Forest Living (November 2010) I discussed Arthur Conan Doyle: Crowborough & Ashdown Forest. In this issue I would like to look at his writings.

Arthur Conan Doyle is, of course, best known for the Sherlock Holmes adventures, but he wrote so much more that is mostly overlooked. When did he start writing and where did his ideas come from?

To answer the question we have to go back to when he was aged 5 or 6, there was an incomplete adventure about a Bengal tiger and he later said of this story, “It is very easy to get people into scrapes, and very hard to get them out again.” Where this idea came from is not known.

His mother would tell him about her family the Percy’s and Pack’s, explaining their part in history of the chivalry and knights. At an early age in his life the Napoleonic Wars and especially The Battle of Waterloo were installed in his mind. It was at Waterloo that Arthur’s

• April 2012 • Ashdown Forest Living

great-uncle, Major-General Sir Denis Pack, was in command of the 9th British Brigade which he remembered for later books. He adored his mother, who remained a dominant influence all his life, with her fierce and almost obsessive pride in her and her husband’s ancestry.

Nearly 50 years later he recalled: “My real love for letters, my instinct for story telling, springs I believe from my mother. In my early childhood, as far back as I can remember anything at all; the vivid stories which she would tell me stand out so clearly”.

He was an avid reader, reading such as Lord Macaulay’s Lays of Ancient Rome, and other authors such as Sir Walter Scott, Wilkie Collins, H Rider Haggard, Robert Louis Stevenson and Edgar Allan Poe amongst many others. The two historical novels, The White Company and Sir Nigel, may well have been inspired by the stories told to him by his mother and the novels by Walter Scott.

Conan Doyle carried out a great deal of research for these two novels, so the accuracy is very good, even if at times this overshadowed the stories.

The inspiration for the character of Sherlock Holmes was, of course, Joseph Bell, Conan Doyle’s Professor at Edinburgh University. Bell would, without asking his patients any questions, deduce their profession, where they came from, their family and ailments.

These traits can be seen in Holmes. The Lost World

info@ashdownforestliving.co.uk • tel: 01342 300152

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is another novel that is this time based on the true adventures of Percy Fawcett, here again the main characters are based on real people, Professor Rutherford at Edinburgh University as Professor Challenger with a touch of Dr Budd and Roger Casement, and Percy Fawcett became Lord Roxton, Conan Doyle also used Extinct Animals by Sir Edwin Lancaster as a resource.

The short story A Straggler of ’15 became the play Waterloo with Henry Irving in the lead role. This historical story is set during the battle of Waterloo and is based on a true story. Another hero from the Napoleonic period is Brigadier Gerard. There are eighteen short stories in this series in two collections, The Exploits of Brigadier Gerard (8 stories) and The Adventures of Brigadier Gerard (10 stories), the individual stories all appeared in The Strand Magazine. The primary source for Gerard was Baron Jean-Baptiste Antoine Marcelin de Marbot; a Lieutenant in the French hussars. The Memoirs of Baron de Marbot, published in 1844 was translated into English in 1892.

In July 1900 after serving for a short while as an army doctor, Conan Doyle returned to England on board the S.S. Briton. It was on this return trip that he met Bertram Fletcher Robinson an author and journalist.

Robinson did, in fact, ask Conan Doyle if it had occurred to him how easy it would be to implicate a man in a murder crime if you could obtain a finger-print of his in wax for reproduction in blood on a wall or some other obvious place near the crime scene.

Conan Doyle was taken by the idea and offered Robinson 50 pounds for it which Robinson accepted.

This idea was used in a short Sherlock Holmes 10 • April 2012 • Ashdown Forest Living

Professor Joe Bell

adventure entitled The Norwood Builder.

The meeting of the two men on this voyage resulted in them discussing a new adventure, this eventually turned out to be probably the most popular Holmes adventure The Hound of the Baskervilles. There have been a number of theories on how or what this adventure is based. Robinson probably discussed the various Devon legends such as the Baskervilles, Sir Richard Cabell and the Wish or Yeth Hounds. On a golfing weekend at the Royal Links Hotel in Cromer the discussion continued, probably involving the local legend of Black Shuck. After this weekend and visits to Dartmoor by both men, the novel was complied. It is not known how much of the novel Robinson actually wrote, if any, but it was probably the most successful Holmes adventure and no other following adventure lived up to its standard.

This then is only a brief look at the works of Conan Doyle, he wrote so much more, his autobiography, his various travels in America, Canada, Africa, Australia and New Zealand, plus his poetry, horror and medical adventures and, of course, his spiritualist books. It all goes to show that there’s more to Arthur Conan Doyle than Sherlock Holmes.

Brian W Pugh © 2012

info@ashdownforestliving.co.uk • tel: 01342 300152

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Please mention the Ashdown Forest Living when responding to adverts • April 2012 • 11

© Mike Champion/Champion Photographic Studio

A Bow to Davy Jones

Davy Jones sadly passed away at the end of February, he lived in the Ashdown Forest area for a short time around 1980.

Mike Champion, who runs his own photographic studio in Marsh Green (Nr. Edenbridge), was good friends with Davy when he lived in Forest Row. He has allowed us to publish 2 rare photos from his portfolio and answers our questions: What did you find most striking about Davy when you met him?

Considering his enormous fame/celebrity all over the world, none of it seemed to have affected him. He was still the nice English lad who had struck it lucky. Down to earth, friendly un-starry!

Easter Easter is a chief Christian feast, commemorating the resurrection of Jesus after his crucifixion. The word itself is sometimes thought to have been derived from Eostre, a very obscure Germanic goddess of Spring of the Anglo-Saxon Pagans. Grimm in his Teutonic Mythology said that “Ostara, Eástre, was goddess of the growing light of Spring.”

Easter has various religious and popular customs.

Church services are one of the high points of the Christian calendar, which, since the 2nd century, has also been a time for baptism.

Eggs, hares & rabbits are symbols from antiquity of the rising fertility of the earth, symbolising new life. Birds lay eggs in Spring and hares & rabbits are both prolific breeders! In addition eggs were forbidden to Christians during the fast of Lent (which ends just before Easter) which was the reason for their abundance at Easter time.

The painting of eggs and tales of a rabbit who decorates and hides them are among the early folk customs associated with the holiday.

When he lived in Forest Row what was the most memorable part of his stay here would you say? What part of the lifestyle here did he most seem to enjoy?

He liked being able to be part (in however small a way) of the village and area, going to the pub, when I was with him.

It seemed almost a weight of his shoulders to be David, who loved being a jockey and being around horses.

What legacy does he leave behind?

1. Speed up ironing. When ironing clothing much of the iron’s heat is sucked up by the board itself - so you have to make several passes to remove creases. To speed it up put aluminium foil under the ironing board cover.

His music cheered up a generation.

He shows that you can make it to the top, have all the trappings of celebrity, have millions of fans, but really still be the same nice chap underneath.

To have gone at his age is a huge shame.

2. Scatter a border of ashes around the garden to deter worms, slugs, etc.

3. Soften up tough meet. Beer is a great tenderiser for tough, inexpensive cuts of stewing meat. Pour a can over the meat and let it soak for an hour before cooking - better still marinade it overnight in the fridge. © Mike Champion/Champion Photographic Studio

With Thanks to: Champion Photographic Studio, 01732 860246, www.championphotographic.co.uk 12 • April 2012 • Ashdown Forest Living

4. Alleviate athlete’s foot. Use Bicarbonate of Soda, dust your feet (along with shoes & socks) with the powder. Also try making a paste of 1tspn bicarb soda with 1/2 tspn water and rubbing in between toes. Let it dry and wash off after 15 mins.

info@ashdownforestliving.co.uk • tel: 01342 300152

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Please mention the Ashdown Forest Living when responding to adverts • April 2012 • 13

Quick Quiz 1: Ben Ainslie has competed and won medals in how many Olympics so far?

2: The photographer David Bailey is famous for capturing the spirit of which decade in his photos?

3: How many consecutive years did Michael Schumacher win the the Formula 1 World Championship?

4: Rolls-Royce was founded in which English City?

5: Novelist CS Lewis was very close friends with which other famous writer?

6: Which British Monarch acquired Buckingham Palace?

7: Which actor played Norman Bates in the Hitchcock thriller Psycho?

8: The R&B Group, Destiny’s Child, comprised of who in their original line-up?

9: Queen Victoria was the longest reigning British Monarch. How many years was she on the throne?

10:Which 70’s Scottish band’s first hit was ‘Keep on Dancing’ in 1971?

It’s all to do with

Answers on page 23

can do a lot if

Sudoku LOVERS

14 • April 2012 • Ashdown Forest Living

the training: you you’re properly trained.

Queen Elizabeth II

The means by which we live have outdistanced the ends for which we live. Our scientific power has outrun our spiritual power. We have guided missiles and misguided men.

Martin Luther King, Jr

info@ashdownforestliving.co.uk • tel: 01342 300152

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Free Parking • Affordable Prices • Friendly Service Old Station House, London Road, East Grinstead, RH19 1ET Tel: 01342 315298 Website: www.familychiropracticsussex.co.uk Please mention the Ashdown Forest Living when responding to adverts • April 2012 • 15

Forest Row Community Pre-School

The English Language: Is there method to the Madness?

Some words have become antiquated and slipped out of general use but have yet been preserved in phrases or expressions, for instance:

Fabulous Garden Project Set right in the heart of Forest Row village, The Community run PreSchool offers something really special to children of Forest Row and beyond.

Thanks to some successful fundraising and very generous benefactors, over the coming months we plan to make a wonderful outdoor environment for our children to give them more opportunities for playing and learning. We want to provide the children with a garden that has shade, textures, places to climb, and freedom to explore and discover.

Can you help or sponsor?

We need donations from manpower to mirrors and from spades to seedlings.

We have already had some wonderful donations like sleepers from Mid Sussex Timber, manpower from Hindleap Warren Outdoor Centre and others. We are hoping the list will grow.

Contact Kate on: 01342 825625 or www.forestrowplaygroup.co.uk

Wood Finishing & Restoration

All aspects of interior wood finishing undertaken:

French Polishing, Stair rails, Wood floor sanding, Panels, Kitchen wood surfaces restored as new.

20 Years Experience

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Alfie the Ashdown Forest Ardvark The name of the game is to locate the 4 Alfie’s hidden on 4 pages in the magazine.

16 • April 2012 • Ashdown Forest Living

Neck in ‘neck of the woods’ was once generally used to describe a piece of land but that meaning has all but died out.

Tell once meant to count as in ‘bank teller’ Raring in ‘raring to go’ means: full of eagerness, enthusiastic.

Kilter in ‘out of kilter’ means: good condition, proper form.

Bay in ‘at bay’ means: a deep howl or growl, esp of a hound on the scent.

‘Fro’ in ‘to and fro’ means: away, back.

The phrase, ‘spick and span’, was formerly ‘spick and span new’. Spick is a spike or nail and ‘span new’ means, ‘entirely new’.

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FM<EJ :FFB<IJ 8>8J I8E><J ?F9J D@:IFN8M<J =I@;><J =I<<Q<IJ ;@J?N8J?<IJ Please mention the Ashdown Forest Living when responding to adverts • April 2012 • 17

care and the majority of work is hand sh. We can also recommend a local Bespoke designs to � and poles if you require.transform any room For all your bespoke window dressings professionally handmade. r a friendly ser vice and free quotes contact Tina: ‘I have used Chez Soi Interiors on several occasions and I have always been so impressed with Tina’s wealth of knowledge regarding the choice of fabric and her expertise in choosing the right curtain design for each particular window.

5FM 07814 802735 &NBJM chezsoiinteriors@gmail.com 8FC chezsoiinteriors.co.uk

ree quotes contact Tina Mill House, Station Rd, Buxted, East Sussex, TN22 4DP

My house has now been transformed due to the beautiful hand made curtains and blinds that she has produced for me.

hezsoiinteriors@gmail.com teriors.co.uk

Tina the owner of Chez Soi Interiors has extensive experience in curtain and blind making. Most of her work comes via word of mouth, with customers mainly from the Lingfield and Dormansland areas. Having recently moved to Buxted she is now looking at gaining work in this side of the Ashdown Forest .

I would have no hesitation in recommending Chez Soi Interiors as I have always received a very professional service, at a very competitive price in relation to other interior design shops.’

Mrs W. Knight

ed, East Sussex, TN22 4DP From a small blind in a downstairs cloakroom to the complete design of soft furnishings for an entire house, she prides herself on offering a professional, one-to-one service, neatly bridging the gap between impersonal department stores and expensive interior designers. She’s happy to help recommend styles, fabrics, trimmings, blinds, poles and tracks to your taste.

All work is carried out with the upmost care and the majority of work is hand sewn, to give the most professional finish. She can also recommend a local specialist to fit any tracks and poles if you require.

Handmade curtains • Roman Blinds (no stitching visible) • Pelmets • Valances • Curtain alterations6 • Wide selection of tracks and poles • Roller and Venetian Blinds • Cushions and tie-backs.

Many more accessories for all your soft furnishing needs.

Supplier of many leading fabrics – Clients may also supply their own fabric.

For a friendly service and free quotes contact Tina Tel – 07814 802735 e-mail chezsoiinteriors@gmail.com Website chezsoiinteriors.co.uk

Bespoke, Hand Made Blinds, Curtains & Soft Furnishings Tina of Chez Soi Interiors has extensive experience in all aspects of soft furnishings.

Most of her work comes through word of mouth, with customers local to the Ashdown Forest area. From small blind to the complete design of a house, she prides herself on giving a professional, one-to-one service. Highly experienced,Tina can offer help & recommend styles, fabrics, etc.

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RETIRED OR JUST ABOUT TO Now you can enjoy the great outdoors and come and join us playing bowls at... ...Isle of Thorns Bowling Club (Chelwood Gate â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Ashdown Forest) NEW and EXPERIENCED bowlers of all ages are welcome.

Free Coaching is available and equipment supplied.

For more information please contact one of the following:3DP Â&#x2021; -RKQ Â&#x2021; 5RJHU email: bowls@iotbowls.co.uk

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Please mention the Ashdown Forest Living when responding to adverts â&#x20AC;˘ April 2012 â&#x20AC;˘ 19

SPECIAL OFFER

For a Limited period only: Introductory 25% off all Cosmetic Treatments Cosmetic Treatments including in Surgery Tooth Whitening and Filler Therapies

Simply quote this advert at the reception in one of our branches

20 • April 2012 • Ashdown Forest Living

info@ashdownforestliving.co.uk • tel: 01342 300152

Nutley Motor Services Ltd Est. 1986

• Mot Testing Station • 4x4, Sport,Classic, Family & Light Commercial Vehicles • Latest Vehicle Scanning, diagnostics & Service Resetting • Tyres, Batteries, Exhausts • Full Service Facilities • Air Conditioning Servicing • Four Wheel Laser Alignment

For all your vehicle requirements

scuffs

Mobile Car Body Restoration

We bring our fully equipped mobile workshop to you to repair • Bumper Scuffs • Vandal Scratches • Paintwork Damage • Dents All repairs guaranteed and carried out at your home or workplace on a date and time to suit you.

For more information, or a free no obligation estimate, call us today.

TEL/FAX: 01825 712382 High Street, Nutley, TN22 3LP info@nutleymotorservicesltd.co.uk

Kim Taylor

07914 537706 Tel/Fax 01444 473444 Email scuffssussex@aol.com

GET FIT IN THE COMFORT OF YOUR OWN HOME Michael Wall, established his Hire Fitness business 3 years ago & has built up a large portfolio of clients hiring & selling fitness equipment for use in the home He also supplies commercial equipment to gyms, offices, salons and studios.

People are increasingly choosing to hire in their homes for many reasons, most often for convenience & lack of time or inclination to go the gym.

Parents can also look after their children whilst they exercise at home. All Hire Fitness models are of the highest quality, robust, good looking, with excellent computer functions.

There is a hire- to- buy scheme where clients can try a machine prior to making a purchase. The Power Plate is his most popular model, it can burn 350 calories in 10 minutes. Other benefits include cellulite busting, improved blood circulation, stronger bones but most of all – improved toning.

Call Michael at Hire Fitness on 0845 094 2292 or 07932 139386 or email on mwall@hirefitness.co.uk www.hirefitness.co.uk “Before I contacted Hire Fitness, I was not feeling good about myself, and was rather overweight. I am really busy and don’t have time to go to the gym. I hired 3 pieces of equipment for 3 months and Michael kindly threw in the rower for free. It has been hard work but really satisfying to lose weight and to have a new outlook on life.

Even my wife says that she quite fancies me, so that can’t be bad! Thank you Hire Fitness.” Jamie, Sussex Please mention the Ashdown Forest Living when responding to adverts • April 2012 • 21

Celebrating the 70th. Anniversary of

“Aspidistra” Deep underground at King’s Standing on the Ashdown Forest is a bunker which housed the largest radio transmitter in the world, ASPI 1, codenamed ‘Aspidistra’. It was used to transmit announcements & black propaganda to Germany during the Second World War. In 1940 the British Government’s answer to the German broadcasts by the traitor, William Joyce, known as Lord Haw-Haw was the setting up of a network of short wave transmitters based at Woburn Abbey in Bedfordshire.

These were under the control of the Political Warfare Executive (PWE) and mainly transmitted ‘white propaganda’. When Denis Sefton Delmer was recruited by the PWE in November 1940 black propaganda was created.

Sefton Delmer was born in 1904 in Berlin but was registered as a British citizen with the British Consulate. His father was Professor of English Literature in Berlin University.

Interned as enemy aliens in 1914 the family was repatriated to England in 1917.

Harold Robin, Aspidistra Chief Engineer, in New York 1941

After leaving Oxford University Delmer worked as a freelance journalist until he was recruited by the Daily Express to become head of it’s new Berlin Bureau. He became the first British journalist to interview Hitler.

Delmer was convinced that he could

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Aspidistra continued

site was illuminated at night and the lighting was immediately switched off when a message was received that enemy aircraft were approaching the coast. The soil-covered bunker which housed it was a concrete box completely underground with a reinforced concrete slab 4 feet thick on top.

Aspidistra (ASPI 1 transmitter) and all of the equipment required for broadcasting were installed, and in another bunker ASPI 2 was located as a back-up.

Later more transmitters were added: in the building known as ‘The Cinema’ built during 1942/1943, ASPI 3 and later ASPI 6 were installed.

In 1943/1944 a short wave transmitter, ASPI 5, was installed. This transmitter was initially used for jamming Luftwaffe ground-to-air communications.

deceive the Germans into thinking that his broadcasts came from within Germany.

His creations would join a number of other research units operating propaganda broadcasts.

The new station ‘Gustav Siegfried Eins’ went on the air on the evening of 23rd May 1941. It would be a further 2 years until his black propaganda programmes were broadcast from Aspidistra.

Also in May of 1941, the Government had sent Harold Robin to the USA to purchase a medium wave 500kW transmitter. Robin spent the summer of 1941 learning it’s use. It was later codenamed Aspidistra and Robin was to become the Chief Engineer of the radio station.

A search took place to find a suitable site for Aspidistra and eventually 70 acres on the Ashdown Forest in the parish of Maresfield at King’s Standing was found and requisitioned.

Work commenced in the winter of 1941/1942 to excavate a 50 feet deep hole to house the transmitter. A team of Canadian engineers, stationed nearby completed the task in six weeks.

The rest of the building work was carried out by a team of 600 men working round the clock. The 24 • April 2012 • Ashdown Forest Living

The first official broadcast of Aspidistra, made in November 1942 to the French by President Roosevelt, proved a great success. The occasion was the landing of the Americans in North Africa.

It was because of disagreements between the PWE and the BBC, that Aspidistra was not actually used for black propaganda until February 1943.

In May 1943 to augment this black propaganda campaign, a studio was built in the grounds of Woburn Abbey and recordings were then relayed to Aspidistra for broadcast.

Another use for Aspidistra, on the orders of Winston Churchill, was to try to mislead the night fighters. Bomber Command were losing many bombers to German fighter aircraft and so the fighters were sent to the locations of the previous nights raids - as many as twenty to thirty bombers were saved every night. This operation was codenamed ‘Operation Dartboard’.

The radio station remained intact and was never bombed although on one occasion incendiary bombs were dropped close by and in July 1944 one V1 Flying Bomb passed very low between the masts.

On 20th August 1945 the black propaganda stations were closed down but the transmitters

info@ashdownforestliving.co.uk • tel: 01342 300152

WITH COMPLIMENTS www.kitchensbespoke.co.uk

88 London R East Grinstea West Sussex Tel: 01342 Fax: 01342

Kitchens Bespoke, based in East Grinstead, is the brainchild of Rachael Workman a designer for over 17 years. Three years ago she decided to set up a ‘one stop shop’ to help clients create their perfect kitchen and she has not looked back.

Rachael has found that being a female designer gives her an edge.

“I design from a practical view point.

Most people who use kitchens are women and I can relate to the need to balance aesthetics with function”.

She works to her client’s budget and is always testing new products and materials to see what works, saving time and money for her customers.

Kitchens Bespoke can also attend to lighting, decoration, flooring and building works if necessary. The word ‘bespoke’ refers to the design process itself and Rachael says that her kitchens are more affordable than you may think. An expensive look doesn’t have to cost a fortune.

Rachael can design a kitchen that fits you. With your needs and her expertise the kitchen you have only imagined can become reality.

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Providing a turnkey solution for all of your refurbishment needs: Interior design

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Baileybridge is run by Sue Risley who has over 25 years experience in the field. Sue provides exceptional attention to detail and is personally involved with all projects. We work to any budget and always provide stunning results.

Telephone 01825 714 922 : www.baileybridge.co.uk : email: enquiries@baileybridge.co.uk Please mention the Ashdown Forest Living when responding to adverts • April 2012 • 25

Aspidistra continued

continued to be used by the Foreign Office Diplomatic Wireless Service with Harold Robin continuing as the Chief Engineer.

an exhibition to celebrate the 70th anniversary will take place in the Ashdown Forest Centre Education Barn at Wych Cross.

Between 1945 and 1970 ASPI 5 was used for daily communIcations with Washington DC.

Photographic displays and Audio/Visual presentations will be shown on the weekends of May 19th. and 20th. 26th and 27th.

Aspidistra continued to be used until 1982 and the King’s Standing site was finally closed in 1986, when the active transmitters were transferred to Orfordness.

In 1984-1986 the Home Office built a Regional Seat of Government (RSG 6) which was closed in 1992 and the whole place was put up for sale.

Sussex Police bought the King’s Standing site and it is now used as a training establishment.

Guided tours of the underground bunker and site are run in the summer months by police volunteers.

Nutley Historical Society has been collaborating with police at King’s Standing for the past year and

The police will run guided tours of the bunker at King’s Standing at 12.30pm. and 3.00pm each day.

They are strictly limited to 15 persons and children should be at least 14 years of age. Numbers will be allocated on a ‘first come, first served’ basis at the Forest Centre. The tours will last approximately 2 hours and sensible footwear is required.

The Forest Centre Barn will open at 11am and close at 5pm.

Light refreshments will be available at the Forest Centre and picnic tables are also available.

Written by Mollie Smith, Secretary Nutley Historical Society.

Fletching for Fathers Day Fletching Village in East Sussex will be hosting its annual garden trail on Fathers Day Sunday 17th June.

The trail was established in 1992 by a few neighbours to raise funds for the local Fletching CE Primary School. Now in its 20th year, it has become one of the famous local events in the gardening calendar, attracting people from all over the South East of England.

Some gardens have been featured in national publications and another is part of the National Gardens Scheme, including Clinton Lodge with its 6 acres showing English Garden Design at its best.

There are 20 gardens participating this year. There are demonstrations of making willow tippees, a team of experienced gardeners will be on hand to answer your queries and popular local artist, Lorna Holdcroft will be painting her own masterpiece. Children can follow the duck trail in all the gardens. There will be a photographic exhibition in the village hall featuring the yesteryear of Fletching and surrounding areas.

Delicious refreshments, homemade lunches and cream teas will be available throughout the day and local seasonal produce and plants available to purchase.

For further information, please call 01825 722356.

26 • April 2012 • Ashdown Forest Living

info@ashdownforestliving.co.uk • tel: 01342 300152

M. M. Roofing Contractor

MRM Plastering and Building Services

Specialists in:

Tiling - Slating - Flat Roofing Lead Work & Lead Welding

• All aspects of plastering/rendering • Carpentry • Brickwork • Tiling • Patios • Windows & Doors • Extensions • Property Maintenance • Fully Insured

Repairs & Fibreglass Installation "I have employed Matt over the past year on several different small construction projects.

He has very good experience in all areas of roofing. I have found his work to be of the highest standard and have found Matt to be hardworking and a pleasure to deal with" Steve Huxley, ILEX (Quality Oak Buildings, Chartered Landscape Architects)

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07834 917444 01342 301972

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EMAIL: MattGarrett17@aol.com

Your Local Indoor & Outdoor Blinds & Awnings Company Penumbra Blinds & Solar Control Ltd are specialists in design, manufacture, supply and installation of a huge range of internal & external blinds & awnings.

Many produced directly at their local factory.

For a free, no obligation quotation or to visit our fully equipped showroom call: 01342 349819 or 01892 825522

(Factory) www.penumbrablinds.com

E-mail: info@penumbrablinds.com www.penumbrablinds.com Unit 2 Albans Farm, Romford Road, Pembury, Tunbridge Wells TN2 4BB

Please mention the Ashdown Forest Living when responding to adverts • April 2012 • 27

Gardening Tips for April Article by Michael Dongray,

Imberhorne Lane Nursery Proprietor

Lawns

April is the best month to apply weed killer or moss killer.

Apply a spring fertilizer to help green up your lawn after the winter.

Mow the grass as necessary but do not compost the clippings if you have applied lawn weedkiller.

If you used moss killer after a couple of weeks rake out the dead moss and any other debris on the lawn.

Shrubs and Flowers Mulch around camellias, rhododendrons and azaleas to help conserve moisture to ensure good flowering next year.

Tie in new shoots of clematis, jasmine and climbing and rambling roses Sow sweet pea seeds outside or plant out those you have grown over winter. Put the climbing structure, either a wigwam of frame with netting, in place. Put two seeds or plants to each cane.

If you have a light soil you can start making sowings of hardy annuals. Sow into straight seed drills as this makes it easier to take out any weeds that will grow. Once the flowers are in bloom you will not be able to see the rows.

Put in supports for perennials to grow through before they become too large. Use frames sold for this purpose and once the plants mature they will be hidden by the foliage.

The more tender plants that had their stems left on to protect the crowns such as fuchsias and penstemons can now be pruned taking care not

to cut out any new growth.

Keep dead heading daffodils and tulips taking off only the flower and seed head.

Roses Finish pruning your roses and start spraying them with fungicide to ward against black spot, rust and mildew. Repeat every fortnight until the autumn.

Fruit

Plant strawberry plants in planters or hanging baskets for a pretty and delicious crop this summer. Protect fruit trees and gooseberries with netting.

Check your rhubarb; harvest it if it has grown.

The blossom of peach, nectarine and apricot trees should be protected from frost with a cover of fleece. Remove it in the daytime to allow insects to pollinate.

Plum and cherry trees can be pruned now the threat of getting silver leaf disease has gone.

Greenhouse If you have a frost-free greenhouse, get ahead with the summer crops â&#x20AC;&#x201C; sweet peppers, tomatoes, aubergines and salads can be planted inside. If it remains cold, check the temperature requirements on the seed packet and wait if necessary.

On warm days open the vents and doors of your greenhouse and damp down the floor.

Agricultural and Garden

installation of fencing, gates and hedge planting

Established Local Landscaping Company

COUNTRY ESTATE MANAGEMENT LTd. Hard & soft landscaping Domestic, Agricultural Fencing & Gates.

Decking, Pergolas, Arbour, Gazebo design & construction.

Mowing, hedge cutting & garden maintenance.

Pond, lake creations, bridge design & construction Tree work

Free Estimates • Fully Insured Tel – 01892 770123 or 07766216187

Landscape Contractors Tree Surgeons

L.G. BurBerry New to the area, established for over 30 years.

All types of tree work, hard landscaping, hedge cutting, fencing & garden maintenance undertaken.

Free estimates, Fully Insured.

Tel: 01825 712717 Mob: 07754 585518

TRENCHER & MINI-DIGGER GILES SWIFT Field & Garden Drainage Ditching & Earth Moving Water Supplies Paddock Reseeding Tel: 01892 864754

Pets in crisis – can you help?

We have teamed up with Dogs Trust to help give families the chance to escape from domestic abuse by providing safe refuge for their pets giving peace of mind that their cat is well, healthy and safe.

If you care about cats and people, get involved with the Freedom Project today.

We are looking for volunteer cat fosterers, drivers, home visitors and fundraisers.

For more details, please contact: T: 01825 741 973 E: freedom.project@cats.org.uk W: www.cats.org.uk/freedom-project Reg Charity 203644 (England and Wales) and SC037711 (Scotland)

Please mention the Ashdown Forest Living when responding to adverts • April 2012 • 29

What’s On: April 2012

For non-profit community, charity groups this page is free of charge to use, email: info@ashdownforestliving.co.uk.

Wednesday 4th April

Monday 23rd April

A new Tai Chi Beginners Course will start at the Camden Centre, Tunbridge Wells from 7.30 to 9.30 p.m. Email Michael at kilbymw@gmail.com or call on 01892 664495.

Blackham Village Hall AGM is on at 8pm in the hall.

Everybody is invited to attend and give ideas of what you would like to see happening at the hall – wine & nibbles on hand.

Saturday 7th April Monthly saturday market with an authentic village life atmosphere and local produce for sale, 10am – 12:30pm, Blackham Village Hall.

Sunday 8th April Bluebell Walk in Hartfield at 2pm. Meet at the phone box on Hartfield High Street near the children`s playground. Lovely views and a wood full of the sight and scent of our iconic spring wildflower! Walk approx 1 1/2 miles. End the stroll with a meal or drink in a local pub. Donations to the Hartfield Community Play please. Contact Caroline Tully 01892 770730 Monday 9th April Ashurst and Blackham Sports Association Easter Fair: Easter Egg Raffle, Chocolate fountains with Strawberry’s, marshmallows etc., Face painting, Tea & Hot Cross Buns, Mask Making from 3pm at the sports ground Thursday 12th April Ashdown Forest Decorative and Fine Arts Society. Jane Gardiner will talk about the impact of Chinese porcelain on European taste. For more information call Jane Hayes: 01342 822435.

Monday 16th April A Free Tai Chi Open House taster session will be run at the Church Hall in Station Road, Sharpthorne from 10am to 12pm. Email Michael at kilbymw@gmail.com or call on 01892 664495.

Wednesday 18th – Saturday 21st April Forest Players present ‘Relatively Speaking’, a comedy by Alan Ayckbourn. Forest Row Village Hall at 7.45pm (bar opens 7.15pm) Tickets £10 (concessions available Wednesday). Tel: 01342 323640 Saturday, 21st April Mid Sussex Association National Trust. Spring Coffee Morning at Lindfield URC Church,10-11 30am. For sale: cakes, preserves, books, jig-saw puzzles and DVDs/CDs. All enquiries: 01444 457648 Saturday 21st & Sunday 22nd April Crowborough Art Group is having it’s Spring Exhibition at St Mary’s RC School, Chapel Green, Crowborough from 10am to 4 pm. Refreshments will be available, and free parking is nearby. Entry is free. Enquiries to 01892 653556 Sunday 22nd April then Bank Holiday Monday 7th May, Sunday 20th May and Bank Holiday Monday 4th June.

Warren Garden, Crowborough part of the National Garden Scheme. The garden has been opening publicly for 19 years (details covered in March issue).

30 • April2012 • Ashdown Forest Living

Thursday 26th – Saturday 29th April Crowborough Arts presents: Millbrook Artists in Residence at the Studio, Millbrook Garden Centre, Tubwell Lane, Crowborough. 11am – 4pm. www.crowborough-arts.org.uk Saturday 28th April Spring Craft Fair. 10am to 4pm in Church Hall, St. Michael’s Church, Jarvis Brook. Pottery, Woodcraft, Handmade Chocolates, Plants, Light Lunches. Activities for Children.

Proceeds to Church re-wiring Fund.

Saturday, 5th May Haywards Heath Sinfonietta present a Spring Concert at The Methodist Church, Perrymount Road, Haywards Heath, 7.30pm. Conductor Sundari Heller. Proceeds to The Royal National Lifeboat Institution and Haywards Heath Methodist Church.

Saturday 5th & 19th May Colemans Hatch Bowling Club invites prospective new members of all ages and abilities to visit us on our Open Days. No fees are payable for the first three visits and bowls will be provided, if required. www.colemanshatch-bc.co.uk, or call Pam Kittle, Club Secretary, on 01342 822835.

Sunday 13th May Maresfield Tennis Club (junction A22/A272) is holding an Open Day, 11am –6pm, to invite newcomers to try out the sport and to offer the opportunity for existing and “rusty” players to play with members and to see what facilities it offers. No charge for admission, refreshments and easy parking available. Call: 01825 768532 .

Friday 18th May and Saturday 19th May The Hadlow Down Players are putting on a Murder Mystery evening – “The Silver Olympics” – in aid of Wealden Citizens Advice and the Hadlow Down Players at Hadlow Down Village Hall, 7pm for 7:30pm. Tickets cost £15 each and include a three course meal. To book for the Friday show, tel: 01825 762807, for Saturday, tel: 01825 830816.

Saturday 19th May Forest Row Village Fun Day organised by the Forest Row Twinning Association, held on Forester’s Green. The theme this year will be The Alternative Olympics and there will be a Fancy Dress Competition and activities in the arena. For more info call: 01342 822897.

info@ashdownforestliving.co.uk • tel: 01342 300152

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1 cubic metre £70 / 2m3 £120 / 3m3 £170

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Bulk bags 0.7m3 1 bag £40 / 2 bags £60 / 3 bags £80 Larger quantities available at a discount, please call for prices.

Loose loads 3 cubic metres £60 / 4m3 £80 / 5m3 £100 (All prices are inclusive of VAT and delivery)

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www.sargentstreeservices.com Please mention the Ashdown Forest Living when responding to adverts • April 2012 • 31

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