Hailsham News, January 2024, Issue 41

WELCOME

HAPPY New Year to you all, welcome to a brand new year for your local community newspaper.

I hope you all managed to take some time off over the new year period to spend with friends or family, or simply for a rest. We managed to get a few days off, which was a nice reset, ready for a brand new year of bringing you the latest news and information.

The festive period was a good chance for me to ponder over all the happenings of last year and looking back at everything we have done with the newspapers — I felt extremely thankful for all the support everyone gives us each and every month.

We call our series of publications ‘community newspapers’ for a good reason. When you look through the stories we publish, many of them are generated by the source of the story contacting us directly, which makes me feel grateful that we have become a trusted outlet for news and information.

We mentioned a few months ago, that a recent survey suggested that local newspapers are the most trusted source of local news, so I always like to make sure each edition is full of news that matters to the area you live in.

Our office receives many phone calls every single day with news stories and information from you — the reader, which is what makes this publication so successful.

So, I’d like to encourage you to keep doing this by contacting us using the details below as this is how we will continue to stand out throughout 2025 as your favourite local newspaper.

Paul Gibson Group Editor

THE TEAM

PAUL GIBSON — GROUP EDITOR paul@regionalmediagroup.co.uk

LYLE ACOTT – ADVERTISING SALES sales@regionalmediagroup.co.uk

VIKTORIA COWLEY – FEATURES AND ACCOUNTS viktoria@regionalmediagroup.co.uk

MIKE LEGG – SPORTS REPORTER sports@regionalmediagroup.co.uk

New Year message from Town’s Mayor, Paul Holbrook

I HOPE that you had a pleasant Christmas break with your families and loved ones.

I’d like to take the opportunity firstly to say that, while many of us are still feeling the bite of the cost-of-living crisis, we have now entered a new year and should take a positive outlook and think about what improvements it can bring to our lives.

2025 is upon us and the New Year traditionally denotes a new start — an opportunity to begin afresh and strive to do even better. For me personally this is an exciting time, as I look forward with expectancy and anticipation to what this next year has to offer our wonderful town.

I am looking forward to the remaining five months in my current term of office as Town Mayor. I feel

honoured to serve and represent the people of Hailsham and look forward to getting out and about and meeting as many of you as I can at future civic engagements.

I will continue to visit as many and people as possible to raise the profile of local charities, community groups and voluntary organisations in Hailsham, who work selflessly to help others and make individuals’ lives just that much better and brighter. I am sure that the warm-hearted and generous people of our town will continue to work together and support those most in need during 2025.

The Town Council is currently working towards making its frontline operations as efficient as possible.

Like many town and parish councils across the country, we are committed

Man fined £8,000 for illegal scrap metal storage

DEAN COOK – PRODUCTION dean@regionalmediagroup.co.uk

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Hailsham News is a publication by Regional Media Group Ltd, a company registered in England and Wales number: 13746177. We have taken care to ensure that the information in this newspaper is correct. Neither the publisher, nor contributors can take responsibility for loss or damage resulting from errors or omissions. Hailsham News does not endorse the accuracy of the advertisements or the quality of the products/services being advertised.

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A HAILSHAM man who allowed scrap metal and other waste to be dumped on his property has been ordered to pay almost £8,000.

John Mallows, 74, was found guilty of breaching an Enforcement Notice in his absence by Hastings Magistrates Court on Thursday, December 19. This is the third time Mr Mallows, of 187 London Road, has been prosecuted by East Sussex County Council for failing to comply with

a planning Enforcement Notice prohibiting him from using the property to store scrap, having received financial penalties of £1,000 from the courts in 2016 and 2021.

Cllr Claire Dowling, the county council’s lead member for transport and environment, said: “The actions of Mr Mallows have blighted the residential road and must have caused a significant amount of stress for neighbours over the years.

to providing value for money. We all know times are tough, and in the coming year we may face some difficult decisions on how to balance providing essential quality services with ever-decreasing budgets. The way the Town Council operates will continue to transform.

However, whatever the future holds, I can guarantee the residents this. My New Year’s resolution — and the Town Council’s — is to have a renewed determination to work hard for the residents and the wider community of Hailsham.

My wife and fellow town councillor Barbara and I wish you all a very happy, healthy and peaceful New Year. Whatever your aspirations may be, go forward with determination and you will be rewarded for your own efforts in 2025.

“The unauthorised storage and disposal of waste can have a harmful effect on the environment and a negative impact on communities and it’s important that the council takes every possible step to address these issues when they arise.

“We always try and work with residents to address issues, and legal action is only taken when all other efforts fail. I hope that this latest prosecution brings an end

Do you live outside our delivery area? You can read our digital edition online, or get Hailsham News delivered to your door for only £1.85 per month (within 5 mile radius of Hailsham). Scan the QR code or visit eastsussex.news/hailsham to subscribe.

to the use of Mr Mallows’ property to store scrap and other waste.” Hastings Magistrates Court ordered that Mr Mallows pay a £5,000 fine, a £2,000 victim surcharge and £827.63 costs. The money must be paid within 28 days.

Mr Mallows must also still comply with the planning Enforcement Notice and remove the waste from his property, or face further action by the County Council.

Valentine’s at Rustico

Gourmet Pizza Experience

£45pp - 14 FEBRUARY 2025 - 6.00 PM ARRIVAL

Join us as we celebrate love this Valentine’s at Rustico Hailsham with a carefully crafted Gourmet Pizza Valentine’s Menu.

Gourmet Pizza is a noble and appealing version of the classic Neapolitan pizza, a modern interpretation with only top-quality ingredients and it is served in slices.

At Rustico Hailsham you will begin your Valentine’s Day celebration with an Appetizer (Arancino dell’orto) paired with a glass of Prosecco Rose’ and a Starter (Bruschetta) paired with a glass of Prosecco Brut.

Then you will savour our triple gourmet pizzas experience (2 slices of each – in total 6 slices per person equivalent to one whole pizza):

• Creamy butternut squash, taleggio cheese fondue, porcini mushrooms – paired with a glass of Solino white

• Cream of potatos, octopus tentacles, Taggiasche olives, chopped parsley - paired with a glass of Solino rosé

• Mozzarella fiordilatte, Sicilian pistachios, mortadella,

with a glass of Conti Buneis Moscato d’Asti. To crown it all a mignardise, coffee and limoncello shot.

Secure your reservation now and treat your special someone to an unforgettable evening filled with love, laughter, and delicious food in our rustico setting.

Wealden Council takes 17,500 early payments due to admin error

RESIDENTS across the district saw Council Tax payments taken early from their accounts due to an error by Wealden District Council.

A total of 17,594 households and 324 business rates customers were affected, as payments due on the 1st January were taken on 27th December instead.

Residents took to social media to warn others of the early payments being taken from bank accounts just after Christmas, which put some overdrawn, according to posts on Facebook.

Hailsham News saw an email sent to Wealden Councillors by co-leader Rachel Millward after residents discovered the early payments.

The email stated: “At Bank Holidays, the next available working day is defaulted and needs to be manually changed. This was not changed by the person uploading the BACS file on this occasion which has created this error.

Our staff worked with our Bank and BACS to try and stop the collection,

all aware and can assist the customer where possible.”

Mlllward confirmed any residents

volumes in January when phone lines re-open and advisors will be able to talk residents through the options on

Arlington Stadium apologises after traffic chaos at racing event

A POPULAR event at Arlington Stadium resulted in gridlocked traffic and delays recently.

The closure of the overflow parking due to waterlogging, resulted in many visitors parking on Arlington Road West, causing traffic chaos across the area.

Photos show many visitors taking to foot to get to the stadium for its

stressful time. A comprehensive postmortem will be conducted in January to ensure this doesn’t happen again.”

Councillor Michael Lunn, Conservative member for Hadlow Down and Rotherfield contacted Rachel Millward after residents discovered the mistake, asking for answers. Mr Lunn said: “One of the most basic responsibilities of a District Council is to collect Council Tax & Business rates.

This has had a significant impact on our residents during the most financially demanding time of the year for working families, small local firms, those on benefits, or hard-up pensioners still reeling from the withdrawal of winter fuel payments. We discovered that the council knew about the problem, but had no contingency for effectively communicating with residents through existing available channels. There will have been an economic impact on those without arranged overdraft facilities. A full and independent enquiry is needed with a report brought to the next Audit, Finance & Governance Committee.”

NHS makes fresh uptake appeal as

five million women not up to date with cervical screening

future as more top events come to the venue in 2025.

With an unprecedented crowd at the Christmas event, and the fields which are usually used for overflow parking being severely waterlogged, management were out on the roads and did the best they could in difficult conditions.

National Bangers Christmas event which took place on 28th December.

The organisers have posted this statement on social media today:

“Spedeworth Motorsports would like to apologise to the local residents for the car parking issues around Arlington Stadium at yesterday’s event; we are aware of the situation and it will be addressed in the

It is fantastic to see such a huge interest in the event, and we would like to also thank everyone for their support at the venue.

To reiterate, we apologise to the local residents for the car parking issues and this will be readdressed for the 2025 season as Stock Car, Hot Rod and Banger racing continues at the venue.”

WOMEN are being urged to come forward for cervical screening as new figures show more than five million are not up to date with their routine check-ups.

The NHS invites women for screening every three to five years depending on their age, or more frequently if the high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) is detected, with the programme saving thousands of lives annually.

The NHS Cervical Screening Programme, England 2023-2024 annual report, published by NHS England today, found that 68.8% of 25 to 64-year-olds were screened within the recommended period of time, compared to 68.7% the previous year. Coverage was higher for 50 to 64-year-olds at 74.3% compared with 25 to 49-year-olds at 66.1%.

In 2023-24, everyone who was due a test — a total of 5.12 million individuals aged 25 to 64 in England — was invited to book an appointment, and 3.25 million were tested during the year.

The NHS recently set out reforms to fully digitise screening — by

announcing the rollout of a new “ping and book” service that will send alerts to phones to remind women they are due or overdue an appointment. The plans will begin with invitations for breast screening being sent directly through the NHS App, and be expanded to include cervical screening in Spring 2025. NHS cervical screening helps prevent cervical cancer by using a highly effective test to check for HPV, which is found in over 99% of all cervical cancers and which may cause abnormal cells to develop in the cervix. These abnormal cells can, over time, turn into cancer if left untreated.

Women who are due a cervical screening appointment will receive invitation letters by post when it’s time to book. Appointments can be booked through GP practices and some sexual health clinics also offer the service. Anyone who has previously received an invitation and been unable to attend shouldn’t wait for another invitation — you can still book a cervical screening appointment even if invited weeks, months or years ago.

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Eastbourne’s Toploader announces 25th anniversary tour

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

TOPLOADER shot to fame in the late 90s with their Dancing in the Moonlight cover and over the past two and a half decades, they have performed all over the world boasting gigs with the likes of Coldplay, Robbie Williams and Bon Jovi.

The band recently announced it is hitting the road this year on a twelvedate tour around the UK.

Frontman, Joe Washbourn took some time from planning the group’s 25th Anniversary tour and spoke to editor, Paul Gibson about the plans and the band’s love of Eastbourne.

You’ve announced twelve dates for a comeback tour in April and May this year to celebrate 25 years of making music, how are the plans going?

It’s been a little while since we’ve done a tour as such — it’s been a good few years. We’re always busy out and about during the summer doing lots of festivals and things like that, but I think the opportunity of going out and celebrating, unbelievably 25 years since our first album, is just mental. It was a real opportunity to go out and tour again and play some of the songs from the album that maybe we haven’t played for many years, I’m really excited about the idea of being able to go out and share it again with people that loved it the first time around and people that maybe didn’t know it.

You still have a huge fan base in Eastbourne — do you find those fans still follow you on tour, or are you finding new fans along the way?

Absolutely, the joy of music streaming now means everything’s so accessible. So, we really find it’s very much across the board.

In Eastbourne, where we all started, a lot of that first album was written in our bedsits and the student flats in the town. We sort of managed to go out and be a proper band so grew our fanbase from proper face-to-face gigs.

But, the success of something like Dancing in the Moonlight, means the album is now being listened to by lots of different people. I mean, that song, in particular, has gone through the generations.

I know from even my daughter’s generation, that they all know that song, which is a great little advert for everything else that we’ve done since.

How did that song come about? Obviously, it’s a cover of the 1972 hit by Kelly’s Band Boffalongo, but what made you decide to pick up on that?

It’s funny, back in the day, I used to have this big elaborate story of how it was my Mum’s favourite song. She’s a Motown fan and she always used to do the Hoovering to it, but basically, it came down to when were working with an America producer. There was a lot of pop in the charts and as we’d gone past the Brit Pop thing, it

was quite difficult for an Indie band to break into. So, we had this idea for this song, which was a big hit in the ’70s in the States, and it was a real sliding door moment, but we nearly didn’t do it. We just did a version of it one day in the studio and the vocal really suited my voice and it just turned out, as it turned out. It’s one of those songs that spreads a lot of joy to a lot of people and we’re really proud of it.

Twenty-five years on — do you ever get bored of singing Dancing in the Moonlight?

There was a little period in the middle, when we took a breather in the mid2000s, but like all bands after a certain while, you start to appreciate the big songs you’ve got, but these days, it pretty much sings itself really. So, we never get bored of singing it, we just always look for new ways to perform it live and do it justice on stage and get people involved.

That’s what a lot of the sets are about these days, getting everyone involved and making sure everyone feels immersed in what you’re doing and goes home having had a great time.

As we both lived in Eastbourne in the same era, I’m going to remind you of some of the hottest places we went to and I want to hear your memories of them.

TJ’s — Yeah, 100 per cent. I remember all the bouncers there André and Danny Berry and all those guys. I remember a little bit later on

You’re touring in April and May, how did you select the venues because they’re quite small compared to the traditional stadiums?

It’s very much trying to cover as most of the UK as we can and sort of reconnect with people that love that album and want to come and hear some of the maybe deeper cuts that we don’t play at festival sets and things like that.

In February, we’re supporting James Blunt on his Back to Bedlam 20th Anniversary Tour, so we’re going to some of these bigger places then. But, it would have been nice to come down south, but maybe later in the year, we can work out something for Eastbourne.

I was going to ask you why Eastbourne isn’t on your tour list — but you have played here quite recently right?

Yeah, over the years, we’ve played a number of gigs in the town, we did the Bandstand a few years ago, but, it’s just one of those things, when a tour gets put together by a promoter, you kind of just go with it.

We did a lovely Festival out near Arlington Reservoir last year which was absolutely lovely. It was just really nice to be back in East Sussex, and you know, get friends and family to come along. It’s a buzzing scene down there which is good.

down the line, when we got a record, we used to be able to skip the queue, which was when we really knew we had arrived!

Atlantis? — Yeah, We played in there with I think was Cast, but I wasn’t much of a punter there as I wasn’t really a ‘boogier’, but we did played there. Atlantis was a big part of the scene of growing up in Eastbourne, so, I remember it well.

Counting House? — I frequented there quite a lot. The back garden in the summer in those days was amazing. plastic chairs came out, so I was there quite a lot at that point — we all were. We had a flat up in Bedford Grove, where I lived with Dan Hipgrave, the guitar player, where we wrote some of the songs for the album. So, the Counting House was just down the road; that was our local really.

Do you get back to Eastbourne much these days?

I still have a lot of friends and family there, so I get down as much as I can and see the town — it’s lovely to come back.

It’s interesting to see how the town has changed. Obviously, in the late 90s, it was kind of a different town altogether really, it has got an awful lot bigger now.

I still love being near the sea, and that’s where the dream of being in a band came about — looking out to see and thinking what is out there for us and that’s something about living by the sea that does that.

You mentioned James Blunt earlier, but you’ve also played with some huge names over the years. What’s been the highlight of your 25-year career?

It’s really difficult to say as we all still love playing live, but over the years, we’ve done the old Wembley Stadium with Bon Jovi, been out on big tours with Robbie. In the early days, we got to go on tour with Paul Weller which was incredible.

We feel very comfortable doing what we’re doing now, so, I think the highlight is that we’re still able to do it really. I think that’s something we’re very appreciative of and will continue to be.

So, what does the future hold?

Another 25 years?

If you had said to me when we started in 1997 that we would still be gigging 25 years later — I would have laughed at you and thought I’d be an ‘old man’ by then!

But, all the time we love doing it, I don’t see anything changing. I think this year, we’re going to be getting in the studio and recording a new album, so that’s exciting.

For me, it’s always about moving forward and doing new stuff. Obviously, people come to hear some of the music they know and love, but as a band, producing new material is a big part of it. I think all the time we’re writing and love playing live, I can’t see any reason to end it.

For information on the band’s forthcoming tour and tickets, visit www.toploaderofficial.com.

The new Community Sports Hub, which recently received a grant of £3.5million from the Premier League, The FA and Government’s Football Foundation, is expected to be completed by next year.

The £18m Sports Hub, being built by Wealden District Council, will provide new facilities in the district and offer high-quality sports and community facilities which can be used all year round, according to the authority. It is located just north of the Boship roundabout, off the A267 North Street to Horam.

The site will be operated on a notfor-profit basis by the charity Leisure United and managed by The National Football Trust. Leisure United currently operates 18 sites across the country. It will be a new partnership arrangement involving the council and any surplus income generated

and two padel tennis courts, plus other community facilities such as a café and meeting space, a skate park, a children’s play area and a perimeter pathway around the site — that will provide opportunities for all residents to participate in sports, health and wellbeing, and leisure activities.

Robert Sullivan, chief executive of the Football Foundation, said,

“The Football Foundation is working closely with our partners — the Premier League, The FA and the Government — to transform the quality of grassroots facilities in England by delivering projects like this across the country.

“Good quality playing facilities have a transformative impact on physical and mental health and play an important role in bringing people together and strengthening local communities.

The recent aerial photo and updates from WDC suggest retaining walls have been excavated and temporary access roads formed to the buildings. The coach park has been constructed, and kerbs and tarmac have been laid in the car park area. Initial access to the highway works has been carried out whilst an archaeology team has been on site to investigate the trenches.

Younger residents of Wealden were recently asked to complete surveys about a new playground park that will be located at the hub.

The council launched two different surveys on its community engagement platform, Let’s Talk Wealden — one for under 12s and primary school children and one for teenagers.

The council wanted to know what play equipment, games, and activities

younger residents wanted in the new playground area of the sports park, and for teenagers to give their views on what would make them use and spend time at the park.

Councillor Rachel Millward, Alliance for Wealden (Green Party), lead councillor for Community, Culture and Communications and leader of the council, said, “Playparks are a great way for children to exercise, develop independence and

confidence and bring communities closer together by creating a space to connect. There’s no point investing in something the kids don’t like. As a council, we are interested in the views of our younger residents so that we can build a playpark which is right for them. We hope that schools and parents will support children to fill out the survey and help us to design the best possible playparks for their future fun.”

Pictured from left: WDC director Kristina Shaw-Hamilton; Councillor Kelvin Williams, Alliance for Wealden (Liberal Democrat); Councillor James Patridge, Alliance for Wealden (Liberal Democrat); WDC chief executive Trevor Scott; Councillor Rachel Milward, Alliance for Wealden (Green); and Oliver Bowles from Sunninghill Contractors.

Through our Plan for Change, we’re determined to put more money back into the pockets of hardworking people and improve living standards.

That’s why we’re giving councils funding to repair our roads and get Britain moving again — with a clear expectation that they get on with the job.”

THE Government has announced a countrywide £297m boost to fill potholes and repair roads, with East Sussex receiving £21m over the 2025/26 period. It comes as part of a record £1.6bn Government investment across England — an increase of nearly 50% on local road maintenance funding from last year — it is enough to fix the equivalent of over seven million potholes, according to officials.

Local authorities in the South

East will each receive a share of the funding, as the Government looks to rebuild Britain as part of its ‘Plan for Change’.

This comes as figures from the RAC show drivers encounter an average of six potholes per mile in England and Wales, and the cost of pothole damage to vehicles is around £500 on average, with more severe repairs costing considerably more. According to the AA, fixing potholes is a priority for 96 per cent of drivers.

Each local authority can use its share of the £1.6bn for 2025/6 to identify which of their roads are in most need of repair and to deliver immediate fixes for communities and raise living standards across every area of the country.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “Broken roads can risk lives and cost families hundreds if not thousands of pounds on repairs. That’s a cost that can easily be avoided by investing properly in our roads.

Hailsham is just one of a large number of towns across the county which has its problems. Councillor Gerard Fox, East Sussex County Councillor for Hailsham New Town says the figures just don’t add up.

He told Hailsham News: “The Labour government have perhaps oversold what they have done for East Sussex and other authorities on highways maintenance funding.

Of the £21m headline figure for East Sussex, the ‘new money’ is about £1.9m which is caveated with the comment that DfT will withhold

some of it until they see how we are spending it. On the basis of the prior government settlement and outgoing Conservative government commitments, ESCC had budgeted to receive around £19.1m government funding for highways maintenance for 2025/26. So, it’s great news that we will receive an additional £1.9 million, but it is not quite the panacea presented in the DfT press release.” Road users in the South East are also being encouraged to report potholes in their area to their local council through a dedicated Gov.uk page.

‘One in a Million’ nurse from Hailsham recognised in global medical awards

wound management resulted in her patients having an impressive 83% healing rate within just six weeks, showcasing the impact of education and effective assessment.

Her patient-centred approach and contributions to research revolutionised wound care practices globally, attracting medical professionals worldwide.

impactful contributions to nursing education including extensive

savings for the NHS.

Sylvia’s holistic approach to

Syliva told Hailsham News: “I just can’t believe it happened really. It was so much fun in India when I collected the award. It’s very surreal, but it’s a

The Aster Guardians Global Nursing Awards, organised by leading

integrated healthcare provider Aster DM Healthcare, received more than 78,000 applications from nurses in over two hundred countries — the Grand Jury selected Sylvia as one of the ten most inspiring entries. Dr. Asad Moopen, Founder Chairman and Managing Director of Aster DM Healthcare said: “Nurses are the silent heroes of our healthcare system, demonstrating unparalleled passion and commitment to their patients. The Aster Guardians Global Nursing Award is our humble effort to recognise, honour and empower these dedicated souls who tirelessly serve and uplift the noble cause of the healthcare industry. We are elated and profoundly touched by the enthusiastic engagement of nurses from across the globe in this initiative.”

Sylvia is not giving up yet — she is now in the process of setting up a chain of specialist centres, with the first Gentell Would Healing Centre recently opening in Guildford with plans to continue expanding more across the country.

She moved to Hailsham from Newhaven eleven years ago and says she loves the town. Syliva concluded: “I’ve made so many friends here, people are so kind, I absolutely love living in Hailsham, I’m extraordinarily happy here. If you love what you do, then you’ll never work another day for the rest of your life.”

Sylvia Hampton (third from left) with her award

Fish removed from Common Pond following recent deaths

A LARGE quantity of fish have been removed from the Common Pond to mitigate issues concerning water quality and allow the ecosystem to recover, according to the town council.

An investigation carried out in partnership with the Environment Agency earlier this year found that the deaths of some fish on site had resulted from a low level of dissolved oxygen in the water, due to a combination of high temperatures and low atmospheric pressure brought about by thunderstorms.

The resulting toxic blue-green algal bloom formed in the pond due to a lack of oxygen, although a natural occurrence, could contribute to the loss of further fish in the future. It has been confirmed that decaying food in the water left by members of the public feeding waterfowl, combined with the overfeeding of inhabitant geese by visitors (resulting in excess faecal waste in the pond), increases the problem further.

Common Pond, often described as Hailsham’s ‘Jewel in the Crown’, is a valued open space for the community and popular with visitors.

But, the reality is, unless we remove most of the fish from the pond, we will keep repeating the cycle of increased algae levels, rapid drop in oxygen levels in the water and more dead fish and waterfowl. For this reason, we cannot allow such a large fish population to exist in the pond and have had to remove most of them from the pond.”

Following the granting of a Section 30 Licence by the Environment Agency and subsequent health check being carried out, the

decision has been taken to remove a substantial quantity of fish stock from the pond for their own welfare and to rehome them – this in turn helping to improve the ecology and biodiversity of the area.

The fish have been moved to a

nearby fishery and transported in aerated tanks by a specialist contractor, where they will be allowed to live out the rest of their natural lives.

Town Council’s Pond Warden, Phil Hobden said: “We’re aware that the

Though by no means as extreme as the summer in 2023, the warm weather in June and lack of any significant rainfall meant that we had to act sooner rather than later to prevent any further reduction in the quality of water levels caused by climate change. By keeping fish numbers low, this will ensure that the water quality remains satisfactory, and the overall health of the pond is maintained.”

The decision to remove most of the fish from the pond follows a recent campaign by the Town Council regarding the management of waterfowl on site.

The rising number of resident geese at the pond site (in particular, Canadian Geese), has become a problem in recent years with residents stating that as a direct result, there is too much goose faeces on the surrounding footpath. The Town Council had been advised of the risk

to public health resulting from the extensive amount of bird droppings from the unsustainable numbers of geese contaminating the water and other areas of the Common Pond site. Across the country, unnatural numbers of waterfowl droppings caused by the decomposition of bread/artificial food and overcrowding of waterfowl can result in water-quality problems such as summer algal blooms and Avian Botulism. Add to that, where geese, ducks and other waterfowl congregate to feed, E-coli counts can rise considerably to levels that make the water unsafe.

In response to this, the Town Council’s aim is to now strike a balance between people who enjoy spending time at the Common Pond and the wildlife present at the site. For this reason, several measures were introduced earlier this year which should help achieve this goal, including an awareness-raising campaign to dissuade members of the public from feeding the geese and ducks. This has included the erection of signs at the pond site advising people of this.

For further information or to report any dead fish at the Common Pond or any other Town Council-maintained waterway (including Hailsham Country Park lake and Hempstead Pond), please contact the Town Council on 01323 841702 or by email: enquiries@hailsham-tc.gov.uk.

A Wetland Renaissance: Bringing Pevensey Levels Back to Life

BY JAMIE PARSONS: HEAD OF NATURE RESERVES SUSSEX WILDLIFE TRUST

SUSSEX Wildlife Trust and National Highways have joined forces to launch an exciting and ambitious Network for Nature project to bring Pevensey Levels back to life as one of the great biodiverse wetlands of the UK, benefiting people, nature and wildlife.

You pass through the Pevensey Levels driving from Eastbourne to Bexhill on the A259. It stretches over 3,500 hectares (13.5 sq. miles) between Eastbourne, Hailsham and Bexhill. It has many designations, such as SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest), SAC (Special Area for Conservation) and Ramsar (an International Designation for Important Wetlands). Yet, many people are unaware of its international importance.

animals being turned out in spring for finishing (fattening up) on the lush wet grassland before market.

Redshank breeding. Today, these flocks have all but disappeared from the Levels.

It is a landscape dominated by big skies, acres of lush wet grassland, intersected by many miles of ditches filled with nationally rare aquatic species. However, there used to be another element Pevensey was famous for, which has all but disappeared, and that is huge flocks of wetland birds. Through history, the levels have transitioned from salt marsh through to freshwater marsh, then grazing marsh and today it’s an important grazing area for

In 1996, Sussex Wildlife Trust purchased 150 hectares of land on the Levels which was subsequently designated a National Nature Reserve along with a parcel of land owned by Natural England. The reserve supports rare species such as the Fen Raft Spider, at least 25 rare aquatic molluscs, 16 species of Odonata such as Hairy Dragonfly, along with a huge number of rare aquatic invertebrates and plants. However, when we purchased the site in the late 1990s, there were large flocks of waterfowl and waders overwintering on the reserve, along

So what has caused this decline? Essentially it comes down to water. Availability of water at the right time of year is critical for a healthy, balanced system. This balance has been altered due to extensive water management infrastructure installed on the Levels in the 1970s. Water is pumped off the Levels in winter and held back in the summer, resulting in water levels being held at a constant all year round. Good news for farming.

But when you bring in challenges of increased water extraction and climate change, suddenly this system

starts to fail. With less water flowing through the system and hotter summers causing more evaporation, the system is working to a deficit with less and less water being held within the wetland, causing it to dry out.

With £600,000 funding from the Network for Nature project, we have begun our restoration project by carrying out earth works on our reserve. These have been taking place over recent months. The aim is to create a mosaic of habitats by blocking and meandering ditches, digging scrapes and creating deeper ponds as well as undulations. Together, these measures will help ‘re-wet’ the Levels, allowing wetland species to re-colonise lost territories. We are also working in partnership

with farmers, neighbours and partners, in order to raise water levels and create new habitat where we can to restore wetlands more widely on the Pevensey Levels. The aim is to create an archipelago of wetland habitat right across the Levels providing stepping stones for species to move through the landscape. As you might expect, initially the transformation is creating a lot of mud! We hope the earthworks will be finished around December 2024, after which the restoration of the habitat will slowly begin. We will keep you up to date as to progress along the way. Follow our blogs and social media updates and join us on this exciting journey to bring Pevensey Levels back to life.

Photo: Glenn Norris

Photo: Neil Fletcher

Photo: Graeme Lyons

Drought at Pevensey Levels. Photo: Sam Roberts

Club to tackle isolation and winter fuel bills launched

ORGANISERS of a new weekly club for over 55s in Hailsham, which starts this month, are seeking volunteers to support the project and help make a difference in the local community.

‘The Railway Club’, established to help older residents who are experiencing social isolation or who are struggling to keep warm, will be part-funded by the Town Council — which has also provided a suitable venue.

The Town Council has thanked Eastbourne & Wealden U3A, which gave a ‘warm space’ grant of £250 towards the project, which will go towards the provision of refreshments and a soup cooker.

Club sessions take place on the lower floor of the Station Youth Centre in Western Road every Wednesday from 10am to 1pm, commencing on 8th January 2025. The club will be open to anyone aged 55 or over who are struggling to stay warm at home, or who are experiencing social isolation and would like to chat with others and meet new friends.

Tea, coffee and biscuits will be available, and people are encouraged to bring board games, books, jigsaw puzzles and other activities with them. Project organisers aim to invite speakers to attend some sessions and talk about various topics.

The club will be inclusive, disabled-friendly and accessible to wheelchair users and mobility scooters. Entry will be free, although a donation towards refreshments provided would be welcome.

Organisers are looking for enthusiastic people to fill volunteer roles, who will be available for some (or all) of the three-hour weekly sessions taking place on Wednesday. Duties will include welcoming guests, chatting to visitors, serving refreshments, helping with any clearing away/ washing up and organising various games and activities. Anyone interested in volunteering their time to help operate the club sessions should email cllr.annemarie. ricketts@hailsham-tc.gov.uk, or call 07837 208877.

fundraising costume that shocked Parents and School

how he wanted to fundraise for children who have been affected by domestic abuse.

Oakley, age 9, who is a Young Ambassador for a national children’s charity, KidsOut, told his parents that he wanted to raise money to buy new toys for children who would be spending their Christmas in women’s refuges.

Inspired by his elder brother

approached his teacher at Plumpton Primary School in Lewes and asked if the school would hold a fun dressdown day with children getting sponsored for coming to school in silly clothes.

The event, which Oakley called’ Dress Wacky Day, was a huge success, raising nearly £2000 for the children’s charity, KidsOut, but what surprised his parents was his choice

an elderly man.

His father Daniel said, “Oakley is conscious that not all parents can afford fancy dress costumes which is why he named the event, ‘Dress Wacky Day’. When Oakley asked his mother and I if he could have his head shaved on the top so he looked like an old man as he thought he would get more sponsorship, how could we say no?”

become passionate about trying to help them. He hopes that other schools will be inspired by what he has done and choose to hold their own Wacky Dress Day.”

The money raised by Oakley and the three children in his school, Jenson Dinh, Jude Burke, and Olive Henderson, who raised the most in sponsorship, joined Oakley’s parents on a giant shopping spree for children in Crawley.

CEO of the children’s charity, KidsOut, Sara Williams, said, “Oakley really is a little star. To think this was all his idea at the age of 9 is quite incredible. As a charity we deliver a box of toys to children living in over 700 refuges in the UK so that they have something to open on Christmas Day. Without the toys many of them would sadly go without. Oakley’s efforts are truly inspiring. The toys bought thanks to the fundraising event at Plumpton School, will bring smiles to the faces of some of the county’s most vulnerable children.”

KEN Brooks wanted something to keep him busy in retirement — driving with Cuckmere Community Buses was just the ticket.

How did you become a volunteer bus driver?

I was due to retire from working in London in March 2016 and was looking for something to do. My

wife saw an advert on the back of a Cuckmere bus and thought I might enjoy it. I rang the number, was impressed with the aims and principles of the charity and signed up. She was right (as she always is!) I enjoy the driving, being part of a very friendly and worthy organisation and providing a service to the country villages.

What was the training like?

Although the buses are quite a bit bigger than a car, they are surprisingly easy to drive. Training was really well organised. I did several drives with an instructor on two different buses and then a simple driving theory test. You don’t need a special licence to drive our buses either.

How often do you drive and how many routes do you know?

I drive five or six times a month. I try and fit round my wife’s diary so it doesn’t interfere with home life too much. I know four routes, but mainly drive two — both country village routes where the driving conditions can be interesting! You never know quite what’s coming round the next bend, but it’s great fun.

What’s your favourite drive and why? I honestly couldn’t choose between routes 42 and 43. They both connect

rural villages with Hailsham or Eastbourne and Polegate. I love driving the country lanes and visiting the pretty villages. Every drive has something different to notice. You might see horse riders out and about, farmers busy in the fields and senior cycling clubs out for their weekly rides. I love seeing the seasons change too — new spring flowers in the hedgerows or the changing colours of leaves in the Autumn. It’s a joy!

What’s the best thing about driving for Cuckmere Buses?

The best part is the passengers! It is more of a social gathering than a journey to the shops. In the outlying villages there is no commercial bus service. We provide an essential service to people who can’t drive and have no other means of transport apart from expensive taxis. I haven’t yet met an unhappy passenger. I recently drove one regular passenger who was

passengers were very grateful for that little service to a fellow passenger. To find out more call 07711 243419 or email nick@cuckmerebuses.org.uk

Keith Moore and Ken Brooks, volunteer drivers

Ken Brooks is a volunteer driver for Cuckmere Community Buses

ALL ABOUT YEW: A PUB TO REMEMBER

THE Yew Tree in Arlington is a pub we’ve visited numerous times over the years. It’s a family favourite, often the destination for Sunday drives or impromptu lunches with friends. During summer, it’s easy to see why it’s so popular. With a sprawling garden, a children’s playground, and a dogfriendly atmosphere, it’s a quintessential countryside retreat. But this time, our visit couldn’t have been more different. It was a cold, dark evening in late November when we returned to the Yew Tree. The contrast to its summer charm was striking but equally delightful. As we approached, the glow of Christmas lights illuminated the wintery darkness. The pub seemed to stand out even more against the shrouded countryside, beckoning us in with its warmth. Upon entering, we were met with the unmistakable smell of an open fire—a comforting scent that instantly made us feel at home.

The pub was quiet, with just a handful of diners enjoying the calm before the festive season rush. We were shown to a table next to the crackling fire, a prime spot on such a chilly evening. It was the perfect setting: cosy, welcoming, and full of rustic charm. The Yew Tree has always maintained its traditional pub feel while offering modern twists to its food and drink menus, and this visit was no exception.

The starters alone were enticing, with options like Leek & Potato Soup (£8), Prawn & Avocado Salad (£8), and Devilled Whitebait (£7.50). Ultimately, we went for the Crispy Bang Bang Cauliflower (£7.50) and the Baked Camembert (£9).

To start, we ordered a bowl of mixed marinated olives (£4) to nibble on while we browsed the extensive menu.

The cauliflower was a standout. Lightly battered and cooked to perfection, it retained its crunch, and the spicy sauce heightened it to a dish full of flavour. It’s something I’ve tried (and failed) to replicate at home, making it all the more

enjoyable. The camembert was another hit. Served with garlic and rosemary, the addition of a fig and honey chutney added a delightful sweetness. While the crostini served alongside were crisp and tasty, we found ourselves wishing for a few extra slices to mop up the generous portion of cheese.

For mains, we opted for the Homemade Chilli Con Carne (£14) and the Pan-Fried Seabass (£18.50). The chilli, served with basmati rice, sour cream, and spring onions, was hearty and warming. The gluten-free twist gave it a slightly different texture from traditional beef chilli, but the flavours were rich and satisfying. The seabass was beautifully cooked, with its flaky texture complemented by plump king prawns and a garlic chilli butter that added a wonderful kick. The steamed potatoes and broccoli provided a perfectly balanced accompaniment.

The menu offers something for everyone, with other mains including Breaded Scampi (£14.50), Hunter’s Chicken (£14.50), and Pork Tenderloin (£17.50). For steak lovers, there’s an 8oz Sirloin Steak (£23). If you’re in the mood for burgers, the pub’s separate gourmet burger menu is worth exploring. With clever names like “Yew Know Yew Want To” and “Hallou-Me, Hallou-You,” they’re as creative as they are delicious.

Vegetarian and vegan options are available too, ensuring no one is left out. Families are well catered for, with a dedicated children’s menu that’s both affordable and varied. For £6.95, kids can enjoy options like a Chicken Burger with Chips, Tomato Pasta, or Fish Fingers, Chips & Peas—all rounded off with a scoop of ice cream for dessert. Speaking of desserts, the selection was as tempting as the rest of the menu. We opted for the Sticky Toffee Pudding (£7), served with a generous scoop of creamy vanilla ice cream. The rich toffee sauce was the perfect indulgence on a cold evening. Other choices included a warming Apple, Plum & Cinnamon Crumble (£7) and a decadent Salted Caramel & Chocolate Brownie (£7). By the end of the meal, we were full, warm, and utterly content. There’s something special about dining in a countryside pub, especially on a dark winter’s night. The Yew Tree manages to capture the magic of both seasons—its lively summer garden and its cosy winter fireside offer two completely different, yet equally enjoyable, experiences. It’s a pub that combines great food, a welcoming atmosphere, and charm. Visitors can get 20% off food bills when you pre-book during January, MondayFriday for tables up to six people. The Yew Tree Inn, Arlington, Polegate, East Sussex, BN26 6RX www.yewtree-inn.co.uk 01323 870590

Pan-fried Seabass

Gluten-free Chilli-con-Carne

Cauliflour Bang Bang

Camembert starter

KNOW YOUR GARDEN

By Emma Reece, Head Gardener at Bates Green Garden

“If the birds begin to sing in January, Frosts are on the way.”

THE New Year is traditionally a time both to glance back and to look ahead, and that has always been true when it comes to the weather, a complete obsession of mine.

Winter can be the harshest season, particularly for outdoor workers. I am always checking the weather apps on my phone, looking for clues as to the likelihood of rain and frost but the natural world — clouds, birds, animals, and plants — all provide their own clues to predict what the winter will bring. We perhaps could do with becoming more sensitive to these signs once more rather than solely relying on technology.

The study of weather proverbs is known as paremiology. Some are fanciful fun with no basis in scientific fact, while others have been found to have a kernel of truth at their core. No matter what, these folkloric tales predicting winter weather are interesting to observe.

January boasts a wealth of sayings, proverbs and rhymes, which were coined

the opposite. Thus, a good number of proverbs suggest that warm or fine weather at the beginning of the year is bad news, especially for the coming harvest.

For example: “If grain grows in January, it will be a year of great need”, “January flowers do not swell the granary”, or the deeply pessimistic “January warm, the Lord have mercy!”

A lack of snow in January is also bad news: as it is then likely that there will be a freeze-up in March or April.

But the most intriguing belief is that “a green January makes a full churchyard”. This is based on the perfectly reasonable notion that cold weather kills germs, while mild winters allow them to spread.

In the days before antibiotics, even a common cold could turn into a more serious, even fatal infection.

So, we should perhaps hope for typical winter weather. In the words of one wise but anonymous French forecaster: “A cold January, a feverish February, a

of vintners and vinegar makers:

‘Remember on St Vincent’s Day, if the sun his beams display, ’tis a token bright and clear of prosperous weather all the year.’

So, let us look out for the sun on the 22nd. We gardeners could do with some prosperous weather in 2025 after the disastrously wet and cold spring we had last year.

On St Paul the Apostle’s Day (January 25), we look again for a forecast for the rest of the year-

If St Paul’s Day be fair and clear it does betide a happy year,

We are now closed until Wednesday 26th February 2025 when we will then be open on Wednesdays and Saturdays until 22nd October. For details, please go to the website www.batesgreengarden.co.uk and follow the garden on Instagram @batesgreengarden

hazel leaves have yet to fall. Should I be getting my sledge ready?

But if it chance to snow or rain then will be dear all kinds of grain, If clouds or mists do dark the sky, great store of birds and beasts shall die, And if the winds do fly aloft, then war shall vex the kingdom oft.

This one seems very specific, we hope very much to avoid great stores of birds and beasts dying! And as for a war.

Acorns that fall heavily mean a cold

We

teams,

golf society, and a free pool table. We are dog friendly and children under 12 are welcome until 7pm.

“When leaves fall early, Fall and winter will be mild; When leaves fall late, Winter will be severe.”

Temperature — There seems to be an awful lot of folklore about August temperatures interestingly.

“If a cold August follows a hot July, it foretells a winter hard and dry.”

“For every fog in August, There will be a

as las cabañuelas, a method of weather forecasting that originated in Spain and is still found throughout the Hispanic world. The idea is that the weather on each of the first 12 days of January represents the weather for the 12 months of the year — with the first day representing January, the second day February and so on. I like this idea; it is simple and straightforward and makes me more determined than ever to record the weather every day. Even if it is

There you have it, my resolution for 2025 is to keep a weather diary. I’ll let you know how I get on. Until next month,

COMMUNITY EVENTS AND VENUE HIRE IN POLEGATE

Popular pet supply outlet to increase range of products

FISH Around is a well-established familyrun Aquatic Centre in Hailsham High Street and has been trading for 14 years.

Duncan and Tracey took over the shop in July 2022 just as the energy crisis hit so they’ve certainly faced a challenge since taking it over. A new face, Simon, then joined the team in January last year.

The team has completely changed the feel of the shop, with it now being a vibrant, colourful, warm and welcoming with plenty of visitors (customers and browsers, parents and children, people just passing and people popping in for a chat).

Tracey Buchan said: “We are very passionate about what we do and we have completely rearranged our lovely shop and set up a dedicated Pet Supply Store specifically to meet your loved furry, scaly, feathery, slippery pets’ needs.

We can supply dry/wet/frozen/live foods, we can take special orders for foods, plus we have toys and accessories for Cats, Dogs, Hamsters, Guinea Pigs, Birds, Fish, Reptiles (snakes, turtles, lizards) etc.

Our dedicated Pet Supplies Store officially opened on 1st January, and please do come in and see what items we can supply you. Please do

give us your feedback or requests for anything specific you need. Look out for the new purple signage!”

The shop is welcoming regular and new customers and promises to give a top-notch first-class service.

Scan the QR codes below, for daily updates, videos, offers.

Call the team on 01323 844400, email: fisharoundhailsham@outlook.com

Visit the website: fisharoundhailsham.co.uk

NEW PET STORE OPENED AT FISH AROUND IN HAILSHAM HIGH STREET. PET SUPPLIES, PLUS LIVE FISH, TURTLES, LOBSTERS, FROGS ETC

We have a new dedicated Pet supplies Store now open in store!

We specialise in freshwater tropical and cold-water fish, Black Musk Turtles, Lobsters, plus aquariums, aquarium plants and accessories to decorate your aquariums, plus filters, heaters etc.

We offer special orders, aquarium servicing, pond servicing, and expert advice to help you create and maintain beautiful aquatic environments. We have dried, wet and live food,

HAILSHAM ACTIVE with Steve Wennington

IS IT TIME TO RETHINK THE VALUE OF OUR RECREATION GROUNDS?

for appointments than the number of appointments available.

Recreation grounds historically come from good people wanting to provide a free and accessible green space for communities that otherwise would struggle to afford recreation.

Initially, it was a Victorian concept, as people moved away from the country and into cities for their work, and it was clear they were losing the benefits of the countryside.

It is also noted that after the first and second World Wars, local councils made big efforts to purchase more land for the

improvement of the physical and mental health of their communities.

THE SIX-ACRE RECREATION GROUND

There is the six-acre rule of thumb for a recreation ground we are used to seeing, typically for football, cricket, bowls, a play area for younger children, a pavilion for changing facilities and after-match teas. Even the smallest village often has a recreation ground.

The goodwill of the older generations has often been replaced with ‘cost savings’ of new councillors because sport and recreation are not ‘legal requirements’.

The irony of course is the decline of physical and mental health in our society as regularly reported.

CATCH 22?

Sport and recreation is not a legal requirement — so the council can save money by reducing facilities or selling off land.

ON YOUR BIKE with Ian Hollidge

But we all know, sport and recreation help reduce the costs of the NHS.

A SOLUTION FOR 2025

There is a solution to this problem, but it does require a degree of openmindedness by our local councillors. We want to show them an alternative that can bring the benefits without the risks.

SPORTS CLUBS LINKED TO RECREATION GROUNDS

Where there are sports clubs, there are volunteers and businesses that want to support the facilities. (We calculated the value at Western Road Rec to be

2025: EXPLORE, CONNECT, AND

£100,000 in volunteering/coaching alone for 2024).

There are some amazing local examples:

WESTERN ROAD REC & HORSEBRIDGE REC (HELLINGLY SPORTS CLUB)

Both of these recreation grounds had land gifted to the local councils in the first place.

The councils initially took on the roll of looking after everything, including the running of Pavilions. Of course, when the council want to look after a Pavilion, there is direct cost to them/

Santa delivered a brand-new bicycle or useful accessories?

What better start to the New Year than enjoying the freedom cycling gives you and exercising on your bike. If you’re new

add or ask for to personalise your bike.

This year we will be able to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, Valentine’s day and other special occasions where the pleasure of giving allows an opportunity

Endless trips of quiet solitude to clear the mind or with a group for exercise and social interaction, the fun has just begun. Extras to consider could be: colourful

council taxpayers. The costs quickly become prohibitive and look really bad on their balance sheet.

When the asset/Pavilion gets transferred to the responsibility of the local sports club, there is a massive change in outlook.

The clubs will fix, repair and improve facilities at their own cost, often with free labour or donations from local companies (I’ve certainly been involved in these projects for many years).

The second part of the process is to provide the clubs with a long lease. This then entitles the clubs to apply for grants from various bodies including the National Lottery and Sport England as examples. The leases need to be for at least 30 years as grant providers are looking for long-term commitment to any money given out.

If we can change the view that a recreation ground is just a loss to a council and turn it into a very low-cost but amazing asset, we can also change the outlook from a negative one for our community to a positive one.

This is our aim for 2025 — to support our sports clubs and recreation areas whilst also supporting our local councillors by showing them how they can reduce risks and enhance the community.

It will be challenging, but also exciting. We look forward to updating you through the year and wish everyone great health for 2025.

clothes, goggles, sunglasses, hats, helmets, bells, lights, pannier bags, racks, puncture repair & tool kits etc.

The bicycle is all you need to free yourself away from stress. You and your personal transport deserve to be a part of your identity.

Years ago, there were many cycle shops in each town, their decline is a story for another occasion, now one either uses the local mega-store Halfords, similar alternatives are available or an online website delivered conveniently to your front door.

If you are considering a conversion kit to an E-Bike it must be done through a reputable manufacturer using the correct charger, those bought cheaply online have been proven to be the main cause of e-bike fires.

Finding the right track or route may be new to you, should you use a paper map or one of the many smart satellite navigation devices?

Digital mapping is now at a different level, Strava, Garmin, Google and many other brands offer digital live bike maps to your phone or other device with added extras. One is the possibility to share your routes, distance, speeds, times, height climbed all recorded and seen with your cycling friends, family or anyone you wish.

The possibility of your loved ones knowing where you are at any given time is very handy and for some a necessity. Many routes cyclists choose are along

paths less trodden, hidden from car drivers. Making these unknown tracks traceable by recording creates a cycling community with a shared interest in exploring where finding the shortest or a different route is part of the fun.

The start of 2025 ends a quarter of this 21st century after cautions of a 1999 millennium bug or Y2K could shut down all computers.

Risking collapse of world infrastructure highlighting our reliance on technology, fortunately clever people stepped up and the impending catastrophe was avoided. It is always best to be prepared with a plan B. Joining one of the many cycle clubs or national groups is recommended with Cycling UK being a leader in providing £10 million third-party liability insurance. This will cover you if you damage another person or their property, for example if you were to accidentally cause injury to a fellow rider or hit a car. Your chance to bling the bike at Bexhill After Dark will be on Saturday 25th January. Details will be announced shortly about the parade around Bexhill. Looking forward to seeing everyone on your bicycle, buggy, stroller or mobility scooter all lit up.

This month, I’ve included a photo of a photo from our July Coastal Culture Trail ride from Eastbourne to Hastings, which is fully kitted out with colourful additions and everything required for exploring our Sussex Coastline. Happy Wheeling.

Coastal Culture Trail ride from Eastbourne to Hastings last July.

Steve Wennington

Western Road Recreation Ground

HAILSHAM AND DISTRICT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE UPDATE

BIG CHANGES COMING TO OUR BIG BUSINESS BREAKFASTS!

The Hailsham & District Chamber of Commerce is kicking off 2025 with an exciting new twist for our popular Big Business Breakfasts! Starting in January, each event will feature two incredible speakers, giving you double the inspiration, insights, and opportunities to promote your business.

Here’s what’s in store:

• More chances to shine — Showcase your business to a room full of fellow professionals.

• Fresh ideas and strategies — Learn from the experiences of our expert speakers.

• A stronger, thriving community —

Let’s grow and succeed together! Our mission is to empower every member to achieve their goals. Why not make 2025 the year your business story becomes the one everyone’s talking about?

Don’t miss our first breakfast of the year! Date: Thursday, 9th January 2025. Where: Wellshurst Golf & Country Club. Time: 7.30am

Let’s connect, collaborate, and create something amazing. See you there!

PLAN AHEAD — BOOK FOR FEBRUARY’S BIG BUSINESS BREAKFAST!

Why stop at January when you can keep the momentum going? Secure your spot for February’s Big Business Breakfast and continue the journey of growth and connection.

Date: Thursday, 6th February 2025. Where: Wellshurst Golf & Country Club. Time: 7.30am

Start your morning with great company, valuable insights, and opportunities to elevate your business. Don’t miss out — book today!

YOUR VOICE MATTERS! WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU

What’s working? What could be better?

We want to know! At Hailsham & District Chamber of Commerce, your feedback shapes the way we support local businesses.

Whether you’ve got a big idea, a

small suggestion, or just want to share your experience, we’re all ears. Drop us an email at ryley@ hailshamchamber.co.uk.

Your insights help us innovate, improve, and deliver even more value to our members. Together, we can build a stronger, more vibrant business community.

Thank you for being part of our journey — your input truly makes a difference.

A NEW YEAR, A NEW CHAPTER FOR HAILSHAM!

Happy New Year from all of us at the Hailsham & District Chamber of Commerce! As we step into 2025, we’re filled with enthusiasm for the opportunities ahead.

This year, we’re committed to:

• Building connections that empower local businesses.

• Creating opportunities to learn, grow, and thrive.

• Fostering success across our community.

Whether it’s through networking events, expert advice, or simply being there to cheer you on, we’re here to help your business reach new heights. Let’s make 2025 the year of possibilities and progress!

Here’s to a prosperous and inspiring year ahead. Together, we’ll achieve great things. Cheers to 2025!

The Hailsham & District Chamber of Commerce

#NewYearNewGoals

#HailshamChamber #2025Vision

MEET THE COMMITTEE

The Committee comprises dedicated business professionals who are not only members of the Chamber but also bring a wealth of experience and key skills to the table. Their expertise ensures the Chamber remains proactive, innovative, and aligned with the needs of our members.

Our Committee is committed to building strong connections within the local business community and creating opportunities for growth, collaboration, and success. They work tirelessly to ensure every member feels supported and empowered.

By contributing their time, expertise, knowledge and resources, the Committee plays a vital role in driving the Chamber forward. From organising impactful events to representing member interests, their contributions ensure Hailsham & District Chamber of Commerce remains a cornerstone of our business community.

The Committee comprises (from left to right):

• Clive Soper — President

• Ryley Warwick — Social Media Manager

• Roy Smith — Feature Speaker Manager

• Donna St-Claire — Charity Liaison Officer

• James Golding — Website Manager

• Sam Beale — Events Manager

• Viktoria Cowley — Secretary

• Andrew Rannie — Vice President

• Mark Hallett — Committee Member

• Lucy Fenner — Treasurer

• Colin Slaughter —

LOOKING BACK ON 2024!

As 2024 draws to a close, we’re celebrating a year filled with growth, community, and collaboration at the Hailsham & District Chamber of Commerce.

We’d like to take this moment to wish you, your businesses, and your families a happy and healthy new year.

Here’s a look back at our incredible year:

OUR MEMBERSHIP KEEPS GROWING!

Last year, we proudly reached a milestone of 122 members, a true testament to the vibrant and supportive business community in and around Hailsham.

Here’s to another year of growth, collaboration, and success in 2025!

Become a Member Today: hailshamchamber.co.uk/joinhailsham-chamber

ENGAGING BREAKFASTS & INSPIRING SPEAKERS

In 2024, we hosted 12 breakfast meetings at our fantastic new venue, Wellshurst Golf Club, providing the perfect space for connection and collaboration.

• 12 dynamic speakers, including 8 Chamber members and 4 guest speakers, shared inspiring stories and invaluable insights.

• Our breakfasts continue to grow, building on meaningful relationships and showcasing the best of what our Chamber has to offer.

MEMORABLE EVENTS THAT BROUGHT US TOGETHER

2024 was packed with events that created lasting connections:

• Battle Boom Bar (22 May) — A lively evening of drinks, games,

• Curry Night (25 June) — A delicious night of camaraderie at one of our favourite venues.

• Sussex Weald Hustings (2 July)

— Held at the Hellingly Hub, this event attracted 150+ attendees and was expertly organized in under two weeks.

• Belle’s Pottery, Paint, Prosecco & Pizza (September) — A creative and fun evening enjoyed by all.

• Christmas Event — Nearly 100 members and guests celebrated the season with a fine menu and festive cheer at Wellshurst Golf Club.

We’ve also hosted Committee Meetings at our beloved spots, Callenders and Rustico, adding even more charm to our gatherings.

LOOKING AHEAD TO 2025

We’re gearing up for an exciting year with a fantastic lineup of events and initiatives to help your business thrive! Upcoming Breakfast Dates — Get Them in Your Diary!

• Thursday, 6 February

• Thursday, 6 March

• Thursday, 3 April

MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR MEMBERSHIP!

Boost your business with our marketing support!

Email your content to ryley@ hailshamchamber.co.uk, and we’ll share your message across our social media platforms. Let’s grow together!

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Clive Soper, President; Ryley Warwick, Social Media Manager; Roy Smith, Feature Speaker Manager; Donna St-Claire, Charity Liaison Officer; James Golding, Website Manager; Sam Beale, Events Manager; Viktoria Cowley, Secretary; Andrew Rannie, Vice President; Mark Hallett, Committee Member; Lucy Fenner, Treasurer; Colin Slaughter, Committee Member

Update from MP Nusrat Ghani

HAPPY New Year! I hope that you had a chance to relax and refresh over the festive period and had a good start to 2025. Winter is a beautiful time in Sussex Weald, especially with a bit of frost in the morning making everything sparkle. However, periods of very low temperatures and icy spells always expose the vulnerabilities in our infrastructure. I recognise the strength of feeling on the disruptions to our water supplies and share everyone’s frustration at the speed of response when such events take place.

I continue working with South East Water and I am pleased that following my many meetings with them and calls to invest in their infrastructure, several multi-million-pound improvements are taking place across the constituency.

Approximately 17km of new pipeline will connect treatment works at Bewl Water with drinking water storage tanks in Wadhurst and Rotherfield; additionally, approximately 6.5km of ageing pipeline between Heathfield, Punnetts Town and Rushlake Green will be replaced; and lastly, a £61 million investment to upgrade and expand Bewl Water Treatment Works by building a second treatment facility on site will provide a boost to water production in the area, treating an

additional 17 million litres of water a day when completed in 2028.

However, while I welcome this progress, I’m aware that the winter months can bring unexpected disruptions, and I would like to encourage Sussex Weald residents to check their eligibility and sign up to South East Water’s Priority Services Register to receive additional support in case of sudden supply issues. It’s completely free to register, and you don’t have to be the named bill payer to be eligible.

Registering is quick and easy and can be done via an online form or by calling the Customer Care Team on 0800 952 4000 Monday to Friday 8am-7pm. To find out more and to register, please visit: www.southeastwater.co.uk/help/priorityservices. A new scheme has also been set up to specifically help those customers who keep livestock on a non-commercial basis. To find out more, go to: www.southeastwater. co.uk/help/works-and-outages/register-forlivestock-alternate-water.

I will of course continue working with South East Water on what more can be done to further improve water supply resilience in Sussex Weald. For more information on my work, please visit my website www.nusghani.org.uk.

LAURIE’S POEM CORNER

, into January we go then with all those short, dark and dreary days, but trying to be more positive. Christmas and all that has gone, so philosophically, we are going downhill to spring.

I was going to say we can “look forward” to spring, but that would have stolen my fire in giving the title away of my poem for this month as it’s called “Look Out”.

Of course, I don’t like anything to be too straightforward, so on that note Look Out does not obviously give away what the poem is about! Interesting then, so read on...

A look out can be as a sentry guarding the camp or barracks, or, can mean watch where you are going, or it could be for someone or something that has gone missing, so take your pick.

My Look Out though is in the form of an attractive person maybe luring or seducing you into their life. That could be good you think, and so it should, but love rarely is that simple, so best read my poem for alternate thought, or dare I suggest, guidance?

LOOK OUT

You can’t look up as she walks by For you know what you will see, A probable vision of loveliness That will attract both you and me. But do not have guilty doubts As most will feel just the same, Though many try to subdue this It is all part of life’s game.

Thus recognise and enjoy attraction Because it surely goes both ways, And whilst can cause complications It usually brightens up our days, As men and women aren’t meant to be Lonely, separated, distant or apart. Because one of the main joys in life Is to have a happy, singing heart.

Now I do know there are doubters

As I can hear them very loud, Deriding life’s pleasures and fun Particularly in an agreeing crowd. But I have a very confident feeling

That if I was to place a large bet, Most people would want romance As without they will feel regret.

So get out in the world and smile For it will make your face light up, And probably be returned by others Who may award a romantic cup, Because they may be smiling also In attempt to raise their attraction. And if you can get together on this It could give mutual satisfaction.

Property agents named ‘one of the

very best’ in awards

STEVENS and Carter has been identified as one of the top Estate Agents in the UK and now features in the Best Estate Agent Guide 2025 – the most comprehensive review UK agencies.

The Best Estate Agent Guide was created to help sellers and landlords find the top agents in their area. Each year, the Guide is compiled following a rigorous assessment which analyses more than 11,300 agents against criteria which matter most to homeowners, including property marketing, customer service and results.

This year, Stevens and Carter was among the winners, taking home GOLD, rated within the TOP 5% of both Sales and Lettings Agents in the country.

Drivers to receive sat nav alerts to warn of emergency vehicles

performing agents in the UK.

AMBULANCES across Sussex will be sending alerts via Sat Nav Apps to drivers to make them aware of their presence with an aim of improving response times.

South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SECAmb) has become the first ambulance service in Europe to fit digital alerting to its

Sam Beale, Sales Director, said: “We are thrilled to have been featured in the prestigious Best Estate Agent Guide 2025. This recognition reflects our commitment to upholding the highest industry standards, and we are honoured to be acknowledged as one of the top-

Peter Knight, founder of Best Estate Agent Guide, added: “Selling your home is a big decision and choosing the right estate agent can make all the difference. By working with a Best Estate Agent Guide-rated agent, you know you are in the best possible hands. Congratulations to Stevens and Carter on their award. They should display their well-deserved medals with pride.”

SECAmb is testing the system, Safety Cloud by HAAS Alert, which enables real-time alerting between emergency and other vehicles, with the aim of improving road safety. Alerts are delivered to drivers today through leading navigation apps including Waze and Apple Maps. Soon, alerts will also become available through new compatible vehicles as they come to the market. Drivers can receive the alerts, potentially in advance of seeing or hearing a vehicle’s blue lights and sirens.

SECAmb will turn on the alerts on its vehicles next week (Monday, 9 December), allowing the notifications to begin being received when its vehicles are responding on blue lights.

As well as improving road safety, the system is also expected to reduce the cost and time associated with repairing damaged vehicles. It is also hoped the alerts will enable ambulances to progress more smoothly through traffic, potentially reducing operational response times and the Trust’s carbon footprint.

The system is being implemented through SECAmb’s existing relationship with ACETECH which provides the Trust with a cloud-

SECAmb Fleet Services Manager, Rob Martin said: “We are pleased to be trialling this technology in our response vehicles. The alerts, in addition to traditional lights and sirens, will mean motorists able to use the system will be aware of our presence sooner. This extra time not only creates a safer experience for motorists but also our operational crews and patients across the south east.”

Your local independent property experts...

Residential Lettings Land New Homes

Hackhurst Lane, Lower Dicker - £550,000

This charming three-bedroom chalet bungalow offers huge potential, located in a peaceful, non-estate area. Set on a generous one-third-acre plot, it features a driveway, double garage, workshop, and swimming pool (now a duck pond). With spacious rooms, extended living areas, and scenic views, it’s ready for transformation into a dream retreat.

Wellhouse, Battle Road - £500,000

This beautiful Georgian house, dating back to the 1830s, features period charm throughout. The well-presented home includes a lounge, dining room, kitchen-breakfast room, study, three bedrooms, and two WCs. Surrounded by wraparound gardens with seating areas, it offers a driveway, garage, and log burner. View the 3D tour and schedule a viewing.

HAREBEATING CRESCENT

PRICE GUIDE

£375,000 - £400,000

near schools, amenities, and bus routes. Price guide £375,000 - £400,000. View professional photography before booking a viewing.

STEPHENSON CLOSE- £475,000

This immaculate four-bedroom home, located in a peaceful cul-de-sac, offers direct access to adjacent greenspace and countryside walks. The property features three receptions, including a double-aspect lounge, a spacious kitchen-dining room, and a versatile third reception room. Upstairs, the main bedroom boasts an ensuite. The pretty garden is low-maintenance, and a driveway with a garage provides ample parking. Explore the 3D virtual tour and photography before arranging a viewing to fully appreciate this family home.

LONDON

ROAD Guide Price £500,000 - £525,000

This charming 1930s detached home on London Road offers period character and exciting potential. With planning permission for a rear and first-floor extension, the property spans three floors. It features spacious reception rooms, a kitchen, utility room, and WC on the ground floor. The first floor includes three bedrooms, a family bathroom, and WC, while a large loft bedroom offers extra flexibility. Ample parking, garage, and a large rear garden enhance its appeal.

NURSERY LANE, HERSTMONCEUX OFFERS OVER £325,000

This well-presented detached bungalow, located in the sought-after village of Herstmonceux, offers countryside views and no onward chain. The property features a modern extended kitchen-dining room, spacious lounge, and conservatory. Two double bedrooms with beautiful views and a modern shower room complete the home. Externally, the property boasts mature gardens, ample off-road parking, and a garage. This peaceful location is ideal for families or retirees.

Stevens and Carter are pleased to market this beautifully presented detached family home, located within walking distance to the town centre. The property features a spacious lounge/dining room, conservatory, fitted kitchen, and a modern shower room/WC. Upstairs are three bedrooms, including a master with rear garden views. Outside, landscaped gardens, off-road parking, and a garage with power and plumbing complete the package. A viewing is highly recommended to appreciate this well-maintained home in a popular location.

DEANLAND WOOD PARK - £225,000

Stevens and Carter are pleased to present this spacious three-bedroom park home, offered with no onward chain. Located on a popular park within walking distance to on-site facilities, it features a dual-aspect L-shaped lounge/dining room, fitted kitchen, utility room, and en-suite master bedroom. The property also offers a shower room, wrap-around gardens, off-road parking, and a garage. With a monthly pitch fee of £278.99 (including water), this home is perfect for easy, convenient living. Book a viewing today!

JOHN STEVENS

SAM BEALE

SAMUEL TOWNSEND

NICK RUSSELL

LUCY BROWN

LAURA STEVENS

LIVING WITH CANCER with Nadine Searle

HOW MY LIFE CHANGED: A JOURNEY WITH

CANCER AND FINDING

TWO years ago, in December 2022, my life changed forever. 8 December, I went for what I thought was just a routine mammogram—something I’d done before. I wasn’t worried at all; it wasn’t my first, and I didn’t expect it to be my last. But that appointment marked the start of a journey I never anticipated.

For those unfamiliar with my story, my name is Nadine Searle. I’ve always been passionate about helping others find calm and balance in their lives, even in the face of challenges. But when I was diagnosed with cancer, everything I knew about staying calm was put to the ultimate test.

Now, two years later, I’m sharing my story to offer hope, support, and practical tools to others who may find themselves on a similar path.

As I entered 2024, I reflected on how much had changed since last January.

January 2023 — Facing Fear and Uncertainty: My cancer diagnosis in late 2022 changed my life in ways I never imagined, but I was still not really sure what this would mean for me.

Back then, my emotions were a whirlwind. On one hand, I carried on as if nothing had changed—running my business, facilitating workshops on goal-setting, and encouraging others to adopt a positive mindset. Yet inside, I was riddled with fear and uncertainty, filled with “what ifs” and a sense of powerlessness over my future.

The irony wasn’t lost on me — I was helping others tap into the power of

CALM

their minds to create their desired futures, while I couldn’t escape the terror that my own days might be numbered. Let’s be honest—anyone who hears the word “cancer” immediately wonders, “Am I going to die?”

That fear consumed me, accompanied by sadness, shame, and a desperate need to shield those I loved. I told no one except my partner, who accompanied me to appointments, and one close friend who intuitively knew something was wrong. The thought of burdening others with my uncertainty felt unbearable.

Wrestling with Unexpected Emotions:

A surprising emotion I wrestled with was shame—a strange reaction, but one I’ve since discovered is not uncommon among cancer patients. Through meditation and gentle self-inquiry, I traced this feeling back to old childhood patterns and worked to release it. Despite the darkness, small moments of joy with friends and family became treasures. A cinema outing with my niece and a weekend with my nephew felt more precious than they could have imagined, as I feared they might be my last.

On January 18, I returned to the Brighton Centre with my friend. It was a freezing day, and as we arrived, I envied her carefree excitement about showing off her new Christmas coat. All I could think about was whether I’d see another Christmas.

Finding Calm Amid Chaos: During that appointment, the consultant explained the specific type of cancer I had—words that felt foreign and heavy. The tests continued, including full-body scans, and the fear of cancer spreading loomed large. This period of waiting and uncertainty was the darkest and most terrifying of all.

Thankfully, I had my trusted Calmer Self Method to help me find peace amidst the chaos. Through relaxation techniques, I managed to sleep and even face tests with a sense of calm that surprised the medical staff. I am endlessly grateful for these tools, which gave me moments of control and strength during such a vulnerable time.

Sharing My Story: Looking back, I wish I hadn’t kept my diagnosis a secret for so long. Carrying it alone was a heavy burden, but I now understand why I did—and why others might feel the same.

Sharing my story, both privately and later through social media, lifted some of the weight and allowed me to process my emotions. The outpouring of love and support I received was incredible and reminded me of the power of connection. Words of Advice: To anyone facing a cancer diagnosis, my advice is this: don’t carry it alone. Trust your intuition about when and who to share your journey with, but know that opening up can be a profound relief. You are stronger than you think, and so are the people you’re trying to protect.

Even in the depths of despair, there can be moments of joy and empowerment. Finding ways to reclaim even a small sense of control can be transformative—and this is what I aim to share with others.

If you’d like to learn more about how I can support you, please visit my website or YouTube channel, where I share more about my journey and the Calmer Self tools that have helped me. And if you need a listening ear, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Please feel free to contact me directly if you have any questions or simply need a listening ear.

Here are details to my YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@ CalmerSelfCoach Website: www.calmerself.co.uk/yourcancer-coach Text: 07856 169186

Email: nadine@calmerself.co.uk

HARNESSINGTHESTRENGTHS OFPRINTADVERTISING!

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Nadine Searle

Make 2025 the year you quit smoking.

two more wins for Stringers

HAILSHAM Town’s men’s first team recorded two wins from three games over the last month. The Stringers finished November away to Chichester City B (30th November), with a 4-2 victory on the road thanks to a brace from Henry Thompson and goals from

Mitch Ford and Bayly Wright. The win would be the final game (for now!) in a Hailsham shirt for the impressive Thompson, who has scored 15 goals this season,

to Rustington was cancelled due to the weather the following week, the Stringers did get in one final game before Christmas with a 2-0 win at home to Brighton Electricity thanks

young midfielder’s return from AFC Uckfield Town. Unfortunately for Hailsham there would be no joy on Saturday 28th December, with a 1-0 defeat at Jarvis Brook after a Victor Penfold header. A fine save from a Connor Townsend free kick denied the Stringers a share of the spoils

Intermediate Cup (2pm).

The Stringers Women meanwhile have been frustrated by the weather — games against Woodingdean Wanderers and The View (cup) postponed, whilst when the pitch was fit, Hollingbury Hawks were unable to raise a team. They will hope to get back underway on Sunday 12th at home to The View in the League Cup (2pm).

Hailsham Harriers step into Christmas

LOCAL running club Hailsham Harriers jumped into December with a number of festive runs and an abundance of Christmas spirit.

Sunday 1st December saw the club hold its annual Christmas run through Abbotts Wood finishing with a delicious meal at The Old Oak Arlington. Members were encouraged to dress for their fun 5k in Christmas outfits with prizes on offer for the best dressed which saw Jayne Morris and Lee Williams take first place with Jo Davis and Kevin Morris runners up.

Club coach, Julie Lewis-Clements, joined neighbouring Heathfield Runners on the morning of December 1st, running a half marathon distance from Heathfield to Polegate in Christmas attire. Since January, Julie has completed a half marathon distance every month to achieve the goal of twelve half marathons in

Faced with blustery conditions on the weekend of December 7th and 8th club member Dave Garratt took on the UK Ultra Winter 55-mile event.

Hailsham Cricket Club update

BY ROB WILKINSON

AS the new year starts, Hailsham Cricket Club would like to wish all the local community a healthy and successful 2025.

We plan on the new year being a really positive one for the club and there is no better time to get

Dave braved the winds and 60mph gusts of Storm Darragh, along with rain, hail and mud to complete his first-ever ultra marathon distance.

involved. This can be achieved through a variety of ways not just as a playing member. We need a whole army of volunteers for the club to run and be successful and we have found that these positions are often quite attractive to local residents with a

Julie Lewis-Clements, Tracy Erridge, and Michelle Hollands took on vital volunteer marshal roles to ensure the safety and welfare of runners.

On Sunday 8th December, eight hardy Harriers joined 500 runners at Peacehaven Leisure Centre for the Mince Pie 10-mile hosted by Seaford Striders. This popular local event always sees the best festive outfits and despite storm Darragh, this year was no exception. Claire Keith, Carl Barton, Kevin Morris, Jayne Morris, Abi Morris, Victoria Little, Sarah Day and Mark Bassett braved the elements to take part in the fun which each year raises money for two local charities.

On Tuesday 10th December Hailsham Harriers put on the club’s historic annual 4K Turkey Trot for its senior Harriers and a 2K Chicken Run for their junior Harriers, whereby members compete against each other in a time-based event.

little time on their hands. Our grounds team are constantly working on our two pitches throughout the week and weekends. We have a small group of people who like to help out on the bar at weekends, this is a very social position and offers people the chance to socialise and meet new friends. We always need people

In the Turkey Trot, Louise Williams, first across the line, won the top prize of a Christmas gift card with Chris Doherty recording the fastest time on the night of 13.52 and Alice Denning 16:54, fastest female. In the Chicken Run, Oscar flew to glory to take the win, whilst Holly and Jack posted the quickest times on the night. In previous years a club raffle has taken place but since 2022 members are now encouraged to bring food items for donation to Hailsham Foodbank. Ladies captain, Helen O’Sullivan and Louisa Geer had great pleasure in dropping the collected items at the Foodbank the following day.

With more running festivities planned towards Christmas, Hailsham Harriers would like to wish all our members, their families, friends and our local townsfolk a very healthy New Year.

that would like to be involved in the officiating of games either senior or junior level.

If you would like to volunteer and get involved with your local cricket club, we will find the perfect position for you and your skill set. Please reach out to the club via Hailshamcc@outlook. com or 07980146841

Bayly Wright steers home for the Stringers against Brighton Electricity. Photo: Alan Hook