Sussex Living April 2022 by Sussex Living

K EE PICPY FREASEA CO PL U P

April 2022

RETIREMENT

LIVE LIFE TO THE FULL

NATURE

THE BIRDERS OF HENFIELD

RUNNING

MEET THE MARATHON MAN

IN THE PINK

BLOOMING CHERRY BLOSSOM

SPRING INTO

Easter

Collingwood Batchellor y o u r

h o m e

spring

sale

ALL FURNITURE INCLUDING BIG NAME BRANDS

25% OFF OR MORE! BUT BE QUICK, 25% OFF OR MORE OFFERS MUST END EASTER MONDAY 18th APRIL 4PM

fresh things for spring NEW SPRING 2022 COLLECTIONS NOW IN

Collingwood Batchellor y o u r

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View our new spring collections at one of showrooms in Surrey or Sussex: Victoria Road, Horley, RH6 7QE ( 01293 782404

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London Road, East Grinstead, RH19 1EJ ( 01342 325033

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Montague Street, Worthing, BN11 3HG ( 01903 234811

Inside... Cover Stories

133

31 Active Retirement

Sara Whatley has been chatting to a couple who have swapped their home for a retirement village

93 Blooming Times The remarkable story of the cherry tree and it’s association with Collingwood ‘Cherry’ Ingram

103 The Birders Of Henfield Ruth Lawrence has been discovering the nationally acclaimed research of Henfield Birdwatch

107 An Eggstra Special Easter Get crafting with our guide to incorporating some seasonal decoration into your home

103

133 Running Down A Dream He thinks he is nothing special but we disagree, meet David Bedford and decide for yourself

Running Down a Dream

The Birders of Henfield

Features 8

New Recipes For The Old Rectory Creating a Georgian styled family home in a former rectory overlooking the South Downs

27 Fatma’s Kitchen Treat yourself to some tasty Turkish cuisine at this award winning restaurant in Haywards Heath

Blooming Times

37 Moving On Up With Jonathan Lea Peter d’Aguilar has been to meet the solicitor whose had a very busy last twelve months

39 Dementia-Friendly Communities Dawn Fairbrother has been speaking to four people who are living well with dementia

47 Celebrating 10 Years Of Tisshaws Lisa de Silva uncovers 10 reasons behind the firm’s success and the roots of their enviable reputation

Editor’s Comment

Active Retirement

Hopefully April will bring sunshine and warmth so we can get outside and enjoy some spring weather. With a plethora of events happening across the county this month, it’s time to take a look at our Spotlight Events pages and get out and about in Sussex. Why not enjoy decorating your home and garden for Easter? We have plenty of ideas for the whole family to get involved and make the celebrations extra special this year. Or you could just make a cuppa, sit in the garden and relax while reading this month’s Sussex Living magazine. Perfect!

Adele

MANAGING EDITOR

If you miss the latest issue of Sussex Living you can read it all online at www.sussexliving.com and sign up for our newsletter

6XXSUSSEX LIVING | April 2022

Tel: 01273 835355

Email: sales@sussexliving.com

www.sussexliving.com

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On The Home Front

50 Sound Advice Why take your hearing for granted when the experts at Sussex Audiology are on hand to help?

52 Spotlight Events Some of the best events in Sussex this spring

61 The Child Of Sussex Awards Adele Trathan exclusively reveals the return of the awards and the hunt for nominations is under way

65 Shine On With Louise Budgen Meet the mentoring coach who transforms the life of midlife women to feel alive and thrive

66 A Home That Tells A Story Renovating a four bedroom Edwardian terrace in Brighton with artistic flair and panache

83 At Home In A White Hut Beautiful, bespoke shepherd’s huts that are garnerning a well-earned reputation

85 A Second Chance To Succeed From the legacy of Datsun cars in the UK a foundation is changing the fortunes of the young

99 The Oldest Of Trees Peter Erridge on the remarkable Ginkgo tree

Regulars

62 Puzzle Page 89 The Wonder Years

107 113

Sara gets gardening happy with her little ones

113 Cheese And Chilli Hot Cross Buns A contemporary spin on a traditional recipe

An Eggstra Special Easter

119 Horsted Keynes Walk Locomotives, landscape and lakes; perfect

125 Get Fresh

Cheese and Chilli Hot Cross Buns

Breathe deep and relish the benefits of fresh air

129 Perfect Pins Get your legs primed and ready for summer

140 Military Romps In Sussex A historical look at local military camping Classic Capsule

143 Money Matters Some tips to avoid financial fraud and scams

146 It’s A Dog’s Life Who is the April Fool ruminates Teddy?

148 If You Ask Me

125

Don’t talk to Flo about roadworks, just don’t!

158 Puzzle Page Solutions

Classifieds

Get Fresh

149 Love Local Directory hidden exclusive club with benefits, vouchers, offers, competitions and more. Get involved today at 158 Contributors List

Make the most of Sussex by joining this free and

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island

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Tel: 01273 835355 sales@sussexliving.com www.sussexliving.com Tel: 01273 835355

Email: sales@sussexliving.com

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/sussexliving

@sussexliving

April 2022 | SUSSEX LIVING XX7

NEW RECIPES OLD RECTORY

for the

When Miranda and Edward Gore Browne bought a 1930’s red-bricked rectory overlooking the South Downs, they fulfilled a dream turning it into a Georgian family home

8 SUSSEX LIVING | April 2022

KITCHEN The kitchen is the heart of the home where Miranda runs her business, hosts creative workshops, makes films and develops new recipes

April 2022 | SUSSEX LIVING 9

OUTDOOR

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HIGHLIGHT THE BEAUTY OF NATURAL STONE

Showroom Opening Hours Mon-Fri 7:30am – 5:00pm Sat 8:30am – 12:00pm

The Georgian style porch was added to the façade of the house and the front door was painted a delicate blue

HOME TRUTHS LOCATION: West Sussex

THE OWNER:

Miranda Gore Browne, tv chef and cookbook author who also runs The Kitchen School, and her husband Edward, an investment manager. They live with their children Thomas, Eleanor and Henry

THE PROPERTY:

A 1930’s rectory with front and back hall, boot room, kitchen with orangery, dining room, laundry, pantry, sitting/music room, study, five bedrooms and two bathrooms

f there was an award for the most dramatic house façade transformation it would surely go to Miranda and Edward Gore Browne. Miranda explained, “We simply could not find a Georgian property within our budget, so we decided to create a look alike with the ingredients at hand.” Miranda is a well-known finalist from The Great British Bake Off, and viewers enjoyed watching her work her magic with culinary ingredients. What they may not know is the couple’s talent for doing up houses, which she and her husband Edward have honed over the years. “This is the fourth house we have done up together,” Miranda explained. “With every home we have gained that much more confidence.” April 2022 | SUSSEX LIVING 11

We simply could not find a Georgian property within our budget, so we decided to create a look alike

Miranda’s visionary and practical creative talents span an impressive spectrum from baking cakes, writing cook books and setting up M&S cafes, and her most recent achievement is arguable her most extraordinary. It all began when walking the buggy with her first baby Thomas when she noticed a breath-taking view of the South Downs from the boundary of an old rectory in a pretty West Sussex village. “The garden was huge, rambling and very overgrown, I discovered the house overlooked the church where E H Shepherd is buried. My children love the story of Winnie the Pooh and one of my passions is bringing literature alive by making recipes inspired by children’s literature. So I was instinctively interested.”

12 SUSSEX LIVING | April 2022

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DINING AREA In the new extension the long dining table is positioned to offer garden views through the three arched Georgian style windows 14 SUSSEX LIVING | April 2022

An eclectic mix of old advertisements and paintings collected on travels gives the home its cosy quirky character

Miranda and Edward’s first attempt to buy the Old Rectory failed. “Bizarrely three years later, the house went onto the open market without us really noticing. Thankfully a friend alerted us.” Having already viewed dozens of houses and not found their Georgian forever home, they put in a bid, despite the off putting dark red brick façade and the surrounding forest of 100ft high Leylandii trees. With typical enthusiasm, they began collecting practical design ideas. “We must have leafed through dozens of books on Georgian architecture and many more on interior design magazines and web pages,” recalled Miranda, who said she owes a lot to the local architect who, “helped us deliver our vision.” The house was originally built in the 1930’s by the church to be rented by the vicar and was fairly characterless and basic. Inside was a warren of small dark rooms with tiny windows. The couple began by opening up vistas from the house, taking down the Leylandii trees and huge brambles, which obstructed the view of the South Downs and the pretty 16th century church. Next they commissioned a local woodman to build a tree house, which magically kept the children Thomas, Eleanor and Henry happy while the

April 2022 | SUSSEX LIVING 15

Sprin

Welcome the new season at Rushfields! Look what’s available this Spring: • Locally-grown new season shrubs • Bulbs, seeds, planters, compost and tools • Friendly, expert advice • Beautiful range of indoor plants • Gift vouchers • Regatta clothing • Gifts, cards and books

OPEN OVER EVERY BAN K HOLIDAY

Enjoy an indulgent treat in our sun-drenched Café and Terrace: • Hearty home-cooked breakfast, lunch and tea • Home-made pies, cakes and savouries, freshly baked every day • Enjoy a glass of local wine on our sunny terrace

Rushfields Henfield Road Poynings, Brighton BN45 7AY

Open Monday-Sunday: 9.00am – 5.30pm Café Monday-Sunday: 9.00am – 4.30pm

gtime at Rushfields

With the coming of Spring, our Farm Shop has all that’s best, local and in-season: • Spring, Sussex Lamb from our butcher • Award-winning pies, pastries and sausages • Fresh, seasonal

vegetables and local cheeses • Unpackaged loose pulses and grains • Sussex wine and ales

T: 01273 857445 W: www.rushfields.com E: adrian@rushfields.com

Everything you need to furnish your home. Beds, wardrobes, linen, carpets,you curtains, furniture cookware. Everything need tosofas, furnishchairs, your home. Beds,and wardrobes, linen, carpets, curtains, sofas, chairs, furniture and cookware.

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The couple began by opening up vistas from the house, taking down the Leylandii trees and huge brambles

April 2022 | SUSSEX LIVING 19

What had been silently voted one of the most unattractive house facades in the village was gradually transformed

builders took the house apart. Most significantly they re-orientated the house by adding an extension, with three tall arched Georgian style windows and a door onto the garden. This became the new kitchen, dining room, now the most loved room in the house, filled with pretty country style units. “This was a major success,” said Miranda. “It has become the heart of my work life, and as a family we really live in this room. What was the old kitchen became a playroom for Thomas, Eleanor and Henry. The arched windows cost a fortune but they fit perfectly and introduced the Georgian style which was what we wanted.” Several elements, like the tumble limestone

20 SUSSEX LIVING | April 2022

furniture, which is our premises and c to your needs, tas We have a large ra for you to choose not make an appo our showroom tod

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April 2022 | SUSSEX LIVING 21

floors were chosen to give the house the look and feel of an earlier date. For the same reason old wooden doors were sourced from a local reclamation company. All the doors are different sizes and the openings were built to fit. What had been silently voted one of the most unattractive house facades in the village was gradually transformed. The red brickwork was rendered, a Georgian front door and a pretty porch installed and new rectangular sash windows

MASTER BEDROOM An antique brass bed creates a country theme in the master bedroom which is themed with pink and red roses

Why we love living here: the light, space and lovely surrounding countryside with the sea, beach and harbour so close

22 SUSSEX LIVING | April 2022

VRF

New Spring Collection Our stunning new Barley collection is manufactured in Great Britain. Each piece is made by hand with great attention to detail using responsibly sourced high grade timbers from North America and Canada.

Our new ranges of sofas, dining sets and beds are now in!

Barley is on display in our showrooms. Four floors of beautiful furniture and flooring

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What makes this house a home…. happy times, good food and making new memories with family and friends

were repositioned. To further enhance the authenticity of their eighteenth century look alike, Miranda blocked up a ‘window’ next to the front door. “Never a real window of course,” she explained, “but a reminder of the window tax which forced some owners to block up a window to save tax back in the 18th century. It is a great touch and fools many of our friends.” Having spent a major proportion of their budget on bricks and mortar and quality curtains and beds, Miranda worked her magic on the interior with what money was left. Car boot sales, junk shops, flea markets and online auctions became her most frequent places to shop. An eclectic mix of old advertisements and paintings collected on travels earlier in their married life gives the home its cosy quirky character. Some posters of cyclists express personal ambitions. “Edward is crazy about cycling and loves advertising signs. We both love boats and the seaside, so we have a few nautical paintings and I am thrilled with the stunning painting of our view, which was given to me by a friend who is an artist. I have always had a secret desire to paint so a few of my own flower paintings are scattered around the house too.” In between Miranda’s tutorials, cooking and looking after the children, life at The Old Rectory is clearly more than averagely busy and very fulfilling. l Photos: Robert Sanderson / Narratives Text: Maggie Colvin / Narratives

April 2022 | SUSSEX LIVING 25

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There’s a restaurant in Haywards Heath that’s been creating a buzz during the last couple of years, so we sent Robert Veitch to meet the team, chat to the owners and check out the menu

Fatma has recently won the Just Eat Chef of the Year 2022 Award

here’s a deceptively spacious interior behind the door of Fatma’s Kitchen, conveniently located on the corner of Broadway and Heath Road in Haywards Heath. Once inside, the welcome from restaurant manager Şükriye Yildirim is every bit as pleasant as the light and airy interior. Two-tone blue seating adds a colourful contrast to the more traditional palette of classic wooden tables and polished brickwork. Fresh flowers adorn every table. It was obvious that Şükriye, who runs a team of eleven, excels at putting people at ease, just as the owners are, who were keen to tell me more. Fatma Güngör Yilmaz and her husband Erdinç opened Fatma’s Kitchen in August 2020, at a time when few people were heading for a meal out. The faith and self-belief they possessed then has served them well as the restaurant has gone from strength to strength ever since. Both Fatma and Erdinç previously worked as chefs in Niger, Kazakhstan, and latterly for several years at award-winning Turkish restaurants in London. But they had always dreamed of opening their own place and now the dream has been realised they’re thrilled to be in the town. “The people of

Fatma and Erdinç with her Chef of the Year Award

Tasty Turkish

CUISINE

Haywards Heath have been wonderful, they’re a happy crowd,” noted Fatma. Erdinç told me the food is, “authentic Turkish cuisine based on traditional recipes, designed to tickle your taste buds.” Fatma was keen to point out, “We create beautiful dishes like Grandma’s cooking; homely, heartwarming, delicious.” The menu appeals across the board: to the young, middle aged and elder diners, so

The food is authentic Turkish cuisine based on traditional recipes it’s perfect for friends, for couples, for families and for group celebrations. Popular dishes include the Tomahawk Steak, the Chef’s Special with flaming rice, the Mixed Grill and the Moussaka. There are vegetarian and vegan options too. “Everything is cooked to order and we use the best ingredients we can get hold of,” enthused Erdinç. Fatma has recently won the Just Eat Chef of the Year 2022 Award at the British

Kebab Awards. “She was the first female winner,” pointed out Erdinç proudly from behind a broad smile. “Everyone likes a good time, to go out, be happy and well fed,” effused Fatma, “so it’s lovely to see people leaving with big smiles on their faces after enjoying our food and experiencing our service.” This is something that’s evident from comments on the restaurant’s social media channels, as well as a multitude of positive reviews on Tripadvisor. “We’re packed at the weekends, so it’s best to book,” said Erdinç, “but during the week it’s possible to turn up without a reservation.” Why wait any longer to let the taste buds tingle? …It must be time to try some tasty Turkish cuisine from Fatma’s Kitchen. l Fatma’s Kitchen 60 The Broadway, Haywards Heath, RH16 3AL

07723 087436 www.fatmaskitchen.co.uk fatmakitchen1@gmail.com

April 2022 | SUSSEX LIVING 27

Support for energy bills Live in Mid Sussex in Council Tax bands A-D? You could get a £150 energy rebate The Energy rebate is available to all households in Mid Sussex DC in Council Tax bands A to D (or are in Band E and qualify for disabled band reduction) and consists of a one-off payment of £150 starting in April 2022 to eligible households. Further information at: www.midsussex.gov.uk/revsandbens/council-tax/150-energy-payments If you sign up to pay your Council Tax by direct debit it may make it easier for us to pay your £150 rebate if you qualify.

www.midsussex.gov.uk /revsandbens/council-tax/150-energy-payments

Had enough of being overweight? No matter how hard you have tried in the past, The Metabolic Weight Loss Programme could be the answer to losing your weight and keeping it off once and for all!

can be extremely soul destroying when you just can’t lose your unwanted weight, no matter what you do. If you have reached the stage where putting on any more weight is simply not an option for you, then read on!

Health and well being Being overweight is no laughing matter when it is affecting your health, your looks and the way you feel about yourself. You know that you need to lose weight - all very well, if only you knew how to! Rachel and her team have helped over 8,000 clients of all ages and from all walks of life to lose and keep off their weight. Many contact Rachel’s personal weight consultancy, often as a last resort and are delighted to have achieved, and successfully maintained, the weight they want to be.

A workable programme that’s easy to follow The Metabolic Weight Loss Programme consists of four stages. The first two stages are designed get to your target weight, while the last two stages deal with making sure you know how to maintain

your weight. No pills, diet shakes or meal replacements are used – just healthy foods. The programme is structured so that there is no need to struggle with cravings or feel hungry when you shouldn’t be. This successful, tried, and tested programme is easy to follow and more importantly it works!

Motivating weight loss Factors, such as, an under active thyroid, pregnancy, menopause, medication, lack of sleep, physical or mental stress or simply just ageing, can all slow down the weight loss process! The expected average weight loss of The Metabolic Weight Loss Programme is 7-14 lbs a month. As you can imagine, this kind of weight loss is very welcomed, especially those who have struggled with the factors that can down slow weight loss. Clients often comment on just how impressed their doctors /consultants and other medical professionals are with their weight loss. One reported that their doctor said, ‘All my lady patients on thyroid medication are struggling to lose weight, but you’ve lost 2 ½ stone despite being on thyroxine – well done!’

Rachel Ricketts Weight Loss Consultant

Feeling and looking better As the weight falls off, time after time clients remark how their health, selfesteem and confidence has improved. Not being happy with the way one looks in clothes is no longer an issue! Many health reports are received which include improvements in fitness, energy, blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes and aches and pain.

One-to-one support The Personal Weight Loss Consultancy works closely with you as an individual. Consultations are available every 7 days, with daily email support as needed. Time and again, clients comment that they couldn’t have lost their weight without the non- judgemental and caring support of Rachel and her team. For those who are not able to visit, a successful remote support service is provided throughout the UK and overseas.

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DANNY HOUSE - Retire in Style -

Your own serviced apartment with companionship, security and culture.

Fully serviced apartments to rent for active retired people. From £2,500 to £4,200 per month with a refundable deposit of six months’ rent. Inclusive of all meals, heating, electricity, council tax and maintenance etc. Grade 1 Elizabethan mansion set in its own estate amid the glorious South Downs.

For a brochure and to view, please contact Richard Burrows at: Danny House, New Way Lane, Hurstpierpoint, West Sussex, Bn6 9BB rburrows@dannyhouse.org.uk

01273 833 000

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ACTIVE RETIREMENT

RETIRE in Style

ince May 2021 husband and wife Kathy and Barry have lived in a retirement village, or ‘camp’ as Barry playfully called it. “It’s hard not to like it,” said Kathy as we spoke about the realities of moving to and living in such a place. “Everything you need is right here,” she continued. “I do fitness classes every week and swim most mornings. I’ve often got the pool to myself!” As well as the gym, swimming pool, sauna, and health and beauty suite there is an à la carte restaurant, bar and bistro on site. “We do miss our old pub pals but we rented the private dining room the other day and had

Have you ever wondered about the realities of living in a retirement village? Sara Whatley talked to Barry and Kathy, a couple who have made the move and are enjoying their new luxury lifestyle

13 of us in there for a meal. It was brilliant,” Barry said. Kathy also told me about the Village Hall and all the activities and clubs that go on there too. “And if there is something you want to do that isn’t here, you can start a new club,” she said. Everyone who lives in the retirement village also has access to the library and owners lounge, which looks like a lavish country house club, comfortably furnished and classically decorated. When we spoke Barry and Kathy had just returned from a golfing holiday in Tenerife. They are both keen golfers and actually met on the golf course. “We were both married before, but our partners passed away,” said Barry. “We met up playing

April 2022 | SUSSEX LIVING 31

Roz Nathan

Art Courses/Workshops

WATERCOLOUR PAINTING Weekly Classes and Monthly Saturday Workshops at Framfield, near Uckfield with professional artist JO HUDSON

01435 867982

New weekly relaxed, enjoyable live Zoom courses from end of April on a range of topics, with sessions recorded and available exclusively to students. Demos, discussions, live group project working with supportive, encouraging feedback. Check website for August Summer Schools programme in East Dean and future face-to-face course plans. More online options available soon, including live painting demos, mentoring, 1-1 sessions, personal project guidance.

For details and testimonials: roznathanart.com roz.nathan@hotmail.com • 07913 080061 32 SUSSEX LIVING | April 2022

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Everyone who lives in the retirement village also has access to the library and owners lounge golf, and we’ve been together for 20 odd years now.” They both have grown up children and grown up grandchildren too. “We used to have them to stay, but now they’re in their 20s!” said Kathy.

Before meeting on the golf course Kathy and Barry used to see each other across the school waiting room, so they have always moved in the same circles. “And I used to play golf with Barry’s wife,” Kathy said. The couple, who are in their 80s, lived for many years in their family home, but when the time came for them to downsize, it was a difficult decision to make. “It took us three years to decide

CUCKFIELD GOLF CENTRE Meet new people, make new friends Enjoy the fresh air, keep yourself fit and enjoy being a part of our friendly community OUR COURSE 9 or 18 holes set in the beautiful Sussex countryside, perfect for any kind of player

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STUDIO PROOF

PROOF DATE/TIME: 14 March 2022 12:11 pm OUR FILENAME: April 22 Cuckfield Golf Centre 1-2

April 2022 | SUSSEX LIVING 33

to move,” said Barry, but their house was getting too much to look after. “We were slaves to our property,” said Kathy, and told me breaking point came after Christmas one year when Barry was taking down all the lights and decorations. He got the ladder out the loft and hurt his shoulder. ‘Bugger this!’ he said and that was that. Decision made. “Now I look out the window as someone else mows the lawn and I give them the thumbs up,” laughed Barry. He gives me a quick virtual tour of their new apartment and I am met with a large light and airy open plan living room, huge picture windows and beautiful pastoral views. We are talking on screen and I can see behind their heads a modern and fully equipped kitchen, also bright and fresh. Golden daffodils sit in a vase on the counter behind them. “We have two sets of french doors opening to patios and I also have a little garden down to one side. I’m growing roses,” Kathy told me. She has many other plans for the little garden and is excited to get stuck in this year, she explained. I asked them about the reality of the move, and they unanimously agreed it was difficult. “Downsizing is difficult, and the older you get the more difficult it gets. Emptying sheds, greenhouses, lofts; it’s a major task,” said Barry. “Do it while you’re capable,” he advised, and said that all their new friends in the village say the same thing. Their old property was furnished with large cherry wood furniture, none of which would have fitted into their new apartment. “We had to sell it all,” Kathy said, but explained that no one really wants that type of dark wood anymore so they only got a pittance for it. “We laughed when the final cheque came through!” But really it turned out in their favour; Kathy and Barry 34 SUSSEX LIVING | April 2022

We rented the private dining room and had 13 of us in there for a meal. It was brilliant

apartments. We do loads together. There is a Fawlty Towers night soon!” Kathy continued, “You never really know what’s around the corner,” but here they have care staff have furnished their new apartment in white wood and light-coloured furniture, making it look stylish, elegant and fresh. When they were making the decision to move, they did their research and found this village, which they both really liked, and although it is close to their families they don’t want to rely on their children. “We moved for the company,” said Kathy. “We are in a block of eight

if needed, support and a lovely village community feel. “A friend, one of our neighbours, said it’s like living in a 5-star hotel situated in a lovely mature parkland,” she laughed. “And we are relatively near to London,” said Barry. The couple love going out for a glam evening in town. It’s also good for Barry as he can pop into the office and make sure everything is ticking along nicely at work. Barry’s children have taken over as directors of his engineering company, but “I still like to poke my nose in!” he joked. From the beautiful landscaped grounds, the social aspects, support, and the well-appointed living, there are many positives of living here Kathy and Barry told me. They do have a couple of tiny niggles though: one is missing their old community of friends from where they used to live, and the other is the lack of a garage. “I miss tinkering with my motorbike,” said Barry. But on the plus side there are charging points “ just down there” for both their electric cars. Barry and Kathy looked the picture of health – relaxed, healthy and smiling – as they told me about their new life in the retirement village. I almost asked them if there is a Thursday Murder Club, but I thought they might be sick of the question. It’s clear, however, that this style of living affords its residents a fun and full schedule, if they wish to participate, but also a comfortable, safe and relaxed place to retire in luxury. l

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ADVERTISING FEATURE

It has been a busy and productive twelve months for the Jonathan Lea Network, a fast-growing and far-sighted firm of solicitors based in Sussex, as Peter d’Aguilar recently discovered, in conversation with Jonathan Lea

MOVING ON UP WITH JONATHAN LEA

he firm recently moved to a much larger office on the ground floor of 21 Perrymount Road in Haywards Heath, close to the station and also the Broadway, proving ideal for meeting clients located in the area and allowing for lots of space to accommodate new employees. “Unlike many other businesses, most of our retained team have continued to work from our office over the last two years,” Jonathan stated. He further explained, “with everyone working in an open plan environment we can quickly discuss and resolve issues and share knowledge so as to improve our responsiveness and quality of work. This has allowed us to take on and develop more trainee solicitors who can be far more easily directed and supervised in person. As a result, they are able to better progress than if they were outside this physical learning habitat.” Jonathan is justifiably proud of his junior recruitment programme, which has grown apace during 2021-22 and draws heavily from the local Sussex community. The starting

point for JLN’s trainee solicitors is usually a twoweek vacation placement when each summer the firm host several students in the office. Some of these are then offered a full-time job as a paralegal when they finish their academic studies, which after a few months will usually convert into a two year training contract, at the end of which they will be qualified solicitors. As well as nurturing fresh talent, JLN has also taken on several more specialist and experienced consultant solicitors over the last year. The firm makes

consultant experts. This continues to broaden the Jonathan is areas in which we can advise justifiably proud and support of his junior our clients and recruitment introduces new clients to the programme practice that we previously wouldn’t have been able to assist. It’s great to be able to offer such a wide range of services as the firm continues to expand.” JLN now offers a comprehensive range of legal services, still focused on working with use of modern cloud-based entrepreneurs and business IT systems to allow this clients of all sizes, but also network of consultants to covering a range of private work remotely, while they client services including also seamlessly combine with conveyancing, wills, and those in the employed team probate. in Haywards Heath. These JLN offers a free, no solicitors include one in obligation twenty-minute preliminary consultation Prague, who is dual UK and with one of their specialists Czech qualified, a private for anyone who may be client solicitor living on the interested in instructing the Costa Blanca, who is UK and Dubai qualified, and an firm on any legal matter. l immigration solicitor in Los Angeles, who is both UK and Jonathan Lea Network US qualified. Commerce House, 21 Perrymount Road, Haywards Heath, RH16 3TP Jonathan added, “We 01444 708 640 have such a wealth of wewillhelp@jonathanlea.net experience joining the firm www.jonathanlea.net with the addition of our new April 2022 | SUSSEX LIVING 37

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ACTIVE RETIREMENT

Dementia-friendly

COMMUNITIES

Alzheimer’s Society is growing its dementia-friendly communities. Here Community Co-ordinator Dawn Fairbrother speaks to four people living with dementia about their experiences

n every walk of life there are people living with dementia. They may already be living very happy and fulfilled lives, but the Dementia-Friendly Communities programme that Alzheimer’s Society have put together aims for all people living with dementia to feel understood, valued and supported. They should feel confident that they can contribute to community life and empowered to live a life they want in their community. What is a dementia-friendly community? It is where people are aware of and understand dementia, so that those affected by dementia can continue to live in the way they want to

and in the community they choose. There are over 500 dementiafriendly communities across England, Wales and Northern Ireland where local businesses are committed to support their customers and employees affected by dementia. From the taxi driver to the hairdresser and the bus company to the newsagent, everyone can identify things they can do to support people with dementia to continue to do the things they want to. Communities that are becoming dementia-friendly can sign up to Alzheimer’s Society’s official recognition process and work towards gaining a symbol that could be displayed.

Dementia-friendly communities are vital in helping people live well with dementia and remain a part of their community. Too many people affected by dementia feel that society fails to understand the condition they live with, its impact or how to interact with them. That’s why people with dementia sometimes feel they need to withdraw from their community as the condition progresses. In fact, over a third of people with dementia told Alzheimer’s Society that they have felt lonely recently. More than a quarter of carers Alzheimer’s Society surveyed said they felt “cut off from society” too. This isn’t okay. People affected by dementia still have an incredible amount to offer to their community. If appropriately supported, they can continue to play an active and valuable role even years after diagnosis. April 2022 | SUSSEX LIVING 39

Everyone can help make their community dementia-friendly. From local governments and shops to book clubs and churches, we all have a part to play in creating communities where people with dementia feel active, engaged and valued. People affected by dementia have the most important role in any dementia-friendly community. By sharing their experiences and connecting with others, they ensure that communities keep the needs of people affected by dementia at the heart of everything they do. Dementia-Friendly Community Co-ordinator Dawn Fairbrother for Alzheimer’s Society in West Sussex said, “It is great to hear of the positive work happening in West Sussex. They are setting a high standard that I hope many more will follow across the country. We want people from all walks of life and backgrounds to join the Dementia-Friendly Communities movement so we can help people living with dementia feel more connected within their community.” Alzheimer’s Society went out into the dementia-friendly communities around them and spoke to four people living with dementia, and their carers.

ty Safe ise Prom

Gordon & Alison

Gordon is a retired accountant who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease at the age of 69. He lives with his wife Alison, who is also his carer, just outside of Chichester. “Retirement hasn’t been a blow,” said Gordon, who fills his time doing things he really enjoys such as sailing, skiing and hedge laying. The couple also sing in a choir together and are active church members where they are hoping to start a regular dementia friendly café that will be welcome

to all, including people affected by dementia. Gordon has been an avid sailor for over 30 years and took up skiing aged 50! He goes to the gym twice a week and has a personal trainer to help him become ski fit ready for their holiday with the family to the French Alps in April. Gordon’s personal trainer explained, “He is very competitive and likes a challenge. We’ve been building his strength and mobility through a number of different exercises, which

Is it normal to grow old gracefully, or disgracefully? Some like to dance in the lounge. Others just want breakfast in bed. Some may need help with the little things. Others with everything. That’s why our professionally trained carers at The Goldbridge provide individual support for those with residential, nursing and dementia care needs. Because we know there’s no normal way to grow old.

Call for advice on care today

01444 849 273 Lines are open 8am to 6.30pm Monday to Friday, 9am to 12.30pm Saturday. Closed Sundays and bank holidays. Calls are charged at no more than local rate and count towards any inclusive minutes from mobiles. We may record or monitor our calls.

carehome.co.uk Review Score 30 reviews†

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†The Review Score is based on the quality and number of independent reviews this home has received on carehome.co.uk in the last two years, at the time of going to print.

The Goldbridge Care Home, 3 Kleinwort Close, Haywards Heath RH16 4XH

Safety Promise

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40 SUSSEX LIVING | April 2022

benefit not only physical health but mental health too. It’s really great to be able to help coordinate that and the majority of the staff at the club are aware of Gordon’s diagnosis. It is great to hear that Gordon finds them very approachable.” “I think that’s absolutely true,” Gordon said. Gordon was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s seven years ago, but he had a mild cognitive impairment for a couple of years before that. “You’re living very well with it,” Alison said to Gordon. She explained that people don’t necessarily believe her when she tells them Gordon has Alzheimer’s as he “keeps things going” when talking about sailing, skiing or hedge laying. “We get on by, don’t we?” Alison said to Gordon.

Nursing and Residential Care Home

A Historic 17th Century Manor House are very motivated and enjoying Henfield Rd, Upper Beeding, Steyning, West Sussex themselves,” said Mick.

Whilst Mick is playing table tennis his wife, Chris, will go for a coffee with one of the other carers. Mick and Chris have tried to join other clubs too but not always found them so welcoming or understanding. “Dementia can still have a stigma behind it,” said Chris. “I think it’s because people don’t understand it. They don’t realise that people can still live as

Delightfully Mick situated & Chrisin the heart of West Sussex at the foot of the South Mick was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s 65. Mick andManor his wife Chrisis area picturesque 17th Century Manor House set in Downs,agedValerie getting ready to go to Table Tennis Club. is reallyoffering looking forwardato relaxing and healthy atmosphere for up to 23 an acre ofMickland, seeing the people he plays with even though he can’t remember their names. residents. They make him laugh, they have fun, and Mick has won every game so far! * when Rated ‘Outstanding’ by the CQC * “It is so good because the other player’s arrive, they just sit down but once they are up and playing  they Best Nursing Care 2018! * * Best Independent care home 2017! * * Prices range from £800—£1450 per week for residential care A Historic 17th Century Manor House

Tel: (01903) 812 105 Henfield Road, Email:Upper zoe@valeriemanor.co.uk Beeding, Steyning, West Sussex

www.valeriemanor.co.uk Nursing &Residential Residential Care Home Nursing and Care Home A Historic 17th Century Manor Houseof West Sussex at the Delightfully situated in the heart Upper Beeding, Steyning, West Sussex foot Henfield of theRd,South Downs, Valerie Manor is a picturesque th situatedManor in the heart of West Sussex at thein foot of the South of land, offeringNursing Century House set an acre a 17Delightfully and Downs, Valerie Manor is a picturesque 17th Century Manor House set in relaxing and healthy atmosphere for up to 23 residents. an acre of land, offering a relaxing and healthy atmosphere for up to 23 residents. * Rated ‘Outstanding’ by the CQC *  Best Nursing Care 2018! * * Best Independent care home 2017! * * Prices range from £800—£1450 per week for residential care

* Rated ‘Outstanding’ by the CQC *

Residential Care Home

A Historic 17th Century Manor House

Henfield Rd, Upper Beeding, Steyning, West Sussex * Best Nursing Care 2018! * Best Independent care home 2017! * * Tel: (01903) 812 105 Email: zoe@valeriemanor.co.uk * * Overall Achievement Award 2019Delightfully situated in the heart of West Sussex at the foot of the South

www.valeriemanor.co.uk

Downs, Valerie Manor is a picturesque 17th Century Manor House set in an acre of land, offering a relaxing and healthy atmosphere for up to 23 residents. Email: info@valeriemanor.co.uk * Rated ‘Outstanding’ by the CQC * www.valeriemanor.co.uk  Best Nursing Care 2018! * * Best Independent care home 2017! * * Prices range from £800—£1450 per week for residential care

Tel: 01903 812 105

 STUDIO PROOF

PROOF DATE/TIME: 11 March 2022 5:01 pm OUR FILENAME: April 22 Valerie Manor 1-2

Tel: (01903) 812 105 Email: zoe@valeriemanor.co.uk

www.valeriemanor.co.uk

April 2022 | SUSSEX LIVING 41

well as they can, with dementia.” Mick is a keen swimmer and they have both been invited by Freedom Leisure to support their dementia friendly swimming programme. Chris and Mick have provided vital feedback from their perspective as to what small changes their local leisure centre could make to ensure the swimming sessions are dementia inclusive. Chris also loves walking and does a twice-weekly yoga class to help her stay active and have time for herself. And together the couple enjoy attending the dementia friendly performances and film screenings that are offered by some theatres and cinemas in West Sussex.

Mo & Del

Mo was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2018. She was 66 years old. Del, who is Mo’s husband and carer, speaks from his ‘man cave’, which is adorned with music memorabilia from the many, many concerts they have been to over the years. “We love going to shows and concerts,” said Del. Instead of paying London prices for gigs the couple often travel around the UK to see shows and enjoy visiting new places. “We’ve got one festival we’re going to for one day which is actually in the Cotswold’s,”

Dementia still has that stigma behind it. People can still live as well as they can, with dementia

he said. They are staying in a “lovely little farmhouse,” Mo added. When the couple see the dementia-friendly symbol of the blue forget-me-not in a hotel, restaurant or café when they are

Residential, Nursing & Dementia Care Located in the heart of Balcombe, Russettings is a recently refurbished purpose built care home which offers bespoke care from our skilled and experienced team. We focus on ensuring all our residents enjoy a better quality of life and live as independently as possible whilst receiving the best care. WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING

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away it helps them feel confident about being there. Mo has not worked for many years. She held part-time roles working with the school and a local hotel whilst the children were growing up in the 1980s-90s. She enjoys country music and being in the sunshine; her dream holiday destination is Nashville, where they hope to visit later in the year. Mo said she finds the sunshine, “so lovely, very uplifting,” and since last year Mo has found a new love of reading. “I got into it!” she said. “I like reading family dramas.” Del is also retired, having taken redundancy from his banking job when he was 60. He has his own disability, and is living with ankylosing spondylitis, arthritis of the spine. “I used to volunteer for a charity called Attitude is Everything, which is about disabled access to gigs and festivals.” He is now a volunteer radio presenter for SUSY Radio (Sussex & Surrey Radio) but had to take a step back when Mo was diagnosed. Now Mo is going into the studio with him! Del calls it the “uplift show” with “no songs about sadness and anger.”

Paul & Penny

Paul was 56 when he was diagnosed with Pick Disease and early onset Alzheimer’s. He is now 62. He was working as a Logistics manager for Alpha Flight Services at Gatwick airport where he had been working for 20 years. 44 SUSSEX LIVING | April 2022

Everyone can identify things they can do to support people with dementia Paul’s wife Penny works at a school. The school was very supportive to Penny and Paul and permitted Penny to take an extended period of time off to support Paul as they tried to get a correct diagnosis and manage the substantial change to life that they were facing. Being of working age Paul is entitled to claim Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and Employment & Support Allowance (ESA). He uses some of these benefits to pay for a companion two days a week. Paul’s companion is Les, who is also retired. Twice a week they keep active together, walking Paul’s dog, a Cavachon called Archie or going into town for coffee, but their favourite

activity is watching the cricket. Paul has been a volunteer at Horsham Cricket Club for over 15 years, and it is incredibly important for him to be able to continue volunteering for as long as he can. He helps out in any way he can, from general maintenance around the club to getting ready for match days. Paul and Penny are amazing advocates for Alzheimer’s Society. Paul has been instrumental in promoting the sensory room and the non-visible disability lanyards at Gatwick Airport and has appeared on several TV news programmes. He has even been on a TV advert with the actress Suranne Jones, for Alzheimer’s Society Cupcake Day! They are passionate about making people aware that you can live well and remain active for many years after a diagnosis of dementia. Alzheimer’s Society’s dementiafriendly communities programme encourages everyone to share responsibility for ensuring that people with dementia, like Gordon, Mick, Mo and Paul, feel understood, valued and able to contribute to their community. l For more information on Dementia-Friendly Communities visit alzheimers.org.uk/ dementiafriendlycommunities or contact dawn.fairbrother@alzheimers.org.uk

Your Local Mobility Experts 01444 455622 We pride ourselves on being a well established, family run home care provider. We offer high quality care for: • Older people

• Those with dementia

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If you are looking for an alternative to residential care, or need extra support for those everyday tasks that are becoming more difficult for you, or a loved one, then we are here to help. We can help with:

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STUDIO PROOF

46 SUSSEX LIVING | PROOF AprilDATE/TIME: 2022 24 January 2022 2:07 pm OUR FILENAME: Feb 22 L V Sussex 1-2

CELEBRATING B

ack in 2012, we were celebrating the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and the London Olympics, while closer to home, Haywards Heath was welcoming the arrival of a new specialist law firm, Tisshaws Family Law Solicitors. Over the past decade the firm has thrived, gaining an enviable reputation for legal expertise within a culture of compassion and care. As Tisshaws celebrate their 10th birthday, we uncover the top ten reasons behind their continued success.

10 Years of

Tisshaws

As the Tisshaws team celebrate their tenth birthday, Lisa de Silva reports on the reasons behind the firm’s success, the foundations of their enviable reputation, and their commitment to the needs of their clients in the future

Tisshaws guarantee their clients exceptional standards of service and have recently been shortlisted for two client service awards, along with retaining the Law Society’s Lexcel accreditation every year since they were first established. This recognises excellence in practice management and client care.

• For every initial £50 consultation booked, £10 will be donated to Time 4 Children, the firm’s Charity of the Year. both clients and the legal profession. 7 London Service with Local Prices

Gilva has worked in Haywards Heath since 1996 and the team all have a thorough knowledge of the local area, the local housing market and neighbourhood schools, so can negotiate your divorce from a position of strength.

Gilva Tisshaw founded the practice on an ethos of care, and the team all share a commitment to treat clients as individuals with levels of compassion and understanding, often lacking elsewhere.

9 Proud to be Inclusive

Tisshaws have experience in dealing with the planning of families, surrogacy, and coparenting law, particularly within the LGBTQ+ community, meaning the team can help the widest range of clients possible.

3 Specialists in Family Law

Going to court is stressful, costly and time consuming, so Tisshaws always offer

• To mark the introduction of No-Fault Divorce, the firm are offering non-contested divorces for a fixed fee of £250 (+VAT) and court fees.

8 Local Expertise

2 Outstanding Client Care

4 Committed to Non-Court Resolution of Family Breakdown

To celebrate their 10th birthday Tisshaws are launching two promotions throughout the month of April

While clients receive the service and expertise of a larger London firm, Tisshaws keep their fees highly competitive, offering an initial no-obligation onehour consultation for a fixed fee of £50 (incl. VAT).

1 Outstanding Client Service

Unlike other legal firms, Tisshaws only work in family law, giving them a wealth of experience and legal expertise to draw upon, meaning they can represent a wide range of clients, from those with complex family and contested children matters, cases involving allegations of harm, through to high-net-worth individuals with significant financial assets both at home and abroad.

ADVERTISING FEATURE

10 Proud to be Community-Minded

clients alternative ways to resolve their issues, including mediation, collaborative law, and arbitration.

recommendations from the legal profession.

5 High Levels of Personal & Professional Recommendations

Tisshaws have retained their ranking as one of the UK’s Top 500 Law Firms 2022 by The Legal 500, an assessment based on independent research and feedback from

Tisshaws is proud that much of their work comes through personal recommendation from both past and existing clients, along with

6 Ranked in the Top 500 UK Law Firms

Tisshaws are active members of the local community and support many local charities, including rewarding local Community Champions for their tireless work helping others. l Tisshaws Family Law Solicitors 3 Hazelgrove Road, Haywards Heath, West Sussex RH16 3PH

01444 472700 info@tisshawssolicitors.co.uk www.tisshawssolicitors.co.uk www.time4children.org.uk www.thecraftycakelady.co.uk

April 2022 | SUSSEX LIVING 47

FREEMAN BROTHERS

FREEMAN BROTHERS FUNERAL DIRECTORS FUNERAL DIRECTORS Dying Matters Awareness Week 2022

Dying Matters Awareness Week 2022 In collaboration with St Peter and St James Hospice

Join us in our branch for complimentary refreshments. Meet the hospice team and find out how you can support them.

Come along and meet the donkeys and enter our free competition. In collaboration with St Peter and St James Hospice Raising awareness on the importance of talking about death. Good conversation starts here.

Your Invitation

Thursday 5th May 2.00pm – 5.00pm

Join us in our branch for complimentary refreshments. Meet the hospice team and find out how you can support them. Come along and meet the donkeys and enter our free competition. RSVP Raising awarenesscall on01273 the importance of talking about death. 831497 or email Good conversation starts here. hurst@freemanbrothers.co.uk Find us on:

126 High Street, Hurstpierpoint, BN6 9PX

Thursday 5th May 2.00pm – 5.00pm Branches in:

Billingshurst

Crawley

Horsham

Hurstpierpoint

www.freemanbrothers.co.uk

ACTIVE RETIREMENT

Ballroom, Latin and Sequence Social Dance

Every Wednesday at 7:45pm to 10:15pm a chance to make new friends and enjoy dancing in a relaxed, social setting. Everybody is welcome and you don’t need a partner. Don’t be shy - give it a try. £7.50 per session. The Queen’s Hall, High Street, Cuckfield RH17 5EL

Artspace Circle

Enhance Aesthetics & Beauty

For your beauty and facial treatments, visit our luxurious salon. Skincare specialist offering non-surgical face lifts and highend treatments

Join our Art Course, make new friends while developing your creativity. We focus on the fundamental elements of Art, covering a range of materials and techniques.

01342 301544 www.enhanceyou.co.uk 1 Whitehall Parade, London Rd, East Grinstead RH19 1AP

sheena.artspacecircle@gmail.com 07745 777110

pice

Piano Lessons

Learn to play the piano! We all love music and I love teaching - all ages, especially beginners. Arrange your first lesson, you will enjoy it! Amanda Hemmer 07832 082 289 amanda.hemmer.711@gmail.com

The Seasons Art Class

The Seasons Art Class Haywards Heath is taking enquiries for an exciting new 14-week, part-time Art Class, starting soon at The Talbot in Cuckfield, promising creativity and fun!

em.

tion.

www.theseasonsartclass.com 01444 213065 Seasons Art Class Hayward’s Heath

Do you love dogs? Are you retired?

Then being a part-time pawrent could be for you! If you’re looking for a great alternative to owning a dog, and an excuse to get out for regular exercise, with the support of an established and regulated business behind you - then join We Love Pets Burgess Hill! welovepets.care/careers/host-family-opportunities burgesshill@welovepets.email

Beginners Circuits at Hassocks Sports Centre

Every Friday at 10:15am and Tuesday at 5.15pm Will and Lauren run a beginners circuits class in the dance studio. These sessions are ideal for those returning to exercise who want to do so in a safe environment, under the guidance of our experienced instructors. Call 01273 841348 hassocksenquiries@freedom-leisure.co.uk April 2022 | SUSSEX LIVING 49

ADVERTISING FEATURE

SOUND ADVICE FROM SUSSEX AUDIOLOGY

arvin Gaye may have heard it through the grapevine, but it’s far better to hear it first hand and at each of the three Sussex Audiology Centres, you’ll be hearing it from an expert in their field. The first Sussex Audiology Centre was set up in 1996 by the leading Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) Surgeon, Mr Bob Tranter who was keen to use his expertise in a broader environment. Since retiring in 2015, it’s been his son,

50 SUSSEX LIVING | April 2022

Most of us take good hearing for granted, but what are the options when the quality of our hearing begins to decline? We sent Robert Veitch to learn more from the experts at the Sussex Audiology Centre in Hove Ben, at the helm of the business. During the last year, Cathy Colclough, Phil Cornwell, Sam Dungate and Dominque Lipscombe have all been recruited to join Ben, Rosanne Westcott, Lauren Willis and Elli Parrish in a growing team. Each brings a wealth of knowledge and experience, having worked in the industry and across the county. Sussex Audiology is proud of its very experienced team. Sussex Audiology have three clinics across south central Sussex, in Haywards Heath, Hove

and Goring-by-Sea and also offer a Domicillary service with Dominique. Clients come from across the region to utilise the expertise the Sussex Audiology team have to offer. Each clinic offers the same comprehensive service, specialising in hearing tests, micro-suction, and the expert fitting of hearing aids, with a full aftercare service. Those that can’t get to a clinic shouldn’t fear, as a home visiting service is also available. Ben told me Sussex Audiology is an independent company and

he was keen to point out, “We always recommend what’s best for the client, because we are unbiased and have no commercial links to manufacturers.” He told me the driving force behind better hearing aids has been improvements in technology and the willingness of the public to come forward and get their hearing tested. Phil said, “Those bulky hearing aids people might remember from the past have been superseded by smaller, better, modern products.” Sam added, “The stigma around hearing aids should really be a thing of the past. Modern hearing aids are small and discreet, they’re also rechargeable and offer connectivity to the television, the telephone, the doorbell and other devices.” Phil explained hearing loss can happen at any time of life. It can It seems obvious once you know, but as Sam made clear, “Often the individual whose hearing is starting to fail isn’t the first to notice. It’s those around them that can often notice… a louder television or radio, being asked to ‘speak up’, becoming disengaged at social events.” He suggested the sooner a hearing test takes place, the greater the chance of rectifying any problems.

Hearing assessments are free at any Sussex Audiology clinic

also be hereditary, directly from one generation to the next, or in the form of a recessive gene from a grandparent to a grandchild. He revealed there is also some correlation between hearing loss and dementia. “Retaining a good level of hearing keeps the brain switched on and sharp, promoting better memory and balance, as well as helping to keep an individual engaged with those around them.”

Hearing assessments are free at any Sussex Audiology clinic and involve a visual inspection from a consultant, a hearing test with the latest diagnostic equipment and then full analysis of the results, provided with accurate and relevant advice. Sometimes the hearing of an individual is absolutely fine but a build up of wax in the auditory canal has created problems. The Sussex Audiology experts were keen to assert the fact that sometimes the worst thing a person can do is use a cotton bud to clean their ears,

because the bud might push the wax up against the eardrum rather than removing it. But do not fear because Sussex Audiology Clinics offer microsuction. “We believe we’re the only clinic in Sussex that offers this service,” noted Ben, who was also keen to tell me that wax is naturally occurring and is actually good for the ear. It catches dust, lubricates the ear, kills bacteria and protects the eardrum. It also naturally drains out of the ear. Good hearing may be taken for granted by most of us, but we may also be unaware if the quality of our hearing starts to deteriorate. If the ease of communication with other people starts to become harder, it may lead to early forms of social isolation and make it a more demanding task to maintain relationships. The impact on families, friends and colleagues shouldn’t be ignored. When it comes to good hearing and a good patient journey, then it’s best to listen to the expert advice available at a Sussex Audiology Centre. l Sussex Audiology 17-19 Montefiore Road, Hove BN3 1RD Nuffield Hospital, Burrell Road, Haywards Heath RH16 1UD 313 Goring Road, Goring-by-Sea BN12 4NX 01273 778977 01903 243300 info@sussexaudiologycentre.co.uk April 2022 | SUSSEX LIVING 51

SPOTLIGHT EVENTS Ardingly Antiques Fair Tuesday 19th April, 9am to 5pm & Wednesday 20th April, 8am to 4pm When it comes to shopping, Ardingly Antiques Fair is the only place you need

Tue 19 & Wed 20 April

this April to source all things antique, vintage and collectors. Whether you are looking for antiques for the home, garden antiques to celebrate the start of spring, or high-quality collector’s items that you can’t find anywhere else, Ardingly is the best place to visit this spring. Ardingly is the perfect to source antique silver, ceramics, vintage clothing, architectural and salvage antiques. Get your tickets online today: www.iacf.co.uk South of England Showground, Ardingly, RH17 6TL

Tangmere Military Aviation Museum Opening from Saturday 2nd April Tangmere Military Aviation Museum is in a corner of the old Tangmere airfield, famed as an RAF fighter station from 1918 until Fighter Command left in 1958. April 2nd is the opening of the Museum’s exhibition commemorating the 40th Anniversary of the Falklands Conflict which will run through until the end of August. May 1st is Falklands Day with pilots from that conflict coming to the Museum and exhibits include a Se Harrier that took part in the conflict. The Museum aims to promote public awareness of the UK’s military aviation heritage, educating visitors in military aviation. In September there will be an exhibition to mark the 40th Anniversary of the Museum which serves as a memorial to airmen and airwomen who gave their lives in the service. The Museum is managed and run entirely by volunteers. In 2017 was awarded the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service.

Easter Mon 18 April

Now one of the UK’s leading aviation museums, it is home to an impressive display of historic aircraft with a unique collection of aviation memorabilia from the First World War through to the Cold War. Amongst the many attractions, there are interactive displays and aircraft cockpits and simulators. Light refreshments are available in the Cockpit Cafe. A museum with something for all members of the family to enjoy. www.tangmere-museum.org.uk 01243 790090 From Sat 2 April

Spring Garden Show at Loseley Park Friday 22nd to Sunday 24th April Located in the walled gardens of Loseley Park; with over 35 stalls to include plant nurseries Fri 22 attending across the three to Sun 24 days. Why not treat your April garden to a makeover ahead of the summer or pick up some creative ideas from the gardens and grounds team on seasonal planting? The perfect opportunity to pick up some lovely hand-crafted gifts to include many other local suppliers from across the Surrey Hills. For more information, visit www.loseleypark.co.uk or call the team on 01483 304440 Loseley Park, Surrey, GU3 1HS

London Harness Horse Parade at South of England Centre Easter Monday 18th April The only six shire horse team regularly seen in this country will be appearing for the first time at this annual Easter event depicting transport through the ages. Over a hundred historic horse drawn carts and carriages together with vintage and classic cars, tractors, vans and motorbikes

52 SUSSEX LIVING | April 2022

will be taking part. The event also features horse drawn wagon rides, stationary engines, trade stands and refreshments. This unusual day out is excellent value for a family costing just £10 per adult with children and parking free. www.lhhp.co.uk South of England Centre, Ardingly RH17 6TL

EVENT PROMOTIONS

Health and Fitness Retreat on your Doorstep ‘Return to You Retreat’ Hosted by Analog Retreats

Fri 20 to Mon 23 May

Friday 20th to Monday 23rd May Taking place at the multi-award-winning Fair Oak Farm, give yourself the break you deserve with an exclusive weekend run by the team at Analog Retreats. With over 100 years of combined experience they will be bringing you a full weekend of Yoga, Pilates, Group Fitness, Breathwork and Gut Health education supported by Taste Award win-

Easter Family Fun at Hever Castle & Gardens Saturday 2nd to Monday 18th April Make some special family memories this Easter at Hever Castle & Gardens. Hop through the beautiful grounds following the trail of colourful carrots and look out for the Golden Carrot. Celebrate spring by taking part in a free Easter Egg hunt and with a spring in your step, get creative in a free kid’s craft workshop. Inside the Castle you can listen to an interactive audio guide as you wander from room to room, look out for a variety of animals which hatch from eggs. www.hevercastle.co.uk

Sat 2 to Mon 18 April

Music by the Lake presented by Sussex Rural Events Company to Celebrate The Queen’s Jubilee Sun 5 June

Hilarious Outdoor Theatre with The Rudes Don’t miss ‘Gods and Dogs’! Set in 2084, the story follows Tina who enters ‘Marriage Maker’, a ‘telepavision’ game show. The idea of the game is, if you win, you get to marry the super-glamorous footballer, Harry Best, on the Saturday, Various have a weekend of love, dates then divorce him on the Monday. ‘All the fun and no ties!’ Unfortunately, Tina falls in love when she wins and doesn’t want to divorce. Will she get her man? Will the Mind Police come? At various venues and dates, including a beautiful circus tent, across Sussex! www.therudemechanicaltheatre.co.uk 01323-501260

Sunday 5th June, 12 – 6pm Come and relax in 8 acres of beautiful unspoilt Sussex countryside enjoying exceptional performances by the superb L’escargots Trois playing relaxed easy listening Jazz. The fabulous Two Nightingales singing a selection of 40’s/50’s songs and the incredible Dean Ager, a Rat Pack and Michael Bublé tribute act. All the family welcome, 14 yrs. & under entry free, refreshments available, children’s games. Sorry no dogs. Woodhouse Farm, Woodmancote BN5 9BA Tickets available from www.eventbrite. co.uk/e/music-by-the-lake-tickets @ £16.22 or from cebvintage@hotmail.co.uk @ £15.00

The Garden Show at Firle Place Easter Weekend Friday 15th to Sunday 17th April, 10am to 5pm Spring is here and whilst the daffodils, primroses and bluebells bring joy to the countryside and gardens it’s time to start planning ahead. Covid has impacted our lives over the past two years but the country is opening up again, and those hardy perennials, the Garden Shows at Firle, Stansted and Broadland are getting ready to bring a plethora of plants, garden furniture,

ning Bottle Brush Ferments and freshly cooked healthy meals. After it finishes keep the momentum going through three weeks of support from the team via online classes included in your package. The perfect start to spring. For more details and tickets visit: www.analog-retreats.com Call 07939 018952 Instagram: @retreats_analog

artisan products, unique wares and delicious country foods to your garden and home. Daily garden advice, talks and walks with plenty of family entertainment. At last we can get out and enjoy great days in beautiful locations. www.thegardenshowonline.com 01243 538456 Firle Place, Firle, Nr Lewes BN8 6LP Other Garden Shows at Stansted Park 10th - 12th June, Broadlands 30th Sept - 2nd Oct

Easter Weekend

April 2022 | SUSSEX LIVING 53

Company Promotion

Do you have any GOLD to sell? Well, selling now is the ideal time! And here’s why... sold within our Antiques and Jewellery Auctions, usually in dedicated sections. Our April auction is no different and expects to attract an even larger collection, due to the far higher prices that are currently being achieved. Don’t miss out on the current wave and consign your gold to auction now!

Gold prices are currently on a trajectory similar to that of the summer 2021 record-highs. As uncertainty rises, investors are forced to pump currency into gold and bullion, causing a huge spike in the prices of all precious metals. Increased inflation levels are also adding fuel to the fire, as wholesale prices are due to remain at an elevated level. Gold coins and gold bullion (scrap) are regularly

Update on Ivory Did you know that in June this year it will become illegal to sell antique Ivory, regardless of its age? After June nearly all Ivory will become

worthless. So if you have any Ivory of sorts you are considering selling, time is running out! Under current law Ivory must be pre 1947 and fully carved to be allowed to

sell. After June you will NOT be allowed to sell it. For further advice please get in touch.

For free advice on selling, call Burstow and Hewett 01424 772374 or visit burstowandhewett.co.uk

Worthing Stamp Auctions Member PTS

Dealers in Fine Philately

THE RECOMMENDED WAY TO SELL FOR TOP PRICES

• Regular Autions at The Charmandean centre • Experts in Probate Wills and Estate Commissions • Valuations for all philatelic properties • We specialise in breaking lots for auction • Retail shop with branded accessories • We also value the following items: Coins, cigarette cards and postcards • Private Treaty Purchases can be arranged • Home visits by appointment

70 Victoria Road, Worthing, Sussex BN11 1UN

Tel 01903 235846 Email: worthingstampauction@btconnect.com

MAGICHOUR THEATRE Presents

THE

MAESTRO THE TRIUMPHS AND TRADEDY OF OPERA COMPOSER GAETANO DONIZETTI Featuring the music of Donizetti with live performances of some of his greatest arias

“Exciting Writing” The Scotsman A PLAY BY: DUNCAN HOPPER & MIKE WELLS MUSICAL DIRECTIONS & SUPERVISION: SIMON GRAY & DAVID BARNETT CAST: ROBERT TREMAYNE & SOPHIE METHUEN-TURNER SOPRANO: KAREN ORCHIN

NEWTIMBER CHURCH, Church Ln, Newtimber, Hassocks BN6 9BT

May 7th – 7.30pm

ST GEORGE’S CHURCH, St Georges’s Rd, Kemptown, Brighton BN2 1ED

May 19/20/21st – 7.30pm

DANNY HOUSE, New Way Ln, Hurstpierpoint, BN6 9BB Bring your own picnic for interval in grounds of this Elizabethan mansion

May 28th – 5.30pm

Tickets: £23

(£20 concession)

01273 917272  www.brightonfringe.org  maestromagichour.com April 2022 | SUSSEX LIVING 55

Burgess Hill Choral Society Spring Concert Saturday 23rd April 2022, 7.30pm Burgess Hill Choral Society is delighted to be performing Sat two glorious and contrasting requiems: Mozart’s 23 April great, evergreen Requiem and choruses from the dynamic twenty-first century Requiem by Karl Jenkins. The concert will be conducted by Michael Stefan Wood BEM and feature Sussex Mozart Players as well as soloists at the beginning of their professional careers. St Andrew’s Church, Junction Road, Burgess Hill, RH15 0LG Tickets (£14, under-18s free) are available from Burgess Hill Help Point, on the door, or phone 07522 493966. For further information visit: www.burgesshillchoral.org

Upfront and Personal at The Fittleworth Gallery

Easter Duck Trail at Arundel Wetland Centre Friday 8th to Sunday 24th April, open daily 10am to 4.30pm Arundel Wetland Centre is asking families to ‘quack the case’ during Easter holidays and find the bright yellow ducks hiding around the beautiful wildlife reserve. The popular family trail is the perfect opportunity to get outdoors with all the family. As well as the Easter Duck Trail there’s lots of other quack-tastic activities to discover at the wetland nature attraction. Try a family pond dipping session or book a boat safari. Younger visitors will enjoy dropFri 8 to in crafts, visiting the Sun 24 amazing Dalmatian April pelicans and more!   wwt.org.uk/arundel

Wed 20 April to Wed 4 May

56 SUSSEX LIVING | April 2022

30th March to 23rd April, Open Weds to Sat, 10am to 5pm Our April exhibition explores the artists skill and creativity to use close ups to produce fascinating and dramatic works. Dutch style still life by Michael Jevon, intimate pond life from Lisa Bartlett, close up faces by Phil Randles and many more. We also have an exhibition of late 19c and early 20c post-impressionist and German Expressionist European paintings from sought after artists such as Max Ernst, Jean Lasnier, Hofer and Rochegrosse. Not to be missed. The Fittleworth Gallery, Lower Street, Fittleworth RH20 1EJ www.fittleworthgallery.co.uk info@fittleworthgallery.co.uk 01798 865437

30 Mar to 23 April

Tulip Celebrations at Hever Castle & Gardens Tue 19 to Sun 24 April

Tuesday 19th to Sunday 24th April Feel uplifted by over 40,000 tulips proudly standing to attention and providing a visual feast of spring colour. A kaleidoscope of brightly coloured tulips will declare that spring has well and truly arrived at Hever Castle this April. Throughout Tulip Celebrations, you’ll be able to join daily garden tours led by Hever Castle’s gardening team at 11:30am and 2pm weekdays and at 11:30am at the weekend. Head into the Castle and you will see wonderful floral displays in selected rooms. www.hevercastle.co.uk

Tulip Festival at Pashley Manor Gardens Wednesday 20th April up to and including Wednesday 4th May, 10am to 5pm The spectacular Tulip Festival sees Pashley carpeted with over 48,000 tulips, creating stunning scenes for visitors to enjoy - wandering from elegant displays of white lily flowered tulips around an old brick terrace, to the sweeping herbaceous borders covered in a riot of reds and oranges.

Yet more tulips are on display as cut flowers and representatives from Bloms Bulbs are on hand throughout the Festival to answer queries and take bulb orders. With a café serving teas, cakes and lunches, gift shop and exhibitions of garden sculpture and floral art, Pashley’s Tulip Festival makes a superb day out. www.pashleymanorgardens.com 01580 200888

EASTER FESTIVAL

7 brilliant races

including the Sussex Champion Hurdle and Sussex Champion Chase

Restaurant & Hospitality options Fun Fair Food & Drink concessions 5 minute walk from mainline station

FREE ENTERTAINMENT Horse Hoppers Live Music Easter Egg Giveaway Face Painting Plus Much More

Tel. 01273 890383 | racing@plumptonracecourse.co.uk | www.plumptonracecourse.co.uk

THE BIRCH HOTEL (SUSSEX ROOM) LEWES ROAD, HAYWARDS HEATH RH17 7SF FRIDAY 15th and SATURDAY 16th APRIL and FRIDAY 27th & SATURDAY 28th MAY

April 2022 | SUSSEX LIVING 57

Easter Egg Hunts at Nymans & Standen ‘Adventures in Nature’ trails Sat 9 April – Sun 24 April, 10am – 4pm This spring, treat your little ones to a world of adventures at Nymans & Standen on the Easter adventures in nature trails. Make your way along the trail finding nature-inspired activities for the whole family. £3 per child including a chocolate egg.

Tel: 01444 405250 (Nymans) & 01342 323029 (Standen) www.nationaltrust.org.uk/nymans www.nationaltrust.org.uk/standen Follow us @NymansNT and @StandenNT

7260_Nymans_press_ads_v2.indd 1

22/03/2022 11:26

Promotion

This spring, treat your little ones to a world of adventures at Nymans and Standen with our Easter adventures in nature trails. Make your own nature discoveries and collect your chocolate egg at the end. Trails are £3 per trail

Easter Adventures in Nature Trails

Nymans

Following a trail around the garden, children will be looking for 10 trail activity posts, including musical instruments made from Nymans wood in the play glade. Spring is a magical season at Nymans with the Walled Garden brim-full of blossom, from statuesque magnolia trees to flowers bursting into bloom. Every year the National Trust celebrates #BlossomWatch, taking as its inspiration the Japanese traditional custom of hanami, where people take a moment to enjoy the fleeting beauty of blossom. To tie in with this we’ll be highlighting our Japanese

plants with paper lanterns, and in the house, we’ll be showcasing our Japanese items in the collection. Pop upstairs to the gallery too, to visit the ‘Rising from the Ashes’ exhibition. Temptation takes the form of our delicious mini egg chocolate crunch slice, which is as delicious as it sounds and available in the welcome café.

And if you’re picnicking in the garden (possibly under a blossom tree?) then the café sells everything you need from picnic lunch boxes for children to sandwiches and deli rolls, cakes, and bakes. Take a walk in the woodland too which is bursting into life in spring, make sure to stick to paths and keep your dog on a lead, as low nesting birds are getting ready for their young.

will be open from Easter weekend onwards, it’s a tranquil spot to wander around and enjoy the spring sunshine. Grab a deckchair on Goose Green and sit back and relax while the children enjoy outdoor games or roll out your rug and settle down for a picnic. There are lots of tucked away places to explore all over the garden, as well as paths to run along and views to admire. In the Little Room, above the conservatory, there are plenty of toys, games, and activities for the youngest members of the family to enjoy too. In the Arts & Crafts house children can hunt for the felted mice in many of the rooms. And the ‘Saving Standen’ exhibition in the Servant’s Hall is worth a stop off too. Marking the 50th anniversary of Standen being cared for by the National Trust, the story behind Standen’s rescue is a surprising one. The café in the 18th century barn serves a range of meals to suit all the family, plus takeaway sandwiches, cakes, and treats, perfect for picnicking. Rockinghill Wood is especially beautiful in spring and takes in some gorgeous scenery.

Standen

At Standen collect your trail from Goose Green and follow it around the hillside garden. The Rosery garden Nymans 01444 405250 www.nationaltrust.org.uk/nymans @NymansNT Standen 01342 323029 www.nationaltrust.org.uk/standen @StandenNT

11:26

*BOOK IN ADVANCE AND SAVE

£12

Hever Offer*

using Code

CRAFT22*

28 April – 2 May RHS Garden

Wisley Surrey, GU23 6QB

9am – 6pm Thursday to Sunday; 9am – 5pm Monday Free entry for RHS Members and Family Guest

12 – 15 May

Hever Castle & Gardens Kent TN8 7NG

9.30am – 5.30pm Daily

*Offer code valid for adults on dates of craft fair only

See website for full details and admission costs

Purchase direct from the very best makers in the UK

Craft Fair entry included in normal Garden admission charges

joint-wisley-hever-22-130x190.indd 1

14/03/2022 09:17

EXPERIENCE. SHOP. DINE. The Grazing Rooms offers modern British menus using local, seasonal produce. Enjoy everything from a light bite to a celebration meal. The Farm Shop, Deli and Butcher locally sourced, quality produce including our very own venison. Open every day, shop for pantry, fridge or freezer.

Visit the Farm Experience to see and feed our herds of red, white and sika deer explore the Adventure Playground and the Farm Trail. All set within the beautiful South Downs National Park. To book visit www.skyparkfarm.com West Harting, Petersfield GU31 5PT

WE HAVE SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE AT SKY PARK FARM

60 SUSSEX LIVING | April 2022

CHILDREN

After a three-year hiatus, the Child of Sussex Awards are making a welcome return to the Sussex social calendar and Sussex Living magazine is proud to be part of the event, writes Managing Editor Adele Trathan

he Child of Sussex Awards is a powerful event celebrating the amazing achievements of children across the county. It’s an event that first took place in 2010 and went from strength to strength until the pandemic kicked things into touch for a couple of years. But this year it’s back and Sussex Living is delighted to be associated along with sister company More Radio which are both part of the Total Sense Media group. There are 13 awards in total, each covering a particular aspect of a child’s life that’s worthy of regional recognition. You can help us find the winners, just have a look at the website, and nominate someone in the relevant category. Each winning child is truly deserving of their award.

The nominees get to walk the red carpet If you think you have an amazing child living in your home, amongst your wider family, or local community, that deserves to be recognised for something they have done, then visit the website and nominate them. In the past friends, neighbours, teachers, group

leaders, brothers and sisters have all got Breakfast Team; Tom, Lou and Jack. involved in the nominations. Lou Nash, who has presented the The children are the stars of awards ceremony before can’t wait, the show, and they are made to feel “I’m so excited. After all we’ve been incredibly special throughout the through these last two years, it’s evening. For the audience, learning what wonderful to be able to celebrate the some of the nominees very best achievements have done at such a of childhood, from THE 2022 CHILD OF young age can be heartacross the county.” SUSSEX AWARDS warming, inspirational Tom Evans is equally Gold Award and a joy to witness enthusiastic. “It Achiever Award as they collect their promises to be a highly awards. Previous award emotional and uplifting Courage Award evenings have been evening, full of Sporting Team Award uplifting, emotional inspirational stories, as Make A Difference Award nights as the winners we witness the falling of Fundraiser Award realise just how valued tears and the lifting of Community Award they are by their local awards.” Carer Award community and across As Jack the Lad Best Brother Award the region. Hayes told me, The presentations “Whether it’s caring, Best Sister Award will take place at a sharing, doing Performer Award glitzy award ceremony something incredible Sporting Star Award at The Grand Hotel for the community, Best Friend Award in Brighton on Friday or fundraising for 15th July. Over 250 a good cause, each people will be in winning child is truly attendance and the nominees get deserving of their award. Bring it on, to walk the red carpet and they’re get nominating!” l Nominations are open from April 18th to 22nd ‘snapped and papped’ on the way in. May and the categories can be found at This year the awards ceremony www.moreradio.online will be hosted by the More Radio April 2022 | SUSSEX LIVING 61

PUZZLES

PUZZLE PAGE

This month’s solutions can be found on page 158 or at www.sussexliving.com

SUDOKUWEB

 Number chain #002

NUMBER Navigate a singleCHAIN continuous line around the

SUDOKU

grid. You continuous must start line frominthe including Navigate a single anynumber direction,1,including number inYou between untilfrom youthe read 40. 1, diagonally,every around the grid. must start number You cannot repeat any number. Good and include every number in between, in order, untilLuck! you reach 40. You cannot repeat any number. Good Luck!

A simple process of logic is all that it takes to solve each puzzle in this game. Put the numbers 1 to 9 in each vertical column and each horizontal line. Each number must appear only once in each column and line and in each of the 3x3 boxes in the grid.

Sudoku - #002 1 6 3 5

6 8

8 7

5 3

1 9 6

5 1

41 7 3

9 6

8 1

2 4

7 6

4 5

Max. 42

3 9

• First select a number/operator and than apply it to a sudoku cell.

QUICK CROSSWORD

CROSS CODE

CLUES ACROSS

CLUES DOWN

1. Gracefully thin (7) 5. Body space between the thorax and pelvis (7) 9. Plural; a living organism (7) 10. Common rock; very hard, granular (7) 11. Natural inclination or tendency to something (5) 12. Having many houses, offices, factories (9) 13. Small, delicate (6) 14. Lockable metal rings (8) 16. Landing space used by helicopters (8) 19. Point equally distant from every point on the circumference (6) 22. Motherhood (9) 24. An instrument that measures, gives a visual display of an amount or level (5) 26. Dessert; deep fried pastry tubes filled with cream (7) 27. Plural; terrestrial annelid worm (7) 28. Dishcloth (7) 29. Core fortified area of a city, usually built in a high place (7)

1. Skin covering head, not face (5) 2. Article expressing editor’s opinion (9) 3. Most loved or cherished (7) 4. Save from a dangerous situation (6) 5. Letters and symbols represent numbers and quantities (7) 6. Water or other liquid to run out, past tense (7) 7. Female domestic servant (5) 8. Joseph ____ MP from 1832-1856 (5) 14. A covering for the head (3) 15. Not affected or used (9) 17. Sport, moving through an area, including jumping and climbing (7) 18. Quickly and illicitly took something (7) 20. Tense, nervous, superlative adjective (7) 21. Regularly repeating cycles (6) 22. Mouldy, musty (5) 23. Plural; A musical sound with reference to its pitch (5) 25. Wooden frame holding artist’s work (5)

Each number in the grid represents a different letter of the alphabet. You have three letters on the grid to start you off. Use your knowledge of words to work out which letters should go in the missing squares. As you get the letters, fill in other squares with the same number in the main grid and control grid. Check off the alphabetical list of letters as you identify them. Any letters that are not used have been crossed out on the control grid of letters. 1 7

1 14

3 10

4 9

1 14

62 SUSSEX LIVING | April 2022

E 1

6 4

E H

12 12

3 4

18 17

9 14

13 4

1 15

10 9

16 3

4 3

1 3

4 12

14 1

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t happened to fall on International Women’s day when I met a very inspirational woman, Louise Budgen, Midlife Mentor and Coach. She invited me to her ZenDen, a beautiful beamed and glass barn deep in the Sussex countryside where Louise spends her days coaching clients both in person and on Zoom, and hosting coaching day retreats and workshops. “The ZenDen has a magical energy and clients tell me they never want to leave,” said Louise. “The space lends itself to hosting larger groups perfectly too.” When Covid hit Louise had to direct her business online, something she never thought she would enjoy,

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but she loves the flexibility Give yourself the greatest gift of life fulfilment of working with clients under the guidance of Louise Budgen, an ICF internationally. She also launched an online group trained coach who mentors midlife women to called EXTRAORDINARY feel alive and thrive, as told to Sara Whatley Midlife focusing on the midlife mind and soul rather than menopause, fitness or nutrition. She has built Your life is a sum of a community of women your choices, join connecting The Extraordinary with each Midlife Club today other, sparking spiritual interest and enjoying experts who share their wisdom with the group. The woman sitting in front of me looks the picture of health and happiness, relaxed and confident in her own anymore,” Louise said. That skin; shining one might might be a businesswoman say. “I feel absolutely or a homemaker; someone privileged to be doing who seems to ‘have it all’ and this,” she said. “It is so may do materialistically but rewarding, changing spiritually they are lacking. someone’s life in a loving, that can ultimately enhance It wasn’t always this way supportive and unique way.” everything – deep self trust, for Louise. Seven years ago What Louise is passionate better decisions, happiness, about is sparking women’s she was involved in a huge healing and confidence. interest in spirituality and life-changing car crash. As “I’m for the woman who coaching them to connect to gives everything to everybody the car spun out of control that inner part of themselves and flipped onto its roof but has no idea who she is

Louise heard a message saying, ‘Louise, this is going to hurt’ and she drew her shoulders up to her ears and braced. And there she stayed, frozen. “I was diagnosed with PTSD after the crash, and it was the treatment of EMDR (eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing) that got my life back on track.” This new track was born out of the huge surge of post traumatic growth and her awareness ignited around the mind/ body connection which propelled her to retrain as a Coach. She felt that she was ‘coming home’, having found her truth and aligned with her purpose. Two years later life dealt Louise a second blow, this time with breast cancer. Louise recovered and turned her health around with the toolkit she developed and was at optimum physical, mental and spiritual health when it became apparent two years later that the cancer was still in her lymph nodes. Operations, chemo and radiotherapy followed but Louise was able to,“face my diagnosis with absolute trust and allowing.” Again Louise recovered and used her experiences to her advantage. “Having cancer helped me find my voice, helped me share my message of being your truest self for a beautiful life experience.” Louise offers many ways to work and connect with her; she invites you to consider this powerful self-development work and share her proven toolkit and skills as a coach to help others reach their midlife goals. Louise is a certified Oracle and Angel Card reader. Join this beautiful community of like-minded midlife women looking to feel alive and thrive either online or in person. “Your life is a sum of your choices,” choose to join The Extraordinary Midlife Club today l Louise Budgen louise@extraordinarylifesuccess.com www.louisebudgen.com 07866 396558 www.facebook.com/groups/ yourextraordinarymidlife/ Instagram: @louise.budgen

April 2022 | SUSSEX LIVING 65

HOME FRONT

66 SUSSEX LIVING | April 2022

A HOME that tells

A STORY

✽ Artist Becky Blair updated an Edwardian terrace to create a contemporary family home that tells the story of her life

✽

April 2022 | SUSSEX LIVING 67

HOME TRUTHS LOCATION: Brighton, East Sussex THE OWNERS: Fine artist Becky Blair, her husband Ben Hooley, an artist for educational apps, and their daughter Eva and tabby cat, Tinkerbell THE PROPERTY: A four-bedroom Edwardian terraced

or artist Becky Blair, home is about more than where you live. It’s a place to display the memories that tell the story of who you are. “My Mum’s house and my Grandma’s house were built up, layer upon layer, from the life they’d lived,” she said. “These days homes seem to be more about looking cool or presenting yourself a certain way, but our home has to be about who we are as a family – it has to inspire us and make us happy.” For Becky’s family, that means a piano that husband Ben plays every day, an ever-expanding collection of board games, and mementoes brought home from each and every holiday. So it was no surprise that the two-bedroomed fisherman’s cottage in Brighton’s Hanover area was starting to feel a little cramped. Looking for more space both inside and out, they found their current home a few years ago in the July and had moved in by November. The first job was to remove and restore each of the building’s six original sash windows. “I’m really passionate about original features,” said Becky, “and one of the things that attracted us to this house was its beautiful windows, but they were completely rotten and rattling in their frames.”

April 2022 | SUSSEX LIVING 69

Carpenters removed and restored the downstairs windows before Christmas, and the upstairs windows immediately afterwards. Meanwhile the family moved into the only warm space left, the attic room which is now Eva’s bedroom. “It felt a bit crazy taking out all of the windows in the middle of winter and camping out in the attic,” Becky admitted. To keep costs down, she primed and painted the second set herself. “It makes me realise that we really must look after them, because I never want to have to do it ever again,” she laughed. Once the house was warm and spring was on its way, Becky’s thoughts turned to the outside of the property. She painted the front of the house with a painter and decorator friend, conquering a fear of heights to scale the scaffolding. “When I got on the top level, I thought ‘I’m not going to be able to do anything other than cling desperately to the side and hope I don’t fall off!’” But she overcame her nerves and actually ended up enjoying it. “It was amazing. It was really sunny and we had a lovely time listening to the radio and painting,” she said. The gardens also needed work. “The front garden was just a pile of rubble, one of the walls was falling down and the steps leading up to the front door were crumbling away,” she

70 SUSSEX LIVING | April 2022

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recalled. “I’m quite a keen gardener so it was really exciting to get all that fixed. Then we had borders and beds put in and frameworks for both gardens, so I could do the planting and grow climbers up the walls.” Becky worked with a gardener friend. “He was amazing,” she smiled, “even though my ideas were quite simple, he made it beautiful by adding extra details that I would never have thought of.” The next big job was the kitchen. The original layout had a loo, that was only accessible from outside, but it jutted into the room. With a row of wall-hung cupboards, a large extractor fan, and two small windows, it all conspired to make the space feel very cramped. “It was a perfectly functioning kitchen and Ben kept saying, ‘We don’t really need to do this,’ but it felt like a cave and I wanted to be able to see my garden, having worked so hard on it,” explained Becky. Having ripped out

Even though my ideas were quite simple, he made it beautiful by adding extra details that I would never have thought of

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the dividing walls and excess cabinets they had an open space to work with. Two new, much larger windows provided the connection with the garden that Becky was craving, and their first dishwasher added a touch of luxury. “All my friends kept saying how much we’d appreciate it and I didn’t really believe them, but I couldn’t be without one now,” she said. Becky re-used the original white floor standing cabinets, adding an additional run of cupboards in a contrasting colour under the window. She also combined solid oak counter tops with a grey laminate. “I’ve seen wooden counter tops really suffer around the sink area, so I wanted something fairly indestructible,” she explained. Once the renovations were complete, artist Becky came into her own with the decoration phase, creating a bright,

74 SUSSEX LIVING | April 2022

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I love pink – it’s such a happy colour and I really love yellow and pink together, so once we had the yellow, we had to have the pink

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April 2022 | SUSSEX LIVING 77

BEDROOM CHEST AND MIRROR The mirror belonged to Becky’s mother and is decorated with embroidered Indian textiles that she brought back from travels in the twenties

colourful interior scheme. “My friends call me a colourist, so I suppose I am good with colour. I’m able to pull things together that seem to work, but I do need to spend time – and a lot of tester pots to find exactly the right colours.” In the dining room, a sunny yellow brightens up an East facing room. “It took five or six tester pots, painted onto every wall, from the tallows and really pale yellowy-whites, right through to custard, mustard, and baby poo!” she said. “I knew we’d found the right colour

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when it looked good in every spot, day and night, whether it was a dull day or a bright day. It was worth all those tester pots in the end!” In the kitchen and stairwell, they used a colour called ‘Setting Plaster’ which provided an unusual backdrop for Becky’s colourful collection of artworks and home accessories collected from her travels. It created a scheme that echoes the palettes she uses in her paintings. “I use a dusty pink as a backdrop to bright colours in a lot of my work so it didn’t feel like a real stretch for the house,” she explained. “I love pink – it’s such a happy colour and I really love yellow and pink together, so once we had the yellow, we had to have the pink, but it had to be just the right shade. The one we chose is quite friendly and it looks great with bright colours set against it.” Hence, Becky is excited about opening her house to the public, for the second year running as part of Brighton’s Artist Open Houses. Becky and other artists will be exhibiting with workshops and demonstrations at weekends during the month of May. Now that the home is finished, the family spend most of their time around the table in the kitchen, which is perfectly sized for three. “It’s really nice being able to cook and chat together as a family,” said Becky. “It’s such a happy home and we feel very lucky to live here. I’m sure it’s not to everybody’s taste, but everywhere you look there’s something that we love – every painting, every little ornament, it all has a meaning. It’s definitely a house that tells the story of its family.” l

EVA’S BEDROOM Becky resisted Eva’s requests for an entirely pink bedroom, instead adding colour through accessories that can be changed as Eva grows up

Instagram @beckyblairartist or www.aoh.org.uk Photographs: Bruce Hemming Words: Katie Treggiden Styling: Sally Maton

These days homes seem to be more about looking cool or presenting yourself a certain way

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April 2022 | SUSSEX LIVING 81

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urning the corner into Ashley White’s busy workshop near Cooksbridge, is to come face to face with an authentic contemporary shepherd’s hut, clad in featheredge oak with a traditional stable door framing the homely interior.

Ashley, who established the company in 2019, explained this particular hut would be heading to the Isle of Wight to be used as boutique holiday accommodation. The huts are also proving a boon to workers. Now that so many people have swapped the office for working from

colour using traditional Farrow and Ball hues. Any personal specifications and preferences are catered for at the design stage. The huts can be used all year round; heating options range from solid fuel to underfloor heating, and the full wall insulation ensures that the warmth stays inside, even during the coldest weather. Each hand-built hut takes about a month to construct, and clients are advised to make an appointment to visit the workshop and discuss their individual needs and intentions with Ashley. The huts are delivered by lorry and can be moved into their final position by hand on hard ground or by a 4x4 on soft ground. Traditionally these huts provided shelter and warmth for shepherds tending their flock during lambing. Ashley’s modern-day interpretations are adaptable structures with many

home, a shepherd’s hut offers a fully serviced, insulated, Ashley’s bespoke heated room, separate from interpretations are set to the distractions of the home. It’s easy to see why become future classics people fall in love with these modern interpretations of Victorian rural life. With uses including; a peaceful steel wheels, oak axles and a hideaway in which to work variety of cladding options, or relax, a spare room for the huts are robust enough to visiting guests, holiday lets, fishing huts, to a family become a family heirloom. hang out, and as shelter for Hardwood window frames, double glazing, oak flooring, the 21st century shepherd. The once humble shepherd’s doors and worktops make hut has found a lasting each hut a visual delight as new role in contemporary well as a piece of enduring life and Ashley’s bespoke craftsmanship that will earn interpretations are set to its keep for generations. become future classics. l Ashley and his team of five can supply a hut between 4 and 5.8m (1319ft) in length and 2.2m (7ft) in width, which can encompass any number of fittings depending on its eventual purpose. For example, the hut could include a woodburning or electric stove, a double bed or bunk beds, a fully equipped kitchen run on electricity or bottled gas, and a spacious shower room. The White Hut Company It’s possible to go off grid www.thewhitehutcompany.co.uk too, with a compost loo info@thewhitehutcompany.co.uk option and solar panels. 07914 665581 The internal walls On Facebook and Instagram can be painted in any April 2022 | SUSSEX LIVING 83

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April22 Charity Camelia Botner.indd 84

STUDIO PROOF

PROOF DATE/TIME: 8 December 2021 12:34 pm OUR FILENAME: Jan22 BSW 1-4

23/03/2022 17:22

CHARITY

The Foundation provides a chance for people to turn their life around, put the past behind them and focus on a positive future

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It’s strange to think that one legacy of Datsun cars arriving in the UK over 50 years ago is a foundation championing the young and changing their fortunes, but that’s the case at the Camelia Botnar Foundation as Robert Veitch discovered

layton Wellman was a secondary school teacher in the East End of London, before becoming a tutor at the Camelia Botnar Foundation, and since last autumn he’s been the Education Programme Manager. The Foundation is based in idyllic countryside close to Cowfold and offers

residential courses to 1621 year olds in blocks of three months, to help disadvantaged young people find a positive way forward in life. “We offer a ticket to a normal life,” Clayton enthused, “there are challenges along the way, but we get through them.” Clayton told me the Foundation provides a chance for people to turn their life around, put the past behind them and focus on a positive future. “It’s a second chance to succeed.” Usually there are 30 trainees in residence at any one time and the Foundation works with up to 60 over

the course of a year. Most trainees stay for 6-12 months. Trainees spend their time learning a trade and gaining qualifications in one of eight departments – landscaping and horticulture, metalwork, carpentry, building, catering, estate maintenance, painting and decorating, and motor mechanics. “Pick your niche,” advised Clayton, “they’re practical skills that should lead to job opportunities with the assistance of our careers coach. We send trainees into the world on a solid footing, into employment, utilising acquired skills. There’s no pity from employers.” Applicants come from across the county, and from further afield. They should be from a problematic or disadvantaged situation and referred by social services, probation officers, youth offending programs, other similar programs, schools, their families or by self-referral. There are no academic requirements or pre-conditions, everyone is assessed on merit. Applicants need to commit to the project, accept the work ethic, observe basic standards of behaviour, and change the pattern of their life for the better. There’s a disciplinary code and the rules are maintained for the benefit of everyone, “so the saddest times are the occasions when we fail, and trainees leave their course early,” stated Clayton. “No charity can be all things to all people, but the chance to help turn around the life of someone who has had a terrible time is very rewarding.” The cost of the courses, residential accommodation and transportation home at the weekends (with some pocket money) for trainees is covered by the Foundation, In Clayton’s estimation, these plus other running costs mean the Foundation is investing around £1,000 per week in each young person. Clayton told me the stark changes the staff witness in trainees is uplifting; arriving as grumpy, reluctant teenagers with problems, who then leave the April 2022 | SUSSEX LIVING 85

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Botnar family reluctantly, but as optimistic, skilled adults. Some have gone on to transcend the programme and become very successful in their chosen field. “And though there can be heartbreak along the way, the successes make it all worthwhile.” The Datsun legacy comes via Octav Botnar, who established the Camelia Botnar Foundation in 1979 with his wife Marcela, in memory of their only child, Camelia, who was killed in a car accident aged 20, in December 1972 while travelling to Stonehenge. Octav Botnar was born in Czernowitz (now Chernivtsi) in 1913, which was then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, then Romania, the USSR and at the time of writing, Ukraine. He made his fortune after acquiring the entire UK distribution

They’re practical skills that should lead to job opportunities rights for Datsun, later Nissan cars, which he ran from his Worthing headquarters. It was Octav who persuaded Nissan to build their European factory on the outskirts of Sunderland in 1985. Their enduring legacy in Camelia’s memory was to help young people in difficulty. The trust that run the Camelia Botnar Foundation provide 99% of the financing. Some

funding also comes from the retailing of horticulture and metalwork products made by the trainees in the Foundation’s garden centre, nearby. There are places for applicants to take part in the programme and there are opportunities for mature volunteers to get involved, helping to mentor and shape the lives of the trainees on their road ahead. Patience, an ability to communicate and a willingness to help, coupled with the wisdom that comes from the rich tapestry of life are all desirable virtues; after all they’re all part of the ticket to a fulfilled life. l www.cameliabotnar.com

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April22 Charity Camelia Botner.indd 87

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CHILDREN

Spring has truly sprung, and Sara Whatley is out in the garden with her two little helpers, getting muddy, having fun and generally… GARDENING HAPPY

ike pigs rolling in muck, my kids are never happier than when covered in mud. And that’s just what we’ve been doing a lot this month in the garden. To be honest I’m also very happy in my wellies with muddy hands and stray leaves stuck in my hair – otherwise it’s just not proper gardening! I’m no hard-core gardener planting up my seedlings in preparation and having the beds all planned out for the coming season. Rather I would call myself a fair weather gardener. As soon as that sun pokes her cheery little face out it’s wellies for everybody and out we go. At this time of year our garden turns from a total mud bath to at least a bald but solid mud patch. The

slightest bit of rain returns it to its former glory, which seems to be my children’s preferred option. They often help it along in that direction with the watering can and I look on as the last few remaining blades of grass are pummelled into submission. Some parts re-grow come summer, while others remain scalped and dry to a cracked desert crust.

They skid across the lawn, barrelling around with a football or pushing their little trolley loaded with bits and bobs of twigs and string. “I’m going to do 100 goals Mummy,” Mia told me, but she got distracted after 14 and went to gather flowers and leaves, worms and snails in her mini trug to make a special fairy garden. Jarvis trails behind her, frequently ending up flat on his face. His little pudgy hands splay and slip in the mud and he looks up at me with an incredulous face as if to say, “How on earth did I end up here when just a moment ago I was merrily tottering along?” He is a hardy little fellow apart from when he has muddy hands. Then he holds them up in complaint, screwing up his face as if they pain him.

Mia gathers flowers and leaves, worms and snails in her mini trug

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“Just rub them together,” I told him, showing him how; rub, rub, rub, hold them up for a mum check. “That’s better,” I said, wiping off the remains with my own hands. “Good boy.” And off he goes, still filthy but terribly happy. Last weekend we removed a dead bush, weeded the herb garden and the children did lots of watering and digging. I still don’t know what they were watering or digging but that is

entirely beside the point… My husband and I laugh at the phrase ‘Ridden hard and put away wet’, but this is the perfect description for our poor garden. It gets treated like this almost every day but still it soldiers on stoically filling itself with flowers, space, light and sunshine for us all to enjoy. Maybe it will even be dry enough for the Easter Bunny to visit us this month! l

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BLOOMING TIMES

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Ornamental cherry trees have the curious ability to hide themselves in plain sight. We scarcely notice them for much of the year, but they’re currently putting on some breath-taking displays, observes Flo Whitaker

rnamental cherries (Prunus) are a large and diverse family of trees. Some varieties flower during winter/early spring, others reach their peak in April or May. Some have wide, spreading habits, others are upright or columnar in shape. Some grow fast – others are slow. Some develop into substantial trees – others are naturally petite and make good subjects for bonsai. Even the smallest garden has room for a cherry tree. As a general rule, cherries aren’t particularly longlived and many suburban veterans planted before WWII are now in decline. If you’re the custodian of a failing old-timer in your front garden, please consider planting another to take its place. Flowering cherries enhance the ‘street landscape’ and put smiles on the faces of passers-by. Cherries have small-ish leaves arranged loosely along their branches. This allows dappled sunlight to pass through, which gives scope for underplanting. Spring bulbs are ideal candidates for this, particularly those with a more ‘naturalistic’ appearance, such as snowdrops, wood anemones, bluebells and aconites. Primulas and

Ornamental cherries can be grown in pots, so long as you ensure they never go hungry or thirsty

cyclamen will also enjoy dappled shade, so long as the soil doesn’t become hot or dry. For summer underplanting, hardy geraniums give a good show – even when out of flower, with their attractive, weed-supressing foliage. Cheery-faced pansies and evergreen Sarcococca, bearing highly-scented flowers, will provide underplanted colour in the depths of winter. Ornamental cherries can be grown in pots, so long as you ensure they never go hungry or thirsty. Use soil-based compost, adding plenty of moistureretentive leaf mould to the mix. Select a good-sized container; half-barrels are ideal and often cheaper than terracotta. ‘Wind rock’ is a problem for potted plants and a larger container will add weight, making it less likely the plant will topple over. If the container is to be positioned over soil, (say, at a path edge), consider cutting off its base entirely, or making very large holes in the bottom, then sitting the container directly onto the ground. This gives the aesthetic appearance of a potted plant, but allows roots to penetrate the soil below, giving the plant extra stability and access to moisture and nutrients. Prunus incisa ‘Kojo-no-mai’ is an excellent choice for a container. Slow-growing, it eventually reaches 2.5m (8 feet) in height and produces criss-crossing little branches that are smothered with white flowers in spring. The leaves also turn brilliant shades of

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coppery orange in autumn. No mention of cherry trees would be complete without a homage to Collingwood ‘Cherry’ Ingram, (18801981). His life was extraordinary; not only for its immense length, but also because of his great breadth of interest – he was a true polymath. Born into a well-off family; Ingram could have easily gone down the route of privileged idleness, but a thirst for knowledge, particularly about the natural world, fired a studious work ethic that was to last his entire life. Traveller, writer, botanist, gardener, diarist, illustrator; his energy was unquenchable. Commissioned into the army in WWI, he took his notebooks and paintbox to France, where he sketched and recorded the flora and fauna Even the on the Western Front. smallest garden Ingram made several has room for a visits to Japan. The first, in 1902, was at a time cherry tree when Japan was opening up to western travellers after centuries of being a mysterious, ‘locked’ country. Ingram became captivated by all things Japanese; (after his death, his collection of Japanese

artworks was donated to the British Museum) but plants always remained his prime focus. Cherry blossom has been revered in Japan for thousands of years – its symbolism is deeply rooted in Japanese culture. In 1926, Ingram, by now a respected horticulturalist, was paid the highest compliment when he was invited to address the Cherry Society in Tokyo. Ingram was polite but solicitous; warning his audience of the perilous state of Japan’s trees. An area of particular concern was the prevalence of just a few varieties, with little interest shown in the genetic diversity of historic Japanese cherries. Ingram declared they were in danger of losing many old types unless action was taken. During his visit, he was shown

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a painting of ‘Taihaku’, a tragically extinct form with huge pure white blooms. However, Ingram immediately recognised it, saying he had propagated it from cuttings taken from a tree growing in a Winchelsea garden. His hosts were incredulous, but subsequent investigation showed Ingram was correct. How the tree had originally

“Let me die, underneath the blossoms, in the spring, around the day, of the full moon” found its way to Winchelsea can only be speculated upon, but the ever-observant Ingram had spotted it and, unwittingly, saved it from extinction. After several failed attempts, live cuttings from Kent were successfully transported back to Japan. Taihaku – the ‘Great White’ was reintroduced and Ingram’s nickname, ‘Cherry’, accompanied him throughout the rest of his life.

Ingram died on 19th May 1981. It’s tempting to imagine a romantic scene where, just as the last blossoms of the year were fading, the old man surveyed his garden for a final time and recalled the ancient words of the Japanese poet, Saigyō, (1118-1190); “Let me die, underneath the blossoms, in the spring, around the day, of the full moon.” Cherry had somehow colluded with the cosmos and got his timing just right; May 19th was, indeed, the day of the full moon.

After Ingram’s death, his home, ‘The Grange’ at Benenden, was sold. It is reckoned that 120 different forms of ornamental cherries once grew there. Although most have long disappeared, a few venerable trees planted in his time remain and subsequent owners have planted more. Now a residential home for adults with learning disabilities, The Grange occasionally opens its gates to visitors for cherry blossom-viewing. They are acutely aware of Ingram’s legacy, which is somewhat ironic when it seems that the horticultural world has mostly forgotten him. But his influence quietly lives on in our gardens; not solely because of cherries, but also in other plants he introduced, such as Rubus ‘Benenden’, Omphalodes ‘Cherry Ingram’ and Rosemary ‘Benenden Blue’. These plants cannot be accused of having attention-seeking or divaish attitudes. No; their personalities are best described by phrases such as ‘hard-working’, ‘no-nonsense’ and ‘long-lived’. Much like Ingram. l

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NATURE

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OF TREES Ginkgo biloba is the only example of the oldest living tree species and has been called a living fossil as explained by the ever-youthful Peter Erridge

inkgo biloba first appeared 290 million years ago when they were the dominant form of tree, with many species and foliage similar to present day specimens. Conifers and broadleaved trees evolved at a later time. The oldest living specimen, believed to be 3,500 years old, is found in China. Ginkgo plants were first imported into Europe in the 18th century and one planted in Kew Gardens in 1762 can still be seen. The National Collection, sited near Evesham, has over 300 cultivars and their website

Gingko Biloba in summer

has an extensive picture gallery. Due to their size, up to 40m (130ft), Ginkgo trees are found in large gardens and parks where they are grown as ornamental specimens with a conical form, interesting shaped leaves and autumn colour. These trees are usually male because the fruits of female trees have an unpleasant smell, like rancid butter or worse! Seeds are mainly collected in the wild with some others acquired via specialist nurseries.

The ginkgo leaves are bright green and fan shaped, turning a glorious yellow colour in autumn

Strangely, the pollen from female plants is non allergenic. whereas that of male plants does cause allergies. The Latin name ‘biloba’ refers to the leaf shape of two lobes, likened by some people to duck’s feet. The common name for the Ginkgo is maidenhair tree since the Maidenhair fern has similar lobed leaves, but about one twentieth the size. The ginkgo leaves are bright green and fan shaped, turning a glorious yellow Gingko Biloba in autumn

Autumnal leaves

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Gingko Biloba ‘duck’s feet’

Maidenhair Fern

colour in autumn so that G. biloba shows as a golden yellow pillar. Dwarf varieties, 1m (3ft), suitable for small gardens are sold by some UK garden centres. With light trimming the dwarf varieties can display as a golden ball in autumn. They can also be grown as a bonsai. Ginkgo plants are hardy down to -20°C and larger trees are resistant to pollution. These are sometimes planted along main roads. Another aspect of hardiness is their resistance to radiation. In Japan, six Ginkgo trees in Hiroshima were growing in separate locations up

Gingko Pillar

The common name for the Ginkgo is maidenhair tree to 1.6km (1 mile) from the 1945 atomic bomb detonation site. Although severely charred, they managed to survive, recover and are still alive, known locally as the A-bombed trees. There are references in the literature of the Far East suggesting dietary and medicinal uses for Ginkgo, but to date there is no scientific evidence to support

these uses. It has been used in Chinese medicine from the 11th century. The seeds, known as nuts, are used in food across Asia, but eating more than the equivalent of eight per adult will produce unpleasant side effects. Ginkgo timber is available in China and Japan but it is rare and therefore expensive. The wood is used in furniture making, for chessboards and chessmen and decorative items. It is fire resistant and slow to decay hence it is only occasionally used for fencing in Asia. l

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NATURE

hen David Attenborough once said that “no one will protect what they don’t care about,” he drew attention to the importance of local conservation initiatives that encourage people to engage with the nature on their doorstep. Henfield Birdwatch is one such group, formed in 1998 by several knowledgeable, enthusiastic people, who in the space of 20 minutes, decided to motivate Henfield residents to take part in a bird survey the following year. From this small egg hatched an organisation that swiftly became the largest local community conservation project in the UK. Chairman Mike Russell described to me how more than 150 people submitted more than 40,000 records in the initial year-long survey, then published a book of their findings which was praised by major conservation bodies. The aim was to publish the surveys every five years. The 2010 book received the coveted Marsh Award from the British Trust for Ornithology. So far, over 160,000 records have been collated to provide a comprehensive record of Henfield birdlife since the millennium.

THE BIRDERS HENFIELD

The observation of birds can be a pleasant way to enhance a day out as well as a way to help conservation across the landscape as Ruth Lawrence discovered recently when she went to meet members of the nationally acclaimed Henfield Birdwatch Treasurer Val Bentley told me local people carry out two winter surveys and two breeding season surveys, and the collated information is sent to the British Trust for Ornithology and the Sussex Wildlife Trust.

Henfield Birdwatch has a thriving membership of over 200 This information can be used to inform planning decisions, monitor bird populations, and keep count of breeding numbers for conservation purposes.

and a dunnock Val told and in doing me surveys so, increase take place not only their in one knowledge, square but their kilometre enjoyment and areas, connection within to their local which patch. people Kingfisher The group’s record all patch consists of eleven birds they see or areas of focus that form hear. Observers also look for evidence of breeding a rough circumference of Henfield; taking in the flood behaviours, which can levels of the River Adur range from nest building, to that border the western incubation, to the gathering periphery, to the woods, of food for hatchlings. The streams and commons of great thing for newcomers Oreham Common and is that they will learn the difference between a sparrow Woodmancote, to the urban central habitat, up towards Mockbridge in the north. There have been some surprising discoveries over the years. Val recalled a sighting of a stunning jet black streamlined Glossy ibis in 2020, and her first sighting of a Grey

Goldcrest Yellowhammer singing

Water rail

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SECTION SUBJECT

The Adur Valley is an important stronghold for turtle doves, while red kites and little egrets are now regularly sighted in the area

Grey phalarope

Grey heron in flight

phalarope with its delicately subtle pale grey plumage. A glance at the continually updated ‘bird sightings’ page on the group’s website shows a plethora of species in the last month alone; linnet, lapwing, shoveler, teal, wigeon and a rare water rail being just a few of those spotted. One of the remarkable outcomes of such expansive long-term records is that local evidence of growth or decline can be compared with national records and yield some surprising results. Yellowhammer population is up by 20% around Henfield, but nationally it has declined by 43%. Song thrush population is down by 6% around Henfield, but nationally it has increased by 3%. Data like this can provide crucial information about why birds are thriving or failing in certain habitats and conditions. The Adur Valley is an important stronghold for turtle doves, while red kites and little egrets are now regularly sighted in the area. In 2020, an exotic looking

hoopoe was recorded for the first time, while Cetti’s warblers and the diminutive firecrest are spotted more often now. Henfield Birdwatch take part in other conservation initiatives including the Henfield Owl Project which focuses on barn and tawny owls in particular, as both species maintain territories in the area. The group is also helping the River Adur Restoration Project and ‘Sustainable Henfield’, which plant native

Turtle dove

flowers to encourage pollinators and participate in recording hedgehog populations. A nest box camera has been installed in Henfield library and staff keep logs of hatchlings, while school children enjoy storytelling sessions inspired by the nesting birds. Members and nonmembers can enjoy monthly walks with committee members Val Bentley or Nigel Colgate which cover

the survey areas. People can learn about Wren the birds they see and how they can help in the surveys as they walk. Henfield Birdwatch has a thriving membership of over 200, making it a fantastic way to meet likeminded people in the local area. New members are sent a free Henfield Birdwatch book to help get them started. Sussex has some superb birding sites including Ashdown Forest with its heath and woodland and the famous reserve at Rye Harbour, home to numerous resident and migrant species. Pulborough Brooks and Amberley Wild Brooks boast extensive wetlands while the beautiful Cuckmere Valley offers year-round sightings of water birds where river meets sea. The Adur Estuary, a 62-hectare Site of Special Scientific Interest on the western outskirts of Shoreham-by-Sea contains a wide expanse of mud flats at low water and Ardingly Reservoir is a tranquil haven where I once had the luck to watch an osprey diving for fish. Birding is not only an accessible and instinctive way to engage with nature, it also encourages us to care and protect the birds who give us so much joy as they fly through our lives. l www.henfieldbirdwatch.co.uk

Lapwing with chick

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Family Fun & Great Food

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Want a new look for Spring? We offer stylish, well-made but affordable fashion for Men & Women, specialising in fairtrade & natural fibres. We stock respected brands including Seasalt, White Stuff, Meyer & Weird Fish as well as unique styles from Spain & Italy.

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Sarah Lacey Dry Cleaning The haberdashery hub in Haywards Heath

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Visit us at Sarah Lacey Drycleaning for all your haberdashery requirements including Gutermann threads, hand and machine sewing accessories, ribbons, elastic, bias binding, scissors, Dylon fabric dyes and lots more. We also offer an alteration and repair service for all your clothing and household items.

Monday to Friday: 8.30am to 5.30pm. Saturday: 9am to 5pm 1 College Road, Haywards Heath, RH16 1QN Tel: 01444 416644 (Forecourt Parking) sarahlaceydrycleaning@gmail.com www.sarahlacey-drycleaning.co.uk

106 SUSSEX LIVING | April 2022

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EASTER

Easter

Easter is a time of celebration and coincides with the arrival of spring, a time for new growth and fresh life. Adele Trathan and Sara Whatley get creative with plans for this Easter to be ‘eggs’tra exciting and make it as magical as possible with some seasonal decoration ideas EASTER DECORATIONS Easter lends itself to making pretty decorations to fill your home with. Celebrate spring and nature by incorporating plants, flowers and natural elements in your decorations. Add some cute extras such as painted eggs, delicate feathers, ceramic birds or the good old yellow fluffy chicks.

Create a centrepiece using a planter or wicker basket where you can make an Easter garden. Plant it up with mini daffodils or swathes of dainty white flowers; moss or straw covering the earth looks inviting and tactile and is easy to nestle eggs or decorations into.

A simpler but very pretty Easter decoration can be created by using eggshells as tiny vases or planters. Fill with pastel hued flowers

such as crocuses and pansies, golden yellow daffodils and delicate sprays of gypsophila. EASTER NESTS Signal new growth and birth with a beautiful Easter nest. Form your nest out of moss, wicker, straw, twigs, gardener’s twine and

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feathers. For a realistic look add a bit of everything, or for more stylised looks choose one or two elements for your structure. Make it look cosy with a snug lining to place your eggs onto. Once you have your nest fill it with some eggs! You can use hard boiled eggs or buy different shapes and sizes from craft shops. Then get creative and decorate with abandon; go glam with glitter, try some decoupage, paint in technicolour or keep it natural with realistic looking eggs – speckled, blue, white or brown.

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108 SUSSEX LIVING | April 2022 PROOF DATE/TIME: 19 January 2022 3:14 pm OUR FILENAME: Feb 22 Horsham Framers April 22 Easter Home Decor.indd 108

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EASTER TABLE Set your Easter dining table with some fun and eggciting decorations! First, the colour scheme; go all out with a multicoloured theme of pretty pastels in the dining room, or stick to a theme of green, yellow or blue. Make the room and table joyful with bunting, plenty of fresh flowers and foliage, you could even use decorative Easter bunnies and chicks hopping and clucking around. Candles always make a table look inviting and use your decorated eggs to hang

Rhymes for our Times

SPRING HAS SPRUNG!

MY EASTER BONNET

Make the most of Easter goodies at RIVERSIDE

Oh how I long for an Easter Bonnet with all the flowers and do-dahs on it, and pretty things to wear all day celebrating a national holiday. It’s been a difficult year for all, plenty of things we don’t want to recall. But Easter’s a time to look forward, not back so don’t ponder on it, just wear your virtual Easter Bonnet! If you like this, you will find more like it in "Rhymes for our Times". A collection of inspired poetry written by Fran, a no-nonsense 90-something. Some are wicked observations on modern life; others are more profound and poignant: all will make you smile.

Bubble + Bao - a new Asian food outlet offering ramen bowls, noodles, dumplings and dim sum to eat in or take away. Not forgetting the very popular Bubble Teas to enjoy by the river. A perfect gi ft for those w ho remember "the good old days"

Price £5, all monies go to St Peter & St James Hospice. Find the book in the Hospice shops or call Jude on: 01444 459 433 or 07597 020 512

STUDIO PROOF

PROOF DATE/TIME: 10 March 2022 11:24 am OUR FILENAME: April 22 Judy E Sharp 1/4 April 22 Easter Home Decor.indd 109

Nose2Tail - locally reared grass fed beef and lamb, homemade sausages and lots more to share with your friends and family over Easter. Poppy’s - oodles of chocolate Easter bunnies and Easter eggs on sale now. The-Stitchery - everything to satisfy your craft and knitting desires or just relax and enjoy a break in the Riverside Café and Riverside Brasserie. Cliffe High Street, Lewes, BN7 2RE www.riverside-lewes.co.uk

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on a twig tree, or nestle them into egg cups or nests and make it look wonderfully seasonal. For a special plate decoration place an egg with a simple painted bunny face in the centre of a rolled up napkin, draw the napkin around the egg, fasten at the top and form the two long ends into bunny ears. Sweet!

Celebrate spring and nature by incorporating plants, flowers and natural elements in your decorations

EASTER TREE Making an Easter tree is becoming a very popular way of celebrating this time of year. Use any sort of branches you fancy, twigs with buds, blossoms or catkins, and place them in a large vase or planter. Then simply hang with decorated eggs – it couldn’t be easier! Tie with colourful ribbons for extra festive flavour or hang with bunny and chick decorations as well. You could also decorate a tree in the garden with colourful eggs, this looks especially lovely if you are lucky enough to have a tree in blossom. Why not hang a small basket of chocolate eggs for the children to discover? And if the weather is fine enough, come the Easter celebrations, you could even enjoy some alfresco dining. l 110 SUSSEX LIVING | April 2022

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Company Promotion

ShopAppy.com in Mid Sussex ShopAppy.com is a ‘Shop & Support Local’ website coming to

Mid Sussex. It is supported and backed by VISA, which makes it easier than ever for people to browse, book and buy from

their local businesses at their convenience. Jane Stewart, who is leading the rollout of ShopAppy to Mid Sussex reveals more What is ShopAppy about?

At ShopAppy.com our mission isn’t to create more online shoppers but to create a community of local shoppers that can opt to shop in the way they choose. Many people are aware of the benefits of buying local, not just to their local economy but also the environment. It is really easy to set up and use, and right now we are contacting local traders and independent stores to get them involved.

What is the benefit for a business to be involved? Some people are still hesitant about putting their business online. ShopAppy.com was created with technophobes in mind. If John, the greengrocer can use it when previously he only used his phone to make calls… then anyone can! As well as the dashboard being quite intuitive for tech beginners, there is a lot of support available for those who need it. Users have a dedicated Community Support Manager, Mid Sussex District Council host ‘how to’ dropin sessions and there are videos in your welcome emails that talk you through, step by step, how to add products and services.

But if traders are online already – how does it benefit them?

This gives traders an opportunity to sell their products through a well promoted, search engine optimised site that can offer them a new audience to sell to, beyond the

local fan base. More opportunities to be found, a bigger audience to sell to, equals more products sold or services taken up, more turnover and ultimately more profit. Many businesses are set up to sell through sites like Facebook and that’s great – but it can be time consuming and admin heavy. Businesses joining ShopAppy.com from solely trading on Facebook report significant time savings and experience an average increase of 25% on their average order values.

It sounds good but is it expensive?

Well, fortunately, at the moment via a partnership with Mid Sussex District Council the first year is being funded as part of their commitment to help and support local businesses recover post-pandemic. There are no commission fees. The only cost to businesses is the card processing fees at 2% taken by Stripe before the payment reaches ShopAppy.

If businesses want to sign up or get involved?

Call Jane Stewart on 07770 655 302 or drop her an email at shoplocal@shopappy.com Traders and businesses can join by registering at www.shopappy.com/vendor ‘Register New Account’ and one of the team will get in touch with you within 48  Pre COVID-19 £1 in every hours to get you started. £5

was spent online, no w it is £3 in every £5

 40p of every £1 spent locally remains local  Two thirds of people will try to support local bu sinesses and buy locally post pandemic

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B I S H O P S B U TC H E R S t the top end of Uckfeld – loca nal butchers a l delivery A traditio n high quality, local, seasona i s t s i l a i c e p S . e l b a l produce. l i a also av

Afternoon Tea boxes Afternoon Tea boxes/picnic boxes, sandwich/fruit platters for Easter weekend, Good Friday-Easter Monday 4.30 inclusive4.30

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Cottage Bakery

64 High Street, Linddeld RH16 2HL. Tel 01444 483993 • Speciality breads 64 High Street, Linddeld RH16 2HL. Tel 01444 483993• Cakes • Traditional hot cross buns, spelt & honey hot cross buns, novelty 64, High Street, Lindfield RH16 2HL Easter cakes Tel: 01444 483993 10 The Green, Newick, East Sussex BN8 4LB We are closed on Mondays Tel: 01825 722206

Always a warm welcome

HE ATH FI ELD

FARMERS’

MARKET

Heathfield Farmers’ Market is held on the third Saturday of the month in the Co-op car park at 110 High Street, Heathfield. The market runs from 9am to 12.30pm with FREE parking

Every month there is a good selection of stalls selling fresh seasonal local produce including: Bread, cheese, fish, meats, pies and quiches, fruit and vegetables, homemade Indian cuisine, cakes and bakes, fresh goats’ milk and cheese, a stall selling gluten free cakes and treats, plants, herbs and lots more. There are always plenty of craft stalls to browse selling anything from candles and diffusers, to beautiful glass jewellery.

WWW.

Shop at the Farmers’ Market and support local businesses it’s a great way to shop safely and meet the producers.

farmersmarket@heathfield.net www.heathfield.net/farmers-market

112 SUSSEX LIVING | April 2022

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FOOD & DRINK

Cheese & Chilli

HOT CROSS BUNS Put a little zing in your hot cross buns this Easter with Adele Trathan’s twist on an age-old recipe INGREDIENTS 700g (1lb 8oz) strong white bread flour, plus 5 tbsp for crosses 400ml (13½fl oz) milk, warm (not hot) 2 x 7g (¼ oz) sachets fast-action dried yeast 1 tsp mustard powder ½ tsp chilli powder ½ tsp smoked paprika 2 tsp salt 150g (5oz) mature cheddar, grated 5 tbsp grated parmesan 5 tbsp water

METHOD Put the flour, yeast, paprika, mustard and chilli powder and salt in a large bowl. Make a well in the centre and pour in the milk. Mix with a wooden spoon, then use your hands to form a soft dough. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 10 minutes until smooth. Put back into the bowl and lightly cover with oiled cling film and leave in a warm place for about 30 minutes or until doubled in size. Tip the dough back out onto a floured surface and knead in the cheddar cheese evenly (keep some aside for sprinkling over before cooking). Cut the dough into 12 evenly sized pieces and shape into round buns.

2 3

Dust a large flat baking sheet with 4 flour and place the buns on the sheet allowing a 2-3cm gap between each

one. Cover with a clean tea towel and leave to prove at room temperature for one hour or until nearly doubled in size. Heat the oven to 200°C (180°C Fan, 390°F, Gas 6). Mix the parmesan, 5 tbsp of flour with 5 tbsp water to make a thin paste. Spoon the paste into a piping bag or a zip-lock bag and make a small cut in one corner. Pipe a line across each row of buns, then again in a perpendicular direction to make a cross on each bun. Scatter the tops with the remaining cheddar cheese and bake for 25-30 minutes until golden. Cool on a wire rack, serve warm with butter, delicious with soup for lunch.

MAKES

April 2022 | SUSSEX LIVING 113

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FOOD & DRINK

THE GOURMET FOOD & DRINK GUIDE

South Brockwells Farm Shop

Established in 1976, a family farm rearing lamb, goat and pork, seasonal vegetables and freshly cut asparagus (from late April). Grown slowly on a low input system our livestock enjoys a very free-range life! We source extra produce from quality local growers. Why not treat yourself to a handmade pastry and a cuppa from our on-site catering trailer, The Poacher’s Pocket, while watching the activity in our farmyard. See our weekly specials on our Instagram and Facebook pages. Shop open Weds to Sat 10am – 5pm. Daily during asparagus season. 01825 750 466 Ext 2 farmshop@southbrockwellsfarm.com www.southbrockwellsfarm.com

Bluebells Hindleap Classic Cuvée 2011 Introducing a new limited release; this wine has aged for a minimum time eight and a half years on lees. It has a beautiful deep straw colour, this elegant, balanced and creamy wine has notes of bright citrus fruit, bursting with honey, prune and heavy autolytic aromas. Complimented by a fine moose which leads enticingly to baked apple, dried fruit and redcurrants on the palate with a rich, bold finish and excellent length. This wine is perfect for special occasions and celebrations, available from our online shop and cellar door. www.bluebellvineyard.org Bluebell Vineyard, Sliders Lane, Furners Green TN22 3RU

Langham Brewery

The award-winning Langham Brewery team offers a delicious range of fresh keg beer and cask conditioned real ales, bottles and cans, lovingly brewed in their gorgeous converted barn in the South Downs National Park. Their Taproom makes the perfect pit-stop for walkers, cyclists and canine companions. Become a Brewer For The Day, enjoy a Brewery Tour and there are a myriad of events which the brewery hosts, including the Taproom’s 1st birthday celebrations on Saturday 16th April. Why not come along and raise a glass? Open 6 days a week. Available for private hire. langhambrewery.co.uk 01798 860861 The Granary, Near Petworth GU28 9BU @langhambrewery office@langhambrewery.co.uk

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The Dorset Arms Withyham East Sussex TN7 4BL 01892 770278 enquiries@dorset-arms.co.uk www.dorset-arms.co.uk

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The Earl De La Warr and family welcomes you to The Dorset Arms, part of the Buckhurst Estate. A village pub offering an excellent dining experience with locally-sourced produce and a warm welcome #Extendyourweekend with us - spend £100 in the restaurant on a Sunday after 6pm and receive a complimentary room for the night (based on 2 sharing -T&Cs apply ) visit www.dorset-arms.co.uk for full details.

Carr Taylor Taylor Vineyards Carr Vineyards Hastings Westfield, TN354SG 4SG Westfield, Hastings TN35 01424 752501 www.carr-taylor.co.uk Tel: 01424 752501 OPEN DAILY 10am-5pm www.carr-taylor.co.uk

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www.theoldrailwayhenfield.co.uk

STUDIO PROOF

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Your local organic veg box Customisable Veg Boxes Locally grown seasonal produce 100% Organic fruit & veg Plastic free packaging Zero emission deliveries Easy online ordering

Stylish, cosy cafe in Cuckfield A vibrant brunch and lunch menu with tasty takeaway options Homemade sweet & savoury treats Locally roasted coffee Indoor & outdoor seating Wednesday to Saturday 9.30am-15.30pm Sunday 10.00am-14.00pm www.instagram.com/tomsfoods

www.tomsfood.co.uk info@tomsfood.co.uk

Corner House, High Street, Cuckfield, West Sussex, RH17 5JX

Tel: 01444 473 384

 STUDIO PROOF

The Eight Bells PROOF DATE/TIME: 21 March 2022 1:15 pm OUR FILENAME: April 22 Tom's Food

BOLNEY

Order online

www.barcombenurseries.co.uk

David and Leisa welcome you to

The Thatched Inn

TREASURE HUNT GOOD FRIDAY

There will be a ‘walking’ treasure hunt around the village on Good Friday (15th April) Starting from the 8 bells at 11:00am with the intention of getting back 1:30-2:00pm The entry fee is £5 per person or SPECIAL OFFER OF £10 PER PERSON (£7.50 Children) to include entry and a bbq at the 8 bells when you get back! Each ‘team’ entering must be registered (you will need to come up with a team name!) Entry tickets available NOW from behind the bar All proceeds will be distributed to local charities/events NEW: Brush Party – www.brushparty.com First Wednesday of Every Month

* Restaurant Open Every Day *

The Thatched Inn Gift Vouchers Perfect for every occasion Treat friends or family to a meal in our restaurant by purchasing a Thatched Inn Gift Voucher. Our vouchers can be personalised to your own specification and customised to the value of your choice, from a minimum starting price of £15. Please call David or Leisa on 01273 842946 to order.

Book Now for the Easter Weekend from the 15th April The Eight Bells,The Street, Bolney, Haywards Heath, RH17 5QW

01444 881396 ◆ info@sasdavltd.co.uk www.theeightbellsatbolney.co.uk

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PROOF DATE/TIME: 16 March 2022 11:43 am OUR FILENAME: April 22 Eight Bells 1-2 April 22 Spotlight food.indd 117

Choose from our full menu and daily specials.

Tel: 01273 842946 | www.thatchedinn.co.uk Grand Avenue, Keymer, Hassocks, West Sussex BN6 8DH

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April 2022 | SUSSEX LIVING 117 PROOF DATE/TIME: March 22, 2022 9:49 AM OUR FILENAME: April22 Thatched Inn 1-4 23/03/2022 17:00

THE GREEN MAN Foraging For Inspiration

Horsted Keynes, West Sussex, RH17 7AS Old fashioned village pub sitting on the green SPECIAL FOOD OFFERS

2 courses for £10 Mon & Tues evenings Free bottle of wine with every 2 steaks Thurs evenings

…and fun, good food, creativity, resilience, nature connection? Look no further! FORAGING COURSES are the answer! East Sussex and Kent From 4 hr to 8hr courses EARLY BOOKING RECOMMENDED

(NOT APPLICABLE on Bank Holidays e.g. Xmas Eve etc)

Safely explore the magical world of wild plants and fungi. Discover their food potential, their medicinal use, their craft applications, and their historical uses, with Fergus The Forager. Providing highly engaging, creative, fun, and informative courses since 2003 Learn key identification skills, including use of id keys, historic, contemporary, and original recipe creation, preserving and storing techniques, andbest sustainable foraging practice.With unique tasters!

Serving great beers – Timothy Taylors Landlord, Abbot Ale & St Austell Brewery Tribute Ale

For this, private courses, and everything in between, connect with fruit, flowers, foliage, fungi, connect with food, connect with Fergus!

Separate restaurant area

For dates, times, and prices please visit

fergustheforager.co.uk | 07904 801047

Fantastic centuries old fireplace

Serving good home cooked food with a truly sincere attitude. Menus available on our website or by post – free parking front & back

www.greenmanhorstedkeynes.co.uk

01825 790656

STUDIO PROOF

PROOF DATE/TIME: 18 November 2021 2:40 pm OUR FILENAME: April 22 Fergus The Forager 1-2

Why not join us for a special Chilean wine tasting evening?

We are holding a friendly wine tasting evening, featuring five different wines from Chile with a charcuterie sharing board on each table. Our expert will talk you through all these delicious wines. £25.00 per head at the Hydro Hotel in Eastbourne at 6.45pm on Thursday 19 May 2022. Book early as places are limited: 01323 737271 info@fizzonfoot.com

The perfect way to have a team building day! • • • • •

Walking in the South Downs National Park Qualified knowledgable walk guide Walk to match your fitness Seven Sisters hike/Cuckmere River stroll Sussex pub lunch with local produce

• Accompanied by our wine connoisseur • Vine to Wine tour of prize-winning vineyard • Tutored wine tasting by the on-site wine maker • Transport included

We can build your day around you, just call us! Tel: 01323 737271 Mobile: 07971 851777 @fizzonfoot fizz on foot @fizzonfoot www.fizzonfoot.com info@fizzonfoot.com

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WALK

Horsted Keynes

WALK

rom the Chapel Lane car park stroll back towards the road, the green and crossroads, crossing over to the bollards and heading downhill beyond them towards the distant church. Continue along Church Lane, dipping downhill then up the other side. St. Giles Church is a worthy distraction for a few minutes. Potter around to the back of the graveyard and the final resting place of former Prime Minister Harold Macmillan can be found in the beech hedged family plot. Back on the road, continue north past the school to the metal 7-bar gate. The cinder track beyond the gate leads downhill through Church Wood and across the lake dam. Continue along the cinder track, passing another six lakes on the left. Only the occasional movements of sedentary anglers and the chattering of ducks punctuate these idyllic pools of solitude. Just beyond the metal 7-bar gate bear left at the fork and uphill, turn 90° right, 90° left, and continue past the 16th century Broadhurst Manor that

With the arrival of British Summer Time and longer hours of daylight we sent Robert Veitch to pastures new for a walk to remember, encapsulating the rolling landscape and living history surrounding the pretty village of Horsted Keynes

‘Kissing gates on either side of the railway’

used to be the home of screenwriter Carla Lane (The Liver Birds, Butterflies, Solo, Bread) all the way to the junction with Broadhurst Manor Road. Turn left and walk uphill to the junction with Chilling Street. Turn right and continue north for 200m to fingerposts on either side of the road, by the thatched roof. At 107m (352ft) it’s the highest point of the day. Head left, through the metal gate, towards the steeple of All Saints Church in Highbrook across the valley, and wander downhill between the hedge and stock proof fence. Keep an eye on the sky for buzzards circling overheard. Continue all the way to the kissing gate at the entrance to Hang Wood. Stroll downhill, through a plethora of roots to the narrow footbridge across the stream then up the other side and into the open space of the crop field. Hug the right side of the boundary, past two fingerposts, before turning right at the third. April 2022 | SUSSEX LIVING 119

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St. Giles Church, Horsted Keynes

The footbridge in Hang Wood

The spillway and dam in Long Plantation

Head downhill into the wonderful wooded glade of Long Plantation, tiptoeing through the wild garlic near the dam. Cross the dam and spillway with care, then through the gate and across the field towards the telegraph pole and picket gate beyond, which leads to Horsted Lane. Turn left and along road for 50m before turning right by the fingerpost and following the path to the stile into the field. Keep left in the field, treating any livestock with respect, continuing to the next stile then to the track by the railway bridge. Across the stile on the other side of the track keep to the right of the field for 250m before squeezing through the kissing gates on either side of the railway

lines, which must be crossed with great care. Turn left on the far side of the train tracks and follow the path to the metal gate. Then over the stile on the right and through the grids of juvenile trees, following the path as it double backs

on itself, over the railway bridge and into the car park. Follow the track for 150m before turning left towards the redundant kissing gate at the edge of Leamland Wood. Once past it, follow the path between the woods and the dilapidated fence, then post

and rail fence to the junction with Cinder Hill. Turn right and walk with care, along the road, past Station Approach to the fingerpost and chevron sign on the bend. Turn right and follow the track through Little Oddynes Farm, past the metal 7-bar gate and stile, to the railway bridge. In the field beyond, follow the right hand side to the stile, but do not cross the stile. Turn left and follow the field boundary for another 250m (past the redundant stile) crossing the stile by the fingerpost at the gap in the hedge. Turn left and follow the track over Cockhaise Brook to the junction with Keysford Lane, which at 40m (131ft) is the lowest point of the day. Turn left, then after 75m, turn right into the woods and continue to the open field. Walk up the dividing line between pasture and crops to the chalk track then follow the chalk between the wire fences and gateposts, uphill to the drinking troughs. Turn left at the troughs, through the kissing gate then follow the periphery of the

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field to another kissing gate and then the junction with Treemans Road at the edge of the village. Turn left and saunter along the tarmac for 300m to the junction with Lewes Road. Veer right into Lewes Road and follow the pavement, past the assorted character properties, which leads back to the green, the car park and the last of the spring daffodils. There’s a pub or two beyond… now there’s an idea! l Robert has tested the route personally, making sure it is suitable for walking. However, even he cannot guarantee the effects of the weather, or roadworks, or any other factors outside of his control. If you would like to send your feedback about a local walk, please email editorial@sussexliving.com

Distance: 6.75 miles Walk Time: 2½ - 2¾ hours Stiles: 8 Kissing Gates: 6 Footwear: Appropriate footwear for April is recommended, as it may be muddy in places

Elevation Gain: 138m (452 feet) Calorie Burn: Approximately 625kcal Map: OS Explorer 135 Parking: Free parking in the public car park, off Chapel Lane

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122 SUSSEX LIVING | April 2022

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23/03/2022 16:56

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WELLBEING

Get Fresh We are keeping it fresh this month and breathing deeply as Sara Whatley explores the benefits of fresh air

t couldn’t be simpler, more readily available or cheaper and yet be such a powerful element in our health and wellbeing quest. What am I talking about? Fresh air. Fresh air benefits our bodies in a number of ways. It clears our lungs, replenishes our blood with fresh oxygen and leaves us feeling energised and

alert. All that fresh oxygen in our bloodstreams, in turn it helps our bodies to function at their peak and aids digestion, our natural immunity, heart health, our mental wellbeing and much more. Increasing our fresh air intake goes hand in hand with getting outside and into nature more frequently; walking, running, playing outdoor sports and games, or seeking stillness in the calm of the natural world. In the 1980s

in Japan there emerged an exercise called ‘shinrin-yoku’ or ‘forest bathing’. This exercise has now been adopted the world over and simply involves immersing yourself in the forest and just being in nature. It was originally devised to de-frazzle the burnt-out tech boom generation, and to help build an appreciation of the forests, but many people now use forest bathing to aid their own mental and physical wellbeing and help with depression and anxiety, overwhelm and screen fatigue. Spending time in forests, woodlands, in the company of trees and other natural environments away from pollutants will not only calm the nerves but can also help to improve blood pressure and heart rate. Stop, close your eyes, tune into the

All that fresh oxygen in our bloodstreams helps our bodies to function at their peak April 2022 | SUSSEX LIVING 125

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environment around you and take some deep breaths. Beautiful. It may be a simple picnic or trip to the park after school. It might be a coastal hike or switching the indoor gym to the outdoor one. It might be sitting in the garden with a cup of tea. It might be wild swimming, tai chi in the park – whatever you chose it all counts to filling up on the wonders of fresh air. I have noticed a fractious atmosphere indoors with my two young children can be altered immediately by going into the garden. It may be the distraction of something new but generally children thrive outdoors, happy in the fresh air, mud and space. A good afternoon in the park will see my kids to a hearty dinner and a good night’s sleep. The variable British weather can put a bit of a downer on enjoying the great outdoors, but go prepared and there is life affirming satisfaction to be had feeling the rush of wind hurtling inland off a stormy sea (from a safe distance of course) or jumping in puddles in the rain with little ones – they never mind what the weather does! It’s what we as humans innately know; time spent in nature and fresh air is good for us. Let’s breathe. l

Our shop in the heart of Steyning, may be small but it’s perfectly formed to provide you with a wide range of vitamins and supplements, organic and vegan foods as well as eco-friendly body and skin care.

www.greenandhealthysteyning.co.uk Green & Healthy, 70 High Street, Steyning BN44 3RD | Tel: 01903 816 838 | Email: greenandhealthyinfo@yahoo.com

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WEIGHT OFF WORKSHOP

ARE YOU FED UP WITH THE WORDS

"I'M ON A DIET"

The 12 week workshop is £20 and includes a 45 minute lifestyle talk followed by an optional exercise session

BREAK DOWN BAD HABITS AND CREATE NEW ONES WITH THE HELP FROM OUR TEAM

LEARN HOW TO MAKE SIMPLE, PLEASURABLE CHANGES THAT WILL RESULT IN A HEALTHY WEIGHT YOU CAN MAINTAIN FOR LIFE

FIND YOUR MOTIVATION TO ACHIEVE YOUR GOALS AND LEARN HOW TO HANDLE SETBACKS

Courses run throughout the year in Haywards Heath, Burgess Hill and East Grinstead Midsussexwellbeing

Send us a messgae to book your space or scan the QR code to send us an interest request Wellbeing@midsussex.gov.uk 01444 477191 April22 Wellbeing 1.5pg.indd 127

Mid Sussex Wellbeing @MSDCwellbeing

23/03/2022 16:54

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FASHION

PERFECT PINS Neglected legs are screaming out all over the country, “Get us ready to rock a summer dress!” Sara Whatley has a few tips to get your pins picture perfect

e are officially in spring now, but has the weather caught on yet? We might be lucky enough to have a few warm days ahead of us and even luckier still if it’s warm enough to whip our legs out. The first outing of the year for our dear old pins can be a bit daunting – pasty and feeble from a winter spent wrapped up warm with not a shimmer of sunshine.

So, let’s make the most of these lengthy assets and get them ready for spring and summer beyond. First, some simple leg exercises to wake your legs up and get them in tiptop condition. Here are three to start with; but find out what works for you and if you want to give yourself an extra challenge, add a resistance band.

Squats – one of the best exercises for toning legs. Squats also tone the glutes, hips and abs. Hold weights for extra impact.

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Lunges – great for increasing leg strength and working both legs at the same time is a bonus. Try either stationary or walking squats.

Side Plank – lie on your side, legs stacked one on top of the other. Support yourself with your elbow under your shoulder and forearm flat on the floor, then engage your core, glutes and legs and lift up your hips to form a

straight line. This exercise works multiple muscles as you support your entire body weight. Next, hair! Do you de-fuzz or embrace the way nature intended? If you choose to wear your legs smooth then let’s look at some hair removal options: • Shaving is probably the most popular hair removal option as it’s inexpensive, quick and painless. However, it does produce somewhat undesirable stubble within a few days. • Hair removal from the root gives a longer

Do you de-fuzz or embrace the way nature intended? lasting result but can be more painful. Waxing and epilating come under this category. They also require the hair to be longer for the wax or tweezers to grab hold of. These methods will give you a few weeks of fuzz free legs. • Then there are depilatory creams. These use chemicals to weaken the hair, which is then simply wiped or rinsed away after a certain amount of time. New hair will grow within a few

days, and the chemicals have an unpleasant odour. • Lastly, laser hair removal. This method is expensive and requires multiple sessions, but it is very long lasting, if not permanent. Whether you are avec or sans hair, it’s really important to moisturise your legs. Try a scrub in the shower to remove any dead skin cells, then slather on some rich moisturiser (maybe even with a hint of colour to gradually build a bit of a tanned look) for silky smooth sun ready pins. After all, scaly or ashy legs are really not cute. l

How can I replace a gap in my smile? Unsightly gaps in your smile can be replaced by dentures, bridges or implants Practical Benefits of Implants include: • Enhanced Usability – dental implants offer ‘set and forget’ convenience (unlike removable dentures that must be removed/replaced each day) • Enhanced Levels of Oral Health – where necessary, the procedure involves building the surrounding bone and soft tissues (halting and reversing any deterioration) • Enhanced Speech Delivery – dental implants are embedded into the bone and do not move/slip when speaking (eliminating mumbled speech) • Enhanced Mastication (ease of chewing) – dental implants are fixed into the bone and do not slip or move around when eating food

Psychological Benefits of Implants include: • Enhanced Self-Esteem – dental implants can create a smile that results in greater self-confidence during personal interactions • Enhanced Visual Appearance – dental implants have the visual appearance of well looked after natural teeth (resulting in peace of mind that people will not realise the teeth are prosthetic) • Enhanced Comfort – dental implants do not agitate the gums (e.g. removable dentures may cause friction issues)

“O

ther dental practices have treated me as just another patient; that is not the case with Oakmead Dental Care. They have made me feel like a valued individual, with every visit being a welcoming experience. A huge step forward from dreading a visit to the dentist! Proposed treatment plans, including potential options, have been discussed with me as an educated adult, rather than being presented as a fait-accompli. All stages of treatment are fully explained during and after, which makes me feel involved in my own well-being. I am very reassured in their hands and am sure I will continue to be so for many years to come.”

www.oakmeaddentalcare.co.uk

01342 325363 130 SUSSEX LIVING | April 2022

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The In Liberty & Love Pink!! Your Body  Your Choice  Your Style

Designer lingerie for everyday  Your body, your life, your choice  Personal appointments and bridal available

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155 High Street, Hurstpierpoint, West Sussex BN6 9PU

01273 834686 | www.feathersofhurstpierpoint.co.uk

STUDIO PROOF

PROOF DATE/TIME: 18 March 2022 12:34 pm OUR FILENAME: April 22 Feathers 1-4

The eyes have it! 10% Off

Lash & brow tinting and lash lifting treatments in April 43 Silverdale Road Burgess Hill

www.tamarindtreatmentrooms.co.uk www.sussexbeautytraining.co.uk

Tel: 01444 233060

Spring Timetable MONDAY & WEDNESDAYS 6.30pm Zumba/Fitsteps Mix

SKIN TAGS SUN SPOTS AGE SPOTS WARTS/VERUCAE AND OTHER SKIN IMPERFECTIONS

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Birchwood Grove School, Burgess Hill THURSDAYS 9.30am BodyBarre Kings Centre, Burgess Hill FRIDAYS 9am Fitness Pilates 10am Zumba/Fitsteps Mix

Using Cryotherapy

Kings Centre, Burgess Hill

We are open late nights and Saturday mornings

Get in touch to BOOK YOUR PLACE

£6 per class

8 High St, Cuckfield, Haywards Heath, West Sussex RH17 5EN

Live Zoom classes also running as well as pay-as-you-go classes accessed via the website

t: 07971 866787

01444 254001/07964 293 629 Email: info@laser4you.co.uk | www.laser4you.co.uk

To book an appointment please phone:

www.bodywithanita.co.uk

STUDIO PROOF

PROOF DATE/TIME: 22 March 2022 2:42 pm OUR FILENAME: April 22 Tamarind 1-4 April 22 Perfect pins.indd 131

WE CAN QUICKLY AND EASILY REMOVE

bodywithanita

STUDIO PROOF

PROOF DATE/TIME: 11 February 2022 12:19 pm 2022 | SUSSEX LIVING 131 April OUR FILENAME: March 22 Laser 4 You 1-2

23/03/2022 16:50

Big Hike Take big steps to beat cancer South Coast, 2 July 2022 Join the Big Hike challenge. Explore the great outdoors, raise money and help fund our life saving research.

Together we will beat cancer Cancer Research UK is a registered charity in England and Wales (1089464), Scotland (SC041666), the Isle of Man (1103) and Jersey (247).

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MARATHONS

DOWN A DREAM The idea of distance running can invoke many emotions, both positive and negative, so after looking at the local running schedule for the rest of the year Robert Veitch went in search of an expert to inspire us all

here’s no doubt David Bradford is a genial and modest man, keen to talk down his talent and achievements which he believes to be achievable by most people, yet those same ‘most people’ might see them as beyond reach. “My brother had natural sporting talent,” he told me, “while I was shy, chubby cheeked and overweight, wishing I was better.” A couple of PE teachers at school encouraged David and it’s obvious the time and motivation they offered remains cherished, years later.

“I became sporty in the latter days of University. Aged 22 or 23 I took on the Hastings half-marathon and achieved 1hr 39mins, but I felt ruined and in so much pain I wanted to throw my trainers in the bin.” In 2006, aged 24 David was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa, a progressive sight condition that can lead to blindness. “I had to relinquish my driving licence and for someone fuelled by the adrenalin of riding powerful motorcycles at track days, it was tough.” The unfortunate irony being at the time, was that David worked at a motorcycle magazine. “My diagnosis took time to come to terms with, and running was something of a

A young David racing cross country

My diagnosis took time to come to terms with, and running was something of a distraction distraction, as if proving to myself that my body still worked.” David joined Lewes Athletic Club and within two months, with a proper training schedule he ran the 10,000m (6.2m) in under 40 minutes. In 2007 David began racing and made regular improvements. “The euphoria of success can be overwhelming.” He recalled distance running as being “a bit niche” but the attention given to Paula Radcliffe, Mo Farah and London 2012 elevated running to another level. April 2022 | SUSSEX LIVING 133

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David remembered “Lewes AC didn’t have many high-performance runners, but my coach, Robbie James, had a huge capacity for hard training; and working in a small group with him took my running to another level.” David was inspired to enter his first marathon in 2008. “I was fundraising for the blind runner Dave Heeley who was running 7 marathons in 7 days on 7 continents and the London Marathon was the finale, so I thought I would take part. I didn’t train properly but clocked 3:03:20 although I’d hoped for under three hours.”

It was important to enter events to familiarise myself with the pain of competing David has run a further five marathons and his best time was achieved, aged 30, in the 2012 Berlin Marathon. He was the 2nd Brit to finish, and 48th overall in a time of 2:28:46, which ranked him 46th in the UK for marathon running that year. Characteristically, he played it down. “An elite marathon time for men is 2 hours 15 minutes these days,” a time which would have been a world record sixty years ago. “My best time for a solitary mile is about 4m 50secs,” understated David, “but the top runners, can run 4:45 or quicker, 26 consecutive times.” Since 2007 David has competed for Lewes AC in 190 events, at over 30 locations across Sussex, running 5k, 10k, cross-country, half marathon and marathon.

David running the Berlin marathon in 2012

DAVID’S TOP TIPS  Join a club and train with people of a similar level  Train, train, train and build up the distance slowly. Training works  Completing a half-marathon is much easier, it involves a much shorter training period  A marathon is a project and should be viewed as a different sport to 5k, 10k or a half marathon  Runners may have to be gifted to join the elite, but most can achieve a good level

With David being humble and somewhat reticent about his results, it became necessary to research the achievements… He’s won 16 events and appeared on the podium at another 49 though he remembered history

differently. “It was important to enter events to familiarise myself with the pain of competing and to put the training into practice.” David believes serious running means maintaining an even pace just below a runner’s red line, as close to the threshold as possible, while still retaining control. “When someone pulls away there’s nothing to be done about it, they’re at their limit and I am at mine. Every race in the amateur ranks is like a time trial, we’re all trying to achieve the best possible performance.” Most people who run a big city marathon love the encouragement that emanates from the crowd, but David found it a bit much. “I didn’t like the wall of sound because I wanted to be zoned. The noise broke my focus and it didn’t help me, but I appreciate others

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SAT 30 APRIL MON 2 MAY 2022 MIDSUSSEXMARATHON.CO.UK

Miss this and you miss out! Because in-person running is back on!

Start or add to you Mid Sussex Marathon medal collection! Will it be 1 or all 3 this year?

Runners can once again pound the pavements of Mid Sussex and challenge themselves to complete an individual town race, or ‘go for gold’ with the full marathon distance over THREE days. The Mid Sussex Marathon Weekend is an inclusive event, with races for all ages and abilities younger participants and new runners can put on their running shoes for our *FUN RUNS and MID SUSSEX MILE RACES.

READY,GET SET,GO...! DAY

1 2 3 DAY

DAY

SATURDAY 30TH APRIL - East Grinstead Rugby Club 9.30am Mid Sussex Fun Run FIRST LEG 10.00am Mid Sussex Mile 10.30am 10 Mile Race SUNDAY 1ST MAY - Victoria Park, Haywards Heath Mid Sussex Fun Run SECOND LEG 9.30am 10.00am Mid Sussex Mile 10.30am 10 Mile Race

MONDAY 2ND MAY - The Burgess Hill Academy (Playing Field) 9.30am Mid Sussex Fun Run FINAL LEG 10.00am Mid Sussex Mile 10.30am 10 Kilometre Race

Undecided? You can enter on the day of each event.

Can’t make the live event?

No problem! Because you can take part virtually. The virtual event will take place between Saturday 16th April and Monday 2nd May.

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23/03/2022 16:46

find it uplifting.” More candidly he continued, “marathons invoke weird emotions, euphoric, traumatic and a feeling of being completely wrecked at the end of it!” For a runner hoping to run to their potential David suggests a 5-year plan because, “Far too many people attempt a marathon too early in their running career. Conditioning the body, gaining experience, and acquiring resilience to pain is essential, because a marathon is ridiculously hard.” With a nod towards his own retinitis pigmentosa and what might lie ahead, David has run as a marathon guide for partially sighted athletes. “As a guide runner, you’re tethered at the wrist by a cord and need a trusting relationship. You also need to be a slightly quicker runner than your partner because you need breath to communicate, which is difficult when you’re running. It’s a stressful responsibility, but great to be able to help.” David ran with Mike Scholes from Lindfield, a former pilot who has trekked to the magnetic north pole and who plans to fly across the Atlantic this year in a Rozière balloon. “My brother was the guide runner for Chris Goodwin when he ran the London Marathon in 2:46:43 – a national record for a blind man in the 40+ category.”

Whitbread Hollow David racing through stb Ea ourne on the outskirts of

Acquiring resilience to pain is essential, because a marathon is ridiculously hard The sibling rivalry from childhood remains. “My brother was quicker over shorter runs, but the roles were reversed over longer distances,” chuckled David. The shy, chubby teenager that lacked self-belief has come a long way over the years. He’s run a long way too. He’s still running. l

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INSPIRED TO GIVE DISTANCE RUNNING A GO? There are events across the county throughout the year and many provide stepping-stones to some of the half-marathons and marathons across Sussex that may make bigger targets further down the road. Here are just a few events, there are many more, and several that are organised specifically by charities Brighton Marathon Worthing 10K Worthing Half Marathon Mid Sussex Marathon Weekend The Out Of The Blue Battle 5k & 10k Run Wisborough 5k & 10k Chailey Focus 5k & 10k Rye 5m & 10m Heathfield 10k Robertsbridge Midsummer 5k & 10k Eastbourne 10k Dawn On The Downs 10k & 10m Henfield Half Marathon Barns Green Half Marathon Barns Green 10k Beachy Head Marathon Beachy Head Half Marathon Crawley 10k Poppy Half Marathon Brighton Half Marathon Eastbourne Half Marathon Hastings Half Marathon Martello Half Marathon

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HISTORY

MILITARY ROMPS

in Sussex

Before the First World War, the highlight of the year for many young men and their families may have been the local military camp as Lindsey Tydeman from The Keep explains

efore the First World War, the annual military camp was a staple on the calendar for many men and their families. Usually three-day events, they were organised all over Sussex during the spring and summer, in rural venues which often belonged to local landowners. It would have been an opportunity for volunteer soldiers, especially those coming from industrialised towns, to eat, drink, and parade in the country, alongside the professionals. This lovely image (actually three separate photographs pasted together) shows us a relatively quiet day at the camp in Sheffield Park in May 1893 (Bloomfield Collection, b/c 0333592). There are hundreds of tents in view and they stretch as far as the eye can see. Luckily, this photograph is still attached

to its mount which is annotated with details of the regiments present. The centre group of tents comprise the 1st Cinque Ports Rifles Volunteers, and they are flanked to the left and right by the lines of the 1st and 2nd Volunteer Battalions of the Royal Sussex Regiment. Piles of bedding have been left out for inspection in the foreground and there is a lone soldier on sentry duty. If the image is magnified it’s possible to spot two groups of soldiers to the right on shooting practice. But where is everyone else? They must have been impressing the locals nearby The Honourable Charles Brand on his hunter, Sirdah

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guns on Fletching Common, fighting in Rotherfield Wood, rifles blazing, cavalry charging, and (soldiers) defending a bridge built temporarily over the river’.

There are hundreds of tents in view and they stretch as far as the eye can see

with ‘military manoeuvres, drill, firing exercises, parades and march past’, as the local newspaper put it. Even more exciting was the same event held the following year. This time, opposing groups of soldiers arrived at different railway stations and engaged in mock battles, ‘with booming

Hundreds of spectators attended the final evening march past, watching ‘guns, bands, artillery and horses.’ The Earl of Sheffield, whose land they were using, received a standing ovation. In a society where classes were clearly delineated, the military camp was an event which brought everyone together in a common purpose, albeit with class and rank intact. Infantry volunteers took instructions from their privately educated officers and local landowners joined in too, seizing the opportunity to be photographed in an impressive uniform on their favourite horse. They must have loved trotting up and down the rows of tents in front of their subordinates! The Keep holds several images of landowners in military guise. The Honourable Charles Brand is photographed here on his hunter ‘Sirdah’ (ref ACC8828/38/18) at a military camp outside Lewes in 1914. His handwritten note on the back reveals his love for the animal and how the rider would let the horse take the lead, ‘I had some fine hunts on him in his old age. I rode him on his last hunt, a great hunt of over two hours when he was 18 years old. He took me where he thought best at the beginning of a hunt.’ l

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JO O’SULLIVAN

Designing our Future Together JO O’SULLIVAN

I am very excited to helps you, as a couple, discover work with couples the following: right at the beginning • What are our values? The holidays are arriving in of their relationship December with Christmas, • What are our communication styles?and for Buddhists: Bodhi Day Hannukah (or when they decide (Buddha’s Enlightenment) being cele• How do we give and receive love to commit to be brated/marked. Even if these religious and support – what will workholidays for mean little to you, many of us together.) For those will be having time off. The bank holithe other? days fall on the Monday 27th and 28th considering marriage, December, so a 4-day weekend this civil partnership or cohabitation (or for Child Inclusive year. Have you planned what you are • Trust doing already or are you thinking there those already married a post nuptial) Mediation might be another lockdown? • How will we make financial decisions? then I highly recommend doing this The holiday season can be What are our attitudes to money? initial work together as a Giving couple.children a voice challenging as a parent. It’s Using the workbook, you both especially start tochallenging when Most of us in a relationship could do separated and not having quite sorted United Nations Convention on the Rights or how often they want to seethe each parent. think about the legal stuff and gather with the workbook too (it’d cut down out arrangements. I work with of the Child… ’was agreed by governments Rather that they can sendparents ‘messages’ using a workbook called, ‘Our information needed for the drafting of on arguments!). (including ours) around the world in 1989. back to their parents though theinmediator. Family Two Homes’ which really pre-nups, nupstheand says what they must do so that children post Usually childcohabitation will be 10 andusolder helps thinkbut about what’s important I am the only solicitor andItgrow mediator in It creates an easy way of as healthy as possible, can learn often it is helpful to hearand fromwhen. younger agreements. talking where the children will this jurisdiction using ‘Designing Our protection, have their at school, receive children. In particular, they will about skilfully bethings and when. So, when you instruct views listened to and are treated fairly. be All ‘relationship (and subtly) be asked how are, how You can optimistic’ Future Together’ workbooks. These me as a lawyer or as a mediator you the rights in the Convention apply to every are their parents, how are they? How do will get one of these workbooks when consulting me on prenups, workbooks help you planchild, for your next no matter who they are or where they they see their family? What makes charged attheir cost price. It’s priceless for postnups relationship agreements. (Pocket Book of Children’s and mum and dad happy? What makes theto child chapter. Right off the bat come the from.’ workbook both parents be able to work/think Rights, UNICEF).

Article 12 – ‘Every child has the right to

separately and then share (what they want to share) with me so we can create a parenting plan that incorporates this holiday season and all the other important times ahead. Then everyone knows where they are and that makes life a whole lot easier.

happy? What makes them sad? Whenever parents hear back from their children it is always emotional, sometimes call to discuss what might be the best process for surprising and very oftenPlease positive. on 07780676212 or email jo@osullivanfamilylaw.com Research has shown thatyou when young adults are asked what upset themdetails mostabout how I work visit For more about their parents breakwww.osullivanfamilylaw.com up, it was that they didn’t have a voice. They don’t expect their voice to have affected the outcome but they would just have liked to have had the chance.

An image of the workbook we use with families

Please call to discuss what bematters the best process for havemight a say in all affecting them, and to have their views taken seriously.’ you on 07780676212 or email jo@osullivanfamilylaw.com Child Inclusive Mediation does just that. It

For more details about how I work www.osullivanfamilylaw.com enables the childvisit (with the consent of both parents and the child(ren) to have their views heard. It does not mean that the child will be asked where they want to live

142 SUSSEX LIVING | April 2022 Please call to discuss what might be the best process for you on 07780676212 or email jo@osullivanfamilylaw.com

April22 Money Matters.indd 142

For more details about how I work visit

23/03/2022 16:41

MONEY MATTERS

FINANCIAL FRAUD

PROTECTION

With an estimated £2.5 billion lost to financial fraud in the UK during 2021, it’s essential that both individuals and businesses take steps to protect themselves from scammers, as explained by Lisa de Silva

s technology evolves, so do the ways in which fraudsters attempt to steal your money. From fake websites and trading platforms, text messages that appear to come from a trusted source and scammers taking control of your bank account, it is vital that we all stay vigilant. Often scammers will attempt to build trust or create panic to

persuade people to divulge information as they target our bank accounts, pensions, and investment funds. Here we explore some of the warning signs and ways you can protect yourself against becoming a victim of financial fraud.

Financial fraudsters are increasingly sophisticated in how they operate WARNING SIGNS Financial fraudsters are increasingly sophisticated in how they operate. Look out for these warning signs and be extremely cautious of any of the following: A bank or organisation that asks you

•

to move money to another account owing to suspected fraud, suspicious activity or for safe keeping. Emails or texts that ask you to click on a link. Requests to download software – never download software unless you are sure it is from a trusted source. Deals and offers that come out of the blue, offering high returns. Being put under pressure to make a quick decision to take advantage of a bonus or discount. Access to reviews and other clients who have invested in a deal – these could be faked. Anyone offering a free pensions review.

• • • • • •

WAYS TO PROTECT YOURSELF Emails, texts & phone scams Never assume a financial-related email or text is authentic, even if it is joined to a genuine thread.

•

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• Does the message have your name right? Does it even use your name? • Does the email address exactly match the company that it purports to come from? Never click on any links or download any software without checking the authenticity of the request. Never give your banking password or PIN to anyone, even if you’re asked to tap it into a phone keypad. Phone scammers can make it look like they are calling from the correct telephone number for any company. To be sure, hang up, find the real number for the company, and try calling them on a different phone.

• • •

Often scammers will attempt to build trust or create panic Pension & investment scams

• Fully research any company that

approaches you – pensions and investment scammers can be very convincing with credible websites, a high degree of financial knowledge, testimonials and promotional material that looks totally professional. Check the Financial Services

•

Register to ensure the company is FCA authorised to provide the services they are offering. Be especially vigilant that you are not dealing with a clone company (one masquerading as a genuine FCA authorised firm) by using the contact details on the Financial Services Register and not the ones they give you – call the FCA on 0800 111 6768 if you need help checking. Check the FCA Warning List to assess the risk level of potential pension or investment opportunities. If something is too good to be true, then

•

• •

it’s most likely to be a scam and do not be pressurised into making a fast decision. Seek financial guidance and impartial advice before changing your investment portfolio or pensions arrangements.

•

WHAT TO DO IF YOU SUSPECT FRAUD In the first instance, contact your bank or financial organisation and if money has been taken out of your account, ask them to freeze or lock it. Call the police and explain what has happened and report the crime or attempted crime to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040. l

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PETS

April Fool’s Day may come and go in the blink of an eye each year, but as Teddy reveals, he’s smart enough not to get caught out, and astute enough to encourage someone else to do the hard yards, as relayed to his favourite human, Helen Stockton

Now I just sit down nicely, looking imploringly at her

he 1st of April is a day to be on your guard. The origins of April Fool’s Day are uncertain, with Geoffrey Chaucer and, of course, the French, getting the blame, but it is the day of the year, at least until lunch time, when it is okay to play practical jokes on other people. Even revered institutions, such as the BBC, join in the fun, with the famous ‘spaghetti tree’ joke of 1957 leading to such a deluge of requests for the plant that the BBC had to hurriedly announce that it was only joshing.

Then there was the joke in 1980, that Big Ben was going digital, and whoever got in touch first, could get one of the hands. There have also been occasions when news announced on 1st April has been mistaken for a prank, when it has, in fact, been genuine. Apparently, the Queen does indeed keep a box of chocolate treats with her, so no-one else can eat them, and black bears in the USA were affected by a mysterious virus that made them friendlier – who knew? I wonder if the apprentice, Bear, has that virus. We dogs have a strong sense of fun, but that isn’t just restricted to one day. Bear pinches certain items she knows,

strictly speaking, she’s not supposed to have, and runs off with them, waiting for ‘Them Indoors’ to chase her and retrieve them. She favours small items from the washing basket, pieces of paper or kindling intended for the woodburner, together with the leather gauntlets ‘Them Indoors’ use when putting logs on the fire. She shows you she’s got them, then runs off jauntily. Sometimes she scarpers upstairs and puts her head through the bannisters to check she is being followed. It’s an oft repeated, fun jape. We Border Terriers are intelligent dogs so ‘Her Indoors’ sometimes gives us dog puzzles to solve as a bit of fun. One consists of swivel tubes on a frame with treats inside that drop out when the tubes are up-ended. Bear loves this and has got it down to a fine art, recovering the treats with impressive speed. I, on the other paw, take a different view. First off, I was deeply suspicious and wouldn’t go near it, finally venturing a quick sniff. In order to encourage me, ‘Her Indoors’ showed me how to make the treats drop out, which rather backfired. Now I just sit down nicely, looking imploringly at her, and waiting for her to do the work. ‘Her Indoors’ can’t decide if that makes me more or less smart than Bear, but all I can say is I’m no fool. Why have staff and bark yourself! l

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OPINION

IF YOU .

ask me..

As the road outside her house is dug up yet again – just days after the previous utility company finished some emergency repairs – Flo Whitaker reaches for the earplugs and wonders at the madness of it all

I heard a joke the other day that was so old, it probably pre-dates anything from Ken Dodd’s Bumper Book of Fun, (hmmm … maybe not that old.) Anyway, here goes: A man walks carefully along a very muddy track, trying not to slip into the mire. He suddenly spots a curious object – a hat, sitting on top of an extremely wet and boggy area. Not wanting to get stuck, the man approaches gingerly and gently prods the hat with his walking staff. To his astonishment, the hat moves to reveal a head. The head, now blinking in the sunlight, speaks, “Good morning.” Our traveller replies, “Good God, sir! Are you allright?” The head replies, “Yes… but I’m rather worried about my horse.” This time-travelling chuckle possibly dates from the 17th century, but continues to raise a smile because it is still relevant to modern life. Anyone who’s forked out for costly car repairs due to appalling potholed roads will wince in recognition. Most annoyingly of all is how utility companies casually dig up our roads. Those ‘temporary’ traffic lights, (it’s just the name and bears no relation to the actual timespan) pop up like mushrooms. And what are these people actually doing? Last year, our neighbours nipped out for a couple of hours and came home to find a bus stop had been erected outside their house. Who knew? Needless to say, we’re still waiting for the (probably mythical) pothole crew to arrive. Frankly, there’s probably more chance of spotting a unicorn trotting down the road…

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