April 2017
CHICHESTER LOCAL and events to 7,800 5,900 homes homes in in this this area area every every month month through the door LocalLocal newsnews and events to over through the door
AMY MACDONALD The award winning singer-songwriter is back with a brand new album
WIN! Weekend tickets to Common People Festival (featuring Amy Macdonald) Book - Kut: The death of an army Petworth Antique & Fine Art Fair tickets
PUZZLES For younger readers Plus Prize Crossword
LOCAL NEWS Charity & Community
PLUS What’s On, Local Walks, Recipe, Prize Crossword, Gardening, Local Groups, Local area & charity news, Business Directory
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April 2017 Cover Photo Amy Macdonald. Performing at Southampton’s Common People Festival, see page 11
Welcome...
We are very excited to bring you our April issue with talented singer-songwriter Amy Macdonald featuring as our lead article on page 24. Our nephew plays bass guitar with Amy and has helped her write her new album Under Stars. Amy Macdonald has sold over 9 million records world-wide and is not yet 30 years old! Amy is performing locally at the Southampton Common People Festival and you can win a weekend ticket to see her along with many other great artists - see page 11. You can also win a WWI history book; ‘Kut: The Death of an Army’ the story of part of the largely forgotten Mesopotamia Campaign, see page 28. We also have tickets to the Petworth Antiques & Fine Art Fair to give away, see page 12. In this month’s gardening feature, Andrew Staib gives plenty of ideas to help you create the quintessential ‘English Cottage Garden’ see page 30. We’ve also local area charity and community news starting on page 20 along with our regular What’s On event listings starting on page 4. Please do get in touch if we can help you promote a local event or a charity you are involved with. There is no charge for not-for-profit events or charity publicity. Finally our recipe this month (p16) is fruity chocolate fondue - oh go on then... Happy Easter!
Kris & Jeff
Words of Wit “Always remember the golden rule of politics: never kick a man until he’s down” – GERALD KAUFMAN Disclaimer - Whilst advertisements are printed in good faith, Sussex Local (Kay Publishing Ltd) is an independent company and does not endorse products or services that appear in this magazine. Sussex Local cannot be held responsible for errors or omissions or claims made by contributors. The views and opinions of contributors are not necessarily those of the publisher.
4 ...........................................................................What’s On 11 .........Win! Weekend ticket to Common People Festival 12 ............Win! Tickets to Petworth Antique & Fine Art Fair 14 ............................................Young Readers’ Puzzle Page 16 ................................................................................Recipe 18 ........................................................................Local Walks 20 ..............................................Charity & Community News 23 ................................................................Prize Crossword 24 ......Amy Macdonald - new album ‘Under Stars’ now out 28 ...........................Win! Book - Kut: The Death of an Army 30 ...................................................................In Your Garden 34 ..............................................................Business Directory 35 ...........................................................Index of Advertisers May Deadlines Bookings, editorial - 1st April Finished artwork, events - 7th April
SUSSEX & CHICHESTER LOCAL 01903 868 474
info@sussexlocal.net www.sussexlocal.net Kay Publishing Ltd PO Box 2237, Pulborough RH20 9AH Sussex Local & Chichester Local magazines are published monthly and delivered free of charge to over 38,300 homes and businesses in West Sussex. There are six editions and display advertising starts at just £24 a month per edition.
1. Arundel edition - Arundel, Burpham, Climping, Fontwell, Ford, Slindon, Walberton & Yapton Total addresses - 6,500 2. Barnham edition - Barnham, Eastergate, Westergate, Aldingbourne, Oving, & Tangmere Total addresses - 5,200 3. Chichester edition - Chichester centre & suburbs Total addresses - 7,800 4. Findon edition - Findon Valley, Findon Village, Nepcote, High Salvington, Clapham & Patching plus Salvington/Selden (south of A27) Total addresses - 6,000 5. Pulborough edition - Pulborough, Bury, Coldwaltham, Fittleworth, Marehill, Nutbourne, Stopham, West Chiltington village and Common. Total addresses - 5,500 6. Storrington edition - Storrington, Amberley, Ashington, Cootham Thakeham, Sullington & Washington. Total addresses - 6,200 The combined circulation of all six editions is over 38,300 addresses.
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What’s On
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SINGLES MINGLES DISCO
SATURDAY 8th APRIL 2017 LAVANT MEMORIAL HALL PO18 0AH 7.30 – 12pm Tickets £6.50 Contact Linda 07527 581370
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What’s On
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10 What’s On
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Competition
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WIN weekend ticket to Common People Festival! On Southampton Common bank holiday weekend May 27th & 28th
Common People, the ultimate bank holiday bonanza is back on Southampton Common for its third twoday metropolitan adventure, uniting the community through music, art and good times. Produced with love by the creators of Bestival, Common People 2017 is set to kick off the festival season with a proper party! Speaking to Sussex & Chichester Local, Common People curator Rob da Bank said “Common People is all about having some proper moments together as friends and family. Our cast this year include none other than recent number one album artist, Mr Pete Tong, a legend of the dance and Radio 1 for over quarter of a century now. Also stepping up is Sean Paul, a dancehall god with more bangers up his sleeve than a fireworks factory. And providing able support will be Tom Odell and Groove Armada and loads more, so see you in the fields my lovely Common People!” Saturday night will be filled with cultivated White Isle vibes as BBC Radio 1’s Pete Tong presents Ibiza Classics performed by The Heritage Orchestra, conducted by Jules Buckley. Fresh from ruling the charts with his Clean Bandit collaboration, and a jaw-dropping headline set at last year’s Bestival, Sean Paul is back, bigger than ever and set to bring Common People 2017 to triumphant close on Bank Holiday Sunday. But that’s not all, on Saturday The Common Stage will see performances from Tom Odell, Faithless (DJ Set),
Loyle Carner, Becky Hill, Stefflon Don, Seán McGowan, Kassassin Street, Elvana: Elvis Fronted Nirvana and Black Kat Boppers. Dancefloor duo Groove Armada will be hitting the decks on Sunday, and there will be more mainstage appearances from Wild Beasts, British Sea Power, Amy MacDonald, Nadia Rose, Novelist, House Gospel Choir, Signals and The Novatones. Dance arena the Uncontained Stage will feature two takeovers with Moxie presents on Saturday, while on Sunday My Nu Leng & M8s,with very special guest Goldie, will be in charge. There will be new music on the Uncommon Stage presented by The Joiners and Common People Antics will transform Common People into an amazing festival wonderland, with plenty of off-the-wall fun including The World’s Biggest Bouncy Castle, Vintage Funfair Rides, The People’s Front Room, Saints Brass, Spinney Hollow Bush Crafts, with Scrumptious Street Food, The Jam Jar Bar and Sugar Skulls Cocktail Bus, a fantastic Kids Area with Big Top Mania Circus, Face Painting & Crazy Inflatables, the Nuttfield Theatre Pop-Up Shows, Batala Samba Drummers and much more! Phase 1 day tickets are on sale now from £27.50. See commonpeople.net for full line up and tickets.
Win a pair of weekend tickets to Common People Festival Sussex Local has a pair of weekend tickets worth £57.75 each to give away for Southampton’s Common People Festival. To be in with a chance of winning answer this simple question.
Q. Who is presenting Ibiza Classics at the Festival? A) Pete Tong B) Amy Macdonald C) Tom Odell Send your answer and full contact details including daytime tel. no. to: Common People Competition, PO Box 2237, Pulborough RH20 9AH or send an email to: competitions@sussexlocal.net. The winner will first correct entry drawn after 30/4/17. Please indicate if you would like to be on our/Common People’s mailing list.
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CHICHESTER LOCAL
Win one of three tickets to visit this year's Petworth Park Antiques & Fine Art Fair Friday 5th - Sunday 7th May The Petworth Park Antiques & Fine Art Fair is taking place for the third year and attracts collectors, interior decorators and discerning individuals. Some 48 specialist dealers, including a number of new faces, are converging from around the country to present the finest art and antiques for sale, including oil and watercolour paintings and illustrations, some of which relate to Sussex. You can enjoy a day out with all that is on offer in the marquee, including light refreshments, or visit the various restaurants and cafés in the market town itself. There is a courtesy bus running between the town centre and the antiques fair, where parking is free for antiques fair ticket holders right outside the marquee. Each winner will be able to take up to two guests to all three days of the Fair. Further tickets can be bought for £10 each at the fair or through Eventbrite. The tickets also allow free access to Petworth's grounds and the opportunity to visit the treasures in the mansion in the care of the National Trust, free-ofcharge, during the fair. For more information: www.petworthparkfair.com.
Win a ticket to visit Petworth Park Antiques & Fine Art Fair For your chance to win, just answer the following : Q: How many specialist dealers will be at the fair? a) 10 b) 25 c) 48 Send your answer and full contact details including daytime telephone number to: ‘Petworth Park Antiques Fair’ Competition, PO Box 2237, Pulborough RH20 9AH or email competitions@sussexlocal.net Winner will be first entry drawn after the closing date 30th April 2017. Please indicate if you wish to remain on our mailing list.
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CHICHESTER LOCAL
14 Puzzles
Young Readers’ Puzzle Page Wordsearch - at the Farm
Maze
Find the listed words in the grid. Words may be hidden horizontally, vertically or diagonally and in either a forwards or backwards direction.
Help the hungry mouse reach his tasty cheese! Start at the arrow on the bottom right of the maze.
CATTLE FARMER GOAT
COW FIELD HARVEST
CROPS GEESE HAY
HORSE PIG TRACTOR
Sudoku
Number Tower
Place the numbers 1 – 6 once in each row, column and 3x2 bold-lined box
Fill the tower so that every square contains a number. The value of each square in the number tower is the sum of the two squares directly under it.
Answers can be found on our website after 1st April www.sussexlocal.net
To sponsor this feature please contact us on 01903 868474 or email info@sussexlocal.net Sponsor for just £25 per month plus a monthly prize
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16 Recipe
CHICHESTER LOCAL
Chocolate & Banana Fondue Memory Lane! Enjoy this naughty family pud any time! Serves 4 Ingredients. 200g good dark chocolate 150ml double or whipping cream 2-3tbsp golden syrup or light soft brown sugar 4 small bananas, cut into medium slices 110g whole strawberries, washed Other fruits to taste Also meringues, small biscuits & marshmallows are great dippers
Method: 1. 1 Place the chocolate, cream and syrup in a small - medium pan and heat through gently until quite smooth. Keep warm but do not let it boil. 2 Prepare the fruits and serve in small bowls with the hot chocolate fondue and small cocktail sticks or tiny forks.
Cookery Courses for all Why not give a Voucher for the perfect gift? Contact Alex 01243 532240 www.cookwithalex.co.uk
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18 Walks
CHICHESTER LOCAL
Local Walks - April These walks are supported by Chichester District Council, are led by volunteers and are designed to cater for all ages and abilities. No booking is required but please arrive 10 mins before the walk is due to start. Dogs are welcome unless otherwise stated but must be kept on the lead. If the weather is poor the walk may be cancelled, if unsure please check, contact 01243 534589 health@chichester.gov.uk www.chichesterwellbeing.org.uk. L = Walk Leader Mon 3rd 10.30am Rowlands Castle L: Anne 1 hour 30 mins 4 miles Hilly, some stiles. Not suitable for beginners. Recreation Ground off Links Lane, PO9 6AQ Mon 3rd 10.30am Harting Hill L: Andrew 2 hours 4 miles Harting Hill Car Park (NT) GU31 5PN Tues 4th 10.30am Canal Walk L: Janet 1 hour 30 mins 3 ½ miles A level, easy walk Return by bus. Chichester Canal, Basin Road, Chichester PO19 8DT Weds 5th 10.30am Selsey L: Helen 30mins 1 mile Selsey Centre Car Park, Manor Road, Selsey, Chichester PO20 0SE Thurs 6th 10.30 Cocking L: Bruce 2 hours 40 mins 5.75miles Ascent 250m. Moderately strenuous linear walk with 5 stiles, visiting the 13 Chalk Stone sculptures by Andy Goldsworthy. Bring bus pass. Cocking South Downs Way Car Park (Nearest postcode GU29 0HS) Fri 7th 10.30am Boxgrove L: Peter 1 hour 30 mins 2 ½ miles A flat circular walk past Boxgrove Priory and through surrounding fields. Car park at the Village Hall in Boxgrove SU906076 Mon 10th 10.30am Hayling Billy L: Peter 2 hours 4 miles Walk along the track to the Theatre and back. Ideal for beginners. Meet behind the Esso garage Mon 10th 10.30am Midhurst L: Helen 30mins 1 mile Entrance to Grange Leisure Centre Bepton Road, Midhurst GU29 9HD Tues 11th 10.30am Birdham Stroll L: Judy 1 hour 1 ½ miles A walk partly along Lipchis Way through Birdham Pool and onto Westlands and Greenacres. Fine Harbour views. Car Park near Boathouse Café at Chichester Marina Weds 12th 10.30am Durford Heath & Woods L: Fiona 2.5 hours 5 miles A walk along the Sussex border path taking in a variety of woodlands. Durford car park, SU791260. Any problems call Fiona 07767400039 Weds 12th 10.30am Slindon Estate L: Simon 2 hours 4 miles Passing through farmland, woodland as well as visiting Slindon Folly. Good paths and no stiles. Wonderful views. At the road entrance to Slindon College and the National Trust Slindon Estate Thurs 13th 10.30am Bognor to Felpham L: Jane 1 hour 15 mins 2½ miles Bognor Regis pier on the seafront Sun 16th 10.30am Burpham L: Dominic 2 hours 4 miles Hilly walk with some stiles. Lovely views. Public car park behind the George at Burpham Weds 19th 10.30am Portsdown Hill - Fort Widley L: Bruce 1 hour 45 mins 3.5 miles. Lovely panoramic views to the north and south of Portsdown Hill with a circuit of the fort. Portsdown Hill - Car Park past The Churchillian on Widley Walk. SU659064 (Nearest postcode PO6 3LS) Fri 21st 10.30am Stoughton Down L: Jane 2 hours 30 mins 5.5 miles Not suitable for beginners. It is a hilly walk with great views but can be muddy and slippery in places. Stoughton Down car park - Forestry Commission car park east of Stoughton on the sharp bend (SU815126) Mon 24th 10.30am Westgate L: Helen 30mins. A flat walk at a gentle pace, suitable for beginners. Entrance to Westgate Leisure Centre, PO19 1RJ Tues 25th 10.30am Slindon Park Lane L: Janet 1 hour 30 mins 3½ miles A walk through the wood, hopefully amongst the bluebells and up onto the Downs. National Trust Car Park, Park Lane, Slindon, BN18 Weds 26th 10.45am Climping L: Dominic 1 hour 15 mins 2½ miles Along dunes and beach to Climping Mill, then across fields to Ferry Road and Rope Walk to club. Arun Yacht Club Car Park, Rope Walk, Littlehampton, BN17 5DL Thurs 27th 10.30am Stopham L: Bruce 2 hours 15 mins. 5 miles Ascent 200m. Moderately strenuous. 3 stiles. Might be muddy. Stopham Church. TQ025189 (Nearest postcode RH20 1EG)
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20 Charity & Community
MP regrets A27 “own goal” by Northern Bypass Supporters Arundel & South Downs MP Nick Herbert has expressed his dismay that the Chichester Improvement Scheme has been cancelled, describing it as “a massive own goal for West Sussex.” At the end of February the Transport Secretary wrote to the Chief Executive of Highways England to say that he was cancelling the Chichester improvement scheme "after the withdrawal of support by the local councils for the shortlisted options and significant local campaigns". The Transport Secretary also said "the delivery of the A27 Arundel Bypass should proceed as planned." Highways England has restored the start date to "by the end of March 2020" after it had slipped to 2021 at one point, with the bypass opening in 2022. Mr Herbert said: "I am dismayed by this announcement, although reassured that the Arundel Bypass will proceed as planned. Those who campaigned against the improvements to the A27 southern Chichester bypass have inflicted a massive own-goal on West Sussex. By lobbying for an unfeasible northern bypass, and undermining the process, they have effectively lost £200 million of infrastructure investment in the area, while road users will continue to face appalling congestion around Chichester.” A prominent supporter of the northern route was reported to be Louise Goldsmith, Leader of West Sussex County Council. It was reported in the Chichester Observer that a campaign group - Chichester Deserves Better - gave notice to Cllr Goldsmith in January that they would be challenging for her seat at the County Council elections in May. Paul Dendle, an Arun District Councillor (who writes a regular column in our Arundel edition) said on his Facebook page in January “Louise Goldsmith the
CHICHESTER LOCAL leader of West Sussex County Council is risking the Arundel Bypass for her own selfish interests (she lives on the Manhood Peninsula), Now because of her lunacy, Chichester District has voted to re-run consultation on Chichester improvements for a north bypass pushing through the Goodwood estate (killing the Festival of Speed and Revival), The Government has said there is no chance of a northern by-pass happening”.
Charity Sixties Revival
A Back to the Sixties revival was held at the Riverside Caravan Centre, Bognor Regis in support of the Aldingbourne Trust, a local charity supporting adults with learning disabilities. The Riverside Caravan Park provided the venue free of charge and Yamaha Music provided raffle prizes including a keyboard and guitar. The winner of the keyboard generously donated it to Access Music, a therapeutic project run by the Aldingbourne Trust, supporting people with disabilities to perform and make music. The event raised £5,178.21. Aldingbourne Trust, Blackmill Lane, Norton, Chichester, PO18 0JP 01243 544607 www.aldingbournetrust.co.uk
Notices to info@sussexlocal.net. Please post your events directly on to www.sussexlocal.net
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Sussex Snippets Rockinghorse Children’s Charity is looking for an army of walkers, of all fitness levels, to take part in a walking challenge across the beautiful South Downs, to raise funds towards their Sussex Giving for Sussex Children appeal. The charity aims to raise £500,000 in 2017, which will be split between 10 children’s centres and paediatric services in Sussex, and they’ve teamed up with Just Walk as an official charity partner of the event which takes place on Saturday 13 May at Goodwood Racecourse in Chichester. Contact: Hannah Seltzer, Events Fundraising Co-ordinator – Tel: 01273 330044, Email: hannah.seltzer@rockinghorse.org.uk. Swarming is a natural instinct for bees and all colonies if left to their own devices will eventually swarm this is part of their means of reproduction; if they didn’t there would be no bees. Swarms of bees are not normally aggressive but best not approached, and if you come across a swarm local beekeepers are on hand to give advice - find one in your area on The British Bee Keepers Association website. www.bbka.org.uk The Kent, Surrey & Sussex Air Ambulance is inviting local groups, clubs, societies and other organisations to book a talk (free of charge) to find out more about
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the work of the charity. By inviting one of their volunteer speakers to your group, you will be helping to raise awareness of the air ambulance’s work and therefore ensuring they can be there when needed, now and in the future. Contact: Tel -01622 833 833, Email: talks@kssairambulance.org.uk West Sussex County Council is reminding residents that they must be on the on the electoral register to be able to vote on 4th May for the County Council elections, which will be to elect 70 county councillors, who each represent an electoral division in the county. Anyone who has recently moved house, or who didn’t complete an electoral registration form, sent out in the autumn, can request an electoral registration form at any time from their local elections office (at the local district or borough council) but must register by Thursday 13th April for the County Council elections. www.westsussex.gov.uk Families and infants are being promised a more ‘secure foundation’ of help under a new manifesto the 1001 Critical Days Manifesto for West Sussex highlights the importance of a child’s wellbeing during the vital days from when a baby is conceived until age two. It aims to ensure that every baby receives sensitive, appropriate and responsive care whilst also ensuring parents feel confident that they are raising their children in a loving and supportive environment. www.westsussex.gov.uk/1001Days. From 1st March, motorists caught using mobile phones while driving will receive a £200 fine and six penalty points on their license - receiving six points on a license that has been held for less than two years will result in it being immediately revoked. The Tim Peake exhibition at The Novium Museum in Chichester has been shortlisted for a national award. The free exhibition has been recognised in the Museums and Heritage Awards, Temporary or Touring exhibition category. www.thenovium.org
Tim Peake visits the Novium exhibition (c) Novium Museum.
Notices to info@sussexlocal.net
22 Charity & Community
Pets of the Month The Cat & Rabbit Rescue Centre (CRRC)’s Pet of the Month for April is a pair of Easter bunnies. Mazarin and her sister Semla are a year old. They arrived at the Centre in October 2016 underweight and in poor condition after suffering neglect and a poor diet. With care and correct feeding from the Centre’s staff they are now ready to find their forever home. They are still a little nervous and not sure of being picked up, but will soon become used to being handled. The Centre’s next viewing day is Saturday 22nd April from 12-2pm. Viewing Days are non-appointment days so people thinking of adopting can pop along. Otherwise, rehoming is seven days a week by appointment only. : The Cat & Rabbit Rescue Centre Sidlesham, PO20 7RJ Tel: 01243 641409 Email: info@crrc.co.uk www.crrc.co.uk facebook/catandrabbitrescuecentre
CHICHESTER LOCAL Festival Theatre Supports Dementia Charity Local charity Dementia Support is enjoying a partnership with the Chichester Festival Theatre to provide wellbeing sessions for people living with dementia. The Theatre has been running two types of sessions since early February at the Dementia Support Hub in Tangmere – Mindful Movements and Creative Responses. The Mindful Movements sessions explore the positive benefits of dance on physicality and wellbeing and are led by an experienced dance and movement specialist, who guides the participants through ‘chair dancing.’ The Creative Responses workshops involve reminiscence and evoking memories in people with dementia, using simple practical drama exercises to share tales and create new ones together in a relaxed creative atmosphere. As well as the Chichester Festival Theatre session, Dementia Support currently runs pilot sessions and activities for people living with dementia – including art sessions, clay workshops with the University of Chichester and socialising Tea at Tangmere - and is running a fundraising appeal to raise £1.74 million to keep the Hub and its services open. Contact: Chichester Festival Theatre sessions 01243 784437; Dementia Support fundraising appeal - 01243 888 691 info@dementia-support.org.uk
Crossword
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Prize Crossword
Win a £10 Marks and Spencer voucher
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Chichester April 2017 February 2017 solution shown below.
Winner: Fliss Hay from Chichester Congratulations and thank you to all who entered. Entries to: Sussex Local Crossword, PO Box 2237 Pulborough, RH20 9AH or scan and email the page to crosswords@sussexlocal.net
Across
Down
1 4 9 10 11 12 14 15 17 18
1 2 3 5 67 8 13 14
US currency (6) One who carries something (6) Small flute (7) Without help (7) Type of coffee drink (5) Became less severe (5) Give up (5) A Fish Called ___ : film (5) Propel forwards (5) Reasons for thinking something (7) 20 Given generously (7) 21 Infuriate (6) 22 Tremulous sounds (6)
15 16 17 19
Type of basic aerial (6) Style of speech (8) Worship; venerate (5) Broke free from confinement (7) Dare (anag) (4) Attacked at speed (6) Politely (11) Bushy-tailed rodent (8) Expressing boredom with the mouth (7) Move back and forth (6) Domains (6) Suspend; prevent (5) ___ Sharif: actor (4)
Name: ............................................................................................................... Full address: .................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................... Postcode:.......................................................................................................... Email: ................................................................................................................ Phone:............................................................................................................... Mobile: .............................................................................................................
Closing date: 30th April 2017 Good luck!
£10 Win a £10 M&S voucher
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24 Music
CHICHESTER LOCAL
Amy Macdonald It’s been four years since her last album, now the award winning singersongwriter is back with “Under Stars” her most ‘rocking’ record yet.
Even when Amy Macdonald’s not visibly around, she’s busy. If her hiatus whilst recording new music made her seemingly a long way from the radio-play ubiquity she enjoyed as an award-winning teenage singersongwriter straight out of Scotland, she’s actually performing to vast audiences at European festivals.
Even when she’s meant to be taking time off, she’s being asked to represent her country at flagship events, or is scratching an ever-itchy writing urge. Macdonald might have enjoyed a decade’s success in the music industry, here, there and everywhere, but she’s still in her twenties. The fact is, Macdonald is that rare thing: the natural musician in whom a new song is never far away. Rarer still: the British artist with a top-of-the-bill status in multiple international territories. Just when we thought Amy was gone… she was knocking them dead at the Montreux Jazz Festival, her performance immortalised in a football goalsized poster that’s hung in the arrivals hall at Geneva Airport “for about five years now!” she laughs. Macdonald thinks back over the four years between the release of her third album, summer 2012’s Life In A Beautiful Light, and the completion of her upcoming fourth, Under Stars. And she considers the steps that led to the making of the record that is, frankly, her most rocking yet. “I toured the third album till end of 2013,” she begins. “Another long tour – it always is,” grins this dedicated live performer. “People think, ‘oh, I’ve not heard a song on the radio from you for a while, you must be sitting at home with your feet up?’” Much as Macdonald likes escaping from it all, back to her home in small town Scotland, back to her dogs and her Ferraris (she has two at the last count) taking it easy “is never the way,” she affirms. “That was 18 months’ touring, finishing up with a two-month orchestra tour. I got home at 1am on Christmas Eve. “That was nice feeling,” she beams. “I was finally having a bit of a chilled time and there was no rush. I knew that was me for a while, and I could take 2014 off.” But it wasn’t, and she couldn’t. As perhaps the biggest young female Scottish artist in the world – not to mention a huge football fan – Macdonald was asked to raise the curtain on two sports events that brought the planet to Scotland. “That year I was asked to perform at the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games. Then I was asked to sing at the opening of the Ryder Cup. It was never really quiet,” she admits. Then, just to completely ruin her well-earned break from a career that had roared out of the traps with 2007’s three-million-selling debut This Is The Life, “I decided to start writing songs.” But this time, Macdonald broke with tradition. Rather than write
through the door practically everything herself, as she had done on This Is The Life, A Curious Thing (2010) and Life In A Beautiful Light, she connected with the circle of musicians with whom she’d become fast friends in the ten years since she signed a record deal aged 19, namely bass player Jimmy Sims and his friend/her occasional acoustic guitarist Ben Parker. The trio realised they’d hit immediately on a winning writing formula. Macdonald’s plans for “a really slowpaced” album-making process went out the window. Within less than a year, they had 17 or 18 songs. “It’s a new lease of life after ten years,” she affirms. “Everybody involved is excited and invigorated again. It’s a fresh start, with fresh ideas. "Everyone I played the songs to was just absolutely buzzing," Macdonald continues. "And for me it was generally a much more enjoyable process because I didn’t feel as much pressure because I was doing it with other people. There are still songs on the album that I’ve written all on my own, but Jimmy, Ben and I just struck up such a close friendship and working relationship.” In early 2016 Amy and her wingmen began recording in the unremarkable-but-inspiring surroundings of the Clapham studio of fellow Scot Cam Blackwood (George Ezra, Florence and the Machine). There were additional sessions in another unprepossessing corner of London, at the studios of production duo My Riot (London Grammar, Birdy). Dream On was an early stand-out. A gung-ho, positive rocker which showcases the new power in her voice, it also speaks of the greater volume – in both senses – of Macdonald’s new music. From almost the minute it was written it staked its claim to be the first single from her fourth album. That feeling was underlined when she and her band road-tested it over the summer. “I did a few festivals in France, Germany and Switzerland, and we put a few new songs in the set to see how they went down. And Dream On, we played it at one festival in Switzerland, and people were dancing, singing – which is completely opposite to the normal reaction when you say, ‘we’re gonna play something new!’” laughs this twentysomething touring veteran. The mooted second single Automatic came together when the band, thinking they’d just mess around and feel for a creative connection, struck gold on the first day of writing with the hard-driving track. “Because Ben is so skilled on Pro-Tools, it almost sounded finished after the first day. We beefed it up a bit and added some more exciting electric guitars later,” she says, highlighting the cracking solo that was the con-
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tribution of guest guitarist Leo Abrahams, recently fêted for his work producing Regina Spektor’s critically acclaimed Remember Us To Life album. As for the words – “Hitting the road is all that I got… Foot to the floor, I can’t take any more…” – “that was me just thinking about people constantly running away from problems – and also trying to think of who I wanted to sound like. And on that one I was thinking of the Bruce Springsteen, big American thing…” Down By The Water is a horse of a different colour; simple blues that emerged seemingly out of nowhere one afternoon when “Jimmy and I were just sitting messing around. He came up with some really nice notes on the bass, and we just added to it. It was one of those songs where, when we were writing it, we didn’t think it was up to much. It just sounded a bit too simple, pared down, not really a big extravagant song.” But in that simplicity was majesty. The punchy, crunchy title track is surely another chart contender. “We wrote that as maybe an album opener, but it didn’t have a chorus. That’s the great thing
CHICHESTER LOCAL
26 Music / Finance Cam did with that song – he told me to get a hook for it, to make it big and powerful. The next day I came up with something in about two minutes, no kidding. And obviously I was convinced it was rubbish. But Cam loved it straight away.” Under Stars is full of moments like that: honest, persuasive, instinctive songwriting built for summer festival or daytime radio singalongs. It’s also full of smart, incisive, inclusive lyrics that can’t help but reflect the times in which they were written. A young worldlywise Scotswoman, Macdonald found herself writing during a hinge in history. “The album is not the slightest bit political,” she begins, “but it was written before, during and after the Scottish independence referendum. Being in Scotland at that time, you couldn’t escape it. And from a writer’s point of view it was amazingly inspiring, even tangentially. We were talking about the events all the time, and that comes came through in The Rise And Fall,” she says of one of the album’s most anthemic numbers. “If I’m honest I was thinking about Frank Underwood, Kevin Spacey’s character in House Of Cards, when I
was writing – I was obsessed with that show at the time!” she laughs again. Then, recording the song in London in the run-up to the Brexit referendum, realworld events couldn’t help but filter in again. The rousing From The Ashes has a similar backstory. “It’s another song that sounds part of what’s being going on, but it was completely unintentional. That song was me writing a song I thought would be perfect for The Hunger Games. It’s a really, really bleak song but It ends in euphoria with chanting and the idea that everything is OK. That’s the song that ends the album, which in my mind is the place where it’s always meant to be.” “It’s crazy all the things that have happened,” 29-yearsyoung Amy reflects. “The one thing I regret slightly is not taking it in more, especially with the first album. It just exploded in Europe; there was one country after another doing exceptionally well. But I just thought that’s what happens – you put an album out and bang, it does really well! Now I know that’s not the norm, and that was an exceptional thing. I wish I’d be more aware at the time of how amazing it was. But now I know how lucky I was then – and how even luckier I am to still be doing what I want to do ten years later.” Amy Macdonald is performing in the Common People Festival at Southampton Common on 27th & 28th May. We have a weekend ticket to give away in this issue see our competition on page 11.
Happy New (Tax) Year By Richard Cohen JP FPFS ACII MCSI Chartered Financial Planner For reasons unbeknown to me people don’t celebrate the new tax year in the same way they do the new calendar year. Much to my disappointment there are no fireworks or singing of Auld Lang Syne and my lobbying for a single bank holiday for the new tax year’s day seem to be falling on deaf ears! The other thing that I think should happen is New Tax Year’s resolutions. Here are my suggestions: Start saving for your retirement – the longer you put this off the more it is going to cost you in the long run. Unless you’re going to be able to survive on £8,000 a year from the government and a small amount extra through your auto-enrolment pension, you’re going to have to take responsibility for yourself and get saving. Stop wasting money on out of date insurance policies – this could mean “rebroking” mortgage protection policies where the sum assured has decreased but the premium has not or cancelling extended policies that cover things you no longer own. Start your tax return early – over 1 million parents now need to do a tax return because of the removal of child
benefit for those with a “high” earner, many of whom have never needed to do one before. Submitting the return earlier gives you plenty of time to deal with any queries as well the chance to budget for any tax that is due. Stop smoking – as well as being bad for your health it’s expensive, not just in terms of the cost of a packet of cigarettes but also the extra it costs you in life insurance premiums. With most insurers once you have not smoked or used nicotine replacement products for a year you are a non-smoker so if this applies to you - review your policies. Start using your allowances – there are a number of “use it or lose it allowances”, everyone knows about the cash ISA allowance but don’t forget to investigate using your investment ISA allowance and your capital gains tax allowance. I’m off to find a suitable song to sing at midnight on 6th April, feel free to send me your suggestions. Happy New (Tax) Year For more details visit www.nsurefinancial.co.uk or to arrange a free review please call 01903 821010
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28 Competition
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Win a copy of ‘Kut: The Death of an Army’ Steyning author Ronald William Millar was a professional writer whose passion for military history inspired his work. He has recently re-published his fascinating book, KUT: the Death of An Army, which is the story of part of the largely forgotten Mesopotamia Campaign. A column, led by Sir Charles Townsend, based on the Indian 6th (Poona) Division, was sent to follow up the defeat of a Turkish attempt to eject the British from Basra. However, soon after the indecisive Battle of Ctesiphon, on 23 November 1915, it retreated to Kut, a town situated in a loop of the River Tigris. It is a detailed account of the tragic five-month long Turkish siege which followed, in which both sides endured considerable privations. This book gives a full account of the siege, the foiled attempts to lift it by British forces, the increasingly desperate expedients made to survive by the garrison and the unfortunate local population, culminating in the surrender of the remains of the garrison on 29 April 1916. Over 1,700 men of the force died in the siege, of whom 700 died of disease. About a third of those who went into captivity, 4,000 men, died: their treatment was inexcusably poor. This was a key event, along with those in Salonika and Italy, that has almost been entirely erased from popular memory, despite recent British military action in the area over the last twenty five years.
This fascinating book will be of interest to all student of the First World War and in particular anyone wanting a comprehensive account of the most significant siege endured by British and Imperial troops in that conflict. Hardback Price: £25 Published by Pen & Sword Books Ltd www.pen-and-sword.co.uk
Win a copy of ‘Kut: The Death of an Army’ For your chance to win, just answer the following : Q: When was the battle of Ctesiphon? A) November 1915 B) April 1916 C) May 1916 Send your answer and full contact details including daytime telephone number to: Kut: The Death of an Army’ Competition, PO Box 2237, Pulborough RH20 9AH or email competitions@sussexlocal.net Winner will be first entry drawn after the closing date 30th April 2017. Please indicate if you wish to remain on our mailing list.
Finance
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29
How to Retire in 2017
By Mark Lloyd, Senior Financial Adviser, Investment Solutions, Worthing It wasn’t that long ago that retirement rules were riddled with income limits and there were punitive tax charges on death. Thankfully, today, pensions are more attractive and flexible.
choose a mixture, to match your needs. Tax rules can change and any benefits will depend upon individual circumstances.
New rules introduced in 2015 have revolutionised pensions. From age 55, you can now access your pension in a way that suits your needs. The 55% tax charge on death has been abolished too. Pensions can now be passed on, tax-free, in more cases than before. Three main ways to access your pension.
What you do with your pension is an important decision. Therefore, we strongly recommend that you fully understand your options and check that your chosen option is suitable for your circumstances: take appropriate advice or guidance if you are at all unsure.
Drawing a pension is very different from building one. It has its own challenges and opportunities. To make the most of your retirement, you need to understand your options. Option 1 – Guaranteed Income for Life Annuities are a tried and tested solution if you want secure income to cover essential expenses. Around 80,000 annuities were purchased in the year following the introduction of the new rules. They remain one of the few ways to turn your pension into a guaranteed income for life. It is important you choose the right options for your circumstances. For example, you might want your income to rise with inflation and / or continue to your loved ones after your death. To get the best deal, your income can be boosted by confirming health and lifestyle details. Option 2 – Flexible Income (or just tax-free cash) with Drawdown. The proportion of people choosing drawdown has increased significantly in the last 3 years. Over 90,000 Drawdown plans were set up in the first year of the new rules (more than double that of the year before). Drawdown lets you keep your options open. You choose the investments with our guidance and how much income to withdraw. If it performs well and grows, you could receive more income, however, it is riskier than an annuity because income is not guaranteed and you could run out of money. It is important that you have the right investment strategy. One that could reduce the risk of depleting your fund is only drawing the income your investments produce (the natural yield) and leaving the capital intact. Your income and the value of your investment will still fluctuate, so you could get back less than you invest. Option 3 – Withdraw Lump Sums (25% of each usually tax-free) With the previous two Options, all withdrawals are taxable, apart from the initial taxfree lump sum. With this new Option, usually 25% of each lump sum is tax-free; the rest is taxed as income. You keep your pension invested so it is higher risk than an annuity and you could run out of money. You don’t have to choose just one Option – you can
Need advice? At Investment Solutions, we are an Award-winning Chartered Firm of Independent Financial Advisors. Feel free to contact us on 01903 214640 Further information is available via our website: www.investment-solutions.co.uk The information in this Article does not constitute advice. Please remember that past performance is not necessarily a guide to future returns. The value of units and the income from them may fall as well as rise. Investors may not get back the amount originally invested.
Trusted and Experienced Chartered Financial Planners
Investment Advice Pension Advice and Planning Equity Release & Mortgages Estate Planning and advice on Inheritances Specialist advice for High Net Worth Individuals and High Earners Investment Solutions, Grafton House, 26 Grafton Road, Worthing BN11 1QT 01903 214640 / ifa@investment-solutions.co.uk Facebook: www.facebook.com/financialadviserworthing
Twitter: @investment_sols www.investment-solutions.co.uk ‘Investment Solutions’ is the trading name of Investment Solutions Wealth Management Ltd who are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority
CHICHESTER LOCAL
30 Gardening
In Your Garden Monthly gardening ideas and tasks by Andrew Staib of Glorious Gardens As our focal point we might have a lovely deep pink shrub rose and if we are going for a blue and pink colour scheme we might have Catmint, Penstemons, spikes of pale purple Delphinums and Lupins. At the front we may have a splash of Red Valerian, some softer Lavender and silver Lamb’s Ears with bright green Oregano foliage and some white Allysum. And though all this great Allium Mount Everest and Purple Sensations bursting though like fireworks.
The English Cottage Garden An English Cottage Garden - the very words put one into a dreamy, scented state of relaxation. Informal borders and winding paths, eccentric wheelbarrow sculptures, veg patches and roses draped over every fence and up every tree - a Tom’s Midnight Garden for every plant lover. Like a local cafe, the most common garden we are asked to design is a Full Traditional English. Yet I ask people in quite a lot of detail what they mean as this can mean many things to different people. Do they want ornamental grasses? Topiary? A fountain in a formal pond? Indeed the very idea of an English Cottage Garden is a recent one that is evolving all the time. It was only in the Elizabethan times, when an expanding middle class became more prosperous, that livestock and medicinal herbs, plus basic edibles like apples and potatoes gave way to the growing and appreciation of Flowers! Pretty colours and shapes for their own sakes were normally only the province of the wealthy. Today if you did an inventory of the most famous plants in a typical English Cottage Garden today most of them come from all over the world! Lavender from France, Azaleas from China, Tulips from Afghanistan! One example to mention here. The Penstemon range is so long flowering with its delicate bell flowers on tall spikes it is a perfect English Cottage Garden Plant even though it is from North America and Asia! So can we squeeze out an essential definition to help us in the design process? To help us let’s take a classic combination of English Cottage border plants. Tall Hollyhocks at the back of the border, with great windows of the transparent structure in front in the form of 5 foot Fennel plants letting us see through to the big Hollyhock blooms. Floating in front like clouds around these two taller plants we might have Gypsophila ‘Bristol Fairy’ and the coop parsley Selenium.
And maybe a path that runs through this border to a vegetable patch so that you feel enveloped by the planting. This planting combination says everything. The informal grace of the plants, combined not just for their colour but also for their different heights, leaf size and tonal qualities. There is a lack of straight lines, edibles are mixed with flowers and heights are irregular. Another quality is the woven tapestry effect. A good English garden derives its power from appearing artless, as if it had never been designed but that the plants grew and found cohabitation with each other harmoniously. A kind of relaxed
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democracy of plants compared to the more formal gardens where rows of Yew and Buxus march up and down the drive. A Garden that is friendly and bountiful, supporting the day to day activities of a family. So if you are thinking of designing your own Cottage Garden think also about these principles not just particular plants. Below are some categories of plants that will help with creating the atmosphere that you want. Rambling plants. The garden we have in mind is tumbling and plants have the permission to be curious. Grapes, Roses and Clematis grown on pergolas, fences and up trees. Nasturtiums at ground level with their bright orange and yellow edible flowers or climbing up a shed. Fragrant sweet peas grown near the back door in generous pots.
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Focal point plants. These are ones that grab attention. They are bursts of colour and shape with the other plants around them chosen to compliment them. They might be a succession of shrub roses, Hydrangeas, Lilacs or a stand of miniature Philadelphus Manteau d’Hermine. For focal pint you could introduce some evergreen structure like Buxus or Hebe balls or Yew columns and of course antique pots and fountains. Edibles The English Cottage Garden is always reinventing itself, no more so with the mixing up of flowers and edible plants. Vegetables like Chard and Rhubarb, small fruit bushes like Gooseberry and Raspberries, plus herbs such as Sage, Mint, Sweet Woodruff and Feverfew can all hold their own in a mixed border. Plus you can have the clean lines of a raised vegetable bed surrounded by the rest of your beds and only reached by a journey through the more informal tumble of other plants. Scent Try these for scent: Jasmine, both deciduous and evergreen, Daphne odora, Wallflowers, Lavender ‘Hidcot’, old Heritage Roses and Lilly of the Valley. Plus you can grow Camomile between the stepping stones and use annuals such as Nicotiana. Colour Many people are trying out hot coloured borders. In some case you may need to introduce more exotic
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32 Gardening plants, yet in most cases you can choose the more passionately coloured version of old classics like Calendular, Monksood, Peonies, Lillies and Oriental Poppies. For the more gentle pallet of colours you have your Sweet Williams, Primroses, Stocks and Phlox. Trees and Shrubs Bearing in mind we are looking for more relaxed shapes with an eye to being both beautiful and practical, small feature trees might include the Crab Apple and Sorbus varieties as well as Pear and Apple trees (they can come as dwarf, column or spreading shapes in different sizes). Also don’t forget the maligned Buddlea - it is so generous for insects and the unsightly trunk can be hidden by planting Choysia, Hardy Fuchias or a good Rosa rugosa in front of it. Maybe the main thing to say is don’t panic- an English Cottage Garden by its very nature is woven together with different plants used for different functions.
What to do in April
Where to visit in April?
Feed and mulch all your plants.
Pashley Manor, East Sussex
Lawns can be scarified for the last time and given their first mow.
Pashley Manor Gardens is known to be “one of the finest gardens in England” It was once the home of the Boleyns and is a romantic landscape full of colour and interest. Bluebells, wisteria and thousands of tulips are just some of the plants are the things to watch out for this month. The Tulip Festival at the end of this month features over 100 different varieties.
Lots, basically! Start planting Perennials and Shrubs- the soil is nice and moist and warming up.
Sew vegetables The majority can be sewn outdoors now as with annuals and wildflowers directly into cleared spaces in your beds.
Towards the end of the month you can take a trip to your nursery and buy some Dahlias and they can be planted in well draining soil. Begin your snail and slug sentry duty!
Local Business Profile 33
through the door
What a difference a day makes Transform your conservatory in less than a day with insulated roof panels Conservatories are usually constructed to add extra living space to a home. A lot of people find however, that from mid-November through until about midMarch, their conservatory is just too cold to pleasantly sit in without spending a small fortune on heating it and then from mid-June through until about the end of September, that same space is unbearably hot during the day. So what’s the answer? In 2010 the planning laws were relaxed and in the majority of cases, you can now fit a solid roof to your conservatory without planning permission. This means better insulation, keeping the room warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer, and a room that you can use all year round. Green Space Ltd is a family run company. They specialise in transforming conservatories. Their roof panels are lightweight and offer eight times better insulation than a polycarbonate roof. With U-values of 0.29, they will keep your conservatory at a comfortable temperature all year round. The panels are manufactured to measure off site, so installation generally takes less than a day, and they always aim to ensure that any roof
conversion is as non-disruptive as possible. Greenspace are the sole supplier of this system in the South, which is compatible with most conservatories, old and new and it comes with a ten year guarantee. Your conservatory that was too cold to eat your breakfast in the morning, could be lovely and cosy by dinner time. Transform your conservatory in one day - contact Greenspace on 01903 322004 or go online at www.greenspaceconservatories.co.uk and see what a difference a day makes!
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34 Business Directory
Business Directory Advertisers please call 01903 868 474 or see www.sussexlocal.net 3cm box is just £10 + VAT per month (minimum six months) price includes design. New categories can be created. Builders
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More to say? Double Size Business Directory adverts just
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Regular and one-off cleans Reliable, honest, vetted cleaners Rates from £11.50 per hour All areas covered from Arundel to Chichester Fully Insured
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Roofing cont.
Advertisers call 01903 868 474 or email info@sussexlocal.net 3cm box £60 + VAT for 6 months, artwork included. Property Services cont.
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Art Gallery Chichester Art Trail Beauty Therapy Carefree Beauty Conservatories and Garden Rooms Greenspace (UK) Limited Room Outside Dentures Changing Faces Denture Clinic Electricians Danny H Electrician MJA Electrical Events Singles Mingles Disco Pink Floyd Tribute Concert Furniture CFS Furniture Garden Design Glorious Gardens Groundworks Cathedral Landscapes Home Entertainment Bowers & Wilkins Horse Manure Sussex Manures Ltd Independent Financial Advisors Investment Solutions Wealth Management Ltd NSure The Mellor Practice Kitchen Doors Dream Doors Barnham (Ronald's Legacy Ltd)
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