Chichester Local Mar 2016

March 2016

CHICHESTER LOCAL and events to 7,000 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

ACTION IN RURAL SUSSEX

Promoting the interests of people in rural communities

GARDENING

Kaleidoscopes of Colour

WHAT’S ON

March events

WIN!

Battle of Waterloo Book - Voices from the Past

PLUS

Local Walks, Recipe, Prize Crossword, Local Groups, Local trades & services, Local Business Directory

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March 2016 Cover Photo The Cathedral

by Scott Younger www.scottyounger.com

Welcome...

March is here already and the events board is getting busier as we gear up fo the summer. This month we had a bumper crop which took us by surprise, as we could not fit them all in - please do check our website regularly for those which didn’t make the magazine, as well as others which are submitted after our deadline. We also push them out via Facebook and Twitter, so why not look for “sussexlocal” on each and follow us!

Battle of Waterloo buffs have the chance to win a copy of the fascinating book “Voices from the Past” on page 34 and do give our Prize Crossword a go on page 24 - you can win a voucher for £30 to spend at Toucan Beauty (for men or women).

Veronica Cowan interviews the Chair of charity Action in Rural Sussex on page 28. Our Charity and Community news round up starts on page 20. Please do feel free to email your news to info@sussexlocal.net.

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..................................................................What’s On ..........................................................In Your Garden ...............................................................Local Walks .......................................Charity & Community News .........................................................Prize Crossword .......................................................................Recipe ................Interview - Chair of Action in Rural Sussex ......Win! Book - Voices from the past, Waterloo 1815 .........................................................Advertiser Index .....................................................Business Directory

April Deadlines Bookings, editorial - 1st March Finished artwork, events - 7th March

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 30,800 homes and businesses in West Sussex. There are five editions and display advertising starts at just £23 a month per edition.

We are now five months into our Chichester edition, and really pleased at the feedback from readers and advertisers. Please keep it coming, we’d love to hear from you. Have a good March and thanks for reading us!

Kris & Jeff Words of Wisdom “Faith is about doing. You are how you act, not just how you believe.”

- MITCH ALBOM, Have a Little Faith: a True Story 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.

Arundel edition - Arundel, Barnham, Burpham, Climping, Fontwell, Ford, Slindon, Walberton & Yapton Total homes - 7,000 Chichester edition - Chichester suburbs Total homes - 7,000 Findon edition - Findon Valley, Findon Village, Nepcote, High Salvington, Clapham & Patching plus Salvington/Selden (south of A27) Total homes - 6,000 Pulborough edition - Pulborough, Bury, Coldwaltham, Fittleworth, Marehill, Nutbourne, Stopham, West Chiltington village and Common. Total homes - 4,800 Storrington edition - Storrington, Amberley, Ashington, Cootham Thakeham, Sullington & Washington. Total homes - 6,000 The combined circulation of all five editions is over 30,800 homes.

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Window Dressing Create a new look for your windows An important part of interior design involves the window furnishings. Whether one selects curtains or blinds, the colour, design and fabric will go a long way towards setting the style to indiviualise the home. Nowadays there is a huge range of curtains and blinds, including venetian, roman, pleated, vertical and roller blinds, all of which are available in a variety of fabrics and materials. The diversity is such that making a choice can be problematic.

The Blind Lady is a local, family run business and one of the partners, Helen, told Sussex Local that they are dedicated to offer professional advice and recommendation to their customers to help them choose blinds or curtains which will be complementary to their existing design, be it traditional or ultra modern. Information and support is offered from the initial consultation, through purchase, fitting and after sales. She explained that the team have over twenty years combined experience and being a small independent firm they are able to

Local Business Profile 13 buy from major manufacturers to offer a wide choice at prices to suit all budgets. They specialise in conservatory roof and side blinds and Helen and Chris cover all areas between Worthing and Chichester and have recently expanded to include Bosham, Selsey, Petworth and Midhurst Helen (below left) is particularly pleased that the firm have been accepted by Checkatrade which she hopes will substantiate their reputation as a local firm that local people can rely on.

As Spring approaches and thoughts turn to brightening up existing decor or investing in something entirely new, The Blind lady will be delighted to welcome your enquiry.

For a free quotation call 01243 278941 or 07795 389695 or visit www.theblindlady.co.uk Chris - fitting conservatory blinds

Helen Parsons - The Blind Lady

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CHICHESTER LOCAL Those leaflets aren’t going to deliver themselves you know You know the ones. The left overs from the last print run.

The ones in the cupboard, just by the envelopes and last year’s accounts...

Let’s get those leaflets working for you. We can deliver them for you with next month’s Chichester Local for just £40 per 1,000 (minimum quantity 2,000 you can pick specific areas) or £35 per 1,000 for quantities over 10,000 (when combined with other Sussex Local editions).

Lazy leaflets. Don’t put up with them.

CHICHESTER LOCAL 01903 868 474

info@sussexlocal.net

Gardening 15

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In Your Garden Monthly gardening ideas and tasks by Bo Cook from Alitura Landscape & Garden Design Alternatively you can work to a restricted palette and choose one colour, or a combination of colours. Choose colours that work together in harmony (colours next to each other on the colour wheel) for example reds, oranges and yellows, or in contrast (colours opposite each other on the colour wheel) such as reds and greens maybe, or oranges and blues.You can also meet in the middle of eclectic and simple. If you have a lot of different containers, plant them up with a restricted palette of plants.

Alternatively, a selection of similar pots will look great with a mix of bedding types and colours.

The uncharacteristic warm weather has continued to confuse our gardens, and our plants-people.

My local independent nursery has failed to open his doors to us keen galanthophiles because his snowdrops all came out to early. Another nursery I know is selling off snowdrops cheap in order to get rid of them because of this weather. It is worrying. How will this affect our plants this year?

Without the prolonged cold snaps, the bugs and pests won’t experience any natural population control, and we will likely be in for a difficult time of it. Arm yourselves with your various weapons this year…

I like to stick to yellow and purple with spring bedding. My usual is native primrose with Polyanthus ‘Stella Pheasants Eye’ surrounded by bunches of delicate snowdrops. I keep the plants in situ year

Kaleidoscopes of Colour Yup! It is that time of year when the nurseries pack in the bedding plants – wall to wall! There are so many varieties and forms out there that I actually get sensory overload when I pop into the greenhouses.

The great thing about the variety is that you have choice. You can go grab one of everything and stuff them into all your empty pots and containers and really jazz it up – no holes barred! There are definitely times when eclectic works.

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16 Gardening through and they just nestle under the main perennials through the summer and pop out again in the spring. Some people rip up their bedding and throw them away, but if they are perennials then why waste them?

Keeping the Borders Under Control I don’t mean tidy, I mean keeping the rhythm and flow throughout the borders.

As a designer I am constantly buying and trying new plants. This makes my garden look a bit restless, when I in fact want it be restful! If you have similar issues (can’t keep from buying plants) then spend some time observing the garden and think about what plants you could use to increase rhythm in the garden. It may be a lot of geranium (just one variety!!) and then some box balls placed in key locations to draw they eye around the

CHICHESTER LOCAL garden. Or it may be creating a simple backdrop of single species hedges, or weaving swathes of grasses through the borders.

It is possible to keep the borders under control… but just keep it simple and don’t get too carried away with buying ‘ones’ of everything. Buy many of the same plant instead! Be brave!

Getting the Children Inspired I dug out my old Flower Fairies books from when I was a child last week. We have engulfed the whole set already! One per night, all poems read and all dresses and outfits discussed! I was delighted that my daughter recognised some of the flowers. The pictures are so intricate and lifelike – it is almost the child’s own Plant ID book! I am going to arm myself with some newer prints to keep handy for our walks!

Last month I took my little one to my local nursery and we chose some hyacinth, which she carried home and planted out into a pot, and we watched it grow. We watched the stem lengthen and flowers unfurl, and we smelt its beautiful scent.

It was a lovely experience and I would recommend taking the children to buy some bedding plants

through the door this March, and plant some into a pot that they can easily see. And just chat about it as it grows.

Accessory of the Month With all this bedding to plant, it has to be a good trowel. I’ve been through many cheap ones in my time. They bend and snap, the handle breaks, and I have even had one where the metal spoon end has split. The worst one is the one that bends on the neck every time you insert into the ground – as though you are trying to push it into bedrock, rather than the lovely soft humus that is the reality!

So don’t skimp on a trowel. Spend a bit more, and get one that makes your garden work satisfying rather than frustrating.

Enjoy your trowelling!

Bo Cook telephone 01273 401581 or visit www.alitura.co.uk

Gardening 17 Garden Tasks for March Prune it: Cut out old hellebore leaves to keep the plant tidy. Prune shrub and bush roses now.

Cut back out of control climbers now as you can identify dead stems and live stems as the buds appear!

Mow it: Mow the lawn on a dry day – and in this mild weather it will need it. While you are on the lawn, scarifying will also be a good idea to encourage new grass growth.

Divide it: Divide clumps of herbaceous perennials and grasses if not done last month, before they put on too much growth.

Plant it: Plant summer flowering bulbs now.

Weed it: Yes! It is that time again when you have to get the kneeler out!

Mulch it: Mulch new plants to help them establish in the absence of competition.

Deadhead it: Start deadheading to encourage more flowers for your plant. Bedding plants perform much better if you spend a bit of time on them.

Check it: Time to get out the torches and get slug and snail hunting. I feel we may be in for a bad year in the absence of hard frosts.

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18 Walks

Local Walks - March

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 minutes 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.

01243 534589 health@chichester.gov.uk www.chichesterwellbeing.org.uk. L = Walk Leader Fri 4th March 10:30am ANGMERING PARK L: Peter 2 hours 4 miles Mainly flat walk through woods and meadows. Meet: Car park in the woods at the Dover. Map ref TQ061065 Mon 7th March 10:30am TILLINGTON via PITSHILL L: Gerald 1 hour 30 mins 3 miles A lovely & interesting walk around Tillington. Meet: The Horse Guards Inn, Upperton Road, Tillington, GU28 9AF. Tues 8th March 10:30am CHI CENTURION WAY L: Andrew 2 hours Via the Brandy Hole Copse, Centurion Way and Summersdale; flat Meet: Brandy Hole Lane.

4 miles

Thurs 10th March 10:30am SLINDON WOODS/DUKES RD L: Dominic 1 hour 15 mins 2¼ miles Generally flat, gravel path. Some muddy areas and short inclines. Meet: NT Car Park, Dukes Road, Slindon.

Fri 11th March 10:30am WATERGATE L: Jane 2 hours 4 miles There are 2 steepish climbs and stiles .Meet: At the junction of the B2146 and the Walderton Stoughton Road.

Mon 14th March 10.30am EMSWORTH-WESTBOURNE L: Anne 1 hour 30 mins 2.5 miles.

Through meadows to Emsworth and back. Meet: In Emsworth Town Square. Park in public car park (pay & display) Tues 15th March 10.30am CHILGROVE L:Andrew 1 hour 30mins 3 miles Up into Philliswood and back along sunken lanes; stiles; no dogs. Meet: ‘White Horse’ Inn, Chilgrove car park.

Wed 16th March 10.30am MIDHURST QE1 OAK L: Peter 2 hours 4 miles Walk past Cowdray ruins and Polo grounds to the 1000 year old Queen Elizabeth I Oak. Not suitable for beginners.

Meet: Main car park just north of the centre of Midhurst, behind the bus station. Map ref SU887218.

Thurs 17th March 10.30am LAVINGTON COMMON L: Fiona 1 hour 30 mins 3 miles Lovely wooded heathy walk near Graffham. Quite flat but can be muddy. Meet: at Lavington Common car park.

Mon 21st March 10:30am COMPTON L: Andrew 2 hours 4 miles Up through East Hanger to Bevis’s Thumb; long views Meet: Recreation ground car park, just south of the village.

Wed 23rd March 10:30am FORD L: Peter 2 hrs 30mins Walk through Ford airfield and alongside the River Arun. Meet: Car park outside Climping Church.

4.5 miles

Thurs 24th March 10.00am CHI CATHEDRAL - BOSHAM L: Jane 2 hours 4 miles A flat walk starts at the Cathedral, it takes an urban route quickly out of the city to meadows, fields and shoreline, to reach the village of Bosham. It can be muddy and uneven underfoot and does have stiles. Returning by bus.

Fri 25th March 10:30am Meet: West Stoke car park.

KINGLEY VALE

L: Peter

1 hour 30 mins 3 miles

Sun 27th March 10.30am AROUND THORNEY ISLAND L: Dominic 4 hours 8 miles Not suitable for beginners. Be aware this is a double length walkwithout the chance to short-cut.Flat terrain. Might be muddy in places. Meet: Junction of Thorney Road and Thornham Lane - SU756049 (Nearest Postcode PO10 8DB).

Mon 28th March 10.30am HAYLING Oyster beds and fields. Meet: between two bungalows. PO11 0LU.

L: Peter

1 hour 30 mins 3 miles

Tues 29th March 10.30am SLINDON ESTATE L: Simon 2 hours 4 miles Walk passing through farmland, woodland as well as visiting Slindon Folly. Good paths and no stiles. Wonderful views. Meet: at the road entrance to Slindon College and the National Trust Slindon Estate.

Wed 30th March 10:30am COCKING HILL - WEST DEAN L: Bruce 2 hrs 40 mins 5.75 miles Ascent 250m. Moderately strenuous linear walk with 5 stiles, visiting the 13 Chalk Stone sculptures by Andy Goldsworthy. Meet: Cocking South Downs Way Car Park SU875166 (Nearest postcode GU29 0HS)

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Free Special Drop In Event For Independent Financial Advice Friday 4 March 10am – 2pm The Assembly Room, The Council House, North St. Chichester PO19 1LQ

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Hilton Avisford Park Charity Ball

Earlier this year, nine local charities were invited to Hilton Avisford Park to receive a share of monies raised at the Hotel's Charity Ball, A Night at the Casino Royale, held last October. Almost £12,000 was raised at the Ball.

Half the monies raised went to the following local recipients: Walberton & Binsted CE Primary School, Littlehampton Swimming Club, Arundel C of E Primary School, Fethneys - Leonard Cheshire Disability, Barnham Trojans, Aldingbourne County Primary School, St Richard's Nursery Unit, Chestnut Tree House and Springwood Infant &

St Wilfrid’s Hospice Nursing Team

The work of St Wilfrid’s Hospice stretches way beyond its Donnington premises, and this outreach care is aptly demonstrated by the role of the Clinical Nursing Staff (CNS) who provide palliative care support, advice, care coordination and much more throughout the community. There are ten CNS nurses, and their

Junior School. The remaining half went to the Hotel's charity partner, DM Thomas Foundation for Young People, whose mission is to improve the education and wellbeing of disabled, sick and disadvantaged young people and whose vision is of a world where all children and young people are ABLE to transform their lives for the better.

01243 558 306 arundel.hilton.com main role is to provide support to patients and their families, advise on symptom control, and provide direction to other related services, including for example, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, chaplaincy and carers. Listening, understanding, and helping patients come to terms with their illness are the key qualities demonstrated by this dedicated team which brings the support of the Hospice into the community. www.stwh.co.uk

Pet of the Month – Juliette

T w o - ye a r - o l d Ju l i e t t e arrived at the Cat & Rabbit Rescue Centre in July 2015. Due to an ongoing condition, Juliette would need to be a house cat and would also need to live in a house with no other cats.

She would also be covered by the Centre’s Foster Care Scheme, which means that any health problems she might have will be treated by the CRRC vet at no cost to her new owner. CRRC Sidlesham PO20 7RJ 01243 641409 info@crrc.co.uk www.crrc.co.uk

Jan-IT PC Repairs - Maintenance Troubleshooting - Training - Networks Home or Small Business 15 years experience call Janet janet@jan-IT.com

07463 151 648

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Pancake Flipping Choristers There were psalms and pancakes at Chichester Cathedral this pancake day, when the young choristers got to enjoy so m e ‘ p a n c a ke practice’ in their choir rehearsal on pancake day – the boys, aged 8 to 12, enjoy a pancake party every Shrove Tuesday. The 900 year old Cathedral has architectural and artistic treasures from every century since its foundation, and is especially famous for its modern art. Chichester Cathedral is open every day with free entry, free guided tours and special trails for children. Services take place daily and all are welcome. Visitors will also find regular exhibitions, talks, concerts, and Cloisters Café and Shop. www.chichestercathedral.org.uk 01243 782595 info@chichestercathedral.org.uk Twitter: @ChiCathedral

Mothering Sunday Open Garden Tom and Sarah Williams look forward to welcoming visitors on Mothering Sunday, 6th March and Tuesday, 8th March to their garden at Aldsworth House, Aldsworth. The six acre garden last opened

Charity & Community 23 in 2012, since when a number of changes have been made, the sheets of spring bulbs have spread and other areas have matured well. Light refreshments are available all day in aid of St Wilfrid’s Hospice, and there will be a short film showing the garden and family in 1930s, and a Childrens Quiz. The garden will open from 11am to 5pm, and entry is in aid of the National Garden Scheme (Yellow Book): £4 Adults, Children free. Aldsworth House, PO10 8QT. www.ngs.org.uk

Chichester Joins National City of Sanctuary A local branch of the National City of Sanctuary Movement, a community wide network and charity, has launched in Chichester. Sanctuary in Chichester (SC), a community group of over 50 people, aims to provide a culture of welcome and hospitality for refugees and asylum seekers, and is working with the County Council and District Councils of Chichester and Arun to help implement the Government’s Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme. Under that scheme 20,000 people from Syrian Refugee Camps will be settled in the UK by 2020. Sanctuary in Chichester aims to welcome up to ten families, all with official refugee status, in the next two years to the area. Roger Pask rogerpask@btinternet.com www.cityofsanctuary.org

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Prize Crossword

Win a ÂŁ30 Toucan Beauty voucher

Chichester March 16 January 2016 solution shown below.

ACROSS: 7) Bold, 8) Pekinese, 9) Red, 10) Hilt, 11) Hour, 13) Cohort, 14) Hippos, 15) Rotter, 18) Sundae, 20) Edit, 21) Vary, 22) Lot, 24) Landlady, 25) Ease.

DOWN: 1) Bolero, 2) Odd, 3) Sprint, 4) Sketch, 5) In the pink, 6) Pseudo, 12) Fortitude, 16) Ordeal, 17) Reveal, 18) Strays, 19) Arouse, 23) Leg. Winner: Denise Rose 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

7 Bargain (4)

1 Unwholesome (9)

8 Union member (8)

2 Maintenance (6)

9 Stage of growth (11)

3 World beater (6-7)

11 Panic (4) 12 Destroy (8) 13 Youngsters (8) 15 Short cut (4)

Closing date: 31st March 2016.

Good luck!

4 Government leader (5, 8) 5 Of the backbone (6) 6 Away (3) 10 Cinema attendant (9) 14 Spring flowers (6)

16 Beardless (5, 6)

15 Eccentric (6)

18 Separate (8)

17 Deep hole (3)

19 High flyer (4) Name:....................................................................................................

Full address: ......................................................................................... ..............................................................................................................

Postcode: ..............................................................................................

Email: ....................................................................................................

Phone: ...................................................................................................

Mobile: .................................................................................................

Win a ÂŁ30 Voucher from Toucan Beauty Honest and Effective Beauty for Ladies and Gentlemen 01243 530696 www.toucanbeauty.co.uk 4, Stockbridge Place, Stockbridge Road, Donnington, PO19 8QH

Sussex Local & Toucan Beauty may wish to keep in touch with occasional information and offers. We will never share your details with third parties.

Please tick here if you consent to receive information.

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26 Recipe

CHICHESTER LOCAL

Bread and Butter Pudding with Rhubarb compote This delicious version of a light bread and butter pudding is great served with refreshingly tangy roasted pink rhubarb, hot or cooled. and remaining sugar Ingredients (serves 5-6): and sprinkle over the 50g butter, 250ml milk, 150ml double cream, Few drops vanilla extract, 2 free range eggs plus 2 egg yolks, 75g castor sugar, 125g fresh white bread crumbs, Rhubarb Compote:, 750g rhubarb, trimmed and cut in 3cm pieces, Juice of 1 orange, 85g sugar

Method: 1 Heat the milk, cream and vanilla in a medium size pan until beginning to bubble.

Whisk eggs and yolks with 60g sugar until pale and thick, then whisk in the hot milk. Add 75g of crumbs and leave to soak for 10 minutes.

2 Heat the oven to 180C/350F/gas Mark 4.

Transfer the pudding mixture into a buttered ovenproof dish. Mix the butter with the crumbs

pudding. Bake until golden and still wobbly (about 30 mins).

3 Put the prepared rhubarb, orange juice and sugar into an ovenproof dish and cook, below the pudding, for about 20 minutes or until tender.

Cookery Classes for all in Tangmere Why not give a VOUCHER for the perfect Gift Contact Alex 01243 532240 www.cookwithalex.co.uk

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28 Local People

Action in Rural Sussex Promoting the interests of people in rural communities.

By Veronica Cowan Barby Dashwood-Morris

The origins of Action in Rural Sussex are much older than I had imagined: it was established in 1931, as Sussex Rural Community Council, and its vision for Sussex is of an inclusive, active, community life valued equally alongside economic success and environmental protection. Its role is the provision of practical help and support to communities across Sussex, to encourage and enable them to be vibrant, living and working places.

Barby Dashwood-Morris has been its chairman since 2012, and has plans to retire in March 2016. She became involved after being asked to head up the Parish Action Plan Steering Group, and approached Action in Rural Sussex for

professional assistance. Within weeks she was giving presentations at seminars on how to do it.

“Most of my professional life was in general management, although I trained as an accountant and legal advocate.” She has lived in Sussex for seventeen years and took early retirement in 2002 to escape commuting to London, and has since been a trustee of several local charities and an accredited mediator. “I am both a District and Parish Councillor and an active ‘Friend’ of many rural and countryside organisations [and] passionate about protecting the countryside, the rural economy, affordable housing and sustainable growth.”

Do rural environments need protection, and promotion, and can you name some examples of where advocacy has been particularly beneficial?

Noting that the organisation has been part of the Sussex ‘scene’ since its formation, she observes that - unlike other charities that have a rural focus - Action in Rural Sussex exists to promote the interests of people and communities in rural Sussex rather than its countryside. “Ever since the 1960s there has been a growing awareness of the need to protect, and more recently promote, the rural environment. Our job, however, is to help villages in Sussex keep their young and more senior people, their jobs and most importantly their sense of community. One of the hardest parts of advocating something, especially if it goes against the grain of straightforward economics, is accepting that the job is never done.”

Over the years the organisation has tried to ensure that when decisions are being made that look straightforward from a ‘business’ perspective the potential impact on less well-off people in rural

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30 Local People

areas are considered. “There would certainly be fewer village community post offices if we had not worked consistently hard over many rounds of cost-cutting and closures to lessen the impact of these on smaller rural village. The job is never complete and we are seeing even now the impact of reductions in subsidised bus services, closure of rural youth services and housing becoming very unaffordable for young families in rural areas.”

As to the kind of projects Action in Rural Sussex has managed, she comments that, in many ways what rural communities need is not best provided through short-term projects, but making sure they know where they can go for appropriate advice, and that its source is still there years later: “There is a fashion for short-term projects focussed on urban areas and often by the time people in rural communities find out about them the funding is no longer available. Intensive, short term ‘hits’ of activity can be effective in urban areas but tend to be more expensive to deliver in rural ones.

Consequently, over the years, we have run a number of projects that have had a beneficial long -term impact.” A few years ago it persuaded one of the health authorities to allocate capital to enable village halls to re-equip themselves with high quality, safe catering kitchens. This meant volunteers could set up local lunch clubs for people at risk of becoming isolated and lonely.

“We backed the project with a project worker, who not only distributed the capital grants but also helped get the lunch clubs set up. Many are still going strong twenty years later.”

It’s almost impossible to get government funding

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to assist with projects now, she observes, and the challenge is that rural people are dispersed throughout many small communities, which is especially true of those with social needs. “This makes these people much more expensive to reach than those with similar difficulties in urban

01243 850076 01903 890129

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32 Local People areas. Value for money is key for all government organisations, so we inevitably see public money being spent where the best ‘bang for the buck’ can be achieved. Rural people have little choice but to revert to doing things for themselves and this is what we aim to help them to do.”

As to whether it is easy to interest local people in the things Action in Rural Sussex does, she said that a few years ago people in villages immediately put up barriers when something - like affordable housing for local people - was mentioned. “Now, there is much more interest as everyone is realising that a community made up entirely of people who are over fifty is not viable and probably no fun to live in! The debate has moved on to: how the local community can take control; get the development it believes it needs; and pass on the benefits of living in one of the beautiful rural villages to the next generation without spoiling it for their children. “We have found that the initiative of Neighbourhood Planning has great potential to help with this and have been coaching many communities through the process of preparing theirs.”

However, she comments that raising money for Action in Rural Sussex as a charity is more difficult. “We are a bit more removed from our beneficiaries than many charities. We believe in

CHICHESTER LOCAL helping communities identify their own needs and finding their own solutions. We tend to help behind the scenes and this does not make us an obvious candidate for charity giving. However, some people with a strong philanthropic streak can see the value of our approach and this makes for very committed long term support.”

Looking back what would you say are your most satisfying achievements? “This is very hard to answer – Action in Rural Sussex has achieved so much just in the time I have been a trustee. But one of the proudest moments was when I visited a brand new village hall, with its own solar and wind powered energy provision. We had held the hands of the trustees throughout the process of planning, building, finding the funding and here it was - a warm and cosy space in the middle of winter serving the needs of the local crèche, luncheon club and all sorts – wonderful!”

Tel: 01273 473422 Fax: 01273 483109 Email: info@ruralsussex.org.uk Sussex House, 212 High Street, Lewes, BN7 2NH

Should you unlock your former employer pension benefits?

By Richard Cohen JP FPFS ACII MCSI Chartered Financial Planner When was the last time you thought about your former employers? A strange question but I often ask clients to think back to previous employments. Why? Because quite often they would have had a benefits package in place, which ceased when they left that employment. In particular they may have had contributions paid into a pension scheme for them.

However, there are key considerations around these schemes, which can determine whether they are best left where they are or moved elsewhere. The level of death benefits they provide, the amount of control you have over the pension fund and how you can take it and also the financial security of your former employer are all important points to consider.

Many people have accumulated pension benefits via employer funded pension schemes, which are long forgotten once they move to a new employer.

Whilst annual statements are sent for such schemes, if you have moved house since changing employer then you and your pension benefits can easily lose track of each other.

Worthing and the surrounding areas have been home to some large employers over the years who would have had such schemes in place. Companies such as London & Edinburgh, Smithkline Beecham and Lloyds Registrars to name but a few.

If you have ever worked for any of these companies and/or you think you may have some accumulated benefits, take time to get them properly reviewed.

Often we find that the accumulated benefits can be much more substantial than the client first thought.

Occupational Pensions Schemes – also called Final Salary or Defined Benefit Schemes work differently to personal pension plans and historically have had valuable benefits attached to them, which has meant they should be left where they are until you needed to access them.

We are running a free seminar on this subject, giving more information about how to find any benefits you may have lost track of, the importance of reviewing these benefits and an insight into the options available. Full details can be found on the opposite page.

See www.nsurefinancial.co.uk or to arrange a free review call Sarah Gray on 01903 821010

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33

CHICHESTER LOCAL

34 Competition/Advertiser Index

Waterloo Stories Win a copy of Voices from the Past, Waterloo 1815, a fascinating collection of battle stories.

For more than twenty years Europe had been torn apart by war. Dynasties had crumbled, new states had been created and a generation had lost its young men. When it seemed that peace might at last settle across Europe, terrible news was received – Napoleon had escaped from exile and was marching upon Paris. Europe braced itself once again for war. The allied nations agreed to combine against Napoleon and in May 1815 they began to mass on France's frontiers. The scene was set for the greatest battle the world had yet seen.West Sussex based author, John Grehan has written, edited or contributed to more than 300 military history books, journals and magazines, and between 2007 and 2014 was the Assistant Editor of Britain at War Magazine. His interest in the Napoleonic war has resulted in his latest release, Aerials and Satellites FT Solutions Bathrooms Scott Jenkins Bathroom Studio Blinds Stock Blinds The Blind Lady - Helen Cleaning Home and Dry Computer Services Jan IT Conservatories and Garden Room Room Outside Council West Sussex County Council Dentures Changing Faces Electricians RW Electrical Estate Agency Cubitt and West Flooring Rad Flooring Foster Care Superdream Garden Design Alitura Mark Payne Landscape Design Shakespeares Landscapes

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Voices from the Past: Waterloo 1815. Composed of more than 300 eye-witness accounts, official documents, parliamentary debates and newspaper reports, Waterloo 1815 tells the story of Napoleon's last battles as they were experienced and reported by the men and woman involved. Heroic cavalry charges, devastating artillery bombardments, terrible injuries, heart-breaking encounters, and amusing anecdotes, written by aristocratic officers and humble privates alike, fill the pages of this book. Many of these reports have not been reproduced for almost 200 years. The book is available from Pen & Sword books ISBN: 9781783831999 www.pen-and-sword.co.uk

Win a copy of Voices from the Past Waterloo Q: In which year was the Battle of Waterloo?

A:

A) 1715

B) 1815

C) 1915

Send your answer and full contact details including daytime telephone number to: ‘Voices Waterloo 1815 Competition, PO Box 2237, Pulborough RH20 9AH or email competitions@sussexlocal.net Winner will be first entry drawn after the closing date 31 December 2015.

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