Sussex Local Magazine - Findon DECEMBER 2022

SUSSEX

Cover image: UK's tallest living Christmas tree at Wakehurst

HELLO!

With Christmas rapidly approaching, it looks like “business as usual” for the organisers of the numerous Christmas markets, fairs, pantos and concerts in our region. Do take a look at our comprehensive What’s On listings where you’ll find plenty to put you in the festive mood. I’ve come across several heartwarming initiatives aimed at helping those struggling to make ends meet, never mind extra Christmas expenses. Local charity My Sisters’ House Women’s Centre helped 306 local families put something under the tree for their children last year and want to do the same this year. They would be so grateful for donations of any new, unwrapped gifts for children and young teenagers, they also need small items for stocking fillers. They are collecting until Saturday 10th December, you can donate at www.mysistershouse.info /donate or they have their own Amazon wishlist: www.bit.ly/MSHxmas22

However you celebrate the festive season, we wish a happy, healthy and peaceful break to all our readers and advertisers.

Until next time, Merry Christmas & Happy New Year, Kris & Jeff

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. Views and opinions of contributors are not necessarily those of the publisher.

Quote of the month...

“To appreciate the beauty of a snowflake it is necessary to standout in the cold.” - ARISTOTLE

CONTENTS

What's On

Valerie MartinDecember memories

Win tickets to Jack & The Beanstalk Panto

Creating a Rose Garden

Poperty - Windows to add value to your home

Showroom bathrooms

Prize Crossword - Win £30 voucher for the Highdown Hotel

Motoring - how to avoid scratches

Recipe - Tomato & Spinach Tagliatelle

SUSSEX

LOCAL

Health & WellbeingChristmas 'rules'

Impact Initiatives, Sussex charity supporting healthy living

Local Guided Walks

Charity & Community News

Findon Valley Residents Association

Local council news

Win tickets to Plumpton Racecourse

Local Business Directory

Index of Advertisers

Advertising from only £10 per edition

Established in 2007, we publish and hand-deliver seven editions free of charge to over 45,000 homes and businesses every month. We welcome reader letters and community notices which we publish free of charge.

ARUNDEL and surroundings – 6,829 addresses BARNHAM and surroundings – 6,063 addresses CHICHESTER city centre and suburbs – 6,227 addresses FINDON and surroundings – 7,196 addresses MIDHURST / PETWORTH and surroundings – 7,074 addresses PULBOROUGH and surroundings – 5,952 addresses SOUTHWATER and surroundings – 7,100 addresses STORRINGTON and surroundings – 6,611 addresses

Kay Publishing Ltd PO Box 2237 Pulborough RH20 9AH info@sussexlocal.net |www.sussexlocal.net | 01903 868474

What’s On - December 2022

Event organisers please enter your event details on www.sussexlocal.net/events add/ We regret that we cannot accept submissions by email. We take the details from our website for the magazine listings which can appear in up to all seven editions distributed to over 46,000 addresses. Charity, community and non profit events are free of charge (subject to space). Commercial events can be listed from just £25 plus VAT which includes promotion through Facebook & Twitter. Deadline for January events to be put on website 4th December

CHRISTMAS EVENTS

1st Dec 2nd Jan 9:00 AM The Nutcracker Christmas Trail Follow the trail and discover the names of the 11 Nutcracker Kings guarding the city of Chichester PO19 1LQ Chichester BID office@chichesterbid.co.uk www.chichesterbid.co.uk/christmas

1st, 8th & 15th Dec 10:00 AM Needlefelting

Christmas Decorations A WEA online adult education class in 7 sessions, with tutor Valerie Evans. Course ref 3748118 Online on Zoom 47.6 / concessions Catherine chichester.branch@wea.ac.uk www.wea.org.uk/ 1st Dec 2nd Jan 10:30 AM Tree Mendous Christmas Explore Petworth House to see Christmas trees taking centre stage this season. Petworth House and Park GU28 9LR 01798 342207 petworth@nationaltrust.org.uk nationaltrust.org.uk/petworth 02/12/2022 10:00 AM Squire's Garden Centres

Christmas Wreath Masterclass Come along and create a traditional Christmas wreath in a seasonal masterclass at Squire's Garden Centre Washington RH20 3BP £35 wash.shop@squiresgardencentres.co.uk 01252 333671 www.squiresgardencentres.co.uk/ shop/customer events/groupid/5411/day/2/ month/12/year/2022.html

3rd, 10th & 17th Dec 12:00 PM Santa's Grotto Visit Father Christmas this December, every child will receive a gift. Arundel Museum BN18 9PA £5 David office@arundelmuseum.org 03/12/2022 7:00 PM GLORIA A Celebration of Christmas Bersted Community Choir, Christmas Quartet & Southdowns Concert Band perform a Christmas Concert St. Wildrid’s Church Bognor Regis PO21 2SG £10 connect@berstedarts.com www.berstedarts.com

04/12/2022 10:30 AM Tree Dressing at the Weald & Downland Museum A magical Tree Dressing event for all the family. Weald & Downland Living Museum PO18 0EU 01243 811363 office@wealddown.co.uk www.wealddown.co.uk/events/tree dressing 2/ 04/12/2022 7:00 PM Evening of Christmas carols Join Sandgate Singers for an evening of carols and refreshments. All are welcome. Our Lady of England Church Storrington RH20 4LW £12 / under 16s free Sandgate Singers johnandsylvi@btinternet.com

5th 10th Dec 7:30 PM Christmas Concerts at Chichester Festival Theatre The Band of HM Royal Marines Collingwood and Chichester Cathedral Choir with Christmas music Chichester Festival Theatre PO19 6AP From £10 01243 781312 box.office@cft.org.uk www.cft.org.uk

06/12/2022 2:00 PM Regis Centre 2 O'Clock Club Xmas Show 2 O'clock Club Xmas Show. Studio 1, Regis Centre PO21 1BN £6 / discounts for children and £4.50 for 'friends' Hazel Latus 01243 867676 hazel.latus@regiscentre.co.uk www.alexandratheatre.co.uk

9th 11th Dec 1:00 PM Cowfold Christmas Tree Festival St Peter's Church, Cowfold RH13 8BW will be filled with Christmas trees! £5 Friday, £2 Saturday & Sunday Helen Stanfield 01403 865038 hstanfield4@gmail.com

09/12/2022 7:30 PM 'Christmas Concert' A show of musical theatre hits together with festive songs & treats. Studio 1, Regis Centre PO21 1BN £10 Hazel alexandratheatre.co.uk hazel.latus@regiscentre.co.uk 01243 867676

10/12/2022 10:30 AM Dear Santa A Christmas show for ages 2 7, who can meet Santa in his grotto as well. Chichester Festival Theatre PO19 6AP £16 / half price under 16s box.office@cft.org.uk www.cft.org.uk

More events on www.sussexlocal.net please contact event organisers to check for changes

10th 23rd Dec 10:30 AM Green

Father Christmas This December the Weald & Downland are welcoming a very special guest Green Father Christmas. Weald & Downland Living Museum PO18 0EU 01243 811363 office@wealddown.co.uk www.wealddown.co.uk/events/meet green father christmas/

10/12/2022 11:00 AM The Nutcracker

Experience Day Go on a free Nutcracker adventure across the city of Chichester PO19 1LQ Chichester BID office@chichesterbid.co.uk www.chichesterbid.co.uk/christmas

12/12/2022 1:00 PM 4Sight Vision Support

Christmas Concert with Seaford College Chapel Choir. St Mary de Haura Church Shoreham BN43 5DQ £5 Fundraising Team 01243 828555 fundraising@4sight.org.uk www.4sight.org.uk/ fundraising events/

13th 17th Dec 10:00 AM Space to Make Festive

Tech Workshop This festive season get creative with tech to craft & personalise your own gifts at Colonnade House, Worthing BN11 3DH Paula Tollett 01903 221142 paula.tollett@adur worthing.gov.uk colonnadehouse.co.uk/

14/12/2022 6:30 PM Let Christmas Begin

Community Carols A Community Christmas Carol Evening on behalf of The Mary How Trust St Marys Church Pulborough RH20 1AF Lynda Vowles 01798 877640 www.maryhowtrust.org lynda.vowles@maryhowtrust.org

15/12/2022 6:30 PM Carol Service

Chanctonbury Lions Club in conjunction with local churches are holding a Carol Service The Square Storrington RH20 4DJ Phil Abbott 07503 219499 pkabbott1@tiscali.co.uk

15/12/2022 7:30 PM The Midhurst Society

Christmas event The Siena Singers entertain for Christmas South Downs Memorial Hall GU29 9DH £3 Tina Litchfield 01730 816542 tms@tinagavin.com www.midhurstsociety.org.uk

17/12/2022 9:00 AM Chichester Festive Family Day Enjoy a line up of music and entertainment to keep Christmas Spirits High in Chichester City Centre PO19 1LQ office@chichesterbid.co.uk www.chichesterbid.co.uk/christmas

17/12/2022 10:00 AM Willow wreath making workshop Get crafty with nature at RSPB Pulborough Brooks RH20 2EL £20.50 members and £25.50 Non members Lydia 01798 875851 lydia.fletcher@rspb.co.uk events.rspb.org.uk/events/25302

21/12/2022 6:00 PM Petworth Late: Tree mendous Christmas Winter Solstice See the Christmas display in Petworth House out of hours on this winter solstice. Petworth House and Park GU28 9LR 01798 342207 petworth@nationaltrust.org.uk nationaltrust.org.uk/petworth

CLUBS & SOCIETIES

03/12/2022 10:30 AM Parkinson's Support Group 1st Saturday every month support group for people with Parkinson's Washington Village Memorial Hall RH20 4AP £2 Gillian Chard 01903 746871 gillian.chard@btinternet.com

3rd Dec & 3rd Jan 6:45 PM Comic book club looking at graphic novels aimed at adults including literary adaptations, biography, history, journalism, travelogue, memoir, politics etc Private house Barnham PO22 0EF Paul paulw21erin@gmail.com 05/12/2022 8:00 PM Felpham Singles Social Club Social club for widowed, single or divorced of mature age. The George Inn Bognor Regis PO22 7PL Anne Cook 01243 821530 anniecook555@yahoo.co.uk www.felphamsingles.yolasite.com 06/12/2022 2:00 PM Windows 11 What's New? Pulborough Computer Club Pulborough Village Hall RH20 1LP Members £2 Guests £3 Chrissie chrissie@wisborough.com www.pcclub.org.uk 12/12/2022 7:30 PM Pulborough Meadows WI December Meeting A Talk by Katherine Minchin on Christmas Miscellany. A Quiz and Seasonal Refreshments. Pulborough Village Hall RH20 2BF Mary Walker mary.walker50@gmail.com 14/12/2022 7:30 AM Sullington Windmills WI December meeting Sullington Parish Hall RH20 3PP Erika Brichta 01903 742039 erikabrichta@hotmail.co.uk 17/12/2022 10:00 AM Sew What? Stitch Club A small and friendly, independent group run one Saturday morning a month for children aged 8 16. The Marriott Scout Hall Goring BN12 4NR £5 Liz Moon 07912 303367 yeworthing2000@gmail.com

More events on www.sussexlocal.net please contact event organisers to check for changes

04/01/2023 8:00 PM Felpham

Singles Social

Club Monthly social club for single, widowed or divorced of mature age. The George Inn PO22 7PL Anne Cook anniecook555@yahoo.com www.felphamsingles@yolasite.com

COURSES & TUITION

04/12/2022 11:00

AM Nature photography safari This workshop is designed for people who are looking for opportunities to photograph nature RSPB

Pulborough Brooks RH20 2EL £48.50 members / £60.50 non members Lydia 01798 875851 lydia.fletcher@rspb.co.uk events.rspb.org.uk/pulboroughbrooks

09/12/2022 9:30 AM Birding for beginners

Winter Wetlands Learn a little more about winter visitors at RSPB Pulborough Brooks RH20 2EL £20.50 for members and £25.50 for Non members Lydia Fletcher 01798 875851 lydia.fletcher@rspb.co.uk events.rspb.org.uk/ pulboroughbrooks

EXHIBITIONS

01/12/2022 10:00 AM ‘Mavericks: gone AWOL’ A joint exhibition by Chris Dawson and Teresa two artists who share a tendency to break the rules and reinvent the traditions of painting and sculpting Martin Shoreham Art Gallery BN43 5WA shoreham.gallery@gmail.com 01273 272063 www.shorehamgallery.co.uk

1st 4th Dec 10:00 AM Elizabeth Mienert, Worthing Elizabeth's exhibition features watercolour sketches taken directly from her travel sketchbooks Colonnade House BN11 3DH Paula paula.tollett@adur worthing.gov.uk 01903 221142 colonnadehouse.co.uk/event/elizabeth mienert musing and meandering/ 13 24th Dec 10:00 AM A Festive Winter Pop Up Discover local art at the Festive Winter Pop Up at Colonnade House Worthing BN11 3DH 01903 221142 Paula: paula.tollett@adur worthing.gov.uk colonnadehouse.co.uk/event/a festive winter pop up

More events on www.sussexlocal.net please contact event organisers to check for changes

20/12/2022 10:00

AM Walter Wall: Fragments

2 Local artist, Walter Wall is back with this latest collection of work at Colonnade House Worthing BN11 3DH paula.tollett@adur worthing.gov.uk 01903 221142 colonnadehouse.co.uk

FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT

1st 31st Dec 4:15 PM

Christmas At Cowdray A magical mile long light art trail set in the grounds of the Cowdray Estate GU29 9AL £22 hello@lightuptrails.com lightuptrails.com

1st Dec 1st Jan 4:30 PM Glow Wild at Wakehurst

The enchanting winter lantern trail is back at Kew gardens, Wakehurst Haywards Heath RH17 6TN From £14 / Children from £11 Under 4's free. glowwild@kew.org www.kew.org/wakehurst 3rd, 4th, 10th, 11th, 17th & 18th Dec 9:00 AM EDGE Cracking Christmas Pop Ups Find pop up stalls from over 13 different Sussex makers at Edgcumbes Tea & Coffee Arundel BN18 0DF Molly 01243 555755 hello@edgcumbes.co.uk www.edgcumbes.co.uk

17/12/2022 9:00 AM Chichester Festive Family Day Enjoy a line up of music and entertainment to keep Christmas Spirits High in Chichester City Centre PO19 1LQ office@chichesterbid.co.uk www.chichesterbid.co.uk/christmas 26/12/2022 11:00 AM Morris Dancing and Mummers Play with Chanctonbury Ring Morris Men On Boxing Day there will be Morris Dancing and a performance of the ancient Steyning Mummers Play at The Castle Inn in Bramber (BN44 3WE) and then at the Frankland Arms in Washington (RH20 4AL) at 12.30pm Les Blows 07947 014630 lesliegblows@gmail.com

FILM

08/12/2022 7:00 PM Worthing Twinning Association foreign Film Evening The third foreign film in a series of alternating classics. West Worthing Baptist Church BN147LU £5 Christopher c.doidge@btinternet.com 13/12/2022 7:30 PM Rotary Film Night. Downton Abbey A New Era Starring Hugh Bonneville, Michelle Dockery. Bar + Raffle Sullington Village Hall RH20 3PP £5 Ken 01903 740745 kandjcoll@btinternet.com

More events on www.sussexlocal.net please contact event organisers to check for changes

HEALTH & FITNESS

1st, 6th, 7th, 8th, 13th, 14th, 15th Dec 9:30 AM Weekly Yoga Classes in Ashington with Manna Yoga Small, friendly personal Yoga Classes in Ashington Scout Hut RH20 3JX £9 per class Manna Bates 04477 98616821 mariannebates_@hotmail.com

5th & 12th 11:45 AM Wellness Yoga in Bury New Yoga Classes in Bury Village Hall RH20 1PA Wellness Yoga wellnessyoga332@gmail.com

HORSERACING

12/12/2022 10:30 AM Festive Raceday at Plumpton Seven horse races and Christmas fun Plumpton Racecourse BN7 3AL £16 01273 890383 racing@plumptonracecourse.co.uk www.plumptonracecourse.co.uk/events/ goodwin racing christmas raceday/ 20/12/2022 10:30 AM Festive Fun Raceday in Plumpton Seven horse races and festive fun Plumpton Racecourse BN7 3AL £16 01273 890383 plumptonracecourse.co.uk/events/ festive fun raceday

02/01/2023 10:15 AM Sussex National Raceday Enjoy the historic Sussex National. 7 races, live music, food & drink, Plumpton Racecourse BN7 3AL £17 01273 890383 racing@plumptonracecourse.co.uk www.plumptonracecourse.co.uk/events/ goodwin racing sussex national raceday/ MUSIC

02/12/2022 7:30 PM 60 Minutes of Classical Music A monthly 60 minute concert in Studio 1. Studio 1, Regis Centre PO21 1BN £6.50 Hazel hazel.latus@regiscentre.co.uk 01243 867676 www.alexandratheatre.co.uk 08/12/2022 7:00 PM Blues rock artist Chanel McGregor and band tour vocalist and guitarist Chanel McGregor and her three piece band will perform at The Factory Live Worthing BN14 8BX From £16 Stephen sheldrakepr@gmail.com 07412 237772 www.thefactorylive.co.uk 15/12/2022 7:30 PM Dixieland/Trad Jazz Evening of Dixieland and Traditional Jazz with the Featherstone Jazz Four. DRNK Coffee House, Lancing Manor Leisure Estate BN15 0PH Derek 01903 249900 dglittle@ntlworld.com

More events on www.sussexlocal.net please contact event organisers to check for changes

17/12/2022 6:00 PM Leconfield Singers

Featuring ‘Little Jazz Mass’ by Bob Chilcott and other Christmas Carols St Mary’s Church Petworth GU28 OAE £10 £20 (under 18s half price) Ruth treasurer@leconfieldsingers.co.uk www.leconfieldsingers.co.uk/events

SALES & MARKETS

3rd 23rd Dec 9:00 AM Chichester Christmas Market A 21 day Christmas Market offers an array of festive stands, gifts, food, drink & more Chichester City Centre PO19 1LQ 01243 641306 info@woodlandcrafts.co.uk www.chichesterchristmasmarket.co.uk

3rd & 4th Dec 10:00 AM Midhurst

Contemporary Craft Fair Contemporary Craft Fair with over 50 of the Sussex Guild members showing their crafts. Midhurst Rother College GU29 9DT £3 / Students free. info@thesussexguild.co.uk thesussexguild.co.uk

03/12/2022 10:30 AM Arundel Museum Winter

Gift Sale Crafty, quirky, delicious Arundel Museum BN18 9PA Contact Museum Manager: office@arundelmuseum.org www.arundelmuseum.org 01903 885866

03/12/2022 2:00 PM Christmas Fayre 12th Chichester Scout Group HQ PO19 3AB 30p / kids free secretary@12thchichester.org.uk 07796 144541 www.12thchichester.org.uk

10/12/2022 9:00 AM

Pulborough Farmer's Christmas Market Christmas Special with usual produce and cafe.

Pulborough Village Hall RH20 2BF Terri 07711 470635 terriashpool@uwclub.net

15th & 22nd Dec 4:00 PM

Chichester Twilight Christmas Shopping With the Christmas Market and shops opening late, visitors can enjoy festive entertainment Chichester City Centre PO19 1LQ chichesterbid.co.uk office@chichesterbid.co.uk 19/12/2022 9:00 AM Arundel Farmers Market Stalls with fresh/seasonal produce Arundel High Street BN18 9AA arundelfarmersmarket.co.uk 24/12/2022 10:00 AM Cheeki Monkeys Big Baby & Children Market Buy and Sell Preloved Clothes, Toys and equipment; The Shoreham centre BN43 5WU £1.50 cheekimonkeys.co.uk

More events on www.sussexlocal.net please contact event organisers to check for changes

SUSSEX BUSINESS

1st Dec & 2nd Jan 12:00 PM Sussex Innovation Networking events Free series of events aimed at local businesses & entrepreneurs. The University of Sussex Business School Brighton BN1 9SN exteng@sussex.ac.uk

TALKS / DEMOS

02/12/2022 2:30 PM Margaret Watson harpist returns by demand Margaret Watson's demonstration of the harp with display and explanation Storrington Museum RH20 4LL £8 / £6 members storringtonmuseum@hotmail.com www.storringtonmuseum.com 01903 740188

06/12/2022 2:00 PM Arts Society West Sussex ‘Tchaikovsky to Tin Pan Alley’. Talk given by Sandy Burnett Fittleworth Village Hall RH20 1JB Free for members. Visitors welcome for £7 Jackie westsussex@theartssociety.org 01903 411086 theartssocietywestsussex.org

07/12/2022 6:00 PM Inaugural lecture from Professor Claire F Smith Professor Claire Smith explores lessons from the deceased, examining what motivates donors and why donors are still needed. Chowen Lecture Theatre, BSMS Medical Teaching Building Falmer BN1 9PX Professor Claire F Smith 01273 877579 C.Smith@bsms.ac.uk www.brighton.ac.uk 13/12/2022 2:00 PM Christmas a celebratory history Talk by Andy Thomas plus social gathering. Methodist Church Hall GU29 9DU £2 members, £3 visitors 3a 01730 816459 midhurstu3a@gmail.com midhurstu3a.org.uk 09/01/2023 7:15 PM 'The Red Arrows' A talk at Chichester Park Hotel Westhampnett PO19 7QL £8 David Batcock 07502 400657 david.airaces@hotmail.com 11/01/2023 10:00 AM How to start your family tree help with family and local history research. West Sussex Record Office Chichester PO19 1DD £7.5 01243 753602 record.office@westsussex.gov.uk www.westsussex.gov.uk/ro

More events on www.sussexlocal.net please contact event organisers to check for changes

THEATRE / PANTO

1st Dec 2nd Jan 10:15 AM Jack and the Beanstalk Fe Fi Fo Fun with this family pantomime full of magic, fun and laughter. Worthing Pavilion Theatre Marine Parade BN11 3PX Tickets from £10 01903 206206 boxoffice@wtm.uk wtm.uk/events/jack and the beanstalk the pantomime

9th Dec 2nd Jan 10:30 AM All New Adventures of Peter Pan With lots of audience participation and amazing special effects, this promises to be our biggest and most spectacular pantomime ever From £29 01293 553636 www.parkwoodtheatres.co.uk/the hawth/whats on/all new adventures of peter pan 7th Dec 1st Jan 2:00 PM 'Beauty and the Beast' pantomime It's Panto time again, ‘Be Our Guest’ and join Alexandra Theatre, Regis Centre PO21 1BN for a ‘Tale as Old as Time’ £18.50 £20.50. Discounts for under 16s alexandratheatre.co.uk hazel.latus@regiscentre.co.uk 01243 867676

8th 31st Dec 6:00 PM Cinderella Panto at the Capitol Horsham

Boasting a brand new set, spectacular sequences and a few new twists. This year’s traditional pantomime will sweep you off your feet and carry you to the ball! Capitol Theatre Horsham RH12 1RG. From £15 13/12/2022 5:00 PM The Nutcracker & The Mouse King A magical Christmas production from This Is My Theatre that all ages will love. St Nicholas' Church Bramber BN44 3WE £15 / £10 children info@thisismytheatre.com 07732 253311 www.thisismytheatre.com 17th Dec 9th Jan 7:00 PM The Wind in the Willows Chichester Festival Youth Theatre presents the classic tale of Mole, Ratty, Toad and Badger. Chichester Festival Theatre PO19 6AP £10 box.office@cft.org.uk www.cft.org.uk 22nd 27th Dec 11:00 AM Aladdin Follow the story of Aladdin and Princess Jasmin as they embark on their true love story. The Brighton Centre BN1 2GR From £15 01273 290131 brightoncentre.co.uk/whats on/2022/aladdin

More events on www.sussexlocal.net please contact event organisers to check for changes

December Findon memories

By Valerie Martin

Local postal arrangements of the past affected the Gun Inn situated in the centre of Findon. There were no post workers' strikes in those days but the following gives you a flavour of the times 160 years ago and was, in fact, reported in the Brighton Examiner dated 21st October, 1862. The mail deliveries were dicey to say the least and rather hazardous and thus the report…

On Monday a man, who was a stranger, was sent with the mail cart to Brighton, returned after an absence of three hours and said that he had lost the road.

On the previous Saturday morning the mail cart was five hours after time and then the driver was missing, he and the horse having parted company somewhere on the road.

The above intriguing picture shows the Gun Inn in 1863 a year after the newspaper's report. The artist's name is now lost in the mists of time. A bit nearer to our days, Alan Wyatt was the publican of the Gun Inn in the l960s. He used the very same scene on his Christmas Card circulated in 1963 to his customers, neighbours and

A cheery watercolour of Grey Point (bottom left) in The Square in Findon by Clifford Meadway. The Gun Inn (with timber beaming) is shown centre.

Here is the Muntham Clump snow clad landmark as it appeared in 2010. I was fascinated when I saw the scene and snapped this picture (burial site of the Thynne family on the Mumtham Estate.

A crisp "Thistledown" huddled at the eastern end of Nepcote Green and caught on camera in the early 1900s. The snow covered lane leading to the north side of Cissbury Ring can be discerned on the left of the property.

My photograph dated 2004 of carol singers outside St. John the Baptist Church in Findon. My stories even make the be scarved clad snowmen chuckle as I captured them doing a spot of eventide carol singing in the chill air. Please do not bother to go and look for them. They promptly scampered off into the gloom of the woods with their lantern when they realised I was taking their photograph for posterity.

Jack & the Beanstalk: The pantomime

Expect magic, sparkle & brilliant fun for all the faimly

Conn Artists’ Ross Muir as Dame Trott, Heartbeat's Darren ClewlowSmith as Fleshcreep and the voice of Brian Blessed as the giant!

Win a family ticket to see Jack and the Beanstalk at the Worthing Pavilion Theatre, Worthing from 1st December to 2nd January (excluding Saturday 17th Monday 23rd December), winner can choose which date subject to availability. Visit www.wtm.uk/panto

outloud comedy and all your favourite pantomime traditions, Jack and the Beanstalk promises to be Worthing’s most spectacular pantomime yet!

This year’s panto features award winning musical comedian Katie Pritchard as Jack, Children’s TV legend Dave Benson Phillips as The King, Boyband A1’ Mark Read as Prince Loui, Strictly Come Dancing’s Flavia Cacace Mistry as the Fairy, the

Send your answer and contact details to: Jack & the Beanstalk Competition, PO Box 2237, Pulborough, RH20 9AH or you can enter online at: www.sussexlocal.net/features/competitions Winner drawn after 18th December 2022. Please indicate if you wish to remain on our mailing list.

How important is your Will?

By Will Writer Emma Wells MIPW

It’s the run up to Christmas and most of you will hopefully be full of the festive spirit and let’s be honest, writing your Will is probably the last thing on your mind at the moment and I’m certainly not suggesting that they make great Christmas presents either, although it may be one step better than a last minute panic buy at the local service station.

One question we get asked a lot is “What happens if I don’t have a Will”? In short, you place yourself in a position of having no say in what happens to your estate and leave your family open to the process of intestacy. There is no legal requirement to have a Will and surprisingly just over 50% of the adult population in the UK don’t currently have any provision in place. Depending on your circumstances, you may feel there is little reason to spend a few hundred pounds in getting something drawn up and under the current economic situation, many of you may choose to use that money on heating your homes rather than writing out your legacy. It’s all

about choice, what you feel is important and whether or not you are happy to let others make those decisions for you once you have gone. There are numerous things to consider when it comes to assets, pensions, savings and belongings too. Dying intestate means that someone else has to pick up the pieces, whether that’s a partner, your children or a close friend. If you haven’t expressed your wishes or how you would like your estate to be divided it up, it falls on those left, to make those decisions for you. Ultimately there are many benefits to producing a Will and very few negatives.

Merry Christmas!

Please do get in touch on 01903 821010 or email wills@nsure.co.uk

In Your Garden Monthly gardening ideas & tasks

by Andrew Staib of Glorious Gardens

Designing your own Rose Garden

Roses have been in cultivation since 500BC in the Mediterranean, Persia and China though they first appeared on earth about 50 million years ago. In China they symbolise eternal Spring and longevity, in Persia beauty and perfection and in the West they have been associated more with the Goddess Aphrodite and love. There are over 300 species and today there are tens of thousands of cultivars so when you design your rose garden this Winter you are adding to this great tradition. Today’s species roses mainly originate from 18th Century China.

Type of Roses

A typical Rose garden will consist of Hybrid Teas, bush roses and climbing roses, with some taller ‘lollypop’ standard roses. Hybrids have more of that perfect single stem rose that are favourites of weddings whereas modern shrub roses are floribundas with more open flowers and often repeating during the season.

Ramblers are used more for outbuildings and large walls, or grown up the trunk of feature trees. They normally just flower the once, but ‘Phyllis Bride’ and ‘Malvern hills’ are repeat flowerers.

The Rosa rugosa family are bullet proof and great for hedging, planting as a backdrop or in a shrub border.

Type of rose garden

First you need to decide if you want a formal rose garden, or something more integrated into

the rest of your planting. A formal rose garden is often contained with geometric shaped evergreen hedging and apart from some minimal undercover flowers, the main interest is the roses. Because in Winter a rose garden is quite barren, this is normally a good choice for the larger garden.

Integrated rose design uses roses amidst other planting. In the 70’s a front garden had a rose, then a shrub and then a rose and then a tree. These days a lot of people want a more wild contemporary setting for their roses, mixing them up with ornamental grasses, perennials, wild Geraniums and Dahlias.

Colours

Because roses come in all colours except blue, colour combining is an easy art form with a

broad pallet to choose from. You can opt for clashing colours, or go for more harmonious colour schemes like pastel oranges and yellows, purples, pinks and whites, or pure single colour swathes of red, or white or lilac. Scent

David Austin categorises the smell of roses into 5 scents: Myrrh, Musk, Old Rose, Tea rose (meant to smell like a freshly opened pack of China tea eg Rosa Harlow Carr), and Fruity.

Underplanting

To maximise your garden space and to provide contrasting or harmonious colours, you can underplant roses with Geraniums, Lavender, Salvias, Campanula or even Penstemons and of course Summer bulbs likeAllium and Camassia. Gypsophilia Baby Breath is lovely as is Perovskia.

Conditions

The soil is really important. Roses like well drained, slightly acidic rich soil, and though I have seem them survive on clay, which they like because of the mineral content, they prefer a good loam. If you have the luxury of preparing the bed from scratch, lots of compost dug into

the soil will be welcome, and manure (horse manure from a stable, where Hydrated lime is used to counteract odours, can eventual make the soil slightly alkaline).

They prefer to be sheltered from contact with strong winds and like mulch to keep the moisture in the soil in Summer. They will need at least 5 6 hours of sunlight each day. You can however get roses that will tolerate, grow and flower on a North facing wall such as Rosa Generous Gardener.

Planting Roses

Once again, there are lots of videos online. At lest 60cm spacing is needed as they need a good amount of air circulation to avoid mildew building up on their leaves and in the soil. Buying roses can be done anytime but over winter they can be purchased as ‘bare root’ which means they are dug directly out of the fields. They tend to be stronger and about 30% cheaper. What to do in December Check

December tasks

• It’s the right time to plant trees and hedges taken straight from the field. As with the roses, they are normally called ‘bare root’ as opposed to ‘container grown’.

• It is still ok to order and plant bulbs. The soil is still very warm even if the air isn’t.

• You can prune heavily sapping trees like Birches now and Grape vines before the winter sets in.

• Harvest the rest of your root crops and lift and store your Dahlia, Canna and Ginger Lilly bulbs.

• Don’t worry if your garden looks messy. The more mess the better for wildlife that needs a place to hide away during the winter.

• Continue to rake up leaves and store them separately from the summer’s grass clippings as they need a different process to break down quickly.

Windows to increase property value...

& improve efficiency by Helen Say

Here’s a list of latest developments that you may want to consider when renovating your home.

Frameless structural glazing As the glass used is thicker and stronger you do not need framing systems to help support the installation.

Floor to ceiling windows Help bring the outside in. Particularly popular in kitchen designs, flooding the space with natural light. Plus the reduced lighting load cuts down on utility bills.

Structural glazing Describes glass that is integral to the design of a building. It involves large glass panels, which usually bear some weight in the structure. Can include sliding glass doors, roofs, extensions, entrance ways and canopies, Coloured frames Give great flexibility in personalising your home, perhaps in a shade which will complement the existing architecture and stay in keeping with surrounding homes

Glass canopies Attractive, yet highly practical architectural feature typically located over a building’s entrance. Made from toughened glass,

and more than capable of withstanding a build up of snow.

Solar control glass A hi tech product with a metallic coating applied to one side allowing light to pass through the window while radiating and reflecting away some of the infrared part of the sunlight itself. Helps the indoor area to stay brighter and cooler than with plain glass.

Energy efficiency The more efficient a window is, the more it will help to keep the heat in your home and save you money on your energy bills. The BFRC (British Fenestration Rating Council) rate the thermal efficiency of windows from A to G, with A being the most efficient. To meet “Energy Saving Recommendation” certification, the windows must be C rated at the very least.

The 'harsh' bathroom environment

By Nick Roberts RMR Group

It’s easy to forget just how harsh the environment can be on your bathroom. Large temperature swings combined with steam and condensation relentlessly target the nooks and crannies hidden around the room, and it’s this daily ritual that means bathrooms are usually the first rooms to require a renovation.

Getting inspiration for the refurb is the fun part. Design trends have been changing recently for many years now, white sanitary ware, a grey theme with chrome was the norm, but now we’re seeing more matt black and brass fittings with vintage furniture that provide that opulent feel becoming popular. This new trend includes warm, earthy colours that emphasise natural materials and an organic feel. And with so many professional images online and on social media, you’d be forgiven for thinking it’s an easy job to replicate.

But getting that showroom quality is easier said than done. Dipping your toes into going DIY can be a slippery slope to disaster, and that’s after

you’ve wrestled with the soil pipe you never wanted to touch in the first place!

Ultimately, what we all want is space we can relax in, space that we can enjoy and a space where we’re the ones getting hot and steamy, not the bathroom walls!

With bathrooms, there’s a mix of science and art to get that photo quality you’ve been getting your inspiration from. And it’s the experienced professionals that have a habit of getting the delicate balance of style and practicality just right. Available space, room shape, lighting, sanitary ware choice and design are all key components that interact with one another and drive the all the decisions and details that experts understand.

If you’re looking to reinvigorate your bathroom, just give your local expert a call and they’ll be happy to help.

www.robertsmillerredshaw.com

2022 Winner: Lorna Hutchin from Worthing. Congratulations and thank you to all who entered. Finish the crossword and fill out the box below with the letters from the shaded squares. Work out the anagram

anagram

Hilaire Belloc: The Politics of Living

By local historian Chris Hare

Historian, Chris Hare, has just published a book about the Sussex writer, Hilaire Belloc, who lived variously, at Slindon and Shipley. In this article Mr Hare looks at some local references in Belloc’s writings.

A well travelled man Belloc was a man of immense energy and activity. At the height of his career he was constantly on the move. On one occasion he travelled across Europe to Russia by train just so he could visit the scene of a battle he was writing about and then returned home all in a matter of days. Several times he crossed the Atlantic in a rickety old steamer to deliver lectures in New York. Moreover, Belloc was frequently involved in political and theological controversies.

Belloc’s

Storrington connection

He was a Member of Parliament for five years, but made himself few friends as he could not abide the ‘party system’ and he resented being told how to vote by the whips. Such a man as this needed an escape a refuge and he found it in Sussex. For nearly fifty years he lived at Kings Land at Shipley, but he was always visiting other parts of the county as well. He frequently called upon the monks at Storrington, where he found peace in silence and holy contemplation

On Monks I did in Storrington fall, They took me straight into their Hall; I saw Three Pictures on a wall, And Courtesy was in them all.

Belloc’s Slindon connection Belloc’s grew up in Slindon and his mother continued to live there until her death in 1925 at the grand age of 95. Belloc wrote many essays about the countryside around Slindon. There was one about the mowing of a field and another about a tramp he met on his rambles, who seemed to have more wisdom than many of the priests and politicians Belloc was in regular contact with. He particularly loved to walk the old Roman road through Gumber Wood and imagine the travellers that had passed that way over the centuries

A star in heaven by Gumber glowed, An ox across the darkness lowed, Whereat a burning light there stood

Right in the heart of Gumber Wood. Across the rime their marching rang, And in a little while they sang; They sang a song I used to know, Gloria in Excelsis Domino.

South Country accents and folk songs Belloc loved the traditions and customs of the Sussex country people, es pecially their lilting South Country accents and their folk songs, which affected him very deeply. He wrote his own songs in the folk idiom. Some were so good that many people today believe they are ancient and traditional In half November off I go, To push my face against the snow, And watch the winds wherever they blow, Because my heart is high; Till I settle me down in Steyning to sing, Of the women I met in my wandering, And of all that I mean to do in the Spring, Which nobody can deny, deny, Deny, deny, deny, deny, Which nobody can deny!

Free talk events on Hilaire Belloc

I will be talking a great deal about Belloc and his Sussex connections at two events to launch my new book, Hilaire Belloc, the politics of living, due to be published in late November. The details are as follows

• Thursday 1st December, Worthing Library lecture theatre, 7pm.

• Thursday 8th December, Steyning Bookshop, 7.30pm.

Both events are free and there is no need to book in advance, although you are advised to arrive in good time to be sure of a space.

More information about Hilaire Belloc can be found at www.belloc broadwood.org.uk

Credit: www.belloc broadwood.org.uk

Prevention is better than cure!

5 ways to prevent scratches by ChipsAway

How to avoid paint scratches

Finding a scratch on your car can be an unpleasant and upsetting experience. However, there are some simple ways to avoid scratching your paintwork. Here are a few tips:

1. Park Cautiously To avoid suffering a paintwork scratch in a car park, always park within the white lines, avoid parking near trolley parks and park away from other cars if possible. Plus, park your car in a safe location during the day and at night.

2. Drive Carefully Low hanging tree branches and overgrown hedges on narrow country roads can scratch your vehicle. To avoid this, always allow enough room when driving on narrow lanes or near low hanging trees and reduce your speed when driving past any object that could potentially scratch your car.

3. Hand Wash Car Always try to hand wash your vehicle and add a car wax to help prevent scratches. Car wax smooths the paint’s surface, which will reduce the friction between road debris and your paintwork.

4. Paint Sealant Supagard is just one of many paint protection sealants that protect the car’s paintwork by creating a tough polymer barrier. Unfortunately, paint sealants cannot provide protection against vandal scratches or car parking mishaps but they do provide protection against UV rays, road salt and even acid rain.

5. Repairing scratches like it never happened Unfortunately, not all scratches can be avoided, and if a mishap does happen, repair specialists, such as ChipsAway, can repair the damage so it’s ‘like it never happened’. Many specialists can come to you at home or work and some specialists operate from conveniently located fixed base Car Care Centres. Call 0800 145 5118 or visit www.chipsaway.co.uk/free estimate/ for free no obligation repair estimate.

Tomato & spinach tagliatelle

A super speedy evening dish

Ingredients

• 1 white onion, diced

• 3 garlic cloves, crushed

• 1 tbsp olive oil

• 1 tbsp, tomato puree

• 100ml double cream

• 60g twineham grange Italian cheese

• 500g tagliatelle pasta

• ½ bag washed spinach

• 1 tbsp, Carla’s seasoning dried parsley Method

1. In a large saucepan, heat the pasta water with a good pinch of salt. Cook the pasta as per cooking instructions, reserve some of the pasta water to thicken the pasta sauce later.

2. Heat the oil in a large pan and fry the onions until translucent, this should take around 10 minutes. Add the garlic and tomato puree to the pan, cook off for a minute before slowly adding the cream, stir continuously.

3. Add half the cheese to the sauce, along with

half the spinach, stir until the cheese has melted

4. Add a ladle of pasta water to the sauce, allow 3 minutes before combining the

Find all ingredients at the Village Larder and follow us on Instagram and Facebook for more

Visit

Drinkcoach.org.uk to track and change

COULD ALCOHOL BE AFFECTING YOUR HEALTH?

Find out how risky your drinking is, access personalised advice online and find out where you can get support in West Sussex.

Take the 2 minute alcohol test today at DrinkCoach.org.uk Its free, quick and confidential.

Take the alcohol test at drinkcoach.org.uk

Sticking to the rules over Christmas

By Heather Smith

A different approach to eating over Christmas Christmas happens once a year, and my usual advice is that a couple of days off plan won’t make a huge difference to the results you see in the long term. This said, a lot of us find that this approach makes it hard to get back on plan again afterwards. So, I thought I’d share a trick I use with my clients to come up with a different approach to eating over Christmas. This is not about denial or willpower, it’s about planning and pre deciding how to approach Christmas rather than finding yourself continually inhaling Quality Street’s then feeling guilty afterwards.

We eat for reasons other than nutritio and it’s reasonable to want a few glasses of wine and off track foods over Christmas but how much is acceptable to you? Decide while you’re in control, rather than in the heat of the moment. Maybe you would feel like you found the right balance if you had two glasses

of wine at each social event, and none when you’re at home. Maybe you have a weakness for mince pies and want to have a one a day over Christmas. The key thing is to remember this “rule” you’ve made for yourself and stick to it.

A ready made plan for better decision making Clearly this approach isn’t a long term solution to getting, or staying, in shape but it gives you a good place to work from without either depriving yourself or completely going off the rails.

I think if we can play by a set of rules all the time, it makes it easier to tighten the rules back up again afterwards. It is also much easier to follow through on a plan you’ve already made, than it is to put the brakes on in the heat of the moment. Your logical self can make better decisions than your ‘heat of the moment’ self. I’d love to hear how you get on with this, slightly unusual, approach to staying on track over Christmas (you can also use this approach for holidays, or any time) please do send me a note! www.fitbiztraining.co.uk

ELIEVE

Impact Initiatives

Supporting people living in Sussex to live healthy & fulfilling lives

Sussex Charity Impact Initiatives was founded over 40 years ago and has, CEO Caroline Ridley tells me, supported the people of Sussex to reach their potential and live healthy and fulfilling lives ever since.

“‘Nothing quite like this has ever happened before’ were the words of the then Chair of the County Council as he addressed a conference at the University of Sussex in September 1977.” Caroline explains, “The reason for this conference was to explore the idea of creating a charitable body that Sussex could truly call its own through the participation and cooperation of different churches, voluntary organisations and the local councils.

“In the collaborative world we work in today it is hard to believe that those bodies coming together at that time was a first. The organisation that was borne out of that conference to ‘fill the gaps’ and ‘help the needy and dispossessed’ (not words we would now use) remains today as Impact Initiatives.”

Now working as an independent charity, Impact Initiatives supports over 8,000 people each year, through a team of over 90 staff who are in turn supported by a team of volunteers. The charity works with people of all ages across Sussex, the services are varied with a common thread of helping people to live healthy and fulfilling lives and reach their potential.

Workability supporting people with disabilities into employment for over 25 years

One of a number of services aimed at Adults and Older People the Workability scheme has, Caroline Ridley explains, an expert team helping people with disabilities and carers to identify their specific skills and ambitions and match these to employment opportunities. “They then help people through the job search, application and interview processes and into employment that is realistic, focussed on their abilities, enjoyable and a positive experience.”

“They told me I would never walk again but Heather at Workability had faith in me, not only that I would walk again but that I could work again” Workability user.

Additionally, Caroline Ridley says, “Impact’s West Sussex Advocacy services have given people a voice since 1994 when the Grayling Well Hospital (now one of Chichester’s newer housing developments) closed, moving its longterm residents into their own homes.

“We worked with 21 adults many of who had lived in the hospital for many years to ensure their voices were heard and they had choice in where they moved on to.” Since that time Impact has ensured that 1,000s of people with disabilities have had a voice in what matters to them including where they live, the support they receive and how they live as parents. The focus is on empowering and enabling people to speak up and live the lives they choose. Information on Advocacy referrals can be found on Impact’s website.

Developing services to increase skills and, reduce loneliness and isolation

Caroline Ridley tells me that over the years, Impact has continually developed services as the needs of local people have changed and this

was particularly apparent over the last few years when services had to be quickly developed through the Covid pandemic. Key being the ability to, “Provide and teach people how to use IT so they could maintain contact with [us], other support and their friends and family. Isolation was a huge issue for many and for more so for many people with disabilities as this was compounded by additional vulnerabilities, issues with getting out and about and less people being able to visit them.”

This allowed Impact’s teams to keep in touch online and ensure vital support was in place and also to help groups set up online peer social groups, so they could support and give each other company. Some of these groups including the Self Advocacy groups for people with Autism, continue online as they became a key part of people’s lives and continue to reduce loneliness and isolation.

Impact’s Aspie Trainers offer training sessions to improve services for people with Autism Spectrum Conditions (ASCs); offering a range of training sessions to suit the needs of any team, organisation or individual working with, supporting or working alongside autistic individuals. During

Covid, the Impact team quickly redesigned their training, so this could be delivered online.

Other services include Ageing Well a programme of services and activities for those aged 50+ living in Brighton and Hove, including support and information for people living with dementia, and Food Services working to make sure that nobody in Brighton and Hove has to go without food.

45 years on from that original conference Impact continue to ‘fill the gaps’

Caroline says, “We are now very excited to bring one of our longstanding Brighton based

services to West Sussex. Our Stopover supported housing service for young women currently provides a home and expert support for 45 young women across nine houses, two of these for young women and their babies. The service is unique providing a pathway from 24 hour support to just an hour a week as young women move through our houses and on to living independently. We have a track record of successfully supporting the most vulnerable and troubled young women through giving them a home where they feel safe, often for the first time in their lives and consistent expert support based on understanding the trauma they have experienced.”

“Stopover is the first place I have lived where I feel I am safe and belong. They have taught me it is OK to cry and be angry and helped me managed how I feel. I kicked against all the rules they have at first but now I am the one telling girls who move in that the rules are there to keep us all safe and because they care about us”.

Over the last year Impact has worked with the West Sussex County Council (WSCC) Leaving Care Team and will be opening its first house in West Sussex later this month with four young women

already waiting to move in. “We are looking forward to welcoming them and helping them to make our house into their home and continuing to work towards our aim for Sussex people of all ages to reach their potential whilst living healthy and fulfilling lives.”

After school play for children along with a safe space for young people

In addition to Stopover, other services for Children and Young People include Whitehawk After School Project (WASP), which provides an Ofsted registered after school club and holiday play schemes at City Academy, Whitehawk where the skilled team ensure the club is nurturing, inclusive and fun. And a Young People’s Centre (YPC) in Brighton a safe space where the Impact team works alongside other organisations to provide a one to one and group sessions.

Impact are funded through a range of grants and donations, if you would like to find out more about the charity’s work or are able to support through a donation or by running a fundraising event. Contact: Impact Initiatives, 19 Queens Road, Brighton, BN1 3XA. Tel: 01273 322 940 or visit www,impact initiatives.org.uk

By Lynn Smith

Recession & long term investments

By Oliver Suter DipPFS, financial adviser

Investment solutions group photo

The UK narrowly avoided a recession in Q2, but what is a recession, and how does it affect us?

What is a recession?

A recession is a period of economic decline, generally identified by a fall in GDP in two successive quarters. Essentially, this means if the economy is shrinking for 6 months at a time, we are in a recession. Analysis shows that recessions last between 2 and 18 months, the average spanning about 10 months.

How does it affect us?

With interest rates and inflation increasing, we spend more on essentials. This leaves us less to spend on luxuries. As demand falls, unemployment may rise.

Thankfully, we have very low unemployment, so we’re starting from a strong position. A recession represents many things, but the outcome can realign the misallocation of capital. By driving down asset prices, recessions can provide attractive opportunities for longer term investors.

Worried about your savings, investments and ‘Investment Solutions’ is the trading name of Investment Solutions Wealth Management Ltd who are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

Sussex Walks - December 2022

Please note that any walks with duration of 90 minutes or more are not accredited by The Ramblers but are managed by Chichester District Council. Please arrive 10 minutes before the start of the walk, the walk will leave on time. These walks are led by volunteers and if the weather is poor the walk may be cancelled.

IMPORTANT: You must pre book the 90 min + walks on the Chichester District Council Website or call 01243 521041 www.chichester.gov.uk/heartsmart

Every Tue 11am

Midhurst Jubilee Walk

L : Richard 1.5 miles 45 mins Various flat walks around Midhurst at a gentle pace passing interesting historic buildings Meet: The Grange Leisure Centre, Bepton Road, Midhurst, GU29 9HD. Free 2 hr parking Thurs 1st 10.00am Wisborough Green L: Louise 6.5 miles 3 hours No dogs please. A walk up to the Wey & Arun Canal via bridleways and footpaths to Lordings Lock Meet: Park at the green in the laybys ss you enter Wisborough Green, pass the pub, turn right Fri 2nd 10.30am Goodwood to East Dean L: Jane 6 Miles 3 hours

A hilly walk through woodland and fields, taking in the village of East Dean Meet: Counters Gate Car Park Goodwood.

Mon 5th 1.00pm Midhurst & Iping L: Sandy 5.5 miles 2.5 hours Interesting terrain of Heathland, Pine Forest & Commons. A mostly flat walk. No dogs please Meet: Iping & Stedham Car Park.

Wed 7th 10.30am Climping

L: Dominic 2.5 miles 1 hr 15 mins Gentle stroll along dunes and beach to Climping Mill, then across fields to the Yacht Club Meet: Arun Yacht Club Car Park, Rope Walk, Littlehampton, BN17 5DL

Mon 12th 1pm Angmering Park

L: Sandy 5 miles 2.5 hours Fairly level terrain starting out from Butler’s Copse through a patchwork of indigenous, well managed woodland and some open downland with great views from Patching Hill. No dogs Meet: Car Park in Butler’s Copse

Wed 14th 10.30am Fittleworth Countryside L: Gerald 3 miles 1.5 hours Two short stretches on tarmac and then a lovely walk through countryside with wonderful views Meet: Fittleworth Village Hall RH20 1JBHall please. Contact Gerald on 07748 597

Thurs 15th 10.00am Loxwood

L: Louise 5 miles 2 hours No dogs please. A level walk, no stiles, can be muddy (mostly get roundable!). An easy walk. Meet in the car park behind the Onslow Arms

Fri 16th 10.30am Burpham & Wepham L: Jane 5 miles 2 hrs Hilly with several climbs. Lovely views. Can be uneven and muddy underfoot in the woods. No dogs Meet: The public car park behind the George at Burpham BN18 9RR

Mon 19th 1pm River Rother Woolbeding

L: Sandy 4.25 miles 2.5 hours This mostly flat and peaceful walk with 1 2 stiles follows the River Rother and returns through woods leading back to the Car park. No dogs Meet: Woolbeding Car Park

Wed 21st 10.30am Rowlands Castle

L: Peter 6.5 miles 3 hours

A more strenuous longer walk using footpaths that criss cross through woodland and grass meadows, with some fine views. Meet: Stansted House Car Park PO9 6DX

Wed 28th 10.30am Compton

L: Alison 6 miles 2.5 hours A good walk along lanes and through woodland and fields. Two up hills and one stile Meet: Compton Recreation Ground Car Park

L: Jane 6.75 miles 3 hours Several stiles and hilly in places. A pleasant walk with lovely views. No Dogs Meet: Outside the Hamilton Arms Stedham. GU29 0NZ

Fri 30th 10.30am Iping & Chithurst

Charity & Community News

A27 Bypass additional consultation

The Highways Agency say that they have made changes to the scheme design including further mitigation to traffic levels through Walberton and they would now like to present those changes and gather feedback on them.

Until 16th December 2022, there is a Supplementary Consultation.You can take part in the online or at one of the following events:

Saturday 3 December 2022, 10am to 4pm

Arundel Town Hall, Maltravers Street BN18 9AP, Monday 5 December 2022, 11am to 7pm

Fontwell Park Racecourse BN18 OSY

Saturday 10 December 2022, 10am to 4pm

Walberton Pavilion The Street, BN18 0PJ

All consultation documents will be also available to view at the following locations throughout the consultation period:

Arun Civic Centre, Littlehampton BN17 5LF. Mon Fri 9am 1pm and 2pm 4pm

Arundel Town Hall, Maltravers Street, BN18 9AP. Mon to Fri 9am 1pm

Arundel Library, Surrey Street, BN18 9DT. Mon Fri 1pm 5pm, Thu Sat 9am 1pm

County Hall, Chichester, West Street PO19 1RQ. Mon Thu 8:30am 5pm, Fri 8:30am 4:30pm

Fontwell Park Racecourse, BN18 OSY. Mon Fri 9am 5pm

South Downs Centre, North Street, Midhurst, GU29 9DH. Mon to Thu 9am 4:30pm, Fri 9am 4pm

Walberton Parish Office, The Street, BN18 0PJ. Tues 9am 12pm, Thu 9am 12pm

Worthing Library, Richmond Road, BN11 1HD Mon Fri 9am 6pm, Sat 9am 5pm

www.nationalhighways.co.uk/our roads/south east/a27 arundel bypass/

© Highways Agency

Sussex Snippets

Charity & Community news from across the counties

Dear Sussex Local. I much enjoyed your article on Sussex Cattle. My Great Great Grandfather was also an enthusiast of this breed and had a prize winning herd at Hugget's Furnace Farm, Mayfield. Unfortunately, unlike the Leconfield herd, his was sold in 1902. There is one thing on which Kier Hartley must have misheard or been let down by his word processer. Oxen were not shod with clay shoes. I don't think they would last very long. Oxen were shod with iron shoes called 'cues'. These were like half a horseshoe but smaller, two for each foot because of the cloven hoof. Also called Queues because two together resembled this shape. Oxen were not easy to shoe and had to be thrown and restrained. P.S. Hugget's Furnace was an iron works which gave rise to the couplet, 'Old Master Hugget and his man John. They did cast the first can on.' But that was some centuries earlier. Norman Allcorn, Findon. We contacted Keir, who replies “It was great to hear from Norman, and to learn more about this interesting breed. I was given the information about the shoes during research. But my thanks for providing this extra information which I did not have at the time of writing the article”. Editor

The South Downs National Park has received a flat cash settlement from the Government of £10.486m in every year since 2019/2020 and this amount will remain the same until 24/25 the same cash funding over a period of six years at a time of rapidly rising costs for all services. Inflation continues to erode this sum, meaning we continue to have to make cuts in delivery as well as seeking alternative funding.

Andrew Griffith, MP for Arundel & South Downs, has been reappointed City Minister and Economic Secretary to the Treasury in Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s Government reshuffle. The MP will be responsible for a wide ranging brief including regulation in the finance sector, access to cash and introducing legislation to make the UK a more competitive place to invest.

West Sussex County Council reports that for the year to April 2022 its renewable energy systems generated more than 16,000 MWh of clean electricity for the grid, which is enough to power more than 5,500 average UK homes. This prevented 3,700 tonnes of CO2te being released

into the atmosphere compared to generating the same amount of electricity from fossil fuels. By selling much of the electricity to the grid and making use of its batteries at Westhampnett solar farm, the County Council earned more than £2.5 million after running costs. This is helping to offset, but not completely cover, the increase in the authority’s own energy bill.

West Sussex County Council are warning consumers to be wary of online scams during the busy Christmas buying period. Tips are available from www.getsafeonline.org/buyingonline

Katy Bourne, Sussex Police & Crime Commissioner reports that, following the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) pledge that police officers will attend all home burglaries, Sussex Chief Constable made this commitment two years ago . Ms Bourne will be probing further into the Force's response to tackling burglary, robbery and acquisitive crime.

People with Down syndrome who are 30 years old or above, and have a GP based in West Sussex, are being invited to come forward for a healthy brain assessment. During the assessment they will be asked to carry out some fun activities, like puzzles and tasks, when their memory is at its best to help identify if there are any changes as they get older. For older aged adults with a learning disability the team is offering a dementia assessment. People interested can find more information on the website: www.sussexpartnership.nhs.uk/service west sussex community learning disability teams

Charity 4Sight Vision Support is getting ready for Christmas with its annual Christmas Concert and Grand Draw, as well as providing its supporters with card and gift ideas. Proceeds will help the charity in its work supporting blind and sight impaired residents of all ages throughout West Sussex. Their events are in the What’s On section, and for further information and to purchase draw tickets call 01243 828555 or visit their website at www.4sight.org.uk.

Community stories are printed free of charge. Please email us your stories via: info@sussexlocal.net

Charity & Community News

Findon Village animal sanctuary “hectic”

Paws Animal Sanctuary in Findon Village say their telephones have never been busier. With adults at work and children back at school, dogs acquired during the pandemic were not used to being left on their own for hours and owners have given up their pets to rescue centres, which are becoming full. Paws have recruited a couple of helpers who have built kennels and taken in some, but even these are now becoming full. Paws have also taken in lots of cats this year either strays or cats who have sadly been abandoned by their owners. They put pictures of them online Facebook every week as 'cat of the week' and eventually many have found new homes. In addition to this, the sanctuary has resident guinea pigs, rabbits and even chickens, all of which need to be looked after and, of course, fed. Paws has a reliable hard working team of volunteers who clean, feed and groom the animals. Paws can be reached on 01903 872734 or 0790 447 6819. Registered Charity 1096231. Pawsanimals@hotmail.co.uk www.pawsanimalsanctuaryfindon.co.uk

Green bike share scheme could be expanded Since being introduced in 2017, the Donkeybike system in Worthing has provided residents and visitors with an easily accessible and sustainable bicycle rental service to get around town. There are currently 34 bikes located in the borough along the promenade, Worthing and West Worthing train stations and the town hall. The proposed deal would also see the existing fleet in Worthing refurbished and additional bikes added to new locations at Brooklands Park, Goring Road and George V Avenue. Prices for the existing fleet in Worthing currently start at £1.25 for 30 minutes and memberships can be bought for those who may look to use the bikes more regularly.

Please send your stories to info@sussexlocal.net

Charity & Community News

Reflections on a young life with disability

Worthing resident, DJ, sportsperson, sports coach, and disability awareness speaker Adam Hayes has recently published his first book, titled Thirty Years of Me. It is a reflection on his first thirty years of life, detailing the ups and downs as a young person with a disability in the UK, from school to navigating the care system to living independently.

Having previously taken part in the Brighton Marathon, Adam teaches disabled kids sports, and gives talks to students about living alone, Adam hopes to give other young people the tools that they need in order to avoid letting their disability be an obstacle. This memoir is accessible to all, giving valuable advice about money, mental health, and simply growing up and the responsibilities that come along with it.

Thirty Years of Me demonstrates the wisdom

that only comes from a life well lived, showing everyone: where there's a wheel, there's a way. The book is available for pre order from: olympiapublishers.com/book/thirty years of me.

Planning aims to deliver a greener Worthing Developers will need to provide more detailed information about trees they intend to retain and plant in new developments as a result of a new policy report adopted by Worthing Planning Committee in late October. Members of the committee expressed frustration about the gulf between what developers offer in their plans for new sites and what is delivered in practice.

Worthing Kestro Stroke Club

Kestro is a social club in Worthing for stroke survivors and their families. The club meets every Friday at Goring Church Hall, BN12 4PN at 2pm. People interested can email Steve for more information: steve@steveandcarol.plus.com or visit www.kestro.wordpress.com.

Email community stories to info@sussexlocal.net

Findon Parish Council

Homewood, pond restoration & Working Group

Edited extracts from draft minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held 12th September 2022.

Homewood play area regeneration Official opening organised by Arun District Council held on 8th Sept 2022 was well attended in spite of weather. Asked for additional play area benches and was advised they’d be supplied. Once refurbished, bench from Nepcote Green could be located elsewhere in village. To pursue the implementation of a dropped kerb for accessible access with WSCC.

Nepcote Green pond restoration Scoping document discussed, including 50/50 contribution between FPC and South Downs National Park Authority (SDNPA) of Feasibility Study costing £980 excl VAT. SDNPA referred to for requirements for dog proofing restored pond, fencing etc. On reflection there was risk pond could become less attractive within setting. Work by SDNPA on proposed Nepcote Conservation Area due to resume, which could impact pond restoration criteria. Resolved:

1. No further action taken for pond restoration until Nepcote Conservation Area report is available

2. Council would pay costs of scoping document.

Open Spaces Working Group

report introduced and provided following updates:

• A C Gardens (Sussex) provided quote of £370 for repair, if WSCC is unsuccessful with landowners

• If FPC takes on contract with Drainline, it would be on an ‘as and when needed’ basis and WSCC would be asked for appropriate financial support;

• Sheep Fair volunteers filled in holes on Nepcote Green prior to Sheep Fair and asked for a contribution towards cost of compost (total £70)

• Pre School paid for water used for saplings at Glebeland. Increase from £40 £80 per month

• Drainage gullies were unblocked south of Black Horse during A24 cycle path construction

• Rotten posts at Glebeland gates replaced with additional works at £613 incl VAT

Resolved: that Findon Parish Council:

1. Approves £70paymenttoSheepFair for compost

2. Authorises £80 payment be included with skip hire amount when invoice received from Pre School

3. Ratifies payment of £613 incl VAT to A C Gardens www.findonparishcouncil.gov.uk

Findon Valley Residents’ Association

Christmas events & gardening

We have been working very hard on planning our Christmas events for Findon Valley. Important dates for your diary: the Christmas Extravaganza at King’s Parade is on 15th December 5pm to 8.30pm, and the popular monthly Farmers’ and Crafts Market will take place on 18th December from 10am, at our usual venue, Lime Tree Surgery car park. Please come along to support and enjoy one of these special seasonal community events. Everyone welcome!

The Christmas Extravaganza will have a variety of craft, street food and market stalls, and a lot of the King’s Parade shops will stay open late. We'll have a variety of live music, and children’s entertainment including a fairground ride and importantly, Father Christmas will be here! Children can also bring along their letters to Father Christmas, as he will have his postbox with him.

A fire engine and police car will be on display, unless called away on emergency. So it’s looking like a great festive evening for the whole family to enjoy. See you there!

Please note for our Extravaganza, the King’s Parade shops road will be closed to traffic from 4pm till (up to) 10pm on Thursday 15th December. It will be important for parked cars to be moved away by 4pm otherwise will become ‘trapped’! Clear signs will be displayed to warn everyone.

Note for gardeners: apart from the ‘drought’ period, 2022 has seen much vigorous growth, including hedges and trees. Garden shrubs and hedges can sometimes project onto and restrict the public pavements.

People do have the right to report obstructions/ overgrown vegetation to the County Council on their website: www.love.westsussex.gov.uk. However we do recommend that householders with such trees or shrubs take a look and trim them back (or ask a professional gardener to do so).

We wish everyone a safe, peaceful and enjoyable Christmas and New Year. www.fvra.org.uk

Premier Sussex national meeting - Monday 2nd January

enjoy too, including six other great races, live music and fantastic local food and drink.

Win a pair of tickets to Plumpton Racecourse, Plumpton on 2nd January. General admission tickets are available in advance for £20 and hospitality packages start at £75pp. You can bring all the family along too as under 18s race free!

Visit www.plumptonracecourse.co.uk.

start your new year at Plumpton Racecourse on Bank Holiday Monday and witness one horse, jockey and trainer etch their name into Plumpton history by landing the valuable and entertaining Sussex National. The £30,000 race one of the biggest on the Plumpton calendar provides an enthralling spectacle for racegoers, with runners having to jump 20 fences over the three and a half mile trip.

The fixture always generates a fantastic atmosphere in the stands and there is loads more to

Professionalism, Punctuality, Quality, Value

Had an MOT and service done 28/9/22. Nice man came and picked up the car for us, on time, always polite and very helpful, brought it back all done. Would highly recommend them.

H.F. Oct 2022