Sussex Local Magazine - Storrington JULY 2023

July2023

HELLO!

Onaverage,Julyisthe warmestmonthintheUK. OnJuly19thlastyear temperatureshit40.3°Cin LincolnshirebycontrastJuly5th 1978wasthecoldestJulyday onrecord,maxingoutatjust 9.1°C.

July15thisStSwithin’sDay, andlegendhasitthatifitrains thatday,itwillbefollowedby another40daysofwet weather.Let’shopefora warm,dryspellthisyear,sowe canenjoyawholehostof summeryeventsasfeaturedin ourWhat’sOnsection.There’s alsoNationalBarbecueWeek from4-19th,NationalPicnic Weekfrom17-25thandLove ParksWeekfrom29thto August5th.

JulyisalsoIndependentRetail Month,celebratingallthe fantasticindependent businessesinourcommunity–manyofwhomarefeatured withintheseverypages, pleasedosupportthem!

Untilnexttime, Kris&Jeff

Coverimage: MattWhiteParaclimber

"IfIhadmyway,I’dremoveJanuaryfromthecalendar altogetherandhaveanextraJulyinstead."-ROALDDAHL

What’s On - July/August 2023

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 eight editions distributed to over 54,000 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 August events to be put on website - 4th July

CHARITY

2nd July 8:00 PM The CancerWise 2023 Fundraising Challenge Quiz www.VirtualQuizEvents.com £5 Cliff info@virtualquizevents.com

26th July 10:00 AM Andy's Angels Hope Hive

Worthing BN13 1AA Kayla Shepherd 07465 242321 kayla@andysangels.org.uk www.andysangels.org.uk

28th July 7:30 PM Date2Donate find love while raising money for charity The Escapist

Chichester Chichester PO19 1LJ £5 Jovita Ivin 07823 558156 jovita.ivinskaite@act4africa.org www.meetup.com/date2donate-find-love-whilespreading-love/

CHILDREN'S EVENTS

1st-16th July 10:00 AM Elmer's Art Parade

Petworth House and Park Petworth GU28 9LR Petworth Property Office 01798 342207 petworth@nationaltrust.org.uk www.nationaltrust.org.ukpetworth

1st-20th July 10:00 AM Mog’s Remarkable

Adventures Nymans

Handcross RH17 6EB

Adult: £16 Child: £8 Property Office

01444 405250 nymans@nationaltrust.org.uk www.nationaltrust.org.ukvisit/sussex/nymans

CLUBS & SOCIETIES

3rd July 8:00 PM Felpham Singles Social Club

The George Inn Felpham Bognor Regis PO22 7PL Free Donations Anne Cook 01243 821530 anniecook555@yahoo.co.uk www.felphamsingles.yolasite.com

4th July 6:45 PM Graphic (comic) novel book club Private house in Barnham PO22 0EF Free. Email: Paul Wilson on paulw21erin@gmail.com

4th July 7:30 PM Pulborough Computer Club –AI Knows Best – Or Does It? Pulborough Village Hall RH20 1LP Members £3 Visitors £5 Chrissie chrissie@wisborough.com www.pcclub.org.uk

19th July 7:30 PM Sullington Windmills

Women's Institute Sullington Parish Hall Storrington RH20 3PP Liz Allen-Williams (President) 01903 741078 ljaw2@hotmail.com www.sullingtonwindmills.org

26th July 2:30 PM

Storrington Flower Club Sullington Parish Hall

Storrington RH20 3PP £6 Chris 01903 742102 chrissyldesmond@gmail.com

Tuesdays 6:30 PM Ashington Short Mat Bowls Club Ashington Community Centre Pulborough RH20 3PG £4 Gillian Weston 07962 016927 gillianhweston@gmail.com

Weds/Thus 7:45 PM Thakeham Table Tennis Club Weds evening, Thurs morning Thakeham Village Hall RH20 3GW £5 ad hoc £12 monthly Andy andytttc@gmail.com www.thakehamtabletennis.co.uk

COMMUNITY

Wednesdays 9:00 AM Pulborough Pop-In Pulborough Library RH202BQ Isla 075 226 89948 islasherwell@gmail.com

Fridays 10:00 AM Drop In - Free Coffee, chat & local information Eastergate Village Hall, Community Hub PO20 3RP Free. Bridgette 01243 543816 bridgette@bnegct.org.uk

barnhamandeastergatecommunitytrust.com

Fridays 10:00 AM Blue Idol Open Day in Coolham Blue Idol Quaker Meeting House

Coolham RH13 8QP Free Blue Idol Quakers admin@blueidol.org

EXHIBITIONS

2nd July 10:00 AM Marquetry exhibition The Downs Worthing BN13 3BD £2 David 07801 669837 davidmckeancraig@hotmail.com

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

1st-2nd July 10:00 AM

Amanda Beck: Watercolour

Wanders Colonnade House

Worthing BN11 3DH 01903 221142

paula.tollett@adurworthing.gov.uk www.colonnadehouse.co.uk

1st-2nd July 10:00 AM Daniela Maria Gargiulo: I Know Where I’m Going Colonnade House

Worthing BN11 3DH paula.tollett@adurworthing.gov.uk www.colonnadehouse.co.uk

1st-2nd July 10:00 AM Gwen John exhibition: Art and Life in London and Paris Pallant House

Gallery Chichester PO19 1TJ £12 Child £5

Pallant House Gallery 01234 774557 info@pallant.org.uk www.pallant.org.ukwhatson/gwen-john-art-and-life

1st-9th July 10:00 AM Art Exhibition Oxmarket

Contemporary Chichester PO191YH Entry Free Christine Wheeler 07709 287012 chi.art.soc.info@gmail.com chi-art-art-soc.org

4th-14th July 10:00 AM Nora Young: 'All About Life' & 'Faces' Colonnade House Worthing BN11 3DH 01903 221142 paula.tollett@adurworthing.gov.uk www.colonnadehouse.co.uk

4th-8th July 10:00 AM Carly Marie Brown: Symphony of the Soul Colonnade House Worthing BN11 3DH paula.tollett@adurworthing.gov.uk www.colonnadehouse.co.uk

11th-13th July 10:00 AM Durrington High School: Best of the Best Colonnade House Worthing BN11 3DH paula.tollett@adurworthing.gov.uk www.colonnadehouse.co.uk

14th-16th July 10:00 AM Slindon Artists Exhibition St Mary's Church Slindon BN18 0RE Free Donations welcome. Christine Wilkinson 01243 814352 christinawilkinson99@gmail.com

18th-23rd July 10:00 AM Jan Barnett: Absentia Colonnade House Worthing BN11 3DH paula.tollett@adur-worthing.gov.uk www.colonnadehouse.co.uk

18th-23rd July 10:00 AM

A Spirit of Place - A dialogue between two visual artists Colonnade House Worthing BN11

3DH Colonnade House paula.tollett@adurworthing.gov.uk

colonnadehouse.co.uk

25th-30th July 10:00 AM Ros Lymer: Lasting

Impression Colonnade House Worthing BN11 3DH 01903 221142 paula.tollett@adurworthing.gov.uk www.colonnadehouse.co.uk

1st-10th Aug 10:00 AM Me and Mr P Colonnade House Worthing BN11 3DH 01903 221142 paula.tollett@adur-worthing.gov.uk www.colonnadehouse.co.uk

FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT

8th-9th July 10:00 AM Arundel Castle’s Medieval Festival weekend Arundel Castle BN18 9AB £25

Child: £11 (Under 5s go Free) Arundel Castle 01903 882173 visits@arundelcastle.org

www.arundelcastle.org

8th July 1:00 PM Washington ‘Party in the park’ fundraising day St Mary’s CE School Washington RH20 4AP St Mary’s CE School PTA

stmarysptaw@gmail.com

14th-16th July 10:00 AM C13 Music Arts Holistic Lifestyle Festival Wise Field Steyning BN44 3RF Cognisance 13 Organisation

admin@cognisance13.org cognisance13.org

25th-30th July 10:00 AM International Jousting Tournament Arundel Castle BN18 9AB £29

Child: £12 (Under 5s go Free) Arundel Castle 01903 882173 visits@arundelcastle.org

www.arundelcastle.org

29th July 9:00 AM

Supercar Track Day

Goodwood Motor Circuit Chichester

PO18 0PH Free.

Saywell International 01243 572433 office@snowdroptrust.com

www.thesussexsnowdroptrust.com

6th August 2:30 PM Classic cars at High

Salvington Windmill Worthing BN13 3BP £1 enquiries@highsalvingtonmilltrust.co.uk

www.highsalvingtonwindmill.co.ukcontact-us

FAYRES & FETES

1st-2ndJuly 10:00 AM Chichester Cheese & Chilli Festival Oaklands Park Chichester

PO19 6AP From £8 Simon Stewart

admin@cheeseandchillifestival.com

www.cheeseandchillifestival.com/locations/ chichester-cheese-chilli-festival

8th July 12:00 PM Loxwood School Summer Fair

Loxwood School Billingshurst RH14 0SR

Rebecca McDowell palsloxwood@gmail.com

- please contact event organisers to check for changes

8th July 12:00 PM Summer Fayre Care for Veterans Worthing BN11 4LJ Entry by donation

Care for Veterans 01903 218444

myra.jasper@careforveterans.org.uk careforveterans.org.ukevents/summer-fayre

8th July 2:00 PM

Summer Flower Show, Dog Show & Village Fete Walberton Village Hall BN18 0PJ Free Walberton Gardeners Club 07881 552980 walbertongcshows@outlook.com www.walberton -gardeners-club.com

15th July 2:00 PM Bosham Church Fete The Manor House Bosham PO18 8HS £2 Clare Williams 07979 755634 mayford49@btinternet.com

FILM

17th July 7:30 PM

Pulborough Film Night Book Club 2: The Next Chapter

Pulborough Village Hall RH20

2BF £7 Terri 01798 848039 terriashpool@uwclub.net

GARDENS & HORTICULTURE

1st & 8th July 2:00 PM The National Garden Scheme: Open Garden: Peelers Retreat Arundel Peelers Retreat Arundel BN18 9EX £5 The National Garden Scheme hello@ngs.org.uk www.ngs.org.uk

1st-21st July 11:00 AM

'Expressions of Nature' Sculpture Trail Sussex Prairie Garden Henfield BN5 9AT £10 Gabrielle 07887 812346

Contact for details: gabrielle@theglassgardendesign.co.uk www.sussexprairies.co.uk

5th July 1:00 PM National Garden Scheme: Foxglove Cottage Foxglove Cottage Horsham RH13 5NF £5 National Garden Scheme hello@ngs.org.uk www.ngs.org.uk

12th July 7:15 PM Talk - Shrubs & Climbing

Plants for your Garden West Chiltington Village Hall RH20 2PZ £3 for visitors - Members Free 07792 817399 carys.pickett@btinternet.com www.westchilthortsoc.wordpress.com

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

13th & 20th July 10:30 AM Beautiful garden at The Old Vicarage open for the National Garden Scheme every Thursday The Old Vicarage

Pulborough RH20 4AS £7 The National Garden Scheme 01483 211535 hello@ngs.org.uk www.ngs.org.uk

15th July 11:00 AM

The National Garden Scheme: Open Garden: Oaklands Farm Shipley

Oaklands Farm

Horsham RH13 8PX £6

The National Garden Scheme 01483 211535 hello@ngs.org.uk www.ngs.org.uk

15th July & 9th Aug 11:00 AM National Garden

Scheme: Award winning garden in Midhurst 54 Elmleigh Midhurst GU29 9HA £4 National Garden Scheme 01483 211535 hello@ngs.org.uk www.ngs.org.uk

16th July 11:00 AM The National Garden

Scheme: Garden Open Days: 4 Hillside Cottages West Stoke 4 Hillside Cottages Chichester PO18 9BL £5 The National Garden Scheme hello@ngs.org.uk www.ngs.org.uk

23rd July 2:00 PM The National Garden

Scheme: Garden Open Days: The Folly Charlton The Folly Chichester PO18 0HU £5 The National Garden Scheme 01483 211535 hello@ngs.org.uk www.ngs.org.uk

5th August 2:00 PM Lavant Horticultural Society

Lavant Memorial Hall Chichester PO18 0PA Free admission to Flower Show Susan Jackson 01243 527725 suejackson23@tiscali.co.uk www.lavanthortsoc.org.uk

MUSIC

1st July 7:30 PM Chantry Quire present Songs of Love and Devotion Champs Hill Pulborough RH20 1LY £20 Chantry Quire 07799 847868 webmaster@chantryquire.org.uk www.chantryquire.org.uk

1st July 7:30 PM Summer

Spectacular Concert

Paul’s Church Chichester

PO19 6FT £15 Free for under 16s Southdowns

Concert Band

bbailey93@btinternet.com www.southdownsconcertband.co.uk

2nd July 2:00 PM Featherstone Jazzmen 40th Anniversary Celebration DRNK Coffee House, Worthing Leisure Centre Worthing BN12 4ET Free. Derek Little 01903 249900 dglittle@ntlworld.com

13th July 8:00 PM Come Together: A Celebration of The Beatles The Factory Live Worthing BN14

8BX £17 Daniel admin@lewesmusicgroup.com www.lewesmusicgroup.com

15th July 7:00 PM Walberton Music Night with Willie Austen Walberton Village Hall BN18 0PJ £13 Child £8.50 Under 12s free. Fiona Horton walbertonvillagehall01@gmail.com

29th July 12:30 PM CDRA Gig on the Green 2023 Down

Crawley Down Village Green

Crawley Down RH10 4HY £10

Crawley Down Residents Association 01342 885 280 help@cdra.info www.gigonthegreen.cdra.info/

SALES & MARKETS

18th July 9:00 AM Arundel Farmer’s Market

Arundel BN18 9AA

www.arundelfarmersmarket.co.uk

22nd July 9:00 AM Pulborough Farmer's Market

Pulborough Village Hall RH20 2BF Terri Ashpool 01798 848039 terriashpool@uwclub.net

Fridays 9:45 AM Storrington Community Market

Storrington Village Hall RH20 Free Katie Bridge 07909 681884 katiebridge17@gmail.com

SOCIAL & ENTERTAINMENT

22nd July 7:30 PM Murder Mystery Evening

Avisford Park Hotel Walberton BN18 0LS

£69.50 Jeunais Farrell 01243 558300 www.avisfordparkhotel.com

28th July 6:30 PM

‘Feast & Fire’ Three course menu with a welcome cocktail

Sullington Manor Farm

RH20 4AE £65 01903

745754 info@sullingtonmanorfarm.co.uk www.sullingtonmanorfarm.co.uk

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

Summer Cream

Tea

Indulge with our exclusive treat

Raspberry & white chocolate cheesecake, scone, jam & clotted cream, served with a regular cup of coffee or tea, only £8.95.

Available daily

Squire’s Garden Centre, London Road, Washington, RH20 3BP Visit squiresgardencentres.co.uk

LimitedEdition

TALKS

1st July 2:00 PM Five Colourful Histories - 1 Hour talk Petworth House and Park GU28 9LR

£15 Petworth Property Office 01798 342207

petworth@nationaltrust.org.uk www.nationaltrust.org.ukpetworth

4th July 7:30 PM Storrington Museum Monthly Talk: What's in a View Storrington Museum RH20 4LL £8 / Members £6 01903 740188 storringtonmusum@hotmail.com

4th July 2:00 PM The Arts Society West Sussex

Fittleworth Village Hall RH20 1JB Guests welcome £7 Jackie Buckler 01903 411086 chrisparker4@hotmail.co.uk www.theartssocietywestsussex.org

5th July 10:00 AM

Newspapers for family and local history West Sussex Record Office Chichester PO19 1DD £7.50/£6.50 for members of West Sussex Archives Society Matthew Jones 01243 753602 record.office@westsussex.gov.uk www.westsussex.gov.ukro

5th July 10:30 AM The Arts Society South Downs

Fittleworth Village Hall RH20 1JB £7 or Free to members Jane Allison 01798 813314

jane@theallisonfamily.co.uk

www.theartssocietysouthdowns.org.uk

11th July 6:30 PM Murder in the Family: an evening with author Cara Chichester Library PO19 1QJ £5 01243 777351

chichester.library@westsussex.gov.uk

chichesterboxoffice.ticketsolve.com/ ticketbooth/shows/873635267

THEATRE

1st July 7:45 PM Shakespear-ience Balcombe

Victory Hall Haywards Heath RH17 6HP £10 Jane Horrell janey.h.green@gmail.com

www.ticketsource.co.ukvictoryplayers/ shakespear-ience/e-mmpkqm

7th-9th July 6:00 PM Henfield Theatre Company presents 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' Sussex Prairie Garden Henfield BN5 9AT £17.50

Henfield Theatre Company

secretary@henfieldtheatrecompany.com

www.henfieldtheatrecompany.com

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

10th July & 10th Aug 7:30 PM The Sound of Music Chichester Festival Theatre PO19 6AP

From £10 01243 781312 box.office@cft.org.uk www.cft.org.uk

11th-17th July 7:30 PM

Rainbow Shakespeare: The Tempest Highdown Gardens Worthing BN12

6FB £20 / Child £10 / £36 for booking Comedy of Errors as well Rainbow Shakespeare 01903 206 206 rainbowtheatrecompany@yahoo.co.uk www.rainbowshakespeare.co.uk

12th-15th July 7:30 PM The Government Inspector by Nkiolai Gogol presented by Southwick Players Barn Theatre Southwick

BN42 4TE £12 Southwick Players 0333 666 3366 info@southwickplayers.org.uk www.southwickplayers.org.uk

16th July 2:00 PM Macbeth

Lewes Castle & Museum BN7

1YE Drama Impact 07940

567724 info@dramaimpact.com

www.eventbrite.com/cc/macbeth

-1612789

18th-23rd July 7:30 PM Rainbow Shakespeare: The Comedy of Errors Highdown Gardens

Worthing BN12 6FB £20 / Child £10 / £36 for booking The Tempest as well Rainbow Shakespeare 01903 206 206 rainbowtheatrecompany@yahoo.co.uk www.rainbowshakespeare.co.uk

21st July 5:00 PM Robin Hood The Paddock

Upper Beeding BN44 3HZ £15 Open air theatre at it’s best! This is My Theatre 07732 253311 info@thisismytheatre.com thisismytheatre.com/ upper-beeding-robin-hood

24th July - 26th Aug 7:15

PM Rock Follies Chichester

Festival Theatre PO19 6AP

From £10 01243 781312 box.office@cft.org.uk www.cft.org.uk

4th - 19th August 7:00 PM A Midsummer Night's Dream West Dean Gardens Chichester PO18 0RX £25 Half price for up to two Under 16s attending with every full priced adult (except Saturday evening) Chichester Festival Theatre 01243 781312 box.office@cft.org.uk www.cft.org.uk

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

DIRECTBLINDS

WE’RE HIRING!

We are looking for keen, enthusiastic and reliable individuals to join our grape picking team. We have positions available in both our Kent vineyard (TN26 2BE) and Sussex vineyard (PO18 0LY) for £11 per hour. Harvest usually commences between late September and early October – weather dependent.

Duration: Approx. 12 working days over a 3-week period including weekends.

Working day: 8am – 5pm. Half hour lunch with morning break of 15 mins. Finish time may fluctuate.

We need to be able to communicate days of work sometimes at quite short notice, this is usually done by group email so use of mobile phone is essential.

For more information and to discuss details please contact Claire Foden: 07917 917515 | harvest@gusbourne.com

• Awning & Canopies 18 years experience

• Approved Supplier for Caribbean Awnings & Canopies

• Full range of shutters expertly fitted by our City and Guilds qualified carpenter and joiner

• Vertical, Venetian, Wood, Roller, Pleated

• Specialists in Conservatory Blinds & Inshade sails Perfect fit blinds

Home visits available

01903823803

13th August 3:00 PM Robin Hood Danny House gardens

Hurstpierpoint BN6 9BB £15

This is My Theatre 07732

253311

info@thisismytheatre.com

thisismytheatre.com/ hurstpierpoint-robin-hood

WALKS

1st July 8:30 PM Night-time safari –nightjars on the heath

RSPB

Pulborough Brooks RH20 2EL £16.50 RSPB member and £20.50 Non-member Anna Allum 01798 875851 anna.allum@rspb.org.uk www.events.rspb.org.ukpulboroughbrooks

8th & 22nd July 10:00 AM East Grinstead Town

Tour East Grinstead Museum RH19 3BJ £6

Jonathan Parrett 01342 302233 manager@eastgrinsteadmuseum.co.uk www.eastgrinsteadmuseum.org.uk

More events on www.sussexlocal.net

Sussex Snippets

Charity & Community news from across the counties

West Sussex County Council has said a huge thank you to the many volunteers who help to deliver services and support communities to mark Volunteers’ Week in June. More than 1,100 volunteers regularly give their time to assist with roles such as working with young offenders, being a Digital Champion or volunteering with the Fire Service, Library Service or waste prevention team.

Sussex-based LGBT+ youth charity, Allsorts Youth Project, has launched a new fundraising campaign called "Across Sussex With Pride." The campaign aims to complete a 148-mile challenge over three months, supporting the charity's LGBT+ youth and family services. Participants can choose any means of completing the challenge and are encouraged to sign up online at: allsortsyouth.enthuse.com/cf/sussexwithpride

Starting on Saturday, July 8th, children aged 411 can join the Summer Reading Challenge at their local West Sussex library, reading books, collecting stickers and participating in activities like the Character Hunt. Completing the challenge by the end of summer earns them a medal and certificate. To register for free and learn more, visit: westsussex.gov.uk/src.

Repair Cafes are springing up all over West Sussex. If you haven’t come across the idea before, these are volunteer-led sessions where you can take all kinds of things along for possible repair instead of throwing them out. For a list of locations, visit www.sussexgreenliving.org.uk/repair.

Air Ambulance Charity

Kent Surrey Sussex (KSS) provides 24/7 prehospital emergency care to millions of people in its region. With its busiest year in 2022, responding to 3,224 incidents, the charity needs to raise £16.6M annually to continue operations. Fundraising events this summer include hosting a Cuppa for your Crew, covering 100 miles in July, and participating in the KSS Ride. For more information, visit the charity’s website at www.aakss.org.uk.

National charity, Canine Partners, closed its Midhurst base in May and is now operating from the Midlands. The move aimed to address financial challenges and focus funds on delivering assistance dogs to disabled individuals. However the charity still maintains links in West Sussex and is urgently seeking Puppy Parent volunteers in the county to help with early socialisation and training of puppies destined to become fully-rained assistance dogs. Further information is available at www.caninepartners.org.uk/puppyparents or email: volunteer@caninepartners.org.uk.

Parkfield Equine Solutions, a West Sussexbased charity known for their work with The Horse Course, received a grant of £4,750 from the Safer in Sussex Community Fund. The fund is operated by Katy Bourne, the Sussex Police Commissioner. The charity offers innovative support programs to young people facing challenges such as mental health issues, ADHD, or are at risk of offending, and the funding is making a tangible difference in their impactful work. See more at www.parkfieldequinesolutions.com

A "Pounds for Ponds" campaign has launched, aiming to revive and create 100 dew ponds across Hampshire and Sussex with an investment of approximately £1m over the next decade. Led by the South Downs National Park Trust and Froglife, the initiative seeks to restore derelict ponds and secure funding, including support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Bannister Trust, and BMW, to bring back these vital habitats for wildlife.

Charity & Community News

Accessible croquet sessions launched Residents of Care

South's Sussexdown residential care home in Storrington enjoyed a wheelchair croquet lesson by local croquet expert John Coventry. Adapted to accommodate residents in wheelchairs, the lesson took place in the home's well-maintained gardens, allowing everyone to participate. The activity will now be held weekly, providing a new and enjoyable experience for the residents. Pictured are resident Peter with John at the inaugural session.

Changes at Horsham District Council

Following an Annual General Meeting of Horsham District Council on 24 May, a new Chairman has been elected.

Cllr Dr David Skipp was elected Chairman of Horsham District Council for the civic year 2023 to 2024 at the Annual General Meeting which was held at Parkside, Horsham. Cllr Nigel Emery

was appointed as the Vice-Chairman of the Council. Cllr Skipp takes over the role of Chairman from Cllr Kate Rowbottom who is retiring from the Council. Following the May local elections. the Liberal Democrats won full control of the Council for the first time since 1999.

Choir for those with memory problems

As evidence shows that music can help people to feel and live better, Trinity Methodist Church, Storrington is trying to assess interest in establishing what they term as a "dementia friendly" choir. Aimed primarily at those aged 55+ experiencing memory problems, but open to all, the choir would meet on a Wednesday morning, probably fortnightly. There would be no auditions or music scores; just the words of the songs led from the keyboard. Anyone interested in findng out more should contact Robert Gamble on 01798 815335; 07955 189704 or email him at robertgamblerc@gmail.com.

Charity & Community News

Chanctonbury Probus Club

Chanctonbury Probus Club have had numerous events this year, including Ten Pin Bowling, Skittles, Annual Dinner and a visit to the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire, stopping off at Stratford upon Avon on route. Some of the future events are Croquet, Petanque, tour of a fort and a visit to Wimbledon. The club has monthly lunches with speakers and organised walks. Nearly all social events involve a friendly lunch at various eateries. If you would like to be involved and part of this very active and sociable club, email the Secretary for more information t secretary@chanctonburyprobus.org.uk.

Storrington Conservation news

The work party returned to Fryern Dell on 3rd June to resume the work programme, following a recent agreement of a Schedule of Works with the managing agents. The aim being to enable the natural beauty to be appreciated by visitors to the Dell. The Dell, which is an old Victorian pleasure garden contains many interesting tree and shrub species. Amongst these are heritage rhododendron species such as those pictured

which are called Louis Pasteur and Mrs C. E .Stirling. The next meet is on Saturday 1st July at 10am To clear the riverbank and paths between Love Lane and Fryern Dell. All welcome to join in this voluntary work, tools provide, plenty of fresh air and friendly company. 01903 745971, . www.storringtonconservation.org.uk.

Museum launches Friday evening events

Horsham Museum and Art Gallery is looking forward to welcoming visitors in the evenings over the summer months for the new ‘Friday Lates’ series of events. The after-hours openings will give people the chance to explore the galleries and exhibitions for longer. Refreshments will be served and there will be free live entertainment, providing the opportunity to see the Museum in a whole new light. The Friday Lates will also give visitors the opportunity to see the newly opened Frederick Godman exhibition, exploring the life and legacy of the natural scientist and collector who built his home near Horsham.

Writing a Will

By Will Writer Emma Cohen MIPW

Writing a Will is one of those tasks that often goes overlooked. However, the benefits of creating a Will extend far beyond just financial considerations. A Will acts as a powerful document that can provide peace of mind to loved ones and ensures the smooth transfer of assets after you have gone.

Crafting your Will enables you to have full control over the distribution of your assets after you die. By explicitly stating your wishes, you can ensure that any property, investments and personal belongings are distributed how you want. You will often hear me coin the phrase “Your Will, Your Way!” This can prevent confusion, reduce the likelihood of disputes and it can eliminate the need for expensive legal processes.

A Will is not just about assets though, it allows you to protect your loved ones in various ways. Guardianship provisions can be included to designate who will care for children, additionally, a Will can provide some security for elderly or dependent family members who require ongoing support.

There are also many options to leave financial help to the Charities closest to your heart.

The absence of a Will can leave loved ones in a difficult and emotionally challenging position. Having a roadmap in place can sometimes relieve them of the burden of making complex decisions during an already distressing time. It provides a clear set of instructions, making the estate settlement process smoother, faster, and less stressful. By avoiding intestacy laws, a Will also minimises unnecessary costs and preserves the value of the estate for your beneficiaries.

At Nsure we believe writing a Will is a responsibility that we should all embrace. Beyond the financial considerations, it allows you to take control of your legacy, protect the people who matter the most to you and alleviate difficult decisions after you have gone.

Please do get in touch with me on 01903 821010 or email: emma.cohen@nsure.co.uk

Safe Hands

Independently owned Funeral Directors in Storrington, bringing the best care and value, with kindness and compassion to families across Sussex and beyond. Visit us in our modern, inviting premises and we can chat through your options and discuss your wishes, allowing you to make choices that feel right for you.

We offer a choice of funerals to suit every need and circumstance from £1,495 fully inclusive.

You’re in safe hands…

Always available when you need us, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Penny Strachan Funeral Director

Matt White…

“Using pain as fuel” by Lynn Smith

Matt White’s achievements would be impressive by any measure – his CV includes a career of over twenty years built around cyber security and leadership, former Global Head of Information Security Strategy with luxury brand Chanel, CEO of his own start-up – XaaS Ltd and, currently, Interim Group Chief Information Security Officer for Arriva plc. Plus, Matt is a member of the GB Paraclimbing team.

However, Matt’s achievements are even more remarkable when you realise the amount of grit and determination it must have taken to get where he is today.

When he was twelve years old, Matt crushed a carpal in his right-hand playing rugby.

Matt’s injury was to have a profound impact upon his life, rather than getting better over time the pain grew worse and a year after his injury Matt was diagnosed with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS).

CRPS is a debilitating condition - sufferers experience persistent severe pain that is out of proportion to the severity of the original injury. Matt White sounds almost matter of fact when he describes his condition as feeling as though he has, “A blowtorch in my arm, 24/7.”

A side effect of CRPS is that he doesn’t sleep much and his brain is always trying to distract from the constant pain, it also means that he has no fear about causing himself further painhis analogy being, “Once you’re in a swimming pool you’re wet. Not matter how much someone splashes you, you aren’t going to get any wetter.” Consequently, Matt realised that he could push himself harder and for longer.

In 2020, and two months into lockdown, whilst trying to put on his socks, Matt discovered that he couldn’t lift his foot. He could see no visible sign of injury. After a full MRI he was diagnosed with Perineal Nerve Palsy, also known as Foot Drop. The MRI also revealed that Matt had a number of bulging discs in his back and a stenosis, a narrowing of the spine that can lead to compression of the nerves travelling into the legs.

“Always a silver lining”

Matt had discovered climbing in 2016. PostCovid, he began climbing at Volume 1 gym in

East Grinstead, where he met the GB Paraclimbing Coach, Belinda Fuller who spotted Matt’s potential and offered to train him. Matt’s CRPS and other injuries put him into the Paraclimbing category. In October 2021, Belinda entered him for the Nationals, which saw him competing with members of the GB Team. Matt came third and realised that he: “Had found my tribe.”

He says, “I felt really comfortable competing, I loved the crowds and the people,” and he describes the community warmly. It’s rare, he feels, to have … people with a such a positive outlook. “They’re there for themselves, a real community.”

Having decided to try to qualify for the GB Paraclimbing team, in December 2022 he was selected. When I talk to him, Matt is just days away from his first Paraclimbing contest as a team member, in Caernarfon, Wales* Although not yet an Olympic sport, the Paraclimbing community is waiting to hear the result of its bid for inclusion in 2028s LA Games.

Matt also suffers loss of grip in his hands due to Thoracic Outlet Syndrome (TOS) – when he raises his arms above his shoulders after a few minutes the circulation to his arms is cut off. Again, Matt is matter of fact as he explains that the TOS doesn’t really impact on a day-to-day basis. Which brings me to ask the question, how does someone who loses the circulation in his arms when he raises them get on, on a climbing wall? It's all about resilience, determination and problem solving

Matt explains that the competitive wall is fifteen metres in height and competitors have six minutes to complete the wall – Matt loses his grip after two-three minutes. Fortunately, time

isn’t the only factor when grading a climb, “It’s important, but so are tactics.” Before a climber begins his climb, he has two minutes to survey the wall from the ground and determine his route to the top. “Each route has a series of different holds and the more you can reach, the more points you’re awarded.” It is all, he says, about resilience, determination and problem solving.

In January of this year, Matt underwent an operation on his leg in a bid to cure the Foot Drop. Two weeks after the operation Matt realised that the pain wasn’t getting any better. Although he is now able to lift his foot and should have use of his calf again, once he has built up muscle strength, he still suffers pain. It may not be the outcome he’d hoped for, but he feels, he says, much better off now. He doesn’t want to sound glib but he can, he says, “Handle pain.” “A life without pain would have been a very different life.”

Matt explains his interpretation of pain by saying, “There is a level of energy when feeling pain that almost gives a power surge. Pain can almost be a fuel.” He agrees that pain can be debilitating but he feels that it doesn’t have to be.

As a result of the pain and not being able to sleep, Matt does a lot of reading and he has read a lot around pain. “Lots of people experience pain and never talk about it,” he says. ”All of the elite military services go through physical and mental hardship training, where their bodies are pushed to their limits.” The question is, “Are you ready to embrace and tap into the mindset.”

Matt believes that everything he has achieved is because of the constant pain he suffers. Before he was diagnosed with CRPS he was, he tells me, a difficult child with “a chip on my shoulder” and after his diagnosis suddenly his brain “switched on.”

He considers his affliction to be akin to a “superpower” and that he would be a very different person, less driven, less focussed, without it. This is not just supposition. In 2019 Matt was given the opportunity to try a drug that rendered him pain-free for the first time in years. He took the drug for three months, during which time he “lost the ability to think properly,” before choosing not to continue with the medication, but rather “to feel the pain and be more high achieving.” He concedes that there is an element of ego involved, that he isn’t happy performing at any level except the absolute highest he can. Value is determined by our impact upon others. Matt’s focus is upon helping people, doing things for others – mentoring, training, speaking -What he describes as a “level of servitude that makes suffering easier.” There are bad days, he admits, when he wants it all to go away but every time that he’s felt like giving up, he’s been contacted by people who have found him, usually on Instagram, fellow CRPS sufferers, who tell him how much hearing his story has helped them.

“It seems that the human mind is more capable when it does something for someone else.” He describes himself as being the “perfect mix

of optimism and insanity,” with enough realism to accept and enough insanity to push through regardless.

“You can always give up tomorrow”

Matt clearly embraces the challenges he faces as opportunities for change and when I ask what advice he might offer someone facing their own challenges, he doesn’t hesitate. “’You can always give up tomorrow.’ It’s a phrase that my grandfather used and one that I live by.” It is, he feels far more effective than telling someone things will get better, and “one of the most powerful phrases I know.”

Contact: Please email: matt.white@xaas.co.uk, www.facebook.com/p/Matt-White-Paraclimber www.thisismattwhite.com

*Matt came 1st in his category (AU3 Male) at Caernarfon on 21 May.

Improve, don’t move!

We’ve been trusted by 100,000 customers to transform their home. It’s no wonder we’re the most recommended on Trust Pilot and Check-a-Trade, so

Peanut butter, honey & granola cookies

A quick & easy snack

Ingredients - Makes 12 cookies

• 260g nutty crunch granola

• 130g Perrins ‘just’ peanut butter

• 1 large egg

• 1 pinch salt

• 1 tbsp West Chiltington honey

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 180c and line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Whizz three thirds of the granola into the food processor and pulse until finely ground: transfer to a medium bowl. Add the peanut butter, egg, and salt. Using an electric mixer, beat the mixture at a low speed until smooth. Add the remaining granola and beat the cookie dough until just combined.

2. Form the cookie dough into 12 balls and arrange them on the prepared baking sheets. Flatten the balls with the back of a fork to 2 inch rounds. Bake one sheet at a time in the centre of the oven for about 15 minutes, until the cookies are lightly browned around the edges. Let the

cookies cool completely on the baking sheets before spreading a little honey on each cookie. www.mrandmrscheese.co.uk

Ingredients at Village Larder - villagelarder.co.uk Weekly meal inspiration - @village_larder

Kinsbrook Vineyard, Thakeham

A new Sussex farm shop & restaurant with views of the vineyard

Come and visit Kinsbrook: a progressive vineyard and wine producer in the heart of West Sussex wine country. Kinsbrook’s brand-new Sussex style building, Kinsbrook Farmhouse, houses a farm shop and restaurant with stunning panoramic views of the vineyard and is open 7 days a week.

In their relaxed and modern restaurant, Kinsbrook offers a changing, seasonal breakfast and lunch menu which uses only the highest quality local produce with a curated wine list and craft coffees. With live music every Sunday, Supper Clubs and regular tours and tastings of the vineyard, there's always something going on.

In the farm shop, Kinsbrook spotlights some of Sussex’s best produce. With a full nose-to-tail butchery onsite, their meat is all sourced from

the most ethical, sustainable farmers within a 5mile radius. Kinsbrook’s deli counter offers a fantastic selection of English cheeses and there is a complete selection of Kinsbrook’s own wines available for sale.

Win a private tour and tasting for two with a bottle of still wine at Kinsbrook Vineyard, West Sussex worth £100.

www.kinsbrookvineyard.com

Win a private tour and tasting for two with a bottle of still wine at Kinsbrook Vineyard

To enter answer the following question: Q: Which day dothey have live music?

a) Friday b)Saturday c)Sunday

Send your answer and contact details to: Kinsbrook Vineyard Squirrel Competition, PO Box 2237, Pulborough, RH20 9AH or you can enter online at: www.sussexlocal.net/features/ competitions Winner drawn after 31st July 2023. Please indicate if you wish to remain on our mailinglist.

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Marble & Granite Beauty of Natural Stone for Kitchens & Bathrooms

For centuries both marble and granite have been used by artists, architects and constructors both for their aesthetic and durability qualities. Today marble, granite quartz and other stone are highly prized materials for use in bathrooms and kitchens.

LBS Stone is a family run business which has evolved over the past 20 years and Marcus Jones spoke to Sussex Local about the Storrington based business. Marcus explained the importance which is placed on quality and achieving the right look for the client's project. “The finest materials are sourced from reputable suppliers to guarantee that the finished product will not only be visually stunning but will be hygienic, scratch and heat resistant and long lasting. The team of skilled craftsmen are all passionate

about their work and the greatest care is taken throughout the measuring, cutting, shaping and polishing processes to achieve an outcome to fully satisfy the client.” Keeping the customer fully informed during the process is of immense importance Marcus told us, and intense attention to detail ensures that the finished project will meet their aspirations.

Of course, said Marcus, their success has not happened overnight and it has taken years of investing in state of the art technology, building a team of dedicated craftsmen and finding the high quality materials needed to establish a company which has worked with high profile clients as well as offering affordable products to the general public.

LBS are offering Sussex Local readers a 10% discount off all stone surfaces. Available until the end of August. Use code sl10 on their website. LBS Stone, Unit 9A Water Lane Trading Estate, Storrington, RH20 3RE tel: 01903 742550 www.lbsstonecollection.co.uk

Managing your food cravings

By Heather Smith

Stress Eating

Does stress cause you to make food choices you wish you didn't? Instead of letting the guilt slip in, be kind to yourself and approach with interest rather than emotion.

Figure out the Pattern

There is usually something alongside the feeling of being stressed which triggers the urge to over-eat. See if you can figure out what it is.

It might be that you let yourself get too hungry, or it might be an emotion, a sight, a particular time - or something else entirely.

Whatever you learn is useful. When you're aware of something, you can start to make a change.

Put a Barrier in Place

Now, we need to give you an opportunity to slow down between the urge to over-eat and the action. You might simply not keep the kind of food you don't want to eat in the house. So, if you want it, you'll have to go to the shops. Maybe, you could take a 10 minute walk in the fresh air before you eat. Maybe even drinking a glass of water will give you time to think.

Keep Practicing

Whatever you do, you won't get it right straight away, or all the time. There will be some trial and error. But, with continued practice, you'll start to see patterns and figure out how to stop cravings before they grow.

Get in touch via www.fitbiztraining.co.uk to receive a free video about gaining control of your food cravings.

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HCPC Registered Chiropodist / Podiatrist

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Sussex Walks - July 2023

These are the “Heart Smart Walks” run by Chichester District Council. They must be pre-booked up to 7 days in advance, see below. Please arrive 10 minutes before the start of the walk. All walks finish at their starting point unless otherwise stated. These walks are led by volunteers and if the weather is poor the walk may be cancelled. Full programme of walks available on www.chichester.gov.uk/heartsmart

IMPORTANT: You must pre-book all walks on chichester.gov.uk/heartsmart or call 01243 521041

Fri 7th July – 10.30am – Washington & Sullington – Leader: Jane / 2.5 hrs / 5 miles

A downland walk taking in the village of Sullington and parts of the South Downs Way. Hilly with stiles. Meet: Frankland Arms pub RH20 4AL (map ref TQ122130)

Sun 9th July – 10.30am - Slindon Woods – Leader: Dominic / 2 hours / 3.5 miles

Lovely views. Generally flat, gravel path. Some muddy areas and short inclines. Last ¼ mile uphill.

Meet: National Trust car park, Dukes Road, Slindon.

Mon 10th July – 2pm – Lavington Common, Duncton – Leader: Sandy / 2.5 hours / 5 miles.

A lovely flat walk through heathland, shady woods, parkland and green meadows. No dogs. Meet: Lavington Common & Plantation Car Park, nearest postcode GU28 0QL (Grid Ref: SU 948 188)

Fri 14th July – 10.30am – South Downs Way 5, Houghton – Leader: Andrew / 2.5 hrs / 5 miles

Up to SDW, then back down to the Arun.

Meet: Amberley railway station car park (free)

Sat 15th July – 10.30am – Mill Road to Black Rabbit - Leader: Dominic / 1.5 hours / 3.5 miles.

Gentle pace - flat riverside walk, 1 stile. Mill Road car park to Offham, return via Black Rabbit.

Meet: Mill Road car park by the river in town centre (charge) BN18 9AA.

Wed 19th July – 6.30pm – Bosham Quay Southwards - Leader: Ian / 1.25 hrs / 3 miles

Walk along Shore Road, then a small part of Chichester Harbour Coast Walk back the same way. NB: the tide will be out, so small muddy patches, fantastic views of Bosham/harbour! Car Park should be free after 6pm. Meet: Bosham Car Park, PO18 8HZ, at the pedestrian area near WCs.

Thu 20th July – 10.30am – Graffham - Leader: Richard / 2 hrs / 4.4 miles

Through woodland and open countryside with fine views of the South Downs. Reasonably level and easy walking with one 200 yd ascent. Some stiles. Meet. In the car park along the Lane adjacent to the War Memorial. 50 yds to the South of the 'Foresters Arms' GU28 0QA.

Fri 21st July – 10.30am – Burpham & Wepham - Leader: Jane / 2 hrs 30 / 5 miles

Hilly with several climbs. Lovely views. Can be uneven and muddy in the woods. Stiles. No dogs. Meet: The public car park behind the George at Burpham BN18 9RR.

Mon 24th July – 10.30am – Chichester Canal - Leader: Sarah / 30 mins / 1 mile

A flat walk at a gentle pace, suitable for beginners.

Meet: Chichester Canal, Basin Road, Chichester PO19 8DT

Wed 26th July – 10.30am – Binsted woods - Leader: Dominic / 2 hrs / 4 miles

Mainly flat headland path, grass, gravel.

Meet: Walberton Village Hall car park, The Street, Walberton, Arundel, BN18 0PQ

Thu 27th July – 10.30am – Iping Common - Leader: Bruce / 2 hrs / 4.3 miles

Ascent 80m. Lovely heathland area. On paths, no stiles, might be muddy in places.

Meet: Iping Common car park - SU852220, (Nearby Postcode GU29 0PB)

Fri 28th July – 10.30am – Cissbury Ring - Leader: Peter / 2 hrs / 4 miles

Circular walk up and around Cissbury Ring (5,000 year old hill fort) with phenomenal 360 degree views of coast and countryside.

Meet: Car park left off the A24 southbound about 3/4 mile south of A280 roundabout.

Good Hair Days

City style comes to Storrington

Former hair salon Headlines is now open as Lustig & Webb Storrington and new owners Daniel and Stephen have been talking to Sussex Local about their future planshoping to emulate the success of their well-established Hurstpierpoint salon. Daniel told us, “We both love the village vibe, people are so friendly and welcoming.”

First and foremost they told us is to provide a fun, welcoming and relaxing atmosphere where clients can enjoy all the fun salon banter. The salon has been fully made modern juniper ash colour-scheme with accents of gold and complementary artwork on display. They consider themselves fortunate to have recruited three local stylists with many years experience. Carly from Toni and Guy in Worthing is a colour specialist, Emma who trained at Vidal Sassoon and Helen, previously at Rush in Worthing, who loves styling hair for special occasions.

You may recognise Daniel and Stephen from the popular Friday night show “Gogglebox”. Aside from TV work they both have over 25 years styling experience and both trained with Toni & Guy.

Daniel has worked on a number of high end magazines including Harper and Queen whilst Stephen has worked worldwide in Dubai and London. They very much hope that previous clients of Headlines and new customers from the surrounding area will appreciate the little extra touches such as a nice coffee or chilled beverage which will be offered in addition to a thoroughly up to date and fashion forward approach to hairdressing. “We are looking to bring a bit of the customer service and skill from the city to the village.”

Lustig & Webb, 01903 742865 Mill Parade, Mill Lane, RH20 4NF lustigandwebbstorrington.co.uk

TheGoggleboxstarswith theirpoodles

DANIEL&STEPHEN-GOGGLEBOXSTARS

Soft Cell in Steyning

Electronic pop group with special guest Heaven 17

Love, Marc Almond and Dave Ball, achieved six Top Ten singles, three Top Ten albums and inspired synth acts from The Pet Shop Boys to Years & Years. Their latest album, *Happiness Not Included, came out in May to reviews including “Here is how you’d hope the 21st century would sound” and “Buoyed by an undimmed pop instinct and Almond’s waspish wit”.

Buy tickets from wistonsummersounds.com

Win a pair of tickets to see Soft Cell

To enter answer the following question:

Top hits and albums produced

Soft Cell will be taking to the stage at the beautiful Wiston Estate in Steyning on 9th September 2023 at 4pm with very special guests Heaven 17.

Summer isn’t over until you’ve seen electronic pop group Soft Cell at this year’s ultimate 1980s open air live concert in the southeast.

The duo best known for iconic 1981 hit Tainted

Q: How many Top Ten singles have the duo achieved?

a) Six b) Three c) Four

Send your answer and contact details to: Soft Cell Competition, PO Box 2237, Pulborough, RH20 9AH or you can enter online at: www.sussexlocal.net/ features/competitions Winner drawn after 31st July 2023. Please indicate if you wish to remain on our mailing list.

Government falls short on EV charging goals

280,000 - 480,000 public charge points needed by 2030

The British government is unlikely to meet its target of having six or more rapid or ultra-rapid electric vehicle chargers at every motorway service area in England by the end of 2023, according to a recent RAC study.

Out of 119 motorway services examined, only 23% currently meet the desired charger count for the estimated 760,000 battery electric vehicles in the UK.

Notably, six motorway services in England have no high-powered chargers. These findings contradict the government's electric vehicle infrastructure strategy, which aimed to accelerate the rollout of high-powered chargers through the £950m Rapid Charging Fund.

The government's goal is to have 300,000 public chargers of all speeds by 2030, along with over

6,000 high-powered chargers on strategic roads by 2035. However, forecasts suggest that between 280,000 and 480,000 public charge points will be needed by 2030.

Insufficient charging infrastructure is often cited as a barrier to electric vehicle adoption. Rapid and ultrarapid charging is crucial for longer journeys and to support the government's goal of 80% zero-emission new car sales by 2030.

Automotive journalist Quentin Willson urges accelerated development of a long-range, high-powered charging infrastructure to boost electric vehicle drivers' confidence and attract global investors. Insufficient charging infrastructure remains a major concern impeding electric vehicle adoption.

www.rac.co.uk

The food of the Gods

Each Saturday morning, standing sturdy and indomitable in all weathers behind his stall in Florence Road market, Brighton, is softly spoken James Hull, from the J. Cocoa company.

James the only craft chocolate maker in Sussex and one of only 16 in the UK.

In Your Garden

Monthly gardening ideas & tasks by Andrew

of Glorious Gardens

This means, unlike other big chocolate companies that import chocolate and then just melt it down, reshape and flavour it, James actually imports the fermented beans and roasts and filters them himself before grinding them into a liquid form, ready to flavour and set into moulds.

His chocolate is wonderful, with original flavours and a deep earthy taste that you won’t find in cheaply available chocolate.

What got him into it? “I was interested in cooking so did a course in Pastries and Confection. Then life took me elsewhere and I ran my own fishmongers for 5 years. When by chance I visited a chocolate fair I became intrigued about the process of making chocolate from scratch.”

That was 8 years ago and since then James has won many awards including a Gold Medal for his milk chocolate at the International Chocolate Awards.

“When I first started, I was using hair driers, rolling pins and Indian spice grinders until they kept breaking. Not being able to afford the enormous chocolate producing machines from overseas, I designed and had built my own stainless steel equipment. “James proudly looks around

Staib

his large wooden hut at the bottom of his parent’s gardens. It resembles an industrial kitchen painted by Dali with strange shiny pipes, ovens , crackers and sifters. “Everything here was born out of necessity. It has certainly turned me into a very organised person.”

“It is a very very complicated process. Coco beans are like grapes, each batch tastes different depending on the country they are from and the soil type. Plus when making it, the different stages of production involve different temperatures. There are no Ompa Lumpas to help out and it is very time consuming but I trust when people have tasted craft chocolate, like coffee, they find it hard to go back to the cheap stuff. When someone asks me how to start up a chocolate business I tell them - Don’t Do It!”

But he has done it and winning the Great Taste Award amongst other awards kept him going.

“It started as a curiosity and now I am becoming known by quality buyers in restaurants and cafes. Preparing for Xmas and Easter means a non stop 6-7 working days per week but in the

Harvesting the Coco beans from the pods

Summer I slow down and can experiment with new flavours and I have just started making chocolate ice-cream”

I ask him about the ethics of even importing the chocolate bean. It is estimated that over two million children around the world, the majority in East Africa, work in the industry and are often terribly exploited or trafficked. “I take this so seriously. I interview each small supplier for each batch I buy and I have become good at judging those that take fair pay and working conditions seriously. But it is a big problem.The big chocolate companies pay a lot in legal fees to stall any progress on human rights.”

James’s dream is to have his own cafe one day, with a glass panel allowing customers to see the chocolate making process in action as they sip their hot chocolate.

Do you still eat it? “Oh yes all the time!”

Some chocolate facts: Chocolate was first drunk 4000 years ago and the beans were even used as currency in Central America: 100 of them were worth a turkey, three of them worth a ripe avocado. Chocolate came to Europe and by the 17th Century was enjoyed at first in the Spanish Court and then spread throughout Europe. By the

cacao tree fruit

19th Century it was being combined with milk and sugar and was an integral part of the slave trade. Today it is a 50 billion dollar industry.

Where to visit in July

If you haven’t been to the National Trust garden, Nymans to the east of the village of Handcross, then a visit will be thrilling to you. The garden was developed, starting in the late 19th century, by three generations of the Messel family, and was brought to renown by Leonard Messel. So it is a horticultural collection of fascinating plants.

July tasks

• Vegetables - Make sure you can mulch bare earth and water when the sun is down to save on evaporation.

• Water well and consistently - Irregular watering can lead to problems such as blossom end rot in tomatoes and splitting of root vegetables, so make sure to water well during dry spells.

• Weeding - Weeds compete with vegetables for water and act as hosts for pests and diseases, remove them regularly by hoeing.

• Marrows - Should be raised off the ground slightly, to prevent them discolouring from contact with the soil.

• Celery and Carrots - Continue earthing up celery, putting a layer of paper between the stems and the soil and take care when thinning out any late-sown carrot seedlings to prevent the scent released attracting carrot fly females.

more information please call sales:

Nymans gardens

The blueprints to success “Reputation, is earned project by project” Nick, RMR Group

The essence of teamwork is often best described by an old adage - success is the combined effort of many, not the glory of one. This philosophy holds true across all disciplines, not least in the challenging and multifaceted world of construction. Imagine an orchestra, where each instrument has a unique role, yet together they create a harmonious melody. Construction echoes this orchestral order. A myriad of key players - material suppliers, architects, structural engineers, builders, regulators - each with a unique 'note' to play, come together to compose the 'symphony' of a finished project. In unison, they strive to create a masterpiece a new, awe inspiring

Success in construction, much like in music, is rarely an accident or a fortuitous event. It's the result of a united, well-synchronised team consistently outperforming a group of individual talents working in isolation. For instance, a seasoned painter is likely to have a trusted plasterer they work with regularly, creating a smooth handover and superior finish. Likewise, satisfied clients become the greatest advocates for the team that transformed their vision into reality. Reputation, then, is earned note by note, project by project, providing an assurance of the team's ability to deliver beyond expectations.

Choosing the right team is paramount, and more often than not, these professionals have been honing their skills and collaboration over several years. The architect often pioneers the process, being the first to bring the conceptual plan to pa-

Reviving Your “Naff” Conservatory

Tips from Homebuilding & Renovating Show experts

Conservatories have become a popular addition to homes, but homeowners and prospective purchasers can be concerned about comfort, energy efficiency and outdated aesthetics.

Challenges & Downsides

Conservatories lack heat retention in winter and suffer from excessive heat build-up in summer due to their glazed structure. Building regulations mandate a separately controllable heating system and an insulated door to mitigate energy loss. This impacts comfort and efficiency.

www.blinds-2go.co.uk

Enhancing Efficiency

The roof is a major source of heat loss and overheating. Lightweight solid roof conversion systems and insulating blinds can regulate temperature and reduce energy loss.

Making it More Attractive

Repainting uPVC frames in fresh colours, softening the flooring, adding pot plants, contemporary furniture and vibrant cushions can create a more inviting atmosphere. Plantation shutters or Roman blinds can enhanceaestheticsand temperature control.

Conclusion

The 'Naff' Factor

Conservatories are often perceived as dated due to their mass-produced uPVC construction and Victorian-inspired designs. They lack consideration for energy efficiency and overall design, making them less appealing in contemporary architectural trends.

Property of the month

Despite their downsides, conservatories can be improved in terms of energy efficiency and aesthetics. Upgrading the roof, installing blinds, and considering a structural transformation with professional guidance can create a comfortable and stylish space. By Julia Kendell interior designer andarchitectPaul Testa.

www.surrey.homebuildingshow.co.uk

A 3/4 bedroom chalet style bungalow approximately 1/2 mile from the village centre. Internally, property offers spacious and versatile accommodation extending to 2178 sqft comprising: entrance hall, open plan sitting room/dining room with wood burner, kitchen/breakfast room, ground floor master bedroom with en-suite and French doors leading to terrace and gardens, ground floor bathroom, first floor bedroom with en-suite with adjoining bedroom/hobbies room. Outside, there is extensive parking leading to attached double garage. Rear garden is a feature of the property with lawned areas and terrace. ContactFowlers:01903745844

Hillside Walk, Storrington, RH20 3HL £725,000

run business, furnishing Sussex for more than 60 years

Property services with proper service

We’re your property partners in Sussex, Surrey and Hampshire. Together, our people bring local knowledge, know-how and a ‘can do’ attitude like no other agency.

We listen to what matters to you and make it happen – always with a smile and with you in the loop. And when we say we’ll do something, we do it. Discover more:

To make an enquiry or request a valuation please contact Henry Adams Storrington on 01903 258122

Prize Crossword

Win a £30 voucher for a meal at The Crown Inn

May 2023 solution below:

Across

1 Drunk (6)

5 Ornamental flowering shrub (6)

8 Omelette essential (3)

9 Whine (6)

10 Yearn (6)

11 E.g. the Romanovs (5)

13 Athletic shoe (7)

14 Pains (5)

17 Periodic (5)

20 Fuzzy (7)

22 Long-continued practice (5)

25 Leaning letter (6)

26 Mature animals (6)

27 Did possess (3)

28 Stump up in advance (6)

29 Creeping (6)

Down

2 Republic containing the northernmost point in Africa (7)

3 At no time (5)

4 Vale (4)

5 Con (7)

6 Clap (7)

7 Strange and mysterious (5)

12 Observe (3)

15 Facial deformity (7)

16 Incomplete (7)

18 Acknowledgement of debt (1,1,1)

19 Become less dark (7)

21 Coming after (5)

23 Moved back and forth (5)

24 Instructed (4)

Name: …………………………………………………………………………………….

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

………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Postcode: ………………………………………………………………………………..

Email: ……………………………………………………………………………………..

Phone: …………………………………………………………………………………….

Answer from yellow box: …………………………………………………………..

May anagram solution: YOUNGER

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Is now the time to buy an annuity?

By Oliver Suter DipPFS, financial adviser

Annuities provide a regular guaranteed income in retirement. You can buy an annuity with some or all of your pension pot. It pays income for life or for an agreed number of years.

The annuity rate that you receive will depend upon gilt yields, your age, health, and lifestyle. Additionally, you can build in guarantees such as inflation linking, capital protection and guarantee periods.

The rates offered by annuity providers are closely linked to interest rates. In short, when rates rise, annuity deals typically improve. We are currently seeing interest rates at their highest levels for 15 years and annuity rates appear more attractive than they once have.

If you have any questions about annuities, Please remember that individual circumstances apply and the product may not be suitable for all. ‘Investment Solutions’ is the trading name of Investment Solutions Wealth Management Ltd who are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

Investment solutions group photo

Cygnets form County Guard of Honour

Storrington’s Under 11s get up close to their Sussex heroes

Storrington Cygnets Under 11 cricket team were handed the privilege of forming the guard honour for the Sussex County Cricket Club T20 at their recent match against Essex. This was in recognition of the Cygnets’ outstanding playing achievements, beating far bigger clubs from across the county. The Cygnets arrived at the County Ground in Hove in an excited frame of mind. The match was screened worldwide and it was a thrill to hear Storrington being announced. The boys and girls made their way onto the pitch fully

Sussex players couldn’t have been more friendly, chatting and signing autographs.

As the players made their way onto the pitch our team waved their flags and music rang out. We then took our seats to enjoy an exiting match which sadly Sussex narrowly lost. The Cygnets behaved impeccably and were a credit to themselves, their club and Storrington.

Storrington Cricket Club operates a thriving group of youth squads for boys and girls from age 6. Training is on Friday evenings from 6pm. Parents are welcome to come and socialise at this friendly club as the youngsters do their stuff on the field!

For more information on this and the adult section visit www.storringtoncricket.club

St Mary’s C of E Primary School, Washington

Outdoor spaces, Coronation festivities & Transitioning schools

Outside Sacred Space

Members of Chanctonbury Church recently volunteered their services to the school as part of their mission day. Their service included updating our Happy Holy Lighthouse with a much needed refresh which involved resurfacing of the roof and a fresh lick of paint. We were also incredibly lucky to be provided with an additional outside seating area with a useable walkway so that we can use our outdoor environment for further opportunities to take learning outside the classroom. What a great act of generosity, benefitting our school community.

God Save the King

Children spent the day learning about the Coronation Ceremony itself starting with a special assembly, followed by a Royal Procession which allowed the children to showcase their spectacular royal headwear. The children then

had the opportunity to work collaboratively with other classes to solve a London Treasure trail to find the King’s missing Crown and then had a special photo opportunity with a version of the King himself! In the afternoon a right royal tea was served, with handmade crown biscuits baked by a parent and served by our PTA.

Preparation for Pastures New Year 5 spent the morning at Steyning Grammar School as part of the transition package that the locality schools offer for pupils who will soon be considering secondary school places. The children enjoyed many activities these included cooking, science and of course, the canteen!

For more information please see www.stmaryswashington.co.uk

Storrington Primary School

Learning about the Warren & annual duck race

The children of Storrington Primary have had a lot of fun this half term enjoying the beautiful country side near school. Each term the school completes a “beyond the school gates,” project, as part of their geography leaning, where they explore different parts of Storrington.

This time the children explored the Warren. Over five days Year 1 – 5 (300 children) explored the Warren with the support of the wardens and countryside rangers. They learned lots of facts about the Warren and how it has changed over the years. This would not have been possible without our wonderful wardens and rangers.

May saw the annual Duck race return to Storrington. It was wonderful to see the library carpark once again filled with the community racing ducks on the river and spending time together. This event is to raise money for our school swimming pool which we make full

use of throughout the year.

The School PTA, staff and pupils of Storrington worked hard to organise and run a truly amazing day. Thank you to everyone who supported this event enabling us to keep our swimming pool open. The children are really enjoying their weekly swimming lessons in the pool this term.

In a few weeks, the pool will be open to the annual triathlon and swimming gala which is always a highlight of the school calendar.

www.storringtonprimary.co.uk

Storrington neighbourhood wardens

Help with utility shortages

Following some water outages in May, I would like to make everyone aware of free support registers for different utilities.

If you, a relative, friend or neighbour needs help should power, gas or water cuts occur, please make sure you/they register for priority support with your provider.

The Priority Services Register is a free support service that makes sure extra help is available to people in vulnerable situations. Being on a Priority Services Register will ensure that extra support will be received ifthe resident experiences an outage. For power outages, support is likely to include:

A priority number that you can call 24 hours a day, text and voice message alerts, letting you know about large power cuts in your area or if bad weather is expected and tailored support if needed such as home visits, hot meals, advice and keeping your friends and relatives updated. For complex power cuts, community welfare teams provide on-site support which includes hot drinks, hot meals, a Wi-Fi connection and charge points.

For water outages, support is likely to include being contacted quickly during a supply interruption and offered additional support and delivery of bottled water to your home.

For more information please visit the following websites:

Electricity: UK Power Networks – most of south east England - ukpowernetworks.co.uk/powercut/priority-services/about-the-priority-servicesregister

Water: Southern Water - southernwater.co.uk/ help-advice/join-our-priority-services-register or call free on 0800 027 0800 (9am-5pm, Mon-Fri).

OFGEM: has a helpful summary at ofgem.gov.uk/information-consumers/energyadvice-households/getting-extra-help-priorityservices-register, and this includes help in finding the suppliers in your area.

Chris Poore - 07795 046743

Neighbourhood Warden

Warden Chris

Belloc meets a tramp near Slindon

agree, and men like you and me are often lonely.’ He shrugged his shoulders and put his head on one side, quizzing at me with his eyes. Then he shook his head decidedly, and said: ‘No, no – it is certain that we shall never meet again,’ And thanking me with great fervour, but briefly, he went largely and strongly down the escarpment of the Combe to Duncton and the weald; and I shall never see him again till the Great Day…”

In this description, we see Belloc’s willingness to talk with any man who would talk to him about the ‘great things’ and it was no concern to Belloc whether that person be of low or high birth. The encounter with the tramp reveals, once again, Belloc’s spiritual naivety – his belief that all will ultimately be resolved on ‘the Great Day,’ when the redeemed will be reconciled with God. Belloc could talk of spiritual matters to a tramp or to one of his upper class friends, such as Katherine Asquith (with whom he probably discussed these matters more deeply than with anyone else), social status, here on earth, was of no consequence.

In December, Sussex historian, Chris Hare, published his book on the life and works of AngloFrench author, Hilaire Belloc, who grew up in the Sussex village of Slindon, and spent the last 48 years of his life at Shipley. We are currently serialising extracts from Chris’ book with local themes. In this concluding extract Chris describes Belloc’s chance meeting with a tramp.

Once, when walking on the downs near Slindon, Belloc met a tramp. The two men talked and found that they had many things in common, especially in matters of spiritual understanding. The tramp shared with Belloc his lunch, which consisted of an onion, and Belloc, for his part, gave him all the change he could find in his pockets for a meal at The Cricketers Arms at Duncton, where the tramp was heading. As the man turned to leave, Belloc called him back –

“‘I wish,’ I said with regret, ‘we might meet and talk more often of many things. So much do we

Belloc took absolutely for granted the existence of supernatural things he could not understand or explain. He thought it the utmost arrogance and folly of modern people to believe they had reached a point is history where neither, religion or faith were required to explain the profound matters of life and existence. Sussex: its small, forgotten villages, its high hills and ancient woodlands, where for him, holy places, the existence of which gave him comfort and hope.

Belloc’s great strength as a man was his lack of pretentiousness and the gentle, and at times, not so gentle mockery he applied to all pomposity, including, on occasion, his own writings and opinions.

Hilaire Belloc, The Politics of Living, by Chris Hare is available, price £10, from Arundel Museum, Mill Road, Arundel Petworth Bookshop, Golden Square, Petworth; Steyning Bookshop, High Street, Steyning; Worthing Library, Richmond Road, Worthing; or direct from Chris, sussexhistory.hare@gmail.com

www.belloc-broadwood.org.uk

Bellocinhis 60s

Andrew Griffith MP

Southern Water & farmers

It’s been a busy month in Arundel and South Downs that has underscored what makes rural communities like ours so unique. Across large parts of West Sussex, we were reminded that Water is one of the few absolute essentials of life when many constituents woke up on a Sunday several weeks ago to find their taps had run dry due to a problem at a pumping station in Hardham.

I held meetings with stakeholders throughout that Sunday and saw the community coming together fantastically to support each other. Supply was restored by midnight, though I will be taking this forward with Southern Water to ensure lessons are learned from such an unacceptable failure.

A big part of representing the more rural areas of West Sussex centres around farmers and the invaluable contribution that farmers make both locally and nationally.

more people to take up farming, grants for barn top solar power, and a so-called “Clarkson’s Farm” review of planning barriers to farm diversification. As always, I would encourage anyone to support British farmers by trying to buy locally and British wherever possible.

Andrew Griffith MP for Arundel & South Downs

Andrew.Griffith.MP@parliament.uk

www.andrewgriffithmp.com

Ashington Parish Council

Reporting local issues

Reporting local issues

We often receive correspondence from residents regarding issues in the village, which can cover a variety of subjects from fly tipping to potholes to blocked drains. Many of these commonly occurring problems aren’t dealt with by us, but by Horsham District Council (HDC) or West Sussex County Council (WSCC). HDC and WSCC both have websites that provide up to date information on a wide variety of subjects and allow residents to report any issues they may see - this means they can be reported promptly and directly. We as a parish council don’t always have a quicker route to report these issues. Just a few of the areas covered are listed below.

Horsham District Council

Bin collections / Dog fouling / Environmental Health / Fly-tipping / Licensing / Parking / Planning applications and enforcement.

HDC also has information about local environmental projects, community and wellbeing links, recycling and many other topics.

www.horsham.gov.uk

West Sussex County Council

WSCC deal with many of the highways related issues, such as - Blocked drains / Flooding / Grass cutting / Potholes / Public Rights of Way (PROW) - footpaths and bridleways. To make an enquiry or report a problem with a road or pavement there is a comprehensive list of areas covered under the Roads and Travel section on their website.

There is a wealth of other information on the WSCC site for topics such as libraries, bus travel, schools, volunteering opportunities, places to visit and many other areas of interest. www.westsussex.gov.uk

www.facebook.com/AshingtonParishCouncil www.ashingtonpc.org.uk

Storrington & Sullington Parish Council

Youth survey, traffic issues and annual car show

Youth survey

With the help of Horsham District Council, we have carried out a survey amongst Students at Steyning Grammar, Rock Road Campus to find out what our younger residents would like to see in the community.

Our aim is to put together a youth forum to represent their peers and have a voice about what services the Parish Council should be focusing on. Our ultimate goal is to form a Youth Council to debate and decide upon issues that affect them so if you know anyone who would like to be involved in this project, please encourage them to contact the Parish Clerk.

Traffic issues

The Parish Council has formed a Working Party to address various traffic and parking related problems that we encounter in our community. One of the first matters to be tackled will be the issue of speeding on the A283, but if you would

like to suggest other projects that might be considered, please contact the Council office on 01903 746547 or office@storrington-pc.gov.uk.

Annual Classic Car show

SADCASE Classic Car Show - Sunday 23rd July – Hormare Field. 11am – 4pm.

Storrington And District Classic And Sportscar Enthusiasts (SADCASE) is hosting its annual Classic Car show on Sunday 23rd July. As well as a fantastic display of classic and sports cars there will be stalls selling motoring accessories, food and drink and entertainment. Look out for posters on the village notice boards nearer the time for more information.

For more information about the Parish Council’s activities, visit look on the Village Notice boards, our Facebook page or our website

www.storrington-pc.gov.uk

Thakeham Parish Council

Update for July 2023

Join Thakeham Parish Council

We would like to welcome Councillors Alan Hunt and Keith Abbott to Thakeham Parish Council. Thakeham Parish Council still has 2 vacancies to fill for the current term, May 2023-May 2027.

If you are interested in becoming a Councillor, and help to shape the community you live and work in, we are accepting applications to join are warm and friendly team. Meetings are generally held on a Monday night, twice a month, at the Village Hall in Thakeham.

If you are interested in becoming a councillor, or want to find out more in how you can help your community, please contact Andrew, the Parish Clerk.

Tel: 07942 181 695 or

Email: clerk@thakehamparish.co.uk

Thakeham Rocks 8th July

Thakeham Rocks re-

turns on Saturday 8 July. The fun starts at 4:30pm on the Abingworth Playing Fields.

A full line up of 6 acts, great food and a well priced bar promises a great evening.

See the Thakeham Community Events Facebook page for information on how to purchase tickets.

www.facebook.com/ThakehamEvents

Sussex Green Living Recycling

The Sussex Green Living recycling bin can be

found outside the Village Hall Monday – Friday, 9:30am – 11:30am. For more details, please read the poster on the door of the Hall or the Sussex Green Living website.

www.sussexgreenliving.org.uk

Thakeham Gardeners Club Flower Show

The annual Thakeham Gardeners Club Flower Show is on at Thakeham Village Hall from 2pm until 4pm on Saturday 22 July.

The categories for this year’s competition include Mixed Flowers and Pot Plants, Floral Arrangement, Fruit and Vegetables, Preserves, Handicrafts, Art, Photography and Childrens. The closing date for entries is 15th July. Please contact Elizabeth Hustings on 01798 815075 or flowershow@stanmoor.co.uk for a Schedule and entry form.

Thakeham Village Hall

Thakeham Village Hall has weekday availability for regular bookings as well as weekday and weekend availability for occasional bookings. If you are looking for a venue, please contact the Hall Managers on 01798 815 467 or info@thakehamvillagehall.co.uk.

The Village Hall website has details of our regular clubs and activities, room availability, hire fees as well as information on the facilities. www.thakehamvillagehall.co.uk

Contact us:

Email: clerk@thakehamparish.co.uk

Phone: 01798 815305

You can find Parish Councillors’ contact details at: www.thakehamparish.co.uk/councillors

If you are new to the Parish, contact us to receive a welcome pack!

www.thakehamparish.co.uk

Thakeham village hall

A great night’s “Shleep” in Pycombe

Counting real-life sheep in a science-backed sleep experience

A recent survey showed that 94% of those in the South-East have struggled to fall asleep - more than any other UK region. Sleep experts from mattress company Emma have been studying what is needed for a great night’s sleep and put together a ‘Shleep’ experience designed to offer participants the ‘best night’s rest’ in a cosy private sleep dome surrounded by friendly numbered sheep.

Sussex Local was invited to take part in this unique trial. So, on a beautiful May evening, I visited the ‘Shleep Sanctuary’ in a secluded setting in the South Downs above Pycombe, East Sussex.

According to research, in 2022 almost half of Brits struggled to sleep, getting an average of 20% less than the NHS-recommended 7 hours. Leading causes for sleep issues include the cost of living crisis (21%), and worrying about work (23%). A key factor to a good sleep is of course the comfort of your mattress but there’s much more you can do to hasten the trip to the land of nod. We learned that counting sheep is more than an old wives’ tale. Theresa Schnorbach, Sleep Scientist at Emma; “Imaginative distraction is an effective strategy to help sleep, where you imagine a pleasant and relaxing image in as much detail as you possibly can – like counting fluffy sheep as they jump over a fence. The aim is to use as much cognitive capacity as possible so that worrying thoughts are suppressed. Studies show this not only shortens the time it takes to fall asleep but also improves sleep quality.”

After meeting the sheep, who seemed very curious about their new neighbours, we were treated to a relaxing al-fresco dinner on our private terrace looking over the sun dappled hills to the Jack and Jill windmills above Pycombe. Our cosy dome was fully equipped with a king-sized state-of-theart bed and Emma memory-foam mattress,

choice of soft or firm pillows as well as pillow mist, luxury eye masks, ear plugs and sleep inducing books. Personally I don’t struggle to get to sleep, however having suffered with back issues, a comfortable mattress is crucial. We both agreed that the Emma mattress was firm enough to offer great support but not too hard. I felt ‘held’ but didn’t sink in so deeply that it was difficult to manoeuvre into my favourite sleeping position. After some bedtime reading, ‘we didn’t take much rocking’ as they say (nothing to do with the wine of course) and drifted off to sleep to the sounds of the birds and the occasional trip-trapping of little sheepie hooves on our decking. Was it a ‘perfect night’s sleep’?

Well I usually wake up at least once in the night and often can’t get back to sleep but I’m pleased to report that wasn’t the case in the lovely dome under the stars.

Emma is looking to open the Shleep Sanctuary for bookings in 2024, so head to www.emmasleep.co.uk/shleep/ to register interest and find out more.

By Editor Kris Thomas