Royal British Legion: We are back

Royal British Legion, Billingshurst – We are Back!

This year the Royal British Legion is celebrating its 100th birthday, but difficult times have severely restrained our fundraising and branch activities.

Due to recent tragic events in Afghanistan, we are anticipating that the Royal British Legion will be required to give more help to our veterans and servicemen and women.

On Sunday 14th November, our Billingshurst Annual Parade and Remembrance Day Ceremony at the War Memorial, will be followed by a Morning Service at St Mary’s Church. We are extremely grateful to the Billingshurst Parish Council, who have taken on the responsibilities of marshalling and road closures, that have allowed the Parade to return this year. We will be publishing further details in due course.

This year’s Poppy Appeal will be from 30th October and will run till Saturday 13th November 2021. We are looking for volunteers to help with our static fundraising stalls. One will be at the Station and the other outside Sainsbury’s. The Station will have a presence from 6.30am till 10.30am and Sainsbury’s from 9am till 1pm.

Poppy boxes and collecting tins will be distributed to strategic locations around the village as normal, but door-to-door collections will be limited due to the possible on-going restrictions with COVID. If you would like to participate and join our team, (we ask volunteers to participate for no more than an hour at a time,) please contact: Tom Blair, Billingshurst Poppy Appeal Organiser, tel: 07925 551148 or e-mail: thomasblair19@yahoo.co.uk. We are also looking for a volunteer to take on the important position of Branch Secretary. John Jones has served as our Secretary for close on 39 years and it is time we allowed him to retire from this role, from which he has given us tremendous support and leadership. If you can help please contact Colin Banks, Branch President, e-mail: colinbanks1940@yahoo.com or Rob Nicholl, Branch Chairman, e-mail: billingshurst.chairman@rbl.community. Graeme McAlpine

Photo: Paul Berry and John Jones taking the salute at the Billingshurst Remembrance Parade 2017

A message from your County Councillor

Dear Residents, I hope everyone has had a good summer despite the weather and had the opportunity for time off or a staycation of some sort. With schools, colleges and universities back, some form of normality has returned although we still have to be cautious. Please keep safe as the seasons change: As we approach autumn and the seasons change, many of us will be spending more time indoors. COVID-19 is still with us, so it is important not to let our guard down and do all we can to stop the spread of coronavirus as we head into winter by following the guidance below: – Test regularly – order or pick up test kits, or have a supervised test at a local pharmacy. – Have both doses of the vaccination. – Remember hands, face, space, let fresh air in. Local vaccination update: As of 8th September, 659,105 people over 16 in West Sussex have had one dose of the vaccine. Everyone is still able to come forward for a vaccination – there is no time limit. If you are yet to have your first dose please visit a walk-in service to receive your vaccine.

Teenagers aged 16 and 17 can now go to a number of walk-in clinics across West Sussex. There is no need for an appointment and they can go with friends or family. Walk-in clinics are taking place in Angmering, Bognor Regis, Chichester, Crawley and Haywards Heath as well as many other locations. Some children aged 12 to 15 are also now eligible to have a vaccine. Hedges and Ditches: This spring and summer has seen exponential growth of vegetation along public roads and now that the nesting season has come to an end (31st August) landowners are encouraged to cut back their hedges and public footpaths. If you are a riparian owner you are also responsible for maintaining the watercourse that borders or runs through your property so this is a good time to clear your ditches to avoid flooding and keep the water flowing. Improve your wellbeing: Coronavirus has had a huge impact on many aspects of our lives including our wellbeing and habits. Increased stress, weight gain due to changes in eating habits and levels of activity plus changes to drinking and smoking patterns are all factors that may have affected our wellbeing and ability to cope. If you are looking for inspiration and practical tips to improve your health visit the West Sussex Wellbeing and Better Health websites. Critical support to Afghan nationals arriving in the UK: The County Council is providing critical support to Afghan nationals arriving in the UK from Afghanistan and is committed to supporting the Government’s Afghan Relocation and Assistance Policy and ‘Operation Warm Welcome’. The Council is also working closely with District and Borough Council partners to identify suitable properties which can be used to provide long-term accommodation for Afghan families who have arrived in the UK. If anyone wishes to find out how they can help, please visit our website where there are details of local and national organisations accepting financial and practical donations.

For further information about County Council services, please visit the website www.westsussex.gov.uk or contact me on amanda.jupp@ westsussex.gov.uk or mobile 07775 776513. Best wishes Amanda

We have but one world…

Astunning flower of brilliant blue, the colour of a perfect bright sky recently took my breath away. (Ipomoea ‘Heavenly Blue’.) A friend had persevered in tending this plant and her care was worth the effort. I wonder how many of you have given care and attention to crops that now bless your world. This time of year is a traditional opportunity to look at the harvest that has come our way. Glancing at our village allotments there have been local harvests to celebrate!

Some of us will be celebrating the beauty of a window box while others have had the huge task of whole fields to harvest. Whatever our situation, in this season we are invited to notice the bounty that our world has yet again provided. Our plates tell the story of an abundant earth.

Yet this wonder of harvest is vulnerable to the care that we all give. The call to take stock and reflect on the environment that provides so much, needs our attention. The Bible reveals to us our creator who designed a world that could sustain and enrich us. This gift was long ago handed to humankind to treat with responsibility and care. How well are we doing with this calling?

As we look to planting for next harvest perhaps we can commit some time to reviewing how we personally respond to the environment. It may involve change such as recycling thoughtfully. Perhaps talking to political leaders about concerns of the environment. How about the carbon footprint we leave on the earth? One thoughtful response during this season of Harvest is to give thanks for what we have. Alongside thankfulness perhaps this year we might commit ourselves to tending our World more attentively. This could lead to a harvest of change that ensures harvests continue to bless all.

In the first book of the Bible there is the picture of God launching this wonderful world into existence and appointing humankind as custodians. “Then the Lord God placed humans in the garden of Eden to cultivate it and guard it.” (Genesis 2 verse 15.)

BARGAINS GALORE AT ANSELLS

VINTAGE SALE & MARKET

Every Saturday 10am to 2pm FREE ENTRY & PARKING

Stallholders welcome (indoor tables £5, also storage units to let, £25 pw) Antiques • Hornby Trains

Furniture • Bric-a-Brac • Jewellery Garden Ornaments • Crafts etc

ANSELLS, KIRDFORD ROAD,

WISBOROUGH GREEN, RH14 0DD

Book/details: (01403) 700633 or 07798 941940

Reserve your turkey NOW to avoid disappointment

Free Range Local Bronze Turkeys

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Will be ready for collection on Thursday, 23rd December 2021 Go to sussexfreerangeturkeys.co.uk for more information or call 07703 182971 A £15 deposit confirms the order