Mid Sussex Ghost Walks - Lindfield

Mid Sussex Ghost Walks - Lindfield
Friday 7 August 2009 7.00pm
Join us for a spooky stroll around some of Mid Sussex' most haunted villages with paranormal investigators Scott and Rebecca. Prepare yourselves for a wealth of intriguing historic tales, murder most horrid and thrilling ghostly sightings...
Venue and ticket details
Clair Hall, Perrymount Road, Haywards Heath West Sussex RH16 3DN
Tickets
Yes - In advance Price £5.00
Organised by Clair Hall
Clair Box office 01444 455440
clairboxoffice@midsussex.gov.uk
http://www.olymposcentres.com
Further details www.thespiritparlour.com
Please note: Sadly this event not suitable for anyone with reduced mobility due to the locations or anyone under the age of 12. Children ages 12-16 must be accompanied by an adult.

Meet: Tollgate Car Park

Ditchling Players Audition

Season's Greetings by Alan Ayckbourn - 4th to 7th November

I know it's a bit early to be thinking of Christmas but the Ditchling Players certainly are. For our Autumn production we have selected 'Season's Greetings' by Alan Ayckbourn.
The play is in the tradition of a lot of Ayckbourn's plays - the family and relationships. Relatives and friends are celebrating Christmas with Neville and Belinda Bunker. Petty, and not so petty, squabbles break out, Christmas presents are rifled with disastrous effects and the final climax appears to be a tragedy or is it?
Hilarious highlights include a chaotically incompetent puppet show, Christmas lunch prepared by a dipsomaniac and a midnight love scene that comes to an abrupt end among several mechanical Christmas presents.
The Players are pleased to welcome a new producer for this production, Jill Hewer, who has produced plays for both Henfield and the Hassocks Theatre Guild.
We shall be holding auditions at the Ditchling Village Hall on Tuesday 4th August from 8.00pm onwards and we hope to see as many people there as possible. So, if you’ve always fancied “treading the boards” but haven’t plucked up the courage now is the time!
You’ll find we’re a friendly group with many familiar faces and we’ll do everything we can to help make it as painless an experience as we can. If you can’t make it on the night but would still be interested in being involved in this production please contact the producer Jill Hewer on 01273 844208 for further details.
Many thanks David Tettersell 15 Queens Drive Hassocks West Sussex Tel: 01273 844868

EASTBOURNE FAMILY NAMED REGIONAL WINNERS OF NATIONAL AWARD

Caption: Hoadley family taken recently on holiday in Southport

An Eastbourne family who care for terminally ill children has been named South East Regional finalists of the Candis Outstanding Family of the Year Award 2009.

The Hoadleys; Ray, 51, and Jackie, 47, began fostering Liam, a little boy with a life-threatening condition when he was just four years old. He was joined in 2005 by Mathew, who also suffers from a life-limiting condition.

Ray and Jackie are helped and supported by their extended family, in particular Jackie's parents Janet and Doug Warner, both in their 70s and her nieces, Hannah, 15, and Ella, 14.

The couple first decided to care for children with special needs back in 1999. At the time Ray was a car mechanic while Jackie, now an associate tutor at Sussex University, was training to be a social worker. Unable to have children naturally themselves, they turned down the offer of IVF, deciding instead to share their loving home with one of the many children in need.

Following a strict approval process, they were approved by social services to care for children with special needs and, in March 1999, Liam came to live with them.

Born with cerebral palsy, chronic lung disease, asthma and visual and hearing impairment, Liam had been given very little hope of survival. He had extremely complex physical and medical needs and came to Ray and Jackie to die. They became his special guardians, taking responsibility for all his day-to-day decisions but still keeping in contact with his birth family.

Says Jackie, "When Liam came to us it wasn't expected he'd live much longer. He weighed just 21lb and had the most terrible seizures – they were very upsetting to see. At first we wondered how we'd cope but we decided just to take each day as it came."

The Hoadleys were determined to give Liam the best quality of life they could, taking him on holidays around the UK Euro Disney, where he delighted in the scary rides. Despite numerous stays in Eastbourne District General Hospital, Liam thrived under their care. He gained weight steadily and loved nothing more than visiting nearby Blackberry Farm in Lewes to stroke the animals.

In November 2005, he was joined by Mathew, then 18 months old who suffered from uncontrollable epilepsy and severe chest infections. Jackie and Ray gave up work to become full-time carers; a typical day in their household starting at 6am with tube feeds and medication and continuing with endless doctors appointments and assessments, physiotherapy and one-to-one care.

"It was a steep learning curve," says Jackie. "But we managed. Of course, we couldn't have done it without the help and support of our families. My parents were a great help at this time, coming to stay with us to help us out. They embraced the boys as though they were their own. And my nieces, Hannah and Ella, loved coming to help us with the boys feeds and general care."

The Hoadley family loved nothing more than visiting Chestnut Tree House together, a children's hospice in Poling, West Sussex. There, Ray and Jackie were able to take time for themselves while the boys would go swimming or do arts and crafts.

Indeed it was at the hospice where Liam died in August last year, aged 12, after having spent over eight years with the couple. Despite their devastation, the couple are determined to continue caring for youngsters with life-limiting conditions, and provide them with a loving home.

Says Jackie, "People ask us how we can do what we do, how we can care for children with a limited life expectancy but to tell the truth we don't think about it. Every day seems like a bonus. When Liam died it was a big shock, and extremely painful for us all, but he'd given us so much joy, we decided to focus on that.

"We do want to care for another child with a life-limiting condition as we still have a lot of love to give. Yes, it's scary knowing they won't be with us forever but if we don't take a chance on these children then who will?"

Candis editor Debbie Attewell says, "When we read about the Hoadleys and their family we were taken aback by their strength, compassion and selflessness. The way they have adapted their lifestyles to care for these children in need is truly remarkable. This award is all about families working together to make a difference and it's clear their devotion to these children vastly improves their quality of life."

The overall winner of the Candis Outstanding Family of the Year Award 2009 will be selected by a panel of four judges: TV presenter, Lorraine Kelly; founder of ChildLine, TV presenter and writer, Esther Rantzen; actress, Amanda Redman and supermum, Birdie McDonald, who has fostered more than 1,000 children. The UK winner will be announced by Esther Rantzen at a ceremony at Chester Zoo on Sunday 23rd August and the family will win a fabulous four-star holiday to Spain.

Fulking Village Fayre

Fulking Village Fayre
Sunday 2nd August, 2pm - 6pm
- Fun Dog Show, Pony Rides, Afternoon Teas, Puppet Shows, Real Ales & Pimms bar, Live Music, Lots of Stalls, Gladiators, BBQ, Tug o War, & lots more.

Many thanks. Regards
Jenny Tooley - Shepherd & Dog
Fulking Village Social Committee

Hassocks Flower Club: Saturday 1st and Sunday 2nd August

Hassocks Flower Club in conjunction with the Hassocks Local Committee of Cancer Research UK present a Flower Festival 'Four Seasons' in Adastra Hall, Hassocks. Saturday 1st and Sunday 2nd August.
10am-4pm each day, raffles and tombola, tea/coffee and cakes served all day, light lunch served from 12-3pm. Admission £1.50
All profits raised go to Cancer Research UK
For further info telephone 01273 845407 or 01273 843390

Bluebell Railway 50th Anniversary Appeal

On Friday, 7th August at midday, the launch of the Bluebell Railway's 50th Anniversary Appeal takes place at Horsted Keynes Station, West Sussex, RH17 7BB.
Following the Ceremony, Dame Vera Lynn DBE will release 50 balloons to celebrate the first 50 years of the Bluebell Railway Preservation Society which was formed in 1959, a year before the railway opened to the public.
The target for the Appeal is some £3.5 million. The money being primarily for the Railway to complete the extension to East Grinstead but funds are also needed to repair and restore the Railway's unique collection of locomotives and rolling stock and other major projects.
Other guests who will be attending this event include TV presenter and vice-patron of the appeal, Nicholas Owen, Cllr Margaret Baker, Mayor of Haywards Heath, Cllr Amanda Dean Mayor of Lewes, and the former General Manager of British Rail Southern, Gordon Pettit OBE together with another vice-patron of the appeal Baroness Cumberlege CBE.
The Appeal is also supported by celebrities such as Michael Palin CBE, Joe Brown MBE and David Suchet OBE. The Mayor of East Grinstead, Cllr Lee Marmara is also a vice patron
A Bluebell spokesperson said "It is hoped people will support this appeal.
The Bluebell is important not only for its position as the first and one of the most prestigious Heritage Railways, but for the benefits it brings to Sussex and in particular East Grinstead in terms of tourism".

Burgess Hill’s Fairtrade Group to repeat its Fairtrade and Freedom Festival in 2010

Burgess Hill’s Fairtrade Group to repeat its Fairtrade and Freedom Festival in 2010

At its recent AGM, the Burgess Hill Fairtrade Group agreed to stage a second Fairtrade and Freedom Festival during Fairtrade Fortnight in 2010 with a promise that it will be bigger and better than this year’s inaugural festival. They have already booked a number of artists to perform over a big festival weekend including, Martin Carthy, Norma Waterson, Chris Wood. 3 Daft Monkeys, Rob Halligan, Gareth Davies Jones and Julie Hall. There will also be a repeat of the successful Fairtrade Fair and another Ceilidh.

The Fairtrade group is also currently completing Burgess Hill’s renewal as a Fairtrade Town. This has highlighted how the recession is having an impact on the promotion and sale of Fairtrade products in Burgess Hill. Commenting on this, Robert Eggleston, Chairman of the Burgess Hill Fairtrade group said, “There is no problem with the major supermarkets but I have spoken to a number of smaller retailers and café owners in Burgess Hill over the last few weeks. Whilst some remain fully committed to Fairtrade others are saying that pressure on incomes means that people are just looking for something cheap. This directly affects the sale of Fairtrade products and therefore the living standards of some of the poorest people in the world.”

The next major event is a benefit for Fairtrade and Stop The Traffik which features the band After The Fire ** plus Julie Hall in support. This takes place on Sunday 22nd November in the Martlets and tickets are now available from the Martlets booking office on 01444 242888.

The following officers were elected at the AGM:

Chairman — Robert Eggleston
Vice Chairman — David Reynolds
Treasurer — Anna Hodgetts
Secretary — Julie Hall

For more information please contact Robert Eggleston, Chairman, Burgess Hill Fairtrade Steering Group on the above telephone numbers or email address snowdrop1.music@virgin.net

** Originally well known back in the 70s and 80s and particularly for their monster hit "Der Kommissar", AFTER THE FIRE are now enjoying their busiest period since 1982, when they toured the world with Queen, ELO and Van Halen. A new CD of BBC Radio Sessions from 1979-1981 has just been released which truly captures the spirit of the band at their best as a hard working live band. They are playing at the Martlets on Sunday 22nd November with tickets at £12.00 each or 4 for £40.00. The night is a benefit in aid of Fairtrade and Stop The Traffik.

THE LODGE LANE BIG LUNCH

Residents from and around the little lane off Lodge Lane organised a highly successful Big Lunch on July 19.
About 30 residents joined two million others across the country to cook, sit down and eat together in a project aimed at bringing communities and neighbours closer together.
The project is the brain child of Paul Twiyy and Tim Smit Eden Project who wanted to see the people of Britain gather together on one day a year, cook their own food, eat out in their streets and parks, bring their own entertainment and get to know their neighbours.
The Lodge Lane residents ranged in age from 3 to 81 and made their own bunting and a fantastic array of home-cooked food for the event. Anne Barry brought along her spinning wheel and showed young and old how to spin their own wool and make toy sheep.
Organiser Gordon Knott said: “It was a fantastic day. It started out wet and windy and we thought our gazebos might fly off at one stage. But it brightened and everyone came together magnificently. We met and chatted to neighbours we haven’t talked to before. Next year it would be good to include more people from Lodge Lane and we’d definitely recommend residents of other streets in the area to organise their own Big Lunch.”
Details of the Big Lunch are available on www.thebiglunch.com <http://www.thebiglunch.com>
Further details: Gordon Knott Tel 01273 846776

pictures: James Barry

Hurstpierpoint Museum and Heritage Group

Recent Acquisitions

We have been given various interesting objects, which have not yet been on display in the Museum.
Come and see: Victorian lace, Crockery from the Chinese Gardens Hotel, photos of the village after the1987 hurricane & much more.

Running from 12th September our exhibition is in the foyer of the Village Centre Trinity Road, Hurstpierpoint with further items on display inside the Museum itself (The door next to the Library) which is open at the following times

Tuesdays 1430-1630
Saturdays 1000-1300

The Spice of Life

Mr Willett's Popular Pottery, Brighton Museum & Art Gallery

4 August 2009 to 10 August 2010

From rock salt to rock-and-roll salt shakers, The Spice of Life explores the story of salt from mines to meals. The theme is illustrated with a selection of traditional containers for condiments and contemporary accessories for the dinner table. Pepper and mustard play supporting roles.

Throughout the world salt has seasoned civilisations from ancient Egypt to ancient Greece, the Middle Ages to contemporary living. Early fables confirm the symbolic importance of salt to ancient cultures. In Russia and still throughout the Arab world salt represents friendship and hospitality. The communal eating of bread and salt creates an unbreakable bond, but the desire for salt has been harnessed to social and political ends throughout history.

In the Middle Ages, throughout Europe, fine table salt was expensive and always in short supply. At great feasts salt was presented in elaborate silver vessels. These saltcellars or great 'salts' were placed at the top table for the host and principal guests. Lesser mortals, who sat further away, were said to be 'below the salt'. Since salt corrodes silver, silver salts had to be lined with non-reactive gold and were later fitted with blue glass liners. Glass and ceramics – and eventually plastics – proved more practical and affordable materials from which to fashion receptacles for table salt and spices.

From early containers to contemporary condiment sets, The Spice of Life continues at Brighton Museum until 10 August 2010. Admission is free.

Brighton Museum & Art Gallery
Entrance in Royal Pavilion Gardens, Brighton BN1 1EE
01273 290900

www.virtualmuseum.info
Open Tuesday 10am-7pm, Wednesday-Saturday 10am-5pm, Sunday 2-5pm
Closed Monday (except public holidays 10am-5pm); 24 December (from 2.30pm), 25 & 26 December

Free admission
Wheelchair accessible, wheelchairs available, accessible toilet, baby changing facilities, passenger lift
Gift shop, cafe

Telephone (01273) 290900 Fax (01273) 292871
Royal Pavilion, Libraries and Museums, Brighton & Hove City Council BN1 1EE

Sponsored Cycle ride in aid of MS (Multiple Sclerosis) - South Downs Way, Jack & Jill at Clayton Thursday 30th July

Teresa Tanner on the left of photo, then Alison Funnell, Bev Hobbs and myself Catherine Olive
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the most common debilitating neurological condition affecting young adults. Around 100,000 people in the UK have MS.
MS is the result of damage to myelin - a protective sheath surrounding nerve fibres of the central nervous system. When myelin is damaged, this interferes with messages between the brain and other parts of the body. For some people, MS is characterised by periods of relapse and remission while for others it has a progressive pattern. For everyone, it makes life unpredictable.

I would like to make you aware that on Thursday 30th July, my son Alistair and 3 of his school mates aged 14 years, currently studying at Oaklands Catholic School in Waterlooville near Portsmouth, will be cycling 57 miles along part of the South Downs Way. They will begin their journey at Queen Elizabeth Country Park near Clanfield (hoping to leave around 8am) and follow the gruelling paths to Jack & Jill Windmills at Clayton, where we hope to have a welcoming/congratulations party sometime between 4 and 6pm. At the end of their journey, they will be camping down at my parent’s home in Hassocks before spending a leisurely day at the Triangle in Burgess Hill on Friday.

They have been in training for the past 8 weeks carrying out various legs of the route. Currently they have raised approximately £1,119.00 but hope that will increase further over the next week.
Alistair decided he wanted to raise funds for MS after a recent Cake break that was held at Hassocks Infant School (please see attached photo) which raised £213.00.

My sister, Teresa was officially diagnosed with MS in March 2003 after having suffered various complaints since Christmas 1995 aged 28 years. Symptoms started with a tingling sensation around the mouth followed a few months later by tingling throughout the left leg and foot. Over the next 7 years she developed various symptoms which culminated in a referral to the Opthalmist at the Princess Royal Hospital as she started having blurred and double vision, despite the Optician not finding any problems. Following this, she began to get pain in her left eye which she described as something behind her eye trying to push the eyeball outwards. This was confirmed as Optic Neuritis. Around the same time (Sept to Oct 2002), she was speaking with a friend who said ' I don't want to worry you but you should go back to your Doctor as a friend of mine had similar symptoms and has just been diagnosed with MS!’ Even at that stage, Teresa didn't believe there could be anything seriously wrong. She did however go to see her Doctor as she had also began having weakness in her right knee. During this appointment, the Doctor advised that they had suspected MS for some time and would be sending her to see a Neurologist. On 3rd January 2003, she was sent to see Dr Nisbett at Hove Polyclinic where she was told that they were 99% certain it was MS, but they would be sending her for tests to be absolutely certain. Finally her worst fears were officially confirmed in March 2003, 'Yes Mrs Tanner you have relapsing/remitting MS'. She can go for months without major mobility problems but then can relapse for 6 - 8 weeks at a time. There are times when she can hardly walk, is unable to drive and has to rely on the good nature of a close network of friends (who have been extremely kind and helpful) and family members. She is always exhausted but like the friends she has met since joining the local MS branch she is not alone, the majority of these have full or part-time jobs which they continue to hold down, have homes to run and young families to look after, yet are usually positive and happy people.

Teresa has recently been accepted onto a trial programme to find relief for MS. She attends The Royal Sussex County in Brighton approx every 6 weeks to see the Neurologists and fortnightly for blood tests which will go on for at least the next 18 months.

The local MS specially trained nurse visits the home when required, which is extremely fortunate for her as there are too few qualified specialist nurses for the demand. There are around 100,000 people with MS yet only 220 MS nurses. The Annual cost for each nurse including specialist training, equipment, travel and expenses is approximately £46,000, so anything that can be done to help raise the staffing numbers, to find medication that can decrease the number of relapses and to eventually find a cure for this disease which can strike at anytime but is more common in the 20-40 year old age group, is a huge advantage.

UPDATE
I just wanted to let you know there has been a slight change of plan. The boys will be cycling back to our parents bungalow now at 7 Abbots Close (Hassocks) where we will be having a small get together. This is instead of meeting up at Jack & Jill Windmills. As far as I am aware, the expected time of arrival will still be between 4-6pm.

Hurstpierpoint Singers

Our autumn term will commence on Monday, 7th September at 7.30pm for 7.45pm start, at the Methodist Church, Cuckfield Road.
All interested in singing Handel’s Messiah on Sunday, 20th September at the Holy Trinity Church at the end of Hurstpierpoint Festival are welcome to join our workshop rehearsals on Monday, 7th and 14th September for £3 each time, which would be deducted from subscriptions should people later join.
We shall then begin rehearsing Handel’s Passion of Christ for our Spring concert until half term, when we shall prepare for our Christmas Concert on Sunday, 20th December at the Village Centre.
Each July, we especially enjoy singing with several other choirs conducted by our Musical Director Stephen Hope, after rehearsing together on Tuesday evenings at Horsham. In aid of local Hospices, we perform at Arundel Cathedral, accompanied by the Sinfonia da Chiesa. This year Dame Felicity Lott and Dame Ann Murray are among the soloists, singing works by Rossini and Puccini. In 2010 we shall be performing Belshazzar’s Feast and Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms. Members can join the combined choirs plus orchestra taking trips to sing in various European cathedrals. They have just returned from Barcelona and Bruges is proposed near Christmas.

Girl power

100 years ago, some determined girls stepped forward at the 1909 Boy Scout rally at Crystal Palace Park and asked Robert Baden-Powell to develop a similar movement especially for them.
To mark the occasion of this centenary, on the first weekend in September there will be about 500,000 Girlguiding UK members and guests attending parties across the UK and, in doing so, launch a year of Centenary Celebrations which will run from 5th September 2009 to 20th October 2010.
Members from all sections of Girlguiding UK, from Rainbows (age 5) through to the Trefoil Guild are invited to locally organised Launch parties and, providing it is practical to do so, will be asked to bring a guest – someone who has previously made her guiding Promise but who is not currently a member of Girlguiding UK to come and take a fresh look at Girlguiding UK today.
Locally the South Downs Division – which covers Hassocks, Ditchling and Hurstpierpoint Rainbows, Brownies, Guides, Rangers and Trefoil Guild – are celebrating with a walk on Sunday, 6th September from Ditchling Beacon and Jack and Jill across our beautiful South Downs to Hassocks to Wolstonbury Hill, culminating in a special celebration picnic at Downlands School. If you have previously taken your promise in Guiding  – whether it was 5 years ago or 50 years ago – we would invite you to join us at 3.30pm at Downlands School for a picnic (bring your own picnic and a chair/blanket) and to share your experiences of Guiding with us.
If you are interested in knowing more about the centenary celebrations in this area or would like to help in the Guiding movement, please contact Deborah Phillips on 01273 891272. You could also read more online at www.girlguiding100years.org.uk.

‘Theakers’ - local boy doing well

I’ve known Jamie Theakston all his life and even in his earliest years, he had a quality which he’s never lost. He is one of those rare people who lightens your spirit as soon as they walk into a room.

He joined our family picnic on a rainy day at Plumpton Races. Standing well over six feet four inches tall, Jamie loomed out of the mist radiating a sort of angular geniality and waving a sausage on a stick. Unapproachable celebrity he is not.

Jamie is Sussex born and bred, going to school in Ditchling and growing up in Ditchling and Hurstpierpoint. Now, together with wife Sophie and baby Sid he flits between their London and Ditchling homes. His role as presenter of Heart London’s award winning radio breakfast show precludes him living anywhere other than London throughout the week. The show starts at 6am and, although it is only on air for three hours, it can take double that time in planning and production. But it’s worth it. Jamie’s faked appearance on Dragons’ Den is one of the funniest pieces of radio I’ve ever heard.

“Would you spend more time in Sussex if you could?” I asked him. “Or is the balance about right?”
“There’s never quite enough time for Sussex,” he replied “and the drive back to London on a Sunday evening can be a pain, but it also means that I can get away again on a Friday lunchtime and, of course, the thought of another weekend in Sussex makes it all worthwhile.”
“Sussex in general or Ditchling in particular?” I wanted to know.

“I was born in Ditchling – I went to the village school, played cricket for the village from a young age and still do. So, if I’m honest, even if I was ever to sell the house we live in now, Ditchling would always be home.”

In the background, I could see that a couple of people had stopped on their way down to the bookies to lose more money and were plainly saying to one another ‘Isn’t that whatsisname? You know the presenter, Jamie thingy.’ It must happen all the time, so I put it to him. “Jamie, in your own village you’re a familiar figure strolling about with Sophie or enjoying a pint in The White Horse. Is it a relief not to be continually stopped by people wanting your autograph?”

“It doesn’t bother me at all,” he laughed. “People tend to be very friendly. It would concern me more if they stopped asking. In fact, I noticed that the occasional Jamie Theakston autograph turns up on ebay every now and then. Sometimes they change hands for anything up to £2! Maybe I’ll start directing people there,” he joked.

The talk of directing gave me a neatly contrived link to ask Jamie about his future plans. He already has a pretty amazing CV – radio, telly, legit theatre – in fact everything from doing the traffic reports at four in the morning, to mass audience radio shows and TV drama. “Around a million people listen to you every morning, Jamie, and you plainly relish working in radio, so is it your perfect niche or will you move on to producing or directing, say?”

“I’m in the kind of business where you are always looking forward to the next thing – there is always someone younger, better looking and more talented than you who is desperate for your job, but right now the one thing that I am most looking forward to is my second child – due at the end of summer. That will be my most important production so far.”

I thanked Jamie for his time, but before I let him go back to his mates I asked if, with all his connections, he might have a horse for the next race. He did and I backed it. It lost by a considerable distance. He may be great on the radio, but he’s rubbish as a celebrity tipster.

by Roger Linn

Jamie Theakston
Heart London 106.2 FM
Jamie is an honorary patron of Cancervive – a charity based in Hurstpierpoint providing help and support to cancer victims and their families. Go to www.cancervive.org.uk for more details.

Tickets on sale for Hurst Festival

Tickets are now on sale for events in the 2009 Hurst Festival through the Festival website, where you can also find full details and a complete list of Festival events.
The Festival runs from September 12th to September 27th and the website address is;
www.hurstfestival.org
Printed programmes are also now available and will be distributed around the area over the coming weeks.
This is the fifth Hurst Festival and contains the usual wide range of events from art exhibitions via comedy, dance, film, history, literature, music and theatre.
There are also spectacular events for the family including a family fun day and a medieval fair with jousting and staged battles at Danny House on September 20th.

Reception girls become farmers - Burgess Hill School

The girls carrying water to the animals

Reception girls become farmers

The Pandas and Penguins reception classes at Burgess Hill School for Girls visited the Mohair centre in Chiddingly, Lewes where they became farmers for the day.
They gave all the animals their food and water and bottle fed the lambs. They girls also put down fresh straw for the goats, collected the eggs from the chickens and even swept the pig sheds.
After a hearty picnic in the fresh air, the afternoon was spent in the barn experiencing the different skills of carding, spinning, felting and weaving with peg looms.
The girls all took home a little bag full of their crafts and arrived back at school eager to tell their parents about all the different things they had experienced throughout the day.

Hurstpierpoint Horticultural Society Autumn Show, Village Centre

Saturday, 26th September 1.00pm
Chrysanthemums, dahlias, flowers, vegetables, fruit, cookery and children's sections.  Entry open to all.  For full details on how to exhibit simply pick up a schedule from Gibsons in Hurstpierpoint High Street.  Homemade cake and tea available all afternoon.  Pick up a bargain at the Grand Auction of donated exhibits at 4.00pm

Parent and Toddler Group Hurstpierpoint

All new Parent and Toddle Group, for 0 to 3 year olds, starting 17th September, meeting from 1.30 to 3pm each Thursday during term time, at Hurstpierpoint Methodist Church 42 Cuckfield Road.

HASSOCKS MEN'S CLUB FOOTBALL TIPSTER 

IN AID OF  HASSOCKS FC & HASSOCKS JUNIORS

SEASON 2009 – 2010  

Make a simple prediction of 10 football games, answer a few simple questions and name a few goal scorers and you too can enjoy the ridicule that abounds in the Men's Club at results time. Once again, we will be running the popular Tipster competition through the football season and this is your opportunity to get in at the start. The Tipster competition gave a hard core of close to 40 people loads of enjoyment, weekly cash prizes and, at the end of the season, league and cup prizes as well. And its all for charity, with the cash raised to go to Hassocks Community Football Club, aimed at developing youth and junior football.

 

Because of the competition's structure we are looking to people to sign up for the season, which will be payable in 5 weekly lumps of £10. Weekly entries will be accepted, at £2 a throw, but failure to enter in any week will affect your final total. If you pay up front in 5 weekly batches, should you miss a week you, will be given the lowest score achieved in that week's competition, thus contributing at least something towards the season end total. Last season's top price for the season-long league was £100 and the prizes stretched down to about 10th.

 

A form will be behind the bar from this weekend for you to sign up for the league. Alternatively, please confirm your interest to Neil by email to neil@savingenergy.org.uk

 

Prize money for the weekly competition will be £20 for 1^st, £10 for 2^nd and £5 for 3^rd, Cup winners £20, runners up £10 and the final league standings hopefully as much as £100 for 1^st again and downwards according to the total collected.

 

The competition rules are quite simple. They start with the understanding that the organiser is always right and they end with the understanding that the word of the organiser is final. It has to be said, though, that the organiser rarely uses one final word if 101 will do.

 

The competition starts on Saturday 15^th August and forms will need to be in by Noon of that day. The opening form is attached and will be available in the Club as of next weekend. Please get yourself registered as soon as possible.

You can do the weekly forms by email or by leaving them behind the bar in the Club. 

Balcombe Fundraising Walk

YOU can make a difference

To the lives of patients at St Catherine's Hospice, Crawley by joining in this year's

Balcombe Fundraising Walk on Sunday 13thSeptember.

If you enjoy the beautiful Sussex countryside, walking at your own pace on a lovely late-summer day, with the finest home made cakes awaiting you when you return, then make it happen with us.

All you have to do is come to Victory Hall, Stockcroft Road, Balcombe between 9.00am and 10.30am on Sunday 13th September, don your walking shoes, choose the distance you want to walk (4, 7, 10 or 13 miles) and head off, perhaps in the company of friends and family, or even new friends.

There is no entry fee for the walk, all we ask is that you raise whatever you can in sponsorship or donations to help St Catherine's vital work –we rely heavily on voluntary fundraising.

If the walking thing is not quite your scene but you would still like to help, you might like to join the team of volunteers who make the walk happen, or bake a cake for us. Just call us, and we'll find you a satisfying role.

Why not come and enjoy a great day with us and help a very worthwhile cause. You can be sure of a very warm welcome. For more details and a sponsor form call either Joan Moon (01444 455420), Pat Colquhoun (01444 811367), John Spencer (01444 451402), or John Kinchington (01444 440452).

A big thank you in advance from St Catherine's

Tweet from Media Guardian (@mediaguardian)

http://twitter.com/mediaguardian/status/2786638244

"Guardian editor raises fears over decline of local news http://bit.ly/gyYE8
"
- Media Guardian (@mediaguardian)

Warm regards

Roger

01273 846834
07799 866282

www.southdownsliving.com

East Grinstead Community Web Site

Our New Web Site in Planning Stage

We are in the process of creating a new web site for the local area that will include ALL aspects of life and living.

The idea is that it will have sections for everything - local news, sport, shopping, local politics, forums, social networking, details for all the local groups, whether they are for golf, horse riding, archery, businesses - everything. We are hoping that it becomes a place that truly reflects our town, our ethos, our traditions, our community.

As it will be for the town of East Grinstead and the surrounding area only, it is appropriate that you have your say in the kind of things that should be included.

It is an ambitious project, but one that we are very much looking forward to building. Please email us on newsite@egnet.co.uk and let us have your thoughts and ideas. All contributions welcome. Thanks very much!

http://www.egnet.co.uk/index.php

Hurstpierpoint Evangelical Church: Coffee morning on Saturday 25th July

Hurstpierpoint Evangelical Church, 149 High Street, Hurstpierpoint

Hurstpierpoint Evangelical Church (next to the theatre on the High Street) Coffee morning in order to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of Parkinson's Disease Society. There will be various stalls so do come and support their invaluable work for sufferers and their families.
Contact 01273 842995 149 High Street Hurstpierpoint West Sussex BN6 9PU

New Bridge Classes in Haywards Heath

Bridge is a social game that can be enjoyed with friends and a bottle
of wine or at your local club.
Whether you’ve never played the game before or have just been playing for a year or so, we offer personal tuition that concentrates on playing the cards from the outset.
Lessons take place in a friendly group or with your own friends. We use the Bridge for All course that was developed by international players and is fully accredited by the National Extension College.
The course material includes printed notes, practice hands and membership of the English Bridge Union.
For further details call 01444-453111

Ditchling Museum Exhibition until December 2009

Drawn from Ditchling: Portraits from a Sussex Village 14 March - 13 December 2009

Portraits from Ditchling Museum's Collection - paintings and drawings, caricatures and photographs, word and film - celebrate the artists who have lived in Ditchling as well local people who have been drawn, painted and photographed in this extraordinary village.

Works by Eric Gill, Edgar Holloway, Louis Ginnett, Photographs of villagers, Rhyme Sheets printed by St Dominic’s Press and the film - A Very English Village by Luke Holland.

Hassocks Village Market this Saturday

Hassocks Village Market, National Tyres Forecourt, 9.00am – 1.00pm
Saturday 25th July

Hurstpierpoint Players July 22-25

Tree hit by lightning: Cars crushed Henfield, West Sussex

A tree was struck by lightning and two cars crushed by falling branches in Mill Drive, Henfield, West Sussex, last night during a violent thunderstorm (10pm tonight Thursday).
Fire brigade closed the road and residents evacuated while the debris and vehicles cleared.

Nobody hurt but locals shocked.

The giant Sequoua tree was planted in the 1800s by famous botanist William Borrer and may survive the lightning strike say local experts.

RAF Squadronnaires

Croft Hall, Burgess Hill School for Girls, November 1st
01444 417635

St Peter & St James Hospice - 2009 Sleep Walk

Saturday 18th July
St Peter & St James Hospice - 2009 Sleep Walk. Fun loving females of all fitness levels are invited to join in the 10km midnight walk around the streets of Haywards Heath and Lindfield to raise money for the Hospice in North Chailey.
The theme of the Sleep Walk is to ‘wear what you sleep in’ and last year there were some wonderful outfits which it is hoped will be repeated again this year! If you would like to pre-register your interest please call 01444 471598 or email fundraising@stpeter-stjames.org.uk. Entry will open on Wednesday 1st April when you will be able to download an entry form from the Hospice’s website at www.stpeter-stjames.org.uk, pick one up from the Hospice’s charity shops or request one from the Fundraising Department. Entry is £10 which includes a free baseball cap, finisher’s gift, goody bag and breakfast. The minimum age for walkers is 10 years old and all 10 – 16 year olds must be accompanied by a responsible adult.

The 2009 Wivelsfield Village Day

Saturday 18th July

It has been many years since Wivelsfield has had a Village Day, so it is with much excitement that we can announce the first, all new, Wivelsfield Village Day to be held on Saturday 18th July. There will be FREE parking and FREE admission and with over 50 stalls, as well as lots of fun fair attractions and rides, people can easily make a day of it: eat, drink, play and shop.

The day will kick off at 10am with a football match in the main arena from the children of Mid Sussex Blues and in the marquee a food fair, running until 1pm, will offer local produce from over 20 traders. Mascots from Norman Hobbs, such as Nellie the elephant & Barney the bear, will walk around and welcome you to Wivelsfield.

Later in the main arena will be the Utility Warehouse sponsored Children’s races; the soon-to-be famous Alun Gedrych Ltd sponsored Pantomime Donkey Derby; a display by Wivelsfield Primary School; performances by Burgess Hill Marching Band; and a truly gladiatorial finish with the SPM Building Services sponsored tug-of-war competition.

Wonkey the Donkey is already in training for the derby race and the Wivelsfield Warriors can be seen building arm muscles for the tug-of-war in The Cock Inn!

Attractions throughout the day include a climbing wall run by the Youth Club: It will be FREE to climb for anyone over the age of 5 who is up for the challenge, as it has been kindly paid for by local businesses, including St George’s Park Retirement Village, Aerialbeam and Masters & Son Funeral Directors. There will also be Harris’s traditional funfair, a miniature steam railway, rides on a fire engine, many side-show favourites and, in the afternoon, a fun dog show.

All palates will be cater for, starting with morning tea & bacon butties and followed by a BBQ, ice-cream, strawberries & cream, tea & cakes, gourmet coffee, Italian sandwiches & pastries, and not forgetting the all important beer & pimms tent!

For more information or to enter the donkey derby or tug-of-war please visit www.wivelsfield.net or contact Barbara Harty on 01444 470024 or Nicky Collins on 01444 230377.

Nicky Collins

Cuckfield at War -- a light hearted review

Friday 17 July 2009
1930 - Air Raid Siren Sounds over Cuckfield!

Is Cuckfield at War? No it's the Cuckfield Society Summer Show!

This year the theme is 'Cuckfield at War' and is a light hearted review of the war years with 'Rodger and Teddy' some 'Ello Ello's' and 'they don't like it up 'ems!' plus some great song and dance; 'Hang out your Washing on the Cuckfield Line', 'Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy'; and many many more - there's even one by the Spies Girls!

The evening will commence with blasts from an original World War II siren for which The Society have been given special permission to use by Cuckfield Museum so listen out as the audience is 'called to the air raid shelter' well Queens Hall Cuckfield actually on Friday 17 July and Saturday 18 July 2009.

This is going to be great fun and a sell out - tickets may even have to be rationed - so get your ticket NOW! Available from Wealden Stores; Window Scene; The Ship and The White Harte - all in Cuckfield or email billdwm@yahoo.co.uk

Why not make a night of it and get into the spirit, dig out the demob suit (or frock) and come along in period dress - there will be a prize for the best themed dressed member of the audience!

Must dash, I'm off to 'dig out' my gas mask! See you at the Queens Hall.
Venue and ticket details
Queens Hall, High St, Cuckfield. West Sussex RH17 5DT
Tickets
Yes - On the door or in advance
Price £5-16

Organised by: Cuckfield Society, Peter Bowman
Telephone number 440534
Email Address peter bowman [peter.bowman007@btinternet.com]
Website http://www.cuckfield.org
Facilities
Café/Bar/Restuarant, Disabled Access, Licensed Bar, Toilets

Wivelsfield Historical Society Talk: The Restoration of Oldlands Mill

The Restoration of Oldlands Mill - Fred Mailardet
Date: Thursday 16 July 2009
Time: 8:00pm
Place: Wivelsfield Village Hall

Additional information:
Oldlands Mill, built about 1700, worked commercially until it was abandoned in 1912. The Sussex Archaeological Society provided some basic protection in the 1930s, but by 1980 two of the four sweeps had fallen off and the main structure was about to collapse. The Hassocks Amenity Association acquired the lease in 1980 and its volunteers then began serious restoration work.

Members £1 Non-members £2.50

Ditchling Museum

Children's Art Day - for all the family from 3 years +
£ 5.00 (parents free).
Come and celebrate Children's Art Day, a national event that hopes to encourage children, young people and families to engage with a range of visual art and art activities.

Ditchling Museum, Sussex, BN6 8TB
01273 844744

Garden Party: The Old Coach House, Sayers Common

St Edwards & St Lukes Churches in Keymer & Hurstpierpoint Local Fundraising Project

The parish has dedicated this year to raising much needed funds for St Peter & St James Hospice, inspired by the magnificent care they have given to a number of their parishioners. having learnt of the £3,600 the hospice needs to raise everyday of the year the parish decided to swing into action with number of fundraising events. the target is to raise enough money to cover their costs for one day.
Two successful events have already happened which have raised over £1,700. Teams for the parish are also supporting the charity by entering the Burgess Hill Bike Ride & Sleep Walk.

Garden Party 12th July 3-6pm, The Old Coach House, Sayers Common (opposite North Star Garage). This will be a great opportunity to spend an afternoon enjoying the beautiful garden of John & Caudine Lower. Entry fee £2, home made cream tea £3, live music, raffle and side shows.

for more details contact Anne Pithie on 07831 138173

Oldland Mill Open Day Keymer

Sunday 12th July Oldland Mill Open Day, 11am – 4.00pm. Free Park ’n’ Ride regular shuttle bus service operating from the car park of The Thatched Inn, Ockley Lane, every 20 minutes.

Ditchling Downs W.I.

I'm not sure whether this is the right email for requesting an additon to your ads for 'whats on in Ditchling', or as a small article but the Ditchling Downs W.I. has been up and running for just over and year now. A new evening and hopefully progressive W.I. that now has 22 members and a first year of great speakers including a demonstration of belly dancing, which got all the girls up wiggling their hips, a very interesting speaker on Glyndebourne and another on Behind the Scenes at The National Gallery. This coming September we have Richard Allen telling us about life in the 1800's and October we have 'Say Cheese' from Lewes giving us a delicious tasting of english cheeses and in November Anton Pruden telling us about The Art of the Goldmith. Forthcoming events in 2010 will include 'Know your Silver' with Andrew Glaisher from Marston Barrett, jewellers from Lewes and to get us moving again a demonstration of flamenco dancing later on in the year. We are also planning outings to theatres and supper evenings and much, much more. If anyone is interested in joining and very go ahead group of women please contact Barbara Dollings on 01273 843892 and come and enjoy a glass of wine and try us out.

Thats a brief outline of whats gone on with DD WI over the past year. If you could also add somewhere in your magazine that we meet on the 1st Tuesday of every month in The Friends Meeting House, East Gardens, Ditchling at 8pm that would be fantastic.

Many thanks

Barbara Dollins

01273 843892

Coffee Morning in aid of St Catherine's Hospice

On Saturday, 8th August 2009 I am holding a Coffee Morning in aid of St Catherine's Hospice in the Martlets Hall Foyer, Burgess Hill between 9.30 a.m. and 12 noon.

Homemade cakes,savoury pies,teas and coffees will be available with all proceeds going to the Hospice. There will also be a tombola, items of knitwear and plants for sale.

I would be grateful if you would advertise this in your Living Magazine which I love to read

Enquiries to Judy on 01444 248595

Twitter, Facebook and Google News

Our blog is now linked to Twitter and Facebook.

We are also accredited by Google News as a News Site. The recent
postings about Wivelsfield appear on Twitter @sussexliving and on
Google News (go there and search for Wivelsfield).

Please continue your postings.

Teddy Bears' Picnic in Wivelsfield

Local children in Wivelsfield enjoyed an afternoon of fun and games with their favourite furry friends at a teddy bears’ picnic organised by Wivelsfield Green Playgroup.

Activities included a treasure hunt, races and games, best dressed teddy competition and a teddy first aid corner. After a delicious tea and cooling ice lollies, the children were thrilled to meet Sunny Bear, who represents Sunfield: a charity which supports children with severe & complete learning needs mainly relating to autistic spectrum disorders.

Teddy bears’ picnic organiser, Barbara Harty said “We’ve been blessed with glorious weather and all the children have had such a fun time that we will definitely be doing it again next year.”

More mascots including: Nellie, Norbits, Lion, Tadworth Hound and Sunny Bear representing several charities will be welcoming everyone to Wivelsfield Village Day on Saturday 18th July. Watch out for the mascots racing in their very own egg & spoon race.

More information about Wivelsfield Village Day, which will be held on the village green on Saturday 18th July from 10am – 5pm, can be found on http://www.wivelsfield.net/ .


Photo: Children meet mascot Sunny Bear from Sunfield children’s charity.

Fulking Village Fayre

Sunday 2nd August, 2pm - 6pm
- Fun Dog Show, Pony Rides, Afternoon Teas, Puppet Shows, Real Ales & Pimms bar, Live Music, Lots of Stalls, Gladiators, BBQ, Tug o War, & lots more.

Many thanks.

Regards

Jenny Tooley - Shepherd & Dog
Fulking Village Social Committee

Hurstpierpoint W.I.

Wed 5th August 2pm. Garden Party and Silent Auction.Visitors Welcome. 2 College Lane, Hurstpierpoint

Westmeston & Streat Flower Show

Westmeston & Streat Annual Flower Show will be held on Saturday 29th August.
The show will be held at Westmeston Parish Hall opening at 2pm.
This year the side shows will includ, a Raffle, Spin the Wheel, a Treasure Hunt of Westmeston & Streat, Skittles, there will also be stalls selling local crafts.
Please do come along and support our local show, which is held in the wonderful setting of the Parish Hall grounds, where you can relax and enjoy a cup of tea and cake.
For more details please call 01273 844743
Paul Charman (Secretary)

Is this the start of the bike ride, NO! Its the start of the Secret Gardens in Hurst

Hi Nicole,

Very grateful thanks for the super article about the Hurst Secret Gardens, I attach a couple of photos for your interest - one of people buying plants and two of cyclists at the open gardens (it coincided with the London to Brighton bike ride and it looked like some of them had strayed into our event by mistake!).

Thought you would be pleased to know that about 700 people visited the gardens and so far I've banked over £4,800 for St. Catherine's Hospice - a brilliant result! There's still a bit more to come from 'leftover' plants and cake sales. Local shops and businesses donated 22 super prizes for the raffle.

The garden owners worked jolly hard and all the 12 gardens looked amazing, those doing refreshments were rushed off their feet taking more than £1,322, the plant sale and raffles were also really busy the whole afternoon. Lots of people gave time, cakes, plants, donated all sorts of things, which helped make the afternoon such a success. I've even had people I don't know telephone to say how much they enjoyed the event, what superb gardens (and teas!) and will I please let them know when the next one will be!

Kind regards,
Jan

St Lawrence Fair photos

Some photos from St Lawrence Fair 2009. Feel free to download for your personal use only.
Go to gallery

St Lawrence fair

Harris funfair at st Lawrence fair hurst