Hurstpierpoint Flower Club

Mrs Elizabeth Arthur of Capel: Delights of Spring.

We can guarantee a warm welcome at all our events and meetings. The club meets at 7.45pm on the first Friday in the month at Hurstpierpoint Village Centre, Trinity Road, Hurstpierpoint. The car park is free after 1800hrs.

Annual Subscription £10.00. Meetings - Members £5.00. Temporary Membership £6.00

Chairperson: Mrs Geraldine Davey 01273 845534
Secretary: Mrs Sandra Burford 01273 834168

Sussex Guild Workshop, Lewes: Different Appliqué Techniques

Tue 2 Mar 10:30 – Tue 2 Mar 16:30
Tutor: JUNE GUY 01273 735390
Different Applique techniques will be explored on this one day workshop. Hand stitching with some machine work.

£30.00 per person per workshop

Book early, spaces are limited!
TO BOOK
Contact the tutor 01273 735390

Contact the Guild Shop in person
by phone 01273 479565
by Email guildshop@thesussexguild.co.uk
Payments may be made by cheque, cash or credit card.

Ditchling Film Society: Ditchling Village Hall

On Thursday, 4 March 2010 we shall be showing In the Loop.  The film is a spin-off from the very successful BBC TV series, The Thick of It, which satirises Anglo-American politics in the 21st Century.  In Armando Iannucci’s film, which highlights the culture of spin and muddle, the President of the US and the Prime Minister of the UK are looking to launch a war in the Middle East.  The plot follows government officials and advisers in their behind-the-scenes efforts either to promote the war or prevent it.  This brilliant comedy, with a terrific cast including James Gandolfini, Tom Hollander, Peter Capaldi and Steve Coogan, conjures up a compelling backstairs political world of anxiety and incompetence, bullying and humiliation. 

This film will be shown in High Definition (Blu-ray).
Dir:  Armando Iannucci.  UK 2008.  102 mins.

The films will be shown in Ditchling Village Hall.  Films start at 8.00 pm.  Doors open at 7.30 pm.  Free coffee and biscuits beforehand and ample free parking behind the hall.  Guests and temporary members are welcome for a small charge payable at the door.

Chequer Mead, Haywards Heath: Jive Talking - A Tribute to the Bee Gees

Chequer Mead Community Arts Centre De la Warr Road East Grinstead West Sussex RH19 3BS
Jive Talkin' - The Bee Gees Concert unites the UK's hottest talent for a truly inspiring evening of everything Bee Gees. This is the show that Bee Gees fans everywhere have been waiting for. The Jive Talkin' band features some of the greatest performers in the country today and recreates with perfection the extensive Gibb Brother's repertoire. Never before has there been a more complete Bee Gees experience, making both young and old alike feel as if they are actually at a Bee Gees concert! A truly entertaining, well produced show that will have the audience reaching for their handkerchiefs and dancing in the isles! 'Witness the show that?s taking the world by storm'

Venue and ticket details
£16.50 and £14.50 conc.

Telephone number 01342 302000
Email Address info@chequermead.org.uk
Website http://www.chequermead.org.uk

Mid Sussex Healthy Walks, Thursday

Mid Sussex Healthy Walks
Come and join the Park Rangers every Thursday on a healthy walk. Our walks programme is intended for those people who are confident in walking over rough ground in various conditions dependant on the weather. Our walks vary from BEGINNER (1-1.5 hrs), IMPROVER (1.5-2 hrs) and ADVANCED (2-3 hrs)

FREE
Contact name: Emily Oakden
Telephone number: 01444 477561
Email Address: rangers@midsussex.gov.uk

Wine Tasting, Hurstpierpoint

South Downs Cellars
100 High Street, Hurstpierpoint, West Sussex BN65 9PX

Thursday, 4th March, 7.30pm
‘Regional Heroes’ of Australia – join us for an informative evening of wine tasting with Wine Australia who will take us on a tour outlining the regional characteristics of Australian wines. Contact Lucy on 01273 833830 for details and to book your place.

Plumpton Races

Plumpton Racecourse
Monday 1st March
Gates Open 12 noon
1st Race 2.20pm

www.plumptonracecourse.co.uk
01273 890383

Sussex Guild: Workshop - Hand and Machine Applique, Lewes

Sussex Guild Shop Event Room, North Wing Southover Grange, Southover Road, Lewes, East Sussex BN7 1TP.

Tutor: Louise Bell 07802 795409
WORKSHOP - Hand and Machine Applique - Louise Bell
Create a hand or machine applique cushion or quilt panel.

Book early, spaces are limited!
£35.00 per person per workshop

TO BOOK
Contact the Guild Shop in person
by phone 01273 479565
by Email guildshop@thesussexguild.co.uk

Payments may be made by cheque, cash or credit card.
Details and a list of requirements will be sent out prior to the course

Hassocks Residents in Marathon Effort

April 18th sees the first ever Brighton Marathon and lots of local people are taking up the challenge and training hard for this 26.1 mile run. If you see runners out and about looking absolutely shattered, like they can barely lift their feet, chances are that’s one of us nearly home from a loooooong run! We’re building up the distance and are now trying to do runs of around 20 miles. For some of us that means being out for over four hours. The challenge in running the marathon is not so much in running on the day, we’re all hoping that the crowds, the atmosphere and our adrenaline will see us through April 18th, but more in getting out four or five times a week and running. We’ve run in wind, rain, hail and even through six foot snow drifts on the downs!

We are running for many different reasons, because it’s there, because it’s been a lifetime goal, because we love to run and for some of us because we are trying to raise money for a charity that is important to us. If you can support any of us by cheering us on on the day, (it promises to be a really good Brighton day out,) giving us a shout when you see us around locally or by donating to the charities we are raining for we’d all be really grateful. For details of how to donate please give me a call.

Jane Roweth 844358

Running for Cancer Research
Paul Paye
Mark
Rich Dobson
Clare Seth (doing the London Marathon)

Running for Have a Heart supporting local children
Jane Roweth

Running for the challenge and the pure joy
Marina Bullivant
Liz Hollingdale
Corin Denno
Helen Graham

What's on in the next few days from South Downs Living magazine

Saturday 27, 20.00
Barn Dance. Henfield Hall.
Heber Opera are holding another of their popular fund-raising barn dances, with well-known local ceilidh band One-the-Rum. Tickets are £12 and include a buffet meal with desserts. Licensed bar open at 7.30 pm. Call 01273 495220 (office hours) to reserve your place.

Saturday 27, 09:00
Hassocks Village Market. National Tyres Forecourt.

Saturday 27, 19:30
Towards Monteverdi!
St Peter’s Church, Church Lane, Henfield BN5 9NY.
Brighton Consort (director Deborah Roberts) present: Towards Monteverdi!
A concert of vocal music by the much loved 17th century composer and by those who influenced him – de Rore, Wert and his teacher Ingegnieri. The programme will include sacred music (the Messa da Cappella of 1650) and madrigals by Monteverdi, together with dramatic motets including Wert’s searingly beautiful Vox in Rama.
Tickets £10 (£8 concessions) from www.brightonconsort.org.uk, tel. 01273 833746 or on the door.

Saturday 27,
Tiger Arts Evening Concerts. All Saints Church, High Street, Lindfield.
Brighton Welsh M.V.C. St Davids Day Celebration Concert for St Peter& St James Hospice.
Tickets on sale at All Saints Church Office on 01444 482405.

Sunday 28, 10:30
Mid Sussex Ramblers. Balcombe to Wakehurst Place 7 mile Circular Walk.
Meet Balcombe Railway Station car park. Via Balcombe Lake –
Ardingly Brook – Wakehurst Place (Millennium Seedbank) – Newhouse Farm – Little Strudgate Farm – Walk Wood – Balcombe Station. Please bring picnic. No dogs. Leaders: Ray and Alison,
tel. 01342 311632.

Sunday 28, 19:00
Burgess Hill Fairtrade and Freedom Festival Fairtrade Panel Debate. Martlets Hall, Burgess Hill.
Hosted by top BBC Newsreader George Alagiah we have brought together 3 local politicians, Serena Tierney (Lib Dem), Katy Bourne (Con) and David Boot to debate Fairtrade and Trade Justice. Admission free. Booking and further information from 01444 242888. Festival information
www.burgesshillfreedomfestival.com

St Lawrence Fair 700, Hurstpierpoint

Hurstpierpoint St Lawrence Fair is 700 years old in the summer of 2012. It was granted a Royal Charter by Edward II in the 14th century.

It is planned to have something special to mark the anniversary and a meeting will be held at The Three Amigos (Vinyards) on Monday 19th April at 8 p.m.

If you would like to be involved or have ideas about how the village might mark this occasion please e-mail Steve Whitehead on:

steve_whithead@tiscali.co.uk

or ring him on 01273 835323.

Lindfield Arts Festival 14 –16 May 2010

We are delighted to introduce the first Lindfield Arts Festival taking place on the 14 –16 May 2010, a celebration of creativity in all its forms in and around our village.

The Lindfield Arts Festival will promote the creative arts and Lindfield itself through this wide-ranging annual event. We aim to bring together a broad network of local artists, groups and clubs to create theatre, spectacle, street art, music, comedy and literature, resulting in a stunning weekend of cultural activity and celebration for the whole community to enjoy.

The Festival will showcase:-

Local Artists
Contempory, Student, Established Art Groups,Video Art, Photography
Literature
Bringing together Book Groups for previews, talks and readings by Authors and Actors. Poetry Mic

Drama
Workshops and displays of Productions throughout the day.

Music
Bands, Acoustic sets, Drum workshops, Singers, Choirs

Cookery
Workshops, Chef demonstrations, Local Restaurant demonstrations Local cuisine

SCULPTURE TRAILS, HISTORICAL WALKS, COMPETITIONS.
We need your help to create not just a fantastic family weekend but a festival that will grow and evolve in the future. We need creative people in our area to be part of this new venture, help us make it happen.

Interested? We want to hear from you, contact us to find out not just what you can do for us but what the Lindfield Festival can do for you!

http://www.lindfieldartsfestival.com/

Sport Relief at East Grinstead Sports Club

SPORT RELIEF COMES TO EAST GRINSTEAD ON SUNDAY 21ST MARCH

As one of the UK’s biggest fundraising events, Sport Relief brings the entire nation together to get active, raise cash and change lives.

The Sport Relief Weekend is taking place from Friday 19th March to Sunday 21st March 2010 and it’ll be three whole days of energy, entertainment and events for everyone to enjoy.

From the Friday of fundraising fun, and a night of cracking TV on BBC One, right through to the Sainsbury’s Sport Relief Mile on Sunday, it promises to be a brilliant weekend.

And, the best bit is, all the cash raised will help people living incredibly tough lives across the UK and the world’s poorest countries.

For information on how you can get involved in Sport Relief at East Grinstead Sports Club visit the website: www.sportrelief.com

Since its launch in 2002, Sport Relief has raised over £80 million.

Mansion Market Forest Row

Mansion Market
Kidbrooke Park
Priory Road
Forest Row
Saturday 13th March
11.00 - 4.00pm
free admission and parking

All-day cafe, workshops and puppet shows for children, taster therapy sessions,and a wide variety of stalls selling hand-made crafts, Italian leather bags, interesting and unusual clothing, old books, plants, jewellery, pottery, organic bakery, fresh fish, Turkish food and much else in the beautiful, atmospheric 18th century mansion.

Sussex tourism businesses step closer to national glory

Two tourism businesses in Sussex have been announced as finalists in the annual Enjoy England Awards for Excellence it has been revealed today. 
 
The Awards, organised by national tourism body VisitEngland, celebrate some of the very best tourism businesses in the UK, recognising businesses that demonstrate commitment to high quality, helping to make England a world-class destination. 
 
The Sussex finalists were both winners at Tourism South East’s Excellence Awards in October and have battled it out with tourism businesses across the UK to make it through to the national stage.  The contenders will be judged alongside two other businesses in each category before the Gold winners are announced on St George’s Day at a glittering awards ceremony to be held in the Corn Exchange at the Brighton Dome on 23 April. 
They join 5 other finalists representing the South East at the Awards; no other region has achieved more finalists, making it the best year ever for the Beautiful South.
The South Lodge Hotel in Horsham will be vying for Gold in the the Large Hotel of the Year category and on home turf on the night, Brighton Festival in East Sussex will be hoping to be named Tourism Event of the year.
 
‘We are delighted to be hosting the Enjoy England Awards for Excellence here in the Beautiful South’ said Tourism South East Chief Executive Mike Bedingfield, ‘the announcement of so many finalists in our region affirms the incredibly high-standard of entrants we had in our regional awards; and the quality of the tourism businesses in the South East.  I wish both South Lodge Hotel and the Brighton Festival the very best of luck on the big night.’
 
More information about the Enjoy England Awards for Excellence can be found at www.enjoyengland.com/excellence <http://www.enjoyengland.com/excellence>

An evening of Coarse Acting at Wivelsfield Little Theatre

How to wreck an Amateur Dramatic Society?  Sometimes defined as 'one who can remember his lines, but not the order in which they come'. This will be an evening of dry wit, fun and will have the audience in hysterics.

The thriving Wivelsfield Little Theatre, which plays to packed houses, are performing three one-act plays from Michael Green's 'The Art of Course Acting' :
* Pride at Southanger Park
* Julius and Cleopatra
* Stalag 69

Performances Thurs 22 April, to Sat 24 April
7.00pm for 7.30pm
at Wivelsfield Village Hall

Licensed Bar
Ample free parking, easy to get to location

Tickets £7 will be available from 22 March 2010, visit www.wivelsfieldlittletheatre.co.uk <http://www.wivelsfieldlittletheatre.co.uk>  for details.

Hassocks WI: Life skills for the 21st century

Life skills for the 21st century

by Michelle Binks
Originally established in the UK in 1915, the Women’s Institute (WI) conjures up an old-fashioned image of elderly ladies making jam and knitting while sipping tea. Can this image be changed? Could the WI really be of interest to women in the 21st century?
I met Naomi Demaine-Stone, President of the Hassocks WI, and was overwhelmed by her energy and inspiration for setting up the Hassocks WI. This is how she tells the story:
“One morning I awoke and thought to myself:  I really don’t have any life skills! I had arrived at that stage in life, being at home with the children and having an urge to learn to sew, knit and bake and just be creative – but I didn’t know how or where to start.
I had recently read an article in a newspaper about a campaign around those in prison with mental health difficulties. It was written by a young professional who had joined the WI and she ended the piece with ‘it’s great to get involved in something meaningful alongside sewing and baking with the older ladies.’ I thought this is the answer to what I’d been looking for!
I spoke to a friend and said ‘Let’s start a WI!’ She loved the idea too and is now the Vice President. We put the feelers out among some of the mums in Hassocks and a few seemed interested, but not all. We put some posters up, hired a small room expecting a handful of people. That night we ended up with over 90 women of all ages and we had to move into the main Adastra Hall. I think we may well have broken some sort of WI record!
Since then it’s gone from strength to strength. Our age range is from 20 to 70 somethings and it has a real, fresh, energetic dynamic to it – words that aren’t always associated with the WI.
We have 80 members and a fantastic committee. I have been overwhelmed by the response, the keenness of women very similar to myself and the older generation with their incredible skill base which the rest of us can learn from! Hassocks has plenty of skills amongst its residents – a hidden treasure.
I had a very proud moment at our Christmas event which over 100 attended. I looked around the room seeing ladies busy making things, chatting, laughing, drinking mulled wine and having fun! It had all just been a fleeting thought three months before!
We look forward to the New Year with some fantastic events coming up – frock exchange, wine and cheese tasting, spring bake-off, curry night and many more. These events may not always be traditional to the WI but it’s good to take something established and bring it into the 21st century. I think we’ve achieved that in Hassocks.” ■

Hassocks WI meets at Adastra Hall 7.45pm the 3rd Monday of every month unless otherwise stated. Our next meeting on Monday, 15th February is entitled ‘Craft & Creative Evening’. Hope to see you there.
Contact Naomi Demaine-Stone on 01273 84188 or email us on wihassocks@gmail.com. You can also follow us on Facebook WI Hassocks or our blog www.hassockswi.blogspot.com.

Early & Edmonds Opticians in Burgess Hill

More than meets the eye...
Chris Bird is one of the good guys – friendly, helpful and very professional. His piercing blue eyes light up when he talks about eye care.
After eight years at Dolland & Aitchison, Chris decided to set up on his own. He has owned Early & Edmonds Opticians in Burgess Hill since June 2000. Their premises just up from Burgess Hill station are modern and contemporary; the atmosphere is warm and welcoming.
Chris and his team of two ophthalmic opticians and one experienced doctor take care of sight and contact lens testing. “Everybody here has worked in optics for at least 10 years,” Chris explains, and his staff are experienced in choosing the right lens and frame for each individual customer. I find this confidence inspiring – a refreshing change from some high street opticians where sales patter seems to be everything and staff experience is measured in weeks, not years.
The range of frames on display is impressive. There’s something for every budget, including designer frames from Marc Jacobs, Ralph Lauren and Prada. Much more than just corrective appliances, glasses are also an important fashion accessory. Want to make a bold statement? Go for chunky horn-rimmed specs. Prefer the barely there look? Go rimless. Chris shows me light-as-a-feather and extremely stylish Silhouette rimless frames, bending them right out to show how flexible the material is. “They’re made from titanium, an incredibly light yet tough material. Very popular.”
Contact lenses are available as daily, 2-weekly, or monthly disposables. From £13.50 a month, you get the lenses (including replacements for any broken ones), solution and regular check-ups. The choice of lenses is vast and varied and as individual as your prescription.
Chris gives me some useful advice. Apparently, I’m not alone in wearing contact lenses for 15 hours a day, six days a week. According to Chris – and to my dismay – that’s overwear! “You should really be looking at silicon hydrogel lenses,” he says, as they let five times more oxygen through to the eye than my normal monthlies. “A bit more expensive but well worth it,” he adds. “And do give your eyes a break; wear glasses for at least one day a week.”
We chat about everything eye-related – from treatments for lazy eye to glaucoma and cataracts. Chris is in his element, patiently explaining the difference between bifocals and variofocals and the pros and cons of laser surgery, debunking some myths along the way, informing and educating as he goes.
When it comes to cost, Early & Edmonds are as competitive as anywhere you’ll find on the high street, minus the gimmicky offers. Chris warns that although the big opticians do seem to have the keenest offers, prices tend to go up quickly once extras – such as anti-reflective coating – are added on. Early & Edmonds will price-match on most lenses, and currently offer a complete pair of spectacles for £39.95, with a second pair at only £10. I’d say that’s great value for money.
As an independent optician, Chris can’t match the big players’ advertising budget but then he doesn’t believe in the commoditisation of healthcare anyway. “Choose your optician carefully. Your eyes are much too important to entrust to the lowest cost provider.“ Combining expert care and a very personal service, your eyes couldn’t be in better hands at Early & Edmonds. ■

Early & Edmonds Opticians
7 Keymer Parade, Burgess Hill, West Sussex RH15 0AB
Tel. 01444 236367
www.earlyandedmonds.co.uk

What's on in the next few days from South Downs Living

Saturday 27, 20.00
Barn Dance. Henfield Hall.
Heber Opera are holding another of their popular fund-raising barn dances, with well-known local ceilidh band One-the-Rum. Tickets are £12 and include a buffet meal with desserts. Licensed bar open at 7.30 pm. Call 01273 495220 (office hours) to reserve your place.

Saturday 27, 09:00
Hassocks Village Market. National Tyres Forecourt.

Saturday 27, 19:30
Towards Monteverdi!
St Peter’s Church, Church Lane, Henfield BN5 9NY.
Brighton Consort (director Deborah Roberts) present: Towards Monteverdi!
A concert of vocal music by the much loved 17th century composer and by those who influenced him – de Rore, Wert and his teacher Ingegnieri. The programme will include sacred music (the Messa da Cappella of 1650) and madrigals by Monteverdi, together with dramatic motets including Wert’s searingly beautiful Vox in Rama.
Tickets £10 (£8 concessions) from www.brightonconsort.org.uk, tel. 01273 833746 or on the door.

Saturday 27,
Tiger Arts Evening Concerts. All Saints Church, High Street, Lindfield.
Brighton Welsh M.V.C. St Davids Day Celebration Concert for St Peter& St James Hospice.
Tickets on sale at All Saints Church Office on 01444 482405.

Sunday 28, 10:30
Mid Sussex Ramblers. Balcombe to Wakehurst Place 7 mile Circular Walk.
Meet Balcombe Railway Station car park. Via Balcombe Lake – Ardingly Brook – Wakehurst Place (Millennium Seedbank) – Newhouse Farm – Little Strudgate Farm – Walk Wood – Balcombe Station. Please bring picnic. No dogs. Leaders: Ray and Alison,
tel. 01342 311632.

Sunday 28, 19:00
Burgess Hill Fairtrade and Freedom Festival Fairtrade Panel Debate. Martlets Hall, Burgess Hill.
Hosted by top BBC Newsreader George Alagiah we have brought together 3 local politicians, Serena Tierney (Lib Dem), Katy Bourne (Con) and David Boot to debate Fairtrade and Trade Justice. Admission free. Booking and further information from 01444 242888. Festival information
www.burgesshillfreedomfestival.com

Are you a retailer in Cuckfield, Haywards Heath or Lindfield?

ARE YOU A RETAILER IN CUCKFIELD? HAYWARDS HEATH? LINDFIELD?

Then, PLEASE don't forget to come to the Haywards Heath & District Business Association’s (HHDBA) Open Meeting this Thursday, 25th February, which begins at 6.00 pm in The Town Hall.

It’s a chance for everyone to air their views on priorities and key concerns, as well as hearing what might be done in the future.  If you’re able to come, call Sandi Turner on 01444 453399 – we’re looking forward to making things happen and we need your views!

Members and non-members welcome.  Free light refreshments available.

www.hhdba.co.uk
51 Perrymount Road, Haywards Heath, West Sussex RH16 3BN

P Save the environment - think before you print.

East Grinstead: Euro Hockey Indoor Trophy Champions 2010

Photo courtesy of hockeyimages.co.uk

Congratulations to the indoor squad on an outstanding and truly professional performance on Sunday to win the Champions Trophy against the host team Akademischer HTC Wien. A hat-trick from Dave de Prez and two goals from Captain Scott Ashdown sealed a comprehensive 5-0 defeat of the Austrian team and ensured promotion to the top division of indoor hockey for 2011. 

With the gold medal position riding on the last game of the tournament, the ever-faithful EG supporters were cheering on Kolos Sekvoya Vinnitsa from the Ukraine against Menzieshill. A 5-3 victory for Kolos meant that the EG won Gold and the Trophy.

Mats Grambusch, a VI form student at Seaford College, was deservedly voted 'Player of the Tournament' for his outstanding skills both in defence and going forward for EG.

Results for Friday 19th February

Menzieshill HC (SCO) 6 - 5 East Grinstead (De Prez, Stott 2, Pearn 2)

East Grinstead HC 7 - 3 Lille MHC (FRA) (Ashdown, Stott, De Prez, Pearn 2, Holland 2)

Results for Saturday 20th February

East Grinstead 6 - 4 Partille (SWE) (Pearn 2, Ashdown 2, De Prez, Stott)

East Grinstead 6 - 4 Kolos Sekvoya Vinnitsa (UKR) (Ashdown 2, De Prez, Pearn, Stott, Grambusch)

Result for Sunday 21st February

East Grinstead 5 - 0 Akademischer HTC Wien (AUS) (De Prez 3, Ashdown 2)

More on talkhockeyradio; Photos from hockeyimages.co.uk to follow soon

Plumpton Racecourse welcomes local schoolchildren on Monday 1st March

Plumpton Racecourse will be welcoming children from Plumpton Primary School at its next race meeting on Monday 1st March as part of the national Racing to School initiative organised by the British Horseracing Education and Standards Trust.  
 
Their day at the races involves a number of innovative activities covering a wide range of National Curriculum areas, and gives the pupils a unique insight into the world of racing by visiting the Weighing Room, Parade Ring, Grandstands, and the course itself.

Plumpton Racecourse Chief Executive Claire Sheppard said: “We are delighted that Racing to School visits Plumpton Racecourse and we get the opportunity to show local schoolchildren behind the scenes of a raceday and apply what they are learning in the classroom in a real and exciting setting.  It is something I would have loved to attend as a child, and is part of our general policy to help new racegoers understand more about the sport at Plumpton. We will also be running another of our popular free ‘behind the scenes tour’ for adult racegoers at our 15th March race meeting.”

Admission tickets to Monday’s race meeting start from only £14 for Adults, £9 for Senior Citizens, and free admission for children under 16.
 
Doors open at 12 noon with the first race underway at 2.20pm.
 
For further information call 01273 890383 or visit www.plumptonracecourse.co.uk

Burgess Hill Fairtrade Festival

As Burgess Hill celebrates its renewed status as a Fairtrade Town, some of the finest names in acoustic music will be coming together from Friday 5th to Sunday 7th March to perform at the Martlets Hall, Burgess Hill. The weekend opens on Friday 5th March with headliners 3 Daft Monkeys and Phil Beer with amazing support from Gareth Davies-Jones and Rob Halligan. Phil Beer has, as one-half of Show of Hands, just collected the 2010 BBC 2 best duo of the year award, together with the award for the best original song. He has a string of other BBC2 awards to his credit and has had 3 sell out concerts at the Royal Albert Hall.

In a colourful ending to the 5th March show, dubbed Acoustic Fairtrade, will be Cornish trio 3 Daft Monkeys.

It’s world influenced acoustic music, with a hint of the bizarre

The musicianship - the virtuosity, the songcraft, the arrangement - is simply astonishing!

3 Daft Monkeys are a world-influenced acoustic band from Cornwall, UK, consisting of Tim Ashton, Athene Roberts, and Jamie Waters who combine vocals, fiddle, 12-string guitar, bass guitar and foot drum. Influences include Celtic, Balkan, Gypsy, Latino, Dance, Dub, Punk, Reggae and Traditional Folk. The band have had great success at venues and festivals all over the UK and Europe, including being invited by Show of Hands to play the main stage at the Eden Project and the 2008 BBC Proms at St.David's Hall in Cardiff. Other highlights include Guilfest, Folkwoods, Holland; Glastonbury Festival, Trowbridge Village Pump; Folk Segovia, Spain; Lorient Interceltic Festival, France; Kevelaer World Music Festival, Germany; Labadoux Festival, Belgium. The band has enjoyed airplay on BBC Radio 2, BBC Radio Ulster and BBC Radio Wales during 2006 and 2007, and were described by presenter Mike Harding as "a brilliant band... absolutely amazing".

Tickets for this event cost £14.00 and are available from the Martlets Hall on 01444 242888

What's on in the next few days from South Downs Living magazine

Tuesday 23, 10:00
Mid Sussex Ramblers. Sussex Weald 10 mile circular walk from Chailey.
Meet Chailey Common Sportsground car park next to the Social Club, 150 yards west of the mini roundabout on the A272.
North Chailey Common – Neale Farm – Dobson Wood – (Pub lunch at Snowdrop Inn) – Costells Wood – Hammer Wood – Lindfield Farm – North Chailey Common. No dogs please. Leader: Geoff, tel. 01444 440622.

Wednesday 24,
Ansty Garden Club. Ansty Village Hall.
Mr Jeffrey Layman from Horsham will be talking on South African flowers. Contact Gail Burrell on 01444 482055.

Wednesday 24, 18:00
Burgess Hill Fairtrade and Freedom Festival. All Schools Fairtrade Variety Show. St Paul’s RC College, Burgess Hill.
Burgess Hill Schools and colleges come together to celebrate Fairtrade in dance, music and song. Everything from Bollywood to Rap, African drums to the Lion King. Admission free.

Friday 26, 19:30
Roger Hind’s Charity Jazz Concert. Chequer Mead Arts Centre, East Grinstead.
Following his previous sell out concerts, Roger presents more than 20 marvellous arrangements of Jerome Kern and Irving Berlin favourites including Smoke Gets In Your Eyes, Old Man River, Puttin’ On The Ritz and Let’s Face The Music And Dance. His Quartet is joined by guest vocalists Pam Dabell & Gary Wright, all in aid of St Catherine’s Hospice’s ongoing and outstanding work in our community - not to be missed!
Visit www.schci.co.uk or
www.stch.org.uk for details.
Tickets: (includes programme) £16, concessions £14, family £48. Groups of 20 or more £13. Call 01342 302 000 or visit
www.chequermead.org.uk.

Friday 26, 20.00
Cuckfield Society Winter Lecture. Council Chamber, Queens Hall, Cuckfield.
Geoffrey Mead presents a History of Sussex Agriculture. Entrance £4,
£3 for members, includes a welcome drink.

BLOWUP! ­ East Grinstead Outdoors Photographic Exhibition.

No, not the famous 1966 movie in which photographer David Hemmings believes he has photographed a murder, but in fact a chance for you to have one of your photographs blown up to giant size on a weather proof metal panel to be displayed to all the passing world at this year’s East Grinstead Outdoors Photographic Exhibition.
 
This year the exhibition will be hosted in the gardens and frontage of the Chequer Mead Arts and Theatre Centre and the theme is ‘My East Grinstead’
Contributions are invited, up to five entries per person with the proviso that landscape format only is acceptable and that the subject must depict East Grinstead and its immediate surroundings. You can submit entries by email to the address below or in person at the Tourist Desk in East Grinstead Library. The closing date is March the 31st and the exhibition will run from June to September. Full rules follow
 
1. Title - "My East Grinstead".

2. Location of display - Chequer Mead Community Arts Centre.

3. Subjects -  Each photographic should depict one or more of the following in relation to East Grinstead:
  people, places, work, play, sport, landscape or culture.

4. Geographical Limits -  Whilst photographs must depict the East Grinstead area, Ashdown Forest or Weir Wood  Reservoir  would be acceptable. West of the M23, and Surrey, Kent or East Sussex would not.

5. Format - Photographs should be landscape in format i.e. top and bottom longer than sides with a 3:2 ratio.
  Minimum size: 150 by 100 mm. or 6 inches by 4 inches. If submitted on a CD or DVD please give us the full size files as direct from your camera. Portrait i.e. upright photographs will not be accepted.

6. Other requirements -  Each photograph must be accompanied by the name, address and telephone number (and e-mail address).   Photographs may have a title or subject indicated. Photographs taken by both amateur and professional  photographers welcome
 
7. Copyright and reproduction -  It is a condition of submission of photographs that whilst the copyright remains with the photographer, East Grinstead Observer, East Grinstead  Town Council, Chequer Mead Community Arts Centre and East Grinstead War Memorial Ltd, the promoters, have the right to reproduce any photograph for the purposes of the exhibition.
    
8.  Entries, conforming with 5 above, may be submitted as prints on or on CDs or DVD and sent or handed in to: The Tourist Desk, East Grinstead Library, West Street, East Grinstead, RH19 3SR. Telephone 01342 410121 for enquiries or information.  Entries may also be submitted via e-mail to "myeastgrinstead@talktalk.net".  Entries are restricted to 5 per person.  Last date for entries is 31 March 2010.

Hurst Players 'Sugar Daddies', Hurstpierpoint

SUGAR DADDIES by Alan Ayckbourn

Between March 16th and 20th, Hurstpierpoint Players are putting on Alan Ayckbourn's comedy Sugar Daddies at their theatre in Hurst High Street. This play could have been an unsettling look at relationships between rich men long past the first flush of middle age and women decades younger, but Ayckbourn is interested in subverting our expectations.
When Sasha, a good-natured Norfolk lass - only two months in London - brings home an old man dressed as Santa, after finding him floored by a minor hit and run, all her Christmases come at once. Thanks to “Uncle” Val - with his apparent altruism, her wardrobe undergoes a deluxe transformation. This happens much to the suspicion and jealousy of her half-sister flatmate, Chloe, who finally huffs off and warns that payback time will surely arrive.
And we want to know too. Will the platonic mask slip and Val reveal himself to be a grasping old lecher? But it’s actually this cynicism that Ayckbourn is guying. Why couldn’t there be something noble and non-sexual about the pair’s friendship? And if the situation is sullying, isn’t that to do with the erosion of personality that Sasha experiences as she strives to live up to a projected ideal of innocence?
Ayckbourn is such a superb craftsman that he holds everything together with thrilling compactness and a constantly sparky wit.
Tickets for this show are £8 (£6 concessions) and are available from The Mint House, High Street, Hurstpierpoint. Telephone: 01273 832694

The two photographs attached show:

Picture 1) Left to right - Frank Titford, Emma Cartwright and Rick Farmer

Picture 2) Left to right - Back row: Frank Titford and Sue Blair-Fish. Front row: Emma Cartwright, Rick Farmer and Joanna Murray

Further information from Bob Sampson
Phone 01273 833397
email: enquiries@hurstplayers.org.uk

Hurstpierpoint Players
Reg.Charity No. 272635

Hassocks Community Partnership wins £5000 for cycle hire project

Hassocks Community Partnership have just been awarded £5000 as first prize in the IV Social Enterprise Innovation Award (09-10) for its community cycle hire project.  The award is given by the West Sussex Social Enterprise Steering Group (sponsored by West Sussex County Council) and is to promote and support innovative ideas amongst potential, emerging and established social enterprises and entrepreneurs in West Sussex.  Hassocks Community Partnership has been developing the cycle hire project over the last few years.  It plans to locate a cycle hire business close to Hassocks Station on the Hassocks Hotel car park.  The plans also include a signed on-road route to the South Downs and production of maps with walking and cycling routes, several map boards and a dedicated web-site.    Funding of £70,000 is nearly all in place and plans are afoot for a grand opening at the end of June.  In making the award the judges commented that (Hassocks Community Partnership) was able to demonstrate clear environmental and community benefits with a business model built on a strong background of need. They also noted the involvement of a range of interested parties.

For more information contact:
Colin Wilsdon
Hassocks Community Partnership
Chairman
01273 842489

Sundays at Reeves Pantry in Cuckfield

We are delighted to announce that, from 14th March – MOTHER’S DAY – we will be open for business EVERY SUNDAY, 10am-5pm.

Come and join us for

Breakfasts
Coffee & cakes
Light lunches
Cream teas

Traditional menu with a modern twist

Come on in and indulge yourself!

Open 9.30am – 5pm, Tuesday – Saturday

SELECTION OF DELICIOUS JAMS, CHUTNEYS,

CAKES etc AVAILABLE FROM OUR PANTRY


Reeves Pantry, High Street, Cuckfield, West Sussex RH17 5JU
Tel. 01444 454690

Steyning Grammar School event to support Steyning Festival

The Steyning Grammar School will play host to the 11 piece band RetrOactive on Saturday 13th March 2010

Enjoy a truly memorable evening full of dance floor favourites in a show that will get everyone up on their feet and dancing in this special event in support of the Steyning Festival.

With all the ingredients for the perfect night out you can enjoy some good food, from the finger buffet, drinks from the subsidised bar plus a wide variety of music from RetrOactive. With their outstanding vocalists, irresistible five sax line up and kicking rhythm section you are guaranteed to be entertained in a night of dance floor favourites covering jazz and swing through to rock and pop and spanning six decades.

Tickets £15 available from the Bookshop, Steyning High Street, Steyning, West Sussex. You can book and pay for you tickets over the phone by ringing 01903 812062. RetrOactives web site www.retroactive-jazz.co.uk

Grub café & music bar, East Grinstead

 

110-112 London Road

East Grinstead
RH19 1EP
+44 (0) 1342 313139
info@grubonline.co.uk
March
2 Open Mic
6 Lisa Redford plus support from Roselands. £7.50
12 Charlie Rivers band plus support from Luke Jackson. £5
13 Janis Haves plus support from Tony Carling. £5
16 Open Mic
19 Edwina Hayes plus support from Stick in a pot. £8.50
20 Emily Baker plus support from Neil Erua. £5
25 David Celia plus support from Boyd & Wain. £7.50

David Celia
David is one of Canada’s finest singer-songwriters and a phenomenal guitarist. His music is a sparkling blend of roots rock, power pop and Americana. He released his first album Organica in 2002, but it was another five years before his second, This Isn’t Here that was particularly well received by NME Magazine who described it as “a collection of expertly crafted tunes brimming with smart lyrics and winning pop craftsmanship.”
Some career highlights include being asked to play guitarist-sideman at a rare performance by Ian & Sylvia Tyson, playing massive festivals both in Canada and Europe and also supporting Elvis Costello, Shawn Colvin, Fairport Convention and more...He'll be back to Europe in June 2010, to play the
legendary Glastonbury festival.
His third CD is due for release in Spring 2010 and includes an extremely expressive cast of artists such as Ben Mink(KD Lang), Gurf Morlix(Lucinda Williams), Mike Olsen(Arcade Fire), Don Kerr(Ron Sexsmith) and more.
Some recent quotes:
"I like the sentiment in your lyrics" - Gordon Lightfoot
"One of Toronto's finest songwriter's and guitarists. This album speaks of what matters most, to most of us: love, hope, family, friends, “staying on your path”, recognizing your blessings and heck, plain old fun." (Eye Weekly, 08/10/06) ** Toronto's Eye Magazine awarded “This Isn’t Here” as
critics pick "Album of the year" ‘06
“completely charmful..contemplative.wonderful atmosphere..you will like him immediately..like a warm embrace from a good friend” (rock e-zine, Berlin).
“Excellent musicianship...elegant and melodic” - ( Neil Hannon - The Divine Comedy)
“Beautiful and haunting melodies” [The Amazing Kreskin]

27 Jono Harrison plus support from Stealing Sheep & Annika Brown. £5

April
3 Stephanie Lambring plus Cole Stacey. £7.50
9 Take Three Girls: Sara Petite (USA), Ange Boxall (AUS) and Danni Nicholls
(UK). £7.50
Three scintillating female singer-songwriters from different corners of the world playing an acoustic set of country-tinged original songs (and maybe the occasional cover). At each venue Sara Petite (US) and Ange Boxall (Aus) will be joined by a local artiste ‘Danni Nicholls’ playing a 'round' (consecutive songs rather than a set each). There will be collaborations and duets and lots of stories as well as plenty of time to chat to the artistes.

10 Sean Taylor plus support from Mark Wynn. £5
17 Odi plus support. £5
24 Jenna plus support. £5
30 Megson plus support from Diana Johnstone & Luke Jackson. £7.50

Support on all dates.
Doors 7.30pm
Music starts at 8pm
Food served until 9pm

Tickets in advance for all events available from wegottickets.com
For all other future dates and links to all artists check out the Grub website

Hammerwood Park, East Grinstead: Whole Lotta Love

by Ruth Lawrence. Reproduced from South Downs Living magazine February 2010.

At an age when most young men are still unsure which direction to follow, 21 year old David Pinnegar made a life defining decision in 1982 by buying Hammerwood Park, a vast, semi-derelict Grade I listed country house near East Grinstead.

It is said that houses are reflections of their owners, that the individuals or families who inhabit them stamp their character upon the building. The older the building, the more layers of influence will have built up to create a living history of the previous inhabitants. Some houses are such an age and scale that they seem to inhabit their owners and demand a lifelong commitment from those who choose to live in them.

Hammerwood Park, near East Grinstead, is a defiantly imposing house that, but for the intervention of the Pinnegar family, could well have sunk into total ruin.

Although its early origins remain obscure, in 1792, the owner, John Sperling, commissioned BH Latrobe – who later became the architect of the Capitol and the porticos of the White House in Washington DC – to design and enlarge the existing house. This was a simple iron master’s house, close to the Bower House which Sperling already owned. Remains of this house have been revealed and are exposed in the West Wing bathroom. The two men created the house in its present form although Sperling only lived there until he returned to Essex in 1795.

150 years later, Hammerwood was requisitioned by the army. It was home to 200 soldiers who left scarves, boots and cigarette packets under the floorboards. Tanks were concealed in the woods and the RAF flew Lysanders to France from a runway to the north of the park.

After the War, the Chattell family divided the house into 11 apartments in a bid to preserve such a large building. However, the flats emptied after dry rot appeared on the walls and it was sold at auction in 1973. The house was then bought by rock group Led Zeppelin – best remembered for rock classics such as Stairway To Heaven and Whole Lotta Love – as a place to live while creating music. In reality, Hammerwood was left empty due to the band’s commitments abroad and the worsening dry rot. And perhaps there is some truth in the rumours that Jimmy Page et al completely forgot that they owned the place! Vandals removed three tons of lead from the roof, which caused massive wet rot appearing after rain saturated the structure. In 1976, the house was boarded up and offered for sale over the following years. Although empty during this time, the condition was so bad that commercial developers left it alone and, in 1982, the house was advertised in Country Life. The immortal words beloved by estate agents ‘in need of modernisation’ were printed below a sketch of the building, which somewhat disguised its advanced state of dereliction.

Searching for a large country house to open to the public, 21 year old David Pinnegar and his family chanced upon Hammerwood and David’s first impression of the house was “the ugliest great hulk I’d ever seen.” However, he began to look round and remembered how “I started to notice magical things like the beautiful concealed ceiling.” Neglected to the point of ruin and partial collapse, the house was riddled with dry rot and so open to the elements that “we needed umbrellas on the inside as well as outside.” When lining paper was removed on the stairway hall ceiling, decorators had scribbled the ominous message: “This house is full of rot. God help you. 1968.”

Visiting the house on a cold, wet December morning, David invited me inside and it soon became clear why he was the right person to rescue this grand building. His total commitment to the house was immediately apparent. He talks with infectious enthusiasm about the present role of the house, moving from room to room, pointing out incredible details that the house has revealed to him during 27 years of ownership. The house is full of interest and contrasting scales of detail. Curious flourishes of plaster work appear and then the eye is drawn up to the sprawling ceilings, laced with extravagant embellishment and flecked with gold leaf. In the room where concerts are held, I noticed how paint on the imposing double doors had been rubbed back to reveal many layers of beautiful and complex subtlety.

This is what is so refreshing about David’s approach to restoration. Rather than merely reproduce original colours or restore to bland perfection, he has instead revealed slices of the house’s past to give a tantalising impression of its rich association with previous inhabitants. The dining room has been purposefully left in a state of semi-dereliction which is as fascinating as it is rare. Traces of the original subtle pink paint remain and tiny glimpses of ancient gold leaf wink in rays of sunshine. The guts and bones of the house can be seen in this room; it is endlessly interesting just to stand in silence and look from side to side, where the eye is drawn back through history down centuries of human intervention.
The entrance hall is dominated by a grand staircase, the walls are lined with beautiful murals of landscapes dancing with delicate birds and twisting trees. A bright parrot looks across to a miniscule wren and a pair of soaring swallows. A tiny dragonfly hovers on the opposite wall to a pensive owl and a cherub represents David’s son, George.

Reminiscing back to when he purchased Hammerwood, he admits: “I thought anyone who took it on to restore must be stark raving mad” but realised that “of all possible futures for the house, I was the only person who had a chance of carrying it through. If one can make a difference, it’s my belief that one should.” David talks about how the house chose him and that it became his life’s path. He talked of how a sense of duty and obligation to fulfil a higher purpose keeps him focused on the task that he and his family embarked upon nearly three decades ago. He has seen first hand the benefits that such a house can have for the community. “The resources it can provide and the inspiration that it can give are really very, very valuable. This house has an enormous amount to give.”

He organises concerts at Hammerwood that allow creative freedom in a way which eludes larger, more commercial venues. He positively encourages younger, more experimental talents and has discovered that his events attract musicians to listen to other musicians, which must be the highest indication of quality.

David introduced me to his superb collection of harpsichords, church organs and pianos, painstakingly restored and cherished over the years. These massive instruments are casually scattered throughout the downstairs rooms, the sheer scale of the building making them sit comfortably in their generous surroundings. With the unquenchable passion of a true enthusiast, David demonstrated the way he tunes the instruments so that the full potential of their rich sound is realised. Organ stops are embellished with swirling, ornate script, the wood inlaid with veneers and intricate marquetry. These instruments are works of art in themselves and they are all played, utilised and enjoyed. David said that “during many of our concerts, there is a lot of interchange of ideas. That is the real joy.” He is so keen to encourage the younger generation that children come free to performances and he implores adults who visit to bring their children and grandchildren.

Adamant that the concept of creative interplay be encouraged, David remarks that “there’s a fantastic interchange of sympathies and ideas between audience and performer.” In the style of a true entrepreneur, he says: “I do try to persuade people to take a different view. Having done the impossible it shows that it is possible.” The rebirth of Hammerwood Park is, in David’s words, “living testament to what one can actually do if people work together.”

This house can accommodate big ideas, it has a generosity and scale that is embodied by its owners. The doors of Hammerwood are flung wide open; it is intended to be used and enjoyed and is a unique platform for creative inspiration.

Much work at the house has been completed by keen volunteers; young people have had transforming experiences by becoming involved in something on such a large scale. It is David’s belief that “helping us with hands-on experience is a good education for them. It is only by involving people in a project like this that will encourage our future generations to love and cherish houses such as this one.” He believes that destiny led him to the house and laments that people tend to “put their own ideas of themselves first and, through their own preconceptions, if they don’t actually take on what is pre-ordained, they can miss the life intended for them.” He gives an insight into his own bigger picture when he says, “if I can do anything on a substantial scale in my lifetime then I think I’ll have achieved something.”

David’s background was originally in electronic engineering and physics, which he studied at Imperial College, along with such diverse subjects as quantum mechanics, genetic engineering and X ray crystallography. He runs a business as a computer data consultant and applies his expertise to work for forensic accountants and private investigators. He also acts as a marketing consultant for tourist information service Latroba.

20 years ago, David married Anne-Noelle Pinnegar, the daughter of Lt Col Tamplin, a Military Knight of Windsor. She has shared the mammoth task of rescuing and maintaining Hammerwood and carries out vital research into the history and evolution of the house.

Although English Heritage provided some funding for restoration, the house has to be mostly self financing. There is Bed & Breakfast accommodation from April to October; guests can stay in a Victorian bedroom, reputedly one of the largest in Europe, and relax in a vast four poster bed.
The house is occasionally used as a film location, last summer, Keira Knightley and Colin Farrell filmed the crime drama London Boulevard here, which is due for release this September. Pop videos have also been shot here for Victoria Beckham, Mel C and The Darkness, not forgetting scenes from Led Zeppelin’s epic The Song Remains the Same. The house can accommodate such diverse scenes as derelict interiors, Georgian formal stately rooms and romantic, atmospheric woodland, even offering a supply of army tanks and vehicles!

Hammerwood is open to the public from early June to late September and the family offer guided tours on Saturdays, Wednesdays and Bank Holidays. Private visits can be arranged at other times and school visits are welcomed. During a musical tour, children can be taught how sounds are made through pipe organs and Hammond organs, while natural harmonics are demonstrated with an Aeolian harp and an Alpenhorn. A Victorian Period tour examines how people lived, from aural recollections recorded by the Pinnegar Family. During a Greek Tour, David explains the copy of the Parthenon Frieze and involves children by encouraging them to take the role of Greek Gods and debates relevant contemporary issues by deciphering the Frieze.

Concerts are organised each month, often on a Wednesday evening or Saturday afternoon and are held in the Library. Piano recitals, string duets, choral works and organ recitals are performed and each summer a full orchestra plays in the Staircase Hall. The house is also used for sound recording projects because of its wide range of acoustics and instruments. David is keen to emphasise his vision of the house as a place for community cohesion: “Hammerwood is more than restoring stones and enjoying concerts. It is about how we live, what we do and how we think.”

As I left this hidden gem of a house, the words of Latrobe, whose portrait watches over the concert room, seemed to embody the ongoing fascination of the place: ‘qui la cerca La Troba’ – he who seeks shall find. ■

Hammerwood Park East Grinstead RH19 3QE
Hammerwood Park can be found 3.5 miles east of East Grinstead, on the A264 to Tunbridge Wells
For information please call 01342 850 594 or visit www.hammerwood.mistral.co.uk

Mashable Shared Story

HOW TO: Make Your Small Business Geolocation-Ready: http://bit.ly/bTADWC

Burgess Hill Fairtrade Festival

Benefit Gig for Fairtrade and Stop The Traffik on Sunday 7th March:

Billed as Folk, Fairtrade and Freedom it brings together some of the most respected talents in the acoustic and folk music industry. Martin Carthy and Norma Waterson are major figures in the music sector with a music tradition running for 4 decades. Both have been honoured by the Queen for their services and are multi award winners. Chris Wood has been receiving acclaim for his penetrating songs which are a commentary often on life in Britain. In contrast, local singer/songwriter Julie Hall's songs speak of hope and promise. This is a night to savour.

Tickets cost £16.00 and available from the Martlets on 01444 242888

Spring Sunday in East Grinstead

Just to let you know the fantastic Spring Sunday set in the beautiful Historic High Street will be back on Sunday April 11th and this year it is going to be bigger and better !
 
Last year a great day was had by everyone and the feedback from the public was exceptional.  The High Street looked at its very best, and the press and the Town Council ran the story for months afterwards; it was heralded as the nicest and most prestigious event in the Town Calendar.  To top that Sackville College raised more on that day than any other town event ....ever...!
 
We will be running the event again this year and will be inviting the top local attractions to set up stall and promote themselves. On the day our local nurseries will be displaying colour on the High Street steps with their bedding plants & shrubs, local crafts people will be demonstrating their skills and the most prestigious visitor attractions from the surrounding area will be there.
 
Music will play an important part with bands & singers performing all day, and Alan Charman and his vintage bus will once again be ferrying people, free of charge, to see the sights of East Grinstead.
 
This is a great day to show East Grinstead and the Mediaeval High Street at its best.  It is once again being organised by the High Street traders, with the Town Council, the Tourist Office and EGBA offering financial and promotional support.  
 
Any money raised on the day will be given to the Peanut Ward, at QVH.
  
For more information contact Carole Weighill at Threadneedles on 01342 410698, email: carole@threadneedles.co.uk   or Simon Kerr at the Tourism office in the library, email tourism@eastgrinstead.gov.
 

Catch of the day, The Fresh Fish Shop in Haywards Heath

by Lisa de Silva

advertising feature

“The only place you’ll find a greater variety or better quality of fish is in the sea itself,” laughs Sebastian Candelon, owner of The Fresh Fish Shop in Haywards Heath.

Nominated for Shop of the Year by the Sussex Food Awards, suppliers to the region’s leading restaurants and hotels and with a customer base that stretches as far as Lewes, this dynamic fishmonger is fast becoming a destination shop. There’s even been a TV appearance on BBC 2’s Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is. What’s more remarkable is that Sebastian, who grew up catching piranha fish in Venezuela, has achieved all of this in less than three years. “We moved to Sussex when I was 13 years old and after leaving Brighton University with a business degree, I had a whole variety of jobs,” Sebastian tells me. “This shop belonged to my friend’s father and when he decided to give it up, we thought we’d take it on.”

Sebastian discovered not only a passion, but a vocation. After an initially steep learning curve, The Fresh Fish Shop has thrived under his ownership. It now stocks the widest and most mouth-water in selection of fish and seafood in West Sussex and can source just about anything else that’s not on display.

The shop belongs to a growing band of independent retailers offering both outstanding produce and customer service. The team, which includes ex-Jeremy’s chef Tim Jackson and Stephen Walton, all enjoy developing relationships with their customers and are eager to help with recommendations and advice when it comes to choosing and cooking fish.

For some of us, a fish counter can look a bit intimidating, so to help overcome this the shop has introduced a series of cooking demonstrations by local chef Steve Cooke. “Every three months, on a

Friday night, customers can pop in, enjoy a glass of wine and watch how a whole fish is prepped, cooked and dressed, before getting to sample the end result,” explains Sebastian. “It’s a great way to help people feel more confident about trying something new.”

The demonstrations are filmed and the plan is to play them in-store for those not able to get to the event itself. There are also recipe cards in the pipeline and an array of cookery books for customers to browse through.

This high level of customer service also extends to free home delivery for those within a 15 mile radius of the shop. And because it’s important to see what you’re ordering, Sebastian is planning a webcam for the shop with a live feed to the website. This means customers can log on and choose the actual fish they want to buy.

With commuter friendly opening hours, until 7.30pm Tuesday to Friday, and selling everything you need to dress your fish – French garlic, smoked garlic, shallots and lemons – The Fresh Fish Shop is rightfully proud of its growing reputation for quality produce and friendly service.

As one regular customer told me: “I love coming here, it’s fantastic. The fish you buy here is in a completely different league to anywhere else!”

“The only place you’ll find a greater variety or better quality of fish is in the sea itself,” laughs Sebastian Candelon, owner of The Fresh Fish Shop in Haywards Heath.

The Fresh Fish Shop
Commercial Square, Haywards Heath RH16 1EA
Tel: 01444 451830
www.thefreshfishshop.com

St Peter & St James Hospice, Chailey: A Midsummer Night's Dream

From 16th to 26th June 2010, Players in the Park will be presenting William Shakespeare’s enchanting comedy A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Wivelsden Farm, Wivelsfield,) in aid of St Peter & St James Hospice.

Open auditions are taking place at Sunday, 14th March at The Community Room, 38 Church Road, BURGESS HILL (behind Lloyds bank), 2-6pm.
For an audition pack and further information about Players In The Park and how you can be involved in this project, please contact Cathryn or Geoff on 01444 258177 or by email at loneoakgeo@aol.com <loneoakgeo@aol.com>
For further information and booking tickets visit the website www.stpeter-stjames.org.uk or phone 01444 258177, 24 hour answerphone.

St Peter & St James Hospice, Chailey: Midsummer Night’s Dream

A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Between the 16th and 26th June 2010 Players in the Park will be presenting William Shakespeare’s enchanting comedy A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Wivelsden Farm, Wivelsfield, nightly at 7.30pm (except Sunday) in aid of St Peter & St James Hospice.

Art thou mad? We hear thee quoth! Open-air theatre? In England?? In the summertime??? But trouble thee not, all our Lords, Ladies and commoners alike will be sheltered from the rough elements and ill-tempered winds by covered seating, thus both ruff and codpiece shall remain dry! So come and enjoy a magical evening in the heart of the Sussex countryside and take the opportunity to swell the hospice coffers at the same time.

For further information and booking tickets visit the website www.stpeter-stjames.org.uk or phone 01444 258177, 24 hour answerphone.

Thought for today

I have the right to be direct about what I'm thinking or feeling.

I don't have to play games with people, expect them to read my mind, or communicate with looks or hints. I can speak directly and to the point about whatever I want or need to say. As long as I say what I mean without being mean, I always have the right to express my opinions, likes and dislikes, needs, and feelings. How the other person receives this information is up to him or her.

I can't be responsible for how others feel about what I say, I can only do my best to express myself in the best way I can, with openness and directness.

Haywards Heath Business Association: Buzz Burning Breakfast!

WHERE: Orange Square, The Broadway
WHEN: Wednesday, 24th February 2010 ; 7.30 – 8.45am
CHOOSE: Full English Or Healthy Haywards Heath (Fresh Fruit, Muesli, Yoghurt) Breakfast*
SPEAK: Breakfast Buzz 60 seconds: 30 seconds about you; 30 seconds on your burning business issue
WIN: A super prize when you beat all comers with your knowledge about Haywards Heath in our special Breakfast Quiz

BOOK NOW:
Price: Members - £8
Non-Members - £13

Payments must be made at the time of booking and prior to the event.
You can book and pay online at www.hhdba.co.uk
or by cheque or BACS; call us on 01444 453399 for more details.
* Healthy Haywards Heath Breakfast only available by special order, please email SSell@csgconsult.com

Wine Tasting at Porsche Centre Mid Sussex In aid of Spark 's The Children’s Medical Research Charit

We have magic, we have wine, we have chocolate

Only £20 for Wine Chocolate and Magic

In aid of Spark's Charity: Perfect recipe for a great evening!
Being original is what we do best

Join us for: World Wine Tasting - Chocolate Appreciation and Tasting - Magic
In aid of Spark 's The Children’s Medical Research Charity

We are raising funds. To help all babies and children be born healthy and stay healthy


Thursday 25th February 2010: 6.30pm to 9.30pm
Porsche Centre Mid Sussex, Innovation Drive, York Road, Burgess Hill, West Sussex RH15 9TW

This will be the most magical event of the year for you, partners may enjoy it too!
If you book before 18th February 2010 Save £5
This is an exclusive event so book early and really learn about how to make your work fun!

Wonderful raffle prizes to be won
A hamper from Laithwaites wine suppliers
A special donation from Porche Centre

and much more

If you want free publicity
donate a raffle prize to 50 other people in the room
book now by credit card on 01342 770582

This is your special offer: 4 superb wine samples or limitless soft drinks; canapes; chocolate samples available to taste and buy on the night!
MAGIC close up
This is what you call a serious networking event

Contact info@winentwine.co.uk today
We believe that promoting your business is important, so why not ask us about our special corporate entertaining or sponsoring events

What's on in the next few days from South Downs Living magazine

Friday 19, 14.30 and 18.30
Alice in Wonderland, Chequer Mead Arts Centre, East Grinstead.
See Thursday 18 for details.

Saturday 20, 10:00
Paws and Claws Coffee Morning. Balcombe Parish Room.
Contact 01273 831125.

Saturday 20, 10:30
Sussex Wildlife Trust: Woodcraft Skills Day For Parent and Child. Woods Mill, Henfield.
Work together and develop a range of woodcraft skills on this one-day course for parents or carers with a child aged 10 and above. Activities include fire lighting, using tools to make items from greenwood and working with other natural materials. Vegetable soup provided, but please bring your own lunch. A campfire is available to cook your own food if you wish. Robust outdoor clothing recommended. Members: Adults £10 /children £10. Non-members: Adults £15 /children £15. Booking essential. Please ring 01273 497561.

Saturday 20, 14.30 and 18.30
Alice in Wonderland, Chequer Mead Arts Centre, East Grinstead.
See Thursday 18 for details.

Sunday 21, 09:00
Brighton Half Marathon. Brighton Seafront.
Started by the local running clubs of Brighton & Hove back in 1990, the event is now organised by The Sussex Beacon, a Brighton based clinical care centre for men and women living with HIV/ Aids.
With a route that encompasses all the fantastic aspects of Brighton & Hove it is an event not to be missed whether you are competing or just watching. If you’re running the race why not raise money for charity at the same time? Half Marathon Enquiry Line: 01273 645 697.

Sunday 21, 10:00
Mid Sussex Ramblers. Chanctonbury and South Downs Way.
10 mile circular walk via Chanctonbury Ring and Washington (Pub lunch at Frankland Arms or picnic). No dogs please. Leader: Alison G.
Tel: 01273 833794

Monday 22, 20:00
Mid Sussex Camera Club. The Mid Sussex (South) CVS (Community Room, Upstairs), 38 Church Road, Burgess Hill, RH15 9AE.
Digital talk, more wacky digital ideas – Jack Casement. Details at www.midsussexcc.org.uk or by contacting the Club General Secretary on 01444 870416.

Claire’s Coffee Shop, Poynings, Sussex loves South Downs Living

Dear Roger,

I am finally taking the time out to put pen to paper to thank your wonderful team for all their hard work and support over the past year at South Downs Living.

It has been a difficult year for all of us and I was apprehensive to spend additional money on my advertising this year, however with the professional expertise and confidence of Sonya, I decided to spend an additional 40% on a one-off advertorial. It was one of the best decisions I made this year. We received an additional £2,000 worth of business in the first month (that’s a lot of pots of tea/coffee) and I am still receiving positive comments about the ad placed over 4 months ago.

It never feels hard work dealing with your team and I feel, although my budget is small compared to many or your customers, Sonya and Lee always take the time out to ensure I am happy with my advertising. You really have a great magazine, Roger, of which I am proud to say that I am a part of.

Kind regards,

Claire Burgin
Managing Director, Claire’s Coffee Shop
Rushfields Garden Centre, Poynings Sussex
01273 857550

10^th December 2009

Paws and Claws Coffee Morning, Balcombe Parish Room

Coffee morning, Balcombe Parish Room. 10-12 Saturday 20th February

We are Paws and Claws Animal Rescue Service a small cat rescue charity, founded in 1977. We cover the Mid- Sussex area. Apart from four paid staff, necessary to run our rescue centre, all our helpers and fund raisers do so on a purely voluntary basis.

Devoted to rescuing, re-habilitating and re-homing lost and abandoned cats
encouraging spaying & neutering to avoid unwanted kittens
helping with vet’s fees in cases of genuine hardship
providing quarters for old and difficult to home cats
NO CAT IS EVER PUT TO SLEEP EXCEPT ON VETERINARY ADVICE
www.pawsandclaws-ars.org.uk

An evening of Coarse Acting at Wivelsfield Little Theatre

How to wreck an Amateur Dramatic Society?  Sometimes defined as 'one who can remember his lines, but not the order in which they come'. This will be an evening of dry wit, fun and will have the audience in hysterics.

The thriving Wivelsfield Little Theatre, which plays to packed houses, are performing three one-act plays from Michael Green's 'The Art of Course Acting' :
* Pride at Southanger Park
* Julius and Cleopatra
* Stalag 69

Performances Thurs 22 April, to Sat 24 April
7.00pm for 7.30pm
at Wivelsfield Village Hall

Licensed Bar
Ample free parking, easy to get to location

Tickets £7 will be available from 22 March 2010, visit www.wivelsfieldlittletheatre.co.uk <http://www.wivelsfieldlittletheatre.co.uk>  for details.

All new East Grinstead Library

The new look East Grinstead Library opened on 16th February, following a major re-furbishment and modernisation. Access has been improved with new automatic doors leading to a spacious and welcoming entrance area. The previous separate counter sections are now combined into one, opening up the ground floor. Self-service terminals are available to quickly return, borrow and renew books  – with the familiar friendly staff on hand to get you started!

Staff on this floor can help with any library enquiries, Help Point information on any council services and Tourist Information. There is even a Children and Family Centre providing advice, information and support to all young families. The new brighter looking children’s library is also now on the ground floor and a buggy park has been provided.

Large Print books and Audio Books are next to the library garden.

Taking the lift or stairs to the first floor brings you to the main lending selection of books for Fiction and Information and a whole new look for the Teen Area, chosen with help from local teenagers. DVDs and CDs are now found in the Sound & Vision area on this floor along with computers for public use.

If you would like more information or would like to use one of the meetings rooms or book some exhibition space in the library, please ask a member of staff, or phone 01342 410050.

Look in the library and online at www.westsussex.gov.uk <http://www.westsussex.gov.uk>   for lists of events taking place in the library. Regular events include:
Mondays 11.00-11.30            Toddler Time (3-5 years)
Wednesdays 11.00-11.30       Baby Rhyme Time (under 3 years)
Saturdays 10.0-12.30             Town Twinning Coffee Morning


Photograph: Simon Kerr

Henfield Garden Club – Happy 10th Birthday!

by Ann Armstrong. Reproduced from South Downs Living magazine February 2010.

A group of friends were talking over coffee and one person said: “What this village needs is a friendly garden club – why don’t we start one?” So we booked a hall, advertised around the village and hoped that perhaps 40 or 50 like-minded folk might turn up. 140 people attended and we ran out of wine glasses! That was 10 years ago.

It became clear that there was a need for a friendly, social, non-competitive group where those interested in gardens and gardening could meet and enjoy lectures, garden visits and make new friends. Within weeks we had 150 signed up members.

Success brought its own problems as the Free Church hall, though ideal in every other way, was too small and reluctantly we had to close the membership list until we were able to move to larger premises at the Henfield Hall.

Dedicated and enthusiastic committee members continue to come up with ideas for summer outings and socials in members’ gardens. We thoroughly enjoyed outings to the famous gardens of Prince Charles, Beth Chatto and Christopher Lloyd and who can ever forget Mick Harris in his role as auctioneer one lovely warm summer evening in a member’s garden in Henfield?

During the winter months we enjoy listening to visiting speakers and have had many excellent talks. Gardening Which? magazine ran an article after visiting us in 2001 and we arranged our very own Gardeners’ Question Time.

We continue to be involved in village activities such as the Gardens and Arts and Henfield Show and have restored and maintained the rose arbour in the churchyard and the planters outside the bank in the High Street.

In June 2005 we organised our first Garden Club holiday to North Yorkshire and had a wonderful time admiring some of the lovely gardens there. A personal favourite was Barnsdale, the garden of the late Geoff Hamilton, which was even better than it had looked on TV, despite the pouring rain. This holiday was such a success that members asked for more and we followed with trips to Suffolk in 2007 and the Cotswolds in 2009. In May 2010 we’re off to Devon. Arranging these holidays involves a huge amount of planning and organisation and we are very grateful to those who happily take on this task.
We decided to mark our 10th anniversary with a special speaker: Pippa Greenwood is coming to speak to us in April so do look out for more details nearer the time.

We aim to provide a warm friendly atmosphere where no-one worries if you don’t know your anthurium from your antirrhinum – or even how to spell them! Anyone interested in gardening is very welcome to join. ■

Henfield Garden Club
If you would like to know more, call Ann Garmston, Membership Secretary, on 01273 494545.

What's on in the next few days from South Downs Living

Wednesday 17, 11:00
Sussex Wildlife Trust: Natural Art at Woods Mill, Henfield.
Walk through the woods collecting natural materials to create wooden models to take home. Take part in a shape trail and make a giant sculpture for everyone to see. All children must be accompanied by an adult. Members: Adults £4 /children £5 /family ticket £12.50. Non-members: Adults £5 /children £6 /family ticket £17.50.
Booking essential, please
ring 01273 497561.

Wednesday 17, 11.00-16.00
Garden Opening for the National Garden Scheme: Pembury House, New Road, Clayton, Hassocks, BN6 9PH.
See page 45 for details.
Contact 01273 842805 or visit www.pemburyhouse.co.uk.

Thursday 18, 11.00-16.00
Garden Opening for the National Garden Scheme: Pembury House, New Road, Clayton, Hassocks, BN6 9PH.
See page 45 for details.

Thursday 18, 19.30
Alice in Wonderland, Chequer Mead Arts Centre, East Grinstead.
Following their previous successes of ‘West Side Story’ and “The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe.’ Act One Beginners return with a new and quirky adaptation bursting with well known songs, weird and colourful characters, outstanding choreography and polished performances. This is definitely a show that will entertain audiences of all ages.
Table reservations for a meal at Cuisine Studio: 01342 324860.
Tickets: £12, senior citizens £10, children £8, family ticket £36 from 01342 302 000,
www.chequermead.org.uk. or www.actonebeginners.co.uk

Mid Sussex Camera Club

The Mid Sussex Camera Club held its 4th Open Monthly photograph competition of the season last Monday evening (08/02/2010) at the CVS Centre in Burgess Hill.
As usual the event was very well attended on the night and there were plenty of entries to be judged. The judge for this event was Liz Boud.
There were 2 classes of entry, intermediate and advanced submitting, prints and projected images.
 
Maximum points were awarded to the following members.
 
Prints (intermediate class)
Neil Leighton, Wolstanbury Hill
Neil Leighton, Tree in the Mist
 
Prints (advanced class)
Jim Hunter, Making a Stand
Alec Pelham, Mock Bridge over the Adur at Shermanbury
Charles Hobley, Cardoon Seeds

Projected Images (intermediate)
Ray Leaney, US Air Museum, Duxford
Mike Rump, Scottish Wild Cat

Projected Images (advanced)
Bryan Roberts, Frost
Charles Hobley, The End of the Pier Show.
 
Congratulations to all entrants for making the evening such a success.
 
For more information on the Mid Sussex Camera Club please visit our club website at http://www.midsussexcc.org.uk

Fletching Village Garden Trail June 13th 2010

The award winning Fletching village in East Sussex will hosts is annual Garden Trail on Sunday 13th June 2010 from 11am. Fletching is just down the road from Sheffield Park National Trust Gardens and the Bluebell Railway.

The Trail was established in 1992 to raise funds for the local Fletching CE Primary School and has become one of the famous local events on the gardening calendar, attracting people from all across the south east to see the village’s private gardens.

Some gardens also participate in the National Garden Scheme, including the exquisite Clinton Lodge garden, a grand 18th century house with a 17th century style scented herb garden and vine and rose allee and wild flower garden. One garden also benefits from its own Astronomical Observatory.

This year there will also be an Art exhibition in the Village Hall by the Chailey and Newick Painting Group. Many framed, and unframed paintings will be for sale as well as handmade greetings cards.  There will also be the opportunity to win an original watercolour by the group's Show Secretary, Lorna Holdcroft BA Hons in a separate raffle at the hall.

With over 20 gardens participating this year, it promises to be bigger than ever. Last year’s highest ever attendance stood at 475 entrants to the gardens and over £5000 was raised. Additional parking facilities will be provided by local farmers and delicious home made lunches will be served in one of the privately owned gardens. Locally produced goods and plants will also be available for purchase.

Tickets can be purchased from the school on the day.

All funds raised will directly benefit the children of Fletching CE Primary School.

For further information please telephone 01825 724080.

Clare Topham Interior Design, Sussex

OUR ESSENCE

We are passionate aboutt creating innovative interiors that our clients will love.

We achieve this by taking the time to understand your tastes and the function of the space we are designing. We combine this with our creative talent, design skills and enthusiasm to create a unique interior design that is inspirational yet practical.

We are happy to work in contemporary or classic styles and enjoy combining old and new in an eclectic mix; we work hard to create seamless interiors that are sympathetic to the building they are within.

Our design emphasis is on colour, texture, space and form: we liaise closely with you to find key pieces or design elements that will personally characterise your environment.

Interior Designer Clare Topham is based in Brighton and Hove and covers Sussex and the South East of England.

www.claretopham.com

Mother's Day at Barnsgate Manor

MOTHERING SUNDAY
LUNCH
Sunday 14th March 2010

Glass of Bucks Fizz on Arrival

~**~

Carrot, Orange & Ginger Soup (v)
~or~
Smoked Mackerel, Potato  & Caper Salad
 Pea Shoots & Cider Dressing

~or~
Pea & Spring Onion Tarts (v)
~or~
Chicken Liver Parfait
with Homemade Chutney

~**~

Grilled Lemon Sole
Served with Wild Garlic Sauce
~or~
Roast Sirloin of Local Beef
With Yorkshire Pudding & Horseradish Sauce

~or~
Broad Bean & Asparagus Risotto (v)
~or~
Baked Chicken Breast Marinated in
Thyme, Garlic & Lemon,
with Cherry Tomato Compote


~**~

Selection of Homemade Desserts
~**~
Fresh Filter Coffee or Tea & Mints

£27.00 per person inclusive of VAT
Gratuities at your discretion


Barnsgate Manor Vineyard
Herons Ghyll, Nr Uckfield, East Sussex.  TN22 4DB
01825-713366
info@barnsgate.co.uk

Easter at Barnsgate Manor

 EASTER SUNDAY
LUNCH
Sunday 4th April 2010

A Glass of Bucks Fizz on Arrival

~Starters~

Pea & Spring Onion Soup
~or~
Smoked Mackerel & Leek Tart
~or~
Cured Ham, Buffalo Mozzarella,
Sun Blushed Tomatoes & Pesto Dressing
~or~
Melon & Pineapple Salad

~Main Courses~

Roast Sirloin of Beef
Yorkshire Pudding and Horseradish Sauce
~or~
Baked Salmon with or without Chorizo & Pea Salsa
~or~
Slow Roast Belly of Pork
with Apple & Sage Sauce

~or~

Vegetarian Options
Ratatouille Crumble
~or~
Butternut, Ricotta & Spinach Risotto

~**~

Selection of  Homemade Desserts
 ~**~

Fresh Filter Coffee or Tea & Mints

Price : £26.00 per person including VAT

Barnsgate Manor Vineyard
Herons Ghyll, Nr Uckfield, East Sussex.  TN22 4DB
01825-713366 info@barnsgate.co.uk

Yummy Mummy Pamper Day at Goldilocks in Handcross

Goldilocks and the Three Bears help Yummy Mummies raise money for children with cancer.

Goldilocks Hair and Beauty in the village of Handcross, will be hosting a Yummy Mummy Pamper Day on 8th March.  This fundraising event is part of Yummy Mummy Week, organised by charity CLIC Sargent to care for children with cancer.

Yummy Mummy’s will be arriving in their groups of friends, to have either a blow dry or a nail file and polish, whilst the children play in 'The Three Bears Cottage', a specially converted playhouse at the bottom of the salon’s private garden. The children will be supervised by the other Mummy's, who will be provided with pots of tea and cake until they have all had their turn at being pampered.

The price for each Yummy Mummy will be a special rate of £15 and Goldilocks will be donating a 50% of the profits raised during the day.

Goldilocks run regular Yummy Mummy Mornings, every morning until 12:00, so if you would like to book an appointment for other hair and beauty treatments and take advantage of the facilities, whilst raising money for the Charity, Goldilocks will be donating a percentage of profits for one month after the event.

To book an appointment for you and a minimum of 4 of your friends on the pamper day or one of the regular ‘Yummy Mummy Mornings’ at the Salon please call 01444 400 323.