AAH (All About Horsham) November 2020

NOVEMBER 2020

OPEN MORNING www.christs-hospital.org.uk

NOVEMBER 2020 EDITION The November 2020 cover features Oscar Vallance of Cocoon Bars, serving a cocktail.

Oscar took his mobile bicycle bar to the Studio at The Capitol, where he recently hosted cocktail a masterclass for staff and plans to hold further events. Toby used his photographic lights for the shot, using a stage curtain as a backdrop.

Also on the shortlist for the cover were Tom Scanlon at Nuthurst Orchards and Ian Straw, Headteacher at Forest School, which will be co-educational from September 2021.

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NEWS ROUND-UP First harvest of the vineyard at Leonardslee, whilst St Catherine’s Hospice announces Midnight Walk

18 POPPIES The ladies of Trafalgar Road Baptist Church spent lockdown knitting poppies for Remembrance Sunday

20 MUSIC

40 BAKING Clare Francis has built a reputation for her impressive sculptural cakes, made in an adapted caravan

44 KEEP IT LOCAL Horsham District Council has initiatives to support and promote local independent businesses

46 COCKTAILS

Stane Street Sinfonietta, conducted

by Steve Dummer, has performed live music at St Mary’s Church

27 SCHOOLS

Cocoon Bars, founded by Oscar Vallance, ran cocktail masterclasses that proved a hit during lockdown

50 FOOD & DRINK

Forest Headteacher Ian Straw explains why the school is becoming co-educational.

35 EDUCATION

Cider business Nuthurst Orchards is run by husband and wife Tom and Chesca Scanlon

55 BUSINESS

A Horsham tuition hub is helping home-schooled pupils and offers after-school support too.

Trimbio has diversified due to Covid, offering PPE to individuals as well as businesses

AAH MAGAZINE AAH (All About Horsham) is an independent monthly magazine, owned by Ben Morris, a life-long resident of the Horsham District. It is distributed to doors and pick-up points around the District. Toby Phillips is an independent local photographer available for all commercial work.

ADVERTISING: BEN MORRIS Email: advertising@aahorsham.co.uk (01903) 892899

Advertising rates Eighth Page Advert: £55 + VAT (93mm x 63mm) Quarter Page Advert: £110 + VAT (93mm x 133mm) Half Page Advert: £185 + VAT (190mm x 133mm) Full Page Advert: £310 + VAT Double Page Advert: £520 + VAT We have an long-term offer, with every sixth advert placed free of charge, like a coffee shop.

We can also design adverts if you need help, at no extra charge.

For more details, email: advertising@aahorsham.co.uk or call Ben on (01903) 892899

PHOTOGRAPHY: TOBY PHILLIPS www.tobyphillipsphotography.co.uk Email: info@tobyphillipsphotography.co.uk Mob: 07968 795625 Toby works for AAH on a freelance basis and is available for all kinds of photography, from portrait work to corporate shoots.

DOOR-TO-DOOR DISTRIBUTION TEAM Horsham: Jacquie Paterson, The Judd family, The Rollingson family, George Voisey, Katie Drysdale, George Williams, Sam Lucas, The Garner family, Jill Shuker, The Bloomfield family, The Arliss family, Charlotte Wellbelove, The Gavira Family, The Dold Family, The Morrison family.

WEBSITE www.aahorsham.co.uk We publish AAH online every month. You can read archive editions too and many of our past features.

Southwater: The Brown family, Tassia Chapman Villages: Nathan Williams (Mannings Heath); Lynsey Hare (Billingshurst), Harry Kent (Ashington), Derek Bradnum (Nuthurst) Ben Morris (Stands), Oak Tree Farm Care (Maplehurst & Copsale); The Palmer family (Broadbridge Heath) Amy Butler (Wickhurst Green) James Hobbs (Thakeham), Tom Matthews (Storrington)

EDITOR: BEN MORRIS Email: editor@aahorsham.co.uk Tel: (01903) 892899 Address: AAH Magazine, 2 Viney Close, Ashington, West Sussex, RH20 3PT

ADVERTISING IN AAH The magazine is delivered to approx. 13,000 homes in Horsham, Southwater and villages including Broadbridge Heath, Mannings Heath, Billingshurst and new estates at Highwood and Wickhurst Green.

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PICK UP POINTS & STANDS Thousands of copies of AAH are available at businesses, clubs, organisations and community centres across the district.

Horsham: Henry Adams (Carfax), Crates Local (Carfax) Pavilions in the Park, Horsham Rail Station, New House Farm, New Street Butchers, At Home Estate Agents (Caterways), The Holbrook Club.

Village Stands: Billingshurst Leisure Centre, Coco’s (Billingshurst) Barns Green Village Store, Bluecoat Sports (Christ’s Hospital), Leonardslee (Lower Beeding), Warnham Village Stores (Warnham), Slinfold Stores and Slinfold Golf Club (Slinfold), Steyning Leisure Centre and Cobblestone Walk (Steyning) Spring Gardens Nursery (Washington) Nisa Local (West Chiltington) and Joanna’s Boutique Tearooms (Storrington) Stands at CoCo’s (Southwater) Horsham Museum, Swan Walk & The Bridge Leisure Centre (Broadbridge Heath) are currently inaccessible due to Covid-19 restrictions in place.

LEAFLETS We can deliver leaflets with AAH. Email: editor@aahorsham.co.uk £40 + VAT per 1,000 copies (£45 for A4 leaflets) NOTES A new AAH stand is now in place at Slinfold Golf & Country Club.

The Williams family, who have delivered AAH to Dutchells Copse for many years, have stopped the round, with both their boys now at university. We thank the family for all their hard work!

We also thank Sam Lucas for his great efforts.

Sam has delivered in Irwin Drive and Guildford Road for 18 months and has found a new job.

Notes from the Editor

Penny Pinching and Pop-Up Lanes

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n recent years, local authorities have become used to penny pinching.

As budgets are continually squeezed at District and County Councils, it tightens the strain on the community services they provide. It must be an uncomfortable working environment at times, knowing that more cuts are always just around the corner.

Colleagues will lose their jobs; vulnerable people will lose services they depend on; events enjoyed by thousands will be curtailed. And morale no doubt takes a further knock when those cuts are not enough, and the council is then criticised by residents or those of us in the media by raising the price of parking or charging for waste collection.

So, in these days when every Council department must justify every penny, it must be enraging when the Government plucks astonishing sums of money out of thin air for nonsense schemes. I’m talking about the pop-up cycle lanes.

The County Council was awarded £781,000 for seven pop-up lanes in West Sussex, one of which is the 0.9 mile section in the centre of Horsham. This is from the princely sum of £225million the Government allocated to “relocate road space” as part of an “emergency active travel fund package”.

The Horsham Ring Road scheme follows a 0.9km section from Worthing Road to Madeira Avenue, with a protected cycle lane provided by reallocating one of the two lanes on the north/eastbound carriageway.

No doubt this was done with the best of intentions. Certainly, the vision of hordes of cyclists riding into town and placing fresh groceries in little wicker baskets on the front of their bikes is an appealing one. In my vision, there are no puddles on the road. In fact, the sun is shining!

Sadly, that’s not the reality. What we have seen is cars queuing bumper-to-bumper on a single lane, with motorists banging their fists against the steering wheel because it’s taken them ten minutes to negotiate a half mile stretch of road due to a pop-up cycle lane with no cyclists on it. Which gives all those drivers plenty of time to wonder how a few orange bollards could cost in the region of £100,000. I’m in the wrong game!

Some have defended the scheme and have raised excellent points. Yes, we should promote cycling for its health benefits, and encourage people to ride to work, and think about using cars less. Of course, we should!

But to encourage and grow a cycling culture will require more than a row of bollards and a few painted zones at traffic lights. We’d need to make all the gateways into town safer and more appealing for riders, with traffic calming measures and designated lanes for cyclists and pedestrians.

Before that was to happen, we’d need to find out if it was worth the effort. Are there enough people working in the town or based centrally to warrant such investment?

Or is Horsham not that kind of place? Do too many of its residents work elsewhere, such as Gatwick or London? I would suggest

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the latter is true. Perhaps if Horsham’s proposed university campus had materialised, things might have been different. But it didn’t.

Nobody ever suggested that Horsham could become an Amsterdam or Copenhagen, with thousands of people pedalling along beautiful canals. So, it would be unfair to be overly critical of anyone who mooted the pop-up lane idea and tried to make a small yet positive difference. But in Horsham, the scheme hasn’t been money well spent.

If it was meant to help local businesses recover, you could argue it’s done the opposite. Why go to Waitrose when it’ll take ages to get in the car park? If it was meant to significantly increase the number of cyclists in town, the weather has put paid to that hope. Traffic flow data will surely confirm as much. That is being collected and will be used to help determine whether the schemes across the County should be adjusted, removed or made permanent.

In my case, I hope traffic flow data can’t lip read…

The County Council welcomes feedback to the Pop-Up Cycle lanes. Have your say at: https://haveyoursay.westsussex.gov.uk/ highways-and-transport/eatfhorsham

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NEWS ROUND-UP

MONTHLY NEWS FROM AROUND THE HORSHAM DISTRICT

Barry Anderson, Managing Director of Mannings Heath Golf and Wine Estate, oversees the harvesting at Leonardslee (©Leonardslee Lakes and Gardens)

Production is being overseen by cellar master Johann Fourie, who recently won a series of awards for Benguela Cove Lagoon wine estate.

The Grade I listed Leonardslee Lakes and Gardens is managed by Penny’s son Adam Streeter and has made huge strides since re-opening in 2019, with Restaurant Interlude winning a Michelin star under South African chef Jean Delport. www.leonardsleegardens.co.uk

Perfect weather during lockdown has helped Bolney Wine Estate produce a bumper crop, with 235 tonnes of grapes estimated to produce 190,000 bottles at the award-winning vineyard. A third-generation family business, Bolney has produced wine since 1972 and is now led by Sam Linter. Sam believes this year’s early harvest will make 2020 a good year for English wines. Bolney’s range includes white, red, rose and sparkling wines, including a unique sparkling red. The vineyard grows Pinot Meunier, Pinot Noir, Bacchus, Chardonnay and lesser known but exciting varieties including Rondo. https://bolneywineestate.com

The Thursday Market returned to the Carfax in Horsham on 1 October. After feedback from stallholders and the public, a selection of street food and fresh produce stalls occupied the area around the bandstand every Thursday in October.

If successful, market operator Food Rocks hopes to extend the trial. Food Rocks Director, Simon Teasdale said: “With so many people working from home, we are encouraging workers to have a break and pop in to town for some hot street food offers and fresh local produce.” Some traders now offer click and collect and an early evening takeaway menu. Pre-order at www.horshammarkets.co.uk

Horsham Market has announced its Christmas Market dates. A Sunday market will operate on 29 November and 20 December (10am 4pm) with a Christmas market on Saturday 5, 12 and 19 December (9am - 4pm). There will also be a Christmas market on Friday 18 December (9am - 4pm) and Thursday 24 December (9am - 2pm). The market will be closed between Christmas and New Year, with the first market of 2021 on Saturday 2 January.

For traders interested in having a stall on the Christmas market, visit https://foodrockssouth.co.uk/horshammarkets-at-christmas/

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©Toby Phillips/AAH

Mannings Heath Golf and Wine Estate, also owned by Penny Streeter OBE, form part of the Benguela Collection, along with the Benguela Cove Wine Estate in South Africa’s Walker Bay. The two Horsham sites will mainly be used for growing Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier.

This season, the vineyards produced an estimated 5,000 litres of grape juice, enough for about 6,500 bottles. It is expected that the first release of wine from the two estates will be ready in 2023.

©Toby Phillips/AAH

Leonardslee Lakes and Gardens celebrated the first harvest of its vineyard on 9 October.

Members and guests picked grapes from a small experimental planting of Pinotage (believed to be the first in the UK) which will be used to make red wine. The estate’s wine-makers will use this to evaluate growing conditions for Pinotage (a cross between Cinsaut and Pinot Noir) in West Sussex. The 15 hectares of vineyards at Leonardslee and its sister site at

Horsham District Council is urging the public to pay tribute to the fallen by staying at home. For the first time, there will not be a public annual Remembrance Sunday service in Horsham’s Carfax. Instead, a small representation of the community will take part in a socially distanced, closed wreath laying ceremony, which will be shared on 11 November online at horsham.gov.uk/ horshamremembersathome

St Catherine’s Hospice Midnight Walk 2019

The new play area at Horsham Park was put through its paces on 16 October, as pupils from Kingslea Primary School tested out the adventure trail and play equipment ahead of its opening. The improved facilities opened on 24 October, in time for the half-term holidays. The area alongside the Pavilions in the Park car park includes sprawling net play structures to take children on an adventure up to a tree house. Other features include a hammock and wind chimes. In a further boost, Horsham Park has been recognised by the international Green Flag Award Scheme as one of the best green spaces in the UK.

After postponing the original Midnight Walk in June, St Catherine’s Hospice is thrilled to announce that the event will now take place on Saturday 12 December, from 4pm.

This year, the community can’t walk through Horsham together, so the Midnight Walk will be different, but no less special.

The hospice is calling on people to get together with a small group of friends and family and walk 2, 7, 13 or 20-mile ‘Midnight Walks’. STCH will send everything you need to take part and fundraise safely and on the night staff will set you off in style with a special Facebook Live pre-walk celebration

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including entertainment, inspiration and a virtual warm-up. Every step you take will be special, because you’ll be remembering people you love and supporting the local hospice.

To help bring everyone together and to collectively honour all those loved and missed, the hospice has set up a virtual Memory Wall where walkers are encouraged to share a story, picture or thought about someone they’re walking for.

Sign up at www.stch.org.uk/midnightwalk or call (01293) 447355 to register over the phone.

Jack Lane and David Benson present A Christmas Carol at The Capitol (©Toby Phillips/AAH)

The Capitol in Horsham has been awarded £182,000 as part of the Government’s £1.57billion Culture Recovery Fund (CRF). It is one of 1,385 cultural and creative organisations across the UK to receive support in the first round of the CRF grants administered by Arts Council England. Cllr Jonathan Chowen, Cabinet Member for Leisure and Culture at HDC, said: “This funding will support our live performance offering at The Capitol in these unprecedented times for live theatre.”

The venue re-opened in July, as soon as it was viable and safe to do so. The Christmas programme includes an adaptation of the Dickens classic A Christmas Carol and family production Santa’s New Sleigh. www.thecapitolhorsham.com Dame Judi Dench gave her support for The Capitol in Horsham via a video post on Twitter. The actress, who lives in Surrey, encouraged people to support the Arts by visiting the theatre, which is now screening films and hosting live performances with Covid-19 safety measures in place.

Dame Judi said: “We’ve all been affected by the Coronavirus and the Arts have been affected very badly.”

As part of The Rec Rooms Jazz and Blues Sessions, Dom Pipkin and the Ikos perform on Friday 20 November.

Alongside Allen Toussaint, he leads an all-star band in a night of deep funk. He started playing blues in Errol Linton’s band in the 1990s and also plays keyboard with trip-hop pioneers Morcheeba. For tickets visit https://therecrooms.com

(©Rebecca Miller)

Classical Brit nominated singer, actress and West End star Cassidy Janson performs an exclusive show at The Capitol on Thursday 17 December. Ahead of a national tour, the Olivier Award winner presents Cassidy Janson: It All Happened in Laurel Canyon alongside a live band.

The show tells the story of the Laurel Canyon music scene that saw the emergence of artists including Carole King, James Taylor and Carly Simon.

Tickets £23.50 from (01403) 750220 or www.thecapitolhorsham.com

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Andrew Woodfield with his toy theatre collection at Steyning Museum

Images by Victorian photographer Thomas Honywood (©HDC’s Horsham Museum & Art Gallery)

A collection of photographs of Victorian life in Horsham were expected to fetch up to £70,000 at auction on 28 October.

The 70 photos taken by Thomas Honywood date back as far as 1851.

They have been described as “a unique snapshot of Victorian life” and the sale of the private collection by Chiswick Auctions has attracted national media attention. The album is described as “the oldest photographs of southern England that are known to exist” and includes portraits of Horsham residents, as well as buildings and surrounding landscapes.

Thomas Honywood was born in Horsham in 1819 and took up the new art of photography by applying a brilliant artistic eye and marrying it with scientific ingenuity. In doing so, he created images that compare with the best of Victorian photography.

Horsham Museum & Art Gallery has a fantastic archive of his creations, acquired when his son sold the contents of Honywood’s personal museum in the late 1930s. Aside from being a photographer, he also set up the town’s volunteer fire brigade and unearthed the celebrated Horsham Hoard of medieval pottery while improving shop units in West Street.

Steyning Museum re-opened on 16 September. During lockdown, the Museum team collected a record of the pandemic.

As well as recording the thoughts of local people, they gathered leaflets, newspaper articles, poems and photos highlighting how residents spent a unique period in modern history. Visitors can add their thoughts to a new display, which includes a memory cloud. Another new feature is an exhibition of toy theatres. The collection is owned by Andrew Woodfield, Curator of Exhibitions at the Museum. During his childhood, Andrew and his cousins ran a family theatre, which was the springboard for a lifelong passion. The exhibition is on display until mid-January.

The museum is open on Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday at 10am 4pm and Friday at 10am - 1pm.

Covid-19 protocols are in place. www.steyningmuseum.org.uk

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Map showing the current A27 route and the proposed ‘grey route’ to bypass Arundel (©Highways England)

The route of a new A27 Arundel bypass has been announced by Highways England. Five of the six options would have involved the construction of new roads in the South Downs National Park, but the preferred route avoids it.

Horsham District Council welcomed the decision, commenting: “The bypass is much needed, particularly by the southern villages in the Horsham District, as it will reduce congestion, improve air quality and enhance road safety. The current single lane road is a regular bottleneck, with road users often choosing to use surrounding country roads through our villages to avoid traffic queues, which in turn has created rat-running traffic.”

However, Tor Lawrence, Chief Executive of Sussex Wildlife Trust, criticised the bypass.

Writing on the SWT website, Mr Lawrence said:

“Despite significantly cheaper and less damaging options being presented, the ‘grey route’ will cause irreparable damage to our wildlife and the Arun valley floodplain. £450million will buy us an eight kilometre stretch of dual carriageway, largely built on a bund, through Sussex countryside. A wall of headlights, fumes and noise will create a critical barrier for wildlife and compromise endangered species that are already so vulnerable. Anyone who has been following the messages of Sir David Attenborough will know the risk to wildlife that we face and that we are in danger of simply pushing wildlife communities too far. No amount of good intentions and replanting can restore this lost abundance if we carry on with this type of destruction.”

SWT intends to challenge the proposal.

Horsham Rotary Club is asking people to donate toys in good, undamaged condition in the run-up to Christmas. A donation station will be located at the old King & Chasemore building at 13 Carfax on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 12 November - 19 December, 10am – 4pm.

Soft toys cannot be accepted due to Covid restrictions. Toys will be cleaned, wrapped and given to local families that are struggling financially and do not have sufficient funds to buy presents for their children this Christmas. Financial donations (so new toys can be purchased) can be made in the shop or email secretary@horshamrotary.org.uk Cottesmore School in Pease Pottage has been named Prep School of the Year at the Tatler Schools Awards.

The annual award ceremony took place virtually on 6 October, via Tatler Schools’ Instagram TV. Headmaster Tom Rogerson filmed his acceptance speech while on a paddleboard on the school’s lake. To view the speech, visit www.cottesmoreschool.com/wall/

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Under the Leaves by Holly Langdon

The Big Climb by Ivan Gunning

A Secret Bee by Henry Smith

The winners of a photo competition run

by St Margaret’s Church in Warnham have been announced. Using the theme Nature – The Way I See It, the contest attracted entries from young people across the District. As well as cash prizes, winners received a professional print of their photo and a masterclass at Warnham Local Nature Reserve with award-winning wildlife photographer, Sean Collins. Winners were A Secret Bee

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The Real Pie Company is bringing its awardwinning pies back to the high street by opening a shop Cowfold. It fulfils an ambition of Brett Hornby, Managing Director of the familyrun Crawley business, and comes after a surge in demand for their handmade pies and pastries during lockdown. Brett said: “We used to have a retail outlet at our main premises. As the business expanded we needed the space to produce more pies. Since then, I have always wanted to open another shop.” The shop will stock pies, pasties, sausage rolls, sweet treats and Christmas products including turkey pies and boozy mince pies. It opens on Monday 2 November. www.therealpieco.co.uk Run Barns Green is the new name for the Barns Green Half Marathon and 10k races. The event also has a new main sponsor, Architectural Plants in Pulborough. The 2021 event will take place on Sunday 26 September and includes a new race for children.

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Cameron Wallis from Tates of Sussex enjoys the new play area

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A gateway to Rudgwick is being transformed by the hard work of village volunteers. Some 6,000 daffodils are being planted along a greenery running from Watts Corner to Queen Elizabeth Road, to welcome visitors with a sea of yellow. The project is spearheaded by Simon Quail, with support from Ellens Green and Rudgwick Gardening Association (EGRGA) and local businesses. After an initial planting of 1,000 bulbs on 10 October, volunteers have come together several times with further planting planned for Saturday 7 and 14 November, from 10am. For details, email egrgashowsecretary@gmail.com Local children’s hospice Chestnut Tree House is encouraging people to have some Reindeer Fun in December. The charity will provide free reindeer antlers, red noses and online materials for anyone willing to host a Reindeer Fun event, to help local children with life-shortening conditions and their families. There are no limits to what can be done, with participants encouraged to run, cycle, row, ramble or come up with their own challenge to spread some festive cheer. Sign up at chestnut-tree-house.org.uk/reindeer-fun

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To send an article for consideration in the AAH News Round-Up, email Ben at: editor@aahorsham.co.uk

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POPPY PROJECT

CHURCH COMMUNITY RALLIES FOR REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY

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embers of Trafalgar Road Baptist Church have created a poignant display of poppies to mark Remembrance Sunday.

FLANDERS FIELDS

“Everybody got stuck in and with a late flurry of knitting, we were able to finish the project in time.”

The display incorporates more than 800 poppies, knitted or crocheted by members of the church. Having been sewn to a net, the poppies are now on display outside the church, where they will remain until Sunday 8 November.

The idea was conceived by Jackie Hutchinson, who said: “Last November, I was away with my husband when I saw poppies being knitted at a cathedral. I thought, ‘We could do that!’ I put the idea to the group and everyone was keen, so we started knitting around Christmas.”

Jackie Hutchinson

Mary Reed said: “We were regularly messaging each other on WhatsApp with updates on our poppy progress, with people writing jokes too! Sometimes, I’d look at my phone and there would be 30 messages flying back and forth!”

“It wasn’t until the New Year that the project took off, as we recruited more people. Those who couldn’t knit used crochet patterns instead. The poppies are all the same size, but there are different shades of red. The variation works well, as poppy colour varies in their natural setting.”

“It was an important way to keep the community linked during lockdown. If somebody was feeling down or lonely, they could ask for a prayer, and others would offer to help with things like shopping if it was needed. For those shielding or selfisolating, this was especially important. The poppy project also served as a reminder that even though we couldn’t have normal services, the church community was still active behind the scenes.”

KEEPING CONNECTED When the country went into lockdown, the poppy project took on additional importance. Those involved formed a WhatsApp group, with some becoming involved in social media for the first time.

That way, they could keep in touch with the chuch community from home.

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The Trafalgar Road Baptist Church is currently without a pastor, with Brian White moving on to new pastures during lockdown. Instead, a variety of guest speakers have appeared via Zoom video calls, with one of the more inventive communions being presented directly from Knepp Castle.

The poppy group finally came together in person in August, to begin sewing the poppies to the net. At the time, most involved had made at least 30 poppies each. However, it was soon clear that more were needed. Jackie said: “We had more than 700 but still needed to do at least ten more each! Everybody got stuck in and with a late flurry of knitting, we were able to finish the project.”

Since Wednesday 21 October, the poppies have been displayed alongside a notice, which reads: We shall not sleep, though poppies grow in Flanders fields.

We remember the sacrifice of so many in conflicts.

The notice has a QR code so people can donate to the Royal British Legion.

For more information about the church visit https://www.trbc.info Since finishing the poppies, the ladies have been knitting angels for a Christmas display, raising funds for St Catherine's Hospice.

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June Duplock, Mary Reed, Margaret Davies and Jackie Hutchinson at Trafalgar Road Baptist Church (©AAH/Toby Phillips)

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Steve Dummer, Conductor of Stane Street Sinfonietta, at St Mary’s Church (©AAH/Toby Phillips)

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t’s Saturday afternoon and a stream of people trickle through the doors of St Mary’s Church in the Causeway. Their name must be on the list, as numbers are strictly limited. After a squirt of hand sanitiser, each individual or small group finds an unoccupied pew, takes a seat and remove their face masks. Eventually, the audience of about 70 people spreads to the back of the hall, dotted around like players at a football match.

They have come to see the Stane Street Sinfonietta perform music for strings, including famous pieces by Mozart and Samuel Barber’s Adagio for Strings.

This is the first of three performances held during the day. Only an hour long, the short concert mean that more people can enjoy live music, whilst allowing the musicians to make a small amount of money.

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For the performers, playing to even a modest audience is a step in the right direction after a challenging year.

Steve Dummer, conductor of the Sinfonietta and of Horsham Symphony Orchestra, said: “For professional musicians, these are difficult times. To go from performing live every day to being unable to perform for months has been tough. It's been a dreadful time, as they have financial commitments and families, and suddenly they have no income. This series of concerts is a drop in the ocean in terms of providing musicians with work, yet I've been amazed by how much it has meant to those involved. I was quite choked up after the first concert!”

“Just to be able to come together and meet with friends has been hugely important, and we’re grateful to those who have supported the concerts and made donations so there is enough money to pay the musicians.”

PROFESSIONAL PLAYERS The Stane Street Sinfonietta brings together professional musicians, experienced amateurs and some of the most promising prospects in the area.

Amongst the players is trumpeter Chris Deacon, who re-recorded the famous theme tune to Coronation Street in 2010. Young talents include Katy Ellis, who was set to tour with a new production of Mallory Towers before Coronavirus hit, and Horsham resident Toril Azzalini-Machecler, a percussionist and BBC Young Musician of the Year 2020 finalist.

ETTA Steve Dummer conducts string musicians at St Mary’s Church (©AAH/Toby Phillips)

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Slinfold violinist Judith Templeman plays with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO).

She said: “I’ve not been very busy with the RPO recently, although we did record Christmas carols at Abbey Road earlier this month. Because its studios are so spacious, we managed to fit 15 string musicians inside, with the wind, brass and percussion recordings held the next day.”

“Just to be able to come together and meet with friends has been hugely important.”

“The RPO received a grant from the Government’s culture fund, so I'm sure it will survive and hopefully I can return to playing regularly soon. I teach music too, which has helped keep me going, but it has been a tough few months. It's been wonderful to play live at St Mary’s, as performing online using a click track as audio cues isn’t the same as playing Mozart to an audience in an acoustic space!”

“It’s nice to come together with other professional musicians from the area too, especially with Steve conducting. As I usually play symphonic concerts, it’s good to have the opportunities to perform chamber music too.”

THE LIVE BUZZ

Stane Street Sinfonietta brings together professional musicians from across the area (©AAH/Toby Phillips Photography)

Stane Street Sinfonietta was founded with the idea of bringing together professional musicians living in West Sussex.

Its first concert was held at St Mary’s in November 2018, where the programme included Holst’s St Paul’s Suite and Elgar’s Serenade for Strings. Due to various commitments, no performances were held in 2019, although a string training day with the West Sussex Youth Orchestra was scheduled for this year. With the event curtailed by the pandemic, Steve instead decided to organise a series of three concerts at St Mary’s, each requiring different instruments.

In one of the first live music events in the Horsham after lockdown, the Sinfonietta performed William Walton’s Façade on 19 September, with Katy Ellis and Mark Bradbury reciting the challenging work.

A fortnight later came A Soldier’s Tale by Stravinsky, with Steve Watts narrating, before the series culminated with A Celebration of Music for Strings on 17 October. As far as Steve is concerned, nothing online can come close to the live experience...

“I know there have been concerts on Zoom, but they’re a nightmare!” he said. “With live streaming, it's hard to adapt to musicians around you. Playing music in an ensemble or

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St Mary’s Church offers good acoustics for classical music (©AAH/Toby Phillips)

The concert gave an opportunity for string musicians to perform (©AAH/Toby Phillips)

Rachel Ellis also plays with Horsham Symphony Orchestra (©AAH/Toby Phillips)

an orchestra is a beautiful, organic process that can’t be replicated online. A friend described it as being like instant coffee. It doesn’t seem that bad until you taste the real thing! Zoom sessions have been a lifeline for some and for one-to-one tuition can work well. But when we can return to some normality, I don't think anyone will be nostalgic for Zoom ensembles.”

“I hope the success of our concert series will lead to more Sinfonietta events in future and I’m keen to attract an even wider range of professional musicians living in the area. We are spoilt with wonderful orchestral musicians, people who have experience of West End productions, session musicians for rock and pop acts, and even fantastic jazz and blues musicians. It would be great to bring them into the group, so we can offer more flexibility.”

To contact Stane Street Sinfonietta email: contact@stanestreetsinfonietta.com For details of future concert (no more events are currently scheduled) visit: www.stanestreetsinfonietta.com Words: Ben Morris Photos: Toby Phillips Photography

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Rob Boughton, CEO at The Thakeham Group, commented: “The mix of modern and traditional design across apartments, bungalows and houses at Woodgate, combined with a range of community facilities, is creating the perfect setting for a contemporary, thriving village.

Since lockdown eased and the stamp duty holiday was announced, the demand we’ve seen at Woodgate has been exceptional and it is evident that there is a real sense of in urgency in the market from buyers looking for a better looking live/work balance.”

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Boys play football on the Forest School playground during break (©AAH/Toby Phillips Photography)

MIXED FEELINGS HORSHAM BOYS’ SCHOOL TO BECOME CO-EDUCATIONAL

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orest School has undergone many changes since opening during World War Two. House names have gone from honouring the likes of Newton, Brunel and Shelley to paying homage to modern pioneers including Dyson, Hawking and Branson.

The name has evolved too.

Horsham Secondary Modern School for Boys became Forest Boys Secondary School, before ‘Boys’ eventually disappeared from the title altogether. Now, even greater change is afoot, as September 2021 will see girls welcomed for the first time in more than 60 years. AAH met Headteacher Ian Straw to discuss an exciting time in the school’s history…

When did you become Headteacher at Forest?

I arrived in September 2018, having previously been at St Andrew’s CE High School, an all-boys’ school in Worthing.

What did you know about Forest at the time?

I knew it was a good school. I visited once before, when I

became Interim Head at St Andrew’s. I met the previous Headteacher, Siobhan Denning.

I needed advice on running a successful boys’ school and Siobhan had vast experience at Forest. I toured the site and when the job later came up, I decided to apply and the rest is history.

When you arrived, how was Forest faring?

The results were not very good and there was work to do. We had a bad year of results in 2018, significantly under the national average. The National Curriculum grading system had changed, which was a factor. In the old system, pupils could sit lots of GCSEs and if they achieved a certain number of A - C grades, the school was judged to be performing well.

Now, the focus is on reaching target grades and achieving “added value”. Last year, one pupil sat 15 GCSEs and achieved Grade 9 in 11 of them, which is remarkable. So, boys can do very well. However, the school hadn’t quite prepared for the new measures and we’ve had to work hard to improve.

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Was your immediate goal to improve results?

The aim was to rebuild pride in the school and improve its reputation, which was perhaps on the decline. That’s not a reflection on what happened before, as Siobhan did an excellent job. There hadn’t been significant investment in the school for a long time and it needed modernisation. So, the past 18 months has been a period of transformation. The sports hall roof was leaking and we couldn’t use it when it rained. Now, West Sussex County Council has invested in a new roof with better lighting and extraction. We have refurbished more than 60% of classrooms.

They have new carpets, desks and posture-supporting chairs.

The staff have new ICT infrastructure including 65-inch digital touch screen displays for visual teaching.

Headteacher Ian Straw arrived at Forest in 2018 (©Toby Phillips Photography/AAH)

You’ve also introduced graphic displays along the corridors?

They are designed to inspire children around the school and they look fantastic. We’ve also removed the 1950s lighting and taken away unnecessary doors,

The uniform design will be debated as the school welcomes girls for the first time in more than 60 years in 2021 (©Toby Phillips Photography/AAH)

“When Forest separated boys and girls in the 1950s, it was a sign of the times.

Now, parents prefer mixed schools.” replacing them with fire shutters to make the corridors brighter.

Some people were worried that the displays wouldn’t last long, but the pupils are very respectful and there’s no graffiti on them after nearly two years. They appreciate the changes.

The biggest change is that Forest will become a co-educational school…

Forest has been thinking about this change for some time, but only started the process with West Sussex County Council (WSCC) earlier this year. We talk a lot about the “Forest family” which includes students, staff and parents. To cement our

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Forest is undergoing an extensive refurbishment of classrooms (©Toby Phillips Photography/AAH)

family ethos, we aspire to be an inclusive school, welcoming everyone through the gate. You can't be truly inclusive if you don't have girls. It’s often forgotten that Forest was a mixed school when it was founded in 1944. It moved to its current site in 1954 and it wasn't until 1958 that girls and boys were finally separated. So, we are reverting to what Forest was designed to be.

Was there opposition to the idea?

There was a consultation period, initially for two months, with a second consultation following.

About 70% of respondents were in favour of a return to a co-educational school. A small number were against it, but the majority supported the plan.

Pupils enjoy baking pizza in Food Tech (©Toby Phillips Photography/AAH)

boys and girls in the 1950s. That was a sign of the times then, but parents now prefer mixed schools. They are happy for an all girls’ school for their daughters, but there is a perception of an all-boys’ school – rightly or wrongly – being a bit rough and focused on sport. I don't think that's ever been the case at Forest, but people do have a perception of it being boisterous, whereas it’s very calm.

Why do you feel the time is right to be co-educational?

I think modern choices, in terms of what people want from a school, are different to what they were when the school separated

How will girls be implemented into the school?

We currently have about 1,100

pupils and that number won’t change. In September 2021, we will welcome girls into Year 7 only. Some have already put Forest down as their first choice, which is amazing. We will have girls and boys in Year 7 and they will move up to Year 8 in 2022 with another new mixed class starting in Year 7. We won't know about the numbers of girls who will be here next year until after applications close on 31 October.

We have had parents asking if they can transfer girls to Forest in other year groups, but girls will only be in Year 7 in 2021.

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“To cement our family ethos, we aspire to be an inclusive school, welcoming everyone through the gate. You can't be truly inclusive if you don't have girls.�

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Will there be further investment in the school?

There will be a new entrance only for Year 7 students. A new pathway down one side of the school will lead to a playground solely designated for Year 7.

Two toilets will be refurbished, with one being for girls. We’re also refurbishing the science rooms to modern standards.

There are advantages and disadvantages to the school being built in the 1950s. A disadvantage is that the school looks dated from outside. An advantage is that the classrooms are big and that’s especially the case with our DT and science laboratories. So, modernising two of our science classrooms and our oldest DT room will make a big difference. We will also be extending the canteen and installing a 4G pitch to RFU standards. Most exciting of all, there will be a new two-storey building to accommodate drama, dance, gymnastics and fitness suites, although this will be built later.

Year 11 boys enjoy a kickabout during break (©Toby Phillips Photography/AAH)

Have the announcements changed the feeling around the school?

There is a buzz about the place, although that’s been the case for a while because of what we are doing. Staff and students feel valued when you improve their environment.

ICT class at Forest School (©Toby Phillips Photography/AAH)

How has Coronavirus impacted Forest?

Over lockdown, the ethos of a Forest family was cemented, because we communicated with families every day. We were constantly providing updates on what was happening nationally and how that was affecting the school. We encouraged families to share their experiences during lockdown and that helped everyone, as they could

see others faced similar struggles and emotions.

How have you managed the students since their return to school?

I don't think it's fair to have them stay in one area for the whole day. That would mean some children couldn’t carry out practical science lessons or use computers in ICT. So, the students move around the school to lessons. The school bell has returned and everyone exits the building at the same time. They move around the site in a clockwise direction, wearing face masks. We have temporarily painted the playgrounds to mark out class zones, so pupils can line up and a member of staff takes them to lessons. Once students are sat down, they can remove their masks.

Will you have to change the motto, ‘Where Boys Learn Best’ when girls arrive?

We are looking for student “influencers” to help us. We want girls and boys to influence all aspects of the school, so everything is up for debate, from the motto to the uniform.

We are always looking at ways to create a more inspiring place that captures the imagination of our students.

To make an appointment at the school or request a copy of the Forest prospectus, contact the school office: Tel: (01403) 261086 office@theforestschool.net There’s a very good video about Forest on the Virtual Open Day page of the website at: www.theforestschool.com Interview: Ben Morris Photos: Toby Phillips

Boys near the new wall displays in the Geography department (©Toby Phillips Photography/AAH) 32

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Anthony Clarke, a Secondary Maths Specialist, helps with after-school tuition (©AAH/Toby Phillips Photography)

LEARNING CURVE NEW HORSHAM TUITION HUB SERVES INCREASING DEMAND

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here has been a significant rise in the number of children being homeschooled in recent years. Officially, in the region of 60,000 pupils were educated outside of the school system in 2018/19.

However, with parents not required to register with their local authority, the true figure is believed to be closer to 100,000.

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It may be that their parents don't agree with organised education or that a pupil requires alternative provision that can’t be provided by the government. In recent years, I’ve seen many children struggle with various mental health or anxiety issues. They can be debilitating to the point where a child can totally reject school. When that happens, there’s very little help to ensure they receive a good education.”

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“Horsham has a huge home education community,” says Kat. “There are many reasons why children do not attend school.

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“So, we created Learn with Confidence to provide not only a safe place for children to go to, but a place where they can be taught by qualified teachers in small groups or even on a one-to-one basis.”

“Most of our students are of secondary school age, although we can teach primary aged children too. We offer a range of subjects including Science, English, Maths, History and

Primary Specialist Mel Benton helps a sudent at the tuition hub on Queen Street, Horsham (©AAH/Toby Phillips Photography)

Geography in an environment where they can be happy. Some students have lost confidence in their ability, so our holistic approach to education suits them.”

“There’s also a freedom to do what the children are interested in. If they like gothic horror, we can devise units of work around gothic horror. Recently, one student asked about someone on a £5 note, so we explored famous faces on bank notes in History. They were really engaged in that. That’s an example of the flexible tuition we offer.”

CONFIDENCE FACTOR Amy Gallagher is a qualified teacher, having completed her PGCE in 2007. She taught English at Tanbridge House School and after starting a family offered tutoring to GCSE students before launching Learning Potential Tuition. Alongside an experienced team, Amy offers after-school tuition every weekday, as well as Saturday mornings, for children in Year 1 to Year 11.

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“We work with small groups of up to four students and the focus is solely on English and Maths,” says Amy. “The primary and secondary pupils work in different areas so that we can focus on their individual curriculum.”

“With children of all ages, confidence is a key factor. They often come to us because they lack confidence in English or Maths and that’s affecting their overall performance at school.

At Learning Potential Tuition, we identify what a child needs to do to catch up in a subject,

Tutors including Primary Specialist Andrea Carlier ( below left) help pupils with their educational needs (AAH/Toby Phillips Photography)

“When the schools closed during lockdown, there was a lot of anxiety about children falling behind.”

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Amy Gallagher

and our fully qualified teachers tailor work to suit each child’s targets and needs. So, it’s not about being a homework club. We can help with homework if a student is struggling with something, but the aim it is to move a child forward to the next level in the curriculum. Every session is planned to ensure we reach objectives and that progress is made.”

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UNIQUE SITUATION Having planned to launch earlier in the year, the two businesses opened simultaneously in August, having been delayed by Coronavirus. Kat and Amy were aware of the educational centre’s importance, because of the varying degrees of success of home-schooling during lockdown.

Amy said: “When schools closed, there was a lot of anxiety about children falling behind. Many children were signed up with us from September, because parents were worried about those gaps in their education, particularly at primary age and those entering Year 11. They need help in plugging those gaps and helping children catch up. Some schools were fantastic in adapting to a unique situation. They gave lots of support to families, both through online classes and in terms of their welfare. Others offered very little support, leaving children operating at different levels.”

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“Also, the parental situation varied for everyone. Some parents had to work throughout lockdown and couldn’t provide guidance during lessons at home.

Others were on furlough and had plenty of time to help. So, everyone has had a different experience and that has affected whether children benefited or struggled during lockdown.”

For some people, the experience was so positive that the appeal of a return to the classroom dwindled. Kat said: “There are parents who have found that they prefer home education, because their child has been less anxious and happier in a home environment. That’s okay during primary years, but it’s difficult for parents to deliver a GCSE curriculum in every subject. That’s another way in which we can help.”

Kat Perry runs Learn with Confidence and Amy Gallagher fronts Learning Potential Tuition (©Toby Phillips Photography/AAH)

“In future, we hope to expand and offer a broader range of services. We’ve held discussions with West Sussex County Council about provision for children with Special Educational Needs including mental health issues and learning difficulties. We’d like

The centre helps Primary and Secondary School pupils (©Toby Phillips Photography/AAH)

to see all families have greater choice of where their children can go if they cannot access mainstream education.”

“If we could offer on-site counselling and well-being classes, then this centre can become an educational hub that offers not just tuition, but broader needs that help young people become more confident.”

Further Information Alexander House, 11 Queen Street, Horsham, RH13 5AA For details about Learn With Confidence contact: kat.perry@learnwithconfidence.co.uk

(01403) 586029 https://learnwithconfidence.co.uk For details about Learning Potential Tuition (after-school provision for English and Maths) amy@learningpotentialtuition.co.uk

(01403) 586028 www.learningpotentialtuition.co.uk

Words: Ben Morris Photos: Toby Phillips

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Clare Francis decorates cakes in her adapted caravan (©AAH/Toby Phillips Photography)

S C U L PT U R SCRUMPTIOUS W

here do you go to find a Pennywise the Clown cake for a fan of the Steven King horror, It? Or a sponge cake version of Paddington, The Grinch, Slimer from Ghostbusters, or a relative’s beloved Citroen 2CV? Billingshurst cake maker Clare Francis has carved out a reputation for her remarkable sculptural cakes, made with an artistic eye in an adapted caravan.

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“Most celebration cakes tend to be square or circular with neat edging, but I’m more comfortable with sculptural work,” says Clare. “Proportion is the most important aspect with my creations. I start with a square base and add smaller cuts of cake to build up the structure first. If the shape isn’t right, you can easily end up with a dog with a wonky nose or a character with massive ears!”

“With sculptural cakes, you need a concealed structure to hold the cake upright with all the features in place. They tend to look very strange to begin with, but when you add the icing and start to carve the distinctive features, the defining characteristics are gradually revealed.”

EVOLVING BUSINESS Scrumptious Cupcakes by Clare was founded seven years ago, after the birth of her third child. The hours offered by her former employer didn’t fit in with family commitments, so Clare considered other ways to make money. After buying a box of cupcakes for a child’s birthday, Clare decided to learn how to make them herself by watching YouTube videos.

Initially, she made buttercream swirls, selling them to friends and family. But the

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Pennywise clown by Clare (©www.scrumptiouscupcakesbyclare.co.uk)

Many of Clare’s cakes depict people’s pets (©AAH/Toby Phillips Photography)

RES

Sumners Ponds Fishery & Campsite is a unique and beautiful spot, set in tranquil West Sussex countryside.

The Campsite itself boasts high quality facilities, glamping accommodation, acres of woodland, a working farm, five fishing lakes and of course The Café by the Lake positioned beside the beautiful Sumners Lake.

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Access to the South Downs and the coast is easy, while Brighton is half an hour by car and London only one hour away.

business began to evolve when people started making requests. “I was asked to do a fondant covered cake. I hadn’t made one before but it went well and from there I progressed. I can bake ‘naked’ wedding cakes where layers of buttercream are exposed, but not the more elaborate celebration cakes with intricate floral decorations and ornate icing. That isn’t my style. I’ve become primarily known as a specialist of sculptural cakes.”

There really is something for everyone!

“I am part of a Facebook group of cake makers in West Sussex, which is a great platform for sharing tips. We can also direct clients to the right person if they’re looking for a certain kind of cake, be it cupcakes, wedding cakes or sculptural cakes.”

Tel: 01403 732539 Web: sumnersponds.co.uk Instagram: @sumnersponds Facebook.com/SumnersPonds 41

A simple wedding cake design by Clare (©AAH/Toby Phillips)

A pumpkin cake for Halloween (©AAH/Toby Phillips)

Scotsman cake (©www.scrumptiouscupcakesbyclare.co.uk)

Leprechaun by Clare (©www.scrumptiouscupcakesbyclare.co.uk)

TOUGH TIMES

“Some Customers have cried upon seeing a cake and others don’t want to eat the heads!”

Clare decorates cakes in an adapted caravan, bought during lockdown. “Everyone was buying wood cabins and the prices soared! So, we thought about caravans, as they’re insulated and already have electrics and plumbing. We bought a 1990s model on eBay, which my husband gutted, removing everything I didn't need. We re-upholstered the furnishings and added modern lighting, storage space and worktops too. It’s now my studio and gives me all the space I need to focus on work.”

Like most small businesses, Clare has felt the financial impact of Covid, with cancellations for birthday and wedding cakes. However, she

has continued to work and gradually orders have increased. “People ordered cupcakes as surprise gifts for parents or other relatives during lockdown,” says Clare. “It wasn't much money, but it was nice to be involved in something positive during what was a tough time for everyone.”

DEVOURING HEADS For the sake of convenience, the business name hasn’t changed. However, it is structural cakes rather than cupcakes that are now Clare’s main source of income. With many of her commissions being cakes of pets, the handover has become an important part of the job for Clare.

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Clare creates a range of fascinating cakes (©AAH/Toby Phillips)

“My favourite moment is when I present the customer with a finished cake!” she says. “Even thinking about it helps me to focus on getting all the features right. I use tools to carefully define the bone structure and create wrinkles, with light airbrushing helping to create depth and shadow. It’s technical work, but creating a recognisable appearance from a plain surface is what makes the job so exciting.”

“I need to refer to Google Images a lot. When it’s somebody’s pet, I request head and body shots of the animals as

they often have distinctive marks that can easily be missed from one angle. Some customers have cried upon seeing a finished cake, which is nice for me. Sometimes, they don’t want to eat them!

When it’s a cake of a pet, people don’t want to cut the head off, so they eat the body first!”

To contact Clare, email: clare492@hotmail.co.uk Tel: 07725 187886 Visit the website at: scrumptiouscupcakesbyclare.co.uk Words: Ben Morris Photos: Toby Phillips

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Local Ingredients Make For The Perfect Recipe

D

id you know every time you choose to Buy Local either online or in person, you support an unseen network of people behind the scenes?

Choosing to spend your hard earned money at a Horsham District farm shop, buying facemasks from a local craftsperson, or popping in for a coffee and a cake at an independent café are all ways to help support a circular economy.

David Exwood of Weston’s Farm Shop, based in Itchingfield, knows the benefits for everyone involved in a local purchase. He said: “There’s a real feel good factor when you buy something from a local producer and at the moment we all need to take what we can when it comes to making ourselves feel better. There’s not a lot we can do right now which is enjoyable, but we can enjoy good quality local food and drink.”

It’s not just the producers who benefit from the local custom. David explained: “There’s an unseen network of jobs, employment and activity behind every loaf of bread, every pound of tomatoes, every chocolate you enjoy. When you buy a loaf of bread from a local baker, you’re supporting the person who fixes the lights, the guy who maintains the machines and all the other services supporting the makers.”

One products which flies off the shelves at the farm shop is the salted caramel sauce made by Lindsey Williams of Wimblehurst Chocolates, based in Horsham.

“I use jam from Barties Sussex Faire, The Ready Family honey from Horsham and coffee from Horsham Coffee Roasters.”

Lindsey, Wimblehurst Chocolates Lindsey said: “I try to use as many good quality, locally sourced ingredients in my product because good ingredients give you a quality end product. I make the sauce using butter from Bookham Harrison and cream from Southview Farm Dairies.”

Lindsey doesn’t stop at the dairy ingredients. She said: “I use jam from Barties Sussex Faire, The Ready Family honey from Horsham and coffee from Horsham Coffee Roasters.”

There’s a good reason behind Lindsey’s ingredient choices, and not just the quality.

She explained: “One of the things I decided when I started my businesses was if I wanted local people to support me I needed to support local people in turn. It builds a circular economy, because we all do a bit for each other. We all keep each other afloat, which keeps us all going.”

Jengers Mead Bakery in Billingshurst has been keeping the district in baked goods for 40 years. The current owner, Mark Sheath, took over six years ago and is keen to keep supporting other local businesses.

He said: “We feel quite humbled this year to be honest, with many new as well as established customers buying our goods.

We have 19 employees and all we want to do is keep baking. When you buy a loaf of bread, it’s not just good to the environment because of the low food miles, but you’re supporting the economy and helping us to keep all our wonderful staff employed.”

“We have three vans which deliver across the district but one of the things we all enjoy is seeing the customers queuing for their bread in the morning in Billingshurst.

It’s so heartening! Without our customers we wouldn’t be able to employ locally, it’s as simple as that.”

To find out more about the local businesses in this article, visit: www.westonsfarmshop.co.uk facebook.com/WimChoc www.jengerscraftbakery.co.uk.

The Buy Local campaign from Horsham District Council supports businesses who have continued to work tirelessly throughout the lockdown to deliver vital services. The campaign highlights how local businesses have adapted to support public health guidelines, as well as reassure communities that town centres have reopened safely with enhanced safety measures in place.

Do you want up to date local business news?

Subscribe to HDC’s regular business newsletters for the latest updates via www.hdcbusiness.news For COVID advice, grants and funding opportunities visit www.hdcbusiness.info

David at Westons Farm Shop in Itchingfield (AAH/TPP)

Keep it Local Buy Local is the theme that will be connecting campaigns and initiatives supporting purchasing from local businesses by residents and each other. On and off the High Street, online and offline, Horsham District Council is looking at ways to support businesses. Here, we highlight some of the initiatives and events taking place in 2020, with more planned next year...

VIRTUAL HORSHAM

From November www.virtualhorsham.co.uk

Horsham Coffee Roasters make a perfect blend (AAH/TPP)

If you are based in the Horsham District and trade online with your products and services, we want customers to find local businesses online more easily and have teamed up with Visit Horsham to launch and promote a new online portal – Virtual Horsham. HDC has arranged for initially up to 200 independent businesses to receive a free 6 month membership of the portal. For more information visit www.BuyLocalHD.biz

THE GIFT HUNTERS

November – 24 December A video series that follows intrepid purchasers as they shop local and hunt down those elusive to find personal presents for relatives and friends in our District’s high streets and online stores.

Look out for these videos on local social media channels and www.horsham.tv Businesses tell us if you have a specific product or service that would be ideal for a Gift Hunter and you could be featured in our campaign. www.BuyLocalHD.biz

Fresh bread at Jengers Craft Bakery in Billingshurst (AAH/TPP)

1

WINTER WONDERLAND

End November – Christmas

Continuing our annual focus on independent’s shop windows and displays we will be looking for the Districts’ best festive displays. Look out for nominations on social media and the opportunity to support your local store in a great competition. For businesses, there will be online training Bertie’s hints and tips tailored to the challenges Sussex Faire has and opportunities presented by social a stall at the Carfax market distancing via the Horsham Business (AAH/TPP) Support Group Facebook page.

If you are a business and want to register to take part, please upload a picture of your Christmas window www.facebook.com/groups/hdbusinesssupport display at www.BuyLocalHD.biz

HOT CHOCOLATE COMPETITION

November – Christmas The hunt will be on for the most scrumdiddlyumptious Hot Choc in all of Horsham District!

Business and customers will be asked to share pictures of their favourite seasonal special hot chocolate with a great chocolaty prize to be won. If you are a business and want to take part, please register via this weblink: www.BuyLocalHD.biz

BUSINESS TRAINING PROGRAMME

November – 31 March 2021

HDC has appointed Chichester College Group to run a series of business training and support sessions across the Horsham District. This project is funded through the Reopening High Streets Safely Fund and will focus on the safety aspects of running a business during COVID and reopening. There will be six virtual workshops and 15 one-to one on-site visits available. The subject of each workshop will be based on feedback received from businesses via business surveys by HDC. Register your interest by emailing business.development @horsham.gov.uk

SMALL BUSINESS GRANTS PROGRAMME November – 30 May 2021

This is the 4th year of the LEAP Programme. Small grants of up to £2,000 are available for businesses in the Horsham District that have been operating for less than 12 months. https://www.horsham.gov.uk/ business/business-funding

Oscar Vallance, Founder of Cocoon Bars in Horsham (©AAH/Toby Phillips)

GOOD SPIR COCKTAIL MASTERCLASSES PROVE A HIT FOR COCOON BARS MARTYN EDWARDS

W

hen Oscar Vallance launched Cocoon Bars, his vision was to run a mobile cocktail bar, as well as host mixing masterclasses.

Naturally, he didn’t account for a global pandemic that would wipe out social gatherings and the events calendar.

However, Oscar adapted and his online masterclasses proved a hit during lockdown. The success has inspired a new direction for the fledgling business, as Oscar explains…

Starting Out...

As well as being Assistant Manager at Piries Bar in Horsham, I have previous experience of working at cocktail bars and distilleries. I have also taken exams with the Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) and become a specialist in cocktails and spirits.

36 46

As I spend an awful lot of time thinking about flavour combinations, ingredients and measures, I felt my skills were best suited to starting a cocktail bar business!

I launched Cocoon at the start of the year.

The business is named after a song by Catfish and the Bottlemen, although it also ties in with the natural ethos of the business. We promote brands that focus on sustainability, using spirits and fresh ingredients from eco-friendly producers including Ketel One vodka and Chimney Fire Coffee in Surrey.

I finished building my first cocktail bar at the end of January. The idea was to host masterclasses, where people could learn to make cocktails and have fun at the same time. Thanks partly to the gin craze, people are thinking more about what they drink.

They’re not just ordering Jack Daniels and

Zoom Masterclasses When lockdown was announced, we had to do things differently. I hosted online masterclasses using Zoom instead. We charged £5 per person, with the money donated to The Trussell Trust, which runs a network of food banks. The masterclasses proved a success, becoming increasingly popular as the weeks went by. Towards the end, there was demand for eight classes on a Saturday, with upwards of 30 people attending sometimes. One group of friends joined me 11 weeks in a row, forcing me to invent new recipes!

I was constantly changing the cocktails. We had a menu for gin, vodka, rum and whiskey, with gin and vodka being most popular. We went through the process for three cocktails

for each menu, giving participants a shopping list beforehand to prepare. Then, we would make each cocktail together, allowing time for tasting, of course! The sessions were fun and we raised lots of money for a good cause.

And it gave me valuable experience of presenting to a group and keeping them engaged.

I have since hosted cocktail masterclasses in person, working with small groups, usually in a garden. That became difficult when the rule of six restrictions were implemented. Since then, it’s been a matter of making the best of the situation. I hosted a masterclass for staff at The Capitol, as they are launching a cocktail menu at the theatre bar and staff needed training. I now plan to host similar events for the public at the venue from November.

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Coke anymore. They’re asking for gin and tonic with special garnishes, a rhubarb gin and lemonade, an espresso Martini or a French 75.

They’re engaged in what they’re drinking and it’s not just about consuming alcohol.

Gin is still hugely popular in the south of England. I use the analogy of a ripple effect. If a drop of water falls in a pond, the centre is London and as the ripple stretches out, its effects last longer. Trends tend to stick around for a long time outside of the capital. Gin has been in decline in London for the last five years, but people are still crazy about it here. I love gin, but also love to introduce people to great whiskey and rum, which is perhaps the most versatile spirit when it comes to cocktails.

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Oscar Vallance, Cocoon Bars (AAH/Toby Phillips Photography)

“At the masterclass, you can have a good time with friends, learn about spirits and enjoy a little bit of theatre.”

Oscar Vallance

These events will offer something new, exciting and safe in what is a pretty glum time. Working in pairs or in groups of four, people can enjoy a welcome glass of Prosecco and three lovely cocktails for £30 per person. If you went out for the evening, four drinks would easily cost that amount. At the masterclass, you can have a good time with friends, learn about spirits and enjoy a little bit of theatre too.

I now have two bars, with the second being attached to a specially-adapted bicycle, made for me in Bristol. We’ve also become part of the Horsham Market, offering two hot and two cold cocktails, as well as a nonalcoholic variety. One of the drinks is a hot smoked espresso, made with Ketel One vanilla vodka and freshly smoked coffee from a local supplier to create a beautiful hot cocktail that’s just perfect for this time of year.

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Words: Ben Morris Photos: Toby Phillips Photography

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A ‘breakthrough treatment’ for

Nerve Pain Relief Keith Atkinson, local Horsham therapist is offering a new method of pain relief called external neuromodulation.

Labelled ‘a breakthrough for nerve pain relief’, Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospital in London did a clinical test and noted a ‘dramatic reduction in pain’. In 19 of 35 cases, the hospital reported a 100% improvement with pain reduced to zero. All these patients were suffering from chronic neuropathic pain.*

Judy’s Story I started having pain in my hip in July 2015; being 74, I thought perhaps I might eventually have a hip replacement. In August, whilst on holiday in Cornwall, I was woken with excruciating pain down my leg from the hip to the ankle. My ankle felt like it had a vice around it and painkillers did nothing to help. Fortunately, I was able to see a local GP who after examination confirmed that I had a trapped sciatic nerve and prescribed Naproxen and Co-codamol.

After my holiday, still experiencing agonising pain at night and not sleeping, I saw my own GP. He prescribed Amitriptyline and Co-codamol. A friend then recommended her Chiropractor who confirmed there was nothing sinister and agreed with the trapped nerve diagnosis. However, after 12 sessions working on my back, I still had no relief from the leg pain.

I returned to my GP in desperation and he told me to stop the Chiropractic treatment and referred me to a pain clinic, but there was a long waiting list! While waiting for this appointment to come through my daughter read an article in the AAH magazine about a young woman who had experienced exactly the same pain as I was having and had been taking the same drugs.

She had been recommended to see Keith Atkinson at Horsham Nerve Clinic and after three sessions she had been able to lead a pain free life. On reading this article myself I immediately made an appointment to see Keith.

Within a few hours of my first appointment my pain was reduced and two days later I was pain free, although my back still felt a little stiff and sore. During my second appointment with Keith, he concentrated on my back and the relief was noticeable almost immediately.

“After 11 weeks of awful pain and horrible strong drugs, Keith had put me right.”

Two days after my second appointment I felt normal again. After 11 weeks of awful pain and horrible strong drugs, Keith had put me right and eradicated my pain in just two sessions! I cannot recommend him highly enough.

Judy Whittaker

Judy Whittaker Steyning, West Sussex (November 2015)

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Keith’s Assessment ‘The big advantage to external neuromodulation is that the treatment can give a very immediate effect.

Treatment programs are on average three sessions but this is dependent on individual circumstances.

Whilst Judy initially thought she may have a hip problem, it was classic sciatica with pain travelling down the nerve from the buttock to the ankle.

It was pleasing to see how the treatment removed her pain and settled everything into place very quickly.

I am often asked how long the treatment lasts. In the case of Judy, she remains pain free five years after treatment. If the nerve sits happily within the spinal space without been entrapped or inflamed then the person will remain pain free.

Keith Atkinson (October 2020)

• Sciatica lower back and leg pain • Shoulder and neck pain • Frozen shoulder • Facial pain and TMJ • Bel's Palsy • Thoracic back pain • Repetitive strain injury • Tennis/golfer's elbow • Knee issues • Achilles tendonitis • Ankle and feet pain • Plantar Fasciitis • Sporting injuries • Post operative pain • Complex regional pain syndrome • Other nerve related pain.

Free Review Consultation 20-minute consultation at the Practice or over the phone Horsham Nerve Pain Practice, 46 Depot Road, Horsham RH13 5HD

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St Thomas’ Hospital. All testimonials and case studies are printed with the consent of the individuals concerned.

Watch video case studies and read patient testimonials at

www.horshampainrelief.co.uk

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T

om and Chesca Scanlon founded their own cider business, Nuthurst Orchard, after finding an ideal plot while on a tandem bicycle ride. Since then, they’ve been perfecting the art of combining the distinctive tastes of English and French apples. Tom explains how it all came to fruition...

Stephen Jackman FBHI

In Tandem...

We have lived in Horsham for 29 years, although I'm originally from Glasgow. We met in Brighton while both studying Medicine. I continue to do GP work and Chesca worked as a psychiatrist. Cider is something we turned to towards the end of our careers!

Chesca’s great-aunt passed away and left a little bit of money. We thought about paying off the mortgage, but had this dream of buying a little plot and planting an orchard, as we both enjoy

(Post Grad Diploma, West Dean/BADA)

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Tom Scanlon, who founded Nuthurst Orchard with wife Chesca (©AAH/Toby Phillips)

PROVIDERS A VISIT TO NUTHURST ORCHARD

cider and have previously grown fruit on an allotment patch.

We love to cycle and one day, were cycling near Nuthurst on a tandem bike when we came across pasture land for sale. It was ideal, as the field was sloped and south facing.

Orchards had been on the site before and flourished, as the soil has good levels of iron and other nutrients. So, we bought the plot in 2009.

We were fortunate to meet a Bolney farmer, Chris Hewings, who gave us invaluable tips on

(apple stems, seeds and skin) as well. There’s a lot to think about!

preparing the land for planting 300 trees. He triple-ploughed the field to help the trees grow properly. It worked, and five years later we started producing small amounts of cider for friends and family.

A French friend helped us source apple trees from Normandy. We trained at the Cider & Perry Academy in Gloucestershire and spent holiday time at a French cider farm to gave us some ideas. The French tend to prefer a more natural process, using minimal sulphites (which kills the natural yeast in apple juice) and that approach suited us.

I prefer French cider, whereas Chesca prefers English flavours.

So, we decided to combine the fruitiness of France with the bite of the English. Getting the balance perfect isn’t easy. Sharp varieties give high acidity, so you need sweet varieties that are lower in acidity too. For dryness and body, you need tannins

We grow six apples from France including Binet Rouge, Petit

51

Jaune, Saint-Martin, Michelin, Bisquet and Bedan. English varieties include Harry Masters Jersey, Black Dabinett, Kingston Black, Brown’s and Stoke Red. The quantities differ though, so we have a lot more English cider apples than French. We also grow dessert apples that can be added if the cider needs sweetening.

Making cider can be physical work, shaking trees and carrying crates around. Pressing hundreds of litres of juice is hard work too. We have friends and family who help, especially if the

Chesca Scanlon picks fresh apples from the orchard, where French and English varieties are grown (AAH/Toby Phillips Photography)

weather is nice. On a beautiful autumn day, you can almost feel the warm embrace of the trees around you, which is something quite special.

One of the biggest challenges is keeping animals at bay. Deer nibble the saplings and badgers love apples, particularly Bisquet!

They knock against trees to get them to drop! But our most regular visitor is a wren which nests in our barn every year,

because of the responses we’ve had, this year’s batch will be drier.

always in a different spot. She’s nested in the tractor and even in hats hanging on pegs. Once, Chesca went to put on a peaked cap and four wren fledglings appeared!

We didn’t think long and hard about the name. As we are on the road to the village, Nuthurst Orchard made sense. We started by selling small amounts at the Wisborough Green Fair and also sold mulled cider at the Horsham Christmas Market. But for a while, we weren’t producing enough to make bottling cost effective.

The best part of the job is tasting.

We have fun adjusting the cider until it’s right. It’s one third heart, one third science and one third luck! All we want is for people to like it and most do. We always listen to feedback though and

When we did bottle the cider, we needed a label. Our son Sean is quite creative and came up with the design. The label features a painting by Hugo van der Goes, a renowned 15th century Flemish artist. We had an idea based on the Garden of Eden, portraying an idyllic place along with the temptation of eating an apple. To make it contemporary, we adapted the image! Francesca can be seen in the background, driving a tractor!

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Positive Effect of the Buy-to-Let Market

Nuthurst Orchard is renowned for its fruity label! (©Toby Phillips Photography/AAH)

It’s fair to say that the money pages often tend to focus on the negative parts of the Buy-to-Let (BTL) market rather than the positive ones. I’m sure you will continue to see headlines around landlords selling property, but what you are less likely to read about is the continued resilience being shown by lenders, landlords, developers and investors - both domestic and overseas.

Currently, we produce between 2000 - 3000 litres a year. The two of us couldn’t cope with much more, although the trees will produce more as they grow. We want to diversify and offer a couple of ciders when we have the quantity, but still keep the workload manageable. It’s important for us to enjoy the experience, rather than milk it.

they were gone. Birds had eaten the lot! After that, we covered them up and now sell cherries to farm shops. We were told that Britain dosn’t produce enough cherries, so selling them wouldn’t be a problem. That has proved to be true. This year, we produced about 500 litres from our pear trees and eventually hope to have enough to bottle commercially.

We supply several farm shops and garden centres, including Crates Local and New Street Butchers (Horsham) and Jeremy’s Two (Cowfold). It’s also sold at Leonardslee and pubs including The Black Horse, White Horse, The Kings Arms and The Plough.

During lockdown, the orchard kept us sane. Being able to come here and make cider was an escape from what’s happened. We also buy into the local produce idea very strongly and take great satisfaction in being even a small part of that.

We grow plums, Perry pears and cherries too. We did have blueberries too, but a virus attacked the plants. Initially, we didn't cover the cherries with a net. They were lovely when they blossomed and then suddenly,

To contact Nuthurst Orchard: Email: tomjohnscanlon@hotmail.co.uk Interview: Ben Morris Photos: Toby Phillips Photography

HORSHAM REFLEXOLOGY Gina Iveson MAR

A number of factors are driving activity throughout the BTL sector. The obvious one being that a growing number of landlords are taking advantage of the current climates to expand their portfolios and tap into some changing tenant demands and priorities – in relation to property type, flexible home working capacity, location and outside space.

Houses appear to be more in demand than flats and it’s widely suggested that a greater number of people are looking to rent for longer. The return of the student population has also played a key role in both increased activity and demand. There was no Buy to Let property is an attractive guarantee of this happening proposition in the current climate during the early summer months and this represents a significant proportion of the BTL market, especially for professional landlords.

The more specialist areas such as holiday lets and ex-pat BTL are also seeing additional options emerge and there is also growing demand among first-time buyers looking to enter the BTL market.

This was highlighted in recent data from Legal and General which showed that criteria search combinations for first-time buyers, first-time landlords and non-owner occupiers have seen an 18% increase since the beginning of September. The data also showed that ‘holiday lets’ was the second most searched term among mortgage advisers in September, moving from the top spot in August. International travel restrictions have fuelled an increase in demand for ‘staycations’, with many choosing to holiday in the UK rather than travelling abroad.

The importance of the private rented sector continues to rise as the housing supply gap widens, the amount of affordable housing being built lessens and demand for rental property will only grow.

These factors are generating more opportunities for landlords and lending appetites are escalating to provide some highly competitive funding options.

So, if Buy to Let is something you are considering, speak to the professionals and especially a specialist in this area, in order to make the right impact..

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A medical chair is reconditioned at Trimbio (©AAH/Toby Phillips Photography)

TRIMBIO-DIVERSITY HORSHAM BUSINESS ADAPTS TO MEET DEMAND FOR PPE

D

uring the early stages of lockdown, as Covid-19 swept the nation, the demand for certain products grew exponentially.

Shoppers fought – literally at times – for toilet roll and canned food. Governments engaged in hostile bidding wars for Personal Protective Equipment, or PPE, an acronym unfamiliar to many not so long ago and now part of everyday life. Face masks destined for one country could end up elsewhere, if a better offer came along...

For businesses involved in the supply and distribution of health and medical equipment, this led to unpredictable trading. One such firm is Trimbio, based in Foundry Lane, Horsham. Despite the challenges presented by the pandemic, Trimbio has succeeded in adapting to the market place, offering products not only to its corporate clients, but directly to the public.

worrying time, as clinics that we depend on were forced to close and couldn’t meet patients face-to-face. Very quickly, we built a new website so that people who were now meeting practitioners over Zoom calls could buy consumable health and medical products. Within a couple of weeks, the website was operational and orders were being met.”

Simon Francis, who founded the company in 2013, said: “When Covid-19 first hit, I wondered how we would adapt. It was a

“Initially, we ran out of PPE, as products were being gobbled up by anyone who could get hold of it. Prices went through the roof as

Sanitising products are in demand (©AAH/Toby Phillips)

Trimbio sells first aid kits (©AAH/Toby Phillips) 55

people around the world tried to exploit the situation. One distributor was charging £50 for a litre of hand sanitiser! So, we decided to go directly to the manufacturers of sanitisers, aprons, gloves, face masks and other PPE products, as some of the most reputable companies didn’t put their prices up at all.”

“Fortunately for the public, distilleries started adapting, with many producing sanitisers, while manufacturing firms made face shields. This led to the price of such items coming down again

Medical equipment is reconditioned (©AAH/Toby Phillips)

and the market returned to some normality. We always kept our prices down and I’m proud that our face masks cost less than they do at Tesco. It feels great to offer PPE at a low price when it is needed by so many. We’ve even been able to donate hand sanitiser to local charities including Chestnut Tree House and The Springboard Project.”

‘Defibrillators are used in places where there’s a higher chance of somebody having a cardiac arrest.”

BUILDING A BUSINESS Simon showed entrepreneurial spirit at a young age, launching his first business from his bedroom at the age of 21. That business, relating to the supply and service of medical equipment, expanded and was eventually sold to a competitor. His second business was manufacturing medical lasers and that was sold to an American company. Simon then spent time abroad, sharing his expertise on the manufacturing and servicing of medical devices such as Continuous Passive Motion (CPM) machines, which aid limb movement after surgery.

Simon Francis, Managing Director of Trimbio, is a First Responder (©Toby Phillips Photography/AAH)

56

Seven years ago, he felt it was time to launch a new venture.

After much deliberation, he named it Trimbio, combining a word for ‘healthy’ with another for ‘life’. “That’s exactly what we’re all about!” he said.

Focusing on what Simon had learned in his career, Trimbio specialised in offering reconditioned couches and other equipment to medical and health professionals. “Essentially, a medical couch is a metal frame that occasionally needs re-upholstering and repair,” says Simon. “Everything in the health

Reconditioning medical devices requires a skilled team (©Toby Phillips Photography/AAH)

industry is expensive to buy new, primarily because of certification.

Products must be validated by various professional bodies and that requires huge investment, with lengthy lead times before a product can be marketed.”

“Because of the costs involved, buying new is beyond the means of many. It is more cost effective to buy a reconditioned couch, as they are still certified. Most of our customers are physiotherapists, osteopaths, chiropractors, sports therapists and podiatrists. We work with sports clubs too, ranging from grass-roots to professional teams, and NHS organisations including most hospital trusts and South East Coast Ambulance Service (SECAmb).”

“We are looking to expand into more GP practices, and to smaller sports clubs and groups, who may not know that we supply items like first-aid kits and health equipment including training mats, gym balls, exercise bands or taping and strapping.”

THE GIFT OF LIFE Another key aspect of the business is reconditioning electrical medical equipment, including electrocardiogram (ECG), ultrasounds and defibrillator devices. Defibrillators have become particularly important as they’re now commonplace in communities across the country.

“When I started the business, I wanted to offer something that nobody else was doing,” says Simon. “So, I researched medical devices, especially defibrillators. It was a huge challenge as working with defibrillators requires lots of certification for insurance purposes, as the consequences of faulty equipment are obviously very serious.”

“Once, had achieved that, we found there was increasing demand. Most of the machines we recondition come here from the NHS and have stickers to say which hospital they’re from. Once they’re back in good working order with news pads and batteries, they are sold to the private sector or become public access defibrillators in village halls, old telephone boxes and even sports clubs.”

“They’re used in places where it could take a long time for an ambulance to arrive and where there’s a higher chance of somebody having a cardiac arrest.

Some devices can be 15 or 20 years old, but they do the same job; deliver a shock that might save a life. You would certainly rather have an old defibrillator that is fully serviced and working to the latest standards, than not one at all!”

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57

FIRST RESPONDER Simon is well placed to comment as a Community First Responder.

He trained as a responder two years ago and as well as being one of the seven-strong team in Southwater, has taken on a Senior Team Leader role, overseeing The Gatwick & Redhill Operational Units covering Caterham down to Southwater.

He encourages others to undertake the training and become a Community First Responder. “When you dial 999 and talk to the Emergency Operational Centre at Gatwick, the operator will go through the protocol and if a patient requires urgent medical attention, the nearest available resource is immediately despatched. The closest responder would drop everything and head to the location and is often able to get there faster than the ambulance.”

A medical chair is re-upholstered at Trimbio (©Toby Phillips Photography/AAH)

“It has happened to me several times, including one instance when the patient had suffered a cardiac arrest. I was less than a mile away and was first on the scene three minutes later.”

Trimbio distributes PPE and medical supplies far and wide (©AAH/Toby Phillips Photography)

Authorised Dealership

Brighton Road Lower Beeding RH13 6NQ

The defibrillator device supplies an electrical shock to the patient's heart, but takes the onus of responsibility away from the user with vital information about the patient and step-bystep guidelines.

“Defibrillators are intelligent,” says Simon. “You put the pads on the patient and it performs an analysis of the heart rhythm, like an ECG, before it advises whether the patient can be shocked or not. The machine talks you through the entire process, so you can’t go wrong.”

“I’m lucky in that I can rush out the door without having to explain myself to the boss! But being able to potentially help save a life is an incredible thing to do and I urge others to get involved if they can.”

For further information: Unit 6b Mulberry Trading Estate, Foundry Lane, Horsham, RH13 5PX www.trimbio.co.uk Tel: (01403) 597597 Words: Ben Morris Photos: Toby Phillips

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