AAH March 2022

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AAH (ALL ABOUT HORSHAM) MARCH 2022 EDITOR: Ben Morris editor@aahorsham.co.uk (01903) 892899 AAH Magazine, 2 Viney Close, Ashington, RH20 3PT ADVERTISING: Ben Morris advertising@aahorsham.co.uk (01903) 892899

Villages: The Palmer family (BBH) the Murray family (Wickhurst Green) Nathan Williams (Mannings Heath); Lynsey Hare (Billingshurst), Nick Morris (Ashington), James Hobbs (Thakeham), Derek Bradnum (Nuthurst) The Morris family (West Chiltington)

Whistlestop Arts hosts Tours and Talks on towns and villages, with associated craft activities

ADVERT RATES Eighth Page £55 + VAT (93mm x 63mm) Quarter Page £110 + VAT (93mm x 133mm) Half Page £185 + VAT (190mm x 133mm) Full Page £310 + VAT (A4 with 4mm bleed) Double Page: £520 + VAT Special offer: Every sixth advert is placed free of charge, like a coffee shop! We can also design adverts if you need help, at no extra charge.

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PHOTOGRAPHY: Alan Wright alanwrightphotography.co.uk Email: alan.wright@ alanwrightphotography.co.uk 07747 617387 Alan works for AAH on a freelance basis and is available for family portraits, as well as corporate and commercial work.

PICK UP POINTS & STANDS Thousands of copies of AAH are also available in our stands at businesses, clubs and shops...

Horsham: Living Room at Swan Walk, 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, Gwyn’s Bakery (Bishopric) Village Stands: Billingshurst Leisure Centre, Bluecoat Sports (Christ’s Hospital), Leonardslee Lakes & Gardens (Lower Beeding), Warnham Village Stores (Warnham), Slinfold Golf Club (Slinfold), Steyning Leisure Centre and Cobblestone Walk (Steyning), Spring Gardens Nursery (Washington), Joanna’s Boutique Tearooms (Storrington), The Milk Churn (Rudgwick), Meadow Stores and Cafe (Thakeham)

9 News Round-Up Michelin stars retained by two local restaurants and the Floral Fringe Fair returns to Leonardslee

17 Community

Fashion Peter Christian is a Partridge Green business specialising in gentlemen’s clothing 4

33 Special Feature Ten years on from our last visit, we meet the Carthusian monks at St Hugh’s monastery, Parkminster

47 Music

COVER STORY The March 2022 cover features Annalees Lim and Luna Russell, co-founders of Whistestop Arts. We met them at Kaya Café, but spent the first half an hour talking about the monks at Parkminster, where we’d spent most of the day.

We had planned to take a photo of Annalees and Luna in Horsham Park, which is the subject of a Whistlestop Virtual Day Trip. However, sunlight was fading and the park doesn’t look its best in February. Fortunately, we’d spent so long chatting about the lives of Cathusians that the café had closed and we were the last customers. The staff kindly let us stay a while longer for the photo shoot, with Alan using the beautiful, floral wallpaper as a backdrop.

Other cover contenders include one of the monks walking the Grand Cloisters at Parkminster, and Ruaraidh Sutherland, Musical Director of the CH Choral Society.

ABOUT AAH AAH is an independent monthly magazine, owned by editor Ben Morris, a life-long resident of the Horsham District. It is distributed to doors, as well as pick-up points around the Horsham District.

AAH ONLINE aahorsham.co.uk AAH is published online on the 1st of each month. Archive editions are online too, along with past features.

DISTRIBUTION The magazine is delivered to about 13,000 homes in Horsham, Southwater and villages including Broadbridge Heath, Billingshurst and new estates at Highwood and Wickhurst Green.

DOOR-TO-DOOR TEAM Horsham: Jacquie Paterson, the Judd family, the Rollingson family, the Voisey family, Katie Drysdale, the Garner family, Jill Shuker, the Arliss family, the Bloomfield family, Eve Lovett, Lara Green, the Gavira family, Harvey Dold, Alessandro Cavallo, Jack Nicholls, the McCormick family, Charlie Merchant, Harry Baker, the Walker family.

Southwater: The Brown family, the Chapman family

Christ’s Hospital Choral Society rehearse in the School’s Chapel, preparing for a Jubilee concert

Ooh, that’s exciting...

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From April 2022, in association with Self Select Distribution, we’ll be printing extra copies for the free pick-up points at Tesco Extra in Broadbridge Heath and Sainsbury’s in Horsham. We also have a stand in the Living Room at Swan Walk Shopping Centre (right) If you’d like to advertise your business in a publication that always promotes the best of the District, please contact Ben at editor@aahorsham.co.uk

Health At Kerwin Court in Slinfold, people who have suffered brain injuries are helped with their rehabilitation

BACK ISSUES We keep copies of past editions. They cost £3.50 each (includes postage).

For enquiries email editor@aahorsham.co.uk LEAFLETS We can deliver leaflets with AAH at a cost of only £40 + VAT per 1,000. For details, email Ben at: editor@aahorsham.co.uk NOTES Jake Lovett moves on from his delivery round in Merryfield Drive, with the Walker family stepping in to take over. Best of luck, Jake!

Nathan Williams is moving on from his delivery round in Mannings Heath. All the best for the future, Nathan. If anyone is interested in taking over this village round, please contact the editor.

The AAH stand has now returned to Swan Walk Shopping Centre in Horsham. It can be found in the Living Room.

HIDDEN GEMS

Notes from the Editor: Exploring Horsham’s Best Kept Secret

Chris Wintermeyer at The Capitol (©AAH/Alan Wright 2021)

People often ask me for my opinion on Horsham’s best kept secret.

Well, actually they don’t. I don’t think anybody’s ever said, “Hey, you run that mag, don’t you? It’s always bothered me, where’s the one place in Horsham that’s more beneficial or enjoyable than its popularity would currently suggest?” But for a moment, let’s pretend it happens all the time…

Whenever I’m asked this question, a few obvious contenders spring to mind. The Knepp estate, where you can look out from tree-top viewing points at storks nesting high in the trees; Warnham Local Nature Reserve, where you can see herons wading on the fringes of Mill Pond; Sumners Ponds, where even a novice fisherman like me can catch carp and silver bream; RSPB Pulborough Brooks, where you can scope out peregrine falcons from Hanger View; Horsham’s Riverside Walk, where you can amble along The Causeway and within minutes feel a world away from town.

But they’re not really secrets if you live in the District, which if you’re reading this, you probably do. Unless you’re a visitor who’s picked up AAH from the rail station on the way back to London, in which case, can I politely request you stop stuffing your discarded train tickets down the side of my stand? I have to stick my hand down there to clear them and I worry about spiders.

To suggest any of the above as Horsham’s best kept secret would be a legitimate yet predictable answer, wouldn’t it? Like picking The Godfather as your favourite film or inviting Albert Einstein, Nelson Mandela and the Dalai Lama to your imaginary dinner party.

So, I’d sit down and ponder the question in more depth. “Hmm, Horsham’s best kept secret?”

A few venues could be possible contenders. Ridge Hill Studios in Rusper, where Queen, Oasis and The Three Tenors recorded; St Mary’s House in Bramber, where HRH Prince Edward once filmed an episode of Crown and Country; The Blue Idol in Coolham, the historic Quaker meeting house; Huxley’s Bird of Prey Centre, where you can hold out an arm and flinch as a Harris hawk swoops towards you; Steyning’s Cobblestone Walk, where you can try out wonderful Himalayan Singing Bowls while your partner lets you know through a series of scowls that buying one will not be met with approval.

Maybe even St Hugh’s Charterhouse in Cowfold, featured in this edition (p33).

Then again, there’s a reason why that’s a secret, isn’t there? It’s for Carthusian monks who have given up all worldly possessions to live a life of solitude. It’s bad enough me going there to take pictures; labelling it “Horsham’s best kept secret” wouldn’t be something they’d thank me for!

I could suggest a few dining out spots, Restaurant Tristan in East Street and Interlude at Leonardslee being the obvious two. But others that do what they do brilliantly as well. Billy’s on the Road in Five Oaks, Joanna’s Boutique Tea Rooms in Storrington, Chequers at Rowhook, The Green Man in Partridge Green...

Then again, there’s no secrets when it comes to food and drink in Horsham, is there? As I found out when I tried to grab a bite to eat on a Friday night without booking first! We were turned away from The Black Jug, China Brasserie and Monte Forte (it wasn’t even worth asking at Cote, Ask and Wagamama’s) before a wonderful waitress at Pizza Express went above and beyond to make space for us.

Or I could suggest a regular night of entertainment, such as Horsham Arts Club, featuring jazz/funk/blues band W3.

Regular readers will recall we featured trumpeter Chris Wintermeyer (who lives in Horsham) on our June 2021 cover, before HAC had even launched. It has gone on to be a great success and it’s normal to see the entire audience get up (“get on up!”) to dance, then hang around afterwards as W3 host a relaxed “jam” session in the bar.

What started as a “hidden gem” has quickly evolved into a scramble for tickets.

So maybe, there’s no such thing as a “best kept secret.” After all, if something’s worth shouting about, we tend not to keep it to ourselves, do we?

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Horsham’s only co-educational independent school for ages 4 to 18

OPEN MORNING Saturday, 12th March 2022 10am-1pm Advance booking essential

Farlington School | Strood Park | Horsham | West Sussex | RH12 3PN | UK Tel: 01403 282573 | Email: admissions@farlingtonschool.com | www.farlingtonschool.com Individuality | Opportunity | Community

NEWS ROUND-UP Announcements & Events from across the Horsham District Email submissions to editor@aahorsham.co.uk

9 Tristan Mason (Photo courtesy of Emma Wyatt/Restaurant Tristan)

Stan’s Way in 2008 and it has long been a favourite of diners for its rustic charm and creative dishes. restauranttristan.co.uk Restaurant Interlude was created within Leonardslee House, with South African

Jean Delport at the helm. The 21-course ‘Estate Experience’ menu takes inspiration from the surrounding gardens. Recently, the rooms above the restaurant were transformed into a hotel. restaurant-interlude.co.uk

Mel’s Milers (©AAH/Toby Phillips)

Restaurant Tristan in Horsham and Restaurant Interlude at Leonardslee Lakes & Gardens in Lower Beeding have both retained a One Star rating in the 2022 Great Britain & Ireland Michelin Guide.

Tristan Mason established his restaurant in

Mel’s Milers hold a 10k race on Sunday 3 April, at 10am. The scenic, multi-terrain course starts at Christ's Hospital and takes in the Downs Link and Southwater Country Park. This is the 18th year Mel’s Milers have organised the race, this year held in support of Over the Wall, a charity for the families of children who face serious health challenges. There are medals for finishers, with chip timing and prizes for leading male and female runners in age categories including U18 and over-40, 50, 60 and 70.

UK Athletics rules apply. Entry £16 (£14 for affiliated runners/£10 U18s). melsmilers.co.uk

A new community centre has opened on the Needles Estate in Horsham.

Blackbridge Community Centre in Three Acres has been created by refurbishing and integrating St Peter’s Hall and the Royal Air Force Association Club (RAFA). The Horsham District Council building has a large hall for community use and events and a smaller hall for meetings, with LED lighting, free Wi-Fi, fully-furnished kitchen, free parking and wheelchair access. horsham.gov.uk/community/rooms-forhire/blackbridge-community-centre

Parham Racecourse hosts Point-to-Point, an amateur version of National Hunt racing or the Steeplechase, on Saturday 23 April.

The course, at Hurston Lane, a mile west of Storrington, has hosted racing for 65 years.

The Countryside Arena displays start at 11am and include terrier racing, bale scurry, Jason Mayhew gundogs, falconry, the dog and duck show and a dog show. Pony racing starts at 12pm and the main racing at 2pm. parhamraces.com

Floral Fringe Fair 2019 (©Louise Adams)

Connor Selby and his five-piece band perform at Coolham Live Music Club at Coolham Village Hall on Saturday 19 March, at 7pm. The singer/songwriter has received rave reviews and won two UK Blues Awards in 2020. He also opened for The Who at Wembley Stadium. Support comes from duo David Migden and Joe Gibson. Bring your own refreshments. Tickets £20 from coolhamtickets@gmail.com

Olivia Shotton (©Helena Cooke)

Horsham Chamber Choir presents Music for Reflection, headlining with Fauré’s Requiem, at St John the Evangelist Church, Springfield Road, Horsham, RH12 2PJ, on 2 April, at 8pm.

In her first full season, Royal Academy conductor Olivia Shotton is already expanding the choir’s repertoire. The concert includes music by Zoltán Kodaly and Lili Boulanger. Organ accompanist is Richard Gowers, violin soloist is Angus Bain. Reserve tickets for £15 (U18s £8) from information@horsham-chamberchoir.org.uk horsham-chamberchoir.org.uk

The Floral Fringe Fair returns to Leonardslee Gardens, Lower Beeding on 4 – 5 June, from 10am - 5pm. After two years away due to COVID, the event will coincide with the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations.

Expect artists and makers, vintage stalls, plants, food stalls, beer tent, a vintage pop-up cafe and all the ingredients for a picnic in the park. Dressing up in vintage or Steampunk theme is welcome, or just wear a nice hat. Owners of classic cars can use a special car park with reduced entry price.

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Jubilation!

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Dogs welcome on leads. Entry £10 (children £5/U4s free). Price excludes entry to Leonardslee gardens. floralfringefair.co.uk Leonardslee hosts Spring Sounds on 18 – 22 and 25 – 29 May. There will be 10 evenings of live music with an eclectic mix of jazz, swing, opera, classical and flamenco across five stages, with ticket holders able to enjoy five performances each night. Tickets £35 (children £15) from leonardsleegardens.co.uk

The Rude Mechanical Theatre Company perform Gods and Dogs at Dial Post Village Green on Thursday 28 July, 7.30pm. The Rudes perform their own brand of high tempo, physical theatre. This new comic dystopian allegory is set in 2084 on the fictitious island of Abatina, in a world where people are either glamorous celebrities or slobbering, dog-like followers gripped to their telepafones.

The story follows Tina who enters Marriage Maker, a gameshow where you can marry a glamorous footballer and divorce him after the weekend. But things go wrong when they fall in love.

Tickets £22 (Students £15, Children £10) from 01323 501260 or therudemechanicaltheatre.co.uk

Jeneba Kanneh-Mason

Petworth Festival will be held at Seaford College on 28 - 29 May. To celebrate the Royal Jubilee, Saturday’s programme includes A Royal Variety Performance featuring Joe Stilgoe, Jeneba KannehMason, Liane Carroll, The Dunlop Sisters and Judge the Poet. Sunday’s programme includes an audience with Royal biographer Robert Lacey (11.30am), a Big Picnic (1pm) and Vintage Tea-Dance with 78rpm (from 3pm). Stewart Collins, the Festival’s Artistic Director, said: “I’m convinced our combination of events will both help celebrate the remarkable phenomenon that is our Queen, and also ensure that people get back out and about and start enjoying themselves again in the company of some superb artists.” petworthfestival.org.uk

Horsham Symphony Orchestra (©Toby Phillips Photography 2017)

Horsham Symphony Orchestra performs its Spring Concert at the Capitol on Saturday 12 March, at 7.30pm. In their 50th anniversary season, HSO perform Stravinsky’s delightful Divertimento from the ballet The Fairy’s Kiss. Acclaimed local soloist Pavlos Carvalho joins the orchestra for a performance of Schumann’s lyrical Cello Concerto, with the concert closing with a roof-raising performance of Sibelius’s majestic Second Symphony. Conductor is Steve Dummer. Tickets £16 (Over-60s £14, U18s £5) from 01403 750220 or thecapitolhorsham.com

TOOVEY’S 11

Discovered by us on a routine valuations visit to a family home in West Sussex: a Japan Meiji 10-yen Year 3 pattern gold coin 1870, auctioned in our January sale of coins for £260,000 ~ a world record auction price for an example of this rare coin

Looking to sell your coin collection?

Entries are invited for our next specialist sale of Coins & Banknotes on 12th April For free, no-obligation valuations, please call to arrange an appointment with our coin specialist Mark Stonard The leading antique and fine art auction house in West Sussex

SPRING GARDENS, A24 WASHINGTON, RH20 3BS 01903 891955 auctions@tooveys.com www.tooveys.com

Windlesham House has opened a swimming academy for pupils to receive elite training. Selected pupils will train up to six days a week with coaches from within the school and from Worthing Swim Club, in the school’s fivelane pool, opened by five-time Olympian Mark Foster in 2018.

Through the academy, pupils will

(©AAH/Toby Phillips)

develop in line with Swim England’s Optimal Athlete Development Framework. They will also learn how to play water polo and take part in open water swimming in the sea. Windlesham also offers a swimming scholarship and scholars will be invited to join the Academy. windlesham.com

Mark Foster at the opening of Windlesham School’s pool (©AAH/Toby Phillips)

Horsham District Council is holding a public consultation into the existing markets in the town centre. There are a number of street markets operating on Thursdays and Saturdays and the Council is asking residents and visitors what they would like to see in future, including the potential for permanent indoor market space. https://bit.ly/HorshamMarket Survey

Toyfairs will be held in Ashington and Broadbridge Heath in the coming months. Buy, sell and swap toys old and new including Hornby trains, Dinky and Corgi die-casts and TV & film merchandise. Toyfairs are held at Broadbridge Heath Village Hall, Wickhurst Lane, RH12 3LY on Saturdays 23 April and 30 July, and Ashington Community Centre, RH20 3PG on Sundays 13 March, 17 April and 1 May.

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To find out more please contact: Gemma Spencer (Solicitor), or Sarah Kench (Solicitor), or Philip M Lansberry (Partner and Head of Legal) For all your business, tax and wealth needs Call: +44 (0)1403 253 282 Email: enquiries@krestonreeves.com Visit: www.krestonreeves.com We adhere to the Covid-19 guidance by socially distance at meetings, conduct matters over telephone, email or virtually.

We can help you with: •Will writing •Setting up a trust •Probate and estate administration •Arranging lasting power of attorney

Results from a food waste collection trial amongst residents have been analysed by Horsham District Council’s Recycling and Waste team. About 100 households took part in the trial, separating food waste and Absorbent Hygiene Products (e.g. nappies and incontinence waste).

Participants were given free bins, including a lockable food waste recycling bin, and a handy kitchen caddy. Participants recycled 2,657kg of food waste in 12 weeks, each household collecting on average 3.05kg of food waste a week. Cllr Toni Bradnum, HDC’s Cabinet Member for Recycling and Waste, said: “No decision has been made on the future pattern of waste collections but this trial should pave the way to building upon our current great recycling record.” horsham.gov.uk/foodwaste Storrington friends Jack Evans and Sam Alford are trekking some of the tallest mountains in the UK to raise funds for local children’s hospice, Chestnut Tree House. The two 18-year-olds plan to climb Ben Nevis in Scotland, Scafell Pike in England and Snowdon in 24hours, having previously ridden from John O’Groats to Land’s End in aid of Macmillan. They set off for their Three Peaks Challenge on Saturday 2 April.

To support the pair, visit: justgiving.com/fundraising/jack-evansand-sam-alford

New information boards at Coolham Airfield

New information boards have been installed around Coolham Airfield, telling the stories of those who served and died there in the Second World War. Paper information sheets were placed around the perimeter in 2019 to mark the 75th anniversary of D-Day, along with a memorial bench and information board, built by Shipley Men Shed. For those walking around the historic site, they provided details about the runways, as well as tragic incidents at the airfield. Now, 20 permanent signs are in place, thanks to efforts by the Horsham and Shipley Community Project, supported by Shipley Parish Council. It is hoped these new signs will keep the history of this special place alive. Coolham Airfield is also one of the Horsham Heritage Trails, available on the Horsham Museum website.

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Fantastic selection of meats and sausages available from the Horsham Local Produce Market every Saturday from 8am - 4pm.

Here is a small selection of what we have to offer you: Rolled turkey breast with a bacon lattice * Ribs of Beef * Pigs In Blankets Sausage Wreaths * Sausage Meats * Gammon Joints Go to our website to see the full range available

10% OFF

Valid until 31 March 2022. Cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer. Redeemable from Horsham Market or as a pre-order collection (from Blatchford Close)

(01403) 262233 infobangersgalore@gmail.com Unit 10 Blatchford Close, Horsham, RH13 5RG @bangersgalore

Visit us online at www.bangersgalore.co.uk

©www.nick-helm.co.uk

Horsham resident Mel Swain has written The Medway and the Military, focusing on one of the longest rivers in the south east and the impact of the Royal Engineers on Medway towns.

When did a football team from Chatham win the FA Cup? Why did a Medway castle store more gunpowder than the Tower of London? The answers can be found in the book, which costs £5.99 from Amazon.

Tony Turner’s book, Winners & Losers, focuses on the race to produce the world’s first modern airliner. Between the two World Wars, governments and early aviation pioneers turned their attention to commercial aircraft for the carriage of mail, goods and passengers. Tony’s book highlights how nations pursued the idea differently, with the USA eventually emerging as world leaders. The 190-page book isn’t available in shops. It can be purchased from Tony for £9 (plus £1 p&p) at tt.consultancy@sky.com

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Nick Helm headlines Friday Night Comedy at The Rec Rooms, Horsham, on Friday 1 April, at 7pm.

Nick is best known as the star of BBC comedy Uncle. Ivo Graham, Kate McGann and Donal Vaughan also perform, while Danny Ward comperes. Tickets £20 (tables of two, four or six available) from therecrooms.com

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Gina Hollands, an author with local links, has launched a new book, The Fall and Rise of Ronni Fairweather. It tells the story of Ronni, who thinks she has it all, until one day her life changes forever and she is forced to start again. Gina has written four other novels and several novellas. Published by Ruby Fiction, the book is available on Amazon in paperback or as an ebook. ginahollands.com Horsham author Andrew Ostrer’s new book, The Spanish Claimant, has been published by Pegasus. One of Andrew’s lifetime ambitions was to write a thriller, which he has done after attending WEA courses in Creative Writing and becoming a member of Lingfield Writing Group. For a synopsis of the book or to buy a copy, visit pegasuspublishers.com

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GO WHISTLE WHISTLESTOP ARTS TAKES PEOPLE ON A VIRTUAL TOUR

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Annalees Lim and Luna Russell at Kaya Cafe in Horsham Park (©AAH/Alan Wright)

Whistlestop Arts is a Community Interest Company providing creative projects in the Horsham District. We meet founders Luna Russell and Annalees Lim as they prepare to launch the Mystery Trails…

COME TOGETHER The co-founders previously worked in similar fields, Luna in community arts development and Annalees in accessible arts projects. But it wasn’t until the Horsham District Year of Culture in 2019 that the two became firm friends. Annalees was involved in the Horsham District Street Pianos project, while Luna led Edge-to-Edge, a sewing initiative in rural towns and villages. As the Year of Culture ended, they met for a coffee to discuss ways of carrying on community work. “We weren’t sure exactly what we should do,” recalls Annalees. “One idea was to extend Luna’s bunting and sewing project, which had brought together the community. It had worked well in

villages like Partridge Green and Bramber and there was scope to extend it into Horsham and larger villages like Steyning and Pulborough. Then COVID hit and changed our direction.”

HAPPY TALK Before the pandemic, Annalees ran craft sessions at Brighton Road Baptist Church for the visually impaired. It was held twice monthly and was a highlight for those that attended. So when it was cancelled due to COVID, Annalees wondered how she could help them when they most needed it. The duo established Whistlestop Arts as a Community Interest Company (CIC) and applied for a Sussex Community Foundation grant to fund a series of Talks. In the talks, Luna and Annalees explored the local countryside and places of cultural interest, recording their thoughts and interviewing people with specialist knowledge. The edited pieces were made available as audio recordings on USB sticks, which could be

delivered directly to doors. Luna said: “We had realised by this time that we could talk to each other all day, so that wasn’t a problem! Our first Talk was at Horsham Museum, with former manager Jeremy Knight speaking about various aspects of the museum. This was followed by talks at Woods Mill Nature Reserve, Rudgwick Heritage Trail and Petworth Deer Park.”

Annalees added: “Most of the people we were reaching were well used to USB sticks, as they received the talking newspaper in the same format. So, we could drive around and deliver the talks, along with materials for a craft activity.

MEMORIES ARE MADE OF THIS To accompany the museum talk, people could make a memory box with decoupage and fill it with their own photos and memories. The talks were also placed online, where people could download craft sheets too.

Craft activities at the Phoenix Stroke Club in Horsham

GIRLS ON FILM They expanded on this idea in a project called ‘Visit…’ commissioned and funded by Horsham District Council. In this series, Whistlestop Arts visited Horsham town as well as Henfield, Billingshurst, Steyning, Pulborough and Storrington. In collaboration with Silvertip Films and Horsham TV, they made six videos, which were available on their website and YouTube, as well as audio podcasts. As before, a craft activity accompanied each Visit, while a Visit ‘passport’ was available to 18

Luna and Annalees recording a voiceover

download so people could keep a record of where they’d been. Luna said: “We researched the heritage of each location, and always interviewed someone with local knowledge.

The Visits included practical information like where to park, locations of public toilets, public transport services and disabled facilities. That helped people prepare their visit and gave them more confidence.

During COVID, some towns implemented one-way systems on footpaths, which was difficult for people with visual impairments, so to have such information available beforehand made a difference.”

DAY TRIPPER By now, Luna and Annalees were starting to enjoy being in front of the camera! The success of the ‘Visit…’ series led to more funding for Virtual Day Trips, with the duo once again acting as tour guides. The Day Trips focus on places of interest in more depth, with the first one featuring Horsham Park. The team met people connected to the park including gardeners, volunteers who created the bee hotel, and members of the bowls club. Working with Age UK West

Luna Russell, co-founder of Whistlestop Arts (©AAH/Alan Wright)

Sussex Brighton and Hove, they also took the Horsham Park Day Trip to residents of Lavinia House and other local care homes, showing them the video and running associated craft activities to small, socially-distanced groups, finishing in the usual fashion – with tea and cake! Luna said: “We spoke to some wonderful people, including a writer in the park’s Poetry Corner who gave us a great reading of his father’s poem. Sally Sanderson, Chair of the Friends of Horsham Park, another project partner, was a great help too, while her husband led a tai chi and chi gong session virtually. Afterwards, people shared their memories of the park. Some hadn’t been there for many years and didn’t know about its new features, while some recalled meeting partners or husbands there.”

“We hope the Mystery Trails appeal to everyone, from couples out for a stroll to businesses looking for team building activities.”

Luna Russell

THE BEST THINGS IN LIFE ARE FREE During organised visits to community groups such as Age UK or the Phoenix Stroke Club, craft activities have proved particularly popular. To accompany the Horsham Park tour, people can make their own bee hotel, using basic materials. The feel of the bamboo and the scent of lavender makes it a sensory experience, especially for those who haven’t been able to explore much during COVID.

Annalees said: “What we’d like is for more care homes and afternoon clubs to take advantage of the Virtual Day Trip. We have created resource packs including video, audio and the materials they need. It’s all there ready to download on our website, free of charge. They provide a fun, informative activity, and often inspire people to visit the places they’ve seen or heard about. The craft activities can be done very cheaply and anyone who wants to deliver a session can contact us and we’ll happily guide them.”

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SWEET LITTLE MYSTERY Whistlestop Arts’ next project will be Horsham District Mystery Trails, a commissioned by HDC. The initiative is supported by the Welcome Back Fund from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). The Mystery Trails will be in the same six towns as ‘Visit…’, with Southwater added too, and will have an outdoor escape room twist. Local libraries will be the main hub for the trails, based around a fictional character called Answare. Annalees said: “Answare is President of the Curators’ Alliance and in each location, you’ll meet a different curator. Their nemesis is the Grey Shadow, which is creating misery and trying to steal the secret formula for ASHENPIPS. To throw the Grey Shadow off the scent, the curators have hidden clues for the Secret Seekers - the players of the game – to find. By following the clues, players discover what ASHENPIPS is. There’s a sticker at the end of each trail and once you’ve collected all seven, there’s a special eighth one. A secret code from each trail can also be unscrambled to reveal a password, which in turn can be used on the website to reveal the final chapter of the entire story.”

43 20

C’MON EVERYBODY

Annalees Lim, co-founder of Whistlestop Arts (©AAH/Alan Wright)

The Mystery Trails feature graphics and illustrations by Annalees, who has experience of designing children’s craft books, and launches on March 31 (whistlestoparts.org/mystery-trails).

However, as Luna explains, it isn’t just for kids. “Annalees is a fantastic artist and has created something colourful and imaginative that children will love. But we hope the Mystery Trails appeal to everyone, from couples out for a stroll to businesses looking for team-building activities. They are challenging, as we wanted to create an escape room feel. We’ve taken the idea outside and made it more accessible and affordable. The Mystery Trails offer a real exploration of the District’s towns and villages, with opportunities to take a break at a local café for a slice of cake. What more could you ask for?”

WORDS: BEN MORRIS PHOTOS: ALAN WRIGHT Further information: whistlestoparts.org For a free set of resources for a Virtual Day Trip of Horsham Park, email: whistlestoparts@gmail.com whistlestoparts

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LORD TROUSERS,

OUTDOOR SEATING AVAILABLE

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KING Focus on Peter Christian

Renovated 16th Century Barn New House Farm Shop and Tea Room is located in a beautifully renovated 16th Century barn in a quiet spot on the rural outskirts of Horsham. People come from all over to enjoy our cafe and local produce.

Strawberry Fields Tea Rooms Based on the Star Road Industrial Estate in Partridge Green, Peter Christian is a growing brand in the world of online men’s fashion. Founded

by Nicholas Alderton (known as Lord Trousers) and wife Miranda, the business is now making waves across the pond.

AAH paid a visit…

Nick, when did you start the business?

We were previously involved in a menswear business with relatives, but disagreed on the company’s direction. So, in 2003 we decided to go it alone, with Miranda responsible for buying while I oversee the marketing operation.

The Alderton family has a long association with gentlemen’s fashion…

The family mythology is that Samuel Alderton walked from Suffolk to London and was offered a job at an East End tailors after unpicking his waistcoat and re-stitching it. He founded his own shop in 1860 and the Alderton’s name grew,

opening branches across the city. But one night during the blitz, all eight shops went up in smoke. At one point, there was also an Alderton’s opposite King Alfred’s in Brighton, as it was a naval station and officers could get their uniforms fitted there.

Why didn’t you call your business Alderton’s?

When we started out, we wanted to advertise in national newspapers, which involved putting up a large deposit that we couldn’t afford. Peter Christian was a family-run firm in Ormskirk, Liverpool. They were struggling to make it work but already had a national marketing campaign. At the time, it made financial sense for us to buy the business, which at the time focused on shoes.

Having been as successful as we have, of course there’s some regret we didn’t revive the Alderton’s name, but it wasn’t viable at the time.

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25

“There are only a handful of mills and yet Harris tweed is in demand all over the world.”

What were your initial aims?

We didn't know shoes like we know menswear, so we switched our focus to men’s clothing. When I was growing up, there were independent gentlemen's outfitters in every town. They were always immaculate with polished parquet floors and mahogany cabinets with gleaming glass tops, where old men in suits would fuss over you. I loved these shops, but gradually they were pushed out, first by department stores and later by the online market.

I look back with nostalgia at such times and wanted to recapture that magic.

Kate Peat adjusts a pair of corduroy trousers (©AAH/Alan Wright)

Shaws Glass has been part of the business landscape in Horsham for over 20 years.

Our family firm is the region’s independent choice for all things glass, including:

How can you do that online?

We offer the same traditional service in a modern way. Rather than fussing over customers in a shop, we do it online or on the phone. Our sellers know the stock very well and impart that on to the customers.

CONSERVATORIES

What do you sell?

Everything you’d expect of a top gentlemen’s outfitters. Trousers in a range of materials, from tweed to chinos, as well as suits, waistcoats, jackets, knitwear, shirts and shoes. We also have accessories including leather baker boys’ caps, Sherlock Holmesstyle Deerstalker Harris tweed hats, velvet smoking caps, berets and paisley scarves. Some of these items don’t sell in vast quantities, but they’re a bit nutty and there’s plenty of nutty people out there! Peaky Blinders did us a huge favour. We already offered 1930s driving style caps, but the programme helped other caps become popular.

26

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Miranda, are these Peter Christian’s own designs?

We do sell clothes and accessories by some hand-picked brands, such as Geox, which makes insulated jackets, complement our range, like Ben Sherman shirts, or make specialist accessories, such as Dents driving gloves. However, most of what we sell is labelled as Peter Christian, which is good quality, made-for-purpose clothes accessible to everybody.

The website is regularly updated (©AAH/Alan Wright)

Where are the clothes made?

Our clothes are made from fabrics that we’ve chosen at trade fairs and made at overseas factories to our specification. Our clothes are made using comfortable and durable fabrics like moleskin, chino, corduroy, cotton, wool, tweed and khaki.

They often have hidden waistband extenders for extra movement and comfort.

How often do you replace the range?

Menswear hasn’t changed much in decades.

Men still love wearing corduroy or moleskin trousers, tweed jackets and woollen scarves.

High-end fashion is constantly evolving, but most men stick to fabrics and colours they

Miles Goatley in the warehouse (©AAH/Alan Wright)

know and love, and I don’t think British style will ever go out of fashion. One of the reasons customers return to us is that we maintain consistency, so when it comes to replacing corduroys bought five years ago, it’s not a problem.

Have you ever sold women’s clothing?

We tried and we failed a long time ago, before we established Peter Christian. We didn’t appreciate that women shop in an entirely different way.

Tweed remains popular…

We buy a lot of Harris tweed and have built up good relationships on the Scottish island,

where the cloth is handwoven. I’ve been there several times myself. It’s good to have established partnerships, as there are only a handful of mills and yet Harris tweed is in demand all over the world, especially America. Once, an Afghan man turned up at our warehouse with his driver and bought four Harris tweed suits!

How did you fare during COVID? We thought everyone would go into survival mode and shut down, but that’s not what happened. We closed when we were supposed to, but customers kept calling.

Amazon was still selling clothes online and we couldn’t see the difference between 27

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them and what we were doing. So, Nick and I started processing orders. It ended up being a productive period, as people were stuck at home and had a genuine need for new clothes, as shirts were frayed and socks were holed.

Nick, are men becoming more adventurous with clothing?

In terms of colours and patterns, they are.

When we started out, we introduced bold new colours which drew customers who were fed-up of only having beige, brown, navy or black to choose from. There’s always been a perception of brightly-coloured trousers being exclusively for older men.

Michael Portillo is one example and I myself have the nickname Lord Trousers. But bright trousers are now popular with young people too, while style is returning to weddings again. For too long, men would just hire a black or grey suit and white shirt, but now they want distinctive styles with tweed waistcoats and lavish cravats.

You have your own distinct logo...

Our logo features two boxing hares. I’ve only even seen boxing hares once, in my teens, but it had a profound impression on me. So, we commissioned an artist to produce it. It has been worth every penny as it features heavily on our branding.

Do you have celebrity customers?

A well-known chef buys from us and we have great fun spotting our clothes on the Antiques Road Trip. We once received an order for eight pairs of corduroys from an F. Coppola and it turned out to be the film director. We now call him The Cordfather!

28

Nick Alderton, aka Lord Trousers (©AAH/Alan Wright)

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He contacted you from America?

Our son Max came into the business to focus on e-commerce, as that’s something his dear old dad didn’t understand. He had ambitions to break the American market, so we gave him some room to play with and it has been a huge success. Just a year ago, it was about 15% of our market and it’s now double that and growing. Marketing to a worldwide customer base requires money though. We spend eye-watering sums on print advertising in publications such as the Wall Street Journal, and every day it’s a battle to be top of the Google rankings. It’s worth it, as it brings in customers, but we’re not riding around in our own helicopter yet!

INTERVIEW: BEN MORRIS PHOTOS: ALAN WRIGHT Further information: 01273 493393 helpdesk@peterchristian.co.uk peterchristian.co.uk Facebook: PeterChristianOutfitters/ Instagram: lord_trousers/

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SILENT PARTNERS A Carthusian monk steps into the Church, under a statue of St Hugh of Lincoln and his swan companion (©AAH/Alan Wright)

THE CARTHUSIAN MONKS OF ST HUGH’S, PARKMINSTER In 2011, AAH visited St Hugh’s Charterhouse, Parkminster. Readers have asked us about it ever since, fascinated by the lives of the men inside the only Carthusian Monastery in the UK. Here, we return for the first time in ten years...

One of the monks greets us before we even reach the front door of St Hugh’s.

Almost immediately, Brother Patrick quashes some of our preconceptions. He’s wearing a stiped apron over a blue habit, the name given to a monk’s long, flowing garment. The hood is lowered and he’s wearing a woolly hat to keep warm.

He’s a surprisingly good conversationalist too. By the time we’ve walked the slightly arched bricked pathway to the church, we’ve already discussed the challenges of pressure washing a listed building, and why

Looking at the entrance from above the Church (©AAH/Alan Wright)

The workshop is now rarely used by the monks (©AAH/Alan Wright)

the statue of Saint Hugh depicts him with a swan at his side. In transpires that while at Lincoln, the swan was St Hugh’s constant companion, even guarding him as he slept.

The 203ft spire at the heart of the 240-acre monastery (also known as Parkminster) can be seen from several miles away, nestled amongst farmland between Cowfold, Shermanbury and the hamlet of Littleworth to the west. In the first half of the 20th century, the monks would often by seen walking in Cowfold village, but now tend to stick to rural footpaths during their weekly walk outside the grounds.

The beautiful Chapter House (©AAH/Alan Wright)

33

A monk in blue habits (they also wear white) rings the church bell (©AAH/Alan Wright)

Inside the Chapel, at 12:30am every night, the monks come together for Night Office, where there is silent prayer, readings and Gregorian chanting over the course of two to three hours, depending on the day. Each monk has a Book of Psalms, with scripture from the Old Testament. Small electric lights dimly illuminate the Latin text, while the Church itself remains in darkness. “It’s best to go to bed about 7:30pm,” says Brother Patrick. “That gives you four hours’ sleep and then you can go back to bed for a few more afterwards.”

Fathers chant from a Book of Psalms (©AAH/Alan Wright)

Mass is held in the morning (there’s no breakfast for the monks) with Vespers in the afternoon, where the monks chant from religious scripture. A source of continued intrigue to the outside world, recordings of Carthusian chants are available from the ‘Shop’ section of the Parkminster website.

And we’ve not even made that up!

At St Hugh’s, there are Fathers (sometimes referred to as hermits, choir monks or priests) and Brothers (monks converse). The Fathers spend most of their day in solitude

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in their individual houses, called cells. They occupy their time with prayer and reading, and it is the Fathers who are associated with chanting. The Brothers also commit to a life of solitude, but their prayer routine is perhaps less stringent. They are more likely to be seen in blue habits – rather than the white habits used for prayer - as they’re involved in occupational aspects of the monastery, as cooks, gardeners, librarians and janitors. There’s also a tailor who shapes and sews the habits from fabric.

The Chapter House features paintings of the Carthusian monks of the London Charterhouse, killed during Reformation (©AAH/Alan Wright)

The Chapter House features incredible (if grisly) paintings of the Carthusian martyrs of London Charterhouse. Eighteen Carthusians were martyred for refusing to accept Henry VIII as the Head of the Church in England. Paintings show the monks being hanged, drawn and quartered, with one forgiving his executioner.

During Reformation, the Church of England broke away from the rule of the Pope and the Roman Catholic Church. All of England’s nine Carthusian monasteries (including London) were dissolved between 1538 -39. St Hugh’s wasn’t founded until 1873, bought to house Carthusians exiled from the continent. It was designed by French architect Norman Clovis and took 600 workers about six years to complete.

The Chapter House is where each monk is first introduced to the St Hugh’s community.

Brother Patrick said: “Initially, you attend a retreat. If you’re happy and want to stay longer, you become a Postulant for several months. The monks then

vote on whether that person can stay as a Novice for two years, during which time they can walk out at any time or can be asked to leave. After this period, they take the vows of obedience and conversion and commit to three more years. The Profession is then renewed for two more years. If everyone is satisfied that he can live the Carthusian life after seven years, he can make his final and solemn Profession, which includes disposing of all worldly possessions.”

“The Carthusian vocation is an extreme way of life. There’s a lot of solitude as you’re cutting yourself off from the world. You can see how some would benefit from spending a couple of years here, but few can devote their entire life. So, the process allows people to gain an understanding of what they want from life.

There are different Catholic orders, including Benedictines, Cistercians and Trappists, that some may be better suited to. It depends on the life you wish to lead.”

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The cemetery is surrounded by orchards, the Great Cloister and then the individual “cells” of the monks (©AAH/Alan Wright)

There are currently 26 monks, meaning some of the cells are unoccupied. A century ago there was closer to 100, as Parkminster housed exiled monks from across Europe. Today, Brother Patrick is the only Englishman among them.

There have been no new arrivals yet in 2022, but two joined last year, both Americans.

That might not sound a lot, but it’s an influx compared to the latter part of the 20th century. Brother Patrick arrived in 1994, a year after another man, but before that there had only been one new Carthusian in the UK in about 20 years, resulting in a much older community.

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The monks’ workshop is more often used by three outside workers who help maintain the site. Thus the stereo system! (©AAH/Alan Wright)

When a monk dies, they’re buried in the cemetery. There are no administrative hassles, as they’ve given up all worldly possessions. Brother Patrick said: “Monks are carried out on a wooden plank, wearing their best habits. It’s a nice and very simple ceremony.”

The cemetery is surrounded by four acres of orchards, which in turn are bordered by The Great Cloister. A kilometre long all the way around, it’s one of the largest of its kind in the world and monks sometimes use bicycles to relay messages. Behind the cloisters are the cells where monks live.

The Fathers usually only leave their cell three times a day (for Night Office, Mass and Vespers) with their meals left outside of

their door. Each cell is the size of a detached house, but without the luxuries.

Downstairs, there’s a wood-cutting room with an axe and small pile of wood for the stove, with a second room used for indoor work or storing gardening tools. Upstairs is a prayer room with a statue of the Virgin Mary. The main living area, the Cubiculum, has a wooden bed with a blanket and pillow, a stove, study table, small eating area, bookshelf and a toilet, shower and basin.

In 1990, there was a costly renovation, partly funded by English Heritage. The Carthusians considered selling the site and moving to a more isolated, less ornate building. For many reasons, this idea was dismissed and essential repairs were made instead.

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The monastery has its own allotment where potatoes, leeks and onions are grown.

However, most food comes from the shops.

Brother Patrick has been the chef for more than a decade and lives above the kitchen for convenience. Meals are simple affairs, including tuna fish, curry and rice, omelettes and soup, but no meat. During the great monastic fast, supper usually consists of a glass of wine and a crust of bread.

There’s no shortage of fruit with apples, pears and plums grown in the grounds, but there’s not enough hands for the monks to be self-sufficient. “Growing food is labour intensive and there’s not enough of us to do it,” says Brother Patrick. “Certainly, it there were 10 more brothers, we could easily find work for them.”

As we walk the cold and draughty Great Cloisters, brightened intermittently by bursts of sunlight reflecting through the windows, we talk to the Brother about his own life and how he came to be at St Hugh’s. He grew up in Norfolk and arrived at the monastery aged 39. Having previously worked in computing, he calls himself “a white collar monk” who lacks some of the skills of previous generations, who would often use the monastery’s forge.

He said: “I was a single man who was rushing around, working hard. I had a nice detached house with a third of an acre, but was constantly toying with issues surrounding my life. How badly did I need all these things? What should I do next?

People talk about travelling and seeing new places, but I found I just took my troubles with me. It’s nice sitting on a beach, but I would still ask myself, “What am I doing here?” If you look at your life as a work of art, I didn’t know what I wanted the result of my life to be.”

“We want to be open and approachable, but the monks have chosen a life of solitude.

If you show people around, it changes the atmosphere.”

“I was always impressed by Mother Teresa and although I couldn’t serve people in the way she could, she inspired me to take a different path. When I arrived here, I immediately felt I was in the right place. I was Baptised a Catholic, but didn't take to it particularly well so people who knew me long ago would be surprised that I became a Carthusian monk.”

changed a lot since and my communication with my family has improved since I have been here.”

The monks can invite family to stay in guest houses once a year. Brother Patrick has three brothers and the closest to him in age has visited many times. “My family were supportive when I first came here, but my decision was hard for them to understand and I‘m not always able to articulate exactly why I’m here. My parents, when they were still alive, visited regularly. When they saw I was happy, they were accepting. I have

“When it comes to other guests, there needs to be a balance though. We want to be open and approachable, but monks have chosen a life of solitude. If you show people around, it changes the atmosphere. We just walked by a brother pulling a trolley full of firewood, and it’s very unusual for him to see visitors in the Cloisters. If that happened daily, it would change things, because there isn’t solitude.”

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St Hugh’s has a beautiful library where a statue of Our Blessed Lady looks out across a collection of rare books and manuscripts. One book in the cabinet is a handwritten copy of The Cloud of Unknowing, a spiritual guide to contemplative prayer written in the late Middle Ages. The copy was written by one of the Carthusian martyrs depicted in the Chapter House paintings and remains in excellent condition after almost 500 years.

Brother Patrick said: “Many of the books don’t have much practical use, but are part of Carthusian heritage. Much of it is scripture, liturgical works, moral theology, or Books of Psalms. We also have countless documents, as the Vatican never stops creating new ones. I believe some books were donated by the King of Naples and we have the complete works of Italian philosopher St Bonaventure. While they have their place, they’re out of date and not much use to scholars.”

The old library has thousands of rare books and manuscripts (©AAH/Alan Wright)

The books have acclimatised to the chilly temperature and maintained a remarkably good condition. However, the monks are gradually creating a new library downstairs and transferring important works on to computer. As well as modern books on Catholic philosophy, theology and scripture, there’s a selection of classic fiction too by the likes of Dickins and Tolkien. The monks also receive a weekly newspaper from the Vatican, a Catholic magazine called The Tablet and National Geographic, which provides some information on world events for those who wish to know.

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Handwritten copy of The Cloud of Unknowing, written by one of the Carthusian martyrs (©AAH/Alan Wright) 41

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The new library at St Hugh’s (©AAH/Alan Wright)

Apple wine barrels in the cellars (©AAH/Alan Wright)

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The final part of our tour took us to the cellars, where the monks make apple wine. The Carthusians have a long and illustrious association with alcohol, having made Chartreuse, a French herbal liqueur, since 1737. It is named after the Grande Chartreuse monastery in the Chartreuse mountains of Grenoble. The liqueur is still made today, with only two monks knowing the secret recipe. Chartreuse still provides a source of income, but doesn’t sell in the volumes it once did.

At Parkminster, the monks have made apple wine for more than 30 years and have previously sold it at nearby farm shop, Jeremy’s Two. Sadly, it’s not currently being made, although some wine still remains in the barrels.

Production has been overseen by one of the Brothers, but he is now among the older monks and isn’t strong enough to make it alone.

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Brother Patrick said: “Last year, the cold April meant we had a poor crop and we didn’t make any apple wine. If we get a good crop this year, perhaps the Brother will supervise production, otherwise we will lose that knowledge. When that happens, it can be difficult to get it back. But us younger monks don’t drink the wine in the quantities that the monks used to. To be honest, we prefer a nice cup of tea!”

WORDS: BEN MORRIS PHOTOS: ALAN WRIGHT

Further information: For more on the Carthusian Order and to buy books, postcards and music of Carthusian chants, visit: parkminster.org.uk

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Divorce laws get biggest ‘shake-up’ for 50 years Charles Tennant, Family Partner looks at how the divorce process is changing this year with new updated laws which come into effect on 6 April.

In recent years, the process of obtaining a divorce has changed from an old fashioned system reliant on paper documents being filed at your local court to a vastly improved electronic process that had instead been centralised at a number of courts focused on delivering divorces more efficiently.

However, the law of divorce has not changed since 1973. Under the current law those couples who have not been separated for two years or more have no choice but to blame or criticise the other in order to obtain a divorce. This has often led to unnecessary tension and antagonism.

Fortunately, the law of divorce is changing.

The new law will come into effect on 6 April 2022. Whilst the marriage will still be dissolved on the basis that it has irretrievably broken down neither spouse will have to blame the other or give

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examples of what has led to the failure of the marriage. This will be entirely positive and should minimise unnecessary antagonism and friction. Hopefully, this should ensure that the spouses are able to focus on key issues such as the care of the children or any financial settlement but without the emotion of a fault based divorce undermining that process.

Under the new law it will also be possible for divorce to be applied for jointly. This will be an alternative to either spouse bringing the divorce against the other. Helpfully, the old fashioned language from 1973 will be replaced with more modern and comprehensible language. In the future a spouse will apply for a ‘Divorce Order’ as opposed to a ‘Divorce Petition.’ The divorce process itself will still involve two stages, with a conditional order being made initially and then a final order at the conclusion of the process.

The new divorce process will not, however, be a quick one as ordinarily it will include a minimum period of 20 weeks from the initial application before the conditional order can be applied for. This is to give the spouses time to reflect on this important decision.

It is advisable to contact a matrimonial solicitor as early on in your legal process as possible.

If you are unsure about your situation, it is best to seek expert legal guidance so you know how to take the next step.

‘Under the current law those couples who have not been separated for two years have no choice but to blame the other in order to obtain a divorce.’

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The Christ’s Hospital Choral Society at the School Chapel (©AAH/Alan Wright)

TOO HOT TO HANDEL CH CHORAL SOCIETY PREPARE FOR JUBILEE CONCERT As the Christ's Hospital Choral Society prepares for a series of concerts and workshops, AAH slipped in amongst the tenors during rehearsals at the School’s Chapel. Later, we spoke to Conductor and Organist Ruaraidh Sutherland, Society Chairman Jonathan Copeland, alto Esther Clark, husband and wife choristers Mike and Patsy Cade, and Richard Phipps, one of a handful of Old Blues involved…

Jonathan Copeland, Chairman (©AAH/Alan Wright)

Jonathan: The CH Choral Society was founded about 40 years ago, initially for staff and select pupils of the School. Later, it welcomed people from the wider community and today, there are not many staff or Old Blues (former pupils) involved.

The Society’s Director of Music has always been the School’s own Musical Director.

Now, that’s changed slightly, as we’re led by Ruaraidh, the School’s Organist.

Ruaraidh: The tradition of the choir being led by the Director of Music started in the 1980s and I’m the first person to break the cycle. Alex Hodgkinson, Musical Director at

CH, passed the baton to me not long before COVID struck. But it’s always been kept in-house and run by musicians at the School. If I cannot be here, somebody else from the department would step in. The choir has members from inside the CH community as well as people with no affiliation to the School. Ideally, I’d like to see more parents, former parents and Old Blues involved than there are currently.

our daughter and her family. I was reading an article in the County Times about the Society, which didn’t exist when I was a pupil, and thought I’d go along, as I enjoyed music as a pupil, joining in with choral activities and playing the piano and organ.

There are two organs still at the School that I used to practice on. For me, it’s sounds rather than sights that bring back memories. When I heard the organ again, I instantly recognised its distinct notes and it was the same with the School bell. To be back at CH after so long away is a strange phenomenon!

Esther: When I was a girl, I sang in musical groups and loved it. When you have a family, you give certain things up, but singing was something that I missed. I didn’t grow up with choral music, but decided to come along for the first time eight years ago. If I’d seen rehearsals beforehand, I’d have probably been too intimated, but fortunately I didn’t and I’m still here!

Richard: I attended CH as a boarder from 1957 – 64. After retiring, my wife and I decided to locate to the area to be closer to

West Sussex Philharmonic Choir at St Mary’s Church, Horsham (©AAH/Alan Wright)

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Mike: My wife and I joined about 15 years ago, having sung in other choirs in Horsham. One of our neighbours and friends was Head of Chemistry at CH and his wife taught piano too.

They sang in the choir and invited us along. People assume it’s a School choir or that you need some affiliation to CH, but that’s not the case.

I was a bit scared initially, as I thought the choir would be so good that I’d be chucked out immediately! But it’s very friendly and you’re not pressured into learning how to sight read either.

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Jonathan: I sang when I was at Dulwich College and got to perform at venues like Westminster Abbey and St Paul’s Cathedral. I find that the things you love as a child tend to stay with you throughout your life, and for me singing is one of them. So, I joined the Choral Society in 1994 and it has been wonderful. I’m a tenor, which is great as tenors are in demand. Very few men sing, which is a pity. We welcome anyone though and although an

ability to read music helps, it's not crucial and several members can’t.

Ruaraidh: I choose the programme for concerts, but there’s input from the committee. They have been known to tell me they don’t like a certain piece and we find something else to sing!

Planning this year’s concert programme was hard, as we didn’t know what shape the choir would be in after COVID. We met online for a year and now the choir is picking up again. Although I don’t like the phrase “build back better”, that’s essentially what we’re doing.

Esther: We normally host three or four concerts a year, but not much happened for a year and a half. We held a workshop in the Chapel last August, which was a success, and also held a Christmas concert.

Patsy: Our Christmas Concert is a mix of carols, where everyone can join in, as well as other festive songs. About 250

Richard Phipps, an Old Blue and CH Choral Society member (©AAH/Alan Wright)

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Some people have run up debt and defaulted on payments because of the economic challenges brought about by the pandemic, while others have had to change the way they work by starting new businesses, moving to part-time employment, or taking on multiple jobs.

The CH Choral Society rehearse Fauré’s Requiem... (©AAH/Alan Wright)

people attended and we had mulled wine and mince pies too, which was wonderful after what we’ve been through with COVID. For some people, the Christmas concert is part of their traditional festive rituals.

Jonathan: Next up is the Angus Ross Concert, an annual music highlight at CH School, where we will sing Faure’s Requiem. I April, we present Happy & Glorious, our Jubilee concert, at St March’s Church in Horsham,

where the audience will be invited to join us in singing pieces such as Parry’s Jerusalem. For me, the most satisfying music to perform are those great works - Mozart’s Requiem, Handel’s Messiah, Faure’s Requiem – as they are joyful and uplifting. And I don't even speak Latin! I’ve sung in many choirs, but this is the one I’ve stayed with and that’s partly because we sing the greatest music that’s ever been written.

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...before tackling Handel’s Zadok the Priest (©AAH/Alan Wright)

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Ruaraidh Sutherland, Conductor and Organist (©AAH/Alan Wright)

Ruaraidh: We’ll always sing the classics, because that's what the choir enjoys most. It is also the music I believe people should be exposed to. Without getting into a cultural debate, people should have at least a passing awareness of great works like Handel’s Zadok the Priest. By performing them, they’ll continue to be known and loved.

Esther: I like singing music that has layers, where you’re always discovering new things within the piece and adapting as a choir. In

other words, music that challenges you. I also find it interesting to research the stories behind the music. At the Jubilee concert, we’ll sing Zadok the Priest, one of Handel’s Coronation Anthems (football fans will recognise it as the UEFA Champions League anthem) and found out that it’s set to biblical text that has been used at every Coronation since King Edgar was crowned in 953.

Mike: It’s a privilege to sing in such beautiful surroundings. Of course, the CH Chapel is

very special and has lovely acoustics, although as a choir we prefer to rehearse in the Hertford Centre. The Society is an important part of our lives. My wife and I keep busy and do other things individually, but singing is one thing we love to do together.

Jonathan: In May, contemporary composer Matthew Coleridge hosts a Requiem-in-aday choral workshop, which will be quite an experience. It’s hard to imagine he’ll ever be as renowned as someone like Mozart, but

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“The most satisfying music to perform are those great works Mozart’s Requiem, Handel’s Messiah, Faure’s Requiem – as they are joyful and uplifting.”

those that first sang Mozart’s Requiem would never have thought it would still be popular more than 200 years later. So, meeting a modern composer and understanding how and why he wrote his own will be fascinating.

52

The choir host a Jubilee Concert at St Mary’s on 30 April (©AAH/Alan Wright)

Esther: Normally, you think of a Requiem as being something composed centuries ago, but Coleridge has written a contemporary piece that still sounds very classical. Whereas requiems are usually associated with death, he wrote his after the birth of his son, so

it’s lighter and has fabulous harmonies. Workshops attract people from other choirs, as they’re open to non-members, so hopefully we can attract new face. Certainly, learning a piece from the composer and performing it isn’t something you often get a chance to do.

Ruaraidh: We’re also working towards our November concert, performing Haydn’s Harmoniemesse. It’s technically challenging and not the sort of piece the choir is used to singing. But I think with time and preparation, they will rise to the challenge, as vocally, it remains a very strong choir.

INTERVIEWS: BEN MORRIS PHOTOS: ALAN WRIGHT Further information: The CH Choral Society rehearse on Tuesday evenings at Christ's Hospital School, 7.30 - 9.30pm.

For details of the Angus Ross Concert (27 March), the Jubilee Concert (30 April) and the Sing with the Composer workshop (14 May) visit chchoralsoc.org

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The CH Choral Society (©AAH/Alan Wright)

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BRAIN GAINS

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A Support Worker plays games with a Service User at BIRT’s Kerwin Court site (©AAH/Alan Wright)

The Disabilities Trust’s website has a fascinating and often moving ‘Case Studies’ section, describing the various ways in which the charity has helped people.

One such case study tells the story of Erika, who fractured her skull when she fell off a horse. She was airlifted from the scene and treated at the Princess Royal in Haywards Heath. After leaving hospital, Erika was still suffering the effects of a traumatic brain injury, including loss of balance, co-ordination and short-term memory. So, she was admitted to Kerwin Court in Slinfold, run by the Brain Injury Rehabilitation Trust (BIRT).

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The centre works with people who have experienced an acquired brain injury. This may be as a result of a road accident or fall, or a stroke or heart attack when the brain doesn’t receive sufficient oxygen.

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Everyday tasks like cooking basic meals can help with cognitive deficits (©AAH/Alan Wright)

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Our appropriately named on-site café and bar with its thoughtfully created Breakfast and Seasonal Menus offers a selection of hot and cold options for your indulgence.

Many of our cakes and sweet treats are handmade on site. Locally sourced ingredients feature throughout our menus including local craft bakers’ breads and burgers from our very own beef herd.

Not feeling hungry? From the bar we provide a generous choice of soft drinks, draught and bottled beers, premium spirits and a wide selection of wines all to be enjoyed overlooking our beautiful Sumners Lake. Find a comfortable spot outside on the upper or lower decking and take in the scenery or cosy up in our Safari Tent and enjoy the warmth and crackle of log-burning stoves.

Current Opening times: Monday to Sunday 9am to 4pm Food Service: 9am to 3pm

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

are medically okay and no longer require doctors and nurses, but are not yet able to return home because of the resulting disabilities of a brain injury. They need rehabilitation to get back to independent living, or as close to independent living as possible. Most of our referrals are from hospitals, but not always.

Sometimes people suffer a brain injury but the full impact isn’t discovered until later. Cognitive deficits can be hidden and it’s not until a person returns home from hospital or attempts to return to work that they may start to struggle with more complex tasks or difficulties with managing their behaviour. We may then receive a referral through social services or a community therapy team.”

Do people react to brain injuries differently?

There can be behavioural consequences as a result of damage to the brain – so people may be disinhibited or have difficulty controlling feelings of frustration.

Some people may not be able to recognise that they have difficulties at all and others may experience a huge sense of loss after their injury.

Sara said: “It can be difficult for our service users to adjust, as it's not like a progressive illness where you slowly adapt to changes. With brain injuries, you’re one person one minute and the next, everything has changed.”

How many people use the centre?

Kerwin Court has 23 beds. 16 are within the main unit, where all new referrals stay. There are also two flats and five bungalows, where service users can stay as they edge towards independent living. As well as BIRT centres, there are community housing schemes (including one in Horsham) where staff provide round-the-clock support to a small number of residents.

Bungalows at Kerwin Court (©AAH/Alan Wright)

How do they rehabilitate service users?

Everyone admitted to Kerwin Court is individually assessed and allocated a key worker from within the team of therapists.

This key worker will often be someone who can best cater for their needs, be it an Occupational Therapist (helping with everyday tasks), Physiotherapy (helping to restore movement), Speech Therapist or Psychologist (helping with emotions and behaviour). During the first two weeks, service users are introduced to all aspects of the rehabilitation programme and a personalised timetable is made for them.

Sara said: “We’re helping people regain function and that doesn’t happen by practicing something only once a day. So,

Games and puzzles can help co-ordination and movement (©AAH/Alan Wright)

our rehabilitation model incorporates the service user’s goals into everything that they do. If the goal is to improve communication, they might visit Stooks Cafe and place an order. Afterwards, they’ll sit with their support worker and chat over coffee. Others may follow a checklist for having a shower, or making their own breakfast. It’s important to recognise small achievements, as they make a big difference.”

health and social care services stretched, it’s not something the charity can offer as standard. The unit fundraises to help with provision of extra activities such as music therapy and the development of a sensory room. There’s been a great response from the local community to cake and plant sales, as well as donations of jigsaws, sewing and craft materials, plants and seeds.

Does about other forms of therapy?

Kerwin Court has a small gym and runs a number of groups, such as coffee morning, cycling and gardening. There’s a visiting music therapist and these sessions are very popular. However, with funding for

Do service users go into the community?

The staff and support workers encourage them to practice in the community as often as possible. In fact, it’s an important part of BIRT’s ethos. They have helped local conservation groups like the Green Gym, 57

Ascot Care, 6 Kings Court, Harwood Road, Horsham, West Sussex, RH13 5UR

www.ascotcare.com l 01403 218511

Theresa Hill, Service Manager at Kerwin Court (©AAH/Alan Wright)

Sarah Goldstone, Lead Occupation Therapist at Kerwin Court (©AAH/Alan Wright) 58

as well as volunteering at charity shops and organisations like the Phoenix Stroke Club. Alison Gough, Senior Specialist Occupational Therapist, said: “For some, this acts as a stepping stone back into work, while also helping them work on their conversation skills and improve fatigue levels. Sadly, some service users may never return to work, but there are still ways of giving them a role in the community. Unfortunately, COVID has stopped a lot of community work, but hopefully we can pick most of it up again soon.”

COVID must have been tough...

Yes! Getting out into the community to practice the things that have been worked on at the centre has been impossible. And of course, relatives have had to adhere to restrictions when visiting the vulnerable service users. However, one of the bungalows was freed up for such visits, while Zoom became an essential tool in keeping people connected.

When can service users move on to more independent lives?

For most, a stay at Kerwin Court only lasts a few months. When someone is ready to move on, the staff work with other agencies, most notably Social Services, to find accommodation. The number one priority is always for the individual to return home. Sometimes, that means providing extra support, ranging from a personal assistant who only needs to visit once a week, to a carer who may visit several times a day. There are also community houses which offer supported living for a small number of residents with brain injuries, or schemes similar to sheltered housing, with carers are permanently on site. Alison said: “We work closely with families, with lots of home visits during the transition and overnight stays, which help them resettle. We can provide training for relatives too, to help them adjust. In every relationship, there’s a certain dynamic but that changes with a brain injury. Somebody might have played a role in the family that they’re no longer able to fulfil and adjusting to that can take time. So the support may be there long after they leave us.”

WORDS: BEN MORRIS PHOTOS: ALAN WRIGHT Further information: For more on the DT and Kerwin Court: thedtgroup.org/brain-injury/ourservices/kerwin-court @theDTgroup If you have items you would like to donate, please contact: kerwin.court@thedtgroup.org

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