AAH (All About Horsham) May 2021

MAY 2021

AAH (ALL ABOUT HORSHAM) MAY 2021 ADVERTISING: BEN MORRIS advertising@aahorsham.co.uk (01903) 892899 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 Double Page: £520 + VAT 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.

AAH has a new photographer!

This month’s edition features the photography of Alan Wright for the first time, with Toby Phillips moving on after a 10-year association with AAH. Alan, who lives in Billingshurst, has been a professional photographer for 12 years. As well as now working for AAH on a freelance basis, he is known for family portraits, often taking shots in a rural or woodland setting. He is equally adept with corporate and commercial images.

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Images are hugely important to AAH, as not only do they make a feature in the magazine a special experience for local people and businesses, they also help disguise the fact that I don’t know what I’m writing about most of the time!

As you can see from the stunning cover photo, Alan has settled in quickly. I’m delighted to be working with him and have no doubt that this magazine’s fine reputation for amazing photography is in very safe hands.

Ben Morris Editor

COVER STORY This month’s cover features South Downs Strings, featuring Bimbi Urquhart (viola), Sheraine Lynsdale-Nock and Dawn Kelleher (violin) and Emily Mitchell (cello) The quartet play classical versions of pop songs and have seen a surge in bookings, thanks to Bridgerton!

The photo was taken at The Rec Rooms in Horsham, with Alan using the venue’s array of music memorabilia as a backdrop.

We have moved the logo to the centre. No particular reason, although Bimbi is much taller than the others. Maybe it’s time for a change anyway!

Other cover contenders included pyrography artist Sally Priston at Wood Beyond the World in Lower Beeding, and Greg Adlam of Studio Locus in Henfield.

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 and pick-up points around the District.

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

PHOTOGRAPHY: ALAN WRIGHT https://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.

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

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

DOOR-TO-DOOR TEAM Horsham: Jacquie Paterson, The Judd family, The Rollingson family, George Voisey, Katie Drysdale, Tanya Forbes, The Garner family, Jill Shuker, The Bloomfield family, The Arliss family, Jake Lovett, Charlotte Wellbelove, The Gavira family, Hannah and Harvey Dold, The Morrison family, Alessandro Cavallo, Jack Nicholls, The McCormick family, Charlie Merchant, Harry Baker, Melanie Bradley.

Southwater: The Brown family, The Chapman family Villages: The Palmer family (Broadbridge Heath) Amy Butler (Wickhurst Green) Nathan Williams (Mannings Heath);

Lynsey Hare (Billingshurst), Max Morris (Ashington), James Hobbs (Thakeham), Derek Bradnum (Nuthurst) The Morris Family (West Chiltington) Oak Tree Farm Care (Maplehurst & Copsale - not currently able to deliver) WELCOME TO THE TEAM Alessandro Cavallo is taking on a new round along Worthing Road in Horsham, including Cricketfield Road and Tanbridge Park.

Jack Nicholls takes on a longestablished round on Guildford Road, Horsham.

GOOD LUCK! Charlotte Wellbelove, who moves on after delivering around Hernbrook Drive for more than two years. All the best, Lottie!

Jonathan Catlow, who has delivered to Queensway but has now hung up his fluorescent bag.

PICK UP POINTS & STANDS Thousands of copies of AAH are also available in our stands, at businesses, clubs and shops 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, Barns Green Village Store, Bluecoat Sports (Christ’s Hospital), Leonardslee (Lower Beeding), Warnham Village Stores (Warnham), Slinfold Golf Club (Slinfold), Steyning Leisure Centre and Cobblestone Walk (Steyning) Spring Gardens Nursery (Washington) and Joanna’s Boutique Tearooms (Storrington) Many of our stands are currently inaccessible due to Covid. We are keeping the stand at Horsham Rail Station topped up.

BACK ISSUES We do keep a few copies of past editions. Copies cost £3.50 each, which includes postage. editor@aahorsham.co.uk LEAFLETS We can deliver leaflets with AAH. Email: editor@aahorsham.co.uk £40 + VAT per 1,000 copies (£50 for A4 leaflets)

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News Round-Up

My Story So Far

Art

Music

Plans for an Aldi revealed and Horsham District Council considers the next phase of its controversial Local Plan

Craig Brewster tells his story, from Scottish Cup Final glory with Dundee United to coaching youths at Horsham FC

Sally Priston uses Pyrography to create unique pieces of art at her Lower Beeding shop, The Wood Beyond The World

Thanks partly to Bridgerton, South Downs Strings are finding a new audience by performing classical versions of pop songs

A FUN FAREWELL? Notes from the Editor: Will our great town events return?

When I first stepped into the newsroom of a local newspaper 20 years ago, I was one of seven reporters working alongside four editors and two photographers.

We covered inquests and Crown Court trials, which sometimes lasted two weeks.

We met “sources” and claimed the cost of a pie and a pint back on expenses.

But the dawn of online news meant fewer readers, which translated to dwindling sales and less advertisers. Friends and colleagues in sales and editorial were made redundant as various papers in the group “pooled’ their resources.

The value of the company’s shares plummeted, there was no more overtime and a cap was placed on expenses.

Morale nose-dived.

It was hard to accept that things had changed forever. Some even thought the internet was a fad and that people would soon flock back to quality print journalism.

But the downward spiral continued. It’s still going, I guess.

Readers can perhaps identify with this and relate it to their own memories of twohour lunch breaks and Christmas parties with a free bar.

Most of the time, when something is cut or lost for financial reasons, it doesn’t come back. That applies to business and to government as well. Take bin collections; would the Council return to weekly collections now? Not a chance!

There’s usually a dangling carrot when a service is cut (“We will review the decision after six months, etc”) but once it’s gone, that’s usually it.

Which brings me to my concern...

Due to Covid, Horsham District Council’s town events have been cancelled. The Big Nibble and Americarna, to name but two.

Members of HDC’s Events team lost their job, which from a financial perspective, is

The Piazza Tour visits Steyning, promoting Piazza Italia (©Toby Phillips Photography 2019)

understandable.

But I hope this is one instance where something does return.

These events not only provide a boost to shops in town (which is a primary function of HDC, lest we forget), but also create a perception of Horsham as being a good place to live. They elevate the town, presenting a sense of community spirit which equates to more than the sum of its parts. Other towns are envious, I’m sure.

Perhaps some of us residents grew tired of convoys of supercars rolling through town.

Like we’d come to take it for granted. But for visitors, the variety of events was exciting, as they didn’t know what to expect. Will there be 100 Ferraris? Or a parade of military vehicles? Or people dancing the conga around the Carfax?

It will perhaps be hard for the Council to justify some of the more car-focused events. There’s an obvious contradiction in making climate pledges whilst inviting

American muscle cars with V8 engines to drive through town. But I hope that such reasoning doesn’t mean the end of fun, or scenes like the one above.

Perhaps things like Piazza Italia will need to be led by businesses or groups if they’re to return, with HDC playing more of a supporting role, as it does with the Broadwood Morris Day of Dance.

Another thing is that the events provide HDC with some “added value.” Without them, what else does it do? They deal with Council housing/benefits and I’m sure do a good job. But for many of us, HDC just seems like a middleman for bin collections and leisure centre provision.

The Council has done well to suppor town centre businesses during Covid too. But as we make tentative steps back to normality, I hope it doesn’t forget those little things that help make our district a little bit special.

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Fashion

Food

Drink

Business

Rob Clift has created intriguing designs for his own range of organically-made T-Shirts at RC-Apparel

Lindsey Williams goes to great lengths to create perfect truffles at Wimblehurst Chocolates, now celebrating 10 years

Horsham gin producers Cabin Pressure Spirits has found success by collaborating with other local companies

The father and son team of Simon and Greg Adlam have carved out a reputation for quality furniture at Studio Locus in Henfield

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HORSHAM NEWS Announcements and Events from across the District

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Chesworth Farm (©AAH/Toby Phillips Photography 2014)

Chesworth Farm has been awarded Local Wildlife Site status for nature conservation in the Horsham District.

It joins other council-owned sites with the status, including Leechpool & Owlbeech Woods, Monkmead Woods and Southwater Country Park.

Local Wildlife Sites contain features of substantive nature conservation value. In

Chesworth Farm’s case, these are the extensive hedgerows and wildflower meadows which provide wildlife refuges, as well as acting as stepping stones, corridors and buffer zones to link and protect other open spaces.

The Parks & Countryside team at Horsham District Council, in partnership with the Friends of Chesworth Farm and Horsham

Green Gym, have worked on conservation management which has contributed to achieving conservation protection for the farm. Their work includes provision of sacrificial crops for farmland birds, dormouse monitoring, wildflower surveys and breeding bird surveys. For latest news and events held there, visit www.friendsofchesworthfarm.com

Horsham District Council has launched a major crackdown on highways littering by introducing new technology and recording equipment in key areas. Clearing litter on roadsides costs local taxpayers around £100,000 a year and there is an increase in flytipping. So, the Council will be using camera footage to catch culprits, issuing Fixed Penalty Notices or prosecuting.

Members of the public can report flytipping by calling (01403) 733144 or at www.horsham.gov.uk/ waste-recycling-and-bins/litter-andstreet-cleaning/fly-tipping

Educating Rita, starring Stephen Tompkinson and Jessica Johnson, is scheduled for the Capitol Theatre on 7 - 11 September. The comedy won an Olivier award when it was produced in London's West End by the RSC and was adapted into a successful film starring Julie Walters and Michael Caine. When married hairdresser Rita enrols on a university course, little does she realise where the journey will take her. Her tutor Frank is a brilliant academic and dedicated drinker who's initially reluctant to take Rita on. Tickets £30 from www.thecapitolhorsham.com

Essential work is ongoing to remove Ash trees which could pose a risk to road users because of Ash Dieback infection and the potential for branches to fall into the road. Ash Dieback is a highly destructive disease which is predicted to kill up to 95% of Ash trees in the county. To keep the road network safe, West Sussex County Council is felling the infected trees. Works have been ongoing on sections of the A24 near Washington and the northbound carriageway near Hop Oast, with night-time closures and diversions in place.

Aldi hopes to create 50 jobs with a new store at the Tanbridge Retail Park in Horsham.

The supermarket chain plans to use the former site of Curry’s PC World and Office Outlet to ‘enhance local shopping choice’ and ‘provide much-needed competition.’

Its proposal includes 96 car park spaces, with designated bays for electric charging points. While the site is on brownfield land, its proximity to Sainsbury’s and Waitrose would mean a third supermarket in the town centre. Aldi welcomes comments on a consultation page at: https://aldiconsultation.co.uk/horsham/ Flower Power, a four-day floral extravaganza, will be held at Leonardslee Lakes and Gardens on 9 - 12 September to celebrate the Diamond Anniversary of The Sussex Area of NAFAS (National Association of Flower Arrangement Societies). There will be over 20 large exhibits designed and arranged by Sussex members, including Chelsea award-winning medallists. There will be also trade stands, a raffle and tombola. An early bird price of £12 (until 9 June) includes a brochure. For details, email: sussexflowerpower@yahoo.com

There will be a development of 51 homes in Billingshurst after Bellway bought land to the south of the village. The homes will be built on a 9.5acre site off Marringdean Road and will comprise 33 houses and bungalows, and 18 affordable homes for rent or shared ownership. As part of the agreement, Bellway will invest £640,000 locally, including £175,000 towards the expansion of Weald School, £162,000 to Billingshurst Primary School and further funds for the Village Hall, library and West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service.

Fishers Adventure Farm Park in Wisborough Green has been awarded Gold in The Beautiful South Awards for Excellence 2020/21 for Large Visitor Attraction of The Year. Tom Rollings, Director of Fishers, said: “We continue to re-invest each year and deliver new attractions, as well as maintaining an exceptional level of customer service. It means the world to us that our efforts have been recognised.” Fishers is celebrating 31 years in business and this year hopes to open a new section. www.fishersfarmpark.co.uk

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The Shipley Arts Festival 2021 begins with a virtual concert on Sunday 2 May. This is followed by one of the highlights of the festival, Opera at Leonardslee Gardens on Bank Holiday Monday 31 May, 6.30 – 8.30pm.

Set amongst the Grade I listed lakes and gardens, this unique evening of opera will take place within the atrium of Leonardslee House. The Bernardi Music Group (BMG) will be joined by two of world’s leading opera singers; soprano Charlotte Broker and tenor Ben Thapa, as they perform favourites including Puccini’s Nessun Dorma, a string arrangement of The Flower Duet from Delibes’ Lakme, plus excerpts from La Bohème, Verdi’s La Traviata and Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro.

Tickets £80 from https://bernardimusicgroup.com The Bernardi Music Group has received an award from the Culture Recovery Fund. The BMG Ensemble, Stradivarius Piano Trio, String Academy, Shipley Arts Festival and Leonardslee Summer Concert series were acknowledged for their popularity, community focus and ongoing digital innovation. www.bernardimusicgroup.co.uk

The Petworth Park Antiques & Fine Art Fair will be held in the grounds of Petworth House on 18 - 20 June.

Santos London is exhibiting at the event for the first time with a Dehua porcelain Blanc-de-Chine figure of a maiden seated on a Buddhist lion, which belonged to the late HRH The Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon, among items on sale.

Another first-time exhibitor is the campaign furniture specialist, Christopher Clarke Antiques. www.petworthparkfair.com

©AAH/Toby Phillips 2016

The Loxwood Jazz, Gin and Blues Festival is scheduled to be held in the Enchanted Woodland at Loxwood Meadow on Sunday 1 August.

Curated by Simon Bates, founder of the Loxwood Jazz Club, artists expected to perform include John Etheridge, Derek Nash’s Sax Appeal (pictured), Harry Greene and Ashton Jones, Simply Swing, Tim Staffell and Paul Stewart. Advance tickets £25 (limited number available) from www.jazzginblues.co.uk

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Entries are invited for our next specialist sale of Antiquarian & Collectors’ Books on 21st July For free, no-obligation valuations, please call to arrange an appointment with our book specialist Charlie Howe 7KH OHDGLQJ DQWLTXH DQG ILQH DUW DXFWLRQ KRXVH LQ :HVW 6XVVH[

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The annual Horsham Battle of the Bands competition has opened for entries. An online launch event featured an exclusive live track from Catfish Blues Band (see above) who won the Cover Acts competition in 2015. The 2021 finals are scheduled to take place on 14 - 15 August in the Human Nature Garden, Horsham Park, with heats at The Rec Rooms on 14 – 15 and 21 – 22 July.

For full entry details, visit www.horshambotb.co.uk

Vans now in Horsham

©AAH/Toby Phillips 2016

©AAH/Toby Phillips 2016

Matt Long and the Revenant Ones are scheduled to appear at The Rec Rooms, Horsham, on Friday 16 July, 7pm.

Matt is also frontman of award-winning British Blues band, Catfish, and is renowned for his powerful live performances. He is now hitting the road with his own band which includes Adam Pyke on bass and Kev Hickman on drums, playing powerful new riffinfluenced original rock material.

The band completed a successful European tour in early 2020, but their debut album, ‘The Other Side' has been delayed because of Covid-19.

Tickets £16 from www.therecrooms.com

Coolham Live Music Club plans to resume outdoor gigs this summer.

An alfresco event is planned for Sunday 11 July with music from the Cinelli Bros Band and Crossfire Lite opening. It is hoped the first gig in the hall will be held on 9 October, with guitarist Dave Ital and his All Stars band. A Christmas gig is planned too, featuring worldrenowned bassist Yolanda Charles and her band. See the club’s Facebook page for more.

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L I F E S T Y L E

A period of consultation on the latest version of Horsham District Council’s Local Plan has now ended.

The Council’s Local Plan will set out where new housing and community facilities could be built from 2019 - 2036. The most recent version (called Regulation 18) was available for public consultation, which ended on 30 March.

The Council received thousands of comments from residents and groups and will review them, before it publishes the next version (Regulation 19) later this year.

There will be a consultation for that as well, and it is expected that the Local Plan will be adopted in 2022.

At the heart of the Local Plan are nine major strategic sites, which will provide most of the new houses being demanded of the Council by Central Government.

Selecting which of these greenfield sites will be developed is proving a tough task for HDC’s councillors.

The nine sites are: Adversane: Around 3,500 - 4000 homes are proposed for the ‘Kingswood’ estate.

Our Place (the site promoter) is planning a an estate inspired by a Georgian town.

Little Daux, Billingshurst: 1,200 houses could be built east of the village in two phases by Crest and Bellway.

Newbridge, Billingshurst: 1,000 homes are proposed for land west of the village, near Jubilee Fields and the recycling centre.

Buck Barn: Thakeham Homes proposes up to 3,500 homes with community provisions,

The ‘Kingswood’ development at Adversane could be inspired by Poundbury, a Georgian town

but campaigners say it’ll have a major impact on the Knepp re-wilding project.

West of Crawley: There is potential for up to 10,000 homes in a “garden village” near Ifield & Rusper, built by Homes England.

Kingsfold: The 177-hectare ‘Boldings Brook” site could see 1,000 new homes, scattered between five new villages.

Mayfield: A huge 7,000 homes site near Henfield is proposed by Mayfield Market Towns, but it has land ownership issues.

Rookwood: The 39-acre site in Horsham is currently occupied by a Council-owned golf course and could cater for 750 homes.

West of Southwater: 1,200 homes are

proposed by Berkeley, on land that could stretch as far as Christ’s Hospital.

As well as these major sites, a smattering of smaller sites (less than 500 homes) are being considered to help spread housing across the district. However, some of these are big enough to significantly alter the landscape of villages including Ashington and Partridge Green.

Some councillors disagree as to which sites are best suited for development and Jonathan Chowen, Deputy Leader of the Council, resigned in April.

For more details visit: www.horsham.gov.uk/planning/local-plan

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Farlington School has announced the appointment of new Headmaster James Passam, who will join at the start of the Autumn Term.

James is currently Deputy Head at Seaford College in Petworth and was previously Head of English and Boarding Housemaster at St John’s School, Leatherhead. He is keen to celebrate Farlington’s position as the only co-educational independent all-through school in the Horsham area and will focus on delivering high-quality teaching and learning. www.farlingtonschool.com A dedicated team worked throughout the winter to ensure that bowls can soon resume in Horsham Park.

Once play is allowed, a full season of friendly and league matches against local clubs is planned.

As well as club nights on Mondays, the club runs in-house competitions and social events. Anyone interested in joining can contact Club Secretary Phil Claridge on (01403) 230962.

There’s an Open Day on Monday 31 May, with training and equipment available for anyone interested in trying bowls.

Ellen’s Green and Rudgwick Gardening Association has unveiled a commemorative plaque, celebrating the residents who helped plant thousands of daffodil bulbs in the village. Simon Quail, Show Secretary of EGRGA, led the project to create a swathe of waving daffodils on the roadside leading into the village. www.gardenreg.org

Steven Edwards at South Lodge Hotel (©AAH/Toby Phillips 2013)

The Pass at South Lodge Hotel has announced an eight-week residency

by Steven Edwards, head chef at etch.

Steven and his team will be at the Lower Beeding hotel from 2 July – 29 August, while his Hove restaurant is being refurbished. He worked at South Lodge for six years, moving on after winning Masterchef: The Professionals in 2013. Bookings are available for Thursday – Sunday for dinner and Friday – Sunday for lunch, with menus changing weekly to celebrate the best of Sussex Produce. www.exclusive.co.uk/south-lodge/

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Horsham author George Smith is donating royalties from his debut crime novel, A Secret Existence, to St Catherine’s Hospice.

George, a retired Sussex Police Detective Chief Inspector with over 30 years’ police service, has been writing his first novel as a lockdown project.

A Secret Existence follows Ben Swan, a DCI seconded to the UK Counter Terrorism Command when he is recruited by MI5.

Given a new cover identity, Ben isn’t permitted to tell family or friends of his new role, which involves tracking down terrorist groups intent on initiating a major bombing campaign.

During his own career, George spent five years as Head of Brighton CID and was the first serving UK officer to be seconded to the Security Service (MI5). A Secret Existence can be ordered from https://tinyurl.com/ndbsacsh

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Karen Espley from Horsham has published a book, The Impulsive Explorer, the first in a trilogy of adventures she has taken in the last 20 years. In 2000, when stressed from a highpressure working environment, Karen was selected for a six-week expedition called ‘Mission Antarctic’. The project was organised by polar explorer Robert Swan OBE, the first person to walk both Poles, with the aim of supporting a Russian team collecting waste around King George Island for extraction and removal. While living and working in challenging conditions, Karen made the impulsive decision to leave the corporate world behind.

“Dare to dream!” she says. “If Covid has taught us anything, it's that you never know what is around the corner. It is never too late to make a change or do something different.”

The Impulsive Explorer costs £14.99 through Book Brilliance Publishing.

The Line by local author Jay Harlow is now available at local bookshops.

The book has a very current storyline, asking what would happen if the Queen were to give the government its marching orders and take control, selecting a group of ordinary people to run the country.

The Line is available from The Steyning Bookshop, Willow Haven in Blackhorse Way, Horsham and Woodnpotsnthings in Storrington. It’s also available online at www.mygreenpod.com Horsham author Cliff Comber has teamed up with Publishing Push to release ‘If Good Men Do Nothing’, the final novel in a trilogy following the adventures of Dennis ‘Dutch’ French.

In the first two books, ‘Running for his Lives’ and ‘Deadly Deceit’, former paratrooper Dutch had been pursued by a vicious cartel, after seeking retribution for the death of his wife. The third instalment finds him bringing this threat to a conclusion.

The book costs £9.99 and is available from Amazon, Wisborough Green village stores or on order from Waterstones.

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MY STORY SO FAR: CRAIG BREWSTER THE SCOTTISH FOOTBALLER NOW GUIDING HORSHAM’S YOUNGSTERS After a remarkable playing career in Scotland and Greece, professional footballer Craig Brewster settled in Horsham.

As well as providing training and guidance to Horsham FC’s youth squads, Craig has established CB Pro Coaching, where he nurtures the ability of players aged 8 -13.

In his own words, Craig charts his journey from a football-obsessed schoolboy to scoring a famous goal in the 1994 Scottish Cup Final…

My Story I grew up in a village five miles outside Dundee, where my school was 100 yards from home. Every day after school, I would go straight down the park to play football. The older boys knew I was decent, so they let me join in.

I joined a local team, Macalpine Thistle, but Under-11s was the youngest age group and I was only seven. I was naturally left-footed, but played on the right wing.

A scout for Dundee United invited me for a trial and I signed Schoolboy Forms, much like an Academy now. I stayed there until I was 17 on a part-time basis, as they felt I wasn't fast enough for a full-time contract. But football was my life. I was a good golfer too, but that always came second. I was never one for studying!

I had a free pass for Dundee United games and supporting the team gave me a sense of purpose. Something to aspire to. In the early 80s, we had an amazing team with great players like Richard Gough, who later went to Spurs, and striker Paul Sturrock.

Dundee Utd gave me a free transfer to Forfar Athletic, where I spent six and a half years. From there, I joined Raith Rovers and that was when something clicked and my outlook changed, thanks to the manager, ex-Manchester United full-back Jimmy Nicholl. Suddenly, I looked forward to training! In my second season, we won the Championship and gained promotion to the Scottish Premier League. That was the springboard for my career.

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In 1993, Dundee Utd wanted me back and signed me for £250,000, nine years after they let me go for nothing. I replaced Duncan Ferguson, who went to Rangers for £4m. Nine years is a long time in football, but it shows what you can achieve with the right mind-set. We all deal with rejection in life, but you need to keep proving people wrong. With determination and mental strength, you can succeed.

As soon as I joined, manager Jim McLean became club chairman and Ivan Golac took over as manager. I played the first game of the season having missed all of pre-season and the game passed me by. After that, I was left on the bench for a long run of games before finally scoring and getting my career there up and running. By the time of the Scottish Cup Final, I’d scored 19 goals for the season.

Dundee Utd had been in six cup finals and never won. I had watched five on the terraces and we’d lost them all. Rangers had an unbelievable team including Ally McCoist, Stuart McCall, Mark Hateley and Gordon Durie. Nobody gave us a chance.

That’s why beating them was so special and being the one who scored the winning goal was a special moment.

Craig as a 10-year-old playing near his home in Dundee

I remember everything about the goal.

Christian Dailly capitalised on a mix-up in defence, went around the keeper and shot.

“Nobody gave us a chance against Rangers and being the one who scored the winning goal was a special moment for me.”

It came back off the post and I was running in and tapped home. I was only two yards out but it was my most important goal and to get my 20th of the season in the final capped a fabulous season for me.

I was offered another contract, but was at a stage in my career when I wondered what else was out there. Ionikos, a small club in Athens, showed an interest. It was strange, but somehow it felt right. They were managed by Oleg Blokhin, a threetime Soviet footballer of the year, and his project was exciting. I spent five great years in Greece. It took a while to adapt to their possession-based game, but I loved every minute of it and could speak passable Greek by the time I left!

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Playing in the Greek Cup Final against AEK Athens in the Olympic Stadium was an amazing experience. We lost, but we qualified for Europe, which was remarkable for a small club. AEK wanted to sign me and I was on my way there when I was told to turn around. I had six months left on my Ionikos contract and AEK wouldn’t budge on their original offer for buying me out. I was 34 but still in decent shape, so it was frustrating to be denied the biggest transfer in my life. As a player, so much is out of your hands.

Craig celebrates Dundee Utd’s 1994 Scottish Cup Final triumph

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I rejected an offer to stay and signed for Hibernian in Edinburgh. It wasn't a great season for me, as I suffered a shoulder injury, but in the latter stages I formed a good striking partnership with Garry O'Connor. I was confident about getting a contract extension, but Sky pulled out of Scottish football and because of the financial uncertainty, I found myself looking at options again. Dunfermline offered me a two-year deal, which was fantastic, as I was 35. In my first season, we qualified for Europe and I built a solid partnership with Stevie Crawford, who was picked for Scotland.

I never played for my country. In Greece, I was out of sight, out of mind. When I came back, I was in my mid-30s and wasn’t ever going to be the future of the national team. The Scottish press wrote some kind words about me and I admit it would have been nice to retire with an international cap. But it wasn't to be. I was unlucky to be up against Ally McCoist.

My first job in management was at Inverness Caledonian Thistle. It’s an incredible club, as it was only formed in 1994 and reached the Scottish Premier in ten years. On my first visit, I got a good feeling about the place. It’s a beautiful part of the world. But going from player to manager is a strange feeling. You can go on all the coaching courses in the world, but standing in front of professional athletes and dictating tactics is something that can’t be taught. However, the response from the players was great. We’d been tipped for relegation, but the togetherness was brilliant.

Dundee United were struggling and had only just avoided relegation. So, they signed me as player/manager, for a record fee for a 39-year-old. But I didn't get a good vibe upon my return and didn’t help matters by fracturing my tibia. A manager on crutches doesn’t instil confidence and after 10 months, I was sacked. I did put a few things in place for the future though, signing three young players who went on to

Craig uses his experience to coach youngsters at Horsham FC’s Camping World Community Stadium

play in the English Premier League and setting up the training ground at St Andrew’s University, which they still use.

I returned to Inverness and had perhaps my best day as manager. We were 0-2 down to Gordon Strachan’s Celtic after 25 minutes. I turned to my assistant and said, “This could be a long afternoon!” But we came back to win 3-2, which was magical!

I also played for Aberdeen, which surprised people as they signed me at 40, wanting my experience in the dressing room. I ended up

MARTYN EDWARDS

playing quite a few games and we qualified for Europe. After another stint at Inverness, I played at Ross County too, before getting a call that would bring me to England.

daughter too) and couldn't up and move like I could as a single man in my playing days.

Hence the reason why I have been in Horsham for ten years now.

Steve Evans was doing great things at Crawley Town, getting them promoted to the football league and playing Manchester United in the FA Cup. I joined as First Team Coach and Steve later asked me to go to Rotherham with him. But by then, my family situation was different. We had settled in Horsham. I had two stepsons (my wife and I now have an eight-year-old

As Caretaker Manager at Crawley, I took charge for the last six games of the 2012-13 season. We won three, drew two, lost one, and on the final day needed three points at Accrington Stanley to gain promotion. The boys and the travelling fans were tremendous and we won, earning back-toback promotions from the Conference to League One.

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I stayed on for a year as Assistant to Richie Barker. That was followed by a spell at Brighton & Hove Albion, working with the Under-15 Academy. I get a buzz from seeing young players enjoying their football and improving. Several have progressed to the first team squad, including Max Saunders, a Horsham boy. When this happens, it inspires others to follow in their footsteps.

Horsham FC were looking for someone with experience to be Director of Football. I took the role but it didn’t suit me, as my strength is on the training ground. My role evolved and I’m now Head of Youth. I enhance their training and eventually giving them opportunities to train with the first team.

Horsham FC Youth starts at Under-11's, but I thought there was a way to attract kids at a younger age to prepare them for that level.

So, I established CB Pro Football, using the community pitch at Horsham’s Camping World Stadium. I work with children aged 8 – 13, and the club and youth team managers have been very supportive. We work on improving technique with both feet, which is vital to long-term development. We do not play matches, so it’s a way for individuals from local clubs to benefit from my experience and hopefully improve.

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We have three elite sessions, for players aged 8 - 9, 10 - 11 and 12 - 13, with development sessions on Sunday afternoon,

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which are more relaxed. If players show potential, we can move them into elite groups. I have a great team of assistants and we try to make it a happy environment.

I do my best to remember all the boys’ names, as you get a better reaction.

Personal touches are important.

We have a wonderful football community in Horsham where people like Ted Streeter (North Sussex Soccer Academy) have an incredible legacy in terms of player development. I hope I can inspire the next generation, so they can be good enough to play for Horsham or perhaps even better…

Most youth teams are run by parents who give up a huge amount of their time and do the best they can. That’s fantastic, but football has not been their life. I've been through enough to understand what players need to do to reach a certain level.

Words: Ben Morris Photos: Alan Wright/Craig Brewster Find out more about Craig’s academy at www.cbprocoaching.co.uk (Website currently being updated) Facebook: CB-Pro-Coaching

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HOW TO RESOLVE YOUR FAMILY DISPUTE Coole Bevis are Why you should go to mediation It is most peoples’ experience that their problems are most easily solved by talking about them. But sometimes they need help.

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BURNING DES English Folklore at the heart of Sally Priston’s Pyrography With a business named after a William Morris novel, it’s hardly surprisingly that English folklore features prominently in Sally Priston’s artwork.

Through her business, The Wood Beyond the World, Sally creates wood art and paintings inspired by nature and wildlife, often depicting myths and legends like the Green Man. Whilst her detailed paintings give a nod to the work of illustrators like Arthur Rackham or famed textile artist William Morris, Sally’s wood art requires a very different skill; pyrography.

This time-consuming method involves the free-handed decoration of wood with burn marks, akin to soldering. With the pieces often enhanced with additional painting, the technique helps Sally create unique items.

“There are elements of fairy tale and folklore in my work,” she says. “I love the illustrations in Hans Christian Anderson’s books and Morris’ textiles have had a huge impact on me. The way he perceives natural forms and uses them in a rhythmic way to intertwine patterns is beautiful.”

Striking Contrast Sally established the business in 2013, once her son was settled at school and she had more time to pursue her passion. As a child, she enjoyed art and after training as an illustrator maintained her interest by running a school art club. But it was her love for the great outdoors that provided the inspiration for a full-time business.

“I'm always picking up pieces of wood with interesting textures or shapes,” says Sally.

“But it wasn’t until I bought a pyrography kit that I found a good way of using them.”

“Learning the skill has been enjoyable and gradually I’ve improved. The technique involves burning into the wood to create patterns, like a tattoo artist. Because it leaves black marks, you’re left with a striking contrast of light and dark. I often add colour too before adding a protective varnish.”

“Sometimes, I decorate pieces by local wood turners, but often I work with rugged pieces that I’ve found in the woods or sourced elsewhere. There’s a tree surgeon who works on the trading estate who occasionally leaves pieces outside my door too! I always get a feel for each piece before working on it, as the shape itself can inspire ideas.”

Rural Themes Sally’s work has a natural theme, with berries, trees, leaves, toadstools and flowers representing the flora and owls, squirrels, birds, dragonflies, hare and deer the fauna.

Much of her output follows the seasons, with winter represented by mistletoe, holly and ivy, before a change of colour in spring sees primroses and blossoms burst into life.

Whatever the time of year, English folklore is prominent in her creations.

“My dad was Irish and my mum Scottish,” says Sally. “Growing up, I heard a lot about Celtic folklore and traditions, but as I got older, I explored English heritage too, which led to me becoming a Morris dancer.”

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Sally sells greetings cards featuring her own drawings

“When I was learning pyrography, I had a book of Celtic designs and initially it featured in much of my work. I love Celtic art, but ultimately felt I was imitating others and moved away from that to do my own thing.”

“I went through a period where I painted nothing but the Green Man, but have recently begun including more animals. That’s particularly the case with my paintings. The originals tend to be large, so I offer prints and cards too for those with smaller budgets. I’m working on new ideas that will feature a fallow deer herd that I often see around Lower Beeding. We also have a treasure trove of folklore tales in Horsham, such as the St Leonard’s Forest serpent, which gives me plenty of local angles.”

Fun of the Fair Since 2017, Sally has worked out of a studio/shop on the Church Lane Industrial estate, opposite Kissingate Brewery in Lower Beeding. She welcomes visitors to the shop (when Covid-19 restrictions allow) and also sells online, as well as at craft fairs and events. However, the pandemic has made this difficult. “I normally exhibit at fairs throughout the year, but there hasn't been any! That’s a shame, because only by interacting with customers can they understand and appreciate what I do.”

“Pyrography is time consuming and a large bowl might represent three weeks’ work. When people see the pieces in-person, they

TTry r our oou Award-Winning A Aw Awa Awar Award AwardAward-W Award-Wi Award-Win Award-Winn Award-Winni Award-Winnin B Br Bri Brit Briti Britis Q Qu Qua Qual Quali Qualit Quality QualityQuality-A Quality-As Quality-Assu Quality-Ass Quality-Assur Quality-Assure British Quality-Assured P Po Por Pork “At Bangers Galore, we are passionate about our sausages and hope that you enjoy eating them as much as we enjoy making them! We are always on hand to give you some inspiration and advice .” David Bell Find us at the Horsham Local Produce Market every Saturday Our regular flavours include: Traditional Pork Cumberland Pork & Apple Chorizo Style Pork & Leek Pork, Garlic & Herb

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appreciate the time spent. You just can’t see that online. They need to be seen and touched.”

“You get the odd person who’ll see a coaster that’s taken me hours and say, “You can pick them up in Matalan for a pound!”

But I tend to attract customers who want something handmade and original, and appreciate the skill behind it.”

Sally’s art features wildlife and English folklore

Sally uses pyrography and paint to create unique pieces

“It’s good to have a variety of products, especially at fairs. I will see children with only a few pounds to spend, while others might be looking for something big, perhaps a table centrepiece.

I was recently commissioned to make a Yule bowl decorated with winter plants, which was a major undertaking!”

“Without events and fairs, more people are searching online and I did well in the run-up to Christmas, selling tree decorations and wintry scenes.

It has been tough this past year, but despite the difficulties of lockdown, I’m still passionate about crafts and have been working harder than ever.”

Did You Know?

William Morris was best known as a poet during his lifetime, but since his 1896 death has been synonymous with English textiles.

Acanthus, Cabbage and Vine Tapestry, and Strawberry Thief (above) are among his best-known designs.

“Art has kept me going and I feel I’m improving too. With each piece, I’ll always think about what I could have done differently. But you take each experience with you, on to the next project.”

Words: Ben Morris Photos: Alan Wright Photography Further information: Etsy: WoodBeyondTheWorld thewoodbeyondtheworld.co.uk

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STRING THE South Downs Strings offers classical twist on pop songs Who do we have here?

South Downs Strings featuring violinists Sheraine Lynsdale-Nock and Dawn Kelleher, cellist Emily Mitchell and Bimbi Urquhart on viola. They perform at weddings and events across West Sussex and beyond.

A String Quartet then?

It’s more a collective of musicians. A handful of others can be called upon, depending on commitments of individual members. This means they can even play at different venues on the same day.

Big demand for Mozart then, is there?

Well, South Downs Strings do things a bit differently. As well as performing pieces by the great composers, they play string arrangements of pop songs. Sheraine says, “As a young musician, when I should have been practising, I was working out how to play Rick Astley’s ‘Never Gonna Give You Up’.” It’s a similar story with the others. Now, thanks to lockdown TV, there’s huge demand for this type of music.

How come?

One word. Bridgerton.

Sorry?

Bridgerton is a wildly successful period drama on Netflix, loved not just for its lavish costumes and saucy scenes, but a wonderful soundtrack. As well as introducing a new audience to Beethoven, Bach and particularly Vivaldi (thanks to Max Richter’s version of The Four Seasons), it features string arrangements of pop songs by artists including Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande and Maroon 5.

Sheraine Lynsdale-Nock on the violin

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Bimbi, Sheraine, Dawn and Emily at The Rec Rooms

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Bimbi Urquhart is the group’s sole viola player

And people like it?

Indeed they do! Sheraine says, “For every single wedding enquiry we've had over the past year, we’ve been asked to play music from Bridgerton.

It has been a huge hit and the soundtrack features several songs by the Vitamin String Quartet. They’re based in LA, but we are Sussex’s answer to the group. One recent commission was from a client in the US who wanted ‘Strange’ by Celeste for her wedding. They loved the idea of having the piece arranged by a UK musician.”

Surely there hasn’t been much demand lately?

Normally, SDS play a minimum of 30 performances a year. Even though the pandemic decimated the wedding and entertainment industries, the group managed to perform a couple of times and were also picked up by a bespoke music agency in the French Riviera.

Now, thanks to a combination of re-arranged weddings and the “Netflix effect”, bookings have gone through the roof.

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Do the group enjoy playing classical versions of pop music?

Enough for them to see sheet music for Frank Sinatra’s ‘My Way’ hanging on the wall at The Rec Rooms and spontaneously perform it! Sheraine says, “We don't make any distinction between pop and classical and certainly don’t think contemporary music is less worthy. We’re not afraid to mix genres and will happily play a Haydn string quartet followed by ‘Sweet Child O’ Mine’ by Guns ‘n’ Roses. Pop music can be just as dynamic.”

Do many songs work in classical form?

Because string instruments are very versatile, most songs translate quite easily. Bimbi has been working on arrangements to songs by Clean Bandit, a successful British band who

Did You Know?

Bridgerton features Max Richter’s 2012 recording of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons: Recomposed.

German-born British composer Richter has previously worked with some of the UK’s leading electronic acts, including Roni Size and Future Sound of London.

Cellist Emily Mitchell

Dale Jannels Director impactsf Ltd

(01403) 272625

www.impactsf.co.uk

Range of credit issues can impact mortgage It will not have escaped your attention that lower deposit mortgages are back, which is great news, although due to their higher rates and more stringent criteria only a lucky few may be able to successfully apply, at least for now.

have conquered the charts by combining classical and pop elements, with songs including ‘Rockabye’ and ‘Symphony’. Ed Sheeran is another artist whose songs suit strings. Bimbi says, “His voice is naturally quite low, but he sings high notes too, which lends itself to strings as we can be flexible and play beyond a singer’s vocal range.”

So, do all the musicians follow the same notes?

A good classical arrangement of a song will incorporate the differing sounds of the cello, viola and violin. SDS even add rhythmic and percussion elements too. “Musicians are forever exploring ways to create sounds and enhance the capabilities of instruments,” says Bimbi. “You can create percussion by hitting your instrument in a technique known as chopping. It has its roots in folk and Celtic music, but classical performers can adapt it too.”

Do SDS write their own arrangements?

There’s a fast growing library of string versions of pop songs and the group’s repertoire is

now so big that they need to store it digitally to avoid carrying around thick piles of sheet music. However, sometimes members do arrange pieces themselves.

Bimbi says, “Sometimes we have a request for a song that isn’t well-known and need to write a new arrangement.

People are hearing classical versions of contemporary songs and wondering how their own favourites would sound.

We’ve even performed works by Metallica and Led Zeppelin, as classic rock tends to be multilayered and translates well.”

How to people react to it?

Some get up and dance!

Sheraine says, “That's not what we’re booked to be, so when it happens, it’s a spontaneous reaction and a sign that we’re connecting with people.”

So, how did the group first come together?

Sheraine is a Horsham-based musician who met Dawn 20 years ago through a violin teacher, then working at Christ’s Hospital. Sheraine later met Bimby when she played William Walton’s Viola Concerto

For many potential borrowers, especially first-time buyers, these mortgages are out of reach for another reason and that is either because of outstanding credit commitments or minor adverse credit. Income and credit-related scrutiny has, quite rightly, been ramped up from a lending perspective in recent times and clients must share all relevant financial commitments. This sounds obvious but we have experienced instances where missed information has caused major delays further down the line and the need for full transparency upfront is greater than ever.

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with Horsham Symphony Orchestra.

Emily is a well-respected soloist and arranger and joined the quartet after a gig in Brighton. South Downs Strings finally came together five years ago.

Violinist Dawn Kelleher

Do they perform outside the group too?

Yes. Bimbi has played with pop rock band Bastille, both recording and on the festival circuit, including Glastonbury. Sometimes, others join the group. Marie-Anne Bruccheri is a violinist who has played with the quartet before and has also performed with Eminem as one of six violinists at the rapper’s London gigs.

What’s next for South Downs Strings?

They play at a Yoga & Music event on 30 June. Held in collaboration with Summerhouse Yoga, the event aids Help Musicians UK and Crohn's & Colitis UK. They also hope to perform at the Brighton Fringe Festival with Brighton-based singer Ela Southgate on 6 June and are seeking performance opportunities with local businesses.

What about recording?

An idea of recording classical versions of music associated with Tom Cruise films has been mooted.

Sounds a risky business...

In what way?

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Like, a mission impossible…

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Exciting times ahead then?

There are opportunities as classical music heads in new directions. Scala, a digital radio station, launched in 2019 and is attracting younger listeners.

Even the Royal Opera House is using TikTok so that the arias of Verdi and Puccini can reach new fans. Sheraine says, “This evolution is a good thing and I’m always mindful as to how we speak about classical music, because people don’t have the vocabulary to know about adagios or allegros.

Nobody should worry about using the right words! If music moves you, then that’s all that matters.”

Words: Ben Morris Photos: Alan Wright Photography Further information: www.southdownsstrings.com Follow South Downs Strings on Instagram, YouTube and Facebook Thank You: The Rec Rooms for kindly allowing us to use the venue for the photoshoot.

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Rob Clift’s ‘Reverb’ design was inspired by the cover of an Arctic Monkeys album

ORGANIC STYLE Distinctive Designs from Horsham-based RC-Apparel A Horsham designer has created a range of T-shirts, combining unique designs with eco-friendly production.

RC-Apparel launched last year with three designs called Reverb, Infinite and Origins.

Founder Rob Clift has used his experience as a designer for a marketing agency to create striking designs for his high-quality clothing.

‘Origins’

Rob designs the T-shirts himself

“I design clothes that I would wear myself,” says Rob. “I had the idea as I couldn’t find what I wanted in fashion outlets. As I train in jiu-jitsu at Horsham Mixed Martial Arts, I initially considered styles inspired by martial arts. But this tends to represent Japanese culture and it didn’t feel right. I wanted authenticity and felt my designs were better suited to casual clothing.”

“As a designer, I like eye-catching yet simple ideas and the patterns I’ve created reflect that. They may look relatively

simple but there’s a lot of work behind them, with manipulation of tones and shapes. With Reverb, the inspiration came from the cover of The Arctic Monkeys album, AM. But it’s a long way from the band’s concept.”

Organic Materials Rob has had the idea for his own clothing line for a long time, but it was only last year that he was in a position to launch the business. His early targets have been impacted by the impact of Covid-19, but lockdown has presented him with an opportunity to build a website and sell products online.

One of his unique selling points is a focus on eco-friendly materials. Concerned about the environmental impact of fast fashion, Rob uses 100% organic cotton, made purely with renewable energy.

37

“From the outset, I didn’t want to slap my designs on the cheapest T-shirts. I want to create a brand people can buy into and trust.

Many T-shirts lose shape and colour after a few wears and end up getting thrown away quickly, but these are made to last and you’ll feel good about wearing them. Fast fashion causes so much damage and consumers are increasingly aware of that.

So, we are thinking ethically about production, even working with a printing company that uses water-based, veganfriendly ink.”

Target Audience Rob hopes his designs will appeal to a wide age range, from teens to men in their forties.

“Young people tend to buy wellknown brands and seniors often play it safe with comfortable materials free of logos or patterns. Then there's that in-between age when you're looking for something that says something about you. That’s the market I want to reach with distinctive designs that 38

“Fast fashion causes so much damage, so we are thinking ethically about production.” although different, can still be recognised as RC-Apparel.”

“I've used black, white and navy colours to reflect my own taste, but as I broaden the range, I may introduce brighter tones. I hope to expand with long-sleeved tops, hoodies and sweatshirts, and potentially hats and other accessories too. But that depends on the success of my early designs and capturing a market through online channels such as Instagram.”

Words: Ben Morris Photos: Alan Wright https://rc-apparel.co.uk/ facebook.com/RobCliftApparel/ www.instagram.com/_rcapparel/

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Moments to Savour Wimblehurst Chocolates: Making treats to remember

41

Lindsey Williams set up her own chocolate business ten years ago

Lindsey Williams goes to great lengths to create a perfect chocolate, recreating the magical bites she remembers from her own childhood.

After ten years, Wimblehurst Chocolates continues to be a favourite among visitors to Horsham Market. Here, Lindsey describes the journey in her own words…

Art of the Chocolatier I was a civil servant for most of my working life, but was made redundant when the Government closed my regional office. I could have gone back to working in London, but a return to commuting to the capital didn’t appeal. As I couldn’t find the kind of chocolate I love anywhere in Horsham, I decided to become a chocolatier!

A chocolate maker sources cocoa beans and makes everything from scratch. As a chocolatier, I use chocolate couverture, which I then temper. Once you have the shell of the chocolate, you work on the fillings. So, the key was first finding a tasty chocolate that I liked. I gathered samples from major suppliers and had a fabulous time trying them all before choosing a favourite.

I named the business after my road in Horsham, which was until recently the only Wimblehurst Road in the country. I started by making truffles and gradually progressed to offer chocolate bars and all kinds of seasonal treats. At Christmas, Easter and other special occasions, I make items such as penguins or bunnies. I mainly use dark and milk chocolate as I’m not a big fan of white chocolate. I don't include nuts either, so my chocolate is good for anyone with a nut allergy.

From the outset, I pitched my products at the higher end of the market, aspiring to reach a Hotel Chocolat standard. Boxes of individual chocolates are my best sellers.

Every chocolatier sells bars, but seeing handmade chocolates in a display and being able to choose the ones you want is special. I have up to two dozen different varieties people can pick from and the box dressing comes as standard.

A Hint of Absinthe My chocolates tend to be traditional flavours with a twist. My salted caramel and cherry ganache chocolates are among the most popular. A friend of mine makes a lovely raspberry and thyme vinegar, which I use in a raspberry & thyme truffle. One of my most divisive treats is an absinthe chocolate. Some people love it though, and one customer told me it gives him funny dreams!

Like any chocolatier, I’ve always been up against Thornton's. When I was young, I would go to the shop and buy a single Thornton’s chocolate, as it was all I could afford. They made excellent chocolates back then. At some point, the company appeared to target a different market and its chocolates no longer have the magic for me personally. If you can pick them up at a petrol station, it’s not high-end chocolate. Often, I can’t even buy the ingredients for the price of Thornton’s chocolates, so my goal is to offer delicious one-off bites that people will remember.

42

I use quality ingredients, with some coming from local suppliers. My butter is from Bookham Harrison Farm in Rudgwick and some of my chocolates are made using jams from Bartie’s Sussex Faire, who are regulars at Horsham Local Produce Market. The cream is from Charlie’s Farm Shop in Bury and some of my treats have a splash of Chilgrove Gin.

On the High Street I had a shop on East Street for a while. It was two shops in one, with Wimblehurst Chocolates and Marion de Montfort, who sold French produce. So, I know more about French wine and cheese than I ever imagined I would!

Did You Know?

The first solid chocolate bar was made in 1847, when Bristol company J.S Fry & Sons combined cocoa butter, sugar and chocolate liquer.

Five years later, Fry’s made the first filled sweet too, called Cream Sticks. Today, Fry’s is still known for its chocolate cream bar and Turkish Delight.

OUTDOOR SEATING IS BACK!

Making chocolates is a time-consuming process

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.

As well as truffles, Lindsey makes quirky seasonal specials

Strawberry Fields Tea Rooms It was a great experience, but at first people couldn't understand the concept of two businesses sharing a shop. Even finding insurance was a challenge until the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) found us a joint policy. It took a while for people to get used to seeing us around, but we were just turning a corner when the landlord decided to sell.

It's very hard for small independent shops to succeed because of the high rent and rates. It would be nice to have something in place to encourage businesses to grow to a certain point first, giving them a chance.

I started in the Local Produce Market in Horsham, as they were appealing for stall holders. I enjoy being on the market, as you get to know customers and there’s a great rapport and camaraderie between stall holders. Many of those customers followed me to the East Street shop, and then back again to the market.

“It would be nice to have something in place to encourage businesses to grow to a certain point first, giving them a chance.”

For me, making chocolate is the easy part. There are people who can make and people who can sell, and I fall into the “making” bracket. What I have found is that customers buy into me. Outlets such as farm shops can struggle to sell my products because customers are blind to what I do.

Sat on someone else’s shelf, it just looks like an expensive box of chocolates. When they see me at the market, they understand my ethos and appreciate the time spent on every chocolate.

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Beware of the Gloss Sometimes on warmer days, you can see chocolate that is too glossy. You can be fooled into thinking they’re okay when they’re not, as the structure has changed, the fat and sugar balance has shifted and the product has softened too much. So, I don’t do markets on hot days because I wouldn't be selling my best product. Recently, I started working at the Covid vaccination centres in the area, so I need to balance my business around that too.

In 2020, I missed Easter due to lockdown. That is obviously an important time for chocolatiers. Sadly, this year I was unfortunate with lockdown timings too. It has been a testing time!

I would like to focus more on my business, but it's difficult. At one stage, it was a full-time occupation and I had to decide if I wanted to take the next step and employ people, or keep things steady and just enjoy it. Ultimately, I chose the latter.

Words: Ben Morris Photos: Alan Wright Photography 44

Facebook: @WimChoc info@wimblehurstchocolates.co.uk Tel: 07769 644248

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Lindsey uses butter from Bookham Harrison Farms. Using its own Sussex Charmer, they makes lovely cheese on toast at its cafe & produce store at The Milk Churn in Rudgwick. www.bookhamharrison.co.uk

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Explore Further...

West Grinstead company Cocoa Loco has become renowned for its awardwinning artisan organic and Fairtrade chocolate, made by Sarah and Rory Payne. www.cocoaloco.com

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Collective Spirit The Horsham gin specialists adopting a local approach

David Howard has attended countless events to promote his gin company

David Howard launched Cabin Pressure Spirits from a shed in his back garden in 2017. Thanks to its clean and refreshing taste, as well as its stylish bottle, his original vacuum-distilled gin proved a hit.

At a time when numbers of small, independent distilleries have surged, Cabin Pressure Spirits has been able to grow steadily by focusing on growth in Horsham and collaborating with other independent businesses. As David perfects his gin-making skills, wife Emily creates striking artwork for the labels, helping the brand stand out from the competition. In challenging times, this local focus has helped maintain a steady stream of orders.

Goodbye to the Shed Cabin Pressure finally moved out of the shed and into a new unit in Horsham at the start of 2020. Thanks to a matchfunding grant from the Council’s LEAP small business grant scheme, new equipment helped them increase production.

“After three years in the shed, it was starting to get silly,” said David. “The business was taking over the entire house.

It was a nightmare! So, we took the lease on a small unit and purchased equipment to enable us to expand. It’s always a risk when you make a significant investment, but it needed to happen for us to make the next step.”

Plans for scaling up have inevitably been impacted by Covid-19. With retailers forced to close, there was no outlet for their bottles and 100ml miniatures. Many local pubs and restaurants also use their gin, so David and Emily shifted their focus to online sales to help the business survive.

David said: “We relaunched our website and that helped tick us over. We would normally attend many events during the summer, from food festivals to gin trails.

We lost all of those, which was a great pity as events like The Big Nibble in Horsham have been important to our development and we enjoy selling directly to the public.”

Local Collaborations The original vacuum-distilled gin continues to be the best-selling product.

However, Cabin Pressure has collaborated with local venues and businesses to create exciting new products too. The first was the Leonardslee Botanical Garden Gin, made in partnership with Jean Delport, head chef at the Michelin-starred Restaurant Interlude.

David said: “Jean was very excited about the project and wanted the Leonardslee gin to be inspired and influenced by the gardens in the same way as his menu. So, we developed a gin with floral tones including lavender, chamomile, rose and honey. The concept is that all the ingredients wouldn't be out of place in the gardens. It is sold at the gift shop and has been a success. But our collaboration goes beyond that, as we ran a gin bar at Leonardslee Illuminated last December too.”

47

48

Emily Howard is responsible for the stylish labels at Cabin Pressure Spirits

Sting in the Tail The next collaboration was with Crates Local Produce in the Carfax. Working with former owners PJ Aldred and Marion Carter, Horsham Serpent Gin was inspired by the legend of the dragon slain in St Leonard’s Forest.

“We wanted to create a gin with earthy flavours of chilli, ginger and pink peppercorn, with a pleasant orangey finish,” said David. “It’s a crowd-pleaser and is always well received at tasting events.”

The Cold Brew Coffee Liqueur allowed David to experiment with stronger aromas to create something different for the range, while still working with an independent business. The liqueur uses beans sourced from Horsham Coffee Roaster, based in Lower Beeding, to create a smooth, rich taste with a hint of sweetness.

David said: “This was my personal project, but I worked closely with the coffee roasters to ensure I got the very best out of the beans. I love trying new things and am always making experimental gins, from rhubarb to cherry flavoured drinks, often testing them out at events. That’s how the coffee liqueur came about. People loved it, so we labelled it properly and it’s done very well, picking up a silver award from The Liqueur Masters.

Continuing the cocoa theme, Cabin Pressure’s gin has been incorporated into a chocolate made by Chococo.

The chocolatier, which has a branch in the Carfax, blended gin with a Madagascan origin dark chocolate and fresh Dorset cream ganache, infused with rosemary. “Chococo makes a special chocolate for each of their outlets using a local gin or spirit,” said David. “They approached us and we’re delighted by what they came up with, as the chocolates are seriously good!”

“The coffee liquer was a personal project, but I worked closely with the coffee roasters to ensure I got the very best out of the beans.”

Collaborations with Crates, Leonardslee and Horsham Coffee Roaster have helped expand the range

49

Horsham Spirit features Emily’s imaginative interpretation of The Causeway...

50

was only right to give something back. So, a percentage of the profits are donated to local charities, with the first recipient being Horsham Volunteer Responders.”

regional focus has given the business a firm footing. David said: “When we started out, we felt unusual in being a small company working out of a shed. Now, there are huge numbers of people doing the same thing and there’s no room for them all to claim a significant market share. Fortunately, that’s not why I started this business. I never wanted to take over the world. This was a lifestyle choice, which allows me to do something I’m passionate about. However, promoting the town’s heritage and supporting other local independents has helped us cement our position in Horsham first, which leaves us well placed for the future.”

Lifestyle Choice

Words: Ben Morris Photos: Alan Wright Photography

Stylish Labels

Did You Know?

The company’s success owes much to stylish presentation, from the quality of the bottles to the attractive labels created by Emily. The artwork of its latest product, Horsham Spirit Gin, has been particularly well received. It was launched in November 2020 and distributed mainly through local stockists at Horsham Wine Cellar, Hepworth's and Crates.

The Philippines is the world’s largest gin market, comprising about 50 million cases annually.

Most of these sales are of its own hugely popular brand, Ginebra San Miguel.

“Horsham Spirit Gin is close to what people would recognise as a London Dry,” said David. “We have tweaked it, so there's natural sweetness from the juniper base that leans it towards ‘Old Tom’, which is traditionally sweet. It’s an interesting hybrid. We had a great response and struggled to keep up with demand!”

“Because we use the name of the town and the iconic image of the Causeway, we felt it

...and goes down well with tonic and a slice of lime

The collaborations are beginning to pay dividends. As the gin and spirits market becomes more crowded, David and Emily’s

Further information: Cabin Pressure Spirits gin is available at Crates, Horsham Wine Cellar and online at www.cabinpressurespirits.com

Hear Better - Feel Better New “mask mode” features

Over the last year, we have all found it difficult to hear and communicate while wearing masks. Anyone with a hearing loss has found it even more of a struggle.

Now, new technology is available to enhance hearing and overcome the muffling effect of masks. New features such as “mask mode”, rechargeable batteries and Bluetooth connectivity are now available in the latest hearing instruments.

Improve your health & wellbeing

Living in isolation can be bad for your health and wellbeing. For many people, poor hearing can lead to isolation and withdrawal.

People who treat their hearing loss not only hear better, but may lower their risk for serious health issues such as cognitive decline and dementia. Let us help you to unlock your hearing and re-connect with the world.

All hearing aids amplify sounds, but ours improve clarity New Apps available on smartphones allow you to change volume, switch memories and much more. Monitor your body and brain health, set daily goals, and answer calls with the touch of a button, streaming conversations directly to your hearing aid. New “in the canal’ hearing adds are available, with rechargeable batteries, Bluetooth connectivity and best-ever sound quality. They are also easy to wear with masks.

Brands include:

Call and book a complimentary initial consultation

25 Years in Horsham

At the Horsham Hearing Centre, we have continued to use “Covid-secure” clinics throughout the past year and we are proud to have looked after all our customers during this difficult time. All our audiologists and support staff have had Covid vaccinations and we continue to offer a safe service in a safe environment.

If you have struggled to hear over lockdown, why not book a “Covid-secure” appointment with one of our audiologists and try some of the latest hearing aids?

Interest-free credit available over 24 months. Hear now, pay later!

Call the Horsham Hearing Centre on 01403 218700 and quote “AAH” for our technology upgrade offer The Horsham Hearing Centre, 22 Worthing Road (opposite Horsham Library), Horsham, RH12 1SL

www.hearcentres.com | horsham@hearcentres.com

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Chip off the old block Greg Adlam follows his father’s lead at Studio Locus

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Greg and Simon Adlam at Studio Locus, Henfield

Studio Locus has been praised for the attention to detail in its beautiful pieces of furniture.

Its products range from coasters and chopping boards to wardrobes and fitted kitchens, while more unusual items – such as its remarkable Lowlands field bar complete with Champagne flutes – have also attracted attention.

As well as using good-quality materials, the father and son team of Simon and Greg Adlam aim to make long-lasting furniture accessible to more people. AAH visited their new Henfield workshop to find out more…

Starting Out After graduating, Greg was working in retail when he decided to switch to carpentry, following in his father’s footsteps. At the time, Simon was looking to reduce his own working hours, so joined his son’s fledgling business. Greg named it Studio Locus, a geometric term for the space around a centre point, which has stuck with him since school.

“Every summer through school and college, I would work with dad in his workshop,” says Greg. “When it came to launching a business, calling on his 50 years of experience in woodwork was a no-brainer!

Over three or four years, I underwent an informal apprenticeship. Initially, we were working in a single garage with barely enough room for two people and a saw. That limited what we could do, but we adapted and became very creative.”

“Somehow, we managed to remodel an entire office for an architectural firm in

central London from the shed. Earlier this year, we finally moved into a new unit on a small industrial site in Henfield.”

Investing in Homes The move to a new premises coincided with a substantial increase in demand, with many people looking to improve their homes during lockdown.

Holiday money has instead been spent on furniture, while others have saved commuting money by working from home and have sought a new kitchen, wardrobe, or even their own office.

The pandemic has made good quality wood harder to source and shipping costs have increased too. However, Studio Locus wants to make beautiful and long-lasting furniture more affordable. “We want to provide good items that doesn’t break the bank,” says Greg. “Furniture shouldn't fall apart after 18 months, but it often does as people are

Simon measures out a shelf for a drinks cabinet

duped by beautiful photos they see online, which is nothing like what they actually get. But people are also nervous about ordering bespoke furniture because of the costs that can be involved. What we try and do is fill that gap.”

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“Of course, we can’t compete with the prices of major retailers. However, over the course of a few years, furniture from us will be more cost effective for the customer. Flat pack furniture typically includes a lot of chipboard for concealed

pieces, which has very low density and usually has locking cam bolt fixings. This makes it easy to put together, but easy to damage too.”

“We use glue and biscuit joints with strong dowels, which makes for sturdy, reliable furniture. There’s nothing that dad hasn’t seen in carpentry and with his experience, he’s able to find solutions to so many problems, which is why we’ve had such a great response from clients.”

The Lowlands Field Bar

Inspiring Ideas Its range includes a sleek Hawke TV unit made with rick oak, and Medway satin oak bedside tables finished in Farrow and Ball paint. The Sopwell nesting tables are impressive too, with an attractive satin black walnut finish, which is also used in the cottage rocking chair.

There is just as much variety in its range of large bespoke projects, including oak beds,

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black oak wardrobes and even revamped kitchens. “We can make anything from a chopping board to a fitted kitchen,” says Greg. “Current projects include a lovely record cabinet with sliding doors, and a floor-to-ceiling bookshelf with a built-in window seat.”

“Our ethos is ‘Your home, your rules’, which means we’re happy to adapt to ideas. A client may have an awkward space that needs something unusual, or perhaps has an idea that they need to discuss to see if it’s feasible. We help them hone in on exactly what they’re looking for, combining their own visual inspiration with practical elements such as storage space and soft-closing mechanisms, to create something that improves day-to-day life.”

Entertainment unit by Studio Locus

“Every piece of furniture is important to us. We love working with European oak and American black walnut, but these are valuable commodities and it’s important to create good quality work with little wastage. We are also keen supporters of One Tree Planted (www.onetreeplanted.org), donating one tree for every piece of furniture bought and ten for every fitted project.”

Under-the-stairs wine rack

Bespoke bookcase 55

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Greg Adlam at Studio Locus

“There’s nothing that dad hasn’t seen in carpentry and with his experience, he’s able to come up with solutions to many problems.”

Greg Adlam

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The Field Bar While its range includes items for all budgets, it’s a high-end product that has been a surprising success for Studio Locus. The Lowlands field bar is a traditional drinks cabinet with a contemporary twist. With a luxurious look combining the dark tones of American black walnut with light ash panels and polished brass trims, it has attracted the attention of wealthy buyers. The first one was built as a 60th birthday present. Not only did it have to fit in the boot of a Range Rover, it also needed space for clay pigeon shooting equipment!

Since then, the idea has evolved and the cabinet has been adapted to store Champagne bottles and glass flutes.

Greg says: “We started by thinking practically, looking at how bottles and flutes could be safely stored. The Champagne stands upright with a block attached to the lid to hold it in place. The baize material needs to be good quality too, to complement the wood and trimmings. With refinements, we have a very good product that can be adapted to accommodate flutes, tumblers, even tea sets, as well as storing ammunition for clay pigeon shooting if required. Some have include original artwork of a pheasant under the hood too, so it’s not only beautiful but highly detailed.”

“It’s a high-end product, but there’s been demand from

people who enjoy attending or hosting garden parties too, as well as businesses wanting a talking point. As everything is made to order, we can be flexible with the design.”

Future Plans After working together for several years, both father and son have learned a lot. While Greg has learned invaluable skills of the trade, Simon has adapted to new ways of working, using tools that are more efficient than those he persevered with for much of his carpentry career. Now, as the product range expands and they find new clients, both through their online shop and through retail partners including Fir, Feather & Fin in Chichester (which sells the field bar), the hard work is paying dividends.

“Working as a father and son can be challenging at times,” says Simon. “The dynamic is different to what it would be with a normal apprenticeship. I must have driven Greg mad to begin with, as I was always looking over his shoulder and querying things. But gradually, I’ve learned to let him get on with it and trust him!”

Words: Ben Morris Photos: Alan Wright

We don’t have a sales team and never make cold calls about advertising. Instead, we offer a great service to those who choose us.

This includes: Free design service Every 6th advert free Placement in a magazine rich in editorial content

AAH is delivered to about 13,000 homes in Horsham and surrounding villages, with rounds in Broadbridge Heath, Mannings Heath, Ashington, Billingshurst and new estates at Highwood, Wickhurst Green and Broadacres.

Further Information: Tel: 07720 653889 www.studiolocus.co.uk info@studiolocus.co.uk

Copies can also be picked up for free from our stylish stands across the Horsham District.

We also publish online at www.aahorsham.co.uk

©AAH/TobyPhillips 2019

©AAH/TobyPhillips 2019

Would you like to reach more people in the Horsham District and tell them about your business?

If so, perhaps AAH can help.

ABOUT AAH MAGAZINE

Explore Further...

Nafisi Studio is a luxury bespoke art furniture and sculpture studio in Mannings Heath, run by husband and wife Abdollah and Kate Nafisi.

Every handmade piece has a story, fusing progressive and heritage craftsmanship. https://nafisi.design/

BACK TO BUSINESS?

Stephen Jackman has been fixing clocks for 14 years. His full-time business is repairing, servicing and making them, specialising in long case (grandfather) and musical pieces, but he also runs repair workshops near Pulborough. www.clockcourses.co.uk

Throughout Covid, we’ve maintained a high standard of editorial and photographic content, continuing to highlight the people, businesses, clubs and organisations that are making a difference in our community.

To chat about options and ideas

contact Ben, the editor, at editor@aahorsham.co.uk 01903 892899

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The Birth of The Rifles Horsham’s 221-year-old link to HRH Prince Philip’s funeral More than 13 million people tuned in on Saturday 17 April to watch the funeral of HRH Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, and the spectacle of the Armed Forces marking the occasion.

One aspect of the Armed Forces stood out because of the plainness of their garb and rapid marching was The Rifles. Prince Philip was formerly Colonel-in-Chief of The Rifles, a post now held by the Duchess of Cornwall.

The Regiment has a 221-year-old history that has its origins in Horsham, as recounted here by Jeremy Knight, Curator of Horsham Museum.

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The world’s first Rifle regiment was formed in Horsham towards the end of the French Revolutionary Wars, after an 1802 peace treaty failed and it morphed into the Napoleonic Wars. Its birth pangs were tricky, but once formed, it had an illustrious record...

An early survey of the Horsham Barracks (©HDC/Horsham Museum)

A Corps of Riflemen In December 1799, the Duke of York announced that a camp for training elements of the regular army was required, including “a Corps of Riflemen by detachments to be returned” to their battalions “when properly instructed and the exercising of the five Regiments together as a Light Corps”.

There then followed a debate amongst military strategists as to how the specialist marksman should operate within the structure of the Army. Should they follow the Austrian model and be mixed in with the battalion, or follow the Prussian model and be a separate single specialist corps which would support the light infantry?

Finally, the Duke decided on training just a small body of men from every battalion to act as sharpshooters.

On 17 January 1800, he ordered that 14 regiments were to detach 30 privates, two corporals, two sergeants, one ensign, one lieutenant and one captain “to form a corps of detachments from the different regiments of the line for the purpose of being instructed in the use of the rifle and the system of exercise adopted by soldiers so armed”.

Servicemen with The Rifles on The Causeway (©HDC/Horsham Museum)

It was made clear that, once trained, the soldiers would return to the regiments and

another 14 regiments would send troops.

The Duke also instructed that only “such men as appear most capable of receiving the above instructions and most competent to the performance of the duty of Rifleman” should be sent; some regimental commanders saw it as an opportunity to send some of the worst men.

The next question was: where would they be sent for training? It was decided that Horsham offered the best facilities, perhaps because of the training field that would acquire the name “Barrack Field.”

This is now Horsham Cricket Club.

In early February, eight of the detachments had arrived at Horsham; the Duke, as Commander-in-Chief, forced the other six detachments to be sent, only to notify five of the colonels that all 34 of the men they sent were “unfit for service” and so to send “good and serviceable men”.

By late March, 33 officers and 510 men had been selected and on 1 April 1800 the first parade of the Experimental Corps took place in Horsham. A month later, they were marched to Swinley near Windsor Forest for intensive training. Horsham’s role in the formation of one of the great regiments of the Napoleonic War, the 95th Rifles, slipped from the town’s memory until 2000, when a memorial plaque was unveiled in the Parish Church.

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