AAH (All About Horsham) September 2021

SEPTEMBER 2021

AAH (ALL ABOUT HORSHAM) SEPTEMBER 2021 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.

7 News Round-Up Sussex artists host exhibition in Horsham and dramatic delay to the Local Plan announced

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.

21 Community Margaret Alford of the Ashington Festival discusses the challenges of organising village events

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27 My Story Engineer Michael Lugg looks back on a life-long passion for restoring steam engines

COVER STORY This month’s cover features brothers Paolo and Luca Malavasi at their new Monte Forte Pizzeria at 18 East Street in Horsham. Although the pizzeria had been open for several days, the brothers were putting the finishing touches to the restaurant, while Paolo was even helping the chefs make and serve pizzas during our lunchtime visit. It was busy, but photographer Alan was still able to erect one of his studio lights and take this great shot for the cover. In hindsight, he might have asked Paolo to remove his cap and dishcloth!

Other cover contenders include Margaret Alford, organiser of the Ashington Festival, and Olivia Deane, who is raising awareness of people with body differences.

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 13,000 doors, as well as pick-up points around the District.

33 People Olivia Deane is raising awareness of people living with prosthetic eyes and body differences

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

AAH ONLINE www.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, Mannings 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, Tanya Forbes, The Garner family, Jill Shuker, The Bloomfield family, The Arliss family, Jake and Eve Lovett, Lara Green, The Gavira family, Hannah and Harvey Dold, Alessandro Cavallo, Jack Nicholls, The McCormick family, Charlie Merchant, Harry Baker, Melanie Bradley.

Southwater: The Brown family, The Chapman family Villages: The Palmer family (BBH) 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)

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 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) We hope that stands at CoCo’s salon at Southwater and The Bridge Leisure Centre will return soon. Horsham Museum is closed but the stand will return once it re-opens. Currently, our stand at Swan Walk is not available, due to Covid.

BACK ISSUES We do keep a few copies of past editions. Copies cost £3.50 each, which includes postage.

Email: editor@aahorsham.co.uk LEAFLETS We can deliver leaflets with AAH. Email: editor@aahorsham.co.uk £40 + VAT per 1,000 copies NOTES We are delighted to have a new stand at the wonderful New House Farm at Old Crawley Road, Horsham. The farm shop and tea rooms have been a great supporter of AAH over the years and customers have long been able to pick up a free copy at the till. Now, we have a spring-loaded stand in New House Farm’s own colours instead.

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

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Drink

Health

Business

Music

House Coren in The Haven releases its first vintage, Boco, made using a Charmat method

Phat Kat’s Kitchen sells a type of Kombucha, a health drink rich in probiotics

Paolo and Luca Malavasi have opened their second Neapolitan pizzeria in East Street, Horsham

The Soho Dukes are a group of local musicians on the comeback trail after 25 years out!

CHEAP THRILLS

Notes from the Editor: Keeping village traditions alive

The Ashington Festival carnival procession

There wasn’t much to see in the carnival parade at Ashington Festival this year.

One of the playschools went to a great deal of effort on its Toy Story themed float. Then came a beaming Carnival Princess, followed by the Wizard of Oz gang on a flatbed Transit and two Covid-themed floats (including one with children dressed as poo). Bringing up the rear was a vintage bus, not doing much apart from ensuring the parade lasted longer than a minute. The highlight for perhaps when a Ford Fiesta Popular joined the parade and had to crawl up The Sands towards Rectory Lane behind the Medina Marching Band. I overheard someone saying it was like a scene in The Inbetweeners, where the boys cut into a funeral procession in a yellow Fiat Cinquecento.

Yet, small as it was, the parade was quite wonderful. It felt good to have it back.

Like everything else, the festival was cancelled in 2020 and even this year is one of the few events to have taken place in its usual format. And the effort was appreciated. Thousands of people lined the route, supporting the parade as if it was the Rio Carnival, even if instead of hundreds of finely choreographed samba dancers in flamboyant dress, we had two boys in inflatable T-Rex costumes.

There was a more joyous atmosphere than previous years, with people taking the

chance to meet with friends and family, and let their hair down for the first time in ages.

Even me. If I’m honest, I’m the sort of person who can be guilty of turning their nose up at events like this. For instance, I sniggered to myself when I spotted someone wearing a QuoFest tour T-shirt from 2011 (with support from Kim Wilde, no less!)

See, there I go again...

But honestly, a good old-fashioned English village day felt like the perfect antidote to recent times. There was a charity tombola for children where even losing tickets won a jar filled with sweets, reminding us all how good Parma Violets are when you haven’t had them for two years. My nephew came back from the hook-a-duck stall with one of those plastic toy army parachutists.

In time-honoured fashion, he spent a few minutes vainly trying to make it fly, before declaring it rubbish and heading off to the bumper cars. Us grown-ups wondered if there was a company that still makes them, or if the hook-a-duck stallholder simply overstocked in 1987.

As the evening drew to a close, there were kids running around waving glowsticks, over-excited from coconut ice and candy floss. Teenagers in flashing bowler hats strolled around like they were the main attraction at Milan Fashion Week. And even as Elvis gave way to a disco and the locals

tried to co-ordinate their hands to the YMCA after several hours of drinking, everyone was still having a good time.

A few friends visited from Horsham, as they had children dancing with Rhythm & Sole, a street dance group that performed in the arena. We started talking about the old Horsham Carnival, as we’re all old enough to remember it. I was a bucket shaker one year, dressed as a Victorian street kid (I think my friend’s mum was on the HAODS float and they must’ve been doing Oliver!)

Could the carnival return, we wondered?

It’s a subject that’s crept up on the Horsham Facebook page a few times, but a thousand keen voices on social media will seldom equate to a determined organising committee. Maybe Horsham isn’t a carnival kind of town anymore. If it was, perhaps something would have grown organically out of Funday Sunday or Sparks in the Park.

Or maybe great events like Piazza Italia and AmeriCARna (which I would love to see return in 2022) have made a carnival or festival surplus to requirements.

Whatever might happen in Horsham in future, the Ashington Festival and other local village days are still an important part of our heritage and deserve support. For me, the day served as a reminder that while trips abroad and cultural experiences are great, good times can be found on your own doorstep too.

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NEWS ROUND-UP Announcements & Events from across the District

Sir Charles Burrell at the Knepp rewilding project, which would be impacted by major development at Buck Barn, proposed in the current Local Plan (©AAH/Toby Phillips 2012) 7

New changes to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) announced by the Government could have major implications on the Local Plan.

Horsham District Council’s current draft Local Plan sets out planning policies and proposals to guide development in the District up to 2038. But the Government now wants a 30-year vision.

HDC was close to moving forward with the latest version of the Local Plan (called Regulation 19) which proposed major development at sites in Buck Barn, Ifield West, Southwater and Billingshurst. There was due to be a Full Council meeting on 28

July to approve it, but this was postponed because of the Government’s new demands. Instead, HDC has sought legal advice as it embarks on additional work to support a new 30-year vision.

Cllr Paul Clarke, Leader of the Council, said: “The Government’s announcement is hugely disappointing. We have sought help from MHCLG (Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government) to reduce our housing requirements without any substantive success. As a result, we have worked hard to prepare a plan that would pass muster with a Planning Inspector in order to protect the District

The Big Nibble returns to the Carfax on Sunday 5 September.

The Horsham District Councilorganised event showcases the best of local produce, alongside internationally-inspired street food. Stallholders will offer short presentations, masterclasses and tastings, with the chance to learn about wild mushrooms, local cheeses and pizza making.

The Big Nibble is organised in association with market operator Food Rocks. www.horshammarkets.co.uk

against speculative development. The Government consulted on the possible requirement for Local Plans to include a 30-year vision some months ago and we responded, asking for guidance on how this could be evidenced. We received no feedback and had no advance warning of this change in the NPPF. Worse still, no guidance has been published alongside the changes to the NPPF to explain what local authorities need to do to meet this new requirement. We have no choice but to delay our Local Plan.”

The news has been well received by local campaign groups, at least for now.

Independent retail businesses can apply for grants to enhance their shops. Horsham District Council has £80,000 to help independent and high street businesses improve premises through the West Sussex Retail Training and Support Programme.

Qualifying businesses can apply for £4,000 but must complete training via the Programme’s Virtual Retail Learning Hub. www.horsham.gov.uk/business/ west-sussex-retail-training-andsupport-programme-202122 Big Nibble (©AAH/Toby Phillips 2019)

Market Square (©AAH/Toby Phillips)

Sean Bui, Musical Director at the WSPC

The West Sussex Philharmonic Choir has appointed a new Musical Director. Sean Bui brings his skills and energy to the choir as the new season starts on 7 September in Horsham. Sean’s talent for composing led to him being made Composer in Residence at the Queen’s private chapel, Royal Chapel of All Saints Chapel in Windsor. He co-founded Quire Voices (featured on Classic FM with The Band of the Household Cavalry)

and has been Musical Director of Spelthorne Choral Society. As a professional singer, he has performed solos in works such as Mozart’s Requiem and sung at the Royal Albert Hall. Suzanne Gates, Chair of WSPC, said: “The choir are looking forward to singing together and invite anyone with an interest in singing a wide ranging repertoire in good company to come and join in.

It’s truly life enhancing!” westsussexphilharmonicchoir.org.uk

Harpy, starring Su Pollard, comes to The Capitol on Wednesday 6 October. Birdie’s a hoarder and neighbours call her a harridan and a harpy, although most have never met her. They see her hoard as a hazard for house prices. But it isn’t rubbish – it’s her life’s work. Pollard is a one-woman tour-de-force in this sharp drama from Philip Meeks.

Tickets £19.50 from (01403) 750220 or www.thecapitolhorsham.com

Coolham Live Music Club hosts an outdoor concert with alto sax player Tom Waters and his band, Electric People, at GT’s Stables at Elm Stud, Coolham Road, Billingshurst on Sunday 19 September from 1.15pm.

Tom is currently studying at The Royal Academy of Music and has played with the likes of The Rolling Stones and Jools Holland. Support from Chelsea Blues. See ‘Coolham Live Music Club’ on Facebook.

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S4S award winners with some of the charity’s patrons in 2017

Set4Success, a charity that has helped over 180 young local athletes compete and train, has sadly closed.

The Rotary Club of Horsham (RCH) started Set4Success in 2009 after Rotary International in Britain & Ireland suggested local clubs ‘adopt’ an athlete who might make it to the 2012 London Olympics. After supporting swimmer Callum Hillicks, the RCH created Set4Success, built on the premise of supporting many athletes. Set4Success identified talented 12 -18 year-olds, supporting them with a grant towards training and travelling to competitions.

Recipients came from a wide range of sports, from football, tennis and hockey to equestrian, baseball and motocross. Funding came from sponsors and fundraisers including inter-business sports contests organised by Horsham District Council. The last Set4Success awards ceremony at Christ’s Hospital School was a fitting tribute to the late John Le Rossignol, who started the scheme and ran it from its inception with Peter Lake. Because of Covid, there has not been much sporting activity and the RCH has decided to focus on helping those impacted by the pandemic.

TOOVEY’S

Run Barns Green is held on Sunday 26 September, with half marathon and 10k races. After last year’s event was cancelled, the finishing zone has been altered, with Covid-safe methods for removing chipped timing tags from runners’ shoes and distributing medals to finishers. Entry to the half marathon is £26 (£28.50 for unlicensed runners) and the 10k is £17.50 (£20). Plans for a kids’ race have been cancelled. www.runbarnsgreen.org.uk England rugby players Shaunagh Brown and Marlie Packer joined a training camp for girls at Horsham Rugby Club on 16 August. Shaunagh (part of the 2020 Women’s Six Nations winning team) and Marlie (part of the 2014 Women’s Rugby Club squad), passed on tips and guidance to 22 girls at the Coolhurst ground. Shaunagh attended in her role as an ambassador for Royal London, which has commissioned a Lions Feasibility Report to see if a women Lions team can be formed.

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The Last Works of Henri Matisse 1950-1954, New York: Harcourt, Brace & Co, 1958 ~ auctioned in our July sale of books for £2,600

Looking to sell your old books?

Entries are invited for our next specialist sale of Antiquarian & Collectors’ Books on 30th November For free, no-obligation valuations, please call to arrange an appointment with our book specialist Charlie Howe 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

A new Sussex Green Hub will be launched at the United Reformed Church, 45 Springfield Road, Horsham, RH12 1PT, on Saturday 25 September, 10am – 4pm.

Organised by Sussex Green Living, the first Sussex Green Hub event will also see the relaunch of the Horsham Repair Café. The Green Hub will then be held on the last Saturday of each month, offering ideas on repairs, recycling,

gardening, food waste, upcycling, clean energy, bottle refills for personal and household cleaning products, and ways to reduce your carbon footprint. www.sussexgreenliving.co.uk/ sussex-green-hub/ Those wanting to use the Repair Cafe (where experienced volunteers help to fix PCs, laptops and other electrical items) should book at www.horshamrepaircafe.org.uk

Horsham District Council, in partnership with West Sussex County Council, is trialling a re-use project. Pre-loved items such as hard and soft furniture in good condition can be dropped off at the re-use hub at Hop Oast Park and Ride, near the Waste Recycling Facility. Residents can also drop off old sofas, tables, chairs, chest-ofdrawers, coffee tables and TV units.

The Council will assess take-up.

Improvements have been made to Park House Sensory Garden by Horsham Park. The sundial has been repaired and some sections replanted. Further work will focus on keeping the garden inclusive of people with physical and mental disabilities. The ‘Sense the Change’ group, led by Friends of Horsham Park, has secured grants over £12,000 to fund the work, including £5,000 from RSA.

Horsham Repair Cafe (©Toby Phillips Photography/AAH 2019) 10

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Hepworth has opened an extension of its brewery in Stane Street, Pulborough. The expansion includes a new warehouse, increasing storage capacity to over 1,000 pallets and enabling the brewery to take in larger deliveries of its main ingredient, Sussex-grown malt. More solar panels will be added next year and with the brewery also pioneering a beer-sourced heat pump, Hepworth hopes to produce enough energy from waste to power the site. South Downs and Arundel MP Andrew Griffith performed ribbon-cutting duties. www.hepworthbrewery.co.uk Horsham Model Railway Club hosts a Mini Exhibition Open Day at St Leonards Church Hall, Cambridge Road, Horsham, RH13 5ED, on Saturday 9 October, from 10am. It’ll feature members’ layouts, plus layouts by invited guests, with second-hand and trade stands. Entry £1. www.horshammrc.org.uk The Rec Rooms in Horsham hosts its first Oktoberfest on Friday 1 October from 7pm.

There will be music from the Bierkeller Boys, as well as German beer, food, and games. Tickets £25 (includes a stein glass and litre of beer). Traditional German outfits encouraged. www.therecrooms.com

West Grinstead Ploughing Match (©AAH/Toby Phillips Photography 2014)

West Grinstead & District Ploughing & Agricultural Society hosts its annual ploughing match and show at Priors Byne Farm, Bines Road, Partridge Green, RH13 8EQ, on Saturday 18 September, from 9.30am.

There will be tractor, horse and steam ploughing, cattle and sheep shows, local produce stands, terrier racing, open clay shooting, tug-o’-war, gun dog scurry, ferret racing, poultry displays and a funfair. Entry £10 (children under-14 free). www.westgrinsteadploughing.co.uk

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Home Decorating

Ako Danes, Linda Lasham and Sandra Stephens at the Association of Sussex Artists exhibition, The Drill Hall, Horsham (©Alan Wright Photography/AAH)

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The Association of Sussex Artists (ASA) hosted its annual exhibition at The Drill Hall, Denne Road, Horsham, in August.

Sponsored by Brock Taylor estate agents, the exhibition featured new work by more than 100 artists, sculptors, potters and woodworkers. This year’s exhibition was of a particularly high standard. Fiona Champion’s stunning wildlife paintings drew admirers, as did the striking abstract work of Warnham-based artist Alison Ingram. The ‘staycation’ boom was evident too, with puffins featuring prominently (most notably in Wendy Standen’s art) and landmarks like the south downs and Jack & Jill windmills prominent in paintings by Paul Talbot, Sarah Dean and Hagop Kasparian.

Another highlight was a fishing boat scene by Sid Sutton, entitled ‘The Launch, Hastings’ while wood-turned items,

ceramics and upcycled art was also for sale. Horsham artist Derek Golledge was among the artists exhibiting. Derek was chairman of the ASA from 2015 until his retirement earlier this year. He said: “Retiring from the Chairman’s seat is not something I wanted to do. Sadly, circumstances and health issues have taken over. I will continue to be involved in the ASA, advising and assisting with the annual event. It’s such an amazing exhibition, having been going since 1928 with many top artists amongst our membership including Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant. It has been an honour and a privilege to have brought the Society properly into the 21st Century.”

In handing over to Tim Wheeler (previously Vice Chairman), Derek leaves the ASA in good shape. www.associationofsussexartists.co.uk

Artisan Bakehouse (©AAH/Toby Phillips 2016)

The Steyning & District Food and Drink Festival runs from 4 September – 2 October.

One of the highlights of the festival will be The Great Steyning Bake Off at Steyning Centre, Fletchers Croft, Steyning on Saturday 11 September, from 12pm. There are six open classes - best chocolate cake, bread, tray bake, cupcakes, afternoon tea treat and sweet or savoury pastry – with an overall Star Baker prize. There’s a separate competition for 4-12 year olds. Professional judges will sample entries, with certificates and goodie bags for winners provided by Cocoa Loco. Entry is £1 on the day when delivering bakes.

Other highlights of the festival include a Wiston House Garden Tour, a Teddy Bear’s Tea Party at Cobblestone Tea House, Caroline’s Higgidy Pies Foodie Challenges, and a Serious About Sourdough workshop at The Artisan Bakehouse, Ashurst.

Kevin Newman launches his latest book, Pond Puddings and Sussex Smokies, at the Frankland Arms, Washington, on Wednesday 22 September, from 7 – 9pm. For one night only, the pub will offer a free pudding taster for diners. www.steyningdistrictfooddrinkfestival.co.uk

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I am Tricia Jones, owner of Mobile Curtain & Blind Showroom, a unique independent curtain and blind service based in Horsham.

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What sets me apart from other curtain shops is that I bring the curtain and blind store to your front door in my showroom vehicle at a time to suit you, including evenings/weekends. I take away the hassle of trips to the shops to select samples of fabric and imagining what they will look like in your home.

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I have over 1,000 fabrics and because samples are curtain size, you can instantly see how the fabric transforms the room, taking into account the light, colours, textures and furniture. I provide all types of curtain headings, valances, pelmets, tie backs and other soft furnishings such as cushions and bed throws as well as any type of blind, including conservatory. I offer free measuring and free sample loan.

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Alfold Rock and Blues Festival will be held at the Springbok Estate in Alfold (former home of Rudgwick Festival) on 3 – 5 September. The festival features John Coghlan’s Quo, Stray, Ken Pustelnik’s Groundhogs, Martin Turner (exWishbone Ash), Ten Years After frontman Marcus Bonfanti, Doctor Feelgood, The Nashville Teens, Jackie Lynton, former Argent frontman John Verity, and rising stars When Rivers Meet (pictured).

The festival has camping and free parking. Ukejam perform at the

campsite and people can bring their own Uke to join in. Tickets limited to 50% capacity for social distancing, and are half-price to NHS staff. www.alfoldrockblues.com

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Staying A-Float

Crowds welcome return of the Ashington Festival

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This year’s Ashington Festival held special importance for both villagers and visitors.

With many popular events and village days again curtailed by Covid, there was a celebratory atmosphere at the festival, with a healthy crowd cheering along a carnival parade, supporting the arena acts, and dancing into the night to live music. Here, Margaret Alford, the driving force behind the festival, reflects on the challenges of hosting the event…

We decided to push ahead with the festival this year, subject to freedom day.

In my opinion, some events were cancelled too soon. But I never doubted we could do it and booked musical and arena acts in good time. Once freedom day was confirmed, it was all systems go, as there’s an awful lot to sort out.

I wasn’t worried that the crowd would be smaller this year, with people staying at home because of Covid fears. The vaccine rollout has been fantastic and its success has made people feel safer. That’s why I

wanted the festival to go ahead, as people needed a bit of fun in their lives, enjoying themselves with friends and family. They could still social distance and wear a face mask if they wished. It was very well attended, with about 5,000 people in the afternoon and 2,000 in the evening.

We’ve had great feedback already. Lots of people said it was wonderful to be out again and were thanking members of the committee. The atmosphere was one of the best I can remember, with people of all ages enjoying themselves. I think that’s

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Margaret Alford, Chairperson of the Ashington Festival

“There are fewer village days around now because health and safety regulation is killing these events.”

partly down to what’s happened over the past year or so. Also, everyone is very friendly in the village and understands the importance of the festival, so they support it by putting a few pounds in the charity buckets, going on the funfair rides or buying something from the car boot sale.

Unfortunately, over the years, we’ve seen fewer floats in the carnival as we don’t have the village groups and societies that we used to. The Ashington Players (amateur dramatics), stoolball team and Ashington Football Club have fallen by the wayside. The church

doesn’t participate and this year the Ashington Cougars Youth FC and the scouts didn’t take part. It only takes a few groups not to get involved for there to be a noticeable difference, so I’m grateful to the likes of the Ashington Youth Club, Chanctonbury Playschool and the Ashington Minibus those make the effort, as well as the support of the Medina Band and all others in the procession.

On the recreation ground, we have many different trade and charity stalls, a car boot sale, classic car show, fun dog show and Harris’s funfair. This year’s arena acts included two shows by Stallions of Substance, as well as Rhythm & Sole Street Dance, which attracted lots of families. In the evening, we had entertainment from The Smileys, Tom Foolery, Diane James, Mike Nova (AKA Elvis) and Ken Dee, a comedy female impersonator. For some of the performers and businesses involved, it was a relief to be working. Diane James told me it was great to be performing again, as she hadn’t sung live for 18 months.

We consider the music carefully and try to offer something for everyone. This year we had Elvis, but we’ve had Freddie Mercury and Michael Jackson tribute acts in recent years, as everyone knows

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the songs. We end with a disco and that works too, with children waving their glowsticks around. Every year for the finale, Wizard Fireworks provide a fantastic display.

Running the festival is hard work and it takes all year to plan. There are fewer village days around now and of course Horsham lost its carnival some years ago. That’s because health and safety regulation is killing these events. There’s a huge amount of time, effort and money spent on health and safety. You have to put road management schemes in place for road closures and have £10million in public liability insurance for a carnival with a handful of floats. You need marshals along the route and walking alongside the carnival, which requires many volunteers. At the recreation ground, you have to pay for security because the police won't attend, although we do have good support from village wardens.

That’s why traditional events like ours are disappearing.

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The Ashington Festival started in 1998. There was a flower show in the village in 1997, which I helped to organise, and then a committee was formed to hold a fun day, marking the opening of the bypass. Ashington Parish Council provided initial funding for it. Later, I formed a festival committee, so that all the events could be held on one day, and went round to local businesses and secured £3000 in sponsorship, which was a lot of money back then. The idea really took of, with the fun day incorporated with a carnival parade.

Could the festival carry on without me? I’m sure others could keep it going, and we do have an excellent committee, but I know what works in Ashington because I’ve been doing it from the beginning. Also, I have the contacts and personally speak to all our partners and sponsors. I pick up the phone and they say, “Is it that time of year already?’ We’re very grateful to all of them for their support, as the festival wouldn’t happen otherwise.

INTERVIEW: BEN MORRIS PHOTOS: ALAN WRIGHT Further information: For details or enquiries about the 2022 festival, visit www.ashingtonfestival.co.uk

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MICHAEL LUGG

My Life in Steam Engine Restoration I was born in 1945 and lived at Gore Farm at East Street, Billingshurst. During the war, a German bomber dropped bombs behind the village. One landed close to the workshop and broke the chimney on one of our traction engines. Another 200 yards and it would have taken out the farmhouse!

My grandfather, James Oppy Lugg, had moved here from Cornwall in 1900. He was an apprentice at Carter Bros in Newpound, where he worked until about 1925 before starting his own business at Gore Farm. My father, Gordon Lugg, took over when he died. That’s where I grew up.

I was in the first intake of pupils at Weald School in 1956, which has grown beyond recognition since then. It had a metal workshop and I was interested in that, as well as technical drawing. I was the first boy there to get the cane, which is a record nobody can take away from me! V.V. Gee was the Headmaster then and he could be very strict.

At that time, Penfold’s had an engineering yard near Arundel. They were diversifying the business by becoming John Deere agents, and Penfold’s contracting work was coming to an end. So, a collector from Hampshire bought some old steam engines from Penfold’s, including a 1910 Burrell traction engine, which came to our yard for repairs.

J.O Lugg & Son at Gore Farm

At Gore Farm, we specialised in restoring steam engines and industrial boilers.

During the war, a lot of engines were cut up for scrap, but fortunately in the 1950s a few preservationists realised they were disappearing and tried to save any that were left. Sometimes, we would have more than a dozen steam engines in the yard. We fixed a lot of factory and hospital boilers too, which was big business in those days, as we covered the whole of the south east and south London too. But industrial boiler work was hard and my interest was in steam engines.

After school, I would spend ages polishing it and making it look good. This collector came back with the logbook and said, “You've done such a good job looking after that, I think you’d better keep it!” There’s a British Pathé video online of me driving it with two friends when I was 11-years-old.

I finished school and joined Blaker’s, a welding business in Dial Post. I had been doing repairs on boilers and Jim Agate, the foreman at Blaker’s, noted my interest in engineering, so they were happy to take me on as an apprentice. I was there for five years and spent two evenings a week at Crawley Tech, gaining a City & Guilds qualification in welding.

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Michael with his father Gordon at Gore Farm

After serving my apprenticeship, I went to work with my father at Gore Farm. But it was mostly industrial boiler work and didn’t give me much satisfaction. So, I started my own business on The Haven, focusing on steam engine restoration. What I love about engines is that they look fantastic. Every pillar and column was designed not just to be functional, but pleasing on the eye. Perhaps it’s that quality that saved many of the engines in the end. They are like antiques, and people will always appreciate things that are well made.

Throughout the 1960s and 70s there was a lot of work coming in, as the original boilers on steam engines were at the end of their working life and needed rebuilding. Now,

Michael was passionate about engineering from a young age

some are on their second preserved engines.

We also restored steamboat engines too, which are just as beautiful.

Because of their rarity, the cost of steam engines has gone through the roof. I know from the logbook that my first engine cost its owner £80, but even Showman engines (used at the circus or funfair) used to sell for £50.

Often, they would remove the Dyno off the front and put it on to a diesel lorry, then sell the engine for next to nothing. Now, a Scenic Showman’s engine will sell for about £700,000 because of its history and heritage.

They are lovely looking and highly collectable, so if you want to buy one, you’ll need to compete against buyers all over the world.

I remember Mr Penfold coming down to the yard and giving me a set of paraffin lamps to hang off the front of my steam engine. He went into a storage van and it was full of lamps. He said to my dad, “If you want any, you’d best take them now because they’re all going to scrap otherwise.” Now, a set of lamps like that will cost you £1500!

I’ve always loved driving the engines and even when I married Jane, we went to the church on a steam roller. Driving one is a challenge, as you have to generate the power to move. To do that, you have to maintain a steady fire to keep the steam temperature up, keep the water level in the boiler, as well as steering and watching the traffic. You also

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need to know where to pick up water. In the old days there were a lot more streams around, but now you have to plan your route carefully.

The problem with taking steam engines on the road now is that cars are so fast and drivers don’t work out the speed differential. In a split second, they are right on you, no matter how many flashing lights and slow vehicle signs you might have. There’s always somebody who’s not paying attention. It’s okay to go out on shorter runs on rural roads, but when we travel further afield, it’s best to transport the engines on a low loader.

The first steam rally I remember was in Appleford, Berkshire, in 1952. There was a race - up the field and back again - and the winner received a barrel of beer. It captured people’s imagination and gradually crowds grew at these events. When they saw the engines in action, everyone wanted one, so they were buying them out of scrapyards and trying to preserve them, then taking them out as a hobby. It just becomes a way of life!

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Today, events like Rudgwick Steam Show are disappearing because of health & safety regulations.”

Eventually, events like the Dorset Steam Fair became very popular, attracting people from all over the world. But today, great fairs like Rudgwick Steam & Country Show are disappearing because of health and safety regulations.

It’s hard for rallies to justify the costs involved. If a health and safety inspector looked inside the cabin of a steam engine, he’d have a heart attack!

It’s a shame we are losing these events as children love seeing

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Michael Lugg taking his Foden engine out on The Haven

steam engines in action. When we use an old engine to power a sawmill, with huge tree trunks sliced to pieces in seconds, it really grabs people's attention, as they’ve never seen anything like it.

There is a lot of interest in steam engines across the world, particularly in Holland, Germany, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and America. We have friends in New Zealand who used to regularly come over for rally season, shipping engines over in containers.

They love English pubs more than anything! We have been out there four times too, as we can do longer road runs, as they have much less traffic in New Zealand.

Unfortunately, my wife passed away a year ago, so it’s nice to have this hobby to keep my mind active. I’m still busy and always have one or two projects on the go, and lots of people call for my advice. I still have my own engines, including a green Burrell I bought with the money I made selling my very first engine.

I steer away from heavy boiler work now and focus on the more refined work, as there are places and businesses more geared towards heavier equipment nowadays. There are probably a dozen businesses scattered around the country specialising in restoring steam engines.

There is still a Lugg’s Close in Billingshurst, where my father’s yard used to be, although the landscape is so different now that it’s hard to even imagine how it used to look. My daughter Kate and her husband help me now and I’m hoping my grandson will be interested in keeping these old engines going too. In the same way that heritage steam railways are a tourist attraction, steam engines are also a historic part of the UK’s industrial story and it’s important to keep them going.

WORDS: BEN MORRIS PHOTOS: ALAN WRIGHT/MICHAEL LUGG You can watch the British Pathé video of Michael online. Search ‘Boy’s Traction Engine 1956.’

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What next for employees following Furlough?

Nigel Targett, Employment Partner at Coole Bevis comments on the ending of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme.

The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) has been extended to 30 September 2021, but, from 1 October 2021, the CJRS will end and it is expected that this will have a significant impact on both employers and employees as they adjust to life after furlough.

What are the current rules?

From 1 August 2021, employers are required to make a 20% contribution to furlough pay (which will remain the level of the employer's contribution until 30 September 2021) and the legislation states: • The government will pay 60% of wages up to a maximum cap of £1,875 for the hours the employee is on furlough.

• Employers are required to top up the wages of employees on furlough to ensure they receive 80% of their wages (up to a maximum of £2,500) in total for the hours the employee is on furlough.

What happens after the furlough scheme ends?

From 1 October, employers will have to retain those employees who were previously on furlough and revert to their normal terms and conditions of employment in connection with wages, or otherwise agree a variation to the employees’ terms and/or wages, or take steps to restructure and reorganise their business including redundancies.

Those employees on furlough have had the benefit of the CJRS throughout the pandemic, but they now face a potential redundancy situation and the next few weeks are a critical and anxious time as there is no further transitional period and all Government assistance to employers ceases at the end of September. It is anticipated that this could lead to employers being required to begin redundancy warning and consultation processes if they need to release employees.

Call: 07398 311633 Email: nigel.targett@coolebevisllp.com www.coolebevislaw.com

There may be a number of reasons to do this including insufficient demand for their products or services, they do not have funds to retain their employees, they have too many employees, they wish to reduce costs, they have become more efficient over the pandemic, or just wish to review how their business operates.

If you find yourself facing redundancy and would like to seek advice please get in touch with me to talk through your situation. I can assist with the redundancy process, termination packages and settlement agreements, setting up new businesses, advising on terms and conditions of employment and any disputes which may arise from your employment or its termination.

Some furloughed workers could face a redundancy situation in the coming months.

PLAIN SIGHT

Olivia Deane hopes to normalise body differences After organising an event for people with prosthetic eyes and body differences, Olivia Deane of Horsham spoke to AAH about her incredible journey...

When I was 12, my sister got a pair of glasses and I thought they looked cool and fashionable. So, I asked my mum if I could get a pair too. After a few months of telling me I was being silly, she gave in and took me to Specsavers for an eye test. I always say they saved my life.

The optician saw a black mass at the back of my eye and didn’t know what it was. He had seen something similar in older people, but never someone of my age. He referred me to Horsham Hospital, who in turn referred me to Brighton Hospital, where a doctor was concerned enough to send me to St Bart’s Hospital. There, I was diagnosed with retinoblastoma, an eye cancer. It usually occurs in children before the age of five.

Two weeks later, I started chemotherapy, with the aim of saving my eye. It was a massive thing for me at that age, so we did everything to save it. I lost my hair from the chemotherapy, which was hard, but my family and friends were very supportive.

They stayed positive and that helped me deal with it.

I was home-tutored, as I was often too poorly to go to school. Millais was supportive of my situation, although when I was in class, I was stubborn and angry at the world. It must have been difficult for my teachers too. I used to wear a beanie hat as my hair was falling out and one teacher asked me to take it off in front of everyone. I refused and didn’t want to explain why in front of the whole class. I don’t think she was aware of my situation, but I felt so mortified that I walked out and called my nan to pick me up.

After six rounds of chemo, I went into remission and my hair grew back. But unfortunately, it returned a year later and the doctors decided to remove my right eye as the cancer was growing

aggressively. So, on 30 December, when I was 14, they removed my eye. I had more chemotherapy and lost my hair again, but the cancer was gone and I’m now 10 years in remission.

The staff at Royal London Hospital (Great Ormond Street) are amazing. I still have to go back regularly, so they are like family to me. I had two wishes from the Make-AWish Foundation too. I could have gone to America and met Beyonce, but I chose to go shopping in Oxford Street instead! I was given lots of help and the hospital gave me wigs made with real hair too. So, even though it was an horrific time, the support was indescribable and they make the journey for children going through chemo so much better.

When it came to making my first prosthetic eye, I went to East Surrey Hospital, where they took photos of my left eye and tried to match it. But obviously, lighting and exposures can alter a photo and when it came to fitting the eye, I hated it. It was light brown and my real eye was dark brown. The shape was all wrong too.

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I didn’t want to see anyone or go to school, as I hated it. Being a teenager, it felt like the worst thing ever and I got depressed.

I spoke to my doctor and told him I was feeling down about it and he recommended Moorfields Eye Hospital in London. I was pushed to the front of the waiting list and what happened was a miracle. They had someone who had just started working there and he was brilliant, but making prosthetic eyes wasn't his long-term career plan. Not only does the eye look incredible, but it fits well into the socket and the movement is good. He left shortly afterwards, but I got my eye! My doctor says he’s never seen such a good match.

They are made with acrylic material and carefully painted to mimic a real eye, like little works of art. People think they’re going to be ball-shaped, but they’re more like a thick contact lens. Although mine fits well, I’m more comfortable without it in and remove it at home and at night.

In time, I’ve learned to love my appearance and my prosthetic eye, and love myself without my prosthetic eye too. When I’m not wearing it, I feel like the real me. For that reason, I decided to reach out to other people with prosthetic eyes who might be feeling unhappy or insecure, so we could share experiences and support one another.

I hosted an awareness day on 14 August at the home of a friend in Storrington. Having reached out to about 30 people on social media, ten managed to attend, travelling from as far away as Scotland. Nine had a prosthetic eye and one managed to save her eye and is in remission. Some had them because of accidents, some had leukaemia or other cancers, and others had retinoblastoma, like me.

“Prosthetic eyes are made with acrylic material and carefully painted to mimic a real eye, like little works of art.”

It was a very special day. One guy kept cracking jokes and brought us all closer together. When my boyfriend Max popped a Champagne cork, he joked, “Careful, I’ve only got one eye as it is!” It helped relax people and lighten the mood, which was

needed as some were more nervous than others. Some had never taken out their prosthetic eye in public before and one of the day’s main aims was to give them the confidence to confront it proudly, rather than hiding it away.

Katie Piper made a surprise video for us, which I played on the projector. She has long been an inspiration to me and has given me a huge amount of support. I posted a video on Instagram after an operation, in which I removed my prosthetic eye. The video came up on Katie’s ‘Explore’ page and she made contact, asking if I had suffered burns like she had (Katie Piper was the victim of an acid attack and blinded in one eye). A few weeks later, she asked me to appear on her podcast for extraordinary people and we’ve stayed in contact ever since. She said that whenever I needed support, she’d be there, and has stuck to it, which is amazing for somebody with such a high profile. That means a lot.

When I had my eye removed, I was at an age when you are judged on looks. I had no hair and had lost an eye, and couldn't deal with it. Even with my good prosthetic eye, I hated that it still looked lazy and I would take pictures showing just half my face, hiding the eye. Whenever I met someone for the first time, I would be nervous, wondering if they knew what had happened to me or if 35

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“Seeing Katie Piper on TV speaking openly about her experiences, showing her face, was inspiring.”

they were going to ask about my eye. So, to see Katie on TV speaking openly about her experiences, showing her face, was inspiring. She showed me that you can turn something bad into a positive. Don’t be ashamed of who you are.

We invited a photographer and videographer along for the day and plan to show the final mini-documentary in schools to trigger conversations about body differences.

When I was at school, I didn’t know anything about this kind of thing and certainly didn’t know anyone with a prosthetic eye.

Whenever I was confronted with somebody with a body difference, I didn’t know what to say. I think that’s the case for most young people. Often, we aren’t aware that our words or reactions can be upsetting.

Olivia hosted an event for people with prosthetic eyes in Storrington

That’s why it’s important to educate. Then, when young people do meet somebody with a body difference or disability, they can talk without being scared or shying away from conversation. That is my goal; to get out there and help prevent bullying and normalise body differences, so that people can feel comfortable in their own skin.

I recently signed up to a modelling agency called Zebedee, which specialises in people with disabilities or body differences. I’m using my body difference to my advantage and by putting myself out there, I find I have much more confidence.

INTERVIEW: BEN MORRIS PHOTOS: ALAN WRIGHT/OLIVIA DEANE

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A Lasting Power of Attorney can put you in control

Senior Associate at DMH Stallard, Sarah Higgs can offer help and reassurance when considering a Lasting Power of Attorney

None of us like to think of a time when we will be unable to make our own decisions regarding medical treatment or finances. However, as we live longer, this is an increasing issue which has given rise to the growing use of Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPA).

LPAs are extremely powerful documents which provide potentially unfettered access to your property and financial

affairs and your health and welfare affairs at a time when you are at your most vulnerable. We at DMH Stallard can adapt your LPAs so the circumstances in which your chosen attorneys can act is appropriate. This puts you, as the donor, firmly in control, gives you the assurance that your wishes will be followed and gives your chosen attorneys a clear framework within which to act.

Your LPAs can be adapted to cover such issues as obtaining written medical opinion of your incapacity before the LPA can be used, powers to make gifts, the circumstances in which the family home could be sold, when a care home could be considered, who

your attorneys should consult with, your investment preferences, access to digital assets, life sustaining treatment, palliative care and dietary requirements.

We at DMH Stallard not only ensure the ‘i’s are dotted and the ‘t’s crossed but we take care that your LPA is fit for purpose and includes your wishes and instructions. Whatever your legal needs, our talented team will listen to you, discuss and advise you of the options available and work with you, for you and support you every step of the way.

To find out more, please contact us on 01403 252492 or email enquiries@dmhstallard.com

Friendly and approachable solicitors in Horsham

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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.

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

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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.

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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!

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CAUGHT BY TH MARTYN EDWARDS

Family’s wine passion inspires new vineyard at House Coren The Horsham District’s fine reputation for wine has been enhanced enhanced by the launch of ‘Boco’ by House Coren.

Located in The Haven, near Slinfold, House Coren has achieved a first among Sussex vineyards by creating a sparkling wine using the Charmat method. Charmat is a process most commonly associated with Prosecco, where bubbles are trapped in the wine through carbonation in steel tanks.

William Coren, Managing Director, said: “Most English wines are made through traditional methods, with the secondary fermentation done after the wine is bottled.

That takes at least a year and often much longer than that. With the Charmat method, the first fermentation is the same, in terms of creating the base of the wine and adding yeast and sugars. But the secondary fermentation is done while the wine is in steel tanks. This has two benefits. Firstly, the process is quicker, which has obvious financial advantages for a new vineyard.

Secondly, it preserves the fruity flavours.”

“English wines have strong acidity as flavours develop over a long growing season here, making them crisp and enjoyable on a summers’ day. I want to capture that too and the Charmat method provides that.”

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The vineyard is at the Coren family’s estate in The Haven

“Traditionally-made English wines have been very successful in terms of international awards, especially in recent years, and for that reason any new vineyard would consider those methods to be the natural way forward.

While acknowledging that some English wines are incredible, we want to offer something different at House Coren, with a lower price point. Most English wines cost about £40, whereas Boco is £26 a bottle. It’s still a premium product but it’s more accessible. Drinking wine should be a fun, sociable thing to do and we want to move

away from some of the wine snobbery that still exists.”

FRUITY FINISH Boco consists of 42% Reichenstiener, 29% Chardonnay and 29% Pinot Noir grapes, all grown on the Coren family’s eight-hectare estate. This combination contributes to a unique colour and taste. William said: “With Boco, we wanted to keep the fruitiness of the grapes yet still create a fully-rounded wine with interesting dimensions.”

“When I drink our 2020 vintage, I get a hint of red from the Pinot Noir, then Chardonnay kicks in with fruity notes of pear and apple, perhaps a hint of raspberry too, and the German grape gives it a delightful citrus finish. The Pinot Noir influence is evident in the bottle too, as the wine has a platinum colour that’s quite unique. That comes from light skin contact with the Pinot Noir. Yet it’s still clear, with ultra-fine bubbles which comes from the natural fizz of the Charmat method.”

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MERCI BOCO Fittingly, the name is inspired by Sussex dialect, with ‘boco’ derived from the French word ‘beaucoup’, meaning ‘lots of’. William said: “When the French met our coastal traders, they would say, “Merci Beaucoup!” The traders would say something that sounded like “Boco!”

It’s another way in which we have included a touch of Sussex heritage into the product, as we want to contribute to the growing reputation of food and drink in the county.”

“Horsham has a fantastic food culture, with Michelin-starred restaurants and wonderful local produce markets, and we have an aspiration to make it the centre of English wine-making too. But we shouldn’t be pigeonholed into making just one style of wine. France isn’t revered for just one type of wine! I believe that by offering more variety, we can help promote English wine internationally.”

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“I can taste a hint of red from the Pinot Noir, then Chardonnay kicks in with fruity notes of pear and apple.”

William Coren

FAMILY PLAN William describes himself as a wine aficionado. His journey in the industry began at wine merchants Majestic, where he worked after graduating from university. He then expanded his knowledge in retailers including The Horsham Cellar. “If you had asked me as a young man what I want to do with my life, I would have told you that my dream was to run a vineyard,” he says.

“However improbable that was!”

With the support and encouragement of parents Barry and Sally, brother Ben and partner Louisa, William drew up a business plan in 2018. Covid presented him with a “now-or-never” moment and he decided to press on, with the whole

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doubling the 30,000 vines already planted. This will provide House Coren with the scope to introduce new wines, including some made with traditional methods.

“If you had asked me as a young man what I want to do with my life, I would have told you that my dream was to run a vineyard.” family contributing to the planting at the eight-hectare estate.

Although the site looks across to the chalk and limestone hills of the South Downs, it is a richness of clay in the ground that has been ideal for growing vines.

William Coren is hoping that Boco proves a hit

As well as Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Reichenstiener grapes, all used in Boco, other varieties including Pinot Meunier and Pinot Blanc are grown too. But before they expand their range of wines, Boco needs to win over the public.

William said: “Early feedback has been positive and it has proved popular at events. We also supply Horsham Wine Cellar so people can discover Boco for themselves.”

WORDS: BEN MORRIS PHOTOS: ALAN WRIGHT Further Information: Boco is available from online at www.housecoren.co.uk

Plans for a new winery have been put on hold to reduce start-up costs. But the Corens have ambitious plans for a winery with tasting rooms to make it a destination venue. They also hope to increase production by one day

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10 Questions: Kat Ronaldson of Phat Kat’s Kitchen Phat Kat’s Kitchen is a Horsham-based business founded by Kat Ronaldson.

There’s alcohol in Kombucha?

During the fermentation process, CO2 and ethanol is produced as a by-product. If you ferment for longer, there is less ethanol the type of alcohol made from yeast and sugar fermenting. Some traditional Kombucha drinks have 1% or even 2% alcohol. Ours has about 0.1%, so it’s trace amounts only. But some people cannot have any alcohol, so it’s important to include the correct information on our labelling.

Kat makes Kombucha, a fruity fizzy drink brewed from fermented green tea. It has been consumed in Asia for thousands of years and is now growing in popularity in the UK due to its purported health benefits. Kat sells her products online and also at Horsham Market in the Carfax. AAH put 10 Questions to Kat about her drinks and future plans...

When did you discover Kombucha?

I have suffered with an auto-immune condition since I was 12 and have always had to restrict certain things in my diet. I used to source probiotics from health food stores but gradually introduced more natural foods into my diet, like kimchi and sauerkraut. One day, a friend said, ‘Have you tried Kombucha?’ She gave me this SCOBY and I wasn’t sure, as I didn’t think it was going to taste very nice. Much to my surprise, I loved it!

What’s a SCOBY? A Symbiotic Culture Of Bacteria and Yeasts. It’s like a cellulose mat that you

Phat Kat’s Original Kombucha recipe

add to fermented green or black tea. The SCOBY essentially feeds off the sugars and tannins and turns the tea into Kombucha. It’s a bit like a science experiment! The SCOBY ferments for about 30 days and that helps reduce the amount of alcohol.

When did you decide to make your own Kombucha?

I loved it so much that I tried every flavour and told everyone I knew about it. As the process of making it is similar to beer brewing, I decided to make my own at home. It was difficult, but fortunately a secret way of brewing was passed on to me. I was on a Kombucha forum, asking questions about fermentation, when someone offered to help me. It turns out he was the ex-CEO of a leading health drinks company and gave me invaluable knowledge, which I’m grateful for. He taught me how to keep PH levels down in fermentation and how to ensure the Kombucha contains only trace levels of

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alcohol. At the start of 2020, I decided to launch my own business, but Covid changed everything and forced me to wait a year. I’ve had the name Phat Kat in mind for years, although never knew what business it would be for!

What do you do differently to others?

We filter the SCOBY to make sure there are no pieces floating about, which can look and taste unpleasant. You’ll often see Kombucha in brown bottles, which should sound alarms. We sell in clear bottles so people can see the product. Filtering aside, we keep the process as natural as possible. We also do two fermentations, rather than one. The first fermentation is for the green tea, sugars and culture (SCOBY) to brew. Then, we take the culture out and add in the fruit flavours. That way, the culture isn’t tainted.

How long can the drink last for?

We put a month’s shelf life on our products. You must remember that the culture is alive and will start to “eat” some of the flavours. So, although the drink won’t go off because it’s fermented, you won’t get the same fruity flavour after a month and it should be drunk within two days of opening too. If you leave it for a long time, the SCOBY will actually regenerate, which is an indicator that it’s a good Kombucha, high in probiotics.

Kat offers samples of her drinks for people to try at Horsham Market

How good is it for you?

There is research being done on its medical benefits, but certainly fermented foods do provide a good source of probiotics, which balance the gut and improve digestion. I can testify to that, as I use them for my own condition. Also, Kombucha is high in antioxidants because of the green tea, and rich in vitamins and minerals too. It’s a natural way of adding probiotics to your diet. Plus, it’s a great hangover cure!

What flavours do you have?

We offer three flavours. The first is our original, made with butterfly pea flower, giving it a purple colour. If you ever fancy a gin cocktail that’s a bit different, you can add gin and lemon juice to it and it’ll turn pink, because of the extra acidity. We also have Raspberry & Hibiscus and Pineapple Matcha flavours.

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“I’d like to introduce more flavours including pumpkin spice for October and mince pie for Christmas. I like to experiment with flavours and textures!”

How popular is Kombucha?

It’s very popular in some countries, notably Australia and America, where they even have Kombucha bars. It is sold in supermarkets in the UK, but in my opinion, the brands normally sold are over-fermented. Without the live culture, they don’t provide the probiotics of a good Kombucha. They may still be fizzy and have a nice fruity flavour, but they don’t have the health benefits, which is the whole point. I’m just starting to see more people coming to my market stall and being aware of what it is. In Brighton and London, Kombucha is much better known, but towns like Horsham are a little slower to catch on.

What are your future plans for Phat Kat’s Kitchen?

I would like to be in more farm shops and health food outlets. Already, we’re at Panino’s in the Carfax, and have sold at events such as Leonardslee Enchanted. We also offer free delivery in Horsham postcodes. I hope that in the near future, I can concentrate on Phat Kat’s full time, as I still have another part-time job. I would like to grow the brand but until then, we’ll keep focusing on local markets. I have more flavours I’d like to introduce too, including pumpkin spice for October and mince pie for Christmas. I like to experiment with flavours and textures and find most fruits work. Except for coconut, which tastes awful!

INTERVIEW: BEN MORRIS PHOTOS: ALAN WRIGHT Further information: www.phatkatskitchen.co.uk phatkatskitchen

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FULL MONT Ambitious brothers open new pizzeria in East Street, Horsham

www.alfrescofires.co.uk 07788 974288

Monte Forte opened at 18 East Street in Horsham on 31 July. The business is run by brothers Paolo and Luca Malavasi, who started out selling street food from a converted horsebox just four years ago.

AAH met them while tucking into a delicious Capricciosa pizza…

Why pizza?

Paolo: I was feeling quite down after five years of working in the recruitment industry. I needed a change in my life and although I didn’t have specialist pizza knowledge, I had spent two years at catering college and worked in a three Michelin-starred kitchen at Sketch in London. So, I decided to go for it.

When did you start your own business?

Paolo: In 2017, although we started small, running a street food business from a converted horsebox. Our first venue was Redhill Market, then gradually we went to other towns, as well as food festivals and private events.

Luca: I was finishing my A’ levels and was planning to head to Bristol to study Mechanical Engineering when Paolo asked me if I wanted to go into business with him. It was a strange moment, knowing one decision would change the course of my life.

Were you successful from the start?

Paolo: The first three months were very difficult, but Redhill Market gave us a chance to hone our craft and make mistakes. We were selling pizzas cheaply and gradually our customer base grew. After six months, we had perfected the pizzas. We were lucky to have regular customers, as there were five pizzerias in the town and yet every Wednesday night we would make 100 pizzas between the two of us in just three hours.

The brand was as much about our hospitality and personality as the pizza and in a way, customers were buying into us.

What’s the story behind the name?

Paolo: Monteforte is our grandmother’s maiden name. She still lives in Avellino, not far from Naples, but came here to open this

TE Pizzas are made the Neapolitan way at Monte Forte

restaurant! We liked the name as it fits in with Neapolitan pizza, although we decided to split it into two parts. Although we were both born in the UK, we’re proud of our Italian heritage and our pizza is inspired by traditional family recipes.

Describe the Neapolitan style...

Luca: A Roman pizza tends to have a thin and crunchy dough and they use olive oil too, whereas Neapolitans use just wheat, flour, yeast and salt. That makes the base quite puffy and gives more of a melt-in-the-mouth taste. We also have a wonderful new pizza oven, built by two Neapolitans who came over especially to build it here.

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When did you open your first restaurant?

Paolo: We opened in Reigate in October 2019. It’s a special place and we have a great team there. We found that people from the market came along to try it and they have stuck with us. We learned a lot from that experience, especially the mistakes we made. Failure is not the opposite of success; it can serve as a stepping stone and people will give you a second chance if you are honest and genuine.

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Paolo Malavasi started the business, initially from a converted horsebox

Luca: When Covid came along and we had to close, we thought it was the end of the world. But during lockdown we contacted our staff and decided to launch a takeaway service. We were one of the first businesses to do that in Reigate and it really took off, beyond all our expectations. That has helped grow the business and now the restaurant is doing well too. We had our best week ever there at the start of August.

So, where’s the horsebox now?

Luca: We sold it! Now it’s used by another small independent business to make pizzas at local markets!

It must have been difficult to make the jump from mobile unit to restaurant?

Luca: We are fortunate in that we have two investors who have been very supportive. One is an established businessman in Reigate who bought one of our pizzas at the market and asked us immediately if he could invest. That was at a time when we were talking about opening our first restaurant, so we were lucky.

Sometimes, life throws up incredible moments like that. Their experience has been useful as I'm only 22 and my brother is 33 and we don't know everything. Still, we make a great team as we have different skills. We both work hard and have sacrificed a lot. If you want lots of free time, there’s no point even thinking about working in the restaurant trade. But for us, this is about long-term gain and we hope things will get easier.

Why choose Horsham for your second restaurant?

Paolo: We looked at a few places including Sevenoaks and Tunbridge Wells, but it was Horsham that stood out. It has a big population, the right demographic, and this unit in East Street was ideal. We want this place to be rocking with people eating pizza, drinking beer and cocktails, and having a good time!

A purpose-built oven has been built by a specialist from Naples

“If you want lots of free time, there’s no point even thinking about working in the restaurant trade. But for us, this is about long-term gain.”

Luca Malavasi

Luca: The Horsham restaurant is much bigger than our Reigate one.

That only has 52 covers, whereas this site can accommodate 80 people with the downstairs area. That extra space allowed us to move food production for both sites here too.

What are your plans for downstairs?

Paolo: We are hoping it will have a nice and chilled vibe. It can be used for dining, but there’s a cocktail bar too, so we hope it will attract younger people. You don't have to eat pizza either – you can just sit down for a drink with friends.

Have you partnered with local food and drink suppliers?

Luca: We source our Italian ingredients from specialist suppliers and for our wines, we work with The Vineking in Reigate, who tell us about good Italian estates. We want to form connections with local businesses in Horsham too. Most pizzerias tend to offer the same brands of Italian beer, so we’ve partnered with Pilgrim Brewery to create a lovely 3.9% Monte Forte session lager. We may look to work with local breweries for a special beer at each of our restaurants in future.

Do you hope to open more restaurants then?

Paolo: Yes! But you can’t be everywhere...

Paolo: That is why it is important to keep good staff and let them know they are valuable. With the right people on board, things will fall into place. We care a lot about our team and when you invest in them, pay them what they deserve and trust their judgement, it shows in their work. Even on the menu, we print the names of our General Manager Max William and our Head Chef Dario DiStefano.

A Award-Winnin Award-Winni Award-Winn Award-Win Award-Wi Award-W AwardAward Awar Awa Award-Winning w Go Gou Gour Gourm Gourme Gourmet G Sa Sau Saus Sausa Sausag Sausage Sausages S an and a Quality Qu Qua Qual Quali Qualit Q Me Mea Meat Meats M 51

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Shared Ownership & Right to Buy Options We’ve seen a marked increase in enquiries for Right to Buy properties and those looking to purchase on a Shared Ownership basis over the last few weeks.

Right to Buys are usually via the local council or a housing association offering properties to the existing tenant at a discounted price. This discount can be up to £84,600 (£112,800 in London) and applicants normally have to have been a public sector tenant for at least three years.

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“Don’t be bullied by “front end checkers” who suggest using Some lenders may allow their in-house borrowing of up to 100% of the purchase price. If you resell your advisers will “make home within five years you will the process more usually have to repay some or all streamlined!” of the discount you received,

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Shared Ownership Schemes are normally provided through housing associations. You buy a share of your home, between 25% and 75% of the property value, and pay rent on the remaining share to the housing association. You usually have the opportunity to purchase a bigger share of the property later on (normally called ‘staircasing’).

Local housing associations must confirm your eligibility in order to join these types of schemes. However, don’t be bullied by their ‘front end checkers’ who suggest using their in-house mortgage advisers will ‘make the process more streamlined’ and that the housing associations would ‘prefer you to use them’. That is not the case. In fact, if anything, their ‘financial checks’ increase the time it takes! Most brokers have access to a vast number of great shared ownership mortgages, so shop around!

Both schemes are proving popular in the local area and a wide number of lenders are looking to lend in both scenarios and to a number of different customer types, even those who may have had financial credit blips in the past. So always seek advice.

Mixing a cocktail at the downstairs bar

Luca: Our personal journey is important to the brand and that is all documented on Instagram.

People have bought into that and we have 5,000 followers from only two restaurants, with very good engagement. We want to make our staff a part of our story too.

Luca, do you regret not going to university?

I was on the verge of going and now I'm making pizza! But I am loving life. I believe in education 100%, but if I had gone to Bristol,

I would just be coming out of university now and looking for a job. Yet I’m here with my brother, opening our second restaurant.

You can spend a lifetime working towards what we have now.

WORDS: BEN MORRIS PHOTOS: ALAN WRIGHT Further information www.monteforte.co.uk montefortepizza Monte_Forte_

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DUKE IT O BAND MATES REUNITE AFTER 25 YEARS TO FORM SOHO DUKES So, who’s this then?

The Soho Dukes, a rock band made up of Johnny Barracuda (vocals), Col Foster (guitar), Si Leach (lead guitar), Mark ‘Bomber’ Randon (bass) and Age Blackwell (drums).

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Up-and-comers, are they?

They were in the early 1980s! Back then, they performed under several names. It never quite happened for them, but now the band and enjoying performing live together for the first time in 25 years.

What’s the local connection?

Several members live in Horsham, having met at Collyer’s Grammar School.

Bomber recalls: “In the 1970s, everyone in class was graded in terms of their academic ability, from 1 – 30. Me and JB were ranked 29 and 30, but we bonded over music.”

OUT ABBA? The Carpenters?

It was more rock and punk music. They read music magazines like Melody Maker and Sounds, and their first gig was to Motorhead at Crawley Leisure Centre. By the time they were in Sixth Form, they decided to form their own band, Empyre.

With a Y? Yes, and there would be more ‘Y’ shenanigans to come. In the early 1980s, Jim Duggan (still well known today through his association with the Peace Party) was a great supporter of local music and organised gigs.

Jim arranged Empyre’s first gig at The Queen’s Head in Brighton Road, now sadly closed. Bomber recalls: “The Queen’s Head was great as it had a back room with a tiny serving hatch to the bar.

There was a wooden stage,

almost like a village hall tacked on the back of the pub. Jim put on music every Friday night and created a vibrant scene.”

Were they a covers band?

Empyre mostly played their own material, practising regularly at Copsale village hall and a rehearsal room in Pease Pottage.

As an ambitious young band, they aimed high, playing locally and on the South London circuit in search of a record deal. JB recalls: “We drove around in a Transit van that we were forever fixing! It was orange and about 15 shades of rust and would regularly be spotted broken down at the traffic lights in Horsham!”

Did they have much success?

Their hard work in the early to mid-1980s started to pay off

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when they got a foot in the door at The Marquee, then in Wardour Street, Soho. It was a famous venue, with the likes of The Who, David Bowie, Fleetwood Mac, The Clash and Pink Floyd playing there, while it hosted the first gig by The Rolling Stones.

And now Monterrez were playing it!

Monterrez?

Empyre had to change their name, as someone else was using it. It was initially Monterrey, but they changed it to end with a Z, which Bomber admits was a “little bit Spinal Tap!” Did Monterrez fare any better?

The band were given a support slot for a Californian rock band called Tesla, who had enjoyed success in the US. The gig went well, and when another emerging American rock band flew over to play the UK for the first time, Monterrez got the call for another support slot. And that band was…

Whitesnake? Jefferson Starship?

Guns ‘n’ Roses. Axl, Slash and co played The Marquee for three nights in 1987, before the release of their debut album.

Monterrez supported them for two of those nights. Bomber recalls: “There was a real buzz about them, even though they were only promoting an EP. All the nights sold out, but it’s one of those legendary gigs where the capacity was about 300, yet 5000 people claim they were there!”

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How did the support slot go?

Very well. JB and Bomber laugh as they recall committing the “cardinal sin” of playing an encore as the support act.

Bomber says, “You must remember that we were taking it very seriously and trying to make a career in music ourselves.”

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They couldn’t eclipse the Gunners though?

Maybe not, but they have fond memories of watching the band hone their craft. JB says, “I remember arriving at The Marquee, going through the back door and hearing Guns ‘n’ Roses playing a Bob Dylan song, Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door. We sat on flight cases, which were placed in a circle around the stage. They played it over and again, which was quite boring at the time, but with every version the song became more scarred and disfigured. Looking back, it was incredible to see the song evolve.

We realised they had something special about them, although their first show was panned by the UK press. Critics thought they were arrogant and didn’t live up to the hype. But the second night was totally different. It was like chalk and cheese – they were unbelievable. It was like they were headlining Wembley, but they were in a tiny club in Soho.”

“Guns ‘n’ Roses played Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door over and again and with every version the song became more scarred and disfigured.”

Johnny Barracuda

So, what happened next for Monterrez?

They gave it their best shot, touring and chasing the dream. They would support other big names including Skid Row and Faith No More, but never made the right contacts and remained unsigned. “We had a good crack at it,” says JB. “We had interest and record companies came to watch us, but nothing came of it. There was a lot of bands out there all fighting for the same thing. But we have great memories and those days shaped life-long friendships.”

Monterrez at The Marquee in 1987, the year they supported Guns ‘n’ Roses at the club

When did it all end?

The music scene changed with the emergence of grunge and indie music and Monterrez realised any chance they had of being signed had gone. With their own family commitments changing too, the band called it a day. Now they’re back...

How? Col and JB met for a drink and decided to have another crack at it. They got in touch

with Bomber and other musician friends and The Soho Dukes were born. In 2017, they started rehearsing and took part in Horsham Battle of the Bands, enjoying it so much that they decided to keep going and record an album, Bar Fights and Tuppenny Uprights, released soon. One song, Excited, is on YouTube to offer a taster of the band’s new direction.

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JB fronts The Soho Dukes at The Rec Rooms in 2021

Is it old material?

The songs are all new and have been refined during well-received gigs at The Malt Shovel (a great supporter of live music in Horsham) as well as a support slot for Dr Feelgood at The Rec Rooms. The Soho Dukes have a fresh look too, with long hair and black leather trousers giving way to a Steampunk Victorian image with suit jackets, waistcoats and a variety of hats. Bomber says, “We don’t just turn up in jeans and Motorhead T-shirts!

JB especially has a great stage persona and makes us more entertaining to watch.”

The Soho Dukes at The Rec Rooms

What’s next?

The band play at Concorde 2 in Brighton (with Cats in Space, another local band) as well as The Cavern in Raynes Park. But there’s no great hopes or expectations for the band second time around. “It’s just been a joy to play together again after 25 years,” says JB. “And oddly, we have found that whereas we used to chase everything, now we are just enjoying the ride and everything seems to be coming to us naturally.”

WORDS: BEN MORRIS PHOTOS: SUSAN TYRRELL Further information: www.sohodukes.com thesohodukes sohodukes

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