AAH (All About Horsham) APRIL 2017

APRIL 2017

5 The boyfriend of my mate Dave’s sister plays football...

The Wheels of Time Turn Slowly

T

he wheels of time turn slowly when you find yourself in a meeting of the Planning and Development Committee of Horsham District Council.

If time flies when you’re having fun, then it slams on the brakes, sticks the car in reverse and travels backwards at 88mph when you’re in the council chamber.

I needed to be there on March 21 as councillors were voting on Horsham Football Club’s latest application for a new ground.

It’s been nearly 10 years since the club sold its Queen Street ground for housing; yet ever since then, the council has thwarted The Hornets’ bids to find a new permanent home.

On this occasion, there was genuine optimism that the club’s long battle was coming to a successful conclusion. The public gallery was full of supporters, players and mascots, with many having to be accommodated in an adjacent room, watching via video link.

Now, it was all down to the councillors.

But first they had to clear a few procedural hurdles, one of which was to ‘declare any interest.’ This is when a councillor must let others know if they have a prejudicial interest in a planning application.

If, for example, there was a plan for a new house, a councillor would have to declare if they lived next door, or owned a stake in the development company building it.

That sort of thing...

Here, however, one councillor’s interest was that he occasionally watches his home town team play football. Perhaps it was a bid to curry favour with supporters.

Then, one of the Southwater councillors declared an interest as a member of the parish council, which opposed the new ground.

She was swiftly followed by a fellow Southwater councillor.

Then came confusion...

“I’m sorry Chairman, but I didn’t know it was necessary to declare an interest because an application happens to be in a parish you represent,” announced another.

Baffled murmurs filled the council

AAH APRIL 2017 Ben Morris: Wrote the Articles Toby Phillips: Took the Photos Thanks: Jeremy Knight of HDC/Horsham Museum for providing images & text for the feature on Horsham’s fairs Phil Skingsley for submitting his story and pictures from Thailand Emily Summers for the RSPB Pulborough Brooks column John Lines for helping us arrange our cover photo shoot

chamber.

“In that case,” declared another, “I must declare an interest as a member of North Horsham Parish Council.”

North Horsham you see, is where the Holbrook Club is located and its own future depended on Horsham FC’s plans being approved.

Other North Horsham councillors followed suit...

“I need to declare an interest as the boyfriend of my mate Dave’s sister plays for Horsham, I think. Or is it her cousin?”

I made the last one up. But like most people attending, I did wonder if the dithering would ever end and an actual debate would get underway. The many Horsham youth players who had turned up to support their club, slumped their shoulders and rolled their eyes as it dawned on them that they were in for a long night!

When the debate finally kicked off, it seemed that a major stumbling

block would be safety. There were fears that those using the Park & Ride car park on match days would have to cross over the Worthing Road, which we can all accept requires caution.

One councillor spoke specifically about the safety awareness of 12year-olds, mentioning with faux political nobility that he couldn’t look himself in the mirror having supported the application without adding safety provisions.

This triggered an hour of opinions on various aspects of safety, with councillors mooting ideas including temporary 20mph restrictions, speed cameras and traffic lights.

As a parent with a son who plays for Horsham FC U12’s, I found many of their arguments strange. I can’t imagine a scenario in which I wouldn’t use the driveway and drop my son safely outside the ground for training or matches.

I’m weird like that.

When my son goes swimming at The Pavilions, I use the drop off

zone outside, rather than leaving him at the station to walk the rest of the way. When he needs the toilet on a long car journey, I use a service station, rather than asking him to run across the motorway to pee in bushes. When there’s a thunder storm, I don’t send him outside to play with his kite.

Yes, I’m in that tiny 100% of parents that wouldn’t place their child in danger if it wasn’t necessary.

You could argue that the crossing is dangerous to those arriving by bus or using the park and ride car park.

But I’m sure Hornets supporters, who for generations enjoyed a few pints at the Queen’s Head before somehow negotiating their way across Brighton Road, will manage!

This hour would have been better spent discussing the regularly used and genuinely perilous crossing 100 metres further south, where people walking or cycling to town from the Blakes Farm Road estate must negotiate four lanes of 60mph traffic.

Fortunately, there were a few councillors who thought much the same as I did. Most notably, Southwater councillor Billy Greening, the only one of the village’s three councillors to have voted in favour of the new ground.

As a football player and coach, he reminded fellow councillors that cycling or walking to football training in the dark is not common practice among young players and that parents tend to drop off and pick up their children at a sensible place.

Thankfully, his forthright opinions helped win over sceptical councillors on all sides of the chamber.

Almost three hours after they entered, those young Horsham FC players left tired, weary and certain that they would never again become embroiled in local politics.

However, they did at least have a new ground to celebrate.

For whilst the wheels of time may turn slowly at Horsham District Council, the councillors do have a genuine desire to do the right thing in the end.

Ben

6

To submit Letters to the Editor please email Ben: editor@aahorsham.co.uk

CONTENTS 10

News Round-Up Consecration at St Mark’s Church and details of Plumjam in Horsham

23

My Story So Far

Phil Skingsley recalls his days a a Horsham player and his move to Thailand

31 Art

We meet ceramics artist Iveta Goddard, best known for her distinctive clocks

37

Meal Review The Benguela Brasserie is part of ambitious plans at Mannings Heath Golf Club

42

Group Discussion How the Depot Road Allotment Society plan to grow in the future

51

Sport

Horsham FC is finally granted permission to build a new ground

58

Community A preview of the eleventh annual Piazza Italia festival in Horsham town centre

63

History A look back at how town markets and fairs evolved from public hangings!

70

Business The incredible success story of Trafalgar Cleaning Equipment in Horsham

COVER STORY: APRIL 2017 Our April cover features Sam Henderson and Tony Nwachukwu, who both play for Horsham FC. Sam plays for recent County Cup finalists Horsham Amber U12s, whilst Tony consolidated his status as a fan’s favourite by scoring a superb goal for Horsham’s senior team against Tooting.

In March, Horsham FC’s application for a new ground at Hop Oast was approved. To complement our story (P51) we wanted to

symbolise the importance of the ground to both current and future generations.

So, Toby took this photo next to a bulldozer at Horsham Golf & Fitness Club, on land where the new ground will be built.

Tony arrived straight from work and had to change into a freshly-washed kit, whilst Sam was heading to football training anyway!

Other cover options include artist Iveta Goddard, Martin Bremner at Trafalgar and Adam Streeter at the Benguela Brasserie.

AAH: THE TEAM EDITOR: BEN MORRIS editor@aahorsham.co.uk 01403 878026 / 01903 892899 LETTERS: The Editor, AAH Magazine, 2 Viney Close, Ashington, RH20 3PT

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NEWS ROUND-UP

10: NEWS

To submit News/Events for consideration email Ben: editor@aahorsham.co.uk

The Bishop of Chichester, the Rt Revd Dr Martin Warner, consecrated St Mark’s Church in the newlyestablished Parish of Holbrook on Thursday 23 February.

To mark the occasion, the Archdeacon of Horsham The Ven Fiona Windsor, the Diocesan Registrar Matthew Chinery, the Diocesan Secretary

Gabrielle Higgins and Horsham MP Jeremy Quin attended, along with members of St Mark’s and clergy from neighbouring parishes.

St Mark’s Church was built in 1990 in North Heath Lane to serve new housing in north Horsham and was dedicated as a daughter church to St Mary’s, the parish church of Horsham.

However, following the establishment of the new benefice and Parish of Holbrook, St Mark’s was consecrated to serve as the new parish church.

The incumbent of Holbrook, the Revd Dr Richard Coldicott, called it “a very special day in the life of the community of Holbrook Parish.”

Fiddles, guitar, accordion, bagpipes and step-dancing explode into life when Calan, an energetic folk band from Wales, visit The Capitol, Horsham, on May 14 at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £15 from 01403 750220 or www.thecapitolhorsham.com

Horsham Race for Life takes place in Horsham Park on Sunday 4 June, at 11am.

Participants can run, jog or walk the 5km course. Sign up for the popular event, which raises funds for Cancer Research UK, online at www.raceforlife.org

A new exhibition at Horsham Museum and Art Gallery showcases photos by Washington photographer Roger Wilmshurst.

Roger, who won first prize as BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year in the ‘Bird Behaviour’ section in 1995, has mastered that rare

quality of capturing the nature of Sussex, be it landscape, ornithology or intimate scenes. The 16 photos exhibited at the museum span 30 years of colour photography. The exhibition opens on 4 March and runs until 29 April. www.horshammuseum.org

11 A campaigning mother and son from Coneyhurst were called ‘the most eco-friendly family in the UK’ at a green awards ceremony held at the Houses of Parliament.

Nine-year-old Adam Cort and mum, Carrie, 51, were named among the UK’s most inspiring environmentalists at the WWF Earth Hour Hero awards.

William Penn School pupil Adam won the Key Stage 2 poster

category of WWF’s Earth Hour ‘The Future We Want’ competition.

Carrie was commended as a finalist in the Community Hero category for founding the environmental education and awareness initiative, Sussex Green Living. She also hosts a recycling scheme with over 90,000 items of waste recycled into new products to date. www.sussexgreenliving.co.uk

The Storrington Village Duck Race will be held at Riverside Walk and Library Car Park on Sunday 7 May, from 12pm.

The event will include six heats with the top 10 ducks from each heat earning a place in the final.

Ducks for each race can be bought in advance or on the day from the many volunteers in the village. There will also be funfair rides, face-painting, craft stalls, live music, ice-cream and cakes plus a BBQ. All proceeds go to Storrington First School.

After the sold-out success of his 2015 Restless Years tour, Grammy award-winning singer Leo Sayer takes to The Capitol stage on Thursday 18 May. Known for songs including Thunder in My Heart, When I Need You and You Make Me Feel Like Dancing, Leo is promising a high-energy concert of his greatest hits. VIP tickets include front row seats, a meet and greet, photo opportunity and signed programme. Tickets from £28.50 from 01403 750220 or t www.thecapitolhorsham.com

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12: NEWS

Many local events are posted online at www.aahorsham.co.uk Image: Peter Catchpole and Louise Goldsmith © WSCC

Image: © Louise Adams

NEWS ROUND-UP

The Floral Fringe Fair will be held at Knepp Castle, Shipley, RH13 8LJ on the weekend of 3 – 4 June, from 10.30am - 5pm on both days.

The fair has a wildlife theme with a vintage twist, with over 130 stalls including specialist nurseries, and experts on wildlife, honeybees, insects, birds and bats. Farmer’s market food stalls will be selling a

wide range of carefully selected food to suit everyone, with picnic spots by the lake, as well as a pop-up tearoom.

There will be music from local musicians, dancing and singing. Entry £6.50 per person (£1 under 14/under 4 free). If arriving in a classic or vintage pre-1975 vehicle, entry is £5.50. www.floralfringefair.co.uk

West Sussex County Council has been awarded £3.6million towards the purchase of the 18.6 acre former Novartis site in Wimblehurst Road, Horsham.

The award came from the Coast to Capital Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP).

Louise Goldsmith, leader of the County Council, said: “We know we need to provide value for money to the taxpayer and this purchase will not only boost our local economy, but will bring a return to the County Council on our investment.”

The demolition of several buildings has taken place to prepare the site for any new development. Businesses interested in the redevelopment can visit www.investwestsussex.co.uk/novartissite

Train operator Southern is asking passengers who had season tickets last year to check if they are eligible for compensation, under a scheme launched by the Department for Transport. To qualify, Southern customers must have held at least 12 weeks’ worth of season tickets between 1 April and 31 December 2016. The compensation scheme will close on 30 April 2017. southernrailway.com/2016compensation

Horsham Bridge Club, one of England’s oldest clubs, is celebrating its 70th year with special events. Guest of honour at the club’s annual prize-giving was Christopher Smith, son of Jane Smith, who established the club in 1948. He showed many of the club’s 300 members a photo, taken in 1949, of the first game held at the current premises in East Street (pictured above). Horsham Bridge Club plays every weeknight and two afternoons, with Mondays devoted to beginners.

For more details, email sec@horshambridge.co.uk or visit www.horshambridge.co.uk

Comedian, actor and writer Ruby Wax brings her new show to The Capitol stage on Saturday 20 May, at 8pm.

Her new best-selling book, ‘A Mindfulness Guide for the Frazzled’ is the basis for the discussion.

Funny and insightful, this event is your passport to saner living. Tickets cost £22 from 01403 750220 or www.thecapitolhorsham.com

Crawley Model Railway Society hosts its 27th annual model railway exhibition at Tanbridge House School, Farthings Hill, Horsham on 22 - 23 April. There will be 20 layouts of varying scales and gauges plus support from traders and a miniature steam railway to ride on. www.crawleymrs.org.uk

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You can follow Ben and Toby on Twitter @AAHMagazine and @tobyphillips1

As part of Horsham’s Easter weekend celebrations, town centre businesses will host a Bunny Hunt from Saturday 8 Sunday 23 April. Accompanied children can visit shops and draw ‘Find the Carrot’ cards to discover whether they have won a treat. The hunt is organised by the Rotary Club of Horsham in partnership with Horsham District Council.

Participation will be free to all children.

Competition forms will be available throughout the town with cash prizes up for grabs.

Families can enjoy a weekend of Easter fun at Parham House and Gardens on Sunday 16 - Monday 17 April, from 10:30am – 5pm. Activities include a garden trail, face-painting, craft activities, story-telling in the summerhouse by the lake and the opportunity to meet the Easter Bunny. www.parhaminsussex.co.uk 9 99 99 9 99

Warnham Park hosts a series of Open Garden Days in aid of Bloodwise and St Catherine’s Hospice.

The garden, entered at the A24 Robin Hood roundabout, RH12 3RP, is home to a world-famous herd of red deer. A walled garden, woodland walk and vegetable garden add to the variety of visual delights.

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The gardens are open on Saturday 27 & Sunday 28 May, and Saturday 10 – Sunday 11 June, from 124.30pm. Admission £5, children free.

Ploughman’s lunches and cream teas with cakes will be available, together with a raffle and stalls, including home-grown plants for sale.

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15 Classic Volkswagens will be chugging into Horsham for Plum Jam on Sunday 28 May, from 10:30am – 3pm. As well as cars including VW Beetles and Campervans cruising in to town via Henfield, Cowfold and Southwater, there will be live music and award-winning street food on offer. www.plumjam.show

A motorcyclist is to embark on a 5,000mile ride around the UK coastline in memory of his sister Lynne, who spent most of her working life as a nurse at Horsham Hospital.

Lynne Ede (also known as Clarke) died at St Catherine’s Hospice last July after a short battle with pancreatic cancer. Mick Welch is re-building a Honda Shadow (above) for his journey, which will be named Dancing Queen in honour of Lynne’s love of ABBA. All the money raised goes to St Catherine’s and Cancer Research UK. Mick and the bike will be at Plum Jam in Horsham on 28 May, at a stall set up by one of Lynne’s six children, Steve Clarke.

It is also hoped that Lynne will be remembered with a bench in the tea garden at Horsham Hospital. If you would like to contribute to this worthy cause please search ‘Purple Rose Coastal Bike Ride’ at www.justgiving.com

Aspire Sussex Ltd has successfully bid to continue running adult education courses across the county. In 2012, Aspire Sussex Ltd was created as an independent body to provide adult education for West Sussex residents. The contract will run for an initial three year period, starting on 1 September 2017, with an option to extend.

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NEWS ROUND-UP

16: NEWS

Read our regular column from RSPB Pulborough Brooks on Page 66

Horsham RUFC have been crowned champions of the Sussex RFU U-15 League with a game to spare. The boys had to work hard for a last-gasp 10-8 victory at Chichester to set up a potential championship-clinching match against Haywards Heath.

With the game in the balance, a Horsham player showed great sportsmanship by admitting that he had not properly grounded the ball, even though the referee had initially awarded a try.

Horsham Rugby Club’s U13 Girls capped a great year, which saw them lose only a single game, by winning the Waterfall Cup competition. Playing top teams from Kent, Sussex, Essex and Surrey, the girls won the London and South East Divisional Championship before battling their way to cup success. www.horshamrufc.com

Billingshurst Bowling Club, which is celebrating its 85th anniversary this year, hosts an Open Event for the new season on Saturday 22 April, at 2pm. Current members will be there to meet and help anyone wanting to give flat green lawn bowls a try. All equipment is supplied free initially, but a pair of flat-soled shoes or

trainers would be ideal. There will be competitions to enter, a raffle and free refreshments. Further ‘meet and greet’ sessions are held on the green (behind Station Road Gardens) on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday evenings in May from 6pm - 7.30pm. www.billingshurstbowlingclub.co.uk

However, Horsham’s pressure soon counted and they claimed a decisive win.

Experience the dangers and delights of Dinosaur World in an interactive new family show at The Capitol on Monday 1 May & Tuesday 2 May. Meet a host of impressive creatures, including every child's favourite flesh-eating giant, the Tyrannosaurus Rex, a Triceratops and Segnosaurus, to name a few in this mind-expanding Jurassic adventure.

Suitable for children aged three and above. Tickets from £13.50 from 01403 750220 or www.thecapitolhorsham.com

The Horsham 10km road race, organised by Horsham Joggers, is held on Sunday 21 May, at 11am.

The race starts and finishes at Horsham Rugby Club, Hammerpond Road, with two laps around residential streets, country lanes and woodland, mainly on roads with a short stretch on a bridleway. Entry costs £12 for runners affiliated to a UK Athletics club (£14 unaffiliated runners /£17 on the day). Run to UKA rules, the race is part of the Sussex Grand Prix series, with trophies and prizes for men and women in various age categories. For younger athletes, there is an Under-16 fun run of about 1,200m held around the safety of the rugby pitch, starting at 10.15am.

Entry is £4 with trophies for winners and a medal for finishers.

To enter visit www.horshamjoggers.co.uk

There’s still time to take advantage of Horsham District Council’s special offer of a free second parking disc when new parking charges are introduced across the district’s towns and villages on 3 April. Regular users of council car parks in Billingshurst, Pulborough, Storrington, Steyning, Henfield and Roffey (Godwin Way) will be able to avoid paying hourly pay & display charges by buying a disc costing £12 for a year. Additional discs for use at the same household are normally £6 a year.

Until 30 April 2017, users signing up for the new annual disc can get a second disc free. www.horsham.gov.uk/ annualparkingdisc or call 01403 215100.

17

Cloud Gallery, which recently celebrated its second anniversary in Horsham, hosts a new collection of work by Kathryn Callaghan on 13 May. Based in Northern Ireland, Callaghan’s fascinating work creates a sense of energy and captures a moment in time. This is a rare opportunity to meet the artist and purchase her latest work. www.cloudgalleryfineart.co.uk

West Sussex Philharmonic Choir hosts a concert at St Mary’s Parish Church, Horsham, on Saturday 29 April, from 7.30pm. Conducted by Stephen Hope, the choir perform Rutter’s Requiem & Gaelic Blessing, Chilcott’s St John Passion and Durufle’s Four Motets. Tickets £14 (students £7) on the door.

westsussexphilharmonicchoir.org.uk

The Birmingham Stage Company has announced that the world première of David Walliams’ Awful Auntie will open at The Capitol on 21-24 September before an 18-month UK tour. Awful Auntie tells the story of Stella, who when she set off to visit London with her parents, had no idea her life was in danger. Waking up from a coma three months later, only her Aunt Alberta can tell Stella what has happened. But not everything Aunt Alberta tells her turns out to be true and Stella discovers she’s in for the fight of her life against her awful Auntie. Tickets cost from £20.50 from 01403 750220 or www.thecapitolhorsham.com

NEWS ROUND-UP

18: NEWS

To submit News/Events for consideration, email Ben: editor@aahorsham.co.uk

Funk the Format and Funk the Family will be held at Hove Park, Brighton, on 17 -18 June. The two all-day events – one featuring music and the other focusing on family fun - were founded by music journalist Lucy (Elle J) Small, a former pupil of Millais school in Horsham. www.funkthefamily.co.uk

Billibiz will be held at Billingshurst Conference and Community Centre on Friday 5 May, from 10am – 3pm. The trade show helps businesses make new connections. The event is organised by the Billingshurst Chamber of Commerce. http://billingshurstchamber.co.uk

A Volunteer Fair will be held at Horsham library on Saturday 13 May, from 10am 1.30pm. Many local groups will be talking about what they do and the volunteering roles they can offer. People volunteer for a variety of reasons. Some wish to build their confidence, gain work experience, improve their CV or get a good reference. Some have a desire to give back to the community and help to make a positive difference. Some simply want to meet new people or learn new

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skills. To find out more, email volunteercentre@hamsva.org.uk or call 01444 258102.

Horsham Branch of Guide Dogs for the Blind is looking for volunteers to help with collections in Horsham and surrounding areas. This will be four or five times per year for two hours per session. If you can help, email chris@buxactic.co.uk

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21

LEADING TRIBUTE ACTS TO ROCK

T

The Fake Festival

he Holbrook Club invites you to a day of live music as Fake Festival returns to Horsham on Saturday 3 June.

The evening will be headlined by three top ‘tour-grading’ tribute bands performing the music of Coldplay, The Killers and Kings of Leon.

Coldplace are a tribute band whose quality and experience on the tribute scene are second to none. In 12 years, the band has played over 600 gigs and have appeared on Sky News and BBC Radio One. As a tribute to one of the world's biggest bands, their aim is to capture the feeling of a live Coldplay performance, playing hits such as Yellow, Speed of Sound and A Sky Full of Stars.

The Fillers have performed around the world to crowds of up

to 35,000 people, with some of the band having even played with members of the real Las Vegas rock group.

They will be playing many of The Killers’ hits including Somebody Told Me and Mr Brightside.

Kings of Lyon have supported acts including Simple Minds and The Kaiser Chiefs, having become a renowned and well-respected tribute to Tennessee rockers Kings of Leon, famed for anthems including Sex on Fire.

As well as the three tribute acts, five ‘home-grown’ local bands will also perform in a giant marquee during Fake Festival, held from 12.30 – 11pm.

The music stage will be inside a purpose-built marquee which covers any poor weather and comes with a professional PA and lighting system. There’s a well-

stocked licensed bar inside.

Those entering the festival before 2pm will even receive a free drink token!

Independent traders will provide a range of hot food and as Fake Festival is a family event, there will be a variety of children's rides and activities in a fenced

entertainment area. So, round up your friends and family for a fun packed music day out!

Early bird tickets are on sale until 3 May at a price of £17.50 (£9 children aged 10-17/Free for children under 9). www.fakefestivals.co.uk/2017/ Horsham.html

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TRIBUTE: KINGS OF LYON

+ 5 LOCAL SUPPORT BANDS SUPPORTING:

MY STORY: 23 Phil Skingsley, who lives in Thailand, left school at 15 for a job at the brickworks. After playing for Horsham FC, he worked all over the world before settling in Phuket...

I

was born in Horsham in 1947.

We lived in Bennetts Road just opposite the field, where I would spend many hours playing, climbing trees, picking blackberries and occasionally scrumping apples from a large garden.

When I was about seven, we moved to nearby Bethune Road and then St Leonard’s Forest provided hours of enjoyment. I loved exploring and the feeling of being surrounded by nature. They were in some respects halcyon days as I didn’t have a care in the world.

About five years later, we moved to the Needles estate and luckily enough our house was again close to a playing field and what was called the High Woods. So I was still in my element, exploring and having fun!

I progressed from Chesworth School to Collyer’s Grammar School. Although I was a bright enough boy, academic study wasn’t high on my agenda and I would do just enough to get by and scrimp on my homework so I could spend more time playing football on the field. At Collyers I was also selected to play cricket, but my heart wasn’t in it.

My parents didn’t really pay much attention to my school life, so I decided to leave school aged 15, much to the chagrin of the headmaster. Luckily, through a family friend, I was able to secure an electrical apprenticeship at the Clockhouse Brickworks in Capel (owned by the London Brick Company). This meant spending one day a week at Crawley College and the rest of the time learning the trade at the brickworks.

MY STORY SO FAR

Phil Skingsley

Although it was decades old and a very dirty, dusty place, I learnt so much, as a maintenance electrician had to turn his hand to just about anything, both electrical and mechanical. It was a fantastic job for me and I won the Best Apprentice of The Year award from the London Brick Company for three successive years from 1965, of which I was very proud. I was under the tutelage of the foreman/chief electrician Roy

Macklin, who still lives in the Horsham area. He taught me skills that have lasted me a lifetime.

In 1966, having played for Horsham Reserves, I was selected to play for the first team. It would be fair to say that football was a major part of my life then and Basil Dawson, then sports editor of the West Sussex County Times, was a great supporter of mine, giving me lots of good

write-ups. He handed out the occasional rough one as well!

We played in the Athenian league and participated in Sussex Senior Cup matches and in the Mithras Floodlit Cup, where we faced top quality opposition including Dagenham and Guildford City. At one point, Pat Tobin, Horsham FC manager, suggested that I went for a trial at Queens Park Rangers as I’d been watched by their scouts,

24: MY STORY

Read our feature on Jim Hills, a stalwart of local football, at http://aahorsham.co.uk/content/jimhills

but I turned down the chance as I had an apprenticeship to complete and - to be honest - I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t think I was good enough.

I may be the only Sussex footballer to have the unenviable record of having appeared in three successive Sussex Senior Cup Finals and lost them all. With Horsham, we lost to Southwick and Eastbourne United, and with Worthing we lost to Littlehampton. I did win two Brighton Charity Shield medals, one with Horsham and one with Worthing. However, they didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t make up for the disappointment of the SSCF losses.

Phil (front row, second from right) with the 1967 Horsham FC team

Phil (back row, second from right) in the Horsham FC team circa 1968, with coach Pat Tobin

)LGGOHV JXLWDU DFFRUGLRQ KDUS bagpipes and step dancing explode into life!

CALAN

The energetic young folk band from Wales, take to our stage on 6XQGD\ 0D\ SP

Everything seemed to be going fine in my life but it all changed when I was made redundant from the brickworks. I walked away with my last pay packet of ÂŁ18 and that was it. A few months later, the engine on my car blew up and I was also asked to leave Horsham FC after being involved in a fight with another player. Luckily, former manager Ted Streeter asked if I wanted to join him at Worthing, which I did.

These events made me think about my future, so through a friend I contacted an agency that provided engineers to the oil industry and I secured my first overseas posting in the Sahara Desert. Being young and naĂŻve, I arrived in Libya, where there was still some unrest after the King had been overthrown by Gaddafiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s regime. I really didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t feel safe as most westerners were viewed with a great deal of suspicion. If you add to that the fact that it was extremely hot and I was a ginger haired, freckled-faced, pale-skinned

young man, then you can understand how difficult it was for me to adapt to life there.

I then went to Nigeria to work offshore on oil rigs. Again, it was only when I arrived that I realised how badly the recently-ended Biafra War had affected the south-eastern state where I was based. It had effectively been blockaded and starved into submission. Although we were supposed to be stocked with regular food supplies on the rigs, very often we ran short and resorted to fishing to keep stocks up. Unfortunately, I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t like fish!

On one occasion, we had almost run out of food and were waiting for supplies, although it was not easy to source food in a country gripped by turmoil. Word went around that a rig boat was on its way with food supplies, so we eagerly awaited its arrival. When it docked, there was an awful stench emanating from under the canvas on the boat. The Nigerian cooks lifted it to find piles of rotten food and I can still picture in my mind one of the cooks holding the end of a large sausage whilst half of it was moving around, as it was full

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;I have the unenviable record of having appeared in three successive Sussex Senior Cup Finals and lost them allâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

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Pre-match at the Sussex Senior Cup final 1968 at the Goldstone ground. Phil is pictured third from the left

of maggots! He snapped off the bad half of the sausage and kept the better half. That was part of our food supply for the next few weeks!

I had lots of adventures in Nigeria, with regular helicopter trips or boat rides to other rigs. Whenever I returned to Horsham, I was keen to share my stories with anyone who would listen. I completed a yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s contract in Nigeria and then decided I needed some stability back in Horsham as the constant travelling in those days was extremely tiring.

Jobs werenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t easy to come by, so I spent the best part of 1972 enjoying myself, spending a lot of my time in The Bear Inn at Market Square.

I started playing football again for Horsham YMCA until I unfortunately broke my leg the following season.

Over the next few years, I worked as a sales engineer for Loctite Corporation, before again heading off to the Sahara Desert. I enjoyed it more second time round. Work then took me to oil rigs in the North Sea and offshore Norway, which was perhaps the most frightening job of my life. I expected to be seriously injured because the conditions were appalling. Despite what people might say about health and safety regulations, they were just about non-existent! I was glad to call it a day on this rig in 1977.

I gave up working on the oil rigs and shortly after I married and started a new job at Rank Xerox in Crawley.

Unfortunately, my marriage was shortlived and three years later I was single again. But Horsham was still the place I wanted to live as I had many friends there and it was where I felt at home.

At the helm of the NZ America's Cup boat sailing in Auckland Harbour

Phil (left) with a barracuda caught on an oil rig offshore Nigeria, 1971.

25

26: MY STORY

AAH now has a pick-up stand outside Crates in Horsham’s Carfax

Phil with Steffi Graf and a bearded Phil before he left for New Zealand

‘I was honoured to be able to play a warm-up match with Steffi Graf when she visited New Zealand’

I was still playing football at a reasonable level under Ted Streeter, at Portfield, then Wick and later for Three Bridges. I then took over as player/coach for Broadbridge Heath and in an ironic twist of fate we beat Horsham Reserves in a cup game.

A short time later, I returned to play for Horsham Reserves and assist the manager there and thoroughly enjoyed it.

Work was still full-on and travelling to Southampton, then Croydon, was becoming a pain. So I took a long hard look at myself and realised that I needed a change.

So, I sold everything in Horsham and left to work for Xerox’s New Zealand operation!

I loved my time in New Zealand as it is a beautiful country with fjords and mountains in the south and beautiful bays full of uninhabited islands in the north. Also, New Zealand was just becoming established as a producer of good wine; a hobby of mine!

I was approached to become Director of Sales and Establishment

Marketing at American Express, which was a fabulous job and I spent the best five years of my working life at Amex. It entailed a lot of travel and meant I visited exotic places like Rarotonga, Hamilton Island, Hawaii, Singapore, the Philippines, Vanuatu and Australia.

I travelled back to the UK once a year for a month to catch up with my son. I had good Horsham friends who opened their homes and hearts to us and I will be forever grateful to Roger and Cath Weekes, Nick and Jane Nash and Keith and Pat Etheridge for their friendship and hospitality.

In 1992, I started work at ASB Bank NZ as National Manager and was given the responsibility of creating a more dynamic and service-oriented culture and one which could offer financial services products to customers. It was a huge task, but I managed to achieve my goals there. Five years later, after gaining my Investment Adviser qualification, I took on another challenge and helped start the Investment Advisory Service.

I

can help you reach your financial goals by offering you the appropriate advice and guidance now, and by ensuring that any plans put in place remain effective in the future no matter how your circumstances change.

Achieve your financial goals with award-winning advice...

As an Associate Partner of the award-winning St. James’s Place Wealth Management, I have access to a wide range of products and services that can be tailored specifically to your needs making it easier and simpler for you to manage your wealth. That means everything from pension and Inheritance Tax planning, through to investment management that offers direct access to many of the top fund management teams. I achieve this through the provision of personal, face-to-face wealth management advice that is designed to suit your individual long-term requirements.

An investment with St. James’s Place will be directly linked to the performance of the funds selected and may fall as well as rise.You may get back less than the amount invested.

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The Partner represents only St. James’s Place Wealth Management plc (which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority) for the purpose of advising solely on the Group’s wealth management products and services, more details of which are set out on the Group’s website www.sjp.co.uk/products.

The title ‘Partner’ is the marketing term used to describe St. James’s Place representatives.

H2SJP25093 02/17

27 By 2005, having built it from nothing, I was Chief Manager of Investments, managing funds worth almost $2 billion.

I visited Phuket in 2004, eight months before the tsunami hit. I needed the holiday as I had worked myself to a standstill. I would often work until the early hours of the morning as I was consumed with the challenge of being successful. This took its toll because in 2004, I was diagnosed with Barrett’s oesophagus, a condition that can lead to cancer. My doctor laid it on the line, telling me I’d worked too hard for far too long and it was time to quit.

I took extended leave and returned to Phuket to work through the illness and to see if I could live there. After the tsunami, the beachfront and roads were a mess, as were many of the buildings.

However, the resilient Thai people were getting on with their lives and making the best of things. I remember walking along the beach road and seeing a car wedged in the window of a secondstorey shop, such was the force of the sea on that dreadful day.

A recent photo of Phil, who lives in Phuket, with his daughter Plai

My normal sporting outlet for stress and frustration, football, was no longer available to me, as I had stopped playing when I was 45. I took up tennis and was honoured to be able to play a warm-up match with Steffi Graf when she visited New Zealand on tour.

TOOVEY’S

After two months living in and exploring Phuket, I decided to make the move there. I took early retirement in 2005, sold my house and car in New Zealand and became free of debt and stress.

Wow, what a feeling!

For some time, I didn’t need to work.

However, I was offered consultancy work with a property investment company and took the job on my terms as I didn’t want to be dragged back on to the corporate treadmill. I visited Phuket many times throughout 2006 and moved there the following year and I have been there ever since.

I haven’t been back to England since 2002 but I often think that I should return to see what has become of my home town. Maybe sometime soon, I will.

WORDS: PHIL SKINGSLEY (EDITED BY BEN MORRIS, AAH) PICTURES: PHIL SKINGSLEY

If you would like to contact Phil, email phil.skingsley@gmail.com

A pair of 18th century Chinese famille rose enamelled porcelain tea caddies auctioned in our February specialist sale of Asian Ceramics for £132,000

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ART: 31

Just Kil’n Time

The Quirky, Rustic Creations of Iveta Goddard

Iveta describes her illustrations as “colourful and naive”

I was interested in pottery as a child growing up in the Czech Republic. My father would often design things and commission local potters to make them, as we didn’t have our own kiln. They were expensive to buy in a communist country. He would take me to ceramic galleries in town and I loved looking through the windows when I was little. This

sparked my interest, so I attended a pottery class at school and later studied ceramics at college for four years. There, I developed a broad knowledge of creating, decorating, glazing and firing.

Some of Iveta’s quirky clocks

Inspired as a Child

Settling in Sussex It was difficult to find work in ceramics and I could not afford my own kiln, so I worked in animation for a while. I drew cartoons for

children’s television shows in the Czech Republic. Then, I travelled to England to learn the language and to take a break from work. I met my future husband in Brighton and eventually we settled near Horsham. After having a few different jobs, I decided to start making ceramics again in 1996, initially as a hobby. My first craft fair was at Goodwood, where I took along

a handful of my clocks and a few coasters.

Perfect Timing I have always made clocks. I’m not sure why, although people seem to like them. I still enjoy making clocks, although the pendulum mechanism on the larger clocks can be fiddly! My clocks are distinctive as they

32: ART

Read our feature on Angela Jenkins and her Fired Creations on the Art section at www.aahorsham.co.uk

are quite unusual. My first one was a free-standing triangle shaped clock. The concept has evolved to the shape that you see now, with curved sides and top. It suits my style, as I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t enjoy making things in a normal shape.

Recently, my clocks appeared on a BBC2 programme called The Great Pottery Throw Down, which is like The Great British Bake Off with a pottery focus. The production company asked if they could use a few of my clocks for the episode shown on 9 February, in which contestants had to make clocks. Two of my pieces were in a selection of work placed on the judgesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; table, which was exciting for me!

A Rustic Style I like things to look used, so when I add oxides Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m careful not to cover the entire surface of the clay, to maintain some of its natural colour.

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;My clocks recently appeared on a BBC2 programme called The Great Pottery Throw Downâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; The drawings that I add are quite simple and the colours I use are very bright, to make them deliberately naive. My work has a consistent style that hasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t changed greatly over the years. If I'm not selling anything, then I may need to do something

different, but for the time being people seem to still like it.

The Range Expands In 2004, this became a business and not just a hobby. Since then,

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I’ve expanded my range of items to include tea lights, candle-holders, jewellery, flowerpots, ceramic boats, bird baths for the garden, wind chimes, wall plates, mirrors, pencil holders, vases and glasses holders which come in dog, cat and chicken shape. The first glasses holder was a chicken one, made as a gift for my husband. I took a couple to a craft fair and they proved a hit, so I came back and made more!

Finding the Time I have two children, so it’s very difficult to devote all weekend to selling at craft fairs. I still go to the occasional one because it's nice to meet people and receive feedback on products.

However, craft fairs have changed in recent years. Everyone used to make and sell their own items. Now, too many people are selling cheap imported items. When you are making things by hand, you cannot compete with the prices of these imported items and shoppers think you’re over-charging. People don’t always understand that you can’t sell a set of six hand-made coasters for £10. They don’t appreciate the work behind each individual piece.

Iveta’s boats sell particularly well at galleries in coastal towns

33

Your Local Mobility & Furniture Centre Free Customer Parking at our Southwater Centre

Seeking Galleries I prefer to sell at galleries across the country. My art is sold at a gallery in Arundel, the Bailey Alexander Gallery in Brighton and The Green Tree Gallery at Borde Hill Gardens in Haywards Heath.

Further afield, I have pieces in galleries as far away as Aberdeen and St Ives. I also have a photo gallery on my website and sell quite a few pieces online.

Only about half of my time is spent making items, as there is a lot of book-keeping, packaging, delivery and promotion involved in running a business. I even try to send my regular

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Ceramic wind chimes in Iveta’s garden

34: ART customers a newsletter from time to time, just to show them what I have been doing.

Supply & Demand There are occasions when things go wrong. I have my share of breakages along the way and items can crack in the kiln. I try to be economical and fill the kiln each time, although some of the bigger items - such as the bird baths - take up nearly all of the space. I need be careful not to make too many. It’s not always easy to know what will be popular with customers though. I go to one fair and sell lots of clocks, so make lots more of them and the find the demand dries up and people are buying something else instead!

Looking Ahead I do occasionally think that I should just find a regular job, because I am working all of the

time. I start in the morning before the children get ready for school, during the day, and again at night after they go to bed. I’m always thinking about work and sometimes I think it would be nice to come home and switch off. But working this way has advantages too.

Looking ahead, I’ve thought about making little sculptures of people. I just need to find the time to develop the right idea. I’m also keen to work more closely with local interior and garden designers to create bespoke ceramics pieces. Those jobs always present a real challenge and I really enjoy that.

WORDS: BEN MORRIS PHOTOS: TOBY PHILLIPS

For a gallery and price list of Iveta’s items, please visit www.ivetagoddard.co.uk or email enquiries@ivetagoddard.co.uk

Cranfold: Do you need an MRI Scan to

Treat Back Pain?

By Wendyanne Harrison (MCSP) Owner, Cranfold Physical Therapy Centre

PROFILE:

Physio Lauren Richardson

B

ack pain is unpleasant, but very common. Eight out of 10 of us will suffer with some form of low back pain at some time in our lives, and most doctors and physios will not need to arrange an MRI of your back to diagnose and effectively treat you. Unless you are unlucky enough to present with serious symptoms*, the story of your pain and its behaviour, together with their examination results, will provide your physio with an accurate picture of what your particular problem is and how best to treat it.

MRI is indicated for example, if surgery is being considered. In this case, images of what the spine looks like internally is very important and useful to the surgeon. In other cases, a very long report of findings, some of which may not be relevant to what is causing the episode of back pain, can make people feel understandably anxious.

As anxiety is an enemy to recovery, MRIs can sometimes actually be detrimental to early resolution in mechanical back pain and for these reasons they are used more judiciously nowadays.

This MRI scan shows a lumbar spine (lower back) The patient is standing facing to our left and you can see the square blocks of bone that are the vertebrae in the centre, with the black discs between like mortar. Directly behind the discs lies the white spinal canal containing the grey nerves that supply the legs. *more serious symptoms requiring you to go to A&E: Pain down both legs at the same time: Loss of bladder or bowel control: Numbness between your legs; legs giving way or inability to walk

Common Back Diagnoses Stenosis is narrowing of the spinal canal so there is less room for the leg nerves. It tends to occur in older people.

Symptoms: Not being able to walk very far, complaints of legs getting tired.

Relieve by: sitting/bending forwards.

Treatment: physio to improve spinal flexibility.

Serious cases: medication or surgery Disc problems: The disc (mortar) bulges into the spinal canal.

Symptoms: local back pain, and sometimes pain in a leg (sciatica) as well.

Relieve by: by keeping mobile.

Avoid sitting.

Treatment: Specific physio exercises, spinal manipulation techniques.

Degenerative/arthritic changes: Wear and tear of the joints, Symptoms: pain and stiffness.

Relieve by: moving and fitness.

Treatment: increase mobility, flexibility and core strength.

Effective pain relief: Cranfoldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s PhysioFit:Backs program. cranfoldphysio.co.uk

Having joined Cranfold last summer, Lauren is a physio with a strong background in soft tissue and sports related problems. She is trained in both Pilates and Acupuncture and also teaches our PhysioFit: Backs program in Horsham on Tuesday mornings. Including half an hour of pilates exercise, PhysioFit:Backs is specially designed to give you the tools to strengthen, understand and control your back pain in just 5 weeks. The first class is free, with no obligation, so why not call us to try it for yourself?

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37

Food Comes to the Fore!

Coq au vin

I

t would be exaggerating to describe the recent changes at Mannings Heath Golf Club as the most dramatic in its history.

After all, a 51 Squadron Halifax Bomber crashed on the course in 1945. Parts of the plane are still buried in the undergrowth.

But since buying the golf club last summer, the Benguela Cove group has invested singnificantly as it embarks on an exciting new chapter for the venue.

Half of the Kingfisher course is being converted into a vineyard, whilst a brasserie has opened in the clubhouse. The new spike bar offers wine-tasting experiences, whilst a new pro shop is planned for the near future.

We met Adam Streeter, General Manager of Mannings Heath Golf

REVIEW: BENGUELA BRASSERIE Mannings Heath Golf Club & Wine Estate, Hammerpond Road, Horsham, RH13 6PG A new brasserie has opened as the venue embarks on an exciting path, with a wine estate at the heart of plans by ambitious new owners.

Course, to learn more about the developments, before enjoying a meal at the Benguela Brasserie.

What is Benguela Cove?

Four or five years ago, my mother Penny Streeter took over the Benguela Cove Wine Estate in South Africa. The previous owner died and left the estate to his family, but their heart wasn't

really in it. My mother owned the Manor House on the estate and saw an opportunity, as it’s just the most beautiful place, with a lagoon and several properties. She struck a deal with the family and suddenly we were winemakers.

Was this a dramatic change for your family?

My mother’s job is in healthcare

recruitment. She has an interesting story, having been born in Zimbabwe before moving to England. I grew up in Croydon before moving to South Africa to help with the family business. My mum is a workaholic and the driving force behind everything.

We have a fantastic team in place, both here and in South Africa, but mum is hands-on and makes sure everything is perfect.

How have things progressed at Benguela Cove?

Gradually, we’ve developed the estate. We opened a hotel on the banks of a lake within Wilderness National Park and we now have three restaurants in South Africa.

Only one is on the estate.

Because of work commitments,

38: MEAL REVIEW

18/10/2016 09:46 Page 1

Interested in advertising in AAH? Email advertising@aahorsham.co.uk for an Information Pack

ALL ABOUT HORSHAM MAGAZINE

1

2

‘Mannings Heath was perfect as the land has good wine-making potential and it’s an ideal location’

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everyone and shed its pompous reputation.

we found we were not using the Manor House, so it’s now used as the estate restaurant. It’s fantastic, as our guests feel like royalty! We also have a Brasserie at the hotel and then we have our flagship restaurant, Benguela on Main, in Somerset West, Cape Town. It offers a finedining experience and has a very good reputation. If you go down into the Spike Bar at Mannings Heath, we have a screen showing pictures of the estate, including the vineyards, Manor House and lagoon.

What was it about Mannings Heath that appealed?

We looked at a couple of different estates on the market before noticing that quite a few golf courses were up for sale and that many ticked the boxes in terms of size and locality. Mannings Heath was perfect, as the land has good wine-making potential and it’s an ideal location, both in terms of the climate and the demographic.

Why bring the brand over to England?

We were considering different ways to get our South African wines into the English market as we are an English family. However, we didn't want to sell solely through a distributor, as we wanted people to learn about Benguela Cove and offer wine-tasting experiences.

Already in the Spike Bar we are offering tastings with cheese or chocolate. We are trying to make wine-tasting more accessible to

You’ve sacrificed half of a golf course for wine-making?

We did have two 18-hole courses; Kingfisher and Waterfall, which is the members’ course. The Kingfisher course was lacking in features and members didn't really take it to their hearts. Certainly, the waterfall course is the course with the history and prestige. So, we decided to reduce the Kingfisher course to nine holes with 50 acres soon to be ploughed, ready for the planting

10:11

39 professional and the greenkeepers and we’re going to give the course the little bit of love it needs and deserves.

You’re also making changes to the clubhouse?

Every inch of the building is being given attention. As well as repainting, a lot of the woodwork is being treated. Some of the oak beams have needed to be completely removed for treatment, as we’ve uncovered problems along the way. We hope to create a two storey pro shop and we’ve spent a lot of money on new signage, as for first-time guests it’s not entirely clear where they should go!

Restaurant | Take Outs

of vines at the end of April. Over the next five years, we will be building a winery, which will be ready for the first harvest.

What wines will you be making?

The south of England is perfect for sparkling wine, so we’ll be growing Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. Johann Fourie, who is one of South Africa's top winemakers, will be heavily involved in our project here. Johann has been busy researching and he has some new ideas for Mannings Heath, so we’re expecting something special. In a few years, we hope that we can create another restaurant within the new winery, which will offer more of a fine-dining experience.

Are members happy with the changes?

The members have been fantastic. I was expecting a furious response to changes on the Kingfisher course, but in general, members appreciate what we are doing because they can see we’re improving every aspect of the club. Managing a golf club is new to us, but we already have a great relationship with the club

You’ve also introduced the brasserie?

The Mannings Heath brasserie is much like our brasserie at our Lakeside hotel in South Africa. We have kept it small with 28 covers, so it’s quite intimate, although we do have two private dining rooms for groups of eight or ten people. We’ve only been open for a few weeks but word is spreading and Sunday lunches are already popular.

Is the Brasserie open to everyone?

Mannings Heath is not a private members club. I can’t tell you how difficult it is to get that message out there! It was a members-only club many years ago. Now, we welcome everyone.

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40: MEAL REVIEW

Read more AAH meal reviews on the Food and Drink section at www.aahorsham.co.uk

Pan roast of lamb confit

Adam Streeter at The Benguela Cove Brasserie

Having said that, many members have enjoyed playing at Mannings Heath for a long time and don't want to see it become a country club with a gym and a crèche. There’s a lot we need to consider as we move forward.

OUR MEAL With the interview over, we sat down in the brasserie for a lunchtime meal.

Whilst there are several golfers chatting about their round over a drink or a light bite in the bar, the brasserie is quiet.

In fact, we’re the first diners to arrive, so it’s understandable that our waiter, Gabriel, is extremely attentive, particularly when he discovers that photographer Toby is a fellow long-boarding enthusiast!

We were sat at a beautiful circular table made of ebony, transported over from South Africa, along with ebony chairs, upholstered with ostrich leather.

Some even come with a sheepskin throw.

The walls aren’t quite so lavishing decorated, with paintings by abstract artist Floris van Zyl adding colour to a tasteful, contemporary setting that offers a scenic view of the Waterfall course.

STARTERS Being the only guests, our smoked salmon and ham, egg & chic arrived swiftly. The thin strips of smooth salmon (£6.50), smoked locally at Spring’s in Edburton, was very enjoyable, with a strong, smokey aroma well complemented by Lilliput capers, shallot, dill and lemon.

We also enjoyed the chicken dish (£7.50) served on a pretty blue-textured ceramic plate.

There was a generous portion of smoked chicken, which had a pleasant mild moistness to its flavour. A boiled quail’s egg added great colour and a slice of

moreish Iberico ham made for an interesting combination.

We also loved the distinct fruity aroma of the Benguela Cove Semillon Sauvignon Blanc. The maiden vintage won an International Wine Challenge award in 2016 and Mannings Heath Golf Club & Wine Estate is currently the only venue in the UK where it can be bought.

MAINS We were pleased to see that the prices at the brasserie were reasonable, with fish and chips (£13) linguine (£13.50) and vegetable tagliatelle with pistachio pesto (£12) all holding appeal.

I opted for the Coq au vin (£15) and was impressed by the beautifully-coated chunks of corn-fed chicken breast. The dish came with tender stem broccoli and new potatoes, with a delicious sauce of Benguela Cove Merlot and silver skin onions.

Toby chose for the pan roast of lamb confit, which at £23 was £1 more than even the chargrilled, 10oz ribeye steak. The meat was deliciously light and tender and perfectly complemented by crispy kale, rosemary carrots and potato fondant.

DESSERTS We’re not golf fans, so we were in no hurry to hit the course, leaving us plenty of time for dessert. I chose blackberry (£6) with a very good crème brulee served with a powerful blackberry sorbet. The salted caramel wasn’t necessary, but appreciated nonetheless.

Toby went for the equally enjoyable chocolate (£6) with a chocolate mousse with marshmallow and orange slices sugared with a blowtorch.

We spoke to head chef Ed Wright, who is working under and alongside executive chef Nick McAllister. Ed worked

41 blackberry

‘There’s a new buzz around the golf club, fuelled by the ambitions and ideas of the enterprising owners’

For us, the meal was beautiful, although there are still steps that need to be taken if the Benguela Cove Brasserie is to attract regular customers outside the club membership.

Whilst open to the public, there is still an awkwardness in walking through the golf club to find the

THE GOOD BEER GUIDE

Visit our traditional country pub and enjoy the finest ales, wines and spirits by our Inglenook fireplace or our beautiful garden.

Chocolate mousse

within the banqueting team at South Lodge Hotel before transferring over to the golf course when it was still owned by the Exclusive Group.

Ed describes the new team in charge at the golf club as “a breath of fresh air.” However, whilst clearly ambitious, there are no plans to chase food awards, says Ed. “We’re not looking for AA Rosettes or Michelin Stars here.

We just want to serve food that looks lovely and tastes amazing and if anything else happens, it's a bonus. If you seek awards, it can become your sole focus. We just want to create an experience that people enjoy.”

2 20 200 2002 -2 20 201 2017

brasserie. The new owners are aware of this and hope that the new signage is a step in the right direction.

Also, until demand grows, the brasserie is only open Thursday to Sunday for lunch and Thursday to Saturday for dinner.

However, there’s a new buzz around the golf club, fuelled by the ambition and ideas of the enterprising owners. Already, the brasserie is making waves and there’s every chance that it will be a key part in one of the most exciting projects in the Horsham District over the coming years.

Our extensive menu offers home-made food prepared with locally-sourced ingredients.

Pop in and enjoy some well deserved refreshment at the end of one of the many beautiful walks in the area.

THURSDAY THURSDA THURSD THURS THUR THU T O ON TH THURSDAYS NIGH NIG N NI QUIZ Q QU QUI NIGHT FREE FR FRE F FR FRE FREE HI HIG HIGH H SPE SPEE SPEED S SP W WI WIF WIFI CA MA CAS CASK M MAR MARQ MARQU MARQUE AW AWA AWAR AWARD A

REPORT: BEN MORRIS PICTURES: TOBY PHILLIPS

For more details about the golf club or the Benguela Brasserie visit http://www.manningsheath.com or call 01403 210228.

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42: GROUP DISCUSSION

WORKING OVER THYME

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pring is an exciting time of year for the many gardening enthusiasts who rent allotments in Horsham.

We visited one of the busiest in town, along Depot Road, to find out about growing plants and how others can also get involved.

We meet Margaret Rogers, chair of the Depot Road Allotments committee, treasurer Caroline Cann, site regular Tony Howard, professional gardener Robin Garner, wine producer Lawrence Brookman and Lorna Noyes, who brings a touch of continental styling to proceedings…

Margaret: Several years ago, we formed a society at the Depot Road allotments.

Horsham District Council wanted to pass on the running of local allotment sites to the users and there has been a gradual process towards that. They simply didn’t have the resources to manage every allotment, as there are about a dozen in Horsham. Now users manage their own site and pay rent to the council.

Caroline: I think that the situation is better for all now voluntary committees run most local allotments. Here at Depot Road, we have our own bank account and use money from plot rents for repairs, grass cutting, insurance, improvements and additional costs such as membership to the National Allotment Society.

Margaret: We charge £7.80 per rod per annum (one rod is about 16 feet) which is very reasonable. When the weather is nice, it’s lovely to spend the day here as you’re out in the fresh air meeting likeminded people. We have a table where we put surplus plants and vegetables down and others can help themselves and we all chip in where we can. There was one chap who was ill and was worried that he couldn’t maintain his plot. We know he much he loves gardening, so some of us managed the plot until he recovered. Ever since, his wife has been bringing up cakes!

43 ‘I still find pieces of my grandfather’s old clay pipes in the soil after heavy rain!’

Tony: I moved to Horsham when I was about six-years-old, during the middle of the Second World War. My grandfather, Chris Buss, had an allotment here, so I’ve been running around this site since I was a boy. He had a huge plot, about 28 – rods if I remember, so grew many different plants. When he gave it up in the early 70s, I decided to take on part of his plot and I’m still here. I still find fragments from my grandfather’s old clay pipes after heavy rain!

Robin: I started growing on my own plot 33 years ago at an allotment in London, when I was only 19-years-old. I’m a gardener by trade, so people know me as Garner the gardener. It was my interest in allotments that led to me doing it as a career. My great-grandfather had a plot at Depot Road and it’s been in our family for generations. My dad still comes up occasionally too and it’s nice for us to spent time together.

Margaret: Most of the people here are retired. However, we have eight young families and 22 middle-aged working people amongst the 83 people that currently rent plots.

Lorna: I have a daughter at Millais and a son at Forest School. They come here to help me occasionally on weekends.

They’re not so interested now, but when the fruit ripens, they’ll be here. When I was growing raspberries last year, my son was helping me pick them. There didn’t seem to be as many in his basket as I was expecting!

Margaret: I lived in Colgate for 35 years and had a big garden, but after my husband died, I moved into a smaller house in Horsham with a tiny garden. I really missed gardening, so I put my name down for an allotment. Now, I’ve remarried and we have two allotments.

It’s something we can do together, although I don't mind if it's raining, whilst Neville is a fair-weather gardener! There is a pleasant social side here and we see people of all ages.

44: GROUP DISCUSSION

Lorna Noyes with her â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;continentalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; style plot at Depot Road allotments

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;I grow blackberries and redcurrants to make wine.

It has a bit of a kick to it!â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Lawrence: My allotments are a joint effort with my wife, Maria.

Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve rented allotments for three years now and really enjoy it.

After the first year, we decided to take on a second five-rod plot.

Maria does a lot of the seed preparation and often we cultivate in the greenhouse before moving plants to the allotment.

Caroline: Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a lot of preparation in greenhouses and people bring plants to the allotment once they are strong enough to be placed in the ground. My broad beans germinated at home and once they start poking through, I bring them here.

Lawrence: A lot of the food I grow here is for us to enjoy at

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home. When I was working, I didn't cook at all. Now I have the time, I love cooking. I recently made a 10-vegetable curry and eight of them were from our allotments. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve just picked Brussels sprouts for dinner and Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m also growing leeks and parsnips. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a wonderful feeling to eat food youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve grown. Your own produce tastes different to what you buy in the shops, because it is fresh and it's not been processed.

Margaret: I have an eight-rod plot and grow soft fruit and vegetables. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m currently growing cabbage, broccoli, sprouts, leeks and herbs. I like to enter shows through the Horsham Horticultural Society and I grow plants too as I also enjoy flower arranging.

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45 Caroline Cann is the allotment society treasurer

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Tony Howard is a familiar face at the allotments

ALL ABOUT HORSHAM MAGAZINE

Lorna: I have four separate rows, growing rhubarb, wildflowers for bees and pollinators, strawberries and various other plants. I also grow runner beans, mange tout, broad beans, leeks, courgette, onions, garlic, potatoes and cucamelon, which look like watermelon but are only the size of a large grape.

They taste like cucumber with a hint of lime. Cucamelon is popular in Mexican cuisine and is very good served with gin and tonic.

Lawrence: I have a lot of different fruit bushes and trees. You can make wine out of nearly anything, so I grow blackberries, redcurrants and other fruits to ferment wine. My wine has a bit of a kick to it! I used to make wine many years ago, but when you have a family other things take priority. When we took on the allotments, we weren't quite sure what to do with all the fruit we were growing, so I thought wine making would be fun.

Robin: I grew vegetables initially at another allotment, but I became a little disillusioned because they were always being attacked by pests. I didn't think the effort was worthwhile, so I decided to grow flowers instead. I grow dahlias, chrysanthemums and iris among many others. I like to see everything flowering beautifully and thinking â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;I did that.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Lorna: Your allotment is very much what you make of it. My site was overgrown with long grass when we took it on two years ago, so our first job was to clear the site and lay down new membrane for weed control. Then, we contacted a tree surgeon who dropped off a load of wood chippings for free.

We then painted the shed and started

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46: GROUP DISCUSSION

Lawrence Brookman produces fruity wine

Robin Garner likes to grow flowers

Margaret Rogers tends to her allotment

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growing. My approach has more of a continental style, with wicker edging to each row. It is vegetable gardening but it is more decorative and modern.

Caroline: You are always learning and never quite know what will grow well. Last year, because of the rain in the spring, a lot of my potatoes drowned, but the rainfall was good for other plants.

Some people take on a plot not realising how much hard work is required. When we first came here, our plot was heavily overgrown and we needed 16 trips to the tip just to clear it!

Margaret: There was a long waiting list for plots, although some have changed hands in recent years so we currently have about nine empty plots on Depot Road. We’d love to hear from people interested in renting one.

Caroline: If you compare the cost of an allotment to gym membership, it is very affordable and offers more benefits. You are outside and you have beautiful

vegetables or flowers to enjoy at the end of it. Yes, some work is needed, but if you have a small plot it’s not difficult to manage.

Lorna: For me, the allotment is a peaceful place. It clears your head and it’s nice to grow your own food.

If you buy green beans from the supermarket, you will see that they come from overseas and it must have been a few days since they were first picked. Here, we will pick our beans and eat them the same evening. We know exactly what has gone on them and where they have come from and it’s good for the environment too!

WORDS: BEN MORRIS PHOTOS: TOBY PHILLIPS

For more information about the Depot Road allotments, email Bob at drallots@gmail.com For other allotment sites visit the Parks and Countryside section of the HDC website at www.horsham.gov.uk

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72-74 Park Street, RH12 1BY.

01403 265030

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Redhill

Salbrook Rd Industrial Estate RH1 5DY.

01293 776617

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Pulborough

Station Rd, RH20 1AH

01798 872506

burgessandrandall@ horacefuller.com

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Local, established, caring, professional and competitive What more could you ask for?

SussexSurrey Doors and Windows Ltd are the premier replacement door and window installer in the local Sussex and Surrey area. With over thirty years in the industry, the owner-Director and his dedicated team have one objective: To offer the highest quality products and exceptional customer service, with honesty and integrity, all at a fair price. We work with industry leading manufacturers so you can be sure that you will receive a high quality product that will look good for many years to come.

Glowing testimonials are a continual endorsement of the superior care and consideration that every customer receives. The ever increasing number of recommendations from customers is driving the business forward and we have built a reputation to be justifiably proud of. Despite this, we take nothing for granted and strive to maintain our enviable position within a competitive industry.

At the showroom on Queen Street in Horsham (near the iron bridge) you can see some of the products and discuss your requirements. Whether you would like a single window, a new front door or an entire house of windows and doors you will receive the same personal care and attention to detail with a product to suit you, your budget and your home. Everything is made to measure, from a wide choice of colour and finish, hardware and glazing, all of which combines to offer an end product that is personal to you.

What to expect Quotation: One of our sales staff will visit you to discuss your requirements and recommend the most suitable product if you are unsure. Within a few days you will receive a free, detailed, no-obligation quotation. Our prices are realistic and fair, with no sizeable discounts, gimmicks or sales pressure.

Survey: Once you have decided to go ahead, our experienced surveyor will take meticulous measurements, go through the contract with you and request the 25% deposit, which is covered under an insurance indemnity for peace of mind.

Installation: Our friendly fitters have between 25 and 35 years experience and hold FENSA MTC cards, providing reassurance that your installation will be of a nationally recognised standard. They will respect your home, use dust sheets and clean up as they work, going out of their way to make everything as easy for you as possible. The 10 year insurance backed guarantee from the Plastic Window Federation and FENSA certificate (where applicable) will be issued after installation.

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For the highest quality products, with honesty and integrity at a fair price

Showroom: 35 Queen Street, Horsham, West Sussex, RH13 5AA Telephone: 01403 269062 Email: info@sussexsurrey.com Website: www.sussexsurrey.com Facebook: sussexandsurreydoorsandwindows Twitter: @sussex_surrey

SPORT: 51

Back of the Net!

Horsham FC plans for Hop Oast Ground Approved

Why has it taken so long to find a permanent home?

Over the years, there have been numerous discussions between the football club and Horsham District Council concerning a new ground. Initial plans to build at the Holbrook Club were rejected by the council, so The Hornets went back to the drawing room.

The club then applied to build a ground at Hop Oast, an idea also initially rejected by councillors.

However, after a few tweaks, permission was finally granted on 21 March.

What exactly is included in this planning application?

The club will be creating two flood-lit 3G pitches, one to be used as the senior pitch with a smaller one for training. There will also be a single-storey clubhouse and stands for up to 1,300 spectators. As the club pointed out in its application, the average attendance is currently 245. There

Horsham FC’s Sam Henderson (U12) and senior player Tony Nwachukwu

Where have they been playing since then?

You may recall that Horsham famously took Swansea City to a replay in the FA Cup Second Round in 2007/08. That was the club’s final season at Queen Street. Since then, Horsham has been ground-sharing, initially with Worthing, then with Horsham YMCA at Gorings Mead. The offpitch problems led to a dip in form. However, a fantastic 2015/16 season ensured that The Hornets returned to the Isthmian League in style. Next season, Horsham will play ‘home’ games at the Sussex County FA ground in Lancing.

Proposed design of the new clubhouse

What’s happened here then?

What’s happened is that Horsham Football Club has been given permission to build a new ground almost 10 years after its last permanent home at Queen Street was sold for housing.

will also be 20m high netting installed to fend off golf balls.

Why would there be golf balls flying around?

The ground is to be built on part of the old nine-hole course at Horsham Golf & Fitness Club. If you imagine heading up the drive, the ground will be built to the left on what was previously the 7th and 8th holes. This area runs adjacent to (and behind) the driving range and no longer part of the 18-hole (The Oaks) or 9hole (The Firs) course. This investment from Horsham FC will, in turn, help the golf club continue development on its attractive new 18-hole course. Also, the move to Hop Oast secures the future of the Holbrook Club, the popular sports and social club on North Heath Lane, Horsham.

application.’ If it wasn’t approved, then the Hop Oast project was dead too.

Why would that be bad for the Holbrook Club?

Horsham FC has granted the Holbrook Club a new 25-year lease to continue. However, that lease was dependent on both planning applications being successful. Simon Charman, Chairman of the Holbrook Club, spoke in favour of the proposals, saying they would “secure the long-term survival of the Holbrook Club.”

The Holbrook Club is safe now?

It can continue much as it has done, albeit with less space for sport on the field. If permission had been refused, Horsham FC would have been forced to evict the Holbrook Club and that entire site may have been sold for an even bigger housing development.

How’s the Holbrook affected?

To borrow a hormonal teenager’s Facebook status, it’s complicated.

Horsham FC owns the land occupied by the Holbrook Club.

That’s because the club bought the land with the money from the sale of Queen Street, in the hope that it could build a ground there.

When that idea was rejected, Horsham FC looked at Hop Oast.

To generate the extra funds it now needs to pay for the £3million ground, Horsham FC also applied for planning permission to sell a significant part of the sports field at the Holbrook Club for housing.

Quite a large development too – 58 houses in total.

So, the club couldn’t build the ground without selling part of the Holbrook Club’s field?

Correct. The Holbrook application is what is known as an ‘enabling

Really? Would Horsham FC have done that?

They wouldn’t have had much choice. John Lines, Director of Horsham FC, told councillors: “Consider the consequences of turning down this application: Horsham FC will die and be consigned to 135 years of local history. The Holbrook Club, regrettably, would not secure a new 25-year lease, taking facilities away from its 1,950 members with the loss of 55 jobs. Local schools would not benefit from new allweather facilities that we’re providing at no cost to taxpayers.

Ultimately, it is not only Horsham FC and its fans that would lose out. Please, grant us this one last chance to survive.”

Why was the council ever opposed to the idea?

Firstly, both these applications – the one for the new ground and the one for housing at the Holbrook Club – were ‘recommended’ for

Horsham’s Piazza Italia festival is held over Easter.

For details visit www.horshampiazzaitalia.co.uk

approval by planning officers at Horsham District Council. They’re the ones that go out and assess an application on all its merits, considering infrastructure, environmental impact, community benefits, everything. Horsham District Council’s planning officers have been very supportive of the football club’s bid to find a new ground. However, the decision on approving or rejecting a planning application is down to our elected councillors.

John Lines, director of Horsham Football Club, with Neil Burke, co-owner of Horsham Golf & Fitness Club on Worthing Road, Horsham

52: SPORT

What’s the problem there?

Councillors are a mish-mash of all types of people; young men with political ambition, curtain twitchers stepping up a level and retired people who have the time to write lengthy letters to the County Times about trivial matters.

With this lot, anything can happen!

So, how did things play out with this new ground application?

Councillors were left in no doubt at the level of support for Horsham FC. Many youth team players turned up in club colours and even mascot Howie the Hornet was in attendance. However, for a while, it seemed as if Horsham FC would again be denied, as council members and several objectors raised fears ranging from safety to preserving the rural environment.

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What ‘rural’ environment?

Cllr Claire Vickers, who it’s fair to say was not a huge hit with the public gallery, outlined several reasons why she didn’t support the application. She expressed fears that birds would be trapped in the new netting, that some trees in the ancient woodland would be lost, that the development would have an impact on wildlife and that the proposal went against the policies outlined in the Horsham District Planning Framework (HDPF). She said: “I voted against the previous application on the basis that the development is in the countryside and our HDPF offers countryside protection. Do these so-called community benefits provided by the football club outweigh our agreed policy? I’m not prepared to be held to ransom by Horsham FC.” Held to ransom?

I guess it’s an exaggerated reference to the threat by Horsham FC of being “consigned to history” should members reject the application. However, it was great to hear Cllr Vickers (Cabinet Member for Planning and Development at HDC) taking such an interest in wildlife habitat. Especially so soon after

53

Getting political, are we?

It wasn’t just those of us in the public gallery who found some views quite baffling. Cllr Andrew Baldwin said: “This committee has often approved applications that are contrary to policy and I don't understand how this one will cause significant harm. Horsham FC needs a new permanent home and it’s high time this was agreed.

Some councillors are very happy to dump two and half thousand homes on beautiful green fields in North Horsham, which will severely affect the rural character. This application does not affect the rural character of Southwater. It’s a classic case of NIMBYism.”

There was conflicting views on this countryside argument then?

Whilst several acknowledged that approving the ground is indeed in contravention of planning policy, most thought the community benefits it brings are worth it. Cllr Leonard Crosbie said: “We ought

The layout of the new ground shows the two 3G pitches.

Netting will be installed to protect cars and pedestrians from wayward golf balls from the driving range

the council approved several major housing developments on greenfield land...

to take a reality check. We’re talking about a golf course which is bidding to sub-divide.

Across the road is the large park & ride car park, just beyond that is the recycling facility, the council depot facility, and one of the busiest roundabouts on the A24. That may be your definition of the countryside, but not mine.”

Other than Holbrook, were other sites ever considered?

During a 10-year search for a new home, dozens of sites were looked at. John Lines says that “no stone was left unturned.”

So, what are the safety fears for the new Hop Oast site?

One of five objectors allowed to speak against the application

was Steve Ogborn, who unusually raised fears about youngsters travelling to the site.

Why do you say ‘unusually?’

Mr Ogborn is a coach of Chesworth Rovers FC, one of two teams that will be displaced when housing is built on part of the Holbrook Club. Both Chesworth Rovers and Holbrook

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3rds will have the opportunity to use the new 3G pitches. He said: “Many youth players walk or cycle to our current Holbrook site safely, using well-lit pavements and roads. Contrast this site at Horsham Golf & Fitness Club with its narrow, unlit footpaths with users having to cross at the brow of a hill. I cannot imagine letting youth team members do this. This is not scare-mongering; my father-in-law was hit by the mirror of a car along that stretch of road and was badly bruised.”

The new clubhouse has been reduced in size after a two-storey proposal was rejected in the club’s first Hop Oast application

54: SPORT

He has a point…

Certainly. You wouldn’t be happy to see children riding along that road, especially in winter. But Southwater councillor Billy Greening queried if that would ever happen. He said: “I've been playing football locally since I was four and I don't believe I’ve ever cycled to training. Young people going to watch or play football get a lift with a parent. I coach youth football and parents come and watch the last few minutes before taking their children home. As for using the site during the week for community events, young people will be dropped off at the 62-space car park on site.

There is no need for young people to walk across the Worthing Road unaccompanied.”

Enjoy breakfast, lunch, our new afternoon tea service or dinner at our restaurant and bar positioned beside the beautiful Sumners Lake.

Some common sense!

West Sussex County Council Highways had raised no safety concerns during the planning process either. Ian Gledhill from WSCC Highways said: “We forecast very low demand for walkers and cyclists because of the distance from residential areas.”

Our head chef, Mark Rego has created an enticing and delicious menu with many dishes to suit all tastes. We also hold regular events include live acoustic music and quiz nights.

Presumably some members of the council disagreed?

Some seemingly had visions of masses of young people suddenly becoming fans of Horsham FC and - blinded by passion for football - crossing Worthing Road with total disregard for oncoming traffic. Cllr John Chidlow said: We look forward to welcoming you “Supporters will have to cross the soon!

Worthing Road and the application proposes they do so at the currently Cu Curr C Cur Curre Current Curren ur u O Op OCu OCur OCurr OCurre OCurren OCurrent Cening HOpCurrent O Op OpCu OpCur OpCurr OpCurre OpCurren ours C O unused Op Ope OpeCu OpeCur OpeCurr OpeCurre OpeCurren OpeCurrent C O Op Ope Open Openi OpeniCu OpeniCur OpeniCurr OpeniCurre OpeniCurren OpeniCurrent C O Op Ope Open Openi Openin Opening OpeningCu OpeningCur OpeningCurr OpeningCurre C pedestrian crossing. If children Monday - Thursday: 8am ¨ 5pm run ahead of their parents, they can Friday - Saturday: 8am ¨ 10.30pm quickly be out of sight.” Having reeled off braking distances and survival rates Sunday: 8am - 5pm directly from The Highway Code in a For Breakfast, Lunch, Afternoon Tea speech that left many needing a caffeine and Dinner (when open). boost, Cllr Chidlow finally suggested installing traffic lights or introducing a 20mph speed restriction.

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Traffic lights could work...

Difficult, given that the access point will

A

be 50 yards from traffic lights at the recycling/Park & Ride entrance.

Another idea, mooted by Cllr Peter Burgess, was a pelican crossing.

Due to the many concerns raised on safety, the WSCC Highways representative agreed to monitor the situation whilst safety measures will again be assessed. There were also fears about golf balls.

‘In their next game, Horsham FC won 2-0 against league leaders Tooting’ About why they’re so expensive?

Not quite. Objector Nigel Jupp questioned whether 20m high netting (the height recommended

by Sport England) to keep out golf balls from the driving range was high enough. Sensibly, a condition was added that the netting must be installed before workers begin construction.

What do the schools think?

They’re happy. Jules White, speaking on behalf of local secondary schools, said: “Large numbers of pupils play junior football and this complements our work in school. The 3G pitches will help schools to promote and focus on healthy living.” Cllr Greening noted that for 82% of the time, Horsham FC would not be using the site, thus “giving schools and clubs the chance to utilise an excellent community facility.”

How close was the vote then?

In the end, not close at all.

Nineteen councillors voted for the application, one against, with two abstaining. The application for 58 new homes at the Holbrook Club was also approved, despite disappointment at the low amount

Page 1

of affordable homes. Most of the members voicing safety concerns still wanted to support the club and recognised the community benefits.

The result must be a huge relief for Horsham FC? John Lines said he was “relieved and emotional” following the council’s decision. Speaking five days after the vote, he told AAH: “We’ve had lots of letters, emails and calls from people offering congratulations, which is wonderful, but there's a lot of hard work ahead.

I must thank those members who voted in favour of both applications.

It must have been a tricky decision because they did have concerns.

We’re going to need the support of everyone as we move on now.”

Has the successful outcome had an impact on Horsham’s players?

It didn’t do any harm; in their next game, Horsham FC won 2-0 against a Tooting side that had won 14 games in a row. John Lines said: “It makes a big difference to the manager, players and supporters.

Whilst Gorings Mead is in Horsham, our supporters never really considered it home. The Queen Street ground created a brilliant atmosphere that we couldn’t recreate at another club’s ground. It will be great to see that family feeling back at Horsham FC.” So that’s the end of it?

Not quite. Southwater Parish Council has written to the Secretary of State for the Department for Community and Local Government.

It hopes the government will review the club’s application, which the parish council did not support.

Several on the HDC planning committee are far from impressed by the “arrogant” actions of the parish council. Cllr Greening added: “I'm incredibly disappointed. To raise taxes by 21% and then object to a facility supported by a majority of residents is very misguided.”

So, the story goes on?

Not really. Horsham FC will get its new ground which - whilst some will disagree - is great news for the community.

WORDS: BEN MORRIS IMAGES: TOBY PHILLIPS/ HORSHAM FC/JOHN LINES

55

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Many lenders are offering superb remortgage opportunities with minimal costs to change, including free standard valuations (lender survey on your property) and legal costs (solicitors or conveyancer to register the charge in the new lenders name).

Rates are competitively low and mortgage product choice is at its highest for some time. So pull out that paperwork and have a no obligation conversation with your local, independent and whole of market mortgage advisers!

Alternatively, if you are looking for additional funds, but are already on an attractive rate with your lender, there are other options rather than a full remortgage.

Depending on the amount already secured as a mortgage, compared to the value of the property, most lenders will allow a ‘secured loan’ to be added as additional borrowing, right up to 95% of the property value. A secured loan is a 2nd, or subsequent charge which allows the equity in a property to be used as security. The secured loan is usually repaid over a shorter term than a mortgage, circa 3-7 years, but the term can be longer, although this will increase the amount of interest repaid. Second charge lenders are also in the midst of a price war. Many have reduced rates, one or two new lenders have entered the market and rates can now be below 4%. Rates vary depending on the customer’s circumstances and current level of borrowings. Make sure you review all options available to you and always seek advice.

‘Lenders are offering superb remortgage opportunities with minimal costs to change’

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58: COMMUNITY

HORSHAM REVS UP FOR

H

Piazza Italia XI

orsham’s Piazza Italia returns to the town centre over the Easter weekend.

Up to 100,000 people will flock to the town during the three-day event, making it the largest free in the South East over the Easter Bank Holiday weekend.

Piazza Italia XI - a celebration of all things Italian - will include a convoy of 100 Ferrari cars, a unique take on a Shakespearean comedy, and of course the popular Italian food market.

Thanks to new sponsors Premier GT, there will be a Race Paddock for the first time on Easter Monday

whilst it is hoped that a very special car - which might even rival the Ferrari Enzo and Pagani Zonda seen in previous years will be part of the Supercar Heaven parade.

Piazza Italia XI, organised by Horsham District Council, will be held on Friday 14, Saturday 15 and Monday 17 April.

AAH is producing an official programme to be distributed free over the weekend. Here, we’ve picked out just a few highlights from the fun-packed programme! For more details visit www.aahorsham.co.uk

1

Ferrari Catwalk/Display Sponsored by Meridien Modena

The Ferrari rally is one of the highlights of Piazza Italia.

Early arrivals to town can enjoy a Ferrari Catwalk at 10:10am. This involves a select group of cars, all gracing the prancing horse, driving through the Carfax, where John Wellard of the Sussex Ferrari Owners Club will briefly talk about them.

These classic cars will then park at The Forum (outside Beales/ TK Maxx) from 10:45am. If you want to see the best cars, don’t

2

miss out The Forum, as last year’s cars included a 512BB and a ‘Daytona’ 365 GTB. Drivers in the main Ferrari convoy, featuring about 85 additional cars, will meet at Hop Oast before arriving in town at about 12:15pm. Most of the Ferraris will park in East Street and The Carfax until 3:30pm.

When: Good Friday (14 April) Where: Carfax/East Street/ The Forum

Italian Art Trail Associated with Cloud Gallery

An exhibition of work by Dennis Roxby Bott at Horsham Museum will form part of a new Art Trail. Many of his watercolours depict Italian cities and landscapes. The museum is open on Good Friday and Easter Monday whilst The Cloud Gallery, Brock Taylor, La Source and The Kitchen Store are also involved in the trail.

When: All Three Days Where: Horsham Museum/Various Venues

59

The AAH website has a full programme at www.aahorsham.co.uk

3

Piazza in Italia

5 breadcrumbs) and the 100% pork Italian hot dogs will both be on the menu!

As itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Easter, Colomba Easter cakes and eggs may also be on sale. These seasonal treats

are famously shaped like

birds to celebrate Easter.

For more details about the range of stalls please visit www.italiainpiazza.com

When: All three Days Where: The Carfax

Street Entertainment Sponsored by Brock Taylor

Street entertainer Tony Strange will be bringing several popular characters back for Piazza Italia XI, as well as introducing new faces. In the past, he has been Fat Tony (the Mafia gangster), a singing waiter, Michelangelo the Italian TV presenter, an Italian Job policeman and even a cowboy.

In 2016 Tony and his team of actors and entertainers

Mini Rally www.Italianjob.com

Dozens of classic Minis will be in town on Good Friday. They will drive through The Carfax before parking in The Bishopric from 11am - 3.30pm When: Good Friday Where: The Bishopric

Food Market

The Italia in Piazza market brings some of the finest produce Italy has to offer to Horsham town.

The market, operated by Simon Faro, has been visiting the Carfax since the first Piazza Italia in 2007.

The market sells everything from olives, extra virgin olive oils and balsamic vinegars to soft gluten-free nougat, Italian cheeses, cured meats, biscuits, breads, spices and pasta.

Cheeses include Gorgonzola Dolce from the mountains of north Italy, whilst a popular cured beef is Prosciutto Crudo, a thin, uncooked Parma ham.

The market sells some fantastic wines too, as well as Limoncello and Grappa, whilst the hot food counter is always busy. Arancini (a Sicilian rice ball with fillings including spinach and mozzarella in

6

4

recreated the balcony scene from Romeo and Juliet in The Carfax. This year, crowds will enjoy Two Gentleman of Horsham on Good Friday, with a Comedy Kitchen mash-up on Easter Saturday. Easter Mondayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s entertainment will include an opera-themed performance!

When: All Three Days Where: Primarily the Carfax.

Italian Scooters Bullseye Scooter Club

Italian scooters from the Bullseye Scooter Club will be riding through the Carfax before parking up along East Street.

When: Easter Monday Where: East Street

60: COMMUNITY 8

Stay Safe Driving School For young people aged 14+

The award winning driving school will be providing introduction driving sessions with qualified instructors to teenagers aged 14+ in Swan Yard. The experience encourages better driving skills amongst young people When: All three Days Where: Swan Yard

9

Supercar Heaven

Sponsored by Premier GT

7

Bandstand Music Sponsored by Carmela

Lancashire Soprano Jo Appleby has performed at the Glyndebourne Festival and the Royal Opera House Covent Garden. She was signed by Sony BMG as an original member of the opera band Amici Forever, and recently released a solo album.

When: Good Friday (Between 1-3.30pm) Where: Carfax Bandstand Franz Hepburn was a finalist on Channel 4's Operatunity competition and performed live on BBC Radio 3's In Tune in 2003.

He later toured with the English Touring Opera.

When: Easter Saturday (Between 12-3pm) Where: Carfax Bandstand

On Easter Saturday, there will be several Supercar displays in the Carfax, East Street and Market Square.

The Children’s Trust - The Piazza Italia XI charity for Saturday - will be bringing a selection of fast cars to promote its popular annual Supercar Event at Dunsfold Park, Surrey. Also on Saturday, Cridford’s Porsche, Team Pegg and Mortimer’s Prestige all bring beautiful cars to town.

McLaren will be bringing several of its road cars to Market Square on Easter Monday. Visitors on the Monday should not miss the Supercar Heaven display in the Carfax and Race Paddock at Parkside, Chart Way (outside the Horsham District Council

offices).

The race paddock is organised and sponsored by Premier GT Performance and Luxury Vehicles, a major sponsor of Piazza Italia XI. Premier GT, based in Washington, hope to bring race cars and bikes to the event. Whilst it cannot yet be confirmed, there is a strong possibility of a Bugatti Veyron

10

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coming to Horsham for the first time as a feature of the Supercar Heaven display.

Fiats, including the iconic 500, are among the other highlights of Easter Monday’s programme.

When: Easter Monday (10am-4pm) Where: Carfax/Market Square/Parkside

Sporting Bears Dream Rides

Supported by Brock Taylor

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HISTORY: 63

A Fair Old Mess

How Horsham rid itself of troublesome annual fairs

H

orsham Piazza Italia is renowned as the biggest and best free to attend Easter event in the South East.

The celebration of all things Italian will be held on Good Friday 14, Saturday 15 and Easter Monday 17 April in the town centre.

Once again, the event will see a convoy of Ferraris driven into the Carfax, with other highlights including a supercar parade, opera on the bandstand, an Italian wine tour and the Piazza in Italia food market.

Whilst the event has been a great success since the inaugural Piazza Italia in 2007, it is by no means the first time that a town fair has attracted thousands of people.

Here, Jeremy Knight, Heritage & Museum Manager of HDCâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Horsham Museum, looks back at some of the fairs that have been held and how they shaped the events we enjoy today.

Award Winning Rural Dining Pub Regular Markets Horsham was literally and metaphorically made for shopping. The creation of the open space in the town centre and the Bishopric were designed to hold markets for shopping.

Fairs would often be held as annual events and would be far larger in scale than markets. They were granted by the King, often alongside the granting of a regular market.

Lying as it does, one dayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s travel from London and one day from the coast, Horsham was ideally situated for flourishing fairs, some of which lasted eight days!

In 1450, The Archbishop of Canterbury was granted permission by the King to hold markets and fairs in Horsham. The charter granted a market on a Monday and two three-day fairs: one on

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Public Nuisance When in the 1860s, the town decided to see if it could get back the Borough status it had lost in 1836, the lawyers wrote a detailed report which in a roundabout way suggested that things needed to change. Due to local pressure, the July fair was reduced to one day, but still caused a nuisance.

Following a great debate about how tolls were collected during fairs, The Local Board asked the Home Secretary to close them down, as they did not feel such events were suitable for Victorian life.

Instead, they wanted to create a new fair and market and put in place their own management structure. It was a clever move by The Local Board and effectively destroyed the last vestige of medieval Horsham.

Dorothea Hurst, in the second edition of a book published in 1889, writes of this event: “In 1886, by a further order of the Home Secretary, this fair was abolished altogether, but a fair held on the same day has since been established by the Local Board in the market place in the Bishopric.”

Horsham was now staging three fairs a year. The April and November events were old fairs whilst the July event was a revival of an old Chartered Fair.

In 1930, Mr Apedaile wrote an account of Horsham 50 years ago, so circa 1880.

In this account, he describes Bishopric market: “The Cattle Fair was held in the Bishopric, with the cattle penned in the Bishopric and the horses in Worthing

(© All Images Horsham District Council/ Horsham Museum)

“On these days, the country people flocked into the town by hundreds and thousands.

The Carfax, from north street right down to the Town Hall, from London Road to South Street and from East Street to West Street, the whole available space was covered with all sorts of booths, shows, cheap jacks, roundabouts (chiefly worked with a winch by hand) and shooting galleries; boxing and acrobatic performances; fat women and living skeleton shows; drinking booths, pickled salmon tents, whelk and fruit stalls, all doing brisk business. The proprietors of these shows and stalls, their families and assistants, used to live in their caravans and tents in the Carfax during the fair; their crude sanitary arrangements being a source of much annoyance and sometimes bringing disease to the permanent residents there.”

An image of Horsham’s fair on the Bishopric

65

66: HISTORY

Farewell to Fairs The main July Fair was now held out of town on Jews Meadow at the end of the Bishopric.

When Buffalo Bill visited the town with his Wild West Show in 1904, it was there that he put on his show.

Although this article has focused on fairs, the town has also held many large gatherings. These

and enquiring if any steps could be taken to abate the nuisance.

The Clerk reported that nothing could be done to prevent the fair, except by negotiations with the person responsible for running the fair. That is until the Town Planning Scheme is completed, when the land could be scheduled for residential purpose only.”

(© Horsham District Council/ Horsham Museum)

Horsham Carnival in 1908

Road. Collins and Beaney were two of the foremost horse dealers in those days and doctors and squires visited from miles around.”

The success of the Bishopric market was enhanced by the arrival of St Leonard’s Fair, a cattle fair held in November, as reported in the local paper of 1894: “About 2,500 beasts were brought in, 874 being placed in the Bishopric and the remainder in Mr King’s field on Brighton Road.”

The fair was important to Horsham because of the associated income from lodgings for buyers and sellers, through to feed for the cattle, as well as the toll raised.

Interested in advertising in AAH? Email advertising@aahorsham.co.uk for an Information Pack

include the Coronation of George II, the 1814 Peace Dinner and Cricket weeks. These will be explored in a future article.

With the coming of the First World War, fairs ceased and events were held to raise funds for the war effort instead. In 1921, the April and November Fairs were re-started, although they were agricultural shows rather than pleasure fairs.

By 1929, the Council acquired half of the land of Horsham Park, whilst the cattle market in the Bishopric had moved to land next to the railway station.

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Then in 1934, a property developer came forward and proposed building a large housing estate on Jews Meadow.

The council was delighted, as it meant that the travelling circus and fair, which had poor sanitation, had nowhere to go. They hoped it would go way, but it didn’t. All the fair did was move on to adjacent land, thus lowering the tone of the area.

Council documents reveal: “A letter was read from Davis Estate Ltd complaining of the detriment of the amenities on their estate arising from fairs on adjacent land

That happened in 1936 and Horsham’s Fair was no more.

In time, the fairs evolved and a Carnival Society was formed.

The Horsham carnival was a more structured and disciplined affair, even if you did have a Battle of Flowers!

This article was written by Jeremy Knight of Horsham Museum, edited by Ben Morris.

For much more on Horsham’s History visit www.horshammuseum.org

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68: LETTERS

Write to Editor Ben Morris via email editor@aahorsham.co.uk

editor@aahorsham.co.uk

LETTERS

@AAHMagazine

To The Editor.

From The Readers.

STORRINGTON FOX EXISTS Mr N. Coleman writes via email: In response to your article (Fox Welfare Society v The Daily Mail) I would like to point out, as a Storrington resident, that there certainly was a fox causing a nuisance. I came across it in Old Mill Square, where it was sniffing a shopper’s bag near Waitrose, presumably looking for food.

Editor: I didn’t dispute the fact that there was a fox behaving unusually. My problem is that the story printed in the national

GROWTH OF FAKE NEWS L.N. Price of Horsham writes: What a wonderful and ironic Editorial in the March edition of AAH (Fox Welfare Society v The Daily Mail).

I had to read it twice before I realised it was not about the other Fox, Brexiter in chief Dr Liam Fox given The Mail’s proclivity for the Leave cause!

How fitting that you challenge The Mail and its diet of right wing propaganda and Fake News; the paper that vilified the judiciary for upholding the right of Parliament to debate Article 50 and any EU settlement and stopped the un-elected Mrs May and her cronies, now including our local MP who no longer represents at least 52% of his electorate, taking us further into the abyss.

At least those electors will have an opportunity to give their verdict on the Government in the forthcoming May County Council elections.

Who needs Alternative Facts, à la Trump and his media team, when we have The Mail, Sun and Daily Express, variously owned or

edited by or through tax minimising offshore funds or non UK citizens, pushing their agendas and seeking to usurp the sovereignty of Parliament.

Thankfully, we still just about have a free press, from AAH and WSCT locally to our national newspapers, TV, radio and online content – though social media needs to work harder or be subject to regulation of its content to ensure fair factual reporting.

As many Private Eye columns end, “Keep up the good work”.

Editor: I personally find it frustrating how many publications need to take a slant on a news story or event in order to influence an opinion. I know it’s always gone on, but I’m sure it’s getting worse.

Columnists can have opinions like I do in my Page 5 editorials but News content should deal only in facts. I do particularly take issue with The Daily Mail. It preys on that tiny bit of nastiness that lurks deep within us all and tries to feed it until it grows larger and eventually explodes!

media was much like the exagerrated stories you hear from your mate Dave’s uncle down the pub on a Friday night after a few beers.

CRICKET CLUB PHOTOGRAPH Eduardo and Denise Delgado write: We enjoy reading AAH, but living in Roffey we are not always able to pick one up.

However, we are generally able to get one we missed passed on to us by friends or family who live in the town.

Can we request clarification of the picture on Page 62 of the February edition, showing ‘Alf Shrubb racing A. Aldridge in Horsham Park.‘ We are sure this is incorrect due

to the view of St Mary’s Church. It looks more like the grounds of Horsham Cricket Club. Would you be able to confirm?

Editor: The picture does indeed show the cricket club with the Parish church in the background.

In the full image, below, you may also vaguely make out the spire of St Mark’s Church between the trees to the left of St Mary’s. As for picking up AAH, we have a stand outside Roffey Post Office on Fitzalan Road if that’s easier for you?

69 NAME MAKES PERFECT SENSE E. Slater writes via email: Your editor's note in your March issue (Letters) claimed that the Broadbridge Heath leisure centre is to be named The Bridge after the concrete footpath over the dual carriageway.

It is, in fact, named The Bridge because of its location between Tanbridge, Newbridge and Broadbridge and the commitment to building bridges with the local community. As a resident of Broadbridge Heath, I think it makes perfect sense!

Editor: Yes, The Bridge makes

sense. I just find it a bit boring.

The three bridges don’t mean a great deal to anyone and like I wrote in my February column, the council’s ‘commitment to building bridges with the community’ bit sounds like something David Brent would say.

ALL ABOUT HORSHAM MAGAZINE

LOCALLY ON TWITTER... @AAHMagazine CAMRA Equinox @CAMRAEquinox Total of just over £650 raised for @samaritans Horsham and Crawley @CAMRAEquinox last weekend. A new record. Awesome.

Station Garage Skoda @StationGarage Thrilled to present our Charity of the Year @SERV_Sussex with £4565 after fundraising throughout 2016 for their amazing cause!

The Anchor Tap @TheAnchorTap Delighted to be voted North Sussex CAMRA Pub of the Year. Very proud. Cheers!

Horsham FC @HorshamFC Thank you @HorshamDC Councillors for approving the application at Hop Oast and the @TheHolbrookClub development.

JUBILATION FOR BAKERS Ellen and the JubyLee Bakes team write: Just wanted to thank Ben and Toby at AAH for doing us proud and portraying JubyLee Bakes in such a bright and positive way!

We do hope to see you again some time in the future.

Editor: The pleasure’s all ours we got to try out all your fantastic treats! Readers - do take a minute to visit www.jubyleebakes.org.uk

WRITTEN BY LOCAL PEOPLE AAH is an independent magazine, owned and produced by Ben Morris, a life-long resident of the Horsham District.

Since the magazine was first published in May 2011, AAH has been renowned for its colourful features and superb images by Toby Phillips Photography.

We believe that our editorial content is unrivalled in the Horsham District, with innovative ideas such as our ‘My Story So Far’ and ‘News Round-Up’ features.

ADVERTISING IN AAH Each month, the magazine is delivered to 15,000 homes in Horsham, Southwater and villages including Broadbridge Heath, Mannings Heath, Ashington, Partridge Green, Copsale, Storrington and Washington.

In addition, AAH is distributed to hundreds of businesses.

Thousands more copies are picked up from our stylish spring-loaded stands as well as Sainsbury’s and Tesco.

The magazine is also published in a high resolution format online at www.aahorsham.co.uk

EIGHTH PAGE ADVERT: £55 + VAT QUARTER PAGE ADVERT: £110+ VAT HALF PAGE ADVERT: £185 + VAT FULL PAGE ADVERT: £310 + VAT DOUBLE PAGE FEATURE: £500 + VAT Every Sixth Advert Free of Charge FOR ALL ENQUIRIES CONTACT BEN OR KELLY

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70: BUSINESS

Interested in advertising in AAH? Email advertising@aahorsham.co.uk for an Information Pack

SUPER SCOOPERS When it Comes to Dirty Jobs, Trafalgar Cleans Up

I

When was the business founded?

I formed the company in 1981. I was selling oil and mechanical parts to local garages in the days when many were independent. When Karcher started exporting its pressure washers to the UK, I was among the first to sell them.

Karcher was a well-known brand on the continent, but new to people here.

Their pressure washers were so much more advanced than anything else on the market that selling them wasn’t difficult.

Where were you based?

We started out in a small unit at Daux Road Industrial Estate in Billingshurst, then moved around the corner to Gillman’s Road. As we grew, we moved premises to Park Terrace East in Horsham, before eventually moving to our a much larger unit on Foundry Lane in 1999.

Martin Bremner with a MULTIONE vehicle

n the Horsham offices of Trafalgar Cleaning Equipment Ltd you’ll find a collage of photos showing various company products down the years.

Each picture tells a story, like the young model who turned up for a photoshoot to promote a new pressure washer dressed as a punk!

Another photo catching the eye shows a motorbike with a tank and vacuum cleaner precariously bolted on the back. It may look like the idea of a crackpot inventor, yet these early concepts were to evolve into a string of successful cleaning products for Martin Bremner, Managing Director of Trafalgar Cleaning Equipment.

Today, the company’s innovative machines help clean roads, streets, parks and gardens all over Europe, whilst a successful association with Karcher ensures that Trafalgar offers the most extensive range of cleaning products in the UK. We met Martin at the company’s base on Foundry Lane Industrial Estate to find out how to deal with graffiti and chewing gum, and why we should be thankful for a bike called RALF.

71 Were you primarily selling Karcher products?

We specialised in Karcher for several years. Every time its range of products expanded, so did my customer base. They introduced a range of vacuum cleaners, steam cleaners and many other ideas. So, having initially dealt with the motor trade, our customers represented trades across the board. Naturally, this meant many other businesses started to jump on the bandwagon and sell Karcher products, but now they only deal with specialist centres, including Trafalgar. We are now the largest UK Karcher centre with a showroom and in-house workshop. We employ 30 people and nine of those are Karchertrained service engineers.

You were also developing your own ideas for trade?

Occasionally, we would be asked to design machines that weren’t available on the market. I used to customise cars and motorbikes and have always been a person with an engineering mind, so I can usually put together a bit of cleaning equipment to do any job. A lot of

the time, you're not redesigning the wheel. It’s a matter of modifying existing pieces of equipment to suit a job.

So, the two arms of the business have grown separately?

Yes, although they complement one another. We have the Karcher machines that will do most of the cleaning jobs that are required by businesses and individuals. Then we have the Trafalgar Cleaning Equipment which we’ve developed ourselves. In addition, we are a supplier of larger industrial cleaning equipment manufactured by other companies. We’re an authorised dealer for Multione’s range of front loaders and Dulevo’s road sweepers.

How did the POOVAC evolve?

We were asked by a local authority if we had a machine that could hygienically pick up dog mess, which had become a big problem. I created quite a crude design combining a vacuum cleaner and a pressure washer. The council liked the concept but wanted it on a motorbike so that people could get around easier. So, I designed

Trafalgar engineers work on a range of cleaning products

Trafalgar is an authorised supplier of Karcher products

72: BUSINESS

Read our feature on The Beer Essentials online at http://aahorsham.co.uk/content/beeressentials

RALF, which stood for Ride Along Lifting Faeces. Then I was asked to put it on a quad bike instead, which we named FIDO (Faeces Intake Disposal Operation). They were regular quad bikes with a vacuum cleaner and a pressure washer bolted on to the back. But they did the job and over time the POOVAC evolved.

exporting to the continent.

Suddenly, we were becoming a manufacturing base and we were dealing in exports. We used a Kawasaki quad vehicle and they were delighted as they were selling a lot of bikes, so they helped us expand in Europe. That was one of our most successful ventures in the early days of Trafalgar.

Presumably, other councils wanted one too?

Orders came in from across the country and eventually councils in Europe were enquiring, so we began

What other products have you developed?

Litter is a big problem, so we were asked to come up with a solution. Then chewing gum removal became a hot topic

and councils were looking at that. In terms of engineering, the chewing gum remover was relatively simple, as we built a pressurised steam cleaner on a trailer. Councils were also approaching us to help clear graffiti, which needs additional chemicals and higher pressure.

So are most of your ideas a response to a problem?

Often, we have come up with solutions in response to concerns raised by local authorities. We’ve created numerous other machines including paddock cleaners

and leaf collectors. Keep Britain Tidy have campaigns tackling certain issues, be it litter, graffiti or dog mess.

Depending on that issue, we will see an increase in popularity for any machine that can deal with it.

Do major events require your expertise?

The London Olympics certainly helped us. Every London authority was provided with money to keep its streets clean, so our equipment was in high demand. We are also an authorised supplier of the RS-Platz Max arena leveller, manufactured in Germany. We were needed very close to the start of the Games to level some of the sporting arenas used for competition.

Who comes up with the ideas for Trafalgar’s own products?

Sometimes, ideas just develop from other machines that we have and it’s a matter of altering a few things to suit the job. There are occasions when I come up with something new and our engineers have ideas too. People still

17:02 Page 1

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‘I designed RALF, which stood for ‘Ride Along Lifting Faeces’ look at me and think ‘Martin is on one again’ when it comes to new designs. I’ll cut up bits and pieces of cardboard and ask engineers if they can make it in metal! I don't have millions of pounds to invest on concepts, but fortunately the ideas often seem to work.

Presumably, some ideas are less successful?

That’s right. The POOVAC is an example of something that has taken a long time to develop.

Because of the success of the commercial product we were making, people wanted a smaller version that could be used in the garden. We’ve been developing that concept for over 10 years as, for a long time, the technology was not there. We could not find a battery to produce enough power. Now, thanks to lithium-ion

batteries, we’ve made a smaller POOVAC that’s very popular for homes as well as churches, schools and small parks.

You also created a machine for much bigger piles of poo...

As well as dog mess, we built a machine to clear horse manure. I went on Scrapheap Challenge in 2001 and we won the challenge by turning an old Transit van into a rubbish collector. The presenter, Robert Llewellyn, first suggested the idea of picking up horse manure. I didn’t know it was important, as I assumed that manure could be left in the fields.

But manure can spread disease and reduces the amount of good grazing land. So, we came up with a design that could be sold at a reasonable price on the commercial market.

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Trafalgar has a long association with Karcher

74: BUSINESS

COLUMN RSPB Pulborough Brooks Song thrush Image: Chris Gomersall/RSPB

The Delights of the Dawn Chorus

‘We are now the largest UK Karcher centre with a showroom and in-house workshop’ Where do you source your engineering parts?

A lot of major components are built overseas and are generally manufactured especially for us. We have parts made in Czech Republic, Romania and Hungary whilst the electric motors are Italian. Most parts were made by ER Edwards, a Horsham engineering firm, but they disappeared and we needed new suppliers. Whilst it was useful to have a supplier based around the corner, the price of European competitors is far less and from a business point of view it makes sense. We do have specialist parts supplied or made by local businesses including Pentagon Plastics, Rylands Engineering, whilst Kelvic Welding do a lot of the specialist welding for us. So we have several key local business relationships.

Has Brexit had an impact on your business?

As a lot of our machine parts are manufactured in Europe, particularly Italy, the prices of our imports have increased as the Pound has weakened against the Euro. However, we’re finding that we are exporting more as the prices on the continent are not that much cheaper any longer.

We’re talking to customers in places like Qatar, Dubai and Israel as prices elsewhere have risen. So, there are positives as well as negatives.

Are there still ideas waiting to be developed?

These days, it's very difficult to invent something new because there is something out there for everything. As technology advances, people come up with ideas to solve problems. There are still things we cannot do as the technology doesn't allow for it. We’re currently seeing a big switch from petrol power to lithium-ion batteries, which

are quieter and more efficient.

Just two months ago, we launched a battery-powered litter collector we designed.

Our first corporate customer came back and placed an order for 510, so there’s certainly a demand and there’s plenty of growth areas for us in the future.

WORDS: BEN MORRIS PHOTOS: TOBY PHILLIPS

Visit Trafalgar Cleaning Equipment at Unit C, Foundry Close, Horsham, call 01403 273444 or visit www.trafalgarcleaning equipment.co.uk

One of the greatest gifts the natural world gives us is the dawn chorus, a cacophony of birdsong introducing a new day. When there is little light, it is much harder for birds to forage for food, so what else can they do but practice their song?

Although it means a rather early start— the best time to catch the chorus is around an hour before sunrise—the yawns and heavy eyes will soon be forgotten when you witness this spectacle.

This time of day is ideal for birds trying to attract a mate, as the lack of background noise means their song will carry 20 times further.

The old phrase “the early bird catches the worm” does hold some truth, with the worm-loving blackbirds, robins and song thrushes starting the concert. The latter is fairly easy to pick out from the noise, offering up a string of different mimicked phrases, seemingly never able to settle on just one.

The early-to-rise are eventually joined by the smaller, insectivorous species including the wren, finches, and those tricky warblers, otherwise known as “little brown jobs!”

Singing is tough work and our male birds use up a lot of energy to give their very best performance. The females will choose the bird with the most impressive song as this suggests they will be the best at raising chicks and holding territory. As the sun begins to rise, the birdsong will dwindle as new priorities take over—hungry tummies must now be filled (the birds’ and ours!)

Emily Summers RSPB Pulborough