AAH December 2017

DECEMBER 2017

5 December 2017 Ben Morris Words & Design Toby Phillips Photography

DECEMBE

R 2017

Thanks

Jeremy Knight/Horsham Museum for pictures and text for our forgotten artists feature (p49) Altered Wings for additional images of tattoos (p32) Esme at U3A for all the helpful information (p63) Flitecrew cheerleaders for letting us disrupt class so we could have a go! (left)

Problems posed by a broken down lorry...

Can’t cyclists just pollute like normal people?

I had the usual problem of picking a topic for this column.

I could have opted for a lengthy rant about how Michael McIntyre’s Big Show could be the fourth most popular show on iPlayer whilst The Detectorists is down in 28th.

What’s happened to this country?

But I have to appreciate that lots of people find prank texting with Danny Dyer absolutely hilarious.

Then there was the media’s constant reference to the John Lewis Christmas advert as being “eagerly awaited.”

By whom, exactly?

Was anyone really on tenterhooks to discover in which flaky, whimsically abstract manner the department store would choose to promote itself over the festive season?

I personally hoped that John Lewis might surprise everyone by ditching its traditionally twee storyline to instead follow the example of low-budget supermarkets by having a series of bargains flash up on screen over a Euro-pop beat. Instead, they had a cuddly monster called Moz and heaven knows I’m miserable now.

However, John Lewis has been spared by the actions of a cyclist.

Actions that were by no means wrong, certainly not in a legal

sense and probably not in a moral sense either, but did get me thinking.

I’ll establish the scene. I was making my way towards Cowfold on the A281 Henfield Road, having put November’s AAH in the stand outside Hutching’s in Partridge Green.

As I passed the Hare and Hounds pub, I joined a queue of traffic.

Fifteen minutes later, I was stuck in the same spot. I wasn’t angry, as I was only filling up the stands so there was no urgency. I hope AAH is enjoyed, but I understand that the world would rotate perfectly well without it.

I wound down my window and asked a passer-by what was happening. A lorry had broken down right on the roundabout at rush hour, which is a bottleneck for traffic at the best of times.

Seconds later, a cyclist came past me and headed to the front of the queue. Fair enough. Then the queue started moving.

As I passed through the village, I saw one police officer doing a sterling job in keeping cars moving quickly, to try to clear what were obviously ridiculously long queues in every direction.

I was lucky, as there was clearly an awful lot more traffic coming from the Horsham end. That became evident as I drove towards Lower Beeding at very low speed, as I was third in a queue behind the

lone cyclist.

He might have thought he was pedalling at pace, but in vehicular terms, he wasn’t. And with long queues in the other direction, there was no room to overtake him safely.

And the queue went on and on, even beyond the pub at Crabtree.

So, despite the urgency to clear traffic, we all weaved our way along the road at speeds of between 12 - 20mph.

The cyclist passed several lay-bys along the route, notably near the Woldringfold estate, but passed up every opportunity to pull over and allow us all to pass him safely.

And I wondered at what point the cyclist would have pulled over?

Would the cyclist have continued pedalling all the way to Horsham if the queue in the southbound lane had reached that far? Would he have cycled to the ends of the Earth?

I admit, at the time, I did ask if the cyclist’s need to proceed was so great that he couldn’t sacrifice two minutes to allow the many cars and commercial vehicles to pass and continue more speedily.

But then, I’m not taking a cyclist’s perspective.

Perhaps the cyclist takes the view, quite rightly, that if more people followed his example, we wouldn’t have such travel disruption in the first place. He’s therefore more

than entitled to proceed at his own pace.

The cyclist may also feel that he owes the world of automobiles no favours. No doubt he’s been pinned to the edge of a kerb or forced to ride over drain covers by countless vehicles passing too close for comfort and he simply isn’t in the mood for bending over backwards in return!

Why should he, when drivers can’t even be bothered to respect the cycle zones around Horsham town centre?

Perhaps it’s a safety thing. Cycling can be dangerous - as highlighted in a story on Page 14 of this very edition. So, perhaps he was just focusing on riding safely in dark, damp conditions.

Or perhaps – as was the case when I hired a VW Camper Van from Plum’s Campers a few summers ago – the cyclist has simply learnt to ignore whatever queues might be forming behind him and just enjoy the ride.

Either way, there is perhaps a lesson here for us all to be a little more respectful of other road users, be they motorists, horse riders, pedestrians or cyclists.

Or maybe I’m only saying that as I still feel guilty about cutting up the cyclist and sending him into those stinging nettles…

Ben

6

To Contact the Editor please email Ben: editor@aahorsham.co.uk

CONTENTS DECEMBER 2017

10

News Round-Up WeFiFo secures John Lewis funding and winners of Set4Success revealed

25

Food & Drink

We sample street food delights including Jah Jyot and Vegelution

32

Business Altered Wings in Horsham is among a new breed of stylish tattoo studios

40

Special Feature Performing arts is at the heart of education at QEII Silver Jubilee School

49 Art

Jeremy Knight of Horsham

Museum focuses on our great forgotten artists

55

Sport Flitecrew cheerleading club has been hugely popular in Horsham

62

Letters The Editor’s views on bin collections triggers contrasting responses

63

Group Discussion

We meet groups formed within Horsham University of the Third Age group

COVER STORY: DECEMBER 2017 Our December cover features art technician Faye Hudspith with a pupil at Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee School, Horsham.

We had enjoyed a tour of the school in the morning but a few classes were on outdoor excursions, so we returned after a quick lunch at New House Farm!

Toby took several photos of pupils painting pink stars to be used as props in a Rock Challenge event. Faye, the art technician,

was helping them in the spacious surroundings of the art room.

We could have used several images from QEII on the cover, including the shot of another pupil colouring in a picture of the Bayeux Tapestry.

Another cover option depicts Aaron Wickham, owner of Altered Wings. His tattoo studio is the subject of our Business feature, starting on Page 32.

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 ADVERTISING: KELLY MORRIS advertising@aahorsham.co.uk 01403 878026 / 01903 892899 PHOTOGRAPHY: TOBY PHILLIPS www.tobyphillipsphotography.co.uk info@tobyphillipsphotography.co.uk 07968 795625 WEBSITE: www.aahorsham.co.uk We publish AAH online every month. You can read archive editions too.

ADVERTISING Eighth Page Advert: £55 + VAT Quarter Page Advert: £110 + VAT Half Page Advert: £185 + VAT Full Page Advert: £310 + VAT Every Sixth Advert is Free For details or an AAH information book email advertising@aahorsham.co.uk or call 01403 878026 ARCHIVE EDITIONS/PHOTO SALES Past editions can be purchased for a cost of £3.

Contact the Editor.

Images can be purchased, either as digital downloads or prints. Contact Toby for details.

DOOR TO DOOR DISTRIBUTION Horsham: Max Paterson, Jacquie Paterson, Dominic Goddard, John Gatehouse, Kathryn Bland, Lewis Spiller, Richard Judd, Pat Gibbs, The Cocoracchio family, Tom Hayler, George Voisey, Gemma Voisey, Connor Heald, Paula Hunter, Katie Drysdale, George Williams, Edward

Hitchings, Amy Dallas, Joe Tait Southwater: Connor Brown, Jack Taylor Villages: Samuel Dauncey (Mannings Heath) Adam Browse (Warnham) Tommy Charlwood (Ashington), Ben Morris (Stands), Mike Hoare (Nuthurst), Connor Wykes (Partridge Green), Oak Tree Farm Care (Maplehurst & Copsale); The Palmer family & Amy Butler (BBH); James Hobbs (Thakeham), Callum Matthews (Storrington) PICK UP POINTS 4,000 more copies are available at businesses, clubs, organisations, and community centres across the district.

Our stands can be found at...

Horsham: Sakakini (Carfax), Artisan Patisserie (Market Square), Pavilions in the Park, Horsham Museum, Horsham Rail Station, Roffey Post Office, Crates (Carfax) New House Farm, Swan Walk, The Capitol Village Stands: CoCo’s (Southwater); Billingshurst Leisure Centre, Jengers Bakery in Billingshurst; Coco’s (Billingshurst) Barns Green Village Store and Sumners Ponds, Hutching’s Butchers in Partridge Green, Broadbridge Heath Leisure Centre, Bluecoat Sports (Christ’s Hospital).

NOTES: A new AAH stand has been placed outside Henry Adams estate agents in the Carfax.

LEAFLETS We can deliver leaflets with copies of AAH, but only to areas where we provide a door-to-door service. Please email editor@aahorsham.co.uk for prices and distribution details.

SOCIAL MEDIA We closed the Facebook page as Ben finds it boring. You can still follow Ben and Toby on Twitter @AAHMagazine and @tobyphillips1

Bespoke Architectural Design Design & Build Through to Interiors We provide a flexible service, so you can simply use us for the whole project, or call us for the jobs you can’t do.

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10: News

Ashington Toy Fair will be held in the community centre on 10 December

Michael Hanson of Hearth Pizzeria at a WeFiFo event in June 2017 (AAH/T.Phillips)

NEWS ROUND-UP

Horsham Chamber Choir will provide a concert at Stooks Café at Newbridge Nurseries, Broadbridge Heath on Saturday 16 December, from 8pm. The concert consists of carols for the audience to join in with, whilst others will be performed by the choir. The evening will be interspersed with seasonal readings.

Mulled wine and mince pies will be served during the interval.

Tickets £15 from horsham-chamberchoir.org.uk

WeFiFo has received substantial joint financial backing from the John Lewis Partnership and L Marks. The Slinfold-based business, which promotes social eating and communal dining to the UK and beyond, secured the investment after participating in JLAB, a retail accelerator programme.

As part of the programme, WeFiFo spent 12 weeks working alongside partners in Waitrose and John Lewis, offering supper clubs and other dining experiences in select stores.

Lights & Bushels, Horsham’s awardwinning inventive theatre company, will be recreating the Victorian festive tradition of reading ghost stories around the fire this December. Strange Disturbances, a celebration of the Victorian Christmas ghost story, will take place at Artisan Patisserie and Tea Rooms in Horsham’s Market Square on 14, 15, 20 and 21 December at 8pm. Tickets £10 from the venue or lightsandbushels.jimdo.com

WeFiFo, short for We Find Food, was founded in 2016 by Seni Glaister.

The business, extensively featured in AAH July 2017, provides a platform for home cooks, supper club hosts and professional chefs to create personalised events. Seni said: “We believe passionately in our mission to bring people together with food and to combat social isolation through eating together - a partnership with JLP will bring new audiences, talents and influence to bear.” wefifo.com

Chesworth Farm, a popular 90-acre area of farmland close to Horsham town centre, is the subject of a new management plan by Horsham District Council.

Described as Horsham’s secret paradise, the area is popular with walkers and can be explored as part of the Riverside Walk.

The council’s document will include decisions on how the farmland will be developed and

Conductor Jenny Hansell (AAH/T. Phillips)

managed over the next seven years. The site is well looked after by the Friends of Chesworth Farm, with members helping to preserve and increase participation of the site. Horsham District Council did hold a consultation on these plans.

Unfortunately, details only recently appeared on the council’s website and the consultation closed on 27 November friendsofchesworthfarm.com

Round-Up: 11

Christmas Trees on Sale Now

Award winners at South Lodge (Courtesy of Andrea Sarlo Photography)

Young sports men and women from across the district were honoured at the Set4Success Awards at South Lodge Hotel.

Recipients were Amber Ranson, Amelia Wright, Matt Boyes and Freya Fulcher (swimming), Alexandra Baker, Josh Tavolieri and Josh Lea-Clayton (basketball), Kristina Pavlou (judo), Matthew O’Dwyer, Harry Baker, Cleo Tomlinson, Lillie Franks and Seb Wallace (athletics), Caitlin Macgregor (trampolining), Katie Bedwin (endurance horse riding), Issy Hayes (biathlon), Cecily Turner (water polo) and Izzy Hilliard (gymnastics). The Neilcott Trophy, donated by Neilcott Construction, was presented by Invictus Games gold medallist Mike Goody and Commonwealth bronze medallist discus thrower Jade Lally. Issy Hayes won the inaugural award

after winning the 1500m County title and becoming Great Britain U13’s biathlon champion. Runners up were gymnast Izzy Hilliard and footballer Bronwen Thomas.

Great British Wheelchair Rugby player and Rio 2016 paralympian Jim Roberts gave a presentation describing the obstacles he has had to overcome in his career.

The ceremony also recognised the contribution John Price has made to Horsham sport. John is the current president of Stoolball England and was also president of Horsham Rugby Club.

Set4Success was handed a cheque of £1,000 by North West Sussex Seagulls, the Brighton & Hove Albion supporters club.

The closing date for applications to the next Set4Success awards is Sunday 12 November. set4sussex.org

Award-Winning Farm Shop New House Farm Shop and Tea Room is located in a beautifully renovated 16th Century barn, hidden in a quiet spot on the edge of Horsham. People come from all over to enjoy our cafe and locally sourced produce.

Strawberry Fields Tea Room Our tea room was voted Best Tea Room in the Sussex Life Food and Drinks Awards 2014.You can enjoy cakes and sandwiches, paninis and Ploughman’s Also, don’t miss our Full English Breakfast (Served until 12pm).

Fantastic Christmas Gift Range Our locally sourced produce include fresh fruit and veg, freshly baked bread, fresh meat from local farms, beers by local brewers, wines from the Bolney Estate, Sussex cheeses, greetings cards and great Christmas gifts!

The success of the Barns Green Half Marathon and 10km events combined with the generosity of runners has meant that £18,000 has been raised for St Catherine’s Hospice, the event’s official charity. Entries are already open for next year’s races, to be held on Sunday 30 September 2018. barnsgreen-half.org.uk

St Catherine’s Hospice Tree of Light services will be held in Horsham and Billingshurst on Sundays 3 and 10 December. The tree of light offers bereaved family and friends an opportunity to honour someone special by dedicating a star in their memory.

The services will include carols and readings. stch.org.uk/treeoflight

We are taking Turkey, Meat, Vegetables and Cheers orders for Christmas now...

www.newhousefarmshop.co.uk 01293 851890 New House Farm, Old Crawley Road, Horsham, RH12 4RU Open 7 Days a Week: 10am - 5pm CLOSED 24 DECEMBER - 2 JANUARY

12: News

To submit News & Events for consideration please email Ben at editor@aahorsham.co.uk

NEWS ROUND-UP

Image courtesy of Toby Phillips Photography

Chapeau Brewing Company is the latest to launch in Horsham. Chapeau, a cycling term meaning ‘hats off to you’, comes from co-owners Katharine and Michael’s love of cycling.

Having lived in the French Alps, they became avid fans of Le Tour de France.

This inspired their brewery name and the titles of their core beers; Hard Yards

(Best Bitter 4.6%), Summit (Pale Ale 4%), Slip Stream (Session Bitter 3.5%) and Open Road (Milk Stout 4.4%).

Having home-brewed as a hobby for many years, the couple now make Chapeau available from their brewery tap room on Redkiln industrial estate.

Bottles and draft beer can also be bought from chapeaubrewing.com Never Forget - An Evening of Music and Dance is a family-friendly event featuring a showcase of local talent held at The Holbrook Club on 17 March 2018. Proceeds go to Cancer Research UK in memory of Julie Jenkins (left) of Horsham, who died of cancer aged 43.

Last year’s inaugural Never Forget event, named in honour of Julie’s favourite song, was a sell-out and organiser Cath Mattison hopes to make it an annual fundraiser. Cath will be amongst the performers, singing with The Millar Sisters, whilst Stephen Foster and The Glambusters are also set to appear. Tickets £12 (£8 children) are on sale from 1 January at wegottickets.com/NeverForget2018

The Locrian Ensemble present Carols by Candlelight at The Capitol, Horsham, on Monday 18 December, at 7.30pm. In lavish period costume and with a candlelit setting, these charismatic performers perform carols and string medleys of familiar festive tunes. They are joined by the evergreen Jill Washington, West End star soprano of Phantom of the Opera. Jill sings tunes from Handel’s Messiah to White Christmas. Tickets £20.50 from (01403) 750220 or visit thecapitolhorsham.com

Kidenza CIC, which performs classical concerts for kids, will be at Christ’s Hospital on 16 December. They will perform A Musical Feast with a Wolf and a Beast, which includes the world premiere of a musical adaptation of Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf, now written in rhyme by author Ann Bryant. Accompanied by imagery to provide a 3D experience, the performances (2pm and 4pm) will also feature songs from Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. Tickets £15 (children £12) from kidenza.co.uk

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NEWS ROUND-UP

14: News

The grand finalists of the Sussex Food & Drink Awards 2018 have been revealed following a lengthy judging process and 15,000 public votes.

Finalists from the Horsham district include Bookham Harrison Farms, Just Brownies and The Raw Chocolate Company (Food Producer of the year), Wobblegate (Drink Producer), The Sussex Produce Company (Food Shop), Garlic Wood Butchery and New Street Butchers & Deli (Butcher), Steyning Farmers Market (Farmers Market), The Artisan Bakehouse (Eating Experience), Greyhound Brewery (Newcomer) and Garlic Wood Farm, Pig and Jacket and Jah Jyot (Street Food). The grand final will be held at the Amex Stadium on 7 February 2018, hosted by Sally Gunnell OBE and BBC’s Danny Pike. sussexfoodawards.biz/awards-banquet/

To purchase images in AAH please email info@tobyphillipsphotography.co.uk

Chris Sole from Horsham has been reunited with the Kent, Surrey & Sussex Air Ambulance doctor and paramedic who helped to save his life.

During the visit, Chris presented a donation of £2,500 – the cost of one mission.

In 2011, Chris was cycling home after visiting friends when he was involved in a collision with a car. He suffered multiple life-threatening injuries and was given emergency treatment by Doctor Magnus Nelson and critical care paramedic David Wright. They put Chris into an induced coma and he was then taken to St George’s Hospital, London for specialist treatment.

Chris has since made a good recovery and is now a volunteer for the charity. kssairambulance.org.uk

AN EVENING WITH

MICHAEL PORTILLO

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Horsham writer Benedict Beecher has published his first novel, Return to Herland. In the novel, the central character becomes convinced that Herland, featured in a 1915 novel by American author and women’s social rights campaigner Charlotte Gilman, may actually have existed. It was described as a place without war, crime, corruption, pollution and men.

Return To Herland intertwines the character’s attempt to prove that Herland existed with Charlotte’s own real life struggles to convince her early 20th century American audience that heaven was in grasping distance if only men and women were considered as economic equals and the dogma of male-dominated religion could be put aside. The paperback is available on Amazon.

Round-Up: 15

TOOVEY’S

FORTHCOMING SPECIALIST AUCTIONS 2018 Paper Collectables

Horsham Natural History Society meets in the Methodist Hall, London Road, Horsham, every Monday at 7.30pm during the winter months. During meetings, members or guest speakers present a talk with a nature theme. On 11 December, environmental consultant John Feltwell talks about rainforests, having visited South America a dozen times. January’s speakers include bird expert David Campbell and Josie Allen, who will share her interest in butterflies. hnhs.org.uk

(Stamps, Postcards, Cigarette Cards, Autographs, Photographs, Ephemera) Tuesday 23rd January Tuesday 17th April Tuesday 10th July Tuesday 30th October

Prints & Maps

Wednesday 21st February Wednesday 16th May Wednesday 3rd October

$QWLTXLWLHV 1DWXUDO +LVWRU\ & Tribal Art Wednesday 21st February Wednesday 13th June Wednesday 3rd October

Fine Art

Wednesday 21st March Wednesday 13th June Wednesday 5th September Wednesday 28th November

Collectors’ Toys

Arts & Crafts )XUQLWXUH :RUNV RI $UW 6WXGLR 3RWWHU\ WK &HQWXU\ 'HVLJQ

Wednesday 24th January Wednesday 18th April Wednesday 11th July Tuesday 20th March Tuesday 12th June Tuesday 27th November

Coins & Banknotes

Silver & Plate

The are several new volunteering opportunities available across the district. Pulborough and District Community Care Association needs a Wednesday club volunteer to help with activities at its social club for older people, for example short mat bowls, games, bingo and the occasional outing - all accompanied by tea and cake. The association also needs a telephonist to work from home to take appointments for its community transport service.

Carers Support West Sussex needs support group co-facilitators to provide a confidential space for carers to meet, offload and gain information. They also need telephone support volunteers and young adult carer engagement volunteers. hamsva.org.uk/opportunities

Tuesday 20th February Tuesday 15th May Tuesday 2nd October

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Wednesday 24th January Wednesday 21st March Wednesday 16th May Wednesday 11th July Wednesday 5th September Wednesday 31st October

Andrew Robson, England’s top-ranked Bridge expert, provided a master class at Tanbridge House School on 26 October as part of Horsham Bridge Club’s 70th anniversary celebrations. Robson, columnist for The Times and seven times winner of the Gold Cup, shared his knowledge with members of the club, based in East Street. Visitors and new members are welcome. horshambridge.co.uk

$QWLTXDULDQ Collectors’ Books

Wednesday 24th January Wednesday 21st February Wednesday 21st March Wednesday 18th April Wednesday 16th May Wednesday 13th June

Watches, Clocks, Cameras 6FLHQWL¿F ,QVWUXPHQWV Thursday 25th January Thursday 22nd March Thursday 17th May Thursday 12th July Thursday 6th September Thursday 1st November

British & Continental Ceramics & Glass Thursday 25th January Thursday 22nd February Thursday 22nd March Thursday 19th April Thursday 17th May Thursday 14th June

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Friday 26th January Friday 20th April Friday 13th July Friday 5th October

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Friday 23rd March Friday 7th September

Weapons, Militaria & Medals Wednesday 18th April Wednesday 8th August Wednesday 28th November

Jewellery

Wednesday 24th January Wednesday 21st February Wednesday 21st March Wednesday 18th April Wednesday 16th May Wednesday 13th June

$VLDQ ,VODPLF Ceramics & Works of Art Thursday 22nd February Thursday 19th April Thursday 14th June Thursday 9th August Thursday 4th October Thursday 29th November

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Friday 26th January Friday 23rd February Friday 23rd March Friday 20th April Friday 18th May Friday 15th June

&ROOHFWRUV¶ ,WHPV :RUNV of Art & Light Fittings Friday 26th January Friday 23rd February Friday 23rd March Friday 20th April Friday 18th May Friday 15th June

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Friday 26th January Friday 23rd February Friday 23rd March Friday 20th April Friday 18th May Friday 15th June

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Round-Up: 17

Sweeney Entertainments presents Women in Rock, the UK’s only live show dedicated to the world’s greatest female rock legends, at The Capitol, Horsham, on Friday 26 January. Three of the most powerful female singers on the live music scene, together with an awesome touring band, perform classic songs by artists including Alicia Keys, Rihanna, Stevie Nicks, Joan Jet, Heart, Cher, Kiki Dee, Janice Joplin, Pink and Patti Smith.

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

Chanctonbury Chorus is joining with choirs at Hurstpierpoint College to perform Brahms’ German Requiem in the school Chapel on Sunday 10 December, at 7.30pm. Soloists will be Lesley Jane Rogers (soprano) and James Cleverton (baritone) and the Requiem will be conducted by Siobhan Denning. In addition, Neil Matthews will conduct the College Chamber Choir in Vaughan Williams’ Toward the Unknown Region and under his baton the professional orchestra perform the Organ Concerto

by Poulenc, with Kate Bray as the soloist.

Tickets cost £12. chanctonburychorus.org

The Sandgate Singers, a small choral group founded in Storrington, will perform two Christmas concerts. The singers are at Our Lady of England Catholic Church in Storrington on Friday 8 December and at St Peter and St Paul Parish Church, Ashington, on Saturday 9 December. Both concerts start at 7.30pm.

Tickets £12 from The Card Shop in Storrington or (01903) 741984. sandgatesingers.com

A new exhibition at Horsham Museum & Art Gallery features award-winning photographs by the Royal Photographic Society Documentary Group. Images range from snaps taken at the colourful Sonepur festival to the closure of a strip pub in London and the death of a calf on a rural farm.

The exhibition, entitled Capturing the Moment, opens on Saturday 2 December and runs until Friday 26 January 2018. horshammuseum.org

Above: Annie Chown’s stunning photos of fishermen in Hastings (courtesy of Horsham Museum & Art Gallery)

NEWS ROUND-UP

18: News

To submit News & Events for consideration, email Ben at editor@aahorsham.co.uk

Callum Barney, featured in September’s AAH, enjoyed great success at the WDFPF World Powerlifting Championships in Boston. Weighing in at 73.2kg, Callum competed in the 75kg category at the championships, which are open only to drug-free powerlifters. Callum was consistent in all three disciplines, lifting 210kg in the squat, benching 147.5kg and managing 262.5kg in the deadlift to land him the best lifter title. He also set a new British record total of 620kg.

Horsham was also well represented at Sussex Strongest, a competition hosted by Inner Strength for men and women in Hastings on 14 October. In the men’s section, Paul Talbot pipped Brett Miles to first place. In the novice category, for those entering their first strongman competition, Horsham competitors Adam Halsey, Jordan Miles, Richard Owen and Lewis Fisher all fared well, with Adam - formerly a professional rugby player - finishing as runner-up.

Horsham District Council has been debating a new Town Centre Vision Statement, which sets out a 10- 15-year vision for the town centre. It was developed after consultation with organisations including Horsham Society, Horsham Unlimited, Horsham Blueprint and the Horsham District Cycling Forum.

There was also a public exhibition which attracted over 1100 visitors and 164 individual written responses to the survey.

The Vision Statement, which has been criticised by some local organisations and groups, includes improvements to Blackhorse Way and to the public realm in the Bishopric, a refurbished Queen Street entrance to the town and improved Wi-Fi hotspots, lighting, planting and pedestrian walkways.

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Round-Up: 19 St Mary’s CE Primary School in Washington celebrated 150 years of village history with a Victorian Day on 29 September. Staff, governors, local residents, parents, former head teachers, representatives of Horsham Museum and local history consultants all came together to mark the occasion. Pupils and staff dressed in Victorian outfits and experienced strict Victorian lessons, whilst local author Kevin Newman, who has written The Story of St Mary’s Primary School, hosted a historical workshop.

Each family at the school were given a copy of his unique book, which details the last 150 years of Washington. It is available from the school for £7.50 with all profits going to the PTA.

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Saxon Weald Housing Association has built new affordable homes at Alley Groves, Cowfold, with financial support from Horsham District Council. The rented homes include four one-bedroom flats, nine two-bedroom houses and seven three-bedroom houses. David Standfast, chief executive of Saxon Weald, said: “We’ve seen a lot of changes, with the amount of grant available from the government for building affordable homes declining.

While it’s becoming more challenging, we are determined to find ways to continue, because the need for affordable places to live is more acute than ever.”

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Horsham District Council will be making changes to household waste bin collections from 5 February. Recycling will be collected one week and household waste collected the same day the following week. The garden waste collection service continues for those subscribed to the service. horsham.gov.uk/bins/recycling

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20: News

We have an Events listings page at www.aahorsham.co.uk

Image courtesy of Toby Phillips Photography/Christ’s Hospital

Enjoy an Evening with Michael Portillo at The Capitol, Horsham, on Sunday 21 January, at 7.30pm. Since leaving the House of Commons a decade ago, Michael has endeared himself to many with his obvious respect for solid workmanship and creative energy, as found in our great Victorian railways, and the daily toil of the working man. Tickets £18.50 from (01403) 750220 or www.thecapitolhorsham.com

A new public sculpture in the Christchurch Greyfriars Church Garden commemorates Christ’s Hospital School’s 350 year presence in the City of London, from 15521902. The sculpture was unveiled on 6 November by Alderman Sir Alan Yarrow (former Lord Mayor and member of the School’s governing Council).

Sculptor Andrew Brown of Sussex Studios,

Billingshurst created the piece, which was cast in bronze at The Bronze Age Foundry.

The back of the sculpture features a verse written about Christ’s Hospital by Samuel Taylor Coleridge, who was a pupil from 1781 to 1791, whilst a plaque refers to three key dates in Christ’s Hospital’s history, including the School’s move to Horsham. christs-hospital.org.uk

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Conductor, composer and writer Kenneth Alwyn has released Is Anyone Watching? It is the final volume of his memoir, A Baton in the Ballet and Other Places, and covers his experiences since leaving the Royal Opera House. This includes Kenneth’s time as musical director in West End productions including Half a Sixpence, Charlie Girl and Camelot, as well as his work with the late, great Dudley Moore. To order a copy, email filobooksuk@hotmail.com or visit kennethalwyn.co.uk

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

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

“After this treatment the relief was dramatic. All the terrible shooting pains down the leg and in the groin were gone.”

I had been in terrible leg pain both down the hamstring and also in the groin and the front thigh for 8 months and was simply going nowhere.

Working with my GP I was given strong medication like naproxen and tramadol but nothing was able to shift it.

Going through the NHS system I was eventually able to get an MRI scan which confirmed I had a prolapsed disc which was the cause of the awful nerve pain.

However to find a solution was not easy. I was dead against an operation as I was told that the risks were high and if it went wrong I could end up in a wheelchair. I was just not prepared to take that chance.

I work as support worker in a care home and one day a colleague came in and told me how she had visited Keith Atkinson at his clinic and had achieved amazing results for her sciatic pain. We sat down together over our tea break and she told me about it in more detail and I explored it further on the clinic website. I was struck by the fact that some leading hospitals were doing the treatment and it was safe and non-invasive.

I felt I had nothing to lose so booked an appointment with Keith.

He explained the treatment and the nerve systems that were giving me the pain. I was amazed through all the treatments I had that no-one had mentioned these nerves before.

I liked his calm manner and honest approach. He didn’t promise the world but gave me confidence that at last we might be on the right track.

After the first treatment it felt a lot better but the pain returned and I needed a follow up appointment after about 4 days.

After this treatment the relief was dramatic. All the terrible shooting pains down the leg and in the groin were gone. I still had some back pain but in follow up sessions these all disappeared as well. I look back at that time when I was in so much pain and still don’t understand how I managed to keep going at work. Now I’m completely pain free and don’t take any medications and am thoroughly enjoying life again. I can’t recommend Keith’s clinic highly enough for anyone with this sort of nerve pain.

Gina Maidment Upper Beeding, West Sussex (August 2017) Gina’s prolapse disc is certainly the likely cause of the pain down the sciatic nerve as well as her pain in the groin which would be due to the entrapment of the femoral and lateral cutaneous nerves.

All these nerves feed into the spine from L3 to L5 and were the likely cause of the debilitating pain. Using external neuromodulation I sent pulsing current onto all 3 nerve pathways and that resulted in reduced nerve inflammation. In addition Gina followed a small set of exercises to widen the nerve channel in the spine and to strengthen her core. After just a few treatments the pain was eliminated completely.

Keith Atkinson (September 2017)

Gina Maidment gardening in Upper Beeding

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Suggested Applications for Lower body • Sciatica lower back and leg pain • Femoral back and leg pain • Knee pain • Achilles tendonitis • Osteoarthritis and other joint pain • Ankle and feet pain including gout • Plantar fasciitis • Sporting injuries • Post operative pain • Phantom and Stump pain (For amputees) • Complex Regional Pain Syndrome • Other nerve related pain

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Food & Drink: 25

STREETS REVOLUTION ON THE

High quality food served at market value in Carfax Every Thursday, Food Rocks brings a host of great street food vendors into Horsham’s town centre. AAH spoke to just a few to highlight the market’s diversity and the superb dishes available...

Award Winning Rural Dining Pub

JAH JYOT Three years ago, Ranie Sirah decided on a career change, having been inspired by the words of his son, who was just ten-years-old at the time.

Understanding the need to do something that gave him job satisfaction and made him feel happy, the obvious option for Ranie was to pursue his life-long love of cooking.

Working in partnership with his friend Paul Jacobs, Ranie established a Punjabi food stall on a budget of just £500, initially setting up a small gazebo with two burners in the Piries Place market.

The Southwater-based business

was named after Ranie’s children, Jack, Alana and Hollie. Their initials were combined with Jyot, giving it a Hindi translation of ‘God’s Light.’

As well as inspiring his father to start the business, Jack designed the logo, featuring a turban and lights. But the food was itself was inspired by Ranie’s own childhood.

Ranie said: “When I was only young, my mum was very poorly, but she taught me how to cook so that I could feed my family when she passed away.

“My love of cooking stems from those memories and most of the dishes at Jah Jyot are based on my mum’s recipes.

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26: Food & Drink

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Ranie Sirah, Karma Eliades and Paul Jacobs at Jah Jyot

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came to England after my family were made refugees in 1972, when I was only six months old. It was a time when Asian minorities were being expelled by Adi Amin.

“My father was born in the Punjab region of India and also loved to cook, but it was my mother - who came from a Sikh family - that truly loved to feed people.

“So, we cook dishes that would typically be enjoyed by Sikh and Punjabi families at home. These are not dishes you will find in most curry houses.

“In Horsham, we are lucky in that we do have some good Indian restaurants.

However, most of them still create dishes to suit the British palate at a time when people want original and authentic food. That is why restaurants like The Chilli Pickle in Brighton are doing so well.

“If I took my father into a typical Indian restaurant, he would look down the menu and wonder what all the dishes actually mean! I believe that one of the main reasons why we've been shortlisted for so many awards is because we recreate genuine, traditional Indian food.”

In its first year, Jah Jyot was a grand finalist in the Sussex Food and Drink Awards. The following year, the team scooped two awards, including one for best street food, and progressed to the national finals held in Manchester.

Jah Jyot are again one of the three finalists in the street food category and have also become the first ever street food vendor to be short-listed in the Best Newcomer category at the British Asian Curry Awards.

Ranie and Paul visit the Carfax on Thursdays and Saturdays, offering at least two meat-based curries as well as a vegetarian or vegan option. Firm favourites include masala dosa, a gluten-free rice flour pancake with rich masala sauce and chicken tikka pieces drizzled with herbs and spices.

Street Food: 27

Jah Jyot has a five-star healthy food rating

“Most curry houses still create dishes to suit the British palate at a time when people increasingly want original and authentic food.”

The masala fish is made with a white South Asian fish with strong Punjabi spices, whilst Mata’s chicken, cooked in fenugreek leaves and yoghurt, is named after Ranie’s mum, as it was a dish he was only allowed if he and his siblings were good at school!

The keema baba pays homage to a recipe of Ranie’s father and is based on slow-cooked minced lamb.

Ranie said: “All the dishes are cooked fresh on market day. I have a fantastic team, including Paul who is a great chef and a fun person to work with. We arrive early to begin preparation and our attention to detail has earned us a five-star food hygiene rating.

“This is testament to the high-quality of the ingredients too, with meat sourced directly from the award-winning Hutching’s butchers in Partridge Green or occasionally Garlic Wood Farm butcher’s in Steyning. Our vegetables are bought from Jeremy’s of Henfield.

“Horsham has been the perfect place for us to grow as a business and we’ve come to know many of our regulars as friends.

“That’s why we have ambitions to expand. We hope that in the not-toodistant future, we will open the first outdoor Indian restaurant in the south of the country, right here in Horsham.” facebook.com/JAHJYOTSussex/

Beautiful dishes make Jah Jyot one of the leading street food vendors in the south

28: Food & Drink THE PIG AND JACKET The Pig and Jacket had its first trading day at the Horsham Christmas market three years ago and has since become a leading street food vendor.

Cheryl and Sue enjoy a rare moment of peace on the market

Run by Cheryl Swinburn, sister Sue West and Richard Groves, The Pig and Jacket specialises in burgers made with free-range pork and grass-fed beef direct from a family farm in Laughton, East Sussex.

Cheryl said: “The farm produces the most amazing pork, so we decided to take it on to the streets as the only other place it can be bought is the farm shop. “Initially, we sold jacket potatoes too, hence the business name, but the demand was for sausages and burgers. “People often associate grassfed meat with high cost, so our aim has always been to make it affordable for families.�

The signature burger is the Dirty Hog, which is served with bacon jam and pulled pork. Like all Pig and Jacket’s burgers, it is served in a fresh roll, sourced from a specialist bakery in Newhaven.

Also on the menu is slow roasted pulled pork, buffalo chicken wings and the Dirty Elvis. The burger is inspired by The King’s favourite combination, with banana jam and peanut butter sauce! It was created for the Americarna event in Horsham and proved such a success that it now regularly re-appears.

As well as being on the market on Thursdays and Saturdays, The Pig and Jacket has a flourishing events-based business.

They have also been recognised at the Sussex Food and Drink Awards, having already been placed in the top three street vendors on two occasions. pigandjacket.co.uk

‘The Dirty Elvis burger is inspired by The King’s favourite combination, with banana jam and peanut butter sauce!’

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Street Food: 29

CHEESY FINGERS You’re unlikely to meet anyone who knows more about cheese than Ben Rosling.

that is what a great cheese can do. It makes me go weak at the knees just thinking about it!”

Whilst he only established Cheesy Fingers a little over a year ago, he has vast experience of all things derived from the coagulation of milk!

Ben worked for Sainsbury's for 18 years, where he was responsible for the quality control of many food and drink products. Every Monday, he’d spend hours testing a huge array of cheeses from around the world.

His knowledge is so vast, that for the past four years Ben has been a expert judge at the World Cheese Awards, nibbling his way through 65 short-listed offerings at the 2017 competition.

“I love cheese and want to impart some of that love on to others,” said Ben. “We’re fortunate as we have right on our doorstep some superb cheese makers, including High Weald Dairy near Haywards Heath (which makes Brighton Blue), Bookham Harrison Farms in Rudgwick (which makes Sussex Charmer) and Golden Cross in East Sussex.

“As a nation, we make more cheese varieties than France and they’re increasingly interesting in terms of texture and flavour. This year’s Supreme Cheese Award went to Cornish Kern from the Lynher Dairies Cheese Company.

It blew all of the judges away and

Ben is keen to promote exciting cheese to his customers, so has created a cheeseboard on his stall, which is at the Carfax on Thursdays and Saturdays. It includes the Mini Baronet from The Old Cheese Room and Old Winchester from Lyburn Farmhouse.

However, Cheesy Fingers is primarily popular for its fantastic gourmet cheese toasties. Ben has created combinations including The Great Brit and The French Connection. Each toastie has a blend of three cheeses to create a taste vastly different to regular cheese on toast.

Ben said: “My Great Brit includes Sussex Charmer, red Leicester and Lincolnshire Poacher, so packs real flavour. I am selective about the bread too, which I source from Coburn & Baker in Hove. It’s a blend of rye and white flour with burnt sugar crystals to give it a crunchy texture.”

As well as being on the market, Ben hopes to take his business to cultural events and weddings, having recently made a fourtiered wedding cake with layers of Brighton Blue, Somerset brie, Miss Muffet and an ash goats’ cheese pyramid on top! facebook.com/CheesyFingersUK/

“As a nation, we make more cheese varieties than France and they’re increasingly interesting in terms of texture and flavour.”

30: Food & Drink

20 - 22018 200 2002 20 201

THE GOOD BEER GUIDE VEGELUTION ‘People are pleased to see more adventurous vegan cooking.’

Mother and daughter team Louise and Imogen Baber launched Vegelution having grown frustrated by the lack of options at local restaurants.

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For those who fancy more than turkey this year, our Christmas menu includes locally-sourced dishes from a homemade venison terrine to a herb crusted cod fillet or Sussex cheeses.

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They sell vegan and vegetarian dishes from a vintage Citroen van and have been on the market since August.

Louise said: “There is no other vegetarian café, restaurant or street food vendor in Horsham, so we saw an opportunity to cater to a growing market.

“I am vegetarian and Imogen is vegan. We’re both tired of seeing the same options in restaurants. It’s always stuffed peppers, mushroom risotto or goats’ cheese tart.

“Sometimes, there is only one option and chefs are uninventive when you ask for something else. Recently, we were served Portobello mushrooms with plain spinach on top! Generally speaking, standards of cooking have come on leaps and bounds, but that’s not reflected on vegetarian menus.”

For breakfast, Vegelution serves baked bean bowls which includes

mushroom, avocado and facon (fake bacon - made of thin strips of parsnip cooked with a smoky marinade sauce.)

The main menu includes an American Sloppy Joe sandwich, a stuffing and red cabbage Christmas wrap and a Korean tofu burger with fresh kimchi and home-made bulgogi sauce.

They also serve daily specials, currently macaroni cheese without the cheese!

Imogen said: “People have said that they’re pleased to see more adventurous vegan cooking in the town. Some even visit us for advice. They may have a family member who is vegan and they don't know what to serve them, so we’re often busy dishing out tips rather than food!”

As well as visiting the market twice a week, Vegelution hopes to branch out to other events, having recently attended the bonfire and fireworks night at Horsham Rugby Club.

However, they are limited by their vehicle, which is yet to exceed 43mph! vegelution.co.uk

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32: Business

Read more of our features on the Business section at www.aahorsham.co.uk

Jem Caswell, Aaron Wickham and Dan Courtney-Smith at Altered Wings

AN ALTERED IMAGE

Altered Wings help redefine perceptions of tattoos There have been significant advances in the quality of tattoo work in recent years, driven by a popularity surge that owes much to high-profile personalities.

As body art becomes prevalent and acceptable in society, more

tattoo studios are opening with a more contemporary outlook.

Here, Aaron Wickham, owner of Altered Wings, a newly-established studio in Horsham that has quickly established a reputation for detailed portrait work, offers his insight into the industry.

We owe an awful lot to David Beckham.

I have been a tattoo artist for fourteen years.

David Beckham helped make tattoos more acceptable and popular amongst a new generation. He also pushed forward a better quality of black and grey artwork. Perceptions have changed too and most people understand that there is a lot of skill behind the work, thanks to TV shows like Tattoo Fixers. I certainly attract less peculiar looks than I used to as tattoos are no longer viewed as being intimidating. People want to talk to me about my tattoos all the time. People don’t always share your opinion and some don’t like it at all, but I hope that they can all at least appreciate tattoos as an art form.

I started as an apprentice at Intrusion in Three Bridges and moved to Horsham to work with Jed, a good friend of mine, when he established Skins & Needles on West Street. After spending four years there and establishing a client base, I felt it was time to find my own space. My logo incorporates a tattoo machine blended into wings. I didn't necessarily want to name the business after my name, so I chose Altered Wings, which shares my initials. I found the perfect location for a studio, tucked away in Sanford House on Medwin Walk. It’s just off the Carfax, yet offers seclusion. Also, as we work to appointments only, it’s less intrusive for clients.

Altered Wings: 33

Jem Caswell prepares a design on a laptop so that clients have a good understanding of how a tattoo will look.

“A tattoo artist’s first design is on themselves, usually on the right thigh.

It’s something of a rite of passage!”

We don’t have the seedy ‘pick-and-stamp’ studios anymore.

Tattoos are seen more as an expression of art nowadays and I wanted my studio to be stylish to reflect that. We’ve rejected the stereotypical look of a tattoo studio and created something more spacious, much like a modern hair salon with contemporary style.

Our chairs are specifically made for tattoo art with adjustable arms and headrests. If the client is in the perfect position, it's much more comfortable to work on them as the work can take a long time. Tattoos, particularly detailed work, takes a lot longer than many people realise. Tattoo Fixers hasn’t done us any favours in that respect, as the show gives the impression that Sketch completes his portraits in a few minutes!”

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Tattoo Artists have a rite of passage.

In most cases, an artist’s first design is on themselves. It’s something of a rite of passage. The right thigh is a nice piece of skin that is easy to access and helps give you an idea of your technique. If you are heavy-handed, you are going to know because you can feel it!

At Altered Wings, all three of us have a tattoo on our thigh that we drew ourselves. Jem was my apprentice when I worked at Skins & Needles and has since joined me here. She has been building up her own client base and now she’s an established artist, I have the time to take on a new apprentice, Dan Courtney-Smith.

The industry has come on leaps and bounds.

Within the last 10 years, the quality of the inks, needles and the imagery that you can put on to skin has improved dramatically. Almost anything is possible.

We have a display of old ink machines in the studio which look like antiques. Yet they are all machines I have used in my time as a tattooist.

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Jem Caswell “I drew portraits of children and pets for a while and it was only through knowing Aaron that I took an interest in becoming a tattooist. It is not easy to transfer drawing skill to tattoo art, although the experience certainly helps. A portrait can take 20 hours of meticulous work and a tattoo requires the same level of patience. If anything, it requires more, as you can rub out your mistakes when you’re working with a pencil!”

“Whilst the equipment has improved, there is still pain involved in tattoos.

Much depends on the design and where the tattoo is, as places like the feet and between the shoulder blades are more sensitive. Shading can be relatively soft, but a tattoo with solid black line work and lots of colour is usually more painful.”

“I have tattooed bottoms! Somebody wanted a fox tail coming out from between their cheeks and I’ve also drawn a deer skull on a butt cheek! In terms of the work I’m most proud of, it’s usually my most recent tattoo as I feel I’m improving all the time. My last large tattoo featured two wolves, with one howling and the other snarling.

There is a lot of texture with the fur, which adds depth. Soon, the client is hoping to add to it with silhouettes and perhaps an owl and the moon at some point!”

Altered Wings: 35

Dale Jannels Director, AToM Ltd TEL: 01403 272625

www.atomltd.co.uk It was perhaps inevitable, but we have now seen the Bank Base rate rise for the first time in ten years. It now stands at 0.5%.

For those with mortgages on a tracker rate, the lenders will probably pass on the full 0.25% increase, with effect from the following month. So, it makes sense to expect a rate increase letter and a higher payment in December.

Combining two of the classic icons of the tattoo industry! (Image: Altered Wings)

Examples of ‘cover-up’ tattoos created by Aaron (Images: Altered Wings)

Now, the equipment is like using a marker pen. They do not have the loud, intimidating buzzing noise of the old kits.

People are also more selective about tattoos. When I was young, people would choose a design from the wall and wait to have it done. Now, the majority come inwith an idea and use Pinterest for ideas. They show us designs that they like and we can use them as a reference. Often, we combine ideas from several different photos. Very few pick something ‘off-the-shelf’. They give it proper consideration as tattoos are part of your character.

“There are fashion fads in the tattoo industry” Certain types of art are always going to be popular. There’s still a demand for Japanese inspired designs, such as koi or dragons. Roses are popular as they can work as a gap-filler or as a stand-alone piece. People still love skulls and wolves too.

Other fads will come and go.

When I first started out at

“I've tattooed images of Bob Marley, Marilyn Monroe and even Bill Murray, but never an Audrey Hepburn.”

Intrusion, everybody wanted tribal bands and there was a lot of numeric or symbol designs too.

Now, the demand is for more detailed tattoos with shading.

People are more inventive, so birth dates are represented with things like pocket watches rather than a simple date.

We also have many requests for cover-ups. This work used to result in us adding something very dark, typically tribal art. Now, there is much more scope, because the colours of the ink are so much stronger than they used to be.

For those on fixed rates, nothing will change until your product fixed rate period ends. Then it will be down to what’s available at the time. Unless, of course, you are on quite a high fixed rate, in which case sometimes it’s worth looking to see if it’s beneficial to pay any redemption penalties which may apply and then fix onto a lower rate, that might be available now. Whatever you choose to do, ensure that you take professional advice.

For those still on the lenders Standard Variable Rate – WHY?! The lenders SVR tends to be more expensive than other products available and you should act now as you are probably paying too much as it is!

Some lenders SVRs are circa 5%! Lenders will alter their SVRs when they choose.

“I think 2018 will be busier with more lenders fighting for your custom.”

The increase of 0.25% will probably take an extra £21 out of your pocket each month, per £100,000 on your mortgage (£252 per year). If you have a £300,000 mortgage, then it could cost an extra £756 per year. This is important as the recent rate rise could signal the possible end of cheaper rates…

As I write, some lenders have already increased their rates marginally, but there are still some amazing products available and I suspect these will be around for some time yet as lenders appear to be desperate for business. Many products also include free legal costs and free valuations on re-mortgages, so minimal costs to change lender. But do remember, although possibly not for some while yet, these products can be withdrawn at any time. So, if you’re thinking of changing or reviewing your mortgage, now might be the right time to get the paperwork out!

Finally, I appreciate you taking the time to read my columns this year, it's been an interesting twelve months. I think 2018 will be busier with more lenders fighting for your custom and this can only be a good thing! Wishing you and your families a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Peaceful New Year!

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36: Business

Celebrities have increased popularity of detailed tattoos (Image: Altered Wings)

“We do have some strange requests.”

I would love to do an Audrey Hepburn.”

You’re more likely to have silly tattoos with a walk-in business, which we don’t have. I recall people looking through windows to gee-up a mate!

Someone once asked for a tattoo of Bart Simpson pulling a ‘mooney.’ He was in his mid-40s, so we're not talking about a teenager making a foolish decision!

I will tell people if I think their idea is a bad one. Most respectable tattooists will not work on a neck unless the client is already quite heavily tattooed. I have seen people who have just turned 18 asking for tribal art up one side of their neck. Often, they don't have a job and I tell them that it will hinder their chances of finding one. Nine times out of 10, they decide it’s not a good idea.

When I started out, I wanted to do an Elvis. I've done a few now as well as Bob Marley and Marilyn Monroe, but never an Audrey Hepburn. I have tattooed a Bill Murray portrait before. The same client has a tattoo of Adam West as Batman, which is great!

Tattooing is something you get better at with experience, but it helps to have a flair for art. You can learn to develop techniques, but if you have a natural flair you’re going to go much further, as there are always freehand elements to the work. That requires an artistic eye.

INTERVIEWS: BEN MORRIS PICTURES: TOBY PHILLIPS/ ALTERED WINGS

For more information about Altered Wings and further examples of its tattoo work, call (01403) 258345 or visit the Facebook page at facebook.com/pg/AlteredWings/ Aaron still regularly tattoos floral patterns and wolves (Images: Altered Wings)

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School fees planning Funding school fees is one of the biggest financial commitments a family can make. As a result, it can be a source of considerable concern for some parents.

P

roviding a good education can be one of the most valuable gifts parents or grandparents can give to children.

Parents therefore continue to recognise the value that independent education can offer – but it isn’t getting any cheaper.

Latest figures from the Independent Schools Council (ISC) show that the average fee at an ISC school was £5,568 per term. (Source: ISC Census 2015). Providing a good education can be one of the most valuable gifts parents or grandparents can give to children. While the financial implications can be daunting, the key to affording school fees is to plan as early as you can. Saving soon after a child is born gives ten years to build a fund for when they go to secondary school.

Generally, parents looking to fund school fees fall into three categories – those who want to invest a lump sum, those who would like to spread the cost of fees, or parents wanting to set up a regular savings scheme to provide funds to cover future fees.

There are several schemes available to help make school fees more affordable, and an experienced wealth manager can draw up a bespoke investment plan that can be both taxefficient and flexible. For example, you could

consider using your annual tax-free ISA allowance. By investing the maximum amount permitted in an ISA and selecting funds run by full-time professional investment managers, a tidy sum could be accumulated in the space of ten years.

For grandparents, trust* planning can be a useful tool if they wish to make provision for school fees and achieve Inheritance Tax (IHT) benefits at the same time. If they make regular payments from their income without reducing their lifestyle, then these gifts are not counted as part of their estate for IHT purposes. Another option is to give a lump sum for their grandchildren’s education and provided they survive for a further seven years, the gift is free of IHT. Grandparents might also want to consider other solutions, such as life assurance, to help increase the funds created for grandchildren.

This can be very useful when there is more than one child you wish to provide for.

With interest rates still at an all-time low, and the country only slowly coming out of recession, it is important to make your investments work for you as hard as possible.

Matthew Wykes is based locally and is inviting All About Horsham readers to discuss their school fees planning concerns and opportunities in a noobligation school fees review.

Call 01403 710422 for more information or your complimentary guide to wealth management. view is always the best approach to investing.

Today, it is more important than ever to be fully aware of all the solutions available so that you can make an informed choice for your personal wealth management.

The value of an investment with St. James’s Place will be directly linked to the performance of the funds selected and the value may fall as well as rise.

You may get back less than the amount invested.

An investment in equities does not provide the security of capital associated with a deposit account with a bank or building society.

The levels and bases of taxation and reliefs from taxation can change at any time and are generally dependent on individual circumstances.

Trusts are not regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

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The history of financial markets has shown consistently that a measured, long-term

MATTHEW WYKES Associate Partner Tel: 01403 710422 Mob: 07974 062561 Email: matthew.wykes@sjpp.co.uk Web: www.matthewwykes.co.uk

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.

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40: Special Feature Friends Billy and Sophie love drama, cooking and photography

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Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee School uses performing arts to enhance pupils’ education For a while, it didn’t appear that we would take much away from our visit to Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee School in Horsham.

Our intention was to present a comprehensive feature on this incredible school, which caters for pupils with severe or profound learning difficulties. However, our tour initially revealed a string of empty classrooms!

We do find one class, in which pupils were busy colouring in a picture of the Bayeux Tapestry. After speaking to several children, we heard

differing opinions on whether King Harold II was killed by an arrow to the eye...

After more vacated rooms, we finally stumbled upon a second class. Senior pupils with cameras in hand were developing their picturetaking skills with assistance from photographer Stephen Candy.

Among the group, we find friends Billy, 19, and Sophie, 17. We recognise Sophie immediately having first met her whilst featuring The Springboard Project on Hurst Road, Horsham.

We sit down for a chat and it’s

quickly apparent that they both love drama. In a recent production, the school presented a unique take on a Shakespeare play which involved Billy wearing a kilt.

Another skill both have developed at QEII is their cooking abilities. Billy said: “We do a lot of cooking, especially in the Sixth Form.

Some people help with the shopping, others do food preparation and some cook.

Sophie does a very good paella and I'm good at making meatballs.

“I will be leaving next July and I will miss the school a lot.

QEII School: 41 “We always receive a standing ovation because the audience can see how much joy our young people are getting out of it.”

Focus on Creativity As lunch time approaches, groups start to re-appear after their morning activities and we’re able to gain a greater understanding of the school’s ethos. It doesn’t take long for us to discover that performing

TION

It’s fun and the teachers are nice and help everyone. But I will come back and say ‘hello’ whenever I can!”

As it transpires, the activities that Billy and Sophie most enjoy offer a hint as to why so many classrooms are vacant.

QEII is not like most schools. Here, education is focused on personal development and independence, much of which involves outside excursions.

Along the corridors are numerous collages of photos from outdoor activities and trips. These include adventure weeks in the New Forest and trips to a specialist activity centre through The Calvert Trust, where young people can experience climbing, canoeing and sailing. Sixth Formers have enjoyed a self-catering trip to Center Parcs, whilst even the primary school pupils are encouraged to attend an overnight trip to help them become accustomed to being away from home.

arts is at the heart of most things. Sue Jay, Head of Creative Arts, was even presented with a Gold Plato at the 2017 Pearson Teaching Awards in recognition of her commitment.

The school’s passion for performing arts was kick-started in 2007, when it participated in the national Rock Challenge.

A Concert of Carols & Readings Saturday 16 December, 8pm Stooks Café newbridge Nurseries Horsham RH12 3LN Mulled wine and mince pies will be served in the interval.

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QEII was the first special school to enter and its performance was so well received that pupils were subsequently asked to appear at other venues, including Stoke Mandeville Hospital.

QEII is also involved in the Shakespeare School Foundation Festival, where unique takes on

42: Special Feature

Pupils painting stars to be used as props in the Rock Challenge

The Bard’s classics led to pupils being invited to tread the boards of a West End stage.

Claude Hopkins helps Sue Jay to produce various shows and has seen first-hand the benefit that drama and music offers: “We are always preparing for a show of some variety, be it a Christmas play, carol service or a rock event.

We have a Shakespeare production coming up and as soon as that is over we’ll be rehearsing for Rock Challenge at

The Hawth.

“We present a different Shakespeare play every year and this year it’s The Merry Wives of Windsor. Our opening number is a Spice Girls song, so we always find a fun way to present a play.

Mainstream schools take part too and are very good, but are usually traditional with their interpretation.

We know that Shakespeare can be difficult to understand, so we make it as fun as possible, whilst staying loyal to the main plot.

Rosie Huggett teaching music at QEII Silver Jubilee School

“We always receive a standing ovation because the audience can see how much joy our young people are getting out of it.

“They’re very professional too, as Sue sets high standards. Our actors know not to wave to their family in the crowd until the show’s over and they all respond to that. This focus helps increase their confidence and self-esteem.”

The theme of QEII’s Rock Challenge production will be

mental health. Actresses Carrie Fisher and Deborah Reynolds, who both passed away this year, were advocates of mental health care and in tribute to them, the school will be incorporating music from Star Wars into the show.

Claude added: “The encouragement young people receive here is incredible. Sue, along with many other teachers, instill so much confidence in them. She knows what they are capable of and helps them realise

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QEII School: 43

Above: Head teacher Lesley Dyer has been at QEII Silver Jubilee School for 24 years

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve not seen an increase in our budget for some time, whilst costs have risen enormously.â&#x20AC;? their potential through acting, dancing, singing and interacting in ways they might never have done before. The pupils come alive on stage and thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s why QEII has achieved special status for its performing arts.â&#x20AC;?

Fight for Funding The Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee School was opened by the Queen in 1978, hence its name.

Prior to that, there was a similar school called Forest Hospital School, located in Roffey.

Whilst the hospital school was open throughout the year, QEII operates in regular term time.

It provides for young people with severe and profound or complex learning needs that cannot be catered for in mainstream education. Pupils can suffer from autism or epilepsy, whilst others may have a physical disability with more severe learning difficulties.

This year, QEII will accommodate 100 pupils for the first time in its history. Yet whilst facilities have been improved and expanded since The Queen cut the ribbon, much more needs to be done to

cater for growing demand.

Head teacher Lesley Dyer, who has been at the school for 24 years, said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;When I first arrived, we had just 37 pupils. Now, with the opening of two new classes this year, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll surpass 100 pupils as there is a huge need in the community. When you take into consideration the additional housing being built around Horsham, there are concerns of a shortfall, as weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re already oversubscribed. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We hope that part of the school can be reconfigured, as joining fragmented sections together would provide more space for classrooms, improve access and hopefully allow us to position a therapy room in the heart of the school. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Sixth Form college opened a year ago and we would ideally like the rest of the school to match this facility, but of course that requires funding. The amount of money we receive depends on the number of pupils, with some extra support to cover additional costs involved in caring for those with more severe or profound needs. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Funding is a major issue for all schools and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no different here. If we were a new school, we would

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44: Special Feature have a modern IT suite built with new computers. But because we’re established, it’s not so easy!

“As with mainstream schools, we’ve not seen an increase in our budget for some time, whilst costs have risen enormously. Providing the education that we do on the budget we have is only possible because of the fantastic team of teachers, support staff and parents we have at QEII. “This work is reflected in out recent Outstanding rating from Ofsted.”

Success Stories The Profound and Multiple Leaning Difficulties class (PMLD)

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Class sizes tend to be a maximum of 10 children, with a teacher accompanied by at least two special support assistants and often more.

For those in Firs, the Profound and Multiple Leaning Difficulties (PMLD) class, sessions operate on a one-toone ratio and staff rotate roles to avoid a pupil becoming overly reliant on one adult.

Sensory sessions last for half an hour and there is often a theme, hence the abundance of brightly-coloured wigs in the photos!

Here, young people with conditions such as Rett syndrome and cerebral palsy find the soothing sounds and bright colours of sensory activities to have a calming influence.

The school is also developing ways to improve communication skills, most notably by utilising an eye gaze device which recognises eye movement to communicate choices.

Such equipment is making a huge difference and pupils are developing their understanding of how it operates.

Lesley said: “Outside of the PMLD class, we teach the Key Stages of the National Curriculum with a focus on functional literacy and numeracy.

Some pupils may take vocational courses with examinations before they leave. So, we cover the whole spectrum, although it’s all based on personal development and promoting independence.

“We do believe in early intervention, so try to bring in a wider range of pupils at the age of two, in the hope that we can work with them and hopefully prepare them for placements in mainstream schools.”

Whilst traditionally pupils have found it difficult to take the next step after leaving QEII –one of the reasons why a Sixth Form was created – there have been many success stories.

They include JubyLee Bakes, a company formed by pupils and parents of QEII and previously

QEII School: 45 “Our pupils were even ‘dabbing’ with the children at Holbrook.” featured in AAH. Others have left to join specialist performing arts colleges such as The Orpheus Centre Trust in Godstone or the disabled youth theatre group, Freewheelers. Some continue their education at college or work at places like The Butterfly Project in Horsham.

Mutual Benefits Whilst there may be a fight for more funding for better facilities behind the scenes, the school caters brilliantly for its pupils.

One of the more unusual features is a hydrotherapy pool, built as part of the original school in 1978 and modified over the years.

Swimming in the small but warm pool can be deeply relaxing, particularly since fundraising by the Wooden Spoon charity organisation led to the addition

of a multi-sensory environment.

Those with a flair for drama benefit from a modern theatre facility, whilst there’s plenty of opportunities for those who love music and art.

After a healthy lunch, we found Key Stage Two pupils painting pink stars to be used as props for the forthcoming Rock Challenge, under the guidance of art technician Faye Hudspith. It’s another opportunity for pupils to express themselves creatively.

On the walls are huge canvas pictures made with the help of Rachel Galston, an acclaimed artist who visited QEII for a threeday workshop.

Rachel aided pupils in the gifted and talented programme as they painted Paralympic themed pictures, before she took them to the Tate Gallery in London.

On the musical side, the school has strengthened its links with

Above: The hydrotherapy pool and (below) pupils enjoy a photography lesson

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46: Special Feature

Forest School by joining forces with the choir at the all-boys’ school around the corner.

Music co-ordinator Rosie Huggett said: “We are very keen to work with other schools on music projects. It benefits our young people to work with children from mainstream schools and it's also an important experience for children who are not used to interacting with people from a

special school.

“I took a class to Holbrook Primary School to see their summer show and during play time, I struggled to identify where my children were, because they were mingling with everyone!

They were even ‘dabbing’ with the Holbrook pupils, which was wonderful. Such visits can really help them develop social skills.

“As well as singing with choirs

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from other schools, I've been trying to teach some children to read music.

“I find that some pupils with autism respond well to the logic of reading music. It’s important for us to identify these skills and develop them when possible, as happens with our performing arts team.

“That is one of the things that stands QEII School apart.”

WORDS: BEN MORRIS PICTURES: TOBY PHILLIPS

For more information about the school you can visit the website at http://www.queenelizabeth2. w-sussex.sch.uk

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LETTERS Are we going to lose the Bishopric waterfall next?

editor@aahorsham.co.uk @AAHMagazine

Stop Criticising the Council Nicholas Cook writes: Once again, AAH can’t resist the opportunity to criticise Horsham District Council. If only they followed the Editor’s advise on every local issue!

Has he considered the idea that maybe it’s not all about money and the council is making a genuine attempt to force us to recycle more?

As for new facilities, has it escaped your attention that the council is investing millions of pounds in a brand new leisure centre to serve new estates?

Editor: I’d be a great councillor, as I do think my ideas are always the best. Firstly, if the council cared so much for recycling,

Swan Walk in the good ol’ days, when waterfalls had water in them

Steve Swain writes via email: First of all, congratulations for producing such an excellent magazine every month. I especially enjoy your editorials.

Your November editorial was what prompted me to get in touch as I agree with everything you said 100%. I moved to Horsham from London in 1987 with my wife, two boys and two dogs because we had fallen in love with Horsham.

It was a unique place so unlike most other towns in the UK. Regrettably, I feel our town is now slipping into mediocrity.

We lost the green/gold street furniture which made West Street look so up-market. We have subsequently lost the water for the swans, the "Marmite" Shelley Fountain and now the waterfall in Bishopric, by The Olive Tree, is on the endangered list!

I have been communicating with HDC to get the waterfall working again (I think it packed up in the early summer).

Councillor Jonathan Chowen and his pals tell me they are trying to find "affordable pumps". Saints preserve us where has all the money has gone. I blame the inner sanctum of HDC. In one of my many emails about the waterfall, I cited the small

towns across Spain, most of which have fine (and working) water features. Yet for some inexplicably reason, the great and good of HDC can't keep one working!

The latest wheeze from HDC is the fortnightly refuse collection, which is a bad idea. What on Earth do we pay council tax for?

It certainly is not for the police as the police station has been closed for ages and a policeman friend of mine tells me Horsham is covered from Worthing!

I feel passionate about our town and really want it to be returned to its former glory but I can't see that happening with the current council in charge and I know once something becomes run down it never returns.

Editor: I’m particularly grateful for you raising the issue about police officers. Several officers have spoken to me off the record about their concerns, as they cover an increasingly wide area. But of course, it’s difficult for them to speak out publicly. I hope we - or the County Times for that matter can find a way of highlighting this with clarity in a future edition.

As for HDC, I think we should just accept that the only good ideas for Horsham are ones that certain councillors think of themselves!

they’d pick up our blue bins weekly from now on. HDC also wouldn’t have reduced the opening hours of the recycling depot at Hop Oast. As for the leisure centre, it’s not new, it’s a replacement. Many of the old centre’s finest assets, such as the indoor athletics track, will not be replaced. There will also be no place for HAODS. Ironically, HDC’s Year of Culture money would easily cover the cost of funding a new site for them.

Beat Merchants Nickie Richardson writes: I recently read your interview with Vic and Geoff from The Beat Merchants, which brought back fond memories of seeing them at The Mexican Hat in Worthing many years ago.

I used to get on the stage with them and sing!

I was a follower, but they were great, so friendly and such nice guys. I was sad to hear that Gavin has passed away as he was a lovely man.

As a group, they were brilliant and very popular in Horsham. still have their record, So Fine!

Editor: Vic and Geoff didn’t have any trouble remembering some of the stars they met on the pop scene. I got the feeling they don’t need much invitation to talk about The Beat Merchants!

What a Scene!

Adrian Allmey writes: This photo was taken on Sunday 5 November as my wife and I were cycling on the Downs Link approaching Copsale from West Grinstead.

Editor: It’s beautiful along the Downs Link. I tend to start at West Grinstead and head south, as I love the section near Bramber.

Art: 49

BRUSHED FROM MEMORY

The brilliant but forgotten artists from Horsham’s History

A beautiful painting by Henry Charles Fox (All pictures courtesy of Horsham Museum/HDC)

A painting by Walter Dendy Sadler (After)

A striking watercolour by Claude Muncaster

Today, the Horsham district has a flourishing and dynamic art scene that has been well represented in AAH.

Steyning. Her self-portrait featured on the poster promoting Queer British Art 18611967 at Tate Britain earlier this year.

Another artist who appeared in that Tate exhibition was Keith Vaughan, a former pupil at Christ’s Hospital.

However, rather than focus on artists not represented in the Museum’s collection, here we celebrate some of those that are, including brother sister William and Helen Coleman, and the influential Walter Dendy Sadler.

Their work is displayed at various times and as part of temporary exhibitions, but if you do have an interest, please contact the museum to arrange a viewing.

This art scene is part of a continuous story, spanning centuries, although many fine artists have been largely forgotten with the passage of time.

A great deal of the most important historical art didn’t hang on a wall, but was instead part of the fabric of church buildings. For example, one of the finest examples of medieval art in the country can be found at the beautiful St Botolph’s Church in Hardham, Pulborough.

However, our focus here is on the forgotten artists of the district. Over the years, Horsham Museum and Art Gallery has been steadily building up representative examples of their work.

One remarkable artist, whose work the museum doesn’t hold, is that of Hannah Gluckstein, known as Gluck, who lived in

The following account of Horsham artists was compiled

by Jeremy Knight of Horsham Museum & Art Gallery.

For a full list of the museum’s art and photographic exhibitions, visit horshammuseum.org

Another rural scene by Henry Charles Fox

A tranquil image painted by William Stephen Coleman

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50: Art William Stephen Coleman Born in 1829, William Stephen was one of 12 children. He looked set to become a surgeon like his father, but he never practiced after training.

Instead, he became interested in natural history and published several successful books, which he also illustrated.

In 1869, he began to experiment with decorating pottery and two years later Minton’s asked him to run their art pottery studio.

His sister Helen Cordelia Coleman, born in 1847, become an acclaimed flower painter.

Announcing her death, The Times of 12 March 1884 described her as “one of the most exquisite artists of our time.” The newspaper had first sung her praises, along with The Spectator, in 1865, when she was compared to William Henry Hunt, who himself named her as his only successor.

Helen was encouraged to pursue art by her brother, although she would step out of his shadow,

earning praise for her originality, something he would be criticised as lacking.

From 1871 - 73, along with older sister and fellow artist Rebecca, Helen worked for William at Minton's in South Kensington.

She later married amateur artist and postmaster Thomas William Angell, continuing to paint detailed watercolours of birds and flora.

In 1879, Helen was appointed flower painter to Queen Victoria.

Her work now changed direction, with scenes of tropical birds and hot house flowers enabling her to widen her palette with more rich and diverse colours.

The minute detail of the earlier paintings was replaced with more loose and free flowing brush work.

Contemporaries commented on her “force and largeness not often noticeable in a lady's work.”

Helen Angell died of cancer at her home in Kensington and remains a forgotten Horsham painter, like her brother.

A painting by William Stephen Coleman (All Pictures: Horsham Museum/HDC)

Edwin Harris

Edwin was born in 1891 in Littlehampton, the youngest of four children.

By the age of 19, he was already established as an artist and after serving in the Royal Sussex Regiment during the First World War, he exhibited at London Galleries Agnew & Sons, Cobling & Sons and at the London Salon. His work was also included, by invitation, in the annual exhibition of the Royal Institute of Painters in Watercolours. Harris also loved cricket, playing first class matches for Sussex from 1922 - 1924. In 1939, he married Mary Edwards and they lived in Washington from 1946-1954.

Helen Cordelia Coleman painted detailed botanicals...

...as well as collectable pictures of birds

Forgotten Artists: 51

Claude Muncaster Claude was born on 4 July 1903 at West Chiltington and became an artist with an international reputation.

Born Grahame Hall, the son of the artist Oliver Hall RA, he changed his name in 1922 to avoid confusion or comparison.

Claude had no formal training, learning to paint by copying landscapes and taking advice from his father. However, aged only 21, he was exhibiting at the Royal Academy.

He undertook painting tours and sea voyages, writing and illustrating various books. During World War Two, he served in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, advising on camouflage for shipping. His work is held in numerous national and international collections, as well as being popular with members of the Royal Family.

Until recently, the museum held very few examples of his work. However, a descendent of the artist recently sold some of his sketches, watercolours and oils at Tooveyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s and the museum acquired several of his early Sussex paintings.

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52: Art

Read our artist features on the AAH website at www.aahorsham.co.uk

ALL ABOUT HORSHAM MAGAZINE

Henry Charles Fox 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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Henry Charles Fox was born in London in 1855, the eldest of three children.

He was a prolific artist, best known for his watercolour landscapes, and by the age of 26 had established himself as an artist in London.

When he married his wife Mary, they moved to Kingston-uponThames, where they had three children. Mary died and eventually Henry married for a second time and moved to Arundel.

Despite being best known for his watercolour paintings, Henry also painted in oils and created a series of large etchings. He specialised in painting rural scenes depicting farm animals and country people

going about their daily business.

His peaceful, tranquil scenes capture the beauty of country life in Victorian rural England and his paintings are still highly collectable today.

In 1880, Fox had his first painting accepted at the Royal Academy and exhibited another 20 works there until 1913. In 1889, he was elected a full member of the Royal Society of British Artists (RBA) exhibiting a total of 113 paintings.

By the early 1900s, Fox was exhibiting at many provincial and city galleries, including the Royal Scottish Academy and the Royal Society of British Artists.

He died in Horsham in 1929.

Walter Dendy Sadler Though born in Dorking, he is viewed as a local artist as his family came to Dorking from Horsham, to where he returned for his education before going to art school.

According to an article published in the Art Journal of 1895, he would draw and paint in various school books.

After two years in London, he moved to Dusseldorf to continue his training. His prints and paintings became incredibly popular as they contained contemporary

commentary on everyday life hidden behind a veneer of historic setting, be it medieval monks to Regency dandy.

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Sport: 55

Reaching New Heights

Flitecrew Cheerleading Squad Aim for National Glory

We have a Cheerleading team in Horsham?

We do indeed. It’s been a hugely successful offshoot of a trampoline club. Flitecrew was founded by Laurel Kennedy, who worked in cabin crew for BA for 34 years until she left last year, hence the name. Flitecrew trampoline club meets at the K2 leisure centre in Crawley and competes at an international level.

Why start a cheerleading team?

There were several reasons.

Laurel’s daughters, Jess and Jordan Kennedy, were born in America so have known about cheerleading for a long time. All three have taught gymnastics and

Meet the Flitecrew cheerleaders, based in Broadbridge Heath. From humble beginnings, the club has become hugely popular and is already making its mark in national competitions.

coupled with their trampolining experience (Jordan is a two-time national champion) forming a cheerleading squad made sense.

All they needed to drive the idea forward was a supermarket.

That needs some explaining…

Flitecrew members started collecting Active Kids vouchers from Sainsbury’s but Laurel wasn’t sure what to exchange them for.

Jordan recalls: “We decided to buy pom-poms with the vouchers as mum had the idea of forming a cheerleading group. I thought it was a great idea. We both attended a coaching course and it was fun, so we held a couple of taster sessions towards the end of 2016.”

Where did they find the outfits?

Flitecrew’s uniform is unique, as it

was designed by Jordan. With the trampoline team having a red outfit, she decided to go for blue to differentiate between the squads. Jordan said: “We were at TGI Friday's for dinner and we started talking about costumes. I asked for some paper and drew out a concept right there! I took it to a company that makes leotards for our trampoline team and after they suggested a few tweaks to suit cheerleading, they made the uniform, complete with a pretty blue bow!”

So, how did the initial taster sessions go?

At the first session, there was a small group of eight at the K2 and most were members of the

56: Sport

Read our feature on Horsham Synchronised Swimming Club on the Sports section at www.aahorsham.co.uk

Jess, Laurel and Jordan Kennedy established Flitecrew cheerleading club

A junior Flitecrew squad practice a routine with some tricky stunt manouevres

trampoline club. This quickly grew to 30 children and when Laurel found that most were coming from Horsham, she decided to look for a more local spot.

She said: “Broadbridge Heath Leisure Centre is perfect for us as it even has blue walls to match our uniform!

“We did a flyer drop around Horsham and held free try-out sessions and it worked. We now have over 80 people on the cheer side, so it’s as big as the trampoline club! We’ve even needed to start classes on a second evening.”

Why is cheerleading suddenly popular over here?

One of the reasons is social media.

Young people watch videos on YouTube or Instragram and see the range of skills cheerleading incorporates. Laurel said: “Children who attend gymnastics or dance clubs go online and look at videos for inspiration. A lot of those involve cheerleading as there is a crossover between gymnastics, dance and cheer.

Whereas they are usually individual disciplines, cheerleading is a team sport and that appeals to lots of girls.”

How does the coaching side work?

There are several coaches, with Laurel and her daughters aided by others with strong trampoline or gymnastics experience. Jess’ background is in dancing, having started dance aged 10 and finding that she enjoyed it even more than trampolining. Jess said: “Cheerleading incorporates dance as well as gymnastics and I love teaching those components. For a while, I was happy just to coach the younger groups, but having watched the seniors, I thought I would give it a go. I was reluctant initially, as I’m not a strong gymnast, but cheerleading requires people with different strengths.”

There’s a strong team element then?

Jordan said: “Cheerleading is very demanding and requires lots of talents

Flitecrew: 57

Flitecrew claimed three first place finishes at its first competition in Manchester

Cheerleading requires athletic ability

and a team spirit. If you miss a rehearsal, it can mean letting down the whole team as we rely on one another. With the stunts, for example, you need a strong base. If one person isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t there, they can be very difficult to replace as a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;flierâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; needs to be confident in the team. The job of the flier, usually one of the smaller members of the squad, is to stay tight and rigid during jumps, so that they are easier to catch. If they are nervous and do not trust the base, the routine will be less effective. A successful routine is a result of hard work from everyone.â&#x20AC;?

What does cheerleading involve?

It takes different forms. Sometimes, there is a chanting element to routines if the squad is involved in sports team motivation. That is not the case with Flitecrew, as it isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t associated with a sports team. However, most routines contain components of tumbling, dance, jumps, cheers and stunts, so itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a demanding and highly physical activity that requires people with varying skills.

At Flitecrew, classes are broken down to incorporate them all. Jordan said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll have tumbles, flips, somersaults and stunts all pieced together into a threeminute routine and that requires good fitness. But when everything lands perfectly, it is just the best feeling in the world. You're happy with yourself and the team, because you know how hard youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve all worked.â&#x20AC;?

How many different groups are there at Flitecrew?

Flitecrew has classes for minis, juniors and seniors, welcoming children as young as four, held on Wednesday and Thursday evenings. It has recreational squads as well as competitive squads, with different names including Apollo, Dynamite and Force. Jess said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;In every class, people work together to achieve their own goals. If someone can't do a forward or backward walkover, other girls teach them the technique, as itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

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58: Sport

Flitecrew: 59

The senior Flitecrew cheerleading squad has excelled at national competitions

“It is great to see people working together to achieve their goals.”

important for everybody to improve together.”

Tell me about the competition side of Flitecrew...

In America, competitions are taken very seriously, but only in recent years has that element crossed the Atlantic. Whilst it has entered competitions, the focus at Flitecrew is still very much on having fun, as it caters for small children all the way through to a pom-pom club for over 25’s.

Juniors are put through their paces at Broadbridge Heath Sports Centre

Laurel said: “Flitecrew trampoline club is very competitive. But we launched cheerleading as it was something fun that wouldn’t cause stress. We’re not driven by a need for girls to reach a national standard. We want it to be fun for everyone.”

Care for the next generation

So, how has Flitecrew fared in competitions?

Its first competition was in Manchester back in May. The team went without expectation, as they didn’t know whether they would be able to compete with

experienced cheer outfits from across the country. However, they came home with a haul of awards.

Laurel said: “We choreographed a routine to the best of our ability at the time and entered five categories. We ended up coming first with three routines, third in another and our youngest group took sixth. It was wonderful to discover that not only do we enjoy cheerleading, we are quite good at it too!”

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60: Sport

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And how have things gone since then?

Flitecrew headed to a higher-level competition in November and recorded further encouraging results. The Youth team, Dynamite, was placed fourth, whilst the junior Apollo team finished second. The senior Infinity squad also placed fourth, with senior stunt group Galaxy finishing seventh. The Senior Level Two stunt group, Force, recorded a brilliant first place.

Jordan said: “May’s competition was a great start for us, but this recent competition followed American rules and gave us an opportunity to see how we compare with some of the more competitive cheer groups.

At this level, symmetry and technique is vital, so we’re thrilled to have achieved so much as a new cheerleading club.”

Can boys do it too?

In America, it’s now common to have boys involved in cheer squads.

However, it is difficult to attract them. Jordan said: “It would be fantastic to have more boys here and they are very welcome. They bring some muscle to the group, which is vital as they often provide a strong base for the stunt team.”

And what’s next?

Flitecrew will be competing in Disneyland Paris in March 2018 and Laurel hopes that one day they may be ready to compete at the cheerleading world championships.

Jordan said: “We are very proud of how the club has taken off and we have new enquiries every day. It’s been hard work as I even put together all the music to save funds, whilst mum does all the administrative work. But we are a good team and Flitecrew is improving all the time!”

WORDS: BEN MORRIS PICTURES: TOBY PHILLIPS

For details about classes, visit the Cheerleading section on the Flitecrew Trampoline website at flitecrewtrampolineclub.co.uk of visit the Flitecrew Infinity Cheerleading page on Facebook

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Group Discussion: 63

THE VARIETY SHOW Horsham University of the Third Age

With over 800 members, Horsham University of the Third Age (U3A) hosts a wide array of groups to represent the interests of all its members.

These include walking, Scrabble, embroidery, table tennis, jazz and big band, bridge, computers, gardening and herbs, poetry, painting, photography, beading, money matters, reading, foreign languages, short mat bowls and golf.

Yet still, many people have not heard of the U3A.

The University of the Third Age was formed in France in 1972, but it wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t until a decade later that a UK branch was established.

The Horsham group was launched in 1994 by Derek Robbins, who was its first chairman. It is now one of 960 branches across the country with a total membership of about 343,000.

They all share the same aim; to advance the education of middle-aged and older people and to provide facilities for leisure time and recreational activities.

Esme Cloherty, secretary of

Horsham U3A, said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our open day is an annual event to showcase the wide range of groups we have within U3A. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are fortunate in that the Horsham group is very successful with many people actively involved in different groups. We will be celebrating 25 years in 2019 and yet we still have over 800 members and about 80 group activities, ranging from ukulele music to lunch groups. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Most groups meet monthly, often at the home of a member, and the 9 99 9 key aim is to give people the

chance to share interests and form friendships.â&#x20AC;?

A bi-monthly general meeting is attended by about 200 members and usually feature a guest speaker. These have included everyone from politicians to auctioneers, whilst a recent talk saw a former convict offer a fascinating insight into prison life.

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64: Group Discussion

If you need an extra copy of AAH, find an indoor stand at Horsham Museum

Brian Monk Ukulele Group Ann Smith, a qualified music teacher, started the ukulele group along with two handbell ringing groups a few years ago.

Unfortunately, Ann had to move away and I was the one who took over the group.

We now have two ukulele groups in the U3A that each meet twice a month. People can join as beginners but because we meet at the home of a member, the

Jean Hammonds Family History Group The family history group meets once a month at Tythe Barn, Horsham, and has been established for a long time.

As well as presenting their own family history, members also work on projects concerning social history. We recently compared the childhood people experience now compared to our own, and such topics broaden the group’s

focus. It’s always interesting to hear people talk about their research and the interesting pitfalls, such as different spellings of names, or relatives who may not always have been telling the whole truth!

The experience of members means we can also give advice to anyone struggling to find out about their family history.

group can only accommodate so many people. We could do with a couple more males though, as we only have two and we can’t match the ladies when it comes to the vocals.

Sometimes, we play at care homes or places like the Phoenix Stroke Club, just spread a little cheer as the instrument does seem to make people happy!

U3A: 65 Pam Brakes Woon ‘n’ Threads 1 We have 19 members in the group, which is why we needed to form a Wool ‘n’ Threads 2. We meet at my home once a month to show our work, share tips and advice and of course there’s a lot of nattering involved.

Our members have a range of interests.

One lady makes beautiful clothes for dolls, some knit Christmas decorations or Teddy bears and others specialise in quilt making. Most of the items I make go to my daughter's nursery school.

There are many social benefits to the group and sewing is great exercise too, especially as you get older as it helps keeps arthritis at bay!

Left: Pam Brakes of Wool ‘n’ Threads Above: Garden Interests and Herbs

Esther Coombes Characters in Depth I formed Characters in Depth four years ago, with another U3A member who has since retired. We meet once a month, with members taking it in turns to provide a presentation on a character.

It might be somebody who has been dead for hundreds of years or a figure of recent historical interest. We've had talks about Pericles and Julius Caesar, whilst one member is a renowned lecturer on Carl Faberge.

Some subjects have a local connection, such as Samuel Pepys, who studied at Christ’s Hospital when the school was in London.

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

David Kennard Exploring Ideas The group meets once a month and as the name suggests, we explore and discuss a broad range of ideas.

We choose a different topic every time and a member provides a presentation, going into as much depth as they deem necessary.

We explore anything from particle acceleration to post-modernism, so discussions can take on a philosophical aspect. Sometimes we will disagree but it's all very civilised! It's a small and relaxed group of like-minded souls and I find our meetings quite enlightening!

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66: Group Discussion “We walk for no more than three miles at a

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gentle pace and tend to end up at a café.”

RSPB Pulborough Brooks Image: RSPB/Stephen Tattersall

When the falcon Enters the Stage

Mary Breeze Short Walks Group

Isobel Bogucki runs the Curiosity Discussion group

We meet twice a month, on the second and fourth Tuesday. Our walks are usually within Horsham, with locations including Owlbeech Woods or the woodland behind Beech Road .

We walk for no more than three miles at a gentle pace and tend to end up at a café, such as New House Farm. The short walks tend to appeal to people who have been part of the long walks group who now struggle with greater distances, or people who have recently retired.

Eunice Allen Long Walks Group There are two U3A computer clubs

Book selling at the U3A

We can go a little further afield with the long walks, often heading to the South Downs, and we also start and end our walks at a pub or cafe.

Walks are held every Tuesday at 10am throughout the year and are very popular, with as many as 25 people in the group.

Everybody leads a walk at some point, and the leader needs to have walked the route to ensure it is not too long or challenging.

Sometimes, walks include historical aspects, but mainly we just enjoy the fresh air!

Roy Pretty Short Mat Bowls We meet at Horsham Bowling Club on Pondtail Road every Monday afternoon.

During the winter, bowls can’t be played outside, so the Bowling Club moves indoors and our small U3A group uses it too. The short mat bowls group is very popular and we can have as many as 24 people playing. It doesn’t suit everyone as it is quite physical and not everyone can bend their knees enough.

But with the U3A, people can always find something that suits them.

INTERVIEWS: BEN MORRIS PICTURES: TOBY PHILLIPS For details about the Horsham U3A, including a full list of groups and membership forms, visit https://u3asites.org.uk/ horsham/home

With Christmas just around the corner, you may be thinking about booking your tickets to the panto, but what if I told you there’s a spectacular show to be seen on your doorstep? Whilst I can’t guarantee any celebrity cameos, I can certainly promise you some colourful entertainment and a chorus of sounds if you pop down to Pulborough Brooks.

Let me set the scene. You have the best seat in the house, with an uninterrupted view across the North Brooks from Nettleys hide. Hundreds of lapwings dazzle in their iridescent green costumes and crested headdresses. Wigeon, teal, shoveler and pintail all compete for the title of “best-dressed”, while gaggles of greylag and Canada geese waddle back and forth, providing comic relief with their honking chatter.

All is calm.

Enter our villain—the peregrine falcon. She’s been waiting in the wings, biding her time, but now she’s hungry and lapwing is on the menu.

A dramatic scene unfolds as she swoops downwards, sending our company of waders and wildfowl into the air. The peregrine attempts to pick out her prey in the confusion, but the whirlwind of feathers and noise makes it impossible for her to hunt so she exits stage right, defeated but determined to plot her return.

And that’s just the first act! Why not spend the interval enjoying a warming hot chocolate and slice of cake back in our popular café? It may not be healthy but ‘tis the season to indulge!

Emily Summers RSPB Pulborough

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