AAH (All About Horsham) January 2024 by AAH (All About Horsham)

JANUARY 2024

AAH (ALL ABOUT HORSHAM) JANUARY 2024 CONTENTS

COVER STORY

AAH is an independent magazine founded in 2011. It is owned by Ben Morris, a life-long resident of the District. Here’s our cover from 10 years ago, featuring Steven Edwards, winner of the 2013 Masterchef: The Professionals. Anyone else getting deja vu?

NEWS ROUND-UP Consultation on the Local Plan and Horsham Film Festival winners announced.

COOKING Tom Hamblet, Sous Chef at South Lodge Hotel, wins Masterchef: The Professionals.

23 ART

The striking floral paintings of West Grinstead-based artist Claire Harrison.

BOOKS 4

The January 2024 cover of AAH features Tom Hamblet at South Lodge Hotel in Lower Beeding. It is the second time the Horsham chef has made the cover. In June 2016, he was pictured with his trophy after winning a Rotary Club Young Chef competition. So, we could hardly begrudge him the same honour after his triumph on Masterchef: The Professionals. Alan took the shot of a relaxed Tom in The Pass Restaurant, then asked Tom to autograph a napkin, a request from his mother-in-law. Other contenders for the cover included Horsham diva Sarah Esser-Haswell at the Capitol, Harry the Piano at St Mary’s Church and artist Claire Harrison.

Gareth de la Torre’s new book charts his downfall and gradual steps to recovery.

THEATRE Beauty and the Beast at the Capitol review and interview with Set Designer Jack Lane.

SINGING Horsham diva Sarah Esser-Haswell prepares for her sold-out show at the Capitol.

MUSIC Horsham Music Circle’s 82nd season continues with Harry the Piano a St Mary’s.

BUSINESS Storytellers Performing Arts School teaches music, drama and singing to children.

GROUP DISCUSSION The Normandy branch of the WI has become known for its colourful post-box toppers.

ABOUT US

ADVERTISING As a free magazine, AAH is grateful to the support of all its advertisers. If you’d like to find out more about promoting your business in AAH, please do get in touch with Ben. We offer every 6th advert free of charge, like a cafe. We can also design ads if you need help on that front. ADVERT RATES (Per month/edition) Eighth Page: £55 + VAT (93mm x 63mm) Quarter Page: £110 + VAT (93mm x 133mm - portrait or landscape) Half Page: £185 + VAT (190mm x 133mm) We also have the long, upright shape Full Page: £310 + VAT (A4 with 4mm bleed) Double Page: £520 + VAT (A4 with 4mm bleed ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES Ben Morris editor@aahorsham.co.uk advertising@aahorsham.co.uk (01903) 892899 2 Viney Close, Ashington, RH20 3PT

EDITOR Ben Morris editor@aahorsham.co.uk (01903) 892899 AAH, 2 Viney Close, Ashington, RH20 3PT PHOTOGRAPHER Alan Wright alanwrightphotography.co.uk 07747 617387 Alan works for AAH as a freelancer and is available for all commercial work. DOOR-TO-DOOR DISTRIBUTION TEAM: Jacquie Paterson, Hazel Garner, Jill Shuker, Bloomfield family, Eve Lovett, Gavira family, Harvey Dold, Alessandro Cavallo, Jack Nicholls, Charlie Merchant, Harry Baker, Walker family, Ben Raymond, Joseph Down (Horsham). Katie Drysdale & William Fuglsig (Highwood), Chapman family (Southwater), Palmer family (BBH), Luke Butcher (Manns Heath), Lynsey Hare (Billingshurst), Derek Bradnum (Nuthurst) SPRING-LOADED STANDS AAH is also available in our stands at local businesses, clubs and shops. Horsham: Swan Walk (outside M&S), Henry Adams (Carfax), Crates Local (Carfax) Pavilions in the Park, Horsham Rail Station, John Lewis, Horsham FC, New House Farm, New Street Butchers, At Home Estate Agents (Carfax), Holbrook Club, Gwyn’s Bakery (Bishopric), Steb an’s Hair Salon. Village Stands: Newbridge Nurseries, The Bridge Leisure Centre (BH) CoCos’ Salon & Beeson House (Southwater), Billingshurst Leisure Centre, Coco’s Salon (Billingshurst), Bluecoat Sports Centre (Christ’s Hospital), Leonardslee Lakes & Gardens (Lower Beeding), Warnham Village Stores (Warnham), Slinfold Golf Club (Slinfold), Steyning Leisure Centre and Cobblestone Walk (Steyning), Spring Gardens Nursery (Washington), Chanctonbury Leisure Centre, Joanna’s Boutique Tearooms (Storrington), The Milk Churn (Rudgwick), Meadow Stores (Thakeham), Golden Plaice (Ashington), Rusper Village Stores (Rusper), Roffey News Supermarkets: In association with Self Select Distribution, AAH is available at Tesco Extra in Broadbridge Heath and Sainsbury’s Horsham. NOTES: A huge ‘thank you’ to Lynsey Hare and family, who have delivered AAH in Billingshurst since 2018 but now the time has come to stop. Best wishes to you all! AAH is printed with FSC® certified paper. This means it has been sourced from sustainably managed forests and other controlled sources, and its site of origin is proven and traceable under FSC certification.

EDITOR’S NOTES

THE ENDURING APPEAL OF MIDNIGHT MASS AT CHRISTMAS

Reverend Canon Lisa Barnett at St Mary’s Church (©AAH/Toby Phillips 2020)

About 20 years ago, I went to Midnight Mass for the first time. It was a novel experience for me, but I’d downed a few pints at The Red Lyon in Slinfold and it felt like a good idea to cross the road for the Christmas Eve service at St Peter’s. It was my dad’s idea. I don’t know what inspired him, as we were not a church-going family (we’re still not). His prime motivation seemed to be that it gave him countless opportunities to say ‘I just love saying mass!’ in an Irish accent, quoting an episode of Father Ted. I like to think we were respectful, joining in with the carols we knew and mumbling with our heads down during the more obscure hymns that churches like to throw in to remind people that it can’t always be fun. But at the same time, I have a sister who has always struggled to maintain decorum in a religious setting. It only takes mild innuendo in a hymn lyric or a Biblical reading to reduce her to tears of laughter. She then tries desperately to get others to laugh too in a bid to deflect the scornful looks of parishioners. As years rolled by, memories of this Midnight Mass experience stayed with me. Every Christmas Eve since, I’ve had fleeting thoughts about going again, although it didn’t happen until 2022, when I was away with the in-laws in the Brecon Beacons. We had reached the point in the evening when the board games come out and my father-in-law shouts out the answer to any question he knows, no matter who they were intended for, while slouching on the sofa with a glass of red wine perched on his belly. I’ve always found this entertaining, as the more annoyed his wife and three daughters become at his game-wrecking antics, the more he seems to revel in it.

I had my usual thoughts about Midnight Mass and on this occasion, decided to walk to the nearby village of Llandeilo to find a church. I walked a mile in total darkness, including past an abandoned church, pretending not to be terrified. Finally, I found St Teilo’s, an Anglican Church in the heart of the village. The service dragged on, as the priest read passages in both English and Welsh (my visit happened to coincide with a national drive to preserve and promote the native language) but I enjoyed myself. Still, as I tried to sing O Little Town of Bethlehem using only the letters D, L, Y and W, I wished my sister had been there too. She’d have found it hilarious... This Christmas, I again went searching for a Midnight Mass service. I walked to my local church in Ashington – something I have never done despite living in the village for 15 years – but there was no sign of activity. So, I drove to Horsham instead and headed to St Mary’s in the Causeway. I arrived late, but having recently been there to see Harry the Piano in concert, I at least remembered that the outer door needs a nurturing touch to prevent it slamming, so I managed to sneak in without announcing my arrival too dramatically. It was busy. In Wales, there had been about 25 people in the church, but there were several hundred at St Mary’s. I had to cross the centre aisle where Horsham MP Jeremy Quin, of all people, directed me to an available seat. I felt a wave of nostalgia when I saw a group in front of me giggling during Silent Night as they struggled to hit the right key. I could relate, as I’d started too low and was drifting into Barry White territory as the notes dropped with each passing line. Lacking the sensual, dulcet tones to

maintain a bass note, I went for a Boyzone-style key change halfway through (it was the Holy Infant line). Fortunately, 400 or so other voices gave me ample cover! The final hymn was Hark the Herald Angels Sing, which was genuinely moving. I gave a passable rendition of A Boy Named Sue in a Vietnamese karaoke bar when I was 22, but that aside, I don’t think I’ve sung so heartily since I was a pupil at Forest Boys and my music teacher tapped me on the shoulder, put a finger to her lips and whispered, ‘Listen to how everyone else sings it.’ I could hear the St Mary’s choir and even some of the congregation singing entirely different melodies – like a religious Beach Boys – adding additional layers to the hymn as it soared through the church. The Reverend Canon Lisa Barnett smiled as the song came to an end, the last notes of the final ‘King’ drawn out by a congregation evidently enjoying themselves. ‘Wonderful!’ said the vicar, before reiterating that all were welcome to attend regular church services on Sundays. Without meaning disrespect, I won’t be. I am not a religious man and didn’t participate in Holy Communion. That being said, I hope that Midnight Mass continues to be a feature of my Christmas in years to come. Like my dad 20 years ago, my reasoning is unclear. Perhaps it’s a simple acknowledgment of the reason we all come together on 25 December. It may be a token gesture, but my Christmas was all the better for the experience.

13+ & 16+ Scholarships Applications now open for September 2024

Nursery & Reception Open Morning Thursday, 29th February 2024

Whole School Open Morning Saturday, 2nd March 2024 Advance booking essential for all Open Events. Please visit www.farlingtonschool.com to book.

“It is obvious, even from the outside, that the learning environment at Farlington is a very happy one” CURRENT PARENT

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

The Local Plan outlines sites for development in the Horsham District (@AAH/Toby Phillips 2014)

Horsham councillors have approved the Horsham District Local Plan Regulation 19 document. The Local Plan sets out how the District will deliver future planning developments in a sustainable way and support the delivery of community infrastructure, transport links and opportunities for jobs, whilst ensuring that development takes place in a way that delivers environmental protection, supports water neutrality and provides affordable housing. All local planning authorities are required to produce a Local Plan and they must be

reviewed at least once every five years to ensure they are up-to-date. The current Local Plan (known as the Horsham District Planning Framework) covers a period that runs until 2040 and was discussed at a Full Council meeting on 11 December 2023. The councillors recommended that it proceeds to the next stage of preparation, known as the Regulation 19 stage. The Council is therefore holding a formal period of Representation from 19 January – 1 March, where comments can be made. Any representations will be submitted with the Local Plan for consideration by a

government-appointed independent Planning Inspector. Aspects of Horsham’s Local Plan have been criticised by Crawley Borough Council because it includes a proposal to build 3,000 homes on land west of Ifield and potentially 10,000 on the site in future. Other strategic sites include land around Southwater and Billingshurst, with smaller settlements proposed for villages including Broadbridge Heath, Barns Green, Partridge Green and Ashington. Find out more at horsham.gov.uk/localplanreview

The Carfax in Horsham town centre will be closed to all traffic under 24-hour closures for 12 days in January for essential road repairs. With the existing road surface having become uneven from heavy goods vehicle movements and severe weather, the worst-affected areas will be repaired between 8 – 20 January. The closure to traffic is required to ensure the safety of both the public and workforce and to allow the materials to harden. Pedestrian access will be maintained and shops and businesses will be open as normal.

Julian and Jiaxin Lloyd Webber perform Bach Explored at the Capitol Theatre on Sunday 14 January, 5pm. The Lloyd Webbers take the audience on a doublesided journey of live music and behind the scenes stories about their lives in one of the most influential musical dynasties of modern times. The evening explores the reasons why Bach’s Cello Suites remained unperformed for 200 years, before the musicians talk about playing with icons including Elton John, Yehudi Menuhin, Katherine Jenkins, Joaquin Rodrigo and of course, Andrew Lloyd Webber. Tickets £22.50 from thecapitolhorsham.com

Horsham District Council has launched a mobile phone app to make it easier for residents to access recycling and waste services. Residents who sign up can check their next recycling or waste collection day, receive collection day reminders and report missed bins or fly tipping. They will also be able to search how and where items can be recycled, book a special collection service and find their nearest recycling centres or leisure venues. The app has been produced in partnership with West Sussex County Council. Download the app at horsham.gov.uk/mobileapp

Cllr Ruth Fletcher with Public’s Choice winners Amici Coffee Co

Little Barn Owls Forest and Farm School Nurseries have been crowned West Sussex Childcare Provider of the Year 2023 by Business Awards UK. Little Barn Owls recently opened a new site at The Orchard, West Grinstead, inviting new children to join the LBO family in 2024. littlebarnowls.co.uk Horsham District Council has conferred the title of Honorary Alderman on three former councillors for their outstanding service and dedication to the Horsham District. Christine Costin was a Council member from 1995 – 2023 representing Trafalgar ward. Gordon Lindsay was a councillor from 2003 – 23 representing Southwater South and Shipley, while Kate Rowbottom was a member from 2011 – 23, representing Billingshurst. They were conferred with the title at an Extraordinary Council Meeting on 13 December. An Honorary Alderman may attend and take part in such civic ceremonies as the Council may decide.

Amici Coffee Co and Carmela Deli were the big winners of Horsham District Council’s Christmas Magic Displays Competition. Businesses across the District created festive displays with the public voting for their favourites online. Judges also assessed displays and scored them based on their ‘wow factor’. The winning businesses were Amici Coffee Co in Horsham (Public’s Choice) with

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Carmela Deli winning the award for Overall Best Display (Horsham and across the District). Other winners were Tottington Manor (Henfield), Children’s Society (Southwater), Sakala (Steyning), Safe Hands Funeral Services (Storrington) Johansson’s Café in Horsham (Best Internal Display) and Love Mother Earth Handmade Organics in Horsham (Best Market Stall Display).

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Mannings Heath Estate at Hammerpond Road, RH13 6PG hosts an evening of stand-up comedy on Friday 26 January, 7pm (show starts 8pm). The comedy nights attract top acts from the south of England, with January’s line-up featuring Dave Wilder (pictured), Dani Cooper, Harrison Thomas, Jimmy Ennis, Jacob Laing and Emma Cohen. Pre-show curry is available for £10 per person with advance reservations. Tickets £15 from manningsheath.com

The King’s Singers (Photo: Frances Marshall)

Horsham Music Circle’s 82nd season continues with a spring series of three concerts. The first is a performance by The King’s Singers, one of the most successful vocal sextets in the world, at St Mary’s Church, Causeway, on Saturday 27 January, 7pm. The a cappella group have created a special programme called Long Live the King, celebrating music associated with Royal occasions. They will also sing favourites from their own treasure trove of jazz, folk and spiritual arrangements. Although the line-up has changed many times, The King’s Singers always comprises two counter-tenors, a tenor, two baritones and a bass, honouring British choral tradition. For tickets, call (01403) 252602, email horshammusiccircle@gmail.com or visit horsham-music-circle.org.uk

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Coolham Live Music Club holds its first gig of the year at Coolham Village Hall on Saturday 17 February, 7.15pm (music 7.45pm). The evening includes Greg Coulson and his Band along with the first visit to the club by Leonardo Guiliani (above). Bring your own refreshments and change for the charity bucket. Tickets £20 from Rich at coolhamtickets@gmail.com Guilfest returns to Stoke Park, Guildford, on 29 – 30 June 2024. The Stranglers and Sam Ryder (pictured) headline the main stage. Other acts include Peter Hook and the Light, Black Grape, The Blockheads, The Skints, Pogue Traders, Alex Party and Spice Girls Experience. In addition to five stages of music, there will be a cosmic comedy tent, tropical disco, street theatre and drumming workshops. Early bird tickets available at guilfest.co.uk Gareth Gates stars in The Best of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons at the Capitol on Sunday 18 February, 7.30pm. The production is a celebration of timeless music from one of the best-selling groups of all time. Gareth joins cast members from award-winning musical Jersey Boys for the show, which features hits including Oh, What A Night! Big Girls Don’t Cry and Can’t Take My Eyes Off You. Tickets £35 from thecapitolhorsham.com

A 16th-century Low Countries tin-glazed earthenware charger, long-forgotten in the loft of a local property for thirty years, auctioned in our October sale for £39,000

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Horsham author Tom Singfield has published his seventh aviation book, Classic Heathrow Propliners. Retired Gatwick ATCO Tom has been an aviation enthusiast since the mid-1960s and has amassed a vast collection of colour images on slides, which he uses to illustrate his books. Published by The History Press, the book has been carefully researched using a network of aviation historians, archive material and over 200 colour photos of propeller airliners, mostly from the 1960s and 1970s. Cover price £25. For a signed copy, contact Tom on 07979 616076. London Gatwick donated financial awards totalling nearly £30,000 to five more organisations and special causes in time for Christmas. The successful recipients included Crowborough Community Pantry, Home-Start CHAMS, The Garden Army (pictured), Crawley Community Action and the Crawley CAP Centre. The London Gatwick Foundation Fund initiative includes three rounds of funding every year. Since it was founded in 2016, the fund has donated more than £1m to community projects. The deadline to apply for the next round of funding is 5 January. sussexgiving.org.uk

Atlantis Swimming Club held a 24-hour Swimathon at Pavilions in the Park, Horsham, starting at midday on Thursday 21 December. The club, one of the largest in the region with more than 300 members, organised the event as part of a bid to raise £8,000 for equipment and coaching. The Atlantis team swam a total of 103,250m (64 miles), the equivalent of swimming across the Channel three times, raising

£1,500 towards their target. The event topped off an outstanding year for Atlantis, which finished second in the National Arena Swimming League (South England) to gain promotion to the Premier League for 2024. In October, Atlantis was also Top Club in the Sussex County Championships and won the Sussex League earlier in the year. atlantishorsham.co.uk

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Steyning Museum is looking for a new Honorary Curator of Exhibitions. The museum, which recently celebrated its 40th anniversary (pictured), seeks someone with experience of designing, creating and mounting exhibitions, who can volunteer their time to lead a small, dedicated exhibitions team. For details, email jacquie.buttriss@talktalk.net steyningmuseum.org.uk

The Horsham Branch of Parkinson’s UK seeks a chairman to lead the group, supported by an experienced committee. Full training and support will be given. Based at Mannings Heath Village Hall, the branch runs Pilates, Tai Chi, table tennis, physiotherapy, Yoga and Boxercise sessions, as well as fundraisers and monthly socials. Applicants can visit parkinsons.org.uk and search ‘Volunteering Opportunities’ or call 0808 800 0303.

©Gatwick Airport

Horsham Twinning Association have a vacancy on the committee for a Chairperson, as the current postholder will be standing down in March. The group visits Lage, Germany and St Maixent l’Ecole, France every few years, with French and German friends coming to Horsham to stay with host families or in local hotels. Entertainment is provided by host towns with opportunities to visit local attractions. The association also organises social events and works closely with Horsham German Club. For more details, email secretary@horsham-twinning.org.uk or visit horsham-twinning.org.uk

Since submitting its Northern Runway plans to the Planning Inspectorate, London Gatwick has ‘refined’ its proposal and identified three changes that it claims will reduce its environmental impact, while also providing additional design flexibility. The changes include an increase to the design parameters for the North Terminal International Departure Lounge proposed southern extension, a reduction in the height and change in the purpose of the replacement Central Area Recycling Enclosure (CARE) facility, and revision to the Surface Water Treatment Works system. Before submitting the changes to the Planning Inspectorate, Gatwick has opened a consultation for the public, landowners and other stakeholders to give their views. The consultation closes on 21 January 2024. It will be for the Planning Inspectorate to decide if the changes can be made to the application and included in the examination. In response, CAGNE (an umbrella aviation community and environment group for Sussex,

Surrey and Kent) said: ‘These are not minor changes to the application for a new runway. CAGNE feels that Gatwick should consult all those that have already registered an interest with the Planning Inspectorate. This added consultation would appear to be a way for the airport to implement changes that could be sneaked through due to people believing that they have already passed judgement on the plans for a new runway.’ ‘What is proposed could see a vast increase in lorry movements by replacing an incinerator meant to heat the north terminal with a waste sorting plant. We also do not accept that a reed bed will deal with the flooding issues that a new runway will create.’ Gatwick hopes to bring the Northern Runway into regular use, claiming it would inject £1b into the region’s economy every year. gatwickairport.com/company/future-plans/ northern-runway.html You can also visit cagne.org

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Platinum House, West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service’s new Training Centre and Fire Station for Horsham, was officially opened on Tuesday 28 November by His Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant of West Sussex, Lady Emma Barnard. The multi-millionpound site, commissioned by West Sussex County Council, is the first of its type in the county. Named Platinum House in honour of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, it replaces the previous fire station in Hurst Road, built in 1968. During a ceremony held at the new facility at Highwood Village, invited guests were given a tour of the new facility and watched a demonstration in the drill yard.

The Barns Green Players present Peter Pan at Barns Green Village Hall later this month. There will be six performances of the pantomime, written by Nick Lawrence, on 19 – 20 and 26 – 27 January. The players have hosted amateur productions for more than 60 years, ranging from comedies to Shakespeare, serving the local community and surrounding areas. Tickets £10/£15 from barnsgreenplayers.co.uk There’s a Monster in Your Show comes to the Capitol, Horsham, on 12 – 15 February. Tom Fletcher’s beloved Who’s in Your Book? series makes its debut as a new musical show. The high-energy 50-minute adventure features lively original music and is an ideal introduction to live theatre for children. Performances at 11am, 2pm and 4pm. Tickets £16/£15 from (01403) 750220 or thecapitolhorsham.com Here are some of the volunteering opportunities available in the Horsham District. Age UK in Horsham are looking for volunteers to join them as LGBTQ+ Support Group Volunteers, to help with an exciting new project. If you care about reducing food waste, you can join the Horsham Community Fridge (above) as a volunteer. Also, Queen Elizabeth II School are looking for help maintaining allotments which are used to teach students basic gardening skills. For more details, contact the Voluntary Sector Support Team on (01403) 215191, email volunteering@horshamdistrict.gov.uk or visit volunteerhorshamdistrict.co.uk

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Peter Levy was one of the festival judges (Photo: Chrissie Brooks)

MEADOWS WELLBEING Prioritise Your Health and Wellbeing In 2024

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The fifth annual Horsham Film Festival awards night was held at the Everyman Cinema, Horsham, on 2 December. The festival promotes filmmakers from West Sussex and further afield and this year received more entries than ever before. Judges included Geoff Cockwill from Silvertip Films, producer Pete Levy (Doctor Who, Casualty) and Rebecca Moon and Stuart Andrews from the media and film department at Collyer’s College. The winning films were My Baby Cries, directed by Faith Elizabeth (Best Drama), How To Listen by Jason Ramasami (Animation), PIN by Alex Goddard (Comedy), We Dance For Life by Ian Sciacaluga (Documentary), Buchan: A Wildlife Documentary by Amy King (Your District Award), Good Friday by Clea Reeder (Student Drama), Squabble by Christopher Nguyen (Student Animation), Phantom Education by Sparks Arts, Dorking (Student Comedy), Cat Had His Thumb by Hamish Cairncross (Student Documentary) and Injustice by Oliver Wibrew (Student Your District Award). All winning films were shown to a packed house at the Everyman Cinema. Sponsors included Breathe HR, Woodstock IT, Silverback Studios, Major Mind Games, T21 Group, exilHRate, BW Cars and Seofon Business Solutions. Horsham’s Unity Cafés are open in the Unitarian Community Hall, Worthing Road, Horsham, every Wednesday from 10.30am – 12.30pm. The Unity Cafés launched in November, initially as a place to offer visitors a warm space and a snack in the face of spiralling living costs. However, it soon emerged that it was the conviviality which attracted guests, with cafés leading to friendships and shared activities, including an expert crochet circle. All are welcome to attend. horshamunitarianchurch.com Storrington Flower Club has announced its winter and spring programme. The club meets on the fourth Wednesday of the month at Sullington Parish Hall, Thakeham Road, RH20 3PP, 2pm for 2.30pm start, except August and December. Upcoming demonstrations include Stephen McDonnell-Daly on 24 January, Alison Gillott on 28 February and Nina Tucknott on 27 March. An AGM on 24 April is followed by Afternoon Tea. Visitors are welcome (entry £6). For details, call Chrissy Desmond on (01903) 742102. Toy and Collectors’ Fairs are held at the Ashington Centre, Foster Lane, RH20 3PG on Sundays 4 February and 10 March, 9.30am – 12.30pm. It is a chance to buy, sell, trade and swap toys including Dinky Toys, Hornby, Matchbox and Airfix. Entry £2 (children free). modetoyauctions.co.uk/news/

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THE MASTER

TOM HAMBLET WINS MASTERCHEF: THE PROFESSIONALS

Tom Hamblet at The Pass, South Lodge Hotel (©AAH/Alan Wright)

Tom Hamblet from Horsham has been awarded the prestigious title of MasterChef: The Professionals champion 2023. AAH caught up with Tom, 24, at South Lodge Hotel as he prepares for an exciting three-month residency at The Camellia Restaurant… So, cooking is in the genes… Both my parents are chefs. My dad is Executive Chef at South Lodge Hotel and my mum works in the kitchen at Botanica Restaurant, specialising in pastries. Our family meals were never fancy, but they always tasted great! Although both my parents love cooking, they never pushed me to have the same career. In fact, they did just the opposite sometimes! However, cooking was always something I loved; I suppose it was in my blood. Even when I was at Tanbridge House School, Food Tech was one of my favourite subjects and I won the Rotary Young Chef Competition too, making the front cover of AAH!

You’ve been working at South Lodge since you were a teenager… I started an apprenticeship with Westminster Kingsway College when I was 17. As part of the apprenticeship, I worked at South Lodge, initially focusing on pastries. I then spent three years in Michelin-starred kitchens at Latymer at Pennyhill Park Hotel and Restaurant Interlude at Leonardslee Lakes and Gardens. Both were great experiences and taught me a lot about fine dining. I then returned to South Lodge and have been Sous Chef at The Camellia for two and a half years. Being a chef isn’t an easy occupation. There are times when it’s tough and days can be very long. But at the same time, you have good days too and are always learning and improving. Why did you decide to enter Masterchef: The Professionals? To be honest, my dad and my partner Megan – who also works at the hotel – pushed me to do it. I was quite reluctant, as you’re putting a lot on the line when you go on such a popular TV show. If you do well, the rewards are great. But there’s no guarantee of success, as 31 other very good chefs want to win just as badly. So, I needed some persuading. When I heard my application had been

accepted, my initial thought was, ‘Oh no! What have I done?’ I sat on a chair in the porch at home and had a mini meltdown! Was there added pressure because of the success of previous South Lodge chefs? Of course, Steven Edwards won MasterChef: The Professionals in 2013 and has been successful with his Brighton restaurant, etch. However, that was a decade ago and I was still at school, so it didn’t really enter my mind. What worried me was my parents. I thought it would be embarrassing for them if I was eliminated early in the competition. They never implied anything to that effect, but I put that pressure on myself.

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Did that hamper your enjoyment? I was so focused on making it through each round of the competition that I didn’t really take a moment to reflect or enjoy the success of making it through each round. That is why I’ve enjoyed watching the episodes back on TV, as I can appreciate my journey. Also, when you’re in the kitchen, your entire focus is on the food, so it has been interesting to see how other chefs approached each task. The only thing I don’t like is hearing my voice on TV. You don’t really know what you sound like until you hear it on screen! You had to overcome a major setback… In the semi-finals, I was heating a chocolate tarte filling in a glass bowl when it exploded. It put me in a difficult position, as it happened halfway through the cook. Initially, I panicked and when Marcus Wareing asked me to clear up the mess, I was clearly in a bit of a frenzy. I actually asked him if I could prepare another mousse first! However, I’m used to working under pressure and leaned on this experience. I went back to my workstation and took a

moment to compose myself. I knew I still had time to complete everything if I didn’t make any more mistakes and the rest of the day went exactly as planned. The chocolate mousse ended up being one of my best dishes of the entire series. You had the chance to work under several renowned chefs at prestigious restaurants. Did you enjoy those experiences? We went to Jeremy Chan’s two-star restaurant, Ikoyi, during the semi-finals and for the Chef’s Table challenge we cooked four courses for 24 guests at the Midland Grand Dining Room in King’s Cross. I think I have a good approach when working under other chefs and took to the challenges well. I tried to show respect to the chefs, as they have earned their reputations and gave up time to pass their knowledge on to us. When they were teaching me, I stayed calm, didn’t talk too much and absorbed as much information as possible.

Tom Hamblet with the other finalists and judges Marcus Wareing, Monica Galetti and Gregg Wallace

You also went to The Alchemist in Copenhagen. What was that like? Crazy! When I walked in, I could tell immediately that it was unlike any restaurant I’d ever been too, combining art, science and food. I don’t think The Alchemist is for everybody, but you need places that are unique and exciting. When Heston Blumenthal burst on the scene it got people talking, as he was challenging convention. It’s the same with Rasmus Munk. Some of his techniques are so inventive that I don’t even know where they come from. As a finalist, I was invited back for a meal at The Alchemist and have since flown out to Denmark with my dad and two senior managers at Exclusive Hotels. How did you prepare for the Grand Final? I only managed a couple of practice runs for my final menu as I didn’t feel well, which was probably down to a combination of nerves and stress. On one of the practice days, I didn’t cook at all as I thought it was better to rest. However, I

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Tom meets Head Chef Rasmus Monk

was confident as earlier runs had gone well. Come the final day, I was completely focused for every second of the three hours. We had to incorporate all we had learned over the seven weeks into a starter, main course and dessert of our own creation, and all my dishes worked out perfectly. Even still, I was surprised by the positive response from Marcus, Monica (Galetti) and Gregg (Wallace). Tell us about your winning menu… For starter, I made poached native lobster tail with blanched red and yellow cherry tomatoes, filled with lobster claw meat in a lobster and chilli oil, topped with a lemon verbena gel, courgette balls and a creamy lobster and

Tom’s main course include seared beef fillet and oyster side dish

tomato sauce. Main course was seared beef fillet with pan-fried oyster mushrooms, served with braised beef cheek wrapped in brick pastry, topped with a poached oyster, a lovage emulsion, salsify, beef and red wine sauce and a beef and oyster tartare. Dessert was an olive oil sponge filled with olive oil jam, topped with lemon curd, crème fraiche, fennel tops and a fennel pollen tuille, with fennel seed ice cream. I had saved lobster, beef and lemon dessert in case I made it to the Grand Final. It was a risky strategy, saving my favourites for the final, but they were dishes I believed in and

I thought they would serve me well. I

felt I did myself proud. I had 700 followers Did you then have to keep quiet on Instagram about the result? Filming was wrapped up at the and now end of July, but I couldn’t tell people about the show. Only very have about close family knew that I had won, 23,000. so I focused on work as I didn’t want to be the person who leaked the result. I tried to forget about Masterchef entirely, as it was easier to handle that way, but when the series was finally broadcast, it was impossible not to talk about it!

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Tom’s winning dishes have inspired a new menu at The Camellia

What was the reaction to your win? I use Instagram, as the comments are mostly positive. At the start of the competition, I had about 700 followers and now I have about 23,000, which is nuts! I have to rub my eyes sometimes, as the support has been incredible. I’ve been trying to reply to all the messages I’ve received, but at one point they were coming in every few seconds and it’s hard to keep on top of it. What is next for you? I am taking up a residency at The Camellia for three months, working alongside Head Chef Josh Mann. Josh has been very kind and sup-

Tom in the Masterchef: The Professionals Grand Final

portive. Many chefs would feel put out by having somebody else coming into their kitchen, but he has embraced the idea and I’m grateful for that. The residency runs from January until the end of March and the menu is inspired by dishes I made on the programme. I think it’s fair to say that my style suits The Camellia, as I like using simple ingredients to make food that looks and tastes great. Even at home, my favourite dish is tagliatelle with Boursin and tomato sauce! I will then be taking on a second residency at another Exclusive Hotels venue at Lainston House. Exclusive have given me great support, not just recently but throughout my career.

Would you like to run your own restaurant? Maybe one day, but even after the residencies, I would like to develop my skills further in another kitchen, although I don’t know where yet. I’m only 24, which is very young for a chef to open their own place. I know I still have a lot to learn. Finally, where is the trophy? Underneath our TV at home. It’s been fun glancing at it while watching the episodes back! WORDS: Ben Morris PHOTOS: Alan Wright

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DEATH PETAL CLAIRE HARRISON’S ART SHOWS PLANTS IN A DIFFERENT LIGHT

Claire Harrison adopts a striking colour palette for her paintings (©AAH/Alan Wright)

West Grinstead-based artist Claire Harrison creates semi-abstract works inspired by the natural world. Her latest series of paintings, Portrait of Nature, explores mankind’s relationship with the earth and has been featured in a renowned art publication. Here, Claire describes her artistic journey to date…

didn’t have a studio and had no paintings. So, I decided to display digital photographs instead. Digital art was relatively new, so the exhibition was picked up by a local newspaper and was well received by the public. I initially took an interest in photography to support my degree, as pictures formed part of my research for my art. It was only when a tutor asked to buy one of my photos that I thought about pursuing it further. However, thanks to the success of the exhibition, I was asked to become artist-in-residence at Farnham Maltings, a post I held for seven years. During this time, I was able to hold solo art exhibitions, teach art in the community and write about digital art for Artist & Illustrators Magazine.

OUTDOOR GIRL Both my parents were interested in art and design and I inherited their passion. Mum would often draw birds and flowers for her own pleasure, while dad was a design engineer and had a more technical style. Growing up, I loved being outdoors and was always getting muddy, picking worms and growing plants in the garden. When I was little, I went out with mum to pick a violet to paint my first picture and all these years later, my work still has floral themes. I studied Fine Art at the Surrey Institute of Art & Design, University College (now UCA). After graduating, I wasn’t sure what I should do, as being a full-time artist has always been difficult. My local art centre in Farnham offered me space for a solo exhibition, but I

Sunflowers by Claire Harrison

I have a vast catalogue of images that I use for my art, as I photograph flowers and plants in my garden and around the South Downs. Sometimes, I need to get close to capture a plant’s features and I remember embarrassing relatives once by lying down at High Beeches to take a photo of an oxeye daisy! Most of my output features floral scenes and although I incorporate environmental themes at times, my love of the natural world is always evident.

FADING BLOOMS My art took a step forward with a series called Fading Blooms. The paintings depicted the beauty that can be found in dying plants, celebrating death and the emergence of life. The series had a consistent colour palette too, as I wanted to capture the world from the perspective of insects that perceive UV light. Rather than capturing bright yellow sunflowers in full bloom, I focused on the end of their life cycle. I would sit by my window watching birds

Secrets of Nature by Claire Harrison

Fading Blooms No.3 by Claire Harrison

My imagination has always been overactive, so few of my works are purely representational. It’s just not my style! My mum used to say, ‘Why don’t you draw things as they are?’ or ‘Why can’t you colour-in between the lines?’ I’ve always leaned towards more abstract styles, whether working with pencils, watercolours or oils. Some of my bigger canvas paintings can take 18 months to complete as they can have up to 30 layers. One of the joys of oils is that you can create vibrant colours and translucency through layering.

feeding on the seeds of wilting plants in the garden, before flying off and dispersing them elsewhere. That was the part of the natural process I wanted to document. I like to work on a series of paintings, as I find one idea leads to another. Similar concepts to Fading Blooms were explored in another series, Exploring the Miniscule. Here, I focused on the beauty of tiny wildflowers and insects. My greatest artistic influence is Georgia O’ Keeffe, as her floral paintings have amazing energy. But the Victorian illustrations of

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Claire’s recent work incorporates human elements (©AAH/AW)

Portrait of Nature No.6 by Claire Harrison

Richard Dadd and Arthur Rackham have always captured my imagination too, as they’re magical. All these influences can be seen in my recent output.

ESSENCE OF HUMANITY Secrets of Nature was the series in which I introduced concepts of humanity intertwined with the natural world. The idea stemmed from my frustration with governments consistently failing to change the tide of climate change and increasing pressure on the environment. I’m not an activist, but I wanted to make a small contribution by highlighting the role that we play in the natural world and how humanity is just as vulnerable and susceptible to change. I visited an exhibition about masculinity in men’s fashion at the V&A Museum and saw a video of a large man dancing in a fluid way. Something about the movement of this scene fascinated me and stuck in my head. It made me think more deeply about my own work. I started drawing human forms dancing while intertwined with flowers and trees, which led to a painting called Dance of Nature. Gradually, I experimented with similar ideas and introduced camouflaged elements of human forms, such as hands acting as the petals of flowers. People find these ideas interesting, as each artwork has so much detail. More elements are discovered the more you look at them.

Some of Claire’s fascinating sketches and concepts (©AAH/Alan Wright)

Claire Harrison, artist (©AAH/Alan Wright)

What does 2024 hold? Oil painting of daisies by Claire Harrison

My latest series, Portraits of Nature, goes a step further. It explores decomposition and how everything in the natural world - us included – dies and is broken down to smaller organisms that eventually give rise to life. These works position humanity as equal to plants, part of a natural cycle without hierarchy. I feel it is a culmination of the concepts I’ve developed in recent years, as the work has an immediate impact yet also contains hidden components. People can look at them for hours and still find new things.

perhaps portraying us as a kind of deity that looks over all living things, although I haven’t settled on a final concept. I look forward to new opportunities and collaborations both locally and abroad. I have been involved in both solo and group exhibitions in the past and have my work in both public and private collections in the UK and abroad. Although I enjoy selling direct to my collectors online, I am looking forward to planning my next exhibition in 2024.

I was delighted when Global Art Times featured the series. It has given me encouragement that I’m moving in the right direction. Next, I might dive even deeper into humanity’s relationship with nature,

Further information: claire-harrison.co.uk claireharrisonartist WORDS: Ben Morris PHOTOS: Alan Wright

2023 was a frantic year for the rental market. Landlords continued to see high yields with average rents increasing by 9.7% in the last year.*So what’s in store for 2024?

Buy To Let Market Property prices have been decreasing yet rents remain on the rise, creating a favourable scenario for new buy-to-let landlords for the following reasons: there continues to be a shortage of property for let as tenants have reduced their frequency of moving, mortgage costs have increased and an aggressive tax regime on landlords has persuaded some to sell and reduced new landlords and demand is increasing. This is attracting a wave of recently retired first time landlords to the market as they look to supplement their income. New landlords are welcome, as this increases the supply, thus meeting some of the demand for rental properties and thus will help to temper the rapid growth in rental prices. What may also appeal to new landlords are reducing mortgage rates and mortgage products that can be offered up to aged 80 and mortgage terms of 35 years if applied for before age 70.

The Renters Reform Bill

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First heard on 17th of June 2023, the Renters Reform Bill is said to be a ‘once in a generation’ overhaul of housing legislation. The aim of the bill is for safer, fairer and higher quality homes across the UK improving life for both tenants and Landlords. The elimination of Section 21 notices, the movement of all tenancies to periodic and stricter regulations on discrimination against families, pet owners and those on DSS are a few of the mentioned changes. For Landlords, there will be many benefits too. Landlords will also be able to recover their properties more easily, particularly from anti-social tenants breaching their tenancy agreements. The bill is likely to be in place by the end of 2024.

Rising Rents Many existing renters are inclined to stay put to avoid the hassle and cost of relocating to a place with higher rent, which further constrains the available supply of rental properties. Despite an acceleration in UK earnings growth, the increase in rental prices for new leases continues to outpace it, exacerbating the issue of rental affordability. With the lack of new rental properties, landlords selling up and tenants moving less frequency, this trend is unlikely to change soon, meaning that we can expect to see rents continuing to rise.

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GRIZZLY GRIZZLY TA

GARETH DE LA TORRE’S BOOK CHARTS ROAD TO RECOVERY Gareth de la Torre of Horsham has published a book, What the Ruck Just Happened. It is an honest account of Gareth’s remarkable journey that saw him lose everything within a couple of years and his continued recovery, fuelled by a passion for outdoor adventure. Here, Gareth tells the story in his own words…

ROCK BOTTOM My downward spiral began in 2018 after I suffered a fall at home. I fell asleep on the couch and woke up in the middle of the night and decided to head up to bed. In the darkness, I lost my bearings, stumbled and knocked myself out on the living room table. When I came around, I tried putting weight on my right leg, but it was as though it wasn’t there and I could feel nothing down one side. I collapsed again and spent the next few days in bed, feeling unwell. A few days later, I suffered a seizure for the first time.

The seizures were in the form of blackouts and occurred several times a day. Although others urged me to seek medical help, I didn’t as I expected to recover naturally. I took my two daughters to America and was passed fit to fly, but during the holiday, my condition worsened. Every day, I was passing out for several minutes. Upon my return, I underwent more medical tests and was diagnosed with epilepsy.

First, I lost my job. Because of the blackouts, I wasn’t able to drive, which meant I couldn’t continue as a senior account manager for a construction firm. My medication made me ill and triggered mood swings, so I wasn’t always a nice person to be around. I was anxious about going out in public too, as I had a blackout in Swan Walk and everyone rushed around me. They all meant well, but after that, I didn’t like venturing out and became more reclusive. As I spent more time at home, I was increasingly depressed and lockdowns made it even worse.

I was heading down a dark road and this culminated in a suicide attempt. Ironically, it was a seizure that prevented me from succeeding. On another night, I walked out of my house and headed towards the red river, close to where my grandparents used to live and where I spent time as a child. My family were worried and organised a search. When they found me, the police felt I needed specialist care. They were only thinking about my own safety, but I was furious and foolishly took my frustrations out on them. I’m ashamed of it now, but I spent the night in hospital in handcuffs having been detained under the Mental Health Act.

Every time that I thought I’d hit rock bottom, I somehow found a way to plummet even further. I had been living with my wife and stepdaughter, but my continual downward spiral became too much and signalled the end of my second marriage. I had a successful career, drove a Mercedes and enjoyed several nice holidays a year. From the outside, mine

Running the London Marathon for the Epileptic Society

Gareth de la Torre (©AAH/Alan Wright)

ALE was an idyllic life, but within a couple of years, I had lost everything and could no longer even pay child support. I had to sort my life out and it was camping that helped me turn a corner.

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GOING GRIZZLY My mum was worried, as she didn’t like me sleeping out at night, but I found that being under the stars from time to time would do me good. I wouldn’t go far from home, usually camping around the red river, an area I know well. Before all my troubles, I would take road trips to the south of France with motorcycling friends. I filmed these expeditions and got used to editing videos and posting them on YouTube. I decided to start filming my camping expeditions too and when I picked up a few subscribers, I felt my life had purpose again. Through social media, I reconnected with an old friend, nicknamed Turtle, a great character who would do anything for anyone. He has been a huge help in my

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Gareth climbs Ben Nevis

journey towards recovery. He joined me on some of my camping trips and it wasn’t long before we became more adventurous. We travelled to Scotland and with Turtle around to help in an emergency, I felt confident in the hills and mountains of the Highlands. We walked around Loch Ness and attempted to climb Ben Nevis, which did wonders for my mental health.

I used to complain about people on benefits. Now, I’m the one relying on it.

One day, I came across an advert for the Fan Dance, a gruelling 24km march over Pen y Fan in the Brecon Beacons used for the SAS selection test march. There is a civilian version of the route that involves carrying a 35lb military backpack, and I signed up the moment I heard about it. I completed the route in a respectable time, only half an hour outside the pass time for SAS recruits, which gave me a real boost. Wanting to maintain this upward trajectory, I entered the London Marathon. I take medication every morning which makes me ill for a couple of hours. So, I was rising early every day for a 10-mile training run before taking my treatments at breakfast. I ran the whole 26-miles carrying a 40lb kit, raising money for the Epilepsy Society. I heard some people calling out, ‘Come on Grizzly!’ in reference to my YouTube channel, which gave me added encouragement. It had taken me six months to train for the marathon, but when I crossed the finish line, I felt like I had been running for five years and could finally stop.

ROAD TO RECOVERY I remain signed off from work, although I try to keep occupied. Last year, I went back to school to retake GCSE English, having failed it the first time around. I discovered that I enjoyed writing and wrote about my own adventures, while the memories were still fresh. Gradually, the pages piled up and I published a book, What the Ruck Just Happened, telling the story of my downward spiral and gradual recovery.

I hope to develop my writing skills in future, while also continuing with expeditions. I will soon be doing the Fan Dance once again, this time in the challenging conditions of winter, and in September I’ll be attending adult education classes at Collyer’s to learn sign language. I am beginning to struggle with my hearing and recently had an auditory aid fitted. The problem is linked to my epileptic seizures, although I now suffer blackouts less frequently, which I attribute to a healthier lifestyle.

In the past five years, I feel like I’ve seen every facet of life. I had no sympathy with anyone with mental health problems, labelling them weak-minded people who needed to pull their socks up. When I had a good job, I complained about my taxes going to those on benefits. Now, I’m the one who relies on benefits and the support of others. Sometimes, I wonder if everything I’ve been through is a kind of penance for prior wrongdoings. They have certainly made me more understanding and perhaps a better person too. Further information: What the Ruck Just Happened is available in both hardback and paperback through Amazon. You can subscribe to Gareth’s YouTube channel by searching Big Grizzly Outdoors. INTERVIEW: Ben Morris PHOTOS: Alan Wright Gareth completes the Fan Dance

My dog Lemmy was a companion in dark times, but he passed away in the summer. However, I met a wonderful woman and Emma has helped me regain confidence and encouraged me to write the book. I’ve been surprised by how well it has been received. I have even spoken about it on a popular podcast called Extraology, and have said they couldn’t put the book down.

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CHEERS JOHNNY!

JOHN PARTRIDGE IN SHINING FORM AS PANTO VILLAIN

John Partridge as Captain Gastoff in Beauty and the Beast (©Brinkhoff-Moegenburg)

REVIEW Beauty and The Beast By Ben Morris Halfway through Act Two of the Capitol’s production of Beauty and the Beast, my sister leaned across to whisper in my ear. ‘I can’t boo him anymore. He’s brilliant!’ John Partridge had strutted on to the stage once again. I say strut, but that wasn’t true. He had leapt on stage like a gazelle, stealing not just the scene, but seemingly the entire

theatre. There were a few people booing, playing along for their children, but for most of us, jeering would have contradicted our true feelings. We were thrilled to see him back and – in return – the pantomime villain revelled in the adulation. Partridge’s performance was riotously entertaining. Not only did he whole-heartedly embrace the genre’s traditions, but he also delivered impressive vocals that deservedly earned him a standing ovation. Some actors exude humble embarrassment when faced with such a response. Not John Partridge. Channelling Freddie Mercury, he stood with

his arms loft, savouring every second. Having never watched EastEnders before, I didn’t see him as Christian Clarke in the long-running soap. Neither did I see him win Celebrity Masterchef, or catch his acclaimed turn in West End show Everyone’s Talking About Jamie. However, he has surely never been better than when prancing across the Capitol stage in tight purple ballet tights and a sparkly, multi-coloured waistcoat singing I Am What I Am. At one point, it felt as if the show had morphed into a one-man cabaret act. Well, that would have been just fine by me.

Lizzie Emery as Belle, John Partridge as Captain Gastoff and Alison Arnopp as Madame Dubonnet (©Brinkhoff-Moegenburg)

James Camp as Fromage (©Brinkhoff-Moegenburg)

Lizzie Emery as Belle, supported by an excellent ensemble (©Brinkhoff-Moegenburg)

references or political Before we had taken our The quips, most jokes hit seats for the evening, my sister reminded me of Dame served the mark and when they didn’t, the cast her long-held loathing up the best gag had the talent to use of pantomime. Even when presented with about poo-emoji them as a springboard for self-deprecating a free ticket for the headwear I’ve banter. press night, she had ever heard! needed persuading to Few TV programmes are join me and her daughter as primed for parody as The (my niece). However, during Traitors, but Alison Arnopp (playing the course of the evening, I heard Madame Dubonnet) still brought her trademark ‘Whoop!’ on several a great comic touch in her nod to occasions. I know she only gives Claudia Winkelman. And rarely does those out when they’re deserved! toilet humour in a panto spark spontaneous applause, but that’s But Partridge was not the only one exactly what happened when Justin worthy of praise. Lizzie Emery as Brett’s dame, Susie Saucisson, Belle was note-perfect throughout, served up what is undoubtedly the sharing several beautiful scenes best gag about poo-emoji with Chris Jenkins, equally adept as headwear I’ve ever heard. the Beast. The script was genuinely funny too. Whether it was cultural

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However, the scene that brought the house down featured nothing more than a tongue twister. With the technicians working hard behind the curtain to prepare an elaborate set for the next scene, the script tossed aside the need for rubber chickens and custard pies and instead utilised the lingual dexterity of its three main comedic stars, namely Justin Brett, John Partridge and Mike Slader, who was outstanding as Pickles. What began as a She Sells Sea Shells-inspired combination of alliteration and rhyme became an increasingly hilarious display of verbal jousting, as the trio exchanged ever-more elaborate responses. You couldn’t help but be impressed by just how good it was.

This being Beauty and the Beast, it is difficult not to harbour hope of hearing some of Alan Menken’s timeless songs from the 1991 Disney film. Alas, the costs involved in licensing such classics are beyond the means of a regional theatre. However, copyright law provided another rich source of material for gags concerning the production’s budget. The Capitol went a step further, teasing the audience by playing the opening notes of Be Our Guest before a sudden diversion. While Beauty and the Beast’s budget may not have stretched to teapots singing about tales as old as time, the Capitol team were able to produce a stunning movable set under the leadership

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By the time of the fairy tale finale, I was fully invested in the show’s stupendous chaos. As Pickles ventured into the crowd looking for volunteers to take part in a Tik-Tok inspired dance I’d never seen to a song I’d never heard of, I gamely drew his attention to my niece. She knew the dance step-by-step!

John Partridge will return next year (©Brinkhoff-Moegenburg)

Justin Brett as Susie Saucisson (©Brinkhoff-Moegenburg)

of Jack Lane (see separate interview on page 38). Along with the wonderful costumes, the production provided plenty of visual stimulation, sometimes involving multiple changes within a scene, most notably during the sword fight between villain and the Beast.

Of course, I’d made a rookie mistake, as Pickles wasn’t really looking for people who knew the dance. Yet, even being dragged up on stage with little option but to dance like a drunken uncle at a wedding (I think I resorted to groin thrusts at one point) in front of an audience of my peers, did little to dampen my enthusiasm. Without a doubt, I have never enjoyed a panto more. At the end of the show, I bumped into Matthew Effemey, Head of Production and General Manager at the Capitol.‘You should book John Partridge every year!’ I said.

He smiled in a way that suggested I wasn’t the first person to express such a view. Turns out, he was way ahead of me. Before Beauty and the Beast had even ended its run, details of next year’s production of Jack and the Beanstalk were emerging. And you’ll never guess who’s coming back… Further information: You can now book tickets for Jack and the Beanstalk, running from 30 November 2024 Sunday 5 Jan 2025, from (01403) 750220 or thecapitolhorsham.com

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THE CAPITOL THEATRE IS A SECOND HOME FOR HORSHAM ACTOR Who is this? This is James Simmons of Horsham, known to many by his stage name Jack Lane. Assuming he works in theatre... The recent production of Beauty and the Beast at the Capitol marked Jack’s 20th year at the theatre, during which time he has been an actor, writer, producer, director and set designer. He is perhaps best known for his adaptations of classic sitcoms including Dad’s Army and Steptoe and Son, as well as his critically acclaimed one-man show Wisdom of a Fool, based on the life of one of his heroes, Norman Wisdom. How did Jack’s journey at the Capitol begin? Jack didn’t enjoy school but always had a passion for the stage and screen. Through sheer persistence, he was given a part-time role at the theatre and grabbed the opportunity with both hands. Working behind the scenes, he learned about lighting, set design, props and the role of stage technicians. However, it

was the projection room that truly captured his imagination. Jack recalls: ‘We were using 55mm film reels at that time and I was fascinated by the cinematic process. I came in every day for six weeks without pay and the experienced projectionist John Prince patiently answered all my questions and showed me the ropes. It was a difficult time, as my parents were going through a divorce. The Capitol was my escape and that is one of the reasons why I have such affection for it and have continually returned.’ So, he has had several spells there? Jack has had two long periods of working full-time at the Capitol, and has also worked at the theatre intermittently between acting commitments. In 2022, he was the set designer for the pantomime, Cinderella, and fulfilled the same role for 2023’s Beauty and the Beast. Jack said: ‘Having been a stage technician and later utilising the skills I learned for my own productions, I know how to create visually appealing sets on a tight

budget. It is very easy to spend a fortune, but if you’re diligent and are prepared to do the bulk of the work yourself, you can create fantastic yet cost-effective sets.’ What were the highlights of the most recent pantomime? The Capitol often has a special moment that has audiences gasping in wonder, such as the flying carpet in Aladdin or the mechanical giant in Jack and the Beanstalk. In Beauty and the Beast, a starburst of 350-individually controlled lights, similar to cabochon lights at a funfair or amusement arcade, provided a stunning visual spectacle. However, perhaps the biggest challenge Jack needed to overcome was the design of the Beast’s castle. He said: ‘The castle was the setting for five scenes – a huge amount – so we had to find a way to feature different aspects of the castle to provide visual stimulation. One way we achieved this was through the use of a digital screen that acted as a window with interchangeable scenes. We also used sliding

Jack Lane at the Capitol (©AAH/Alan Wright)

walls to create continual movement, which really enhanced scenes such as the sword fight between the Beast and Captain Gastoff, and of course the ballroom scene with Belle.’ Has Jack ever appeared on stage in panto? Indeed, he has. He played the genie in Aladdin alongside children’s TV presenter Anna Williamson in 2010, and the title role in Peter Pan alongside Only Fools and Horses star John Challis, who played Hook at Middlesbrough Theatre in 2012. Since then, Jack has taken on other stage roles including The Scousetrap at Liverpool Royal Court, a national tour of Alice in Wonderland and a leading role in an adaptation of The Producers. However, his self-penned tribute to Norman Wisdom, which premiered at the Capitol before embarking on a national tour, led to more successful adaptations of classic comedies.

Such as? Perhaps the most notable has been Dad’s Army. Jack teamed up with David Benson, who had previously created his own one-man show on the life of Kenneth Williams, and the two staged a well-received comedy, Dad’s Army Radio Show, which saw them performing 25 roles. After adapting nine episodes of the BBC comedy, Jack and David premiered their show at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and have since performed it more than 250 times at venues across the country. Jack said: ‘I owe all my success to Wisdom of a Fool, as that is the show that got me noticed. It was how I first met David and together we have adapted productions of Steptoe and Son, A Christmas Carol and Dad’s Army. We have received support from Penny Croft, whose father David wrote the original Dad’s Army series, and we are adapting three more episodes to take on tour next year.’

I owe my success to Wisdom of a Fool, as it’s what got me noticed.

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A fan of the old stuff then? Yes, and Jack’s passion is evident everywhere you look at the Capitol. The cinematic posters in the bar of films starring the likes of Norman Wisdom and Buster Keaton are mostly from Jack’s personal collection. He also owns painted portraits of comedy icons such as Tommy Cooper that are hung around the staircase, and even a Doctor Who dalek which is also on show. Jack said: ‘The Capitol is my second home and I love the fact that visitors can enjoy these things. I hope they add something to what I think is a wonderful theatre. I have visited hundreds on tour and the Capitol truly is one of the most beautiful regional venues. It also has a very passionate and dedicated team. I have been here for 20 years, while several others have been here for more than a decade and some have served longer than I have. That’s unusual in this industry and I think speaks volumes.’

Jack Lake on the set of Beauty and the Beast (©AAH/Alan Wright)

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What’s next for Jack? He will be back on the road with Dad’s Army Radio Show in 2024 and is hopeful other opportunities will present themselves. He said: ‘That’s one of the challenges of being an actor. You can’t have too many jobs planned in case other roles come up, so you have

to allow some space and just hope the phone rings. That can be nerve-racking when you have to pay the bills, but in the acting game you need to have faith that work will come in!’ Does he hope to one day leave Horsham behind him for the bright lights of London? Let’s ask him. ‘I am lucky, as even when I haven’t had acting jobs, the Capitol has ensured I’ve been able to continually work in the industry I love. I get as much joy out of designing sets as I do from being on stage, as it’s a different kind of creativity. So, if I was still working there in another 20 years’ time, I’d be happy, as long as I could still do the other things I love. The Capitol has been good to me and in return I have invested a lot of time and love into the place, as I have an emotional connection that I don’t feel anywhere else.’ Further information: Jack Lane and David Benson will appear in The Dad’s Army Radio Show at the Capitol on Friday 3 May. Tickets £22 from thecapitolhorsham.com WORDS: Ben Morris PHOTOS: Alan Wright/ Toby Phillips

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DIVA FOREVER

HORSHAM SINGER SARAH-ESSER HASWELL SET FOR CAPITOL

Sarah Esser-Haswell, AKA The Horsham Diva (©AAH/Alan Wright Photography)

Sarah Esser-Haswell, AKA The Horsham Diva, has been selling out shows at the Capitol for a decade. She is also renowned for her performances in the town centre, having been part of memorable events including the King’s Coronation. AAH met Sarah as she prepared for her one woman show at her hometown theatre…

First Performance That was at Claygate Village Hall in Surrey. I was seven years old and played the third fox from the right! Even at that age, I knew I wanted to perform and all through my childhood, singing and acting meant everything to me. I adored iconic singers such as Judy Garland, Cleo Laine and Barbra Streisand.

Singing Style Although I love musicals, I have a classical background. I studied at the London Academy of Music & Dramatic Arts and continued to develop my vocals under the tuition of Angela Barker, who I’ve worked with ever since. Your voice is an instrument

that needs to be well-oiled. If you don’t maintain it properly, bad habits creep in. I compare it to a marathon runner who needs to train every day to maintain a good level of fitness. Even now, I see Angela to hone my voice before a performance.

Side Hustle My dad always said that I needed a job to fall back on, as singing and acting alone wouldn’t pay the bills. When I was at LAMDA, I was a hair stylist and now I teach drama at Southwater Junior Academy. I might have been more ambitious and become a cruise ship entertainer or maybe even tried to make it on the London stage. However, my first son arrived only 18 months before I had twins, and they were my number one priority. Being a mum and a professional singer are not jobs you can do half-heartedly. So, I focused on my family and never regretted the decision, as I have happy memories of performing locally.

Sarah at the Bandstand for the King’s Coronation (©Toby Phillips 2023)

Career Highlight I was in countless productions with the Opera Club of Redhill and Reigate (now ESPA) and spent 15 years performing open-air theatre at Hever Castle. But one role that stands out amongst all others was when director Kevin Hogg cast me as Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard at the Harlequin Theatre, Redhill. There were 11 costume changes and I had three people helping me change between numbers, so it was a demanding role, but also an honour to take on one of the great female characters of musical theatre. Even today, there is a little bit of Norma with me in every performance.

Good Neighbours I have lived in Horsham for 36 years. When I first arrived, I heard someone playing piano in a house that backed on to ours, so went round to introduce myself. The pianist was Alan Woolven, a wonderful man who performed to

There’s a little bit of Norma Desmond with me in every show. Sarah Esser-Haswell at the Capitol Theatre (©AAH/Alan Wright)

Sarah as Normas Desmond in Sunset Boulevard

Sarah performs during the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee (©Toby Phillips 2022)

troops with the Entertainments National Service Association (ENSA) during the Second World War and is still playing to this day. He performed with the RAF Association and British Legion bands, and I would often join them as guest singer. This continued during lockdown when we held weekly singalong sessions online. At one point, we were reaching 70,000 people around the world, including my sister in New Zealand.

Coronation Streets I have performed from the Carfax Bandstand many times. I think it has

undergone two refurbishments since the first time I sang there! There have been some emotional moments. I remember singing Ivor Novello’s We’ll Gather Lilacs during a VE Day anniversary performance and saw veterans holding hands, which was incredibly moving. I was also part of the town’s celebrations for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and King Charles’ Coronation, when the town was a sea of people. They joined in with favourites such as Que Sera, Sera and Land of Hope and Glory, and I remember Climb Every Mountain from The Sound of Music brought the house down.

In the Spotlight I love interacting with the audience. When you’re under the spotlight in a big show, you shut yourself away from the audience as you’re too immersed in the role. But when I perform outdoors or at one of my own shows, I talk a lot! I look out for faces I know or recognise and say a few words. I don’t make it too cheesy or put people in an embarrassing position; it’s just acknowledging people in the crowd and making them feel special. I’ve been doing it for 45 years and am not about to stop now!

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Aria Automatic In 2000, I booked the Capitol as I wanted to cherry pick my favourite songs from musicals and operas and perform them in a one-woman show. I thought it was a risk booking the main theatre, but it sold out and I’ve hosted shows there ever since. My next show in January will feature a couple of songs from contemporary musicals such as Wicked, although it is my opinion that songs from hit musicals of recent years don’t have the same impact of the classics by the likes of Lloyd-Webber or Rodgers and Hammerstein. I like to include operatic numbers too, with Bizet’s Carmen among my favourites. A little opera gives people a different perception of you as a vocalist and I also find that everything else automatically seems a bit easier afterwards!

Selling Out Performing alongside other singers and musicians is something I enjoy, as it raises your own level and adds interest for the audience. Although it is advertised as a one woman show, I often invite others to perform duets with me at the Capitol. With January’s show having sold out, I booked another date in the Studio, when I will be singing alongside professional baritone Jon Openshaw. I saw him perform the title role in Don Giovanni, so he’s a fantastic operatic singer, although we will be focusing on songs made famous by the likes of Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett and Judy Garland. The Capitol have been incredibly supportive over the past 30 years, giving me opportunities that I would never have experienced elsewhere.

Sarah Esser-Haswell enjoys singing operatic numbers (©AAH/Alan Wright)

Special Feeling I went to the Andalusia region of Spain a couple of years ago and there was a guitarist playing at the hotel bar. My friend spoke to him, which led to me joining in with a couple of songs. The owner of the hotel was listening and liked it so much that he paid for me to fly out for another performance. I don’t mind playing to a smaller crowd, as singing always gives me a special feeling. My first gig after COVID restrictions were lifted was in Loxwood, in front of a relatively small audience, yet I found it very

emotional. After two years, I realised just how much I loved singing and how important it has been to my life. Further information: An Evening With Sarah & Friends at the Capitol on 20 January has sold out. However, you can catch an Afternoon with Sarah & Jon at the Capitol on Sunday 25 February, 2pm. Tickets £15 from thecapitolhorsham.com INTERVIEW: Ben Morris PHOTOS: Alan Wright/Toby Phillips.

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STRIKE A CHORD HORSHAM MUSIC CIRCLE CONTINUES TO HOST GREAT ACTS

About 30 years ago, Paul Harris was performing as Harry the Piano at the Moscow Club in London when he received an unusual request. A patron asked him to play the theme tune to the Cadbury’s Flake advert, as it had been written by her husband Ronnie Bond, a renowned composer of jingles. Harry’s rendition was so well received by its composer that not only did it lead to him collaborating with Ronnie Bond, but also led to to him incorporating novelty songs and jingles into performances. After relating this story during a concert at St Mary’s Church, Horsham, Harry gave a wonderfully jaunty rendition of Tasty Tasty, Very Very Tasty, another of Bond’s famous jingles from a Bran Flakes advert, but with the added bonus of playing it in the style of a Mozart sonata. Harry told AAH: ‘For the final stages of my cabaret shows, I encourage the audience to make requests. It’s nice to have a level of interaction and they ask for anything and everything from classical, jazz and blues to nursery rhymes and theme tunes. It might be the EastEnders theme tune in the style of Stevie Wonder, or Carmina Burana in the style of Schubert. It is like a jukebox playing random songs, which certainly keeps me on my toes! It also makes the audience laugh and they

applaud when they hear both of the suggested elements. Of course, those who make requests go home even happier as they contributed to the entertainment. Some ideas work better than others, but sometimes they’re so good that you wish you’d thought of them first!’

CIRCLE OF LIFE Harry the Piano’s concert was hosted by Horsham Music Circle (HMC), a non-profit organisation that has organised music events in the town since 1942. It was founded by local professional pianist Grace Humphery, who attended the Royal College of Music. Grace often invited her friends and colleagues to perform for the Circle and acclaimed musicians including York Bowen, Leon Goossens and cellist Jacqueline du Pré are among those who have played for HMC. Initially, concerts were held at the Friends Meeting House in Worthing Road, but the Circle has at times used several other venues including Duckering Hall at Collyer’s, Horsham Arts Centre, the Capitol and the Drill Hall. Today, concerts are held at St Mary’s Church or the Barn in Causeway and – in its 82nd season – the Circle continues to provide a varied programme including solo recitals, ensembles and even jazz.

Jill Elsworthy, Organising Secretary since 1978, said: ‘We don’t have a committee at the HMC, but I’m supported by a small team of passionate advisors who work hard to produce a highquality programme. The format has changed over the years, but we now split the programme into an autumn and spring series, with three concerts in each, as well as two lunchtime organ recitals.’ ‘We continue to attract renowned musicians and rising stars. We once booked Scottish percussionist Evelyn Glennie before she had even graduated from the Royal Academy of Music, as we could see her potential. More recently, we have welcomed the brilliant cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason, having previously welcomed five other members of the talented Kanneh-Mason family for a wonderful evening. There is much for audiences to enjoy, with classical music as well folk, jazz and light music.’ ‘For May’s concert, we try to attract a bigger name to close the series. In 2023, we welcomed saxophonist Jess Gillam, the youngest soloist to perform at the Last Night of the Proms, and this year we will be hosting a piano recital by Warren Mailley-Smith, performing works by Beethoven, Rachmaninov, Chopin and John Ireland.’

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LOCAL TALENT The Circle also supports local musicians including Luca Imperiale. The Horsham-based musician is currently studying historical performance on recorder and clarinet at the Royal College of Music, having previously benefited from tuition by locally-based musicians Lou Bradbury and Steve Dummer.

to enjoy, but they’re often the most surprising, so I try to attend as many as I can to appreciate the variety of each season.’

BOWIE TO BLUES

Harry the Piano is the latest in a long line of fine musicians to have performed for Horsham Music Circle, including cellist Julian Lloyd-Webber and We host Romanian pianist Radu some concerts Lupu.

Last October, Luca performed French I don’t expect to baroque for the HMC. Having been given He was joined by enjoy, but they’re his stage name by a Turkish cellist Ozgur often the most presenter who wasn’t Kaya, who has an struck by the idea of affiliation to the surprising. introducing him simply Horsham District having as ‘Harry’, he has gone on been based here during to enjoy a successful career as lockdown, and Apolline Khou, a a professional pianist, touring and harpsichordist and pianist who recording with the likes of Alexander recently graduated from the College Armstrong and Rick Astley. After of Music. In addition to his being spotted at the Groucho Club studies, Luca teaches clarinet at in Soho, Harry was invited to join local schools and has a growing the house band on Channel 4’s The interest in conducting, having been Big Breakfast, where he played with inspired by Steve Dummer of everyone from Will Smith to David Horsham Symphony Orchestra. Bowie, and was later part of the He also helps Jill organise events, band on Johnny Vaughan Tonight, bringing fresh ideas to the Circle. after the presenter’s switch to the BBC. Luca said: ‘My first involvement with HMC was when I volunteered to be a steward during a performance by Lou Bradbury’s group. Since then, I have helped out whenever I can, while also reviewing concerts for the website and local press. What I like about the HMC is that every performance is different and it exposes you to various types of music and interpretations. It also allows me to meet other musicians and form connections, which is important in this industry. I would encourage others to come along, as you always have a good time watching live music. Sometimes, we host concerts that I don’t expect

Now based in London, Harry has recorded three albums (including Lockdown Blues, made after he recorded a tune every day during the pandemic) and composes tunes and jingles for Audio Network, a catalogue of music used for TV, radio and advertising. He also teaches young people how to play piano, adopting a method based on fun and improvision that offers an alternative to the rigid, technical tuition that he feels puts many off the idea of learning an instrument.

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However, Harry spends about half his life on the road, and while he has travelled the world and played at prestigious venues, coming to Horsham feels like a homecoming. He said: ‘I had played the piano for years before I finally decided to take my cabaret act on the road. I played at Christ’s Hospital Theatre and Jill was in the audience. She invited me to play for the Horsham Music Circle and I remember looking them up, as I had never heard of it. I saw a list of incredible acts that had played there before and was impressed, although I wasn’t sure if my style would suit its audience. Rather than perform classical recitals, I’m more inspired by the likes of Dudley Moore and Victor

Borge, combining elements of jazz and comedy. However, I played for the Circle at the Capitol some 30 years ago and that really kick-started my one-man show. Jill has since become a friend and for this latest concert, joined me on stage to perform Irving Berlin’s White Christmas. Every show is different and this one had some festive touches!’ ‘I wish I had an Elton John level of kudos and money, and could afford to transport my own piano around the world with me, but I don’t. So, I have to use a different piano at each venue. Some suit me more than others, and there are times when I sit down behind a heavy, cumbersome 100-year-old Bechstein and know

it’s going to be hard work! Fortunately, I quite like the Yahama at St Mary’s Church. This is my eighth visit to Horsham since that first show and it always feels great to be back here.’ Further information: Horsham Music Circle’s 82nd season continues with a spring series of three concerts, beginning with The King’s Singers at St Mary’s on Saturday 27 January. For more details, see the News Round-Up (page 9) or visit horsham-music-circle.org.uk WORDS: Ben Morris PHOTOS: Alan Wright

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MULTI STORY STORYTELLERS PROMOTES MUSIC, SINGING AND DANCING

Storytellers Performing Arts School recently completed its first term, offering classes combining acting, dancing, singing and music to children aged four to 12. AAH spoke to Jonny and Nicola Pike about their new venture…

in Horsham. Jonny plays in the church band and we both became involved in youth work, writing and producing videos aimed at entertaining and engaging young families during the pandemic. While there are no religious aspects of Storytellers, our work with the church has provided us with ideas in terms of encouraging young people to be creative.

What inspired you to launch Storytellers? Nicola: We have thought about working together for some time and it seems a natural culmination of our journey. I trained at the Guildford School of Acting and have spent the past 20 years acting, presenting, writing and teaching. I’ve also worked as a children’s entertainer and continue to run Penguin’s Parties, while also teaching drama and dance at several schools, including Stagecoach. Before moving to Horsham, I taught drama at a private school in Surrey, where Jonny offered tuition on bass, guitar and the ukulele. We both adopt a holistic teaching style and this has been our approach to Storytellers, which is all about empowering creativity in young people. Why launch the business in Horsham? Nicola: We moved to the town with our two children during lockdown. It wasn’t long before we were involved in Lifespring Church, based

Where are classes held? Nicola: Our inaugural class was held at All Saints CE Primary School in Horsham. We came together every Saturday morning for ten weeks and the feedback from parents has been very good, with 100% retention for next term. This has given us encouragement and hopefully if one or two children recommend it to a friend, we can grow class numbers. Each session incorporates music, singing, dancing and acting. But it’s important to adapt to the group, ensuring the children are engaged and continually connecting the dots. We try to teach them to understand how all of the exercises help tell a story and that becomes more important as the term progresses and we begin work on a finale.

What was this term’s finale… Nicola: For the final Saturday, we blend all the different components of the course into a particular scene. This term, it was all about emotions, inspired by the film Inside Out. It has been lovely to hear feedback from parents who have noticed a change in their children, who appear more confident. Some said it was nice watching the final performance, as the children were given the freedom to simply perform on stage, without the work having to be rehearsed until it was perfect! We handed out a Growth-inConfidence award at the end for someone who I didn’t think would join in with the singing, but by the final week had oodles of confidence, which is what Storytellers is all about. And music is important too? Jonny: From the outset, we wanted music theory to be part of Storytellers. Sometimes, schools can try to teach music in a way that isn’t enjoyable and it puts many children off something that should be very enjoyable. I find that the ukulele is a fantastic gateway instrument. It helps children to understand rhythm and grasp the basics of music theory. Within a short space of time, kids are able to sing along with fun tunes, and because they play standing up, they develop confidence singing with an instrument from the outset, rather than having to overcome that difficultly step later.

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Are there other creative components you would like to introduce? Jonny: Some children have a natural talent for performing, but others are more interested in other aspects of the creative process. Put them behind the camera and show them how they work and children can demonstrate creativity in other ways. So, we have already introduced elements of photography and filming into the course, with young people learning about focusing techniques and gaining a basic understanding of equipment like green screens. We found this really excited some children and hope to introduce other elements such as sound effects in future,

What are your ambitions for the business? Nicola: We are already working on a plan for the next term of Storytellers. We will host our first pre-term workshop with the actor James Merry, best known for his role in Waffle the Wonder Dog on CBeebies. James will be sharing secrets of the filming and recording process and will help the kids present their own scenes, inspired by Waffle the Wonder Dog. We are hoping to call on other friends and colleagues in the future to provide more high-quality workshops as Storytellers grows. Our vision is to grow something that is sustainable, perhaps hosting classes at five schools in different locations. We’re helping to train people like Claudia Floodgate too, so

they understand our holistic approach. That might give us the potential to grow in future, but for now, we’re still on our own journey of discovery! Further information: The pre-term workshop with James Murray is held on Saturday 6 January, with the 10-week term beginning on 13 January and running to 23 March (excludes 17 February). For details, visit storytellers-arts.co.uk storytellers_arts_school WORDS: Ben Morris PHOTOS: Alan Wright

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CLOSE KN CLOSE NORMANDY WI GROUP BUSY CRAFTING POST BOX TOPPERS

How will future generations look back on the cultural impact of 2023? Will it be defined by Taylor Swift’s record-breaking world tour, or Elon Musk’s persistence of ‘successfully’ launching rockets that explode? Perhaps historians will reflect on 2023 as the year humanity failed to quash the threat of ChatGPT, opting to sit back and watch as AI brought about the dawn of the robot age? Or maybe, they will look back and marvel at all of the rather wonderful post-box toppers that the ladies of the Women’s Institute knitted across the land!

Few towns having embraced post-box toppers in the way that Horsham has. In recent years, the toppers have represented a range of themes, from Royal occasions to raising awareness of climate issues, all the while creating points of interest in the community. Many of the local toppers have been made by the ladies of Normandy WI, one

of more than a dozen groups in the Horsham District affiliated to the West Sussex Federation of the WI. The toppers have become such an integral part of the Normandy WI that one of the group’s monthly meetings is dedicated solely to knitting and crochet. Pam Tedder, Secretary, said: ‘The WI is the largest women’s organisation in the UK and is a place for women of all ages to come together and share experiences. The Normandy WI is affiliated to the West Sussex Federation, which is the oldest in England, and has supported national WI campaigns that focus on issues such as clean rivers, climate change and gender-based violence.’

‘Normandy is one of the most popular local WI groups and organises several monthly events, with members welcome to come to whatever ones interest them. Our WI meeting is held at the United Reformed Church on the third Thursday of every month. There, we discuss national campaigns, discuss official business and often have welcome a guest speaker. Our reading group meets at John Lewis Café on the fourth Wednesday of each month, our walking group comes together on the second Tuesday or Wednesday, and the luncheon group meets on a Thursday every other month. We also have a coffee morning, currently held at Panino’s in the Carfax. So, there is a strong social network and at least once a week,

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women have an opportunity to get out of the house and meet friends. During COVID, we went online and did the best we could, helping those who didn’t know how to use a computer so they could stay in touch. This really did provide a lifeline for some. But it was lovely when we finally came together once again for a coffee morning and in a way the experience of lockdown brought us all closer together.’

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‘It also helped inspire the post-box toppers. We now have a craft group that meets at John Lewis and that has become topper focused. It wasn’t intentional, but they have become so popular and are a great way to highlight some of our campaign issues.’

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The idea came about when the country was recovering from lockdown. Normandy WI chose to support Big Green Week by crafting small birds and bees, placing them around Horsham Park. With the members enjoying the project, the group continued the wildlife theme by making toppers to support COP26, the climate change conference held in Glasgow in 2021. The public again embraced the idea and so the ladies knitted more toppers with a festive theme for Christmas.

The British

Inspired by a Legion were post-box topper campaign in St flabbergasted Albans, the WI by the number of added a QR code so that members knitted poppies of the public could we made! make a donation and to date this has helped raise £3,000 for Horsham Matters. The craft group is now one of the most popular at Normandy WI and the interest in the toppers shows no sign of abating.

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Kath Smithies, President of Normandy WI, said: ‘As well as our environmental campaigns, we have made seasonal toppers for special events like Remembrance Sunday and have also been commissioned to make them in support of the St Catherine’s Hospice Midnight Walk, which involved lots of orange wool! Fortress Theatre Company in Horsham also asked us to make a topper to support their production of Calendar Girls at the Capitol.’ ‘Knitted poppies have become a popular alternative for people to wear on Remembrance Sunday and last year we joined in with other local WI groups to knit more than a thousand poppies, which were donated to the British Legion. They were flabbergasted when they saw how many we had made, yet they managed to sell every single one of them!’

‘The support we receive from the community is fantastic and we’ve had a huge amount of wool donated to us. As well as the toppers, we have made knitted hats and scarves for Horsham Matters to support their Winter Fuel campaign and also for Age UK. We have also made blankets and cardigans for the Special Care Baby Unit at Worthing Hospital, as well as baby hats, some of which were sent to the Ukraine.’

‘Something else we have made is twiddle or fidget muffs, which help dementia patients keep their hands active. In February, we will support a national WI campaign called Show the Love, which has an environmental focus, so expect to see knitted green hearts popping up around town. We’re hoping our local MP Jeremy Quin might even wear one in the House of Commons. So, as well as doing things for ourselves, we help local organisations and charities, bringing a little bit of joy into the community.’

HUNGRY CATERPILLARS Unfortunately, several of the post-box toppers have disappeared. Whether it is a case of children being a touch too fond of a cuddly knitted Father Christmas, or climate change sceptics taking out their frustration on a crochet polar bear remains a mystery. However, the most divisive toppers to date have been those made to celebrate Royal occasions, with the Queen in the Carfax being the only knitted version of the late monarch to have escaped the thieves.

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The latest theme is aimed more at younger generations. Three Normandy WI members have been making toppers based on children’s books, placing them near primary schools for the benefit of pupils. Janet Evans said: ‘We thought perhaps we ought to diversify our output and that’s how the storybook toppers came about. One of the ladies’ granddaughters suggested we make a Room on the Broom topper, and it seemed a good place to start as children love the books of Julia Donaldson.

After that, we made toppers of The Gruffalo, Alice in Wonderland, The Tiger Who Came to Tea and The Very Hungry Caterpillar.’ ‘By working in a small group, we can bounce ideas around, so it becomes a fun project for us while others in the WI focus on other themes. We have placed the toppers around Trafalgar Road and North Parade and children love seeing them on their way to school. Lots of them stop to look at them and see if they recognise

the characters in the toppers, which is lovely. They have become a talking point for the town, which we didn’t really expect, and that has given us all a positive boost in the past couple of years.’ Further information: For details on the Normandy WI, visit: https://west-sussex.thewi.org.uk/find-wi/ horsham-normandy WORDS: Ben Morris PHOTOS: Alan Wright

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FINAL WORD

PROFESSIONAL NETWORKER BRINGING BUSINESSES TOGETHER MARC JARRETT Virtual Power Networking Marc is a professional networker from Horsham. He manages over 500 WhatsApp groups, connecting business people around the world...

At the turn of the Millennium, logos and ringtones were a cultural phenomenon. I established a business called Logo Paradise, advertising in tabloids including The Sun and The Daily Sport. People could call a premium rate number and order a logo or ringtone for their Nokia phone. I was the first to bring the idea to the UK market and business boomed until others jumped on the bandwagon. Unfortunately, the underwriting technology was easy to replicate and before long, there were 14 full page adverts for logos and ringtones in one tabloid alone! After that experience, I knew my future was in online marketing. I moved to the Canary Islands and became a business development manager for an online billing company. Remote working is nothing new for me; I’ve been doing it most of my working life. Then in 2011, I was involved in Dial-a-Star, the world’s first celebrity chat-line. The concept was launched in the United States and although the idea had critics, it was an interesting concept. We had some household names lined up for a UK version, but it never took off and instead my attention turned to social media. Four years ago, I was a member of a WhatsApp group hosted by Thomas Power, a leading networker. My networking style can be quite edgy, which wasn’t always popular with the Administrators but did attract people to the groups. Eventually, I felt that rather than working hard to populate somebody else’s WhatsApp groups, I could set up my own. So, I launched the Virtual International Pub (VIP). I started with one group focused solely on people working in Education, as my idea was that members had a shared interest and could exchange useful information in a meaningful network. I launched a Biotech group next and the idea snowballed. I now run over 500 WhatsApp groups covering many industries. For four years, I’ve been gradually building up the groups, encouraging people to network while also gaining a better understanding of how the system works. It has been fun, but as the

groups are free to join, it doesn’t pay the bills. Now, I feel that the VIP scheme offers enough value for members to charge them. So, I have teamed up with Singaporean company Nas.io and created Virtual Power Networking, connecting professionals across the globe. At the heart of VPN are the VIP WhatsApp groups. However, in addition to that, we also organise events with keynote speakers and insightful conversations on Remo.co.

One of the things I most like about the groups is that they bring all kinds of people together. In one group, I have someone living in a refugee camp in Africa, as well as one of the world’s leading economists. I like the idea of being inclusive, as it’s the antithesis of corporate thinking.

People ask if my idea is easy to replicate. I argue that it isn’t, as I spent four years making contacts and building up WhatsApp groups to establish networks and make them unique. Since the pandemic, online networking has There are members I label ‘rockstars’ become more important, especially with so many of us working from Dynamic as they are key business people that add value to the network and being home. What my WhatsApp groups Dubai has in a group with these rockstars do is connect people with a combecome one of attracts new members. mon interest, as this way they are more likely to spark discussion our successes, and more importantly, generate with members Now, I need to monetise the groups, which we have started results. We have had people who having met to do. After launching VPN, we have been offered jobs on the up. had 200 people sign in two months, groups and furthered their career. as they could see the benefit. I hope soon to reach 1000 people, at a monthly As well as business groups, I’ve got groups fee of less that £10. I think that’s fair, as every for namesakes, such as Wonderful business person on the planet can benefit from Wendys and Marvellous Marys. Others are it. I act as a networking jockey, making aimed at the alumni (former students) of introductions and keeping things moving! universities including Harvard, MIT, Cambridge and Oxford. Some groups focus on a particular There are always risks. For instance, WhatsApp region or city, such as Dynamic Dubai, which could theoretically pull out of the UK because has become one of our most successful of government regulations about encrypted groups, with members having met up several communications. However, there are two billion times in person. This is very rewarding, as it reasons why I think this idea will work, as that’s shows that the groups have helped manifest a how many people use WhatsApp around the human connection. world. So, if you would like to know more about the idea, please visit our website at www.virtualpowernetworking.com

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W E YEAR N 4 2 0

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