AAH (All About Horsham) October 2024

OCTOBER 2024

AAH OCTOBER 2024 COVER STORY The October 2024 cover features The Copper Family at St Mary Magdalene Church in Rusper, where the folk act performed on Saturday 14 September.

We met several family members at The Plough, opposite the church (where we enjoyed a pint with the Rector, Nick Flint) before setting up this photo once all the singers had arrived. The church was already full at this point, and the concert was due to begin, so Alan had no choice but to work quickly!

Seated are John Copper, his sister Jill and Jill’s husband Jon Dudley. Standing are their grown-up children Andy, Sean, Lucy and Ben. They must have settled in to their positions, as it’s how they performed the entire concert!

Other cover contenders included DJ David Hamilton at his Billingshurst home, actors Skye Killgallon and Tegan Muggeridge at the premiere of Aguska, and Daniel Wait, General Manager of South Lodge Hotel, at The Reeds.

ABOUT US

9 NEWS ROUND-UP Details of Horsham Fireworks Night and Horsham Artists to host Parkside exhibition

20 BOOKS DJ David Hamilton reflects on a long career in broadcasting in his newly published memoirs

25 LUXURY The Reeds opens at South Lodge Hotel, where guests can enjoy a wild swimming experience

LEISURE

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ADVERT RATES (Per month/edition) Eighth Page: £60 + VAT (93mm x 63mm) Quarter Page: £115 + VAT (93mm x 133mm - portrait or landscape) Half Page: £195 + VAT (190mm x 133mm or long, upright shape) Full Page: £325 + VAT (A4 with 4mm bleed) Double Page: £550 + 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

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DISTRIBUTION

Horsham Walking Cricket Team hopes to establish a new league in Sussex

FILM

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 contact Ben (preferably by email). We offer every 6th advert free, like a cafe. We also design adverts for free if you need help.

Photographer: Alan Wright alanwrightphotography.co.uk 07747 617387 Alan works for AAH on a freelance basis and can be booked for all kinds of commercial work.

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Fact Not Fiction Films holds premiere of its latest short film at Everyman Cinema

ADVERTISING

AAH is an independent magazine founded in 2011. It is owned by Ben Morris, a life-long resident of the District.

Editor: Ben Morris editor@aahorsham.co.uk (01903) 892899 2 Viney Close, Ashington, RH20 3PT

COMMUNITY The Blue Oasis Club Night at the Drill Hall is aimed at people with disabilities

48 RURAL LIFE The CPRE Countryside Day highlights businesses and organisations that help protect wildlife

55 ART The Horsham School of Botanical Artists holds exhibition at Parham House

61 MUSIC The Copper Family perform traditional folk songs at St Mary Magdalene Church, Rusper

66 FINAL WORD Rebecca Malloy embarks on a ‘bucket list’ after father’s battle with Alzheimer’s

DOOR-TO-DOOR DELIVERIES: We deliver over 6,000 copies of AAH directly through doors in and around Horsham.

Jacquie Paterson, Jill Shuker, Bloomfield family, Oliver Matson, Charlie Merchant, Alec Baker, Walker family, Ben Raymond, Joseph Down, Browning family, Katie Drysdale William Fuglsig, Chapman family, Palmer family, Butcher family, Derek Bradnum SPRING-LOADED STANDS 6,000 copies of AAH are distributed through our stylish, bespoke, spring-loaded stands.

Horsham: Swan Walk (outside M&S), Henry Adams, At Home Estate Agents, Crates Local (all Carfax), Gwyn’s Bakery, Johansson’s Cafe (Bishopric), Horsham Bedding Centre (Medwin Walk), John Lewis, Pavilions in the Park, Horsham Rail Station, Horsham FC, New House Farm, New Street Butchers, Holbrook Club, Steban’s Salon.

Village Stands: Newbridge Nurseries, The Bridge Leisure Centre (BBH) 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, 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, Roffey News and Post Office (Roffey) SUPERMARKETS In association with Self Select Distribution, AAH is available at Tesco Extra in Broadbridge Heath and Sainsbury’s Horsham.

AAH ONLINE AAH is published on the 1st of the month at www.aahorsham.co.uk

NOTES

Nick Morris on Kiss of Mud @Tough Mudder

AAH EDITOR BEN MORRIS TAKES ON TOUGH MUDDER COURSE

Last year, I took part in a Tough Mudder for the first time. Back then, I was relatively fit, as I still played six-a-side football for a team of veterans, but I sensibly opted for a gentle introduction to Tough Mudder by tackling a shorter distance of the military-style obstacle course.

It was held at the end of a glorious summer, so the woodland terrain was firm, ensuring the trail through St Leonard’s Forest (the London South Tough Mudder is held on the Holmbush Estate, near Faygate) was a scenic one, with the ground sprinkled with pine needles. I was shattered by the end of the 10K course (and not just because I’d been zapped on the merciless final obstacle, Electroshock Therapy) but it was a great day. So, I decided to sign up again this year…

Certain things were different this time around For starters, I’ve quit football as my knee has a habit of popping out of joint whenever it’s asked to suddenly change direction, a consequence of not properly committing to physiotherapy after ACL surgery. It sometimes happens at home (like when I tried to slide my foot sideways into a haphazardly-placed bedside slipper) but at other times it serves up a more public humiliation (like a cousin’s wedding when I was “dad dancing” to Satisfaction by The Rolling Stones). When it happens, I have to curl up on the floor and slowly bend my knee until it clicks back in place. It’s kind of like Mel Gibson and his dislocated shoulder in the Lethal Weapon films, but less macho and without the splendid mullet.

Another factor this year was the weather. Heavy rainfall over a dreadful summer had deposited pools of mud around the forest trails. A storm on the first day of the Tough Mudder weekend made it even worse and as thousands of competitors

pounded through these pools, they were whipped into a cauldron of sludge, a colour pitched somewhere between porridge and korma.

yet having fun, helping each other complete each obstacle with little regard for their own finishing time.

Despite these factors working against me, I did what any middle-aged man delusional about his own physical capabilities would do and signed up for the toughest course: the 15K Tough Mudder. This has 20 obstacles including Electric Eel (which involves wading through a pool trying to avoid dangling wires rigged up to the power supply) and Arctic Enema (which involves sliding into an ice pit and involuntarily spouting all kinds of colourful language as you desperately scramble out of the water while turning a colour pitched somewhere between robin’s egg and forget-me-nots.)

With the Finsbury Tough Mudder having been cancelled (it churned up the park, the locals went berserk), the Faygate Tough Mudder attracted many people from the capital. So, prior to the start, there’s a lively, instructor-led warm-up, during which participants laugh awkwardly as they’re asked to break from everyday convention by making eye-contact with strangers. This is a pre-cursor to potentially making actual physical contact with them later.

I didn’t help myself by turning up in Bermuda shorts. Not out of any wish to be quirky, but as I didn’t have anything else to wear. I knew from last year that those in trousers had to constantly hold them up under the sagging weight of mud and water, so I avoided them. However, the elasticated string had vanished from my only surviving pair of football shorts. So, after 15 frustrating minutes spent on the impossible task of feeding a shoelace through the hole, I gave up and opted instead to wear the bright blue shorts with palm trees on that I bought in Cyprus.

It made me feel quite self-conscious, though I need not have worried, as Tough Mudder attracts all kinds of people. You wouldn’t necessarily think so from the photos on its website. They mostly depict participants as young, gym-going sorts who flex their muscles on Funky Monkey and charge up the Everest wall climb without assistance. However, most of those taking part were in a boat much like mine; they were hurting

Many were there with friends or colleagues and it was fun to observe them resorting to their workplace persona. The team leader who tells their colleagues what to do at the Kiss of Mud, even when it’s bloody obvious; the health and safety rep who checks if anyone suffers with claustrophobia before Cage Crawl; the office clown who wears a pink tutu and shouts ‘Come on you slackers!’ as he sprints off at the start, only to be exhausted by the time he’s reached Mud Mile! What was great though was that the further round the course they were, the more people were willing to lend a helping hand.

I took part with one of my sons, who charitably stayed with me all the way and literally dragged me up a couple of the climbing obstacles. When we crossed the finish line and collected our medal, we shared that sense of achievement together. The blisters on our feet and the mud in our ears felt like minor inconveniences. Would I do it again? Not a chance! I’ve not been able to walk for a week! But it wouldn’t surprise me if I’ve forgotten all about that by the time next year’s event rolls around. n

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Autumn

As As the the summer’s summer’s warmth warmth begins begins to to fade, fade, Leonardslee Lakes & Gardens transforms Leonardslee Lakes & Gardens transforms into into a a breathtaking breathtaking display display of of autumnal autumnal hues.

This historic estate, only hues. This historic estate, only a a short short drive from Horsham’s town centre, drive from Horsham’s town centre, offers offers an an escape escape into into a a world world of of natural natural beauty, beauty, a a place place where where the the worries worries of of everyday everyday life life melt away with every step.

So, take a deep melt away with every step. So, take a deep breath breath of of fresh fresh air air and and immerse immerse yourself yourself in a world of vibrant colours, serene in a world of vibrant colours, serene tranquility, tranquility, and and captivating captivating wildlife. wildlife.

AWAITS AT LEONARDSLEE

Late Late summer summer and and early early autumn, autumn, begin begin to to paint paint Leonardslee Leonardslee in in aa breathtaking breathtaking palette palette of of reds, reds, oranges, oranges, and and bronzes. bronzes.

Explore the ancient woodland Explore the ancient woodland paths, paths, where where the the air air is is filled filled with with aa sense sense of of peace peace and and serenity. serenity. Beyond Beyond the the vibrant foliage, the gardens vibrant foliage, the gardens teem teem with with diverse diverse wildlife, wildlife, adding adding to to the the enchanting enchanting atmosphere. atmosphere.

Celebrating Celebrating art art & & nature nature This This year, year, Leonardslee Leonardslee celebrates celebrates the the Surrey Surrey Sculpture Society’s 30th anniversary.

Sculpture Society’s 30th anniversary. Explore Explore the the beautiful beautiful sculptures sculptures by by local local artists, artists, seamlessly seamlessly integrated integrated into into the the natural natural surroundings surroundings offering offering a a unique perspective of the valley and lakes. unique perspective of the valley and lakes. Inside Inside Leonardslee Leonardslee House, House, the the Art Art Gallery Gallery showcases showcases smaller-scale pieces, providing smaller-scale pieces, providing an an intimate intimate experience experience for for art art enthusiasts. enthusiasts.

Visit Visit Leonardslee Leonardslee Whether Whether you’re you’re seeking seeking aa peaceful peaceful escape, escape, a a cultural cultural experience, or simply a chance to admire the experience, or simply a chance to admire the beauty beauty of of nature, nature, Leonardslee Leonardslee is is the the perfect perfect destination destination to to be be captivated. captivated. Number Number 17 17 bus bus runs runs between between Horsham Horsham station station & & Brighton Brighton and and stops stops just just outside outside Leonardslee Leonardslee Lakes Lakes & & Gardens.

Gardens.

Join Join Leonardslee...

Leonardslee...

Become Become a a member member and and enjoy enjoy aa year year of of unlimited unlimited entry, free parking, free entry to the Play entry, free parking, free entry to the Play Park, Park, 22 for for 11 plant plant of of the the month, month, aa free free ticket ticket to to Leonardslee Leonardslee Lights, Lights, and more! and more!

Don’t Don’t miss miss these these upcoming upcoming events events Funky Funky Fungi Fungi Halloween Halloween Trail Trail

19 19 October October –– 3 3 November November Join Join our our spooky spooky adventure adventure –– explore explore nature, nature, complete complete fun fun activities, activities, collect collect six six magical magical stamps, stamps, enjoy enjoy themed themed crafts, crafts, puppet puppet shows shows and and more! more!

Autumn Autumn Walk Walk with with our our Head Head Gardener Gardener

24 24 October October & &7 7 November November Discover the best Discover the best places places to to enjoy enjoy Autumnal Autumnal colour colour and and learn about how the team manages the gardens learn about how the team manages the gardens and and estate estate as as the the weather weather begins begins to to change. change.

Leonardslee Leonardslee Lights Lights

22 22 November November –– 30 30 December December Explore the wonder Explore the wonder of of our our woodland woodland gardens gardens awash awash with with light, sound and colour. light, sound and colour.

Flexible Flexible tickets: tickets: Tickets Tickets can can be be changed changed to to any any other other available available date date and and trail trail entry entry time time with with the the same same ticket ticket price price up up to to 31 31 October October 2024.

2024.

240 240 ACRES ACRES OF OF GRADE GRADE II LISTED LISTED WOODLAND WOODLAND GARDENS GARDENS 200 200 YEARS YEARS OF OF HISTORY HISTORY | | WALLABIES WALLABIES | | DEER DEER PARK PARK SEVEN SERENE LAKES | OVER 150 SCULPTURES SEVEN SERENE LAKES | OVER 150 SCULPTURES | | CAFÉ CAFÉ

Head of horticulture, Head Gardener Jamie Harris “I love autumn at Leonardslee.

After our world-famous spring displays, autumn is rightly seen as Leonardslee’s other favourite season for sheer wonder and visual beauty.

From the kaleidoscope colour changes of the foliage in areas such as Maple Walk and along the lake edges with the likes of Liquidambar (Sweet Gum) and Nyssa (Tupelo) trees reflecting their seasonal delights in the placid waters, to the formal areas around the house and Rock Garden with their late blooming herbaceous perennials, there is so much to see here. There are beautiful berries to behold on a whole manner of trees and shrubs including Sorbus (Rowan), Euonymus (Spindle), Cotoneaster and Viburnum down in the valley which are matched perfectly by the colourful, textural bark displays on the Snake Bark Maples and Birch trees such as Betula ermanii too. Vistors and staff alike are spoilt by the vast range of horticultural highlights to get lost in.”

leonardsleegardens.co.uk | Horsham, West Sussex, RH13 6PP

Sixth Form Experience Day For September 2025 entry Thursday 10th October 2024

Nursery & Reception Open Morning Thursday 14th November 2024 Advance booking essential for all Open Events.

Please visit www.farlingtonschool.com to book.

“Everyone looks out for one another in this small, caring school” ISI INSPECTION REPORT, FEBRUARY 2024

Horsham’s only co-educational independent school and nursery for ages 6 months to 18 years Farlington School | Strood Park | Horsham | West Sussex | RH12 3PN | UK Tel: 01403 282573 | Email: admissions@farlingtonschool.com | www.farlingtonschool.com Individuality | Opportunity | Community

ROUND-UP

Horsham Fireworks Night @AAH/Toby Phillips

NEWS & EVENTS FROM ACROSS THE HORSHAM DISTRICT

Horsham Fireworks Night will be held at Horsham Sports Club, Cricketfield Road, Horsham, on Saturday 26 October. The gates open at 5pm and the fireworks begin at 7.30pm.

There will be fairground rides and stalls, with a variety of food and drink vendors including Firebird Brewing Co. Dress appropriately as the ground can get muddy. No parking at the club on the night. Early bird tickets £7 (U5’s free but require a ticket) from Horsham Sports Club or eventbrite.co.uk/e/horsham-fireworks-nighttickets-1009258428127

l Leonardslee Wine Estate hosts a fireworks night at Hammerpond Road, Horsham, RH13 6PG on Friday 1 November, 5 – 9pm. Please note, this is at Mannings Heath Golf Club, now also known as Leonardslee Wine Estate. As well as spectacular fireworks, there will be live music

by The Violet Jive, food stalls and treats. VIP experiences available. Tickets £12 (£7 children/ U5s free) from manningsheath.com l The Horsham Rugby Club Fireworks and Bonfire Night returns on Saturday 2 November, from 5.30pm (fireworks at 8pm). There will be

hot food and sweet stalls, funfair rides, music and a bonfire at the club’s Coolhurst ground, Hammerpond Road, Horsham, RH13 6PJ. For tickets, visit shop.horshamrufc.com and select Club Events from the menu. l Ashington CofE School in Foster Lane, Ashington, RH20 3PG, hosts its Fireworks Extravaganza on Friday 8 November, 5 - 7pm.

The family-friendly event includes a raffle, refreshments, games and BBQ. ashington.w-sussex.sch.uk

Horsham Artists hold an Art Fair at Parkside (County Hall North), Horsham, RH12 1AB, on the weekend of 19 – 20 October, 10-5pm (closes 4pm Sunday). There will be work by 44 artists including painters, illustrators, sculptors, print makers, ceramicists, up-cyclers, jewellers, glass artists, and fibre and textile artists, offering visitors the chance to purchase an original piece of art or a unique gift. As well as a vibrant display of work, there will be a programme of informative talks by some of the participating artists over the weekend. A private viewing will be held on Friday 18 October, at 7pm. horshamartists.org

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Sean Bui, Musical Director of WSPC (©AAH/Alan Wright)

Xander and the Peace Pirates will perform at Coolham Live Music Club’s 11th anniversary gig on Saturday 9 November, 7.15pm. The band will initially perform as a trio, playing originals and interpretations of classic songs, before playing a full band set of their own material. The Peace Pirates are fronted by singer/songwriter Keith Xander, who was born without a right arm below the elbow and plays guitar using a prosthesis and hook. He is a virtuoso musician and his playing rivals the very best. Tickets £20 from Rich at coolhamtickets@gmail.com or visit facebook.com/coolhamlivemusicclub

The West Sussex Philharmonic Choir will soon begin rehearsals for their next concert at St Mary’s Church, Horsham, on Saturday 16 November. The choir presents an evening of French music featuring Fauré’s Requiem in a setting by David Hill, accompanied by harp, organ, cello and violin. This follows September’s performance of Elgar’s masterpiece, The Dream of Gerontius, in the magnificent setting

of St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle. Since recruiting Musical Director Sean Bui three years ago, the mixed voice choir has gone from strength to strength. On 7 December, the choir returns to St Mary’s for a carol concert, accompanied by Surrey Brass. WSPC is always keen to welcome new members. For details about joining and concert dates visit westsussexphilharmonicchoir.org.uk

Billingshurst Dramatic Society presents Make ‘Em Laugh 2 at The Women’s Hall, High Street, Billingshurst, on 14 – 16 November, with shows starting at 7.45pm (doors open 7pm). Enjoy an evening of comedy and musical entertainment at this theatrical revue, directed by Sue Pollard.

Tickets £12 from billingshurstdramaticsociety.com

Christ’s Hospital Choral Society perform Haydn’s The Creation at the CH Chapel, RH13 0LJ on Saturday 16 November, 7.30pm.

Inspired by John Milton’s poem Paradise Lost, Haydn’s work describes the creation of the world as narrated in Genesis. While the original text was in German, the choir will perform an English translation.

The 60-strong choir will be joined by soprano Lucy Elston (inset), tenor Guy Elliott and bass baritone James Bartlett, as well as an orchestra. Verity Bramson conducts.

Tickets £15 (£12.50 in advance/children £5) from chchoralsoc.org

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INK PIX will release a new EP, Gold, during a performance at the Revelations music night at the Roffey Club, Spooners Road, RH12 4DY, on Friday 11 October. INK PIX is the pseudonym of Horsham singer/ songwriter Jack Coldrick, a well-known music teacher in Horsham.

The Revelations night also features music from Psychic Babble.

Tickets £7 on the door. roffeyclub.co.uk

The Sussex Band of the Royal British Legion (Horsham) perform a Remembrance Concert with popular music at Ashington Community Centre, Foster Lane, RH20 3PG, On Friday 8 November, 7.30 – 9.30pm. There will be a licensed bar, refreshments and raffle. Tickets £5 (on the door). For more details, call Margaret on (01903) 892633.

Experience an unforgettable evening with former world champion Carl Froch MBE at The Capitol, Horsham, on Thursday 24 October, 7.30pm.

Coming to Horsham for one night only, hear how one of the UK’s greatest boxers rose to fame, sustained an incredible career and fought against some of the best fighters of their generation. The night includes a Q&A and VIP ticket holders have the opportunity to meet with Froch and have a professional photo taken with him. Tickets cost from £36.50 from thecapitolhorsham.com

The Mediaeval Baebes bring ‘The Ceremony’ to St Mary’s Church, Horsham on Saturday 14 December. The Mediaeval Baebes are one of the most successful female-led, early music and folk ensembles in Europe. They have released 11 studio albums and won an Ivor Novella for their performance on the BBC series, The Virgin Queen. This December, the audience can join in with a ‘Lighting of the

Save the date Friday 22 November

Christmas Launch Party

Chalice’ by bringing a drum, lantern, or dressing up as the Mediaeval Baebes’ lead a torch-lit procession to the church. At St Mary’s, they will perform carols, traditional folk songs and innovative settings of ancient poetry, with harmonious vocals accompanied by period instruments. New compositions will be sung too. Tickets £28.50 (£13 children from mediaevalbaebes.com

Free music and entertainment

* Lights and*Christmas

Festive food and drink

carol lantern parade

*

Launch of Jack and the Beanstalk Trail

* * with discounts Late night shopping Christmas Magic Displays

for one night only*

Free entry to prize draw

Horsham Town Centre 4pm to 9pm

Discover more at: www.horsham.gov.uk/christmas

when you spend over £50 between 4pm - 8pm*

*at all participating retailers

L24_EV14 Christmas Launch Party Advert_AAH 190x130mm.indd 1

25/09/2024 09:59:03

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(©malachi_cycles)

Collyer’s students experienced a taste of the business world at the Challenge of Management 2024 event, held at South Lodge Hotel, Lower Beeding. The event enabled teams of 10 students, each led by a representative from employers and the business community, to compete in business games, team building and leadership exercises. Representatives, practitioners and guest speakers included Harry Adams (Achieving for Children), Toby Cotton (Kreston Reeves), Maisie Edwards (Portsmouth University), Amy Green (Specialist Risk Group), James Hoad (Navigators and General), Mike Humphries (Young Enterprise), Jess Klamm (Collyer’s), Maisie Poland (Schroders), Kim Senior (Assurity Consulting); Chiara Sorrentino (South Lodge), Smita Warren (RSA), Guy Watts (Architectural Plants) and Tim Wrenn (Environment Agency). Attention was drawn to the learning opportunities available after college, including insights into a degree apprenticeships.

A site manager at Bovis Homes’ Orchard Park development in Kirdford has won an award for his work. Matt Shelley received a Quality Award in the National House Building Council’s (NHBC) 2024 Pride in the Job competition. Matt, 36, from Horsham, said: ‘It is recognition of what the whole team are trying to achieve, which is providing the best quality homes for our customers.’ Prices at Orchard Park start at £150,000 for a 50% share of a home through the Sage Homes scheme. bovishomes.co.uk Glen Arun Care Home in Athelstan Way, Horsham has doubled in size following an innovative building project that has taken it from 26 bedrooms to 54.

The extension includes new single and double rooms, bathrooms, an office and a hair salon.

The project, carried out by Southwick firm Pilbeam Construction, was completed without the need for residents to move out.

Horsham Bridge Club held its first Café Bridge event on 17 September, raising over £1,000 for Cancer Research UK. Held as part of the national Festival of Bridge, Café Bridge involved 48 enthusiasts from around Sussex and Surrey, as well as local players, playing competitive bridge in nine cafes and restaurants including Amici, Bills, Café @No.4, Cote, D+D, Esquires, Gail’s, Miller + Carter, Waitrose and Wolfpack. Winners of the main competition were Josie Allen and Jim Downes, with Denise Lincoln and Sarah Little, and Julia Goddard and Alison Roberts, winning subsidiary prizes. horshambridge.co.uk

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Malachi Francis is now four months into his epic bike ride from Horsham to Australia.

Malachi, 24, left his home town on 3 June to embark on a journey that will see him covering over 10,000 miles across three continents, exposing him to deserts, mountains, tropical heat and unpredictable weather. He crossed the Georgia/Russia border at the end of September and was expected to cycle into Kazakhstan via the northern fringes of the Caspian Sea in early October. As a documentary photographer, Malachi – a former Forest pupil and Collyer’s student – is capturing the diverse landscapes, cultures and stories he encounters along

the way and sharing his experiences through social media. He said: ‘I prepped for about a year and a half, working full time as a chef at Monte Forte, saving money so that I could travel for a year, while training as much as I could. Nothing can truly prepare you for what the road has in store. Each day is so different and most plans are thrown out the window!

You’ve just got to take each day as it comes.

The kindness, generosity and sheer curiosity of people has blown me away. Nothing could have prepared me for how welcoming each country has been.’

Malachi’s journey is being documented via his Instagram account @malachi_cycles

(©malachi_cycles)

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Shortlisted films fell into four categories (Best Drama, Comedy, Animation and Documentary) with a Your District category celebrating films made in or about the area. The judging panel included Pete Levy, producer on Doctor Who and Casualty, and Rebecca Moon and Stuart Andrews (pictured, right) from the Media and Film department at Collyer’s.

Horsham Film Festival 2024 organisers, hosts and judges at Everyman Cinema (©Sophie Ward Photos)

Collyer’s students Eva Holyfield, Ollie Wibrew, Jake Thorn and James Yandall, with Head of Drama Neil Kendall The sixth annual Horsham Film Festival concluded with an awards night at Everyman Cinema in Piries Place on 30 August. Organised

by Horsham-based Silvertip Films, the festival champions filmmakers from West Sussex as well as those from further afield.

There were three screenings to showcase each shortlisted film, with special screenings of documentaries including Shrouded in Silence, which was curated by Whistlestop Arts and focuses on end-of-life care. The festival closed with a sold-out awards night hosted by Emily Beach, with guest spots from sponsors, judges, and Geoff Cockwill and Elodie Davies from Silvertip.

The winning films were The Edenbound, directed by Andrew McGee (Best Drama), Leave Me

by George Levy (Student Best

Drama), Skrogg and the Fireflies by Laura Page (Best Student Animation), Undercurrent by Daniel Booroff (Best Student Comedy), Grandad’s Workshop by Will Chidlow (Best Documentary), Dissecting Dyslexia by Sparks Hove students (Best Student Documentary), The Lost Legend by Bence Nagy (Your District) and Duplicity by Henry Medhurst (Student Your District). The organisers thanked sponsors and supporters including Breathe HR, Woodstock IT, Major Mind Games, T21 Group, Seofon, xHeight Design, Blue Billboards and the Sussex Film Office and Visit Horsham. silvertipfilms.co.uk

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Horsham Apple Day will be held in the Unitarian Church, Worthing Road, Horsham on Saturday 19 October, 10.30am – 3pm. Organised

by Transition Horsham, the event allows visitors to taste, compare and sample apples from local orchards. There’s also a nature trail and art activities for children, as well as Morris dancing.

Lady Emma Barnard at Parham House ©AAH/Toby Phillips)

Parham House and Gardens near Storrington hosts a fortnight of flower arrangements on 2 – 13 October. Autumn Flowers at Parham House sees the flower team furnishing rooms with additional arrangements of fresh and dried flowers and foliage, all grown in Parham’s Walled Garden. Lady Emma Barnard, chatelaine of Parham House, said: ‘My great-grandparents Clive and Alicia Pearson opened Parham to visitors just after the Second World War, and Alicia felt strongly that there should always be flower arrangements in every room for people to enjoy. We still follow her directions. The flowers bring the garden into the house, bringing life and colour to both.’ parhaminsussex.co.uk

l Transition Horsham Energy Group has organised a free event called Sustainable Energy at Home, held at St John’s Catholic Church, Springfield Road, Horsham, on Saturday 26 October, 1 - 3pm. The event (opposite the Sussex Green Hub at the URC) provides information about solar power, batteries, insulation and heat pumps, with talks from industry experts. transitionhorsham.org.uk The Bubbles and Botanicals Fair will be held at Handcross Park, London Road, Handcross, RH17 6HF on Saturday 2 November, 1 – 5pm.

The fair features 15 leading producers of sparkling wine and spirits and gives visitors the chance to learn more about Sussex as a wine region. There will be nibbles and a raffle in aid of Samaritans. bubblesandbotanicals.net Sarah Nathaniel highlights the Commonwealth War Graves Commission at the next talk hosted by the Friends of Horsham Museum & Art Gallery, held in the Lounge of the Cornerstone Methodist Church, London Road, Horsham on Wednesday 9 October, 2pm. Sarah is Public Engagement Co-ordinator for the CWGC in the South East, an organisation dedicated to commemorating more than 1.7m servicemen who died during the world wars. Entry £5 (cash only) on the door.

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Beaver ©Matt Phelps

Wildlife Trusts have published A Vision for the Return of Beavers to England and Wales. Although now formally recognised by Defra and the UK Government as a protected native species, currently beavers in England and Wales can only legally be released into single, fenced enclosures, of which there are two in Sussex. Sussex Wildlife Trust recognises the role that beavers can play in restoring natural life support systems by helping with flood management. SWT has established a Sussex Beaver Partnership and have plans to establish a beaver management group as it moves towards potential wild releases. sussexwildlifetrust.org.uk

TOOVEY’S

Gerard Dillon (Irish, 1916 – 71) – ‘High Cross Panel’, mixed media with oil, gouache and pastel ~ auctioned in September for £27,000

Looking to sell your fine art?

Entries are invited for our next sale of fine art on 27th November From old masters to modern art ~ for free, no-obligation valuations please call to arrange an appointment with our pictures specialist James Gadd The leading antique and fine art auction house in West Sussex

SPRING GARDENS, A24 WASHINGTON, RH20 3BS 01903 891955 auctions@tooveys.com www.tooveys.com

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Cats Protection Horsham have issued an appeal for donations to help with vet bills after rescuing a heavily pregnant stray. The charity was alerted to the cat’s plight after members of the public became concerned about her living rough in the town. Volunteers found Sadie, who needed an emergency caesarean. She came through the operation, but only one of five kittens, Sonny, could be saved. While the future looks better for Sadie and Sonny, substantial vet bills, ongoing treatment and after-care have cost the charity over £2,000. To help, visit justgiving.com/page/sadieandsonny In 2023, a group of eight took part in the rickshaw challenge, driving 1300km from Goa to Bombay on three wheels, raising £26,000 for domestic abuse charity, Safe In Sussex.

Early next year, many of the team will be undertaking another rally, travelling 2,500km from Chennai to Goa. This time there will be seven teams taking part, rather than four, raising funds for Safe in Sussex as well as Maher, an NGO that works with women and children in India.

The trip is being organised by Helen Hitchcock, owner of Sakala on Steyning High Street. To sponsor them, visit givengain.com/project/helen-raisingfunds-for-2-causes-79888 Applications for secondary school places in West Sussex for September 2025 are now open.

Applications close on Thursday 31 October and it’s vital applications are made on time for the best chance of being offered one of your preferred places.

The process is simple and you will receive confirmation when your application has been submitted. westsussex.gov.uk/education-childrenand-families/

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Scan to book a visit

A Leading Independent Coeducational Day School | Horsham, West Sussex | Aged 2 - 13

Good for: Good all-rounders, outdoorsy types, and families who want modern thinking underpinned by traditional values. Those new to independent education will feel completely at ease, there’s a definite down-to-earth vibe here.

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The Adur Art Club hosts an annual exhibition at the Shoreham Centre, Pond Road, Shoreham, on 24 – 25 November, 10am – 4pm.

Visitors can enjoy a rich variety of art, reflecting the creativity that has sustained the club for over 50 years. The club meets every Thursday afternoon and organises demonstrations and outings of artistic interest. New Members welcome. adurartclub.co.uk The annual Southwater Art and Craft Show will be held at the Ghyll, Pevensey Road, Southwater, RH13 9XZ over the weekend of 26 – 27 October, 10am – 5pm Saturday and 10am – 4pm Sunday. The exhibition features work produced by local artists and crafters. There’s also a tombola, children’s activities, refreshments and the chance to win a pet portrait. Free entry.

HAODS presents The Addams Family at The Capitol, Horsham, on 5 – 9 November. Everyone’s favourite kooky family comes to life in this original musical about love, family and growing up. Wednesday Addams is 18 and has fallen in love with a sweet, smart young man. When Wednesday confides in her father, Gomez must keep a secret from his beloved wife, Morticia. Tickets cost from £19.50 from thecapitolhorsham.com

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Fresh delicious food Really good coffee Free parking Something for all the family

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A new sculpture trail has opened at Leonardslee Lakes and Gardens in Lower Beeding, featuring over 120 sculptures by more than 48 artists. The trail has been designed and curated by the Surrey Sculpture Society, which has previously held a summer exhibition at the Grade I Listed gardens.

Utilising the setting, many of the sculptures are inspired by the natural world, including Sarah Goodfellow’s playful gorilla sculpture, The Kiss, and Nicolas Baker’s interpretation of flowering proteas. The sculptures are made using a wide range of materials, including bronze, resin, glass and ceramic. They are all available to buy, with prices starting

from £175. As well as an outdoor trail, where sculptures are intertwined with those by acclaimed South African sculptor Anton Smit, there is an indoor exhibition at Leonardslee House, home to Restaurant Interlude.

To celebrate its 30th anniversary, the Surrey Sculpture Society also organised a Leonardslee Sculpture of the Year competition. Graeme Lougher, who lives in Loxwood and has a studio in Cranleigh, received the award for his installation of Prowling Wolves and In Haste, with three wolves and a female figure combining to create a dynamic scene.

Graeme said: ‘I created the sculptures from iron resin, which doesn’t

The Kiss and The Faintest Whiff, both by Sarah Goodfellow

Graeme Lougher with his prize-winning sculptures (©AAH/Alan Wright)

an apparition. Prowling Wolves was require the same level of up-keep created as a separate piece of art, as bronze resin and also lends but they work together and have a itself to natural settings. Iron complements every season, feeling of ethereal beauty.’ but is especially ‘Together, ‘The Surrey Sculpture beautiful in autumn Society is a when yellow, red and the sculptures welcoming, talented brown tones of the have a feeling group of artists and trees and leaves it’s great that they’ve brings out its rustic of ethereal texture.’ organised this beauty.’ exhibition to give ‘With this particular sculptors like me the opportunity to showcase sculpture, it feels as if they work at such a fantastic venue. I are part of the natural environment.

With In Haste, the female figure is think the trail will look even better later in the year when the gardens lifting up a medieval dress as she are illuminated!’ moves through woodland, almost as if she were floating over it, like surreysculpture.org.uk

Graeme’s sculptures at Leonardslee (©AAH/Alan Wright)

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THE LONG RO DJ “DIDDY” DAVID HAMILTON PUBLISHES MEMOIRS David Hamilton’s Long and Winding Road is the newly-published memoirs of the perennially popular radio and TV presenter. AAH visited the former BBC Radio 1 DJ at his home near Billingshurst…

Tell us about your book…

It is called The Long and Winding Road, after a song by The Beatles, which happens to be my favourite record. The book’s subtitle is ‘My Life, Loves and Lessons Learned’, as there have been times in life when I’ve made mistakes and there are things I would do differently now. When you write a book at my age, I think it’s best to be honest. If I was to simply list all the things I’ve done and describe everything as wonderful, it would have been very boring. So, I’ve confessed to past transgressions and the book is better for it.

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Some extracts were picked up by national newspapers…

There are juicy bits that The Daily Mail and The Telegraph published. A feature writer from the Mail came to visit me at home, probing into my past relationships. They asked my wife how she felt about stories of other women in my life, but she responded wonderfully, saying that she wasn’t exactly Snow White! When we met, I was in my mid-40s with two children from my first marriage and Dreena had three children of her own. We now have nine grandchildren between us, so Christmas is expensive!

How have you structured the story?

I wrote it in chronological order. The Long and Winding Road is not only my favourite record, but also relates to my journey back to the house where I now live. I was born in Manchester in 1938, just before the war, but as a

young boy was evacuated to a farm on the rural outskirts of Billingshurst, where my grandfather worked as a bailiff. It’s a beautiful home next to an old mill, where nothing has changed in centuries. Many years later, I visited my friend Junior Campbell from the pop band Marmalade, and by an incredible coincidence, he lived at that same farm! When he decided to sell, I bought it from him without hesitation.

When did you first start broadcasting?

It was 65 years ago. My career really began during my National Service with the RAF in Germany. I was in Cologne while Elvis Presley was doing National Service for the US Army near Frankfurt. I was one of the first DJs to play rock ‘n’ roll on the British Forces Network in 1959. Until then, they’d played songs by Bing Crosby and Peggy Lee, but I knew the troops wanted rock ‘n’ roll. Still, it caused a stir when

David Hamilton with his new book (©AAH/Alan Wright)

OAD

I played “hooligan music” on a Sunday afternoon. The Director of the broadcasting service was embarrassed about transmitting such “heathen music” so followed it with a speech by the padre to cleanse the sins of the troops!

You eventually picked up a nickname?

Even today, many people still call me “Diddy”. I filmed two series of Doddy’s Music Box, which was broadcast on ITV on a Saturday night in the 1960s. The show featured pop acts of the day like Dusty Springfield and Billy Fury, interspersed with sketches featuring Ken Dodd and a repertoire of actors. I was the interviewer in these sketches. On the first day of rehearsals, Ken called me “Diddy David” and to his credit, asked me if I was okay with it, as he thought it might stick. He was right and I’ve been “Diddy” David ever since!

surrounded by teenagers, and called it The Killing You eventually joined Radio 1…

After hosting on the BBC Light Programme for two of Georgie Fame, which was the name of a jazz musician. We re-shot the scene, but I made the years, I joined Radio 1 in 1967 and in 1973 was same mistake again! The director was getting handed the weekday afternoon slot, which was frustrated as TOTP ran to a tight schedule, and the also broadcast on Radio 2, giving me the largest audience in the country. Like many DJs, teens were looking at me like I was mad! But I also presented Top of the Pops and the I didn’t feel right all night. It was unusual for me to make mistakes and although book includes stories from those days.

‘On the I got it right eventually, I wasn’t We didn’t get paid much – certainly first day of not like presenters today, when the myself. Later, I was talking to some likes of Gary Lineker have huge rehearsals, Ken guys from a record company and they revealed that they’d slipped salaries. The BBC’s purse strings Dodd called a Mickey Finn into my drink! were more tightly controlled and I was paid £75 for presenting to Unsurprisingly, that was the last time me Diddy!’

15 million people. It wasn’t even good that I presented Top of the Pops. money then!

You’re also a big football fan…

I was a director at Fulham FC for two years and What are your memories of TOTP? spent 18 seasons on the microphone at Craven I made a gaff during one appearance. I was introducing Rod Stewart, who was performing The Cottage. I also used to play for a Showbiz XI football team that had some well-known stars killing of Georgie. I was stood on the plinth,

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David (right) riding with fellow DJs Noel Edmonds and Tony Blackburn who were also fantastic footballers, none less so than Rod Stewart. I loved speedway too and presented for the Wembley Lions and Reading Racers.

You are still working today…

I continue to broadcast from my home for the lunchtime slot on Boom Radio. The station is aimed at the baby boomer generation, born between 1946 and 1964, but attracts some younger listeners and older ones too, like me!

I play records from the 1960s and 70s, with a sprinkling of hits from the 50s and 80s and one carefully chosen new record every hour. We launched the station on Valentine’s Day 2021 and it has done well, picking up listeners that Radio 2 didn’t seem to want anymore. Radio 2

David continues to present on Boom Radio (©AAH/Alan Wright)

was chasing a younger audience and the playlist was changing, so older listeners sought out alternatives, such as Boom.

There can’t be many older DJs still regularly broadcasting?

I believe I’m now the oldest DJ with a daily show, having recently turned 86. I’m four years older than Tony Blackburn, the first DJ on Radio 1. I’m lucky that Boom came along and wanted an old fart like me!

Did you enjoy writing your memoirs?

I was a writer before becoming a broadcaster, working as a script writer and as a columnist for a football magazine, so I’ve always loved the written word. The book took me a year to com-

TAKING CARE OF PEOPLE AND THEIR CARS

plete, then another six months was spent compiling chapters, adding photos and liaising with printers. It has taken a lot of time and effort, so I hope people enjoy it. My agent suggested I call it ‘My Life, Loves and Regrets’, but I rejected that idea, as I don’t believe in regrets. What I do believe in is learning lessons from your mistakes. n WORDS: Ben Morris PHOTOS: Alan Wright & David Hamilton Further information: David Hamilton’s Long and Winding Road is available in paperback (£15.99) or as an eBook (£7.99) from the publishers at austinmacauley.com

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Hear Better, Feel Better The Horsham Hearing Centre is the longest established dedicated Hearing Centre in Horsham. Opened in 1995 by husband and wife team of Audiologists, Julie and Jonathan Ormerod, the couple still run the centre today and offer their clients unrivalled expertise and experience in dealing with hearing problems.

Unique in their profession, they offer customers a “Better Hearing Guarantee”. The chance to try the latest technology hearing aids at home in your own environment to help you decide if hearing aids are for you.

Situated in a 500-year-old building opposite the Horsham Library, The Horsham Hearing Centre offers a complete Hearing Care service. Call us or call in today to book a priority appointment.

Latest Hearing Instruments

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There are many different hearing aids available with different styles, features and cosmetic solutions that can enhance your daily life. Modern hearing instruments are designed to provide clear, crisp sound enhancement so that you can hear and understand better. We offer both ‘in-the-ear’ aids, custom-made to fit perfectly, and ‘behind-the-ear’ hearing aids, including the most popular style, the Receiver-In-Canal (RIC).

Hearcentres fit only the best technology from the leading hearing aid manufacturers. These include Arc AI by Audibel, our full line of superior sounding hearing aids that connect easily and adapt seamlessly to your life. Featuring integrated sensors and artificial intelligence, they’re designed to not only help you hear effortlessly, but also live actively. It includes a Fall Detection which notifies loved ones if you fall.

Hearing Aids with Bluetooth

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Most hearing aids today now have built-in Bluetooth compatibility.

This means they can be linked to a Smart phone or iPad and controlled by those devices. You can stream phone calls, music and more directly from your Smart phone to your hearing aids and some can also monitor your health and brain activity. Hearing aid Apps can help you better understand conversations and hear in noisy environments.

We offer you the chance to try the latest hearing aids completely free of charge or obligation. Take them away and try them in your own environment and hear for yourself how different life can be. At the Horsham Hearing Centre, we offer a professional service in a comfortable environment. If you struggle to hear, why not book a priority appointment with our Audiologists and try the latest hearing aids?

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

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GOING WILD THE REEDS AND WILD SWIMMING AT SOUTH LODGE

Wild swimming at The Reeds, South Lodge Hotel (©AAH/Alan Wright)

South Lodge Hotel in Lower Beeding has opened The Reeds, comprising eight lakeside lodges set around the fringes of a wild swimming lake.

Six of the lodges have two-bedrooms with open plan living space, making them ideal for families or for two couples to share. Two further spa lodges are aimed at couples, with only one bedroom but an extended lounge as well as a steam shower, outdoor whirlpool bath and infrared halotherapy sauna.

The Reeds has been designed to engage the senses and promote wellbeing, with each lodge named after the flora and fauna of the surrounding landscape, including Pond Skater, Water Boatman, Dragonfly and Water Lily, whilst biophilic architecture ensures guests feel of connected to the environment.

Danny Pecorelli, Managing Director of Exclusive Collection, which owns South Lodge Hotel, said: ‘Our aim is to provide guests with a luxurious

yet sustainable retreat in line with our B Corp certification, where they can relax, rejuvenate and connect with the natural surroundings.’

Reflecting this commitment to sustainability, The Reeds has adopted upcycled, locally sourced or naturally derived materials. One of the most creative components is concealed underground, with concrete-free materials used for the foundations. Lodges are instead supported by 120 thin steel rods that minimise disturbance to the bank of the lake and will allow the environment to recover quickly, should the lodges ever be removed.

The flush on the toilets utilises rainwater collected underneath the lodges too, while heating and cooling devices are powered by water-sourced heat pumps, with submerged pipes absorbing energy directly from the lake.

Daniel Wait, General Manager at South Lodge Hotel, said: ‘We have designed and constructed the lodges in a way that minimises the impact on the environment. Most of the trees and plants around the lake have been left untouched and we have planted in new areas to replace any that were removed or uprooted’.

‘We have carefully landscaped too and as plants grow, The Reeds will become even more scenic. However, you can already see and hear wildlife from the lodges and the balcony views across the lake are fantastic. For those seeking a rural escape, this offers a new level of luxury accommodation, unique in the UK.’ Adding a touch of artistic heritage, the lake is also the only location outside France to be adorned with water lilies which have been exclusively sourced from Monet’s garden in Giverny.

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The Reeds (©AAH/Alan Wright)

REFRESHING DIP! South Lodge also offers wild swimming sessions in the lake, with the AAH editor among those to have taken a dip. The water cannot be accessed directly from the lodges, as the lake’s depth requires a duty lifeguard. However, guests can book into a swimming session, while spa members can also enjoy the experience.

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The lake is accessed via a jetty at the end of a wood-chip path, with small groups accompanied by a guide. All swimmers must wear a toe float or swimming cap for safety reasons. While the temperature makes it a refreshing dip (to say the least!) there are towel robes close at hand to help swimmers warm up, while the sauna and showers are not far away.

Daniel Wait said: ‘The initial vision for The Reeds came from Danny Pecorelli. He had seen lakeside lodges elsewhere and felt there was scope to create something along similar lines around the Victorian lake on the estate. He didn’t want the lodges to be intrusive and the idea was always to create a peaceful, private setting.’

‘It has taken several years to come to specified sessions, the lodges offer fruition, as we needed to obtain peace and privacy. planning permission, carry out ecological surveys and design the Guests of The Reeds can also access lodges with a strong focus on South Lodge’s facilities, including sustainable materials. One of the Botanica spa and three the most challenging restaurants (including The ‘The Reeds aspects was removing the Pass, which has won a means we can Michelin star under head thick layers of silt that had been deposited over Ben Wilkinson). If offer a different chef many years, and they prefer, guests can experience to order breakfast and installing a fresh clay bed to maintain the health charcuterie hampers filled guests .’ and clarity of the water.’ with Sussex produce, meats, homemade granolas and ‘When I first started working at freshly baked breads and pastries, South Lodge 24 years ago, it was still all to enjoy in the comfort of their own very much a country house hotel, with lodge, with opportunities to collect 40 bedrooms and one restaurant. Since fresh eggs from the hotel’s free-range then, we have built a new wing to offer chickens too. The hampers can be left more modern accommodation and now outside the lodge if guests wish not to have 96 rooms, with three restaurants, be disturbed. On arrival, guests receive two bars and a spa. The lodges and lake a chilled half bottle of Ridgeview and mean we can offer something different treats from Botanica, the spa’s for a new generation who are seeking Mediterranean-inspired restaurant. more of an experience from their hotel There’s also a special Reeds cocktail stay.’ that guests can order.

LUXURIOUS LIVING Despite the generous proportions of each lodge around a modestly-sized lake, The Reeds has been designed to offer complete privacy to guests. No one lodge can see into another from the balcony, and as the lake can only be accessed at

Daniel Wait, General Manager at South Lodge Hotel (©AAH/Alan Wright)

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Interior images of the lodges (©Exclusive Collection)

INITIAL INTEREST When it came to interior design, Exclusive Collection collaborated with Sparc Studio, having previously worked with the consultants on the Botanica Spa at South Lodge. The focus was once again on sustainability, with rugs fabricated from recycled fishing nets and kitchen worktops utilising recycled building materials. There are modern touches too, with Chromecast allowing guests to stream content from their phone directly to the TV and Sky channels available too, while a digital fireplace imitates a traditional fire using LED lights.

With lakeside lodges costing £1,200 a night (there is a discount for spa members), it’s not a luxury most can afford. However, initial demand has been strong, with six of the eight lodges occupied over the August Bank Holiday weekend and some already booked for Christmas. Several spa members who have enjoyed a wild swim have also made enquiries.

down to the lake for the first time, they’re always gobsmacked by the size of them and the beauty of the surroundings. For me and all of the team at South Lodge, it has been wonderful to see that reaction to The Reeds.’ n

Daniel said: ‘Because I work at the hotel every day and have seen incremental steps, from the foundations being laid to the final decorative touches, I can forget how impressive The lodges are. But whenever I guide people

Further information: To book a stay at The Reeds, visit exclusive.co.uk/south-lodge/stay/the-reeds/

WORDS: Ben Morris PHOTOS: Alan Wright & Exclusive Collection

NEW PRACTICE IN HORSHAM THEATRE TRIPS | DAY EXCURSIONS | SHORT BREAKS We have over 25 years’ experience in organising group trips to the theatre, local and national attractions and short breaks.

We ensure a hassle free experience, with someone always on hand to offer guidance, with discounts on tickets to nationwide attractions.

Our programme takes in West End theatres, stately homes, palaces and gardens, river cruises, steam train rides and afternoon teas.

For our short breaks, we visit beautiful towns and cities, as well as an annual trip to continental Christmas Markets.

Our upcoming trips include: HAMILTON IN THE WEST END Tuesday 5 November. We visit the Victoria Palace Theatre for hit musical Hamilton, based on the story of America’s Founding Father Alexander Hamilton.

Pick-up 4.45pm, Dorking Halls. £109.50 per person.

SIX THE MUSICAL Wednesday 4th December Enjoy the Tony award-winning musical at the Vaudeville Theatre. From Tudor Queens to Pop Princesses, the six wives of Henry VIII tell their tales! Price includes Band A tickets. Pick-up 5pm, Dorking Halls. £85 per person.

For info & bookings, email neil@surreytrips.co.uk or call Neil on 07771 793294

www.surreytrips.co.uk

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Our new practice in Horsham has been designed for the ultimate patient experience with a zen atmosphere.

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Switch off with a spa day at South Lodge Switch off from the everyday and switch on your senses with a tranquil spa day at our award-winning spa. Take your pick of blissful treatments, recharge using our thermal and hydrotherapy experiences and nourish your body as well as your soul with delicious Mediterranean inspired dishes from Botanica restaurant.

Take a look at some of our stand out spa days...

Di-Vine Spa Day Experience this signature South Lodge spa day and indulge in our Grapevine Face and Body Glow treatment, encompassing grape leaf extract from our very own vineyard!

Two’s Company Relax with two incredible face a body treatments in our couples treatment room and also indulge in our mud room experience. The perfect couples spa day.

Meno-Pause & Pamper Spa Day For those going through perimenopause or menopause, looking to rebalance body and mind.

To look at all of our spa days or book online just scan the QR code, or visit southlodgespa.co.uk 01403 892235 South Lodge, Brighton Road, Horsham, RH13 6PS

We’re

NOT OUT

Yet!

Horsham Walking Cricketers (©AAH/Alan Wright)

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Horsham Walking Cricket Team played their final outdoor match of the season in September, when they were narrowly edged out by visiting Merstham at Horsham Cricket Club.

The Horsham team was formed two and a half years ago, with training games held on Wednesday mornings at The Holbrook Club. Organising fixtures has been more challenging though, with only a handful of walking teams established in Sussex, but Horsham have enjoyed a handful of matches.

‘It doesn’t matter that most of us have had little previous interest or experience in cricket. Indeed, in that very fact lies much of the fun, as we just enjoy coming together for some light-hearted, non-competitive fun.’

Dale Jannels Director impactsf Ltd

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Recently, the team took delivery of a full-length plastic pitch (see main picture), which can be used for outdoor training sessions and eventually matches too. The pink pitch was donated by Sussex County Cricket Club, and while the colour might not have been everyone’s first choice, it is good enough for the walking team!

www.impactsf.co.uk

Dave Boorman, a founder member of the team, formerly played league cricket in Kent ‘We hope and later turned out for The Nutters, who play that we can Peter Baker, one of in Mannings Heath.

Horsham players help establish three Now, a slower-paced who played for Sussex version of the game Walking Cricket Team a Sussex helps him stay active. at an indoor tournament league.’

He said: ‘The team was at Lord’s, is grateful for initially formed from the County side’s support. members of a walking He said: ‘We launched an appeal football team, which also meets at for a pitch that would give us a The Holbrook Club. Since then, we’ve better bowling surface, as they’re established a group of about 15 expensive to buy. Sussex had one regulars, some of whom played that was surplus to requirements league cricket in the past while and we were delighted to take it.’ others had never previously stepped foot on a cricket pitch.’

‘We don’t yet have a base for the pitch, so before next season begins ‘Naturally, there is an element of in the spring, we hope to create a flat competition, but the most important base for the pitch on The Holbrook aspect of walking cricket is the Club field. That will provide us with camaraderie. Very few people of a truer bounce, benefiting both retirement age are lucky enough not bowlers and batters. Then, we will to be carrying some sort of injury or be in a position to host matches and health problem and we’re no welcome other teams from Sussex, different! Yet we’ve seen people Surrey and further afield.’ playing well into their 70s. It’s an inclusive game that anyone can ‘Walking cricket hasn’t quite taken enjoy and after each match or off in Sussex yet and we’re several training session, we have a cup of years behind counties like Yorkshire, tea and a chat. At an age where most where walking teams have been of us should be settling for a pipe established for over five years. But and slippers, we have something we’re going in the right direction more interesting to do!’ and hopefully we can soon help to establish a Sussex league.’

Positive swings in mortgage market Mortgage rates are falling! These recent reductions offer significant attraction to first-time buyers eager to step on to the property ladder, homeowners looking to remortgage, and investors eyeing buy-to-let opportunities.

A few high street lenders are leading this positive shift with, at the time of writing, a number of mortgage products now well under 4%. Any reduction in rates make monthly payments more manageable and provide greater long-term stability for homeowners. May this rate war continue!

Why are mortgage rates falling? This trend is largely influenced by recent positive economic signals, including a slowdown in inflation and stabilising interest rates set by the Bank of England. The money markets are gaining confidence and SWAP rates (the mechanism through which lenders can acquire a fixed price for funding over a specific period of time), have decreased, creating more affordable options for borrowers.

The buy-to-let market is also experiencing a wave of positive changes. Lenders are responding to heightened competition and evolving market dynamics by adjusting their offerings. For instance, Santander has recently reduced its 2-year fixed-rate buy-to-let mortgage to 4.54% at a 75% loan-to-value, further illustrating the competitive landscape (obviously, terms and conditions apply).

Some pundits are suggesting that we may see another Bank of England base rate decrease before the end of the year. This should mean that consumers are able to bag a reasonable rate for some time yet as rates will continue to become more competitive. Let’s hope I’m still as positive after the upcoming budget announcements.

Finally, we’re also seeing a slight swing between the high street and niche lenders when it comes to more complex deals. An increasing number of consumers are requiring a manual and human assessment rather than a computer decision making system. This could be because the applicant has multiple incomes, requires loans on more than one property, or might have had a credit blip in the past. Despite all the available technologies in the current climate, sometimes the computer might say ‘no’ and therefore a conversation with a human being is just what is needed!

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Walking Cricket at The Holbrook Club (©AAH/Alan Wright)

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FAIR PLAY

While some of us used to play to a reasonable standard, there are also Rather than adopting a standard members who had never previously cricket format, where a batsman been part of a cricket team and yet could potentially bat all day or acquitted themselves very well. find themselves walking back to We just want as many people to the Pavilion after one ball, enjoy the game, as it’s Horsham Walking Cricket really about keeping ‘It’s about Team adopt a system your mind sharp, your that gives all players keeping you body healthy, and an equal chance during training mind sharp and having a good time.’ matches. your body WORDS: Ben Morris PHOTOS: Alan Wright Each batting pair

healthy.’

remains at the crease for four overs (six balls per over) and if a batsman is given out, they remain at the crease, although a wicket is penalised by a run deduction. Fielders rotate after each over, ensuring everyone has a chance to bowl too. Soon, the team will be moving indoors so that it can continue to enjoy cricket during the colder months. Now, they hope to attract more players, both men and women, in preparation for next season.

Further information: Weekly practice sessions are held at The Holbrook Club every Wednesday morning at 10am.

For more information, email peter.baker40@yahoo.co.uk or Mandy at The Holbrook Club on office@theholbrookclub.co.uk

WALKING FOOTBALL

Dave said: ‘Maggie Smith, who we sadly recently lost to cancer, was not only fundamental in us establishing the team, but loved playing too. Currently, we don’t have any female players, so if anyone would like to come down, they would be warmly welcomed.

Holbrook Club hosts Horsham Walking Football every Thursday morning at 10am. They play a series of short games over a 90-minute period, followed by hot drinks and a chat, with each session charged at £6.

Visit the website for more details.

Walking Cricket at The Holbrook Club, Horsham (©AAH/Alan Wright)

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PREMIERE CL YOUNG STARS STEAL THE SPOTLIGHT IN SHORT FILM Fact Not Fiction Films premiered its latest short film, Aguska, at the Everyman Cinema in Piries Place on Thursday 6 September.

With a focus on bullying in sport, the film takes its name from Aguska Mnich, a five-time world freestyle football champion. As well as playing a pivotal role in the film, the Polish freestyler and Guinness World Record holder attended the premiere, arriving in style in a stretched Limousine with director Tristan Loraine (pictured, right), executive producer Herb Jackson Jr and other members of the cast and crew.

Speaking to AAH at Everyman, Aguska said it was a pleasant surprise to hear that the film would be named after her. ‘Tristan called me and asked if I could help with a scene in the

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film, involving a team of young female footballers. It was good fun, as I could show off my ball juggling skills and teach them a trick or two. Doing the skills was the easy part though – the hard part was learning lines! I always try to pass on my passion and experience to young people and it’s good to see more girls playing football now. Some are even practising freestyle as well!’

Also starring in Aguska was Chelsea FC and Canadian international Ashley Lawrence, who gave up her time to play the role of a football coach, while legendary actor Simon Callow injected theatrical flair to scenes depicting the young lead character’s home life, several of which were filmed at Sedgwick House on the outskirts of Horsham. However, most of the young cast were recruited locally, giving

talented young actors the chance to work with an award-winning production company.

Local football clubs and organisations supported the film too, most notably Horsham Sparrows FC, with chairman Simon King and several players from Sparrows’ girls’ squads attending the premiere.

Broadbridge Heath FC and Horsham FC were involved in the project too, with on-pitch action and changing room scenes shot at the two local stadiums.

Skye Killgallon and Tegan Muggeridge star in Aguska (©Alan Wright)

The cast and crew arrive at Everyman Cinema (©Alan Wright Photography)

LASS

One young actor to shine was rising star Tegan Muggeridge from Crawley, in the lead role of teenager Melissa, who is bullied both for her wealthy background and lack of talent on the football field.

Tegan’s first experience of the big screen came in 2022 in the Warner Brothers’ film, A Christmas Story Christmas. When she heard about auditions for Fact Not Fiction Films’ latest project, she jumped at the chance to be involved.’

She told AAH: ‘I originally went for the role of Lizzie the bully, as I knew it would be a challenging part, but ended up cast as Melissa. The character resonated with me as I too experienced bullying during sports at school. I had to brush up my on my football skills for the role, although my character isn’t supposed to be a good

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Young members of the cast and crew with Tristan and Dunstan (©Alan Wright Photography)

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player, so it didn’t matter that I’m not very skilful! I did 13 keepy-ups in training, but the cameras were shooting at the other end of the pitch at the time!’

‘It has been great to be involved in Aguska and I’m also proud to have been a part of the project, as it raises awareness of lobular breast cancer, which (Tristan’s wife) Dr Susan Michaelas has, as well as issues surrounding bullying. I could relate to the character, having experienced bullying myself. I’ve been knocked down and got back up again!’

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BEST OF CHUMS If Tegan’s words have triggered an ear worm of Tubthumper, a hit song by anarcho-punk band Chumbawamba in 1997, then that’s no coincidence. A strange yet enjoyable quirk of Aguska is the appearance of the band’s lead singer, Dunstan Bruce. Dunstan makes several cameo appearances and when the film ended to the tune of his most enduring anthem, it sparked an impromptu singalong at Everyman. Tristan Loraine revealed that the singer’s role was actually expanded at the behest of executive producer Herb Jackson Jr. Dunstan attended the premiere and told the audience that he was proud to have supported a film with a strong antibullying message and helped raise awareness of charity partner, Kidscape.

Executive producer Herb Jackson Jr with Aguska Mnich (©Alan Wright)

He said: ‘Tubthumper was a hit over 25 years ago and since then has taken on a life of its own. I’ve been fortunate to have been part of its success. There are occasions when, as a band, we’ve allowed companies to use the song, as we’re being well paid. Other times, there’s an opportunity for the song to be used for a worthwhile cause. When Tristan told me about the project, the money was not important, as they wanted to use the song in a positive way. There should be more people like him, as the way he has brought people together is incredible.’

Tristan was keen to deflect any praise on to his young cast, who were enjoying their moment in the spotlight. Tristan said: ‘While we were filming, Georgiana Spencer was wondering around making her own videos for TikTok, and she had such enthusiasm that we thought it would be a good idea to include her in the film, and she was fantastic!’

‘We needed somebody with good football skills to play the role of Lizzie, our bully, and we received hundreds of audition tapes. When we saw Skye Kilgallon’s submission, we knew she was perfect as she could not only act, but do stepovers! Her family travelled from Glasgow to be involved in the project.’

‘As for Tegan, she had already demonstrated her talent in a Hollywood film, so we contacted her about the role and she was delighted to be involved. Since then, she has taken on an active role at FNFF, co-ordinating conferences for our next project, This is Your Captain Speaking, focusing on the air quality on airplanes, an issue close to my heart.’

In addition to Aguska, the audience also enjoyed a screening of Fact Not Fiction Films’ latest aviation drama, Angel Fleet.

Filmed around West Sussex, including South Lodge Hotel, Farlington School and Coolham Advanced Landing Ground, Angel Fleet tells the story of a lost aviator and the grief felt by his family.

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Director Tristan Loraine, Dr Susan Michaelas and Chumbawamba singer Dunstan Bruce (©Alan Wright)

Georgiana Spencer and Tegan Muggeridge sign quad posters at Everyman (©Alan Wright Photography)

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It features scenes of Europe’s last airworthy ‘Flying Fortress’ B-17 bomber and recently scooped an award for Best Score in a Short Film at LA’s Golden State Film Festival. The theme was composed by Moritz Schmittat and performed by Budapest Scoring Orchestra, with support from Big Notes Choir in Horsham.

C

The short film saw Tristan again teaming up with American actor/ producer Herb Jackson Jr, while the cast includes Darcey Jacobs, Millie Lewis, Jessica Hilliard and Shaun Morton, further demonstrating the film company’s support for rising talent.

Fact Not Fiction Films now hopes to showcase the short film at leading festivals.

Herb Jackson Jr said: ‘It was incredible to receive the news that Angel Fleet had been accepted at the New Media Film Festival and won awards at the Independent Film Festivals. It’s always nice to receive awards, but in future we hope to submit films to some of the leading festivals, such as Tribeca, South

by Southwest and Sundance, to showcase them to Hollywood audiences.’ n WORDS: Ben Morris PHOTOS: Alan Wright Photography

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Cast and crew at Aguska premiere (©Alan Wright Photography)

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LET’S PARTY

THE AMAZING BLUE OASIS CLUB NIGHTS IN HORSHAM

DJ Wolfman at the Blue Oasis Club Night (©AAH/Alan Wright) For DJ Wolfman, it’s a big night. Ian Moorey often turns to music to help with his mental health, but tonight, he’s performing as his alter ego at the Blue Oasis Club Night at The Drill Hall, Horsham.

who are performing, so you don’t have long to put a smile on faces. Sometimes, I see DJs still playing a record even when people have stopped dancing, but I always play tracks that get people moving.’

Blue Oasis only comes around four times each year and DJ Wolfman wants to make every minute of his stint at the decks count. His favourite records range from Motown soul to classic rock by Guns ‘n’ Roses, but his aim tonight is simply to get people up and dancing and set the tone for the other DJs to follow.

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‘The important thing is to get people on the dance floor,’ said DJ Wolfman. ‘Each night, we have a schedule of all the DJs and other acts

DJ Cool at Blue Oasis (©AAH/AW)

DJ Wolfman is among the more experienced DJs at Blue Oasis, an inclusive club night for young people with learning disabilities. Like many others, he has attended DJ workshops run at the nearby QM Studios, as part of their outreach programme. The club nights and workshops have had a positive impact on Ian’s life, and he’s even performed at private parties and functions too.

DJ Wolfman (©AAH/AW)

There’s plenty of other people trying their hand on the turntables too. DJ Cool plays party tunes from the 1980s, while Dom Beatbox often brings an urban edge to proceedings. There’s also a community choir, singing everything from ABBA to Amy Winehouse, while community rock band The Coasters often make an appearance. Both the band and the choir rehearse at QM Studios, a charitable organisation that also organises the Blue Oasis Club Nights.

Adam Gellibrand, a trustee at QM Studios and also director of the south’s only integrated samba band, Boom Tribe, said: ‘Blue Oasis Club Nights first began over 20 years ago. The initial idea came from Carousel, a Brighton-based charity that works with artists with learning

Jake Grimley, AKA DJ Rumshot (©AAH/AW)

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Fleur Harman (pink jacket) enjoys the Blue Oasis Club Night with her friends (©AAH/Alan Wright)

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‘One great thing is that there’s always people dancing.’

disabilities. They established a club on the coast to give people opportunities to perform, then took this successful model to towns including Crawley, Worthing, Chichester and Horsham.

Horsham District Council, in particular Nick Jenkins, was very supportive and with the Drill Hall proving to be an ideal venue, Horsham’s club night became the most successful outside of Brighton.’

‘Club nights have continued ever since and we consistently attract over 100 people, with most having some kind of disability. Blue Oasis is held four times a year, with two in spring and two in autumn.

QM Studios took over running the Horsham nights several years ago. It’s a good arrangement, as we can easily transport instruments and sound equipment to the Drill Hall from the Studios, and we also have well established links in the community through our outreach programme.’

‘During evenings and weekends, QM Studios operate as a private enterprise, with rooms available to hire for recording and rehearsals. We recently hosted David Essex as he prepared for a nationwide tour.

But during the day, we can run outreach programmes, with accessible and inclusive workshops that focus on people with learning disabilities or mental health

DJ Johnboy at Blue Oasis (©AAH/Alan Wright)

issues. Blue Oasis is essentially a showcase for all of those who attend these workshops.

These groups include The Coasters (a band with a strong reggae influence) and the fantastic community choir, which is led by another member of our team, Jack Coldrick, on keyboards. One of the great things about the club is that there are always people dancing, as the young people who attend have the confidence to express themselves in a safe and friendly environment, without anybody judging them.’

FLEUR’S NIGHT OUT Many of those enjoying attending are pupils at QEII School in Horsham, or attend the day centre or outreach activities offered at the Butterfly Project. This helps foster a sociable atmosphere at Blue Oasis, which is important not just to the young people, but also their families. Fleur Harman has been a regular at Blue Oasis for about six years and always enjoys meeting up with friends.

Occasionally, she performs a set as DJ Fleurster, but tonight her Pink Ladies jacket is a fixture on the dance floor instead...

Mum Clare said: ‘The Blue Oasis is really important, as it’s a safe place for young and often vulnerable adults to come to. It’s great for them as they have the space to socialise and there’s a bar where they can buy drinks and snacks. There’s always people looking out for them too. The nights are important for parents as well, as it gives us a chance to relax and chat.’

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The community choir performing at Blue Oasis (©AAH/Alan Wright) ‘I have met most of my closest friends through Blue Oasis and that’s why it’s special to us. When Fleur’s birthday coincides with a club night, we hold her party there, as she knows everybody there anyway. That’s how much it means to her.’

In recent years, the future of the Drill Hall has been in jeopardy. However, Lifespring Church has submitted a successful proposal to acquire the Drill Hall and refurbish it to create a modern, sustainable community hub and conference centre.

Trustees Mandy Ansell and Annette Wilson, with Workshop Leaders Jack Coldrick, Adam Gellibrand and Rob Adams (©AAH/Alan Wright)

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Adam said: ‘We have met with Lifespring and they have been hugely supportive, even donating equipment to QM Studios for our community work. We may miss

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one or two nights when the hall closes for refurbishment, but Blue Oasis Club Night tie in with the church’s wish of supporting the community, which hopefully means we can continue for many years to come. We have considered the idea of holding nights more frequently, perhaps every month, but it might dilute the occasion. With just four a year, the Blue Oasis is always special, so it might be best to keep it that way.’ n WORDS: Ben Morris PHOTOS: Alan Wright Further information: For details about future Club Nights, visit the Facebook page Blue Oasis Club Nights

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SERVE & PROT KNEPP ESTATE HOSTS SUSSEX COUNTRYSIDE DAY martyn edwards eighth page.qxp_Layout 1 21/03/2018 16:11 Page 1

The second annual CPRE Sussex Countryside Day was held at the Knepp Estate, Dial Post, on 7 September.

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The event gave visitors an opportunity to learn about efforts to protect, restore and celebrate the Sussex countryside. There were guided talks and tours on forest bathing, foraging and reconnecting ancient woodlands, as well as nature-themed activities for children by Nature Makers and Horsham-based CIC Woods for Learning.

There were also stalls from charities and organisations including the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) and the Gatwick Area Conservation Campaign.

Many took the chance to learn about wildlife conservation from the Sussex Wildlife Trust, the RSPB and the Weald to Waves project, which aims to establish a 100-mile wildlife corridor from the Ashdown Forest to the Sussex coast. The rewilding project at Knepp is key to its success, as it helps to connect the county’s rivers and wetlands.

Rosanna Caterall and Ali Peel at the Knepp Market Garden stall (©AAH/Alan Wright)

While Knepp’s rewilding project has rejuvenated the fortunes of several species (it is a stronghold for turtle doves and purple emperor butterflies), it’s the white stork that has come to symbolise the success of the estate. Many visitors walk Knepp’s trails in the hope of seeing the striking bird, and children in particular were keen to learn about them from wildlife experts at the Countryside Day. Laura Vaughan-Hirsch of the White Stork Project said: ‘There were no storks in the UK for 600 years until we launched this project four years ago. This year, 29 chicks fledged from 11 nests across the estate, so it’s been an amazing success.

As the estate isn’t used for agriculture, there are no herbicides and pesticides and this ensures that earthworms, insects and other small invertebrates thrive. The storks love to forage here as it provides them with everything they need.’

‘When we started the White Stork Project, we wondered if the birds would know how to migrate after six centuries. Amazingly, that instinct has remained. We track as many storks as possible and this year fitted nine with tracking devices. The storks are now on their annual migration, travelling as far as Morocco, and will return to the colony to breed early next year. While they currently only nest at Knepp, we hope they will spread out across Sussex and beyond in the coming years as the project expands.’

‘The storks have become a story of hope.

They have a long association with Sussex, even appearing on the Storrington village crest as they once nested in the wetlands there. In time, we hope the storks spread into areas where they were once abundant, as that will be very special.’ (©Andy Stafford)

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Market Garden tomatoes (©AAH/AW)

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The SGL team sporting recycled hats (©AAH/AW)

Debbie and Martin Standen, Lily’s Cottage (©AAH/AW)

ANIMAL HOUSE The interest in the natural world amongst the attendees presented a chance for small businesses and enterprises to promote related products. Martin and Debbie Standen run Lily’s Cottage, named after their dog. They use old wooden pallets to build wildlife habitats including bird boxes and hedgehog houses.

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Debbie said: ‘We made a bug house from a pallet and stuffed it with bamboo, twigs, pine cones and bark foraged on our daily dog walk. We put it in our garden and some of our friends and relatives asked us to make one for them too. Lily’s Cottage has grown from there.

We now make a range of habitats at an affordable price to encourage wildlife.

We also re-use glass jars, filling them with our own feed to encourage small birds to forage. We’ve also made planters and compost bins, as well as Pollination Education Stations (PES) for Sussex Green Living. These have been installed at schools and businesses, encouraging insects and inspiring people to get involved in conservation.’

Sussex Green Living were also at the Countryside Day with the Inspiration Eco Station, a converted milk float that helps the charity promote environmentallyfriendly or sustainable ideas. SGL sells recycled products too, including hats made in the Philippines.

Carrie Cort, Founder and CEO of Sussex Green Living, said: ‘In 2012, I was concerned about the number of crisp packets going to landfill, as they couldn’t be recycled. At that point, we didn’t have TerraCycle schemes, so I searched for alternatives and came across the Purple Community Fund, an organisation that works with deprived

communities in Manila. One of their initiatives is turning used crisp packets, ring pulls, toothpaste tubes and other items into clothing and accessories, such ‘Pirates as hats and bags. Some of these would test the are sold in boutique stores, but we sell them for a suggested contents of rum donation of £40, which goes back by setting it to the Purple Community Fund.

They’re beautiful, hand-made hats, alight!’ but of course they’re very quirky, so while most people love them, finding a buyer can be a challenge!’

PIRATE SPIRIT There was a range of Sussex-based food and drink produce too. Goldstone Rum, based in Henfield, offered samples of its award -winning rum. The most potent is Sussex Overproof, which won a Special Gold Commendation at the 2024 People’s Choice Spirits Award.

Georgina Bowell said: ‘If you take rum from 40% to over 50%, you get a very different flavour and a distinct aroma. Our Overproof is 57%, which really brings out the flavour of the three types of cane sugar we use. The term Overproof is derived from pirates, who would test the content of rum by setting it alight. That aside, we veer away from Caribbean connotations and promote the brand as part of the growing food and drink movement in Sussex.’

Fresh fruit and vegetables were on offer too, direct from the Market Garden at Knepp.

Established in 2022, the garden provides fresh produce to the Wilding Kitchen and farm shop.

Rosanna Catterall said: ‘We have formed a

Georgina Bowell with Overproof, good enough for pirates! (©AAH/Alan Wright)

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The Weald to Waves team at Knepp (©AAH/Alan Wright) strong connection with the chefs and now, if we have fresh vegetables or an abundance of something in particular, they will create a dish that utilises it. We love tomatoes and grow a wide variety. Brad’s atomic grape, named after the head chef, is high in tyramine and has gone down very well at tomato tasting events!’

Rural trades and skills were on display too.

Bulchins Farm, a Wisborough Green-based business specialising in livery, breaking and rest and recuperation, proved popular with young visitors, with children treating the animals to fresh carrots from the market garden. Phil Hart demonstrated hedge-laying techniques, using traditional tools such as a billhook.

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Hedgelayer Phil Hart demonstrates traditional techniques (©AAH/AW)

Phil highlighted different hedge styles adopted across the country and showed how they can create natural, carbon-rich borders while also providing a safe haven for wildlife.

Phil said: ‘My work mostly comes from local authorities or farmers needing to manage hedge rows. At Knepp, they’re rewilding the estate naturally, which is a great thing. Hedges are vital as they provide a safe habitat for everything from moles, voles and hedgehogs to birds, including robins and blue tits. Skilled hedge-layers can create several stems to encourage regrowth and restrict access under hedges, while there are also ways to create multiple layers to provide thick foliage for birds.’

It is hoped that the CPRE Sussex Countryside Day can in future become part of a nationwide celebration of everything great about the countryside. CPRE Sussex director Paul Steedman said: ‘It was fantastic to see how passionate people are about the amazing spaces we have on our doorstep, and the need to protect them from future threats. Thanks to everyone who came along, the talk leaders and stall holders, and the Knepp Estate for hosting us at the home of Sussex rewilding.’ n WORDS: Ben Morris PHOTOS: Alan Wright Further information: Visit the website at cpresussex.org.uk

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HORSHAM SCHOOL OF BOTANICAL ARTISTS HOST PARHAM EXHIBITION Leigh Ann, Linda, Hazel and Eleanor at Parham (©AAH/Alan Wright)

The Horsham School of Botanical Artists (HSBA) hosted an exhibition at Parham House and Gardens on 4 - 22 September. AAH visited the exhibition and met several members including Leigh Ann Gale, Eleanor Coate, Linda Lasham and Hazel Barnard to find out more…

YEAR OF CULTURE The HSBA was founded in 2019, during the Horsham District Year of Culture. Jeremy Knight, formerly curator of Horsham Museum, played an important role in establishing the group, having recognised the abundance of high-quality botanical artists working locally.

The museum’s art gallery hosted an exhibition of botanical art and since then, members have continued to run the group independently.

Soon after its formation, there were 10 artists involved. While numbers have dipped slightly since, seven current members produce a wide range of art in a botanical style. For each of the past three years, the HSBA has organised

an exhibition in the Seed Room at Parham House, with this year’s theme being Autumn, Flowers & Fruits.

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Eleanor Coate said: ‘We choose a different theme for each exhibition, with the first centred around the King’s Coronation. We found a website that purported to list the favourite flowers of various members of the Royal family, which inspired us to create new work for an exhibition. However, it’s not easy for all botanical artists to produce work quickly, especially if they adopt a scientific level of detail in their art, as they can be incredibly time-consuming.’

SCIENTIFIC STUDY One of the most established artists involved in the HSBA is Leigh Ann Gale. As well as offering private tuition and leading workshops, Leigh Ann has published two books on the genre, Botanical Illustration – The Complete Guide and Colour for Botanical Artists and Illustrators, with a third expected soon.

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Dahlia by Deborah Crago Having gained a diploma in Botanical Art and Illustration at Chelsea Physic Garden, the English Gardening School, Leigh Ann adopts a traditional style of botanical art, accurately depicting various components of a plant including the stem, leaves, seeds and bulbs.

‘My style is scientific and I enjoy capturing the finer detail,’ said Leigh Ann. ‘Sometimes, I will show a plant through different periods of its life cycle and record them through illustrations. Although I use watercolours, I adopt a dry brush technique that gives bold colours and allows for finer detail.’

‘There are styles of botanical art that are more expressive, but I find pleasure in this time-consuming and representational method, taking the time to perfect the detail and colouration of leaves, which are notoriously difficult to capture. I have one picture of rowan berries (left) that has been a work in progress for 10 years!’

Rowan Berries

by Leigh Ann Gale

WONKY CARROTS One of the reasons why the group attracts interest is the range of styles demonstrated by members. Deborah Crago takes inspiration from the countryside for her finely-detailed pencil drawings. Heather Glenny has an expressive style, capturing the vibrant colours and textures of beautiful flowers such as peonies and foxgloves. Helen André is fascinated by natural processes, such as growth and decay, and her drawings of wonky carrots, twisted turnips and mis-shaped strawberries are amongst the most popular with exhibition visitors.

Black Bryony by Hazel Barnard

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11/02/2013 17:02

Hazel Barnard finds beauty in unexpected places (©AAH/AW)

Linda Lasham at the Parham Exhibition (©AAH/Alan Wright)

Hazel Barnard is among those to have benefited from Leigh Ann’s tuition, so naturally her work also adopts a scientific approach. However, Hazel seeks out less obvious plants for her studies. ‘My pictures tend not to be colourful rhododendrons or azaleas,’ said Hazel. ‘I’m more attracted to weeds and even my picture of bryony berries depicts many of them as withered or dead. I am a perfectionist, so like working in a studious way that accurately depicts a plant, but I find beauty in the overlooked, such as garden weeds or fallen leaves.’

Linda Lasham’s love of gardening stems from her father, who taught her much of what she knows about flowers and plants. Linda took up botanical art after attending a course run by the Society of Botanical Artists and now creates bright, colourful art of her own.

‘I find beauty in the overlooked, such She said: ‘When I first started, as garden my style was very artistic and expressive, but as I’ve developed my weeds!’ skills, I’ve introduced more detail. As well as plants, I enjoy painting fruit and vegetables and loved capturing the subtle colour and textural changes of a marrow in one of my recent pieces.’

Leigh Ann Gale with her botanical art books (©AAH/AW)

PHOTOGRAPHIC EYE An interesting facet of the group is that it embraces photography too. At a glance, you may not tell that Eleanor Coate’s output comprises photos, such is the level of detail, yet her botanical studies have been recognised with a gold medal from the Royal Horticultural Society. Eleanor was already a keen photographer, exhibiting shots of wildflowers and landscapes at Horsham Museum before she was adopt a botanical style. Eleanor said: ‘I came across a book containing paintings from the age of discovery, when illustrators were employed to document plant species.

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‘Beauty Pageant’ by Helen André

Eleanor Coate is a botanical photographer (©AAH/Alan Wright) I wondered if a photographer could emulate that same style and that was how my botanical journey began.’

‘Initially, I photographed wildflowers, but they soon wilted after being picked, so the images were disappointing. But when I combined wildflowers with grasses and other flora from their natural environment in collages, I found they created a more interesting story. I have since developed my skills in Photoshop and have become known for these composite images, with themes varying from meadows and woodlands to autumn fruits and winter berries. Now I’m experimenting ways in which to capture even greater detail!’

FLORILEGIUM DREAM One of the most important ongoing projects of the HSBA is a Florilegium, established at Leonardslee Lakes and Gardens in 2020. A florilegium (literally meaning a gathering of flowers) is a compilation of drawings and paintings depicting collections of rare and exotic species. The founder members of the Florilegium hope to produce an extensive archive of botanical portraits, working in graphite, watercolours, pencils or photography to botanically record the floral collection.

Leigh Ann said: ‘The Florilegium is a long-term project that will take time to build, but it would be a wonderful thing to do. Leonardslee is a

grade-I listed gardens, with many rare and endangered species, some of which don’t exist anywhere else in the world. Some species could have been lost during the long closure of the gardens, before they re-opened, so it’s important that they are recorded through botanical illustration, as they could potentially be lost in future.’

WORDS: Ben Morris PHOTOS: Alan Wright Further details: With the HSBA website under development, please contact Leigh Ann Gale with enquiries, via the Contact Page of her website, la-botanicalart.co.uk

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FOLK DYNASTY

FAMED FOLK FAMILY PERFORM AT RUSPER CHURCH

The Copper Family at St Mary Magdalene Church, Rusper (©AAH/Alan Wright) The Copper Family performed at the Church of St Mary Magdalene, Rusper, on Saturday 14 September. Here, with background material supplied by cultural historian Simon Machin, we delve into the Copper Family’s folk heritage and discover why Rusper was the perfect setting for their traditional tunes…

the talented family of folk singers who tilled the local fields. Kate spent three successive evenings with James ‘Brasser’ Copper and his brother, Tom. Their whistles wetted by a copious supply of whisky, the brothers shared their archive of family songs, passed down through the generations.

THE COPPERS The earliest mention of the Coppers comes from Rottingdean in 1593, although in all likelihood, the family lived in or close to the Sussex coastal village long before then. Most of the family worked as farm labourers or shepherds, although James ‘Brasser’ Copper (born 1845) and his son Jim (b.1882) were farm bailiffs or managers.

traditional songs. Some of these have endured, perhaps most notably Scarborough Fair, which was first published in 1891 and is believed to have originated in Whitby.

Singing seems to have run in the blood and the Coppers were renowned in Rustington. But it wasn’t until the late 19th century that they attracted the attention of folk collectors, who travelled around the country ‘collecting’

In November 1898, Kate Lee, a professional concert singer and a keen collector of folk songs, was staying at the Rottingdean home of Edward Carson, a distinguished politician and lawyer. It was here that Kate heard about

Bob, John, Jim and Ron Copper (©The Copper Family)

While introducing The Brisk Young Ploughboy at Rusper, John Copper, the oldest member of the family still performing, said: ‘Many of the songs were about the toils of manual labour. In those days, it wasn’t uncommon for boys aged 11 or 12 to plough all day, working a relatively small piece of land. Singing was a way of getting through the day, so the songs survived.’

Kate Lee collected 50 songs in all from the Coppers and these became the foundation stone upon which The Folk Song Society (later the English Folk Dance and Song Society) was formed, with ‘Brasser’ and Tom made honorary members. Claudy Banks, based on the Copper rendition, featured in the first edition of the Journal of the Folk Song Society.

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The Copper Family sing Spencer the Rover (©AAH/Alan Wright) The songs were passed down and kept alive in the village throughout the 1920s and ‘30s by Jim Copper and his brother John, but these were lean years in which folk attracted little interest.

Post-war, Jim’s son Bob and his cousin Ron took on the mantle and largely through Bob’s diligence and writings, the songs survived into the modern era.

It was only after the Second World War that the Coppers attained wider recognition. Jim (pictured opposite, with a tankard and pipe) heard one of their family songs on BBC Radio in 1950 and wrote in to say that he and his family still performed them. A BBC producer visited

the family and managed to re-collect some 40 songs. This time, the medium of radio ensured that the songs would never be forgotten. The Copper family were soon performing from the garden of a pub in an outside broadcast to an audience of 13 million.

song collectors). The composer Ralph Vaughan Williams pointed this out to Bob Copper, who would have otherwise been none the wiser, as he could not read music.

A radio series, The Life of Jim Copper, followed, as did a concert at the Royal Albert Hall. They were recognised then as folk royalty and have remained so ever since. The icing on the cake was the featuring of Claudy Banks in musical notation on the top of a sponge at an event at Cecil Sharp House, celebrating English folk song (Sharp was among England’s leading folk

With the folk revival inspiring interest across the world, The Copper Family were in demand stateside too. Before singing one of the family’s most enduring songs, Spencer the Rover, Bob’s daughter Jill told the Rusper audience: ‘Dad travelled on an aeroplane for the first time at the age of 79, when we performed in America Conin 1994. Our first gig was at the Library of

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Jill recalls family trips to America (©AAH/AW)

AMERICAN DREAM

In 2002, Bob was interviewed alongside the great American folk singer Pete Seegar. Bob died two years later, but the Copper Family continues to be represented by his son John, daughter Jill, son-in-law Jon Dudley and their respective children, Mark, Andy, Sean, Ben, Lucy and Tom. All of them except Mark and Tom performed at Rusper, a concert held in aid of the Parish Church and supported by arts non-profit organisation Separate Star, which was founded by Simon Machin of Horsham.

Recently, Bob’s great-grandson Flinn has joined the line-up, becoming the eighth consecutive known generation of The Copper Family to sing. Jill said: ‘There are 10 grandchildren in all and four are very keen to perform. At the Cambridge Folk Festival, there were three generations of the family singing together and the youngest members were given a wonderful reception by the audience. They are all leading their own lives so can’t always join us, but it’s wonderful that they are interested in the family’s heritage and it means a lot to us that these songs will be passed on to another generation.’

THE BROADWOODS St Mary Magdalene was a fitting choice for the concert, given that Rusper has played its own part in the history of English folk music. Reverend Nick Flint, rector since 1996, has traced his own Sussex ancestry back to the 1600s and found he was related to previous rectors of Rusper. He has also unearthed a connection to the famous Broadwood family of piano makers, who rebuilt St Mary Magdalene in the Victorian period. Nick shares common ancestry with Charlotte King, who in 1825 married the Rev John Broadwood, whose favourite hobby leads us back to the Coppers and folk song...

Simon Machin helped organise the concert (©AAH/Alan Wright)

gress in Washington DC. It transpired that many people in the audience had a copy of Bob’s book, A Song For Every Season, first published in 1973, and they queued up ‘At the afterwards for his Folk Festival, autograph. We enjoyed many trips to America and three generations on one occasion attended were singing the Folk International Alliance annual conference together.’ in Memphis. We were in a bar when a gentleman who had been hanging around finally put his hand on Bob’s shoulder and said, “I feel I’m standing in the presence of greatness!”

Bob didn’t know what to say, but the rest of us jokingly referred to him as “His Greatness” for the rest of the trip!’

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Lucy Broadwood’s memorial tablet (©AAH/AW)

In 1847, John Broadwood published anonymously Old English Songs, which contained 16 folk songs “set to music exactly as they are now sung”.

He is recognised as the first collector to accurately record the dialect and music of country people.

Following his death, his niece, Lucy Etheldred Broadwood, moved with her family into his former home, Lyne House in Capel. Inspired by her uncle, Lucy reprinted his work as Sussex Songs in 1889, adding 10 from her own collection. In the process, she made song collecting a respectable pursuit for women, as well as men.

During the Edwardian period, songs of the countryside found their way into the music of leading composers such as Ralph Vaughan Williams.

Ralph even composed at a Broadwood piano that he had bought from the family, and this remains on display at the National Trust’s Leith Hill Place. Today, memorials to the Broadwood family are built into the fabric of Sussex churches, including St John the Baptist in Crawley and of course, St Mary Magdalene in Rusper.

Horsham’s Morris dancing side is named after Lucy Broadwood and every year on May Day, Broadwood Morris visit the church to lay a wreath at her memorial tablet (above).

With their performance at the church in September, The Copper Family truly brought the history of folk song in Sussex full circle. n WORDS: Ben Morris & Simon Machin PHOTOS: Alan Wright Further information: Many thanks to cultural and oral historian Simon Machin, who helped organise The Copper Family concert in Rusper and provided much of the information in this article. Simon further discusses the social history of folk in his podcast, Red Heaven, available at redheavenproject.com

Reverend Nick Flint, Rector of Rusper Church (©AAH/Alan Wright)

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FINAL WORD A DAUGHTER SHARES HER TRAGIC STORY ABOUT ALZHEIMER’S

REBECCA MALLOY Having discovered that she has the same gene mutation that has left her dad in a care home with early onset dementia, Rebecca is determined to live life to the full, starting with the London Marathon...

What would you do if you were told that in all likelihood, you would have Alzheimer’s in 15 years? It would be life altering, wouldn’t it?

Well, that’s exactly what has happened to me.

My story starts with my dad, Gary Malloy. He was a highly skilled IT engineer (pictured below) who was always fun, kind and caring.

At the age of only 52, he was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s after years of tests and tears. His memory had been deteriorating gradually, changing all of our lives. As his memory got worse, it reached a point where he was unable to do things we all take for granted, like work and drive.

As dad could no longer be left alone, My amazing mum selflessly gave up her job to become his carer. But eventually, we had to make the heart-breaking decision to put him in a care home so that he could receive the professional care he needed. This is where dad is today, at the age of 67. While other men his age are enjoying their retirement, watching their children and grandchildren grow up, he is unable to walk, talk, feed himself, or even lift his own head. He spends his days in bed, unable to recognise anyone or anything, and is agonisingly vacant.

Unless you have been through a similar experience, I cannot begin to describe the pain that you feel at seeing someone you love in this condition and the impact it has on your own mental health. You cannot grieve properly for them as their body is still there with you, yet they are helpless. Now, I fear that I face a similar fate...

Alzheimer’s occurs in 1 in 14 people and early onset Alzheimer’s accounts for 5 – 10% of these cases.

Causes can be environmental, or related to head trauma, but it can also be genetic, although this is rare. We

Rebecca Malloy with dad Gary, who worked as a skilled engineer but now requires professional care due to early onset Alzheimer’s were given the option for my dad to have blood How has this changed my life? I have taken tests, to find out if he held a gene mutation that the somewhat optimistic view that knowing causes early onset Alzheimer’s. We the result of the test is a gift, to make sure discovered he does indeed have the that I live life to the full. I feel I need ‘I need gene, called Presenilin 1, or PSEN1 to try to cram 50 years into 15. So, I for short). So far, about 40 have already started on the kind of to cram 50 mutations of the PSEN1 gene ‘bucket list’ that people normally years into 15, so embark on in later life. The list have been identified, although they are still rare. have started my includes running the London Marathon and raising awareness own bucket Having received this news, I had not just about Alzheimer’s, but to decide whether I wanted to learn also PSEN1. So, here I am! list.’ my fate too, with the odds of me also having the gene about 50/50. Some A cure will not be found in time to save people might not want to know, but I had to me, which is a difficult thing to have to come find out, as the results would determine to terms with. But I would be grateful if anyone how I was going to live my life. I wanted to can sponsor me (link below) to raise money for be prepared for a worse case scenario.

The National Brain Appeal and help find a cure I also feel that if my dad had been for everyone that has or will be affected by this given the option to know in advance, harrowing disease. he would have taken it. I was sat with my mum in the family kitchen I wanted to run for The National Brain Appeal, when we were told the earthas it supports the Dementia Research Centre at shattering news that I too had the University College London. Here, the research PSEN1 gene mutation and that I’m team are getting closer to finding a cure, and destined to follow my dad’s broken they are also supporting me and my mum path. emotionally. While it might be too late for me, by fundraising for research at UCL, I might be able to help future generations.

To sponsor Rebecca’s run, visit https://2025tcslondonmarathon.enthuse.com/pf/rebecca-malloy

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