BN5 Magazine August 2023

Editor’s Letter

Welcome to our August edition, we hope you’re enjoying some summer weather and the long school holidays.

Our cover image this month is kindly provided by Leonardslee Gardens, their events calendar is absolutely full, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. We’re especially looking forward to their giant Labyrinth Challenge; a massive inflatable assault course which looks enormous fun, if you have the energy! For those with younger children (under 1.2m high) there’s a smaller (and slightly less hectic) challenge, plus a space for adults to watch and enjoy coffee & cake.

It was an absolute pleasure to be part of the judging team for Fritz’s amazing ‘Stick to it’ craft competition alongside Revd. Heather Wilkin and Alison Crowe. You’ll find some pictures of the entries inside, plus a full list of winners on our website. There were 95 incredible entries, each is worthy of a prize. Thank you Fritz for your hard work, it’s really appreciated.

Henfield Theatre Company’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream was a sell-out and met with huge acclaim, tickets for their next production, Jekyll and Hyde, go on sale soon - so get yours early!

Enjoy August,

Emma Cole, Editor

Copy deadline & contacts

06 What’s On from the BN5 area

08 News from the BN5 area

21 Local Interest Summer at Leonardslee

24 Local Interest

‘Stick to it’ Winners

27 Local Interest

New Guided Wellbeing Walks

31 Local Interest Get Involved

37 Local Interest St Peter’s School

41 Local Interest

HTC’s Jekyll & Hyde

45 Local Interest Pedal for Henfield

49 Local Interest

Draft Climate Action Strategy

53 Local Interest

Telephone Scams

62 Index Of local advertisers

Many thanks to our editorial and photographic contributors this month;

Mandy Ainsworth, Heather Pepper, Revd. Paul Doick, Sue Willis, Dawn Butcher, Sophie Hall-Vann, Noreen Javaid, Sarah Butler and Paul Samrah. Cover photograph copyright Leonardslee Lakes & Gardens.

BN5 magazine is printed on 100% FSC approved managed forests paper at Gemini Print in Shoreham and is printed using vegetable-based inks.

Copy deadline for advertisements or editorial submissions for the September 2023 issue of BN5 magazine is Friday 4 August.

If you have a local interest story for us please email editor@bn5magazine.co.uk. If your not-for-profit club, group or charity has an event you would like us to publish on our what’s on pages, please submit via our website www.henfieldbn5.co.uk, this gives you additional automatic website entry. Please note we no longer accept postal or email diary submissions due to potential inaccuracies when transcribing. Priority is given to local, charitable and non-repeating events when we are oversubscribed. Advertiser Terms and Conditions and all Disclaimers appear on our website. For advertising enquiries or to receive a media pack please email sales@bn5magazine.co.uk

Summer Theatre School

Sat 22 Jul – Sat 26 Aug, various times, Henfield Hall

See www.henfieldbn5.co.uk for full details. Saturday summer school for children age 8-17, each session lasts 3 hours and must be pre-booked. £10 for members.

Poppin’ Café

Fri 4 Aug, 7-10pm, Henfield Youth Club

Café for age 14-18 at Henfield Youth Club. Last food orders 9.30pm. Free entry, pool, computer games. Meal deals. Come and say hi!

Indian Summer Bazaar

Fri 4 Aug – Sat 2 Sep on garden open days, 12-5pm, Sussex Prairies

Including block printing workshop (9-13 August) and Bazaar Garden Party (19 August). See website for details www.sussexprairies.co.uk

Rural Exhibition

5 & 6 Aug, 10am-4pm, Woodhouse Farm, BN5 9BA

Exhibition of vintage tractors & equipment. Carpentry, cobblers, blacksmith and much more. Entry £8 cash. See ad on page 13 for more details.

Become a HART Responder

Tues 8 Aug, 7-10pm, Henfield Haven

Henfield Area Response Team are recruiting, come along to this Q&A session if you are interested in volunteering. Driving licence essential. www. henfieldresponders.org.uk

The Magic of Forests

Weds 9 Aug, 11am, Steyning Bookshop

Tree-tastic fun with author Vicky Woodgate for children age 5-10. Make a twig flag, create leaf art, draw-along and learn forest facts. www.steyningbookshop.co.uk

Friday Night Supper Club

Fri 11 Aug, 5-9pm, Albourne Estate

Paella Inc. return to Albourne Estate with three types of delicious paella! Call to book your table 01273 831222 or email info@albourneestate.co.uk

Henfield Artisan Market

Sun 13 Aug, 10am-2pm, Cooper’s Way Car Park

Featuring local growers, producers, makers and crafts; delicious food and drink and some special hand-crafted items and gifts. henfieldmarket@gmail.com if you’d like a stall.

Mini Labyrinth Challenge

Thu 17 – Sun 20 Aug, 9.30-5pm, Leonardslee

Huge inflatable obstacle course, the minichallenge is alongside the regular Labyrinth but for children - open to 1.2m heights and below. www. leonardsleegardens.co.uk See news page 18.

Henfield Walking Group

Thu 17 Aug, 10.30am, meet Henfield Hall

Twittens of Henfield. Level 2 walk, 2.25 miles with some elevations. No Stiles. Contact Angela, 07563 149616. See henfieldbn5.co.uk/events for more details.

Henfield Repair Café

Sat 19 Aug, 10am-12pm, Henfield Haven

Bring along your items to be repaired, bike repairs, electrical items, sewing, blunt scissors, secateurs or knives for sharpening, all for a small donation. We look forward to seeing you. www.sh2030.org.uk

Live Music @ Woodhouse Farm

Sun 20 Aug, 12-6pm, Woodhouse Farm, BN5 9BA

Enjoy music from local artists Dean Ager, Roxi and Lorna Moon. See ad page 13 for details. Tickets from eventbrite.co.uk/e/662877322917.

Henfield Walking Group

Thu 24 Aug, 10.30am, meet Small Dole Village Hall

The Short One. Level 1 walk, .6 miles. A Cool walk through Tottington woods on the Margret Mackley trail. See henfieldbn5.co.uk/events for more details.

Senior Citizens’ Outing & Meal

Sun 3 Sep, 11am, Henfield Hall

All local senior citizens are invited to this free outing and meal hosted by the Henfield B-P Guild. Advance booking essential from Hamfelds or call 07816 463851. See news page 10.

Pedal for Henfield

Sat 2 – Sun 3 Sep, all day

Join in this fundraiser for Henfield Leisure Centre at their all-day Spinathon! See page 45 of this magazine for details.

Late Summer Plant Fair

Sun 3 Sep, 12-5pm, Sussex Prairies

Amazing plants from specialist nurseries as well as the Indian Bazaar market. See www.sussexprairies.co.uk for details.

Electric Community Car Club Launches In Henfield

Community Transport Sussex (CT Sussex) has launched its innovative Electric Community Car Club in Henfield, supported by much-loved actors Sue Jameson, James Bolam and Yvonne Edgel. This fantastic project will provide disabled people with access to shared transport and enable residents to access affordable hire cars, reduce the need for second cars and help the environment. The Club will be community-run, owned, and used as a valuable resource as volunteers and a local steering group will be recruited to run the service.

Community Partnership AGM

The Henfield Community Partnership will be holding its 17th Annual General Meeting at 7pm on Thursday 14 September 2023 in the Committee Room at Henfield Hall. At the meeting the Directors will report on what has been achieved since 2022, and there will be elections to the Board and Management Committee. The Partnership is always looking for new members to support its activities, as well as new faces to serve on the Committee, and if you are interested or would like to find out more please contact the Chairman by email henfieldcp.info@ gmail.com

Membership of the Partnership is free and individuals can sign up to join at any time. You can find out more about the Partnership at www. henfieldcp.net . Attendance at the AGM is open to anyone in the village interested in our aim to help make Henfield a better place to live and work. If being a Committee Member is not for you, you can still help us with any of our many projects, so why not put 14 September in your diary now.

Anthony Druce

Analogue turn-off

Most people have ‘mobile’ handsets nowadays and although the handset has a battery, the base unit hasn’t, so they can’t be used in a power cut either. So, unless you still have a ‘corded’ phone it won’t work in a power cut now. Openreach are planning to turn off the analogue system at the end of 2025, and all phones will go through the internet line then.

The initiative is funded by Motability, the national disability charity, as part of a pilot car club initiative. All the cars are adapted for those with limited mobility and an electric wheelchair accessible vehicle will be available if required. At all other times, the vehicles will be available for the rest of the community to hire, creating a transformational, accessible asset for the village. Actor, James Bolan said: ‘Good luck Henfield – this can only be a good thing for everyone as well as for the environment. Make sure you tell friends and family about it and sign-up!’. Actor Sue Jameson added ‘Well done CT Sussex on this creative and innovative idea. We hope you will enjoy the opportunities this Club affords to help your wonderful village become even less polluted and to bring people together. Let’s hope more positive community projects are launched in the future.’’ See www.ctsussex.org.uk for more information.

Marie Claire Macintosh

If you are vulnerable and have a poor mobile signal, your provider should supply a back-up power supply for emergencies, free of charge, to keep your phone working for about an hour. You will have to ask. You can get more information at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/uk-transition-fromanalogue-to-digital-landlines#

Sarah Mamoany, Clerk to Woodmancote Parish Council

Professional Microsuction & Irrigation Ear Wax Removal for Children & Adults www.facebook.com/earforyouinwestsussex

Partridge Green Youth FC Scores New Sponsorship Deal

Following a fundraising drive by the new management team, Partridge Green Youth Football Club (PGYFC) now has a new official sponsor, local door manufacturer Forza Doors Ltd.

With their upgraded pitches at Jolesfield Common, courtesy of the Sayers Common Community Grant, PGYFC is creating a bright future for local soccer talent, as they begin getting teams trained and match-ready for the 2023/24 season.

“Children in Partridge Green struggled to find nearby teams to join, often being waitlisted for out-of-town clubs,” explains under 13’s PGYFC Manager Chris Holland. “Thanks to the generosity and support we’ve received, particularly from our sponsor Forza Doors, Partridge Green now has a dedicated club for children, both local and outof-town, to train and play football matches. We have pitches for 5, 7, 9, and 11-a-side matches and, due to the support and generosity we’ve received, we’ve expanded our teams to field under 7s, 11s and 13s.”

Will Hunnam, Managing Director of Forza Doors, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, stating, “We are thrilled to support Partridge Green Youth Football Club in providing local

children with a dedicated space to enjoy football. This sponsorship reflects our commitment to community development.”

Spectators are welcome to cheer on the teams and enjoy walks with their dogs along the footpaths surrounding the grounds. PGYFC will participate in the Horsham District Youth Football League, engaging with teams within a 35-mile radius of Horsham, and arranging friendlies and cup games with more distant teams. Stay up-todate with PGYFC’s upcoming matches by visiting: https://clubpgyfc.wixsite.com/pgyfc

James Taylor

Macmillan Coffee morning

On Friday 29th September 2023 we are having our Macmillan Coffee morning from 10.30amnoon. There will be tea or coffee and cake for a donation of £2 and we will be selling raffle tickets at £1.50 a strip (please pop into the office to buy them) to raise some extra money, all in aid of Macmillan. Last year we raised £400 and we hope to increase that amount this year if possible. We would also be very grateful for any suitable raffle prizes that we could add to the raffle. Also if any other businesses have a voucher that they could donate to us that would be fantastic!

Karen Jordan

This event is free to all Senior Citizens. The event is free because of the fund raising that the BP Guild with the kind support of the village carries out throughout the year such as Father Christmas sleigh collections, marquee hire and jumble sales etc. You are free to choose the coach trip and dinner, or just come for the dinner if you prefer. Tickets will be available from Hamfelds or alternatively Call Neil Featherstone on 07816 463851. Please let us know of any specific dietary requirements you may have when booking the tickets. We hope to see you there on Sunday 3rd September.

Kevin Dawkins.

Senior Citizens Outing and Meal

The Henfield Baden Powell Guild (BP Guild) would like to invite all Senior Citizens from Henfield and its locality to our Annual Senior Citizens Outing and Meal on Sunday 3rd September. We will be starting at 11am with a mystery coach tour, where you will be taken to a secret location (to be kept secret as tradition dictates) where we will be able to stop for a delicious ice cream, stretch the legs and a breath of fresh air. We will welcome you back to the Village Hall with tea, coffee or a sherry, prior to the BP Guild serving a four-course dinner including light entertainment.

Can You Drive a Minibus?

Henfield Self Help group is in need of a driver or two - can you help? This involves collecting elderly folk from their homes in the morning, then returning them home again after they’ve had an entertaining day out with lunch in the Henfield Hall. Check the back of your driving licence and see if you can help, or if you’re not a driver, you can volunteer to ‘ride shotgun’ and help people on and off the bus.

The commitment is occasional (a few hours on a Tuesday every 4-6 weeks) and it’s fun! Most importantly, you will know you’re helping to bring lots of smiles and giving a great experience to people who may otherwise be house-bound. Do contact Liz Brindley on 07753 214726 if you think you might be able to help.

Liz Brindley

Local Qualified Professional Garden Designer. Pre - registered Member of Society Of Garden Designers.

Repair Café

A big ‘thank-you’ to all the people who have come to our Repair Cafe to have their items mended or sharpened. We have been overwhelmed by the lovely comments and feedback we have received. And of course a massive ‘thank-you’ to our lovely volunteer repairers who give up their time to help.

Our next Repair Cafe is at the Haven on Saturday 19 August from 10am-12pm and we look forward to saving even more items from landfill. We shall be open and there will be vehicular access despite the road closed signs in Neptown!

Melanie Hempleman

Please… Help the Scout Community Centre over the Final Hurdle

Thank you all for your past support, here’s some great news: After being contacted by Andrew Griffith MP, Rampion Windfarms at Sussex Community Foundation have accepted our revised proposal and reinstated their £50,000 grant offer. We are very grateful as this will allow us to install solar PV panels and rainwater harvesting. The building is now completely clad

and ready for the gutters, facias, windows and doors to be fitted. We can then screed the floor and start work on the internal fit-out. However, more funding is still needed to complete the building and we are once more appealing to businesses and the community for help.

If you’d like to invest in our community, what better way is there other than lending the Community Centre multiples of £500 for a tenyear period and receiving 2.5% interest annually? Your investment will help us to purchase the materials needed for the fit-out.

For a £2,000 donation it is possible to sponsor a window, for a £5,000 you can sponsor a meeting room, shower, hearing loop or cycle shelter, and for £10,000 you can sponsor the main hall or landscaping. It’s also still possible to buy an engraved brick and have your dedication displayed in the foyer or external patio. Contact Graham at denyer05@outlook.com / 07961 593729.

Finally, why not register your club’s interest in hiring the Scout Community Centre when it is commissioned? We would like a regular daytime booking and the new Centre with its secure grounds is the perfect venue for your pre-school group - contact Dave for more information at David.malkin@henfield-scout-cc.org / 07929 840321.

Dave Malkin

The return of the Safe in Sussex’s Tuk Tuk Travellers

A team of adventurers took on 1,100 kms across India in Tuk Tuks in aid of the charity Safe in Sussex, led by one of the charity patrons Helen Hitchcock. The teams were: Team Mowgli, Helen Hitchcock and Sarah Hand; Team Duk Duks, Amanda Duke and son Tom; Team Chuggabug, Anna Tidey and Yas Rajeebally; Team Tatum, Deb and daughter Emma Tatum. They drove from the sandy beaches of the Arabian Seas, through the mountains of the Western Ghats down to the busy city of Mumbai in their Tuk Tuks.

Helen Hitchcock said: “It was tiring, dusty, but exciting, challenging and just overall amazing. But most of all we have raised awareness of the issues around domestic abuse generally and specifically in Sussex. Our total so far is £17,000!”

We are incredibly grateful to Helen and her team for completing the challenge and raising much needed funds for our charity” Helen Hitchcock is fundraising via justgiving.com, or to get involved with the charity in any other way contact fundraising@safeinsussex.org.uk

Debbie West

The adventures were sponsored by Tatum Racing, Arundel Care Services, Arri, Visual impact VI Rental, Anton Bauer, Chandler Kent, Private Wealth Mortgages, Goldings Barn Garage, Steyning Post Office, Tuk Tuk Shop, Sakala and 24-7 Drama. The public have been very supportive.

Sharon Howard, Safe in Sussex’s CEO said “... We are delighted the amount raised will enable us to refurbish the garden at one of our refuges and this will create a nicer space for children to play…

Food Bank Collection Baskets

We are incredibly grateful to the team at Sainsbury’s Henfield, especially store manager Liam, for allowing us to place the Horsham District Foodbank donation basket at the newly opened store, in an unmissable position right by the front door! An ongoing, heartfelt ‘thank-you’ for your donations; we’re continually astounded at how generous Henfield people are.

We continue to deliver Food Bank parcels in Henfield and the Food Bank Hub Van (at the Library Car Park on a Friday) is busy, too. All your donations are making a difference to people who are struggling right now.

You can donate either at Sainsbury’s Henfield or at St Peter’s, Henfield or you can donate pet foods at Hawthorn Vets. And remember, if you need assistance please contact Horsham Matters on 0300 1240204.

Emma Cole

Nigel Hugh Stevens, 1948-2023

Nigel was brought up in the village of Loughton in Essex and attended Forest Public School. As a small boy he was encouraged by his Aunt Greta to attend music and drama concerts and this was an interest he maintained throughout his life. In 1966 Nigel followed a student apprenticeship with AEI where he learned to operate capstan lathes, milling machines, welding equipment and drawing office skills, as well as starting to learn about computers. At university, he studied Electrical Engineering, ran the university Motor Club and designed scenery for the Drama and Operatic Societies. Nigel joined the Civil Service as an IT specialist; working on the Retail Prices Index; the Information Management System for Schools; and the Annual School Census, where he devised the Interoperability Framework persuading software companies to adopt a common working system. In addition to his normal duties, he produced software to aid his programme and risk management, which proved so successful that the Department signed a licence to use Nigel’s software across Whitehall. His final post before retirement was as Higher Education Programme Manager.

Nigel’s early interest in music and drama had continued and it was during a Covent Garden prom season that he met his wife Sidonie. They moved to Henfield in 2009 where Sidonie had family connections. Nigel had promised on retirement to put something back into education and the community. He became a Local Authority governor with Southway School, Burgess Hill; was elected to Henfield Parish Council in May 2011, and served on many of its committees as well as assisting in the production of both Henfield Neighbourhood Plans. He was also a Link driver for the Medical Centre. In 2019 he became a governor at St Peter’s Primary School in Henfield.

Nigel liked getting involved locally. For some years he and Sidonie organised the annual ‘Christmas Starts Here’ fundraiser concerts benefiting St Barnabas Hospice, as well as ‘Proms in the Park’ where Sidonie performed with Brass Fusion, with Nigel as backstage organiser, designer and stage manager. He was very much a practical academic with a willingness to help whenever and wherever he was needed and undertook many small maintenance tasks for St Peter’s Church, Henfield. In addition to these he was on the organising committee for the church’s ‘Wedding Fair’ in 2010 in charge of ‘logistics’, producing detailed spreadsheets and risk assessment analysis. Even during his final illness he continued helping all three of our churches in

Henfield, Shermanbury and Woodmancote. Nigel died in Worthing Hospital on 16th June 2023. Nigel’s mantra was, to paraphrase President Kennedy, ‘Ask not what my community can do for me, rather what can I do for my community’. Pamela Chaston Excerpt from the obituary which appears in Henfield Parish Magazine August 2023.

New Poppy Appeal Organisers

Having been the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal Organiser for the Henfield, Small Dole and Shermanbury District for the last 24 years, I have felt for some time it was time to hand over to someone else. It has been difficult to find a successor but I am very pleased to announce that two of my Collectors Liz Taylor and Cheryl Brown have agreed to take on the role jointly.

I will be around to assist them with the handover this year and I have given them details of all my existing Collectors and those who purchase wreaths, they will be in touch with you in due course. I am sure that the residents of Henfield will support them in this worthwhile cause.

If you are interested in helping with the Poppy Appeal then Liz and Cheryl can be contacted on etaylor52.et@gmail.com. To all my collectors both past and present and everyone who has helped me over the years – thank you!

Mike Morgan

Rural Exhibition

5th & 6th August, 10am-4pm

Exhibition of vintage tractors & equipment. Carpentry, cobblers, blacksmith, horticultural & agricultural vintage tools plus much more.

Entry £8 (No card facilities)

Live Music

20th August, 12pm-6pm

Local artists

DEAN AGER, ROXI, LORNA MOON

Tickets available from eventbrite.co.uk/e/662877322917

Long Service Volunteer Award for Alan Barwick

An evening out at Leonardslee Gardens was the scenic venue for the Horsham District Volunteer Awards, now in their second year and held as part of National Volunteers Week. The Long (and dedicated!) Service Award went to born Henfieldian, Alan Barwick, for his ongoing work as a museum volunteer, Honorary Curator, and local historian. Alan has been involved with the museum since 1991, taking over as Curator in the mid ‘00s from another long serving Curator, Marjorie Carreck, herself in post for many years having taken over from her husband John after his death in 1990.

In the first decades of the collection’s existence, it was initially based on items collated by Henfield’s first female parish councillor, Alice Standen, with her niece Lucie Bishop in the 1930s. Subsequently managed by the good efforts of the Parish Council and museum committee (these continuing today!), the first ‘Honorary Curator’, local historian F. A. Howe, took on the role for a year. Another ‘long service’ contender, Dorothy Chalmers, then became the second Hon. Curator, serving 22 years from 1965. Lucie remained a driving force right through to the ‘80s. Many of our volunteers have been involved for equally impressive lengths of time, publicly or working in the background, where much work and research progresses. The museum is funded by the parish council, Friends and public donations, and we and our associated heritage projects are run primarily by volunteers. Our most recent publication is Henfield High Street - a History (2022, by Alan Barwick and John Challen), funded by the Friends. Visit the museum website (henfieldmuseum.org) and let us know if you’d like to join in!

Robert Gordon, Henfield Museum

New Horsham Wellbeing Hub declared ‘open’

Horsham Wellbeing has moved to new premises at Unit 51 in Swan Walk Shopping Centre (just opposite Wilko) in Horsham Town Centre.

To celebrate the new centre, an Open Day took place highlighting the various health and wellbeing services on offer and providing the opportunity for visitors to meet our Wellbeing Advisors. The new centre offers anyone over 18 who lives or works in the Horsham District the chance to access a wide range of information, advice and support within the heart of Horsham Town and discover how a few small changes to their health and wellbeing routines can make big differences to their lives. Wellbeing Champions who have benefitted from our services over the years were also on hand to share their experiences. Programmes on offer from Horsham Wellbeing’s trained advisors include: Wellbeing checks (MOTs and NHS Health Checks); Help to stop smoking; Alcohol awareness and reduction; Healthy eating and weight loss; How to get more active; Improving strength and balance to reduce your risk of having a fall; Wellbeing support for workplaces; Information on other local services offering support.

The Centre will be staffed Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 9am to 4.30pm and Wednesdays 1pm to 5pm. Evening appointments are available on request. The Horsham Wellbeing Hub has been funded through West Sussex County Council and Horsham District Council as part of the West Sussex Wellbeing programme, with an additional one-off contribution from the Government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund of £45,000. See https://horsham. westsussexwellbeing.org.uk

Heather Pepper

Support for Ukraine

The next big collection will be the first week of September 2023 from Corpus Christi Church in Henfield. To make a donation of any of the items below contact Celia Emott on Celiaexplorer@ btinternet.com or 07802 847234.

Dried food including: flour (better big bags 20-25kg/bag)/buckwheat; pasta/rice; legumes (beans, chickpeas, lentils); black tea; instant soups; energy bars/chocolate bars; emergency or camping rations. No baby milk/formula is currently required currently - I will advise when this changes

Tinned food (that can be eaten hot or cold) and condiments including: lunchmeat/fish; vegetables; beans and pulses; pate; marmalade; sugar; oil (sunflower/rapeseed)

Equipment including: disposable spoons; bowls (for soup) and mugs - stainless steel ideally, or strong plastic bowls/mugs; waterproof mattress covers/pads (traumatized children); camping mats (yoga type); power banks for charging phones.

Celia Emmott

Henfield’s volunteer run toddler group – can you help?

Messy Monkeys, our baby & toddler group, combines messy and sensory play for preschool children from about 9 months. Our weeks are themed with each week providing different activities. The little ones and their parents/carers love it and our numbers are steadily increasing. We meet at Henfield Leisure Centre on Monday mornings during term time. Volunteers are not expected to attend every week or even to stay for the whole morning. The actual session runs between 10-11.15am, with set-up from about 9 and cleared away by 12pm.

If you think you can help us provide this valuable service, please contact us by emailing henfieldbumptobaby@gmail.com. You can find out more about us by viewing our Facebook page, Henfield Bump to Baby or our website, www.henfieldbumptobabyplus.org

Sue Willis, Henfield Bump to Baby Plus Team

£30,000 raised for Local Good Causes

Thank you to those who have given us unwanted items to sell, rather than throw them away.

We have recycled and sold over 830 items since Sept 2020, and raised £30,000 which has helped Henfield Haven, St Peters School PTA, Henfield Youth Club, Bump to Baby Plus and the Scout Building Appeal.

We would also like to thank Zenlo, based in Woodmancote, who has recently donated lots of gardening gloves, cloggies and neoprene wellies,

shears, secateurs, hose reels, propagators and other gardening items. So do come to us first, rather than buying new, as they’re roughly half price.

I would like to thank Debbie Slaughter, Jackie Griffiths, Sue Eastell and Tamsin Gibbs who give their time to sell and send off these items. Also BN5 Magazine and the Parish Magazine for help publicise what we do.

It is very rewarding recycling items in this way, so if anyone would like to join our team, you would be very welcome - contact Ruth 07729 483068. Do keep your items in good condition coming to us.

Ruth Robotham

Have you ever considered becoming a Community Responder?

Henfield Area Response Team (HART) is seeking additional volunteers - adults of any age are welcome (provided that they can drive). Full professional training is given by the Ambulance Service and all equipment and uniform is provided. This could also be a wonderful introduction to a profession in the emergency services.

We are having a Q&A session at 7pm on Tuesday 8th August at The Henfield Haven for anyone who might be interested... just come along. Alternatively, more information is available on our website www.henfieldresponders.org.uk

Nigel Higson

Midsummer Jogathon Success

Thank you to everyone who came and ran, jogged or walked our Midsummer Jogathon at Berretts Farm, it was a superb day all round with cloudless skies and a warm breeze, in fact we needed it in the afternoon as it was roasting!

We counted 204 people passing under our green arch which means we covered 861 miles in total, raising money for the man who couldn’t be there on the day, Eric Williams. The provisional amount raised is over £1,500 to date…thank you for your generosity!

There were lots of acts of kindness on the dayBerretts waived the pitch fee for Rushfields who promptly paid the equivalent in cash into the pot! And we must thank the Works Officers at Henfield Parish Council who cut the grass down along the riverbank especially for us. You can still donate online at https://gofund.me/2cb842a4

Paul Crowe

Squirrels update

The first term of Squirrels has proved such a success that our Tanyard Drey is now full with 18 young Squirrels and we have another 20+ that have joined the waiting list recently! We would love to open at least one more drey to offer this opportunity to more 4 & 5 year olds but require another volunteer team to do this. We hope to gain more volunteers from the new parents, however, if you would like to help we would love to hear from you.

Maybe you have early years qualifications and would like to gain experience with 4 & 5 year-

olds, are a retired teacher or you were a Scout or Guide yourself and just want to give something back to the community, please get in touch, everyone is welcome! Please feel free to get in touch at join@henfieldscouts.co.uk

Mark Williams

Welcome to Henfield, Foster & Co!

We’re pleased to welcome Foster & Co. Estate Agents to Henfield High Street, as the company opens its 4th office. It will cover the mid-Sussex area, taking over from the former Richwards Estate Agents.

The team celebrated the opening of their new office and arrival in Henfield on 7th July, when past, present and future customers and friends were invited to join the team for fizz, nibbles and cake, kindly supplied by Relish in Henfield. Customers can expect continuity, with familiar faces Martin Edwards and Simon Ackorn being joined by Area Manager Lily Gorringe and Company Director Edward Foster. Edward (known as Ed) commented: “It’s great to be in Henfield, it’s a fantastic village and right in the heart of rural Sussex. The added support of Foster & Co sister offices in Hove, Lancing and Brighton has the benefit of giving sellers a large pool of potential buyers aiming to move inland to a more rural area, so we’re looking forward to helping lots of new customers find their dream home.”

Ed has many years’ experience in estate agency, starting at the age of 17 at Hamptons. His ethos is that of a personalised, bespoke experience for both vendors and buyers, recognising the importance of sound advice as well as great communication. At all times he aims for a seamless and stress-free experience, after all, selling your property or buying a new one is a very emotional experience and is known be one of the most stressful. Foster and Co pride themselves on being a safe pair of hands.

Lily, Martin, Simon and Ed welcome calls and visits, please pop in at any point to say hello, or email Martin on mid-sussex@ fosterandcoestateagents.co.uk with any questions.

Editor

Mini Labyrinth Challenge at Leonardslee

This summer, don’t miss the Labyrinth inflatable obstacle course at Leonardslee! Designed specifically for children under 1.2m, our mini 200ft inflatable obstacle course creates an entertaining and unforgettable experience. With four differently themed zones, your little one will meet penguins in the artic, race past dinosaurs in the Jurassic era, clamber over pyramids through Egypt and bounce and roll their way through the jungle.

St Barnabas Thank You

The Friends of St Barnabas thank all of our loyal customers for turning out in the blistering heat to buy cakes and ice creams at the Garden and Arts weekend.

We are indebted to Old Mill House and Reeve House for lending us their beautiful gardens, and also to the other venues which raised money on our behalf. Even the Henfield Ukelele band turned out to play for us.

It was a brilliant team effort, raising over £1,500and as a first for us…we’ve never had to serve ice cream in a cup before! Thank you everyone!

Lesley Besson

Tickets are £10.50 per child (2-16). Members get 50% off tickets. Parents and carers get 50% off garden entry at £7.25.

SEN Based sessions: On 17 August there’s a whole day of sessions for children with Special Educational Needs. We appreciate the challenges you already face day to day, and these sessions are here for any who are ready for a quieter setting with a reduced volume of crowds.

Noreen Javaid

Land’s End to John O’Groats

Henfield resident Tony Bishop is ready to walk from John ‘O Groats to Lands End, setting off in September this year, to raise money for St Barnabas Hospice and hopes to become the oldest person to complete this journey. We wish Tony well in his journey and look forward to hearing about his journey in a future edition. Editor

New Personal Training Gym Opens in Cowfold

INTENT91 Personal Training Gym officially opened on Monday 31st July. It’s a friendly and non-intimidating gym helping those who aren’t sure what to do in the gym, feel nervous about entering a commercial gym or simply just need accountability and motivation.

If you’re looking to tone up, reduce aches and pains or just feel a bit fitter then please see the INTENT91 advertisement on the insideback cover of this issue of BN5. You can trial INTENT91 today with a 28 Day Experience. This gives you the chance to see if INTENT91 is the right fit for you without committing to anything long term; search INTENT91 on Google to get in touch.

Emily Riggs

Although Leonardslee Lakes & Gardens is a woodland garden and our feature season is often considered to be Spring, for many people there cannot be a better time to sit in or wander around a garden and enjoy everything it has to offer than the height of Summer.

You’ll find so much to see and do here during August. From the sights and smells of the newly planted floral displays around Leonardslee House and famous Rock Garden, to the stunning views across our seven lakes and out of the estate looking over the South Downs.

Set within a valley, the 240-acre woodland gardens, known as ‘The Finest Woodland Gardens in England’ is full of scenic walks and hidden pathways waiting to be explored. Summer is the time of year when our spectacular wildlife is as its most active. Our diverse collection of insects, birds, deer and wallabies is abundant as they raise their young and take centre stage. The gardens offer a protected ecosystem for rare wildlife. This includes Emperor Dragonflies and Damselflies, White Admiral and Purple Hairstreak butterflies and migratory and native birds - Kites, Great Tits, Tree Creepers, Nuthatches, Woodpeckers and Nightingales.

Fun for all the Family

Leonardslee Lakes & Gardens is hosting a series of summer events for friends and families to enjoy over the summer holiday period. From 22nd July through to September there is so

much to see and do. From children’s crafting workshops to magic shows and cooking classes there is something for everyone during the school holidays.

Kick-off the long break this August as Leonardslee plays host to the UK’s largest inflatable obstacle course, ‘The Labyrinth Challenge’. Participants can dodge through swinging blades, leapfrog over hurdles and bolt to the finishing line in the 1,000ft long inflatable obstacle course. There is also a mini 200ft challenge for small children and also SEN sessions available and local foodies providing fuel for all. BN5 readers can use an exclusive code to get 20% off tickets for the Labyrinth Challenge: 17th – 20th August! Use code: BN5LAB20. Visit https://www. leonardsleegardens.co.uk/all-events.

Garden entry is included to the 240 acre woodland gardens, make sure to visit our serene lakes and popular Magical World in Miniature with our Dolls’ House Museum and meet our wallabies, plus much more.

Or why not spend a summers evening at our series of Summer Open-air Cinema’s. On the following dates: ‘Dirty Dancing’ on 12th August, gates open from 19:20 and the film starts at 20:50; ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ on 26th August from 18:45; ‘The Dark Knight’ on 2nd September from 18:30; and ‘Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban’ on 16th September, from 18:00.

Noreen Javaid

In July, a panel of judges worked tirelessly to award prizes for the most deserving and creative entrants of the ‘Stick To It’ Craft Competition.

This brilliant initiative was thought up by Fritz, our local magazine seller, who wanted to inspire children to get outside and scavenge for items that they could use to decorate their giant card crowns. We saw an outstanding number of entries, each uniquely themed and adorned in a wild array of materials including pebbles, sweets and lots of glitter!

It was lovely to see such a high participation and with over 95 crowns decorated, it was a tough call to make; nevertheless, your entries didn’t fail to make the judges smile, one of our personal favourites being Charles and Camilla in crumpet form. The enviable task of judging was taken on by Assistant Curate Revd. Heather Wilkin; Local Jewellery Designer Alison Crowe and BN5 Editor Emma Cole who all did an amazing job at fairly allocating the best crown for each category. We want to wish a massive well done to the following people, all of whom will take home one of the fabulous prizes on offer.

Make sure to pop down Cornerweighs (in Caudle Street, Henfield) to collect your prize, they are allocated on a first come, first serve basis; you can find a full list of winners on www.henfieldbn5. co.uk in the News section. All entries are eligible for a prize whether you have been awarded a title or not! You’ll also see a selection of the winning entries displayed in the window of Foster & Co estate agents in Henfield.

We are so grateful to all the lovely businesses who generously donated lots of incredible prizes (ranging from a children’s scooter to lots of vouchers for delicious drinks) and helped to reward the winners for their immense creativity. Fritz is also extremely appreciative to St Peter’s for allowing us to use their church as a judging location and to Cornerweighs for storing all the entries. Well done to everyone who got involved and a big thank you to Fritz for all her efforts in organising this competition. She truly has helped unite the village and (given the success of ‘Stick To It’), we hope to see more events from her in the future!

Sophie Hall-Vann

New Guided Wellbeing Walks in Henfield

Agroup of volunteers from Henfield recently signed up to become Walk Leaders for Horsham District Council’s long established Wellbeing Walks Programme.

The Wellbeing Walks take place across the district and are free, sociable, and family-friendly. The walks aim to bring people together to explore the local area whilst benefitting from the physical and mental effects of walking in nature.

You can find all available walks in the www.horsham.gov.uk/sport-and-leisure/ walking/wellbeing-walks published on Horsham District Council’s website, which is updated on a monthly basis. The walks are graded from 1 to 3 depending on the duration and terrain. Level 1 are shorter routes over easy terrain, level 2 and 3 are longer over more challenging ground. There’s no need to book, you can just turn up!

The Walk Leaders in Henfield (also known as the Henfield Walking Group) would love for you to join them on their walks to explore Historic Henfield. Just check the weather on the day and come dressed accordingly with footwear suitable for

walking over country foot paths, tracks, fields, and of course pavements.

Here’s what Kenneth (one of the Walk Leaders) has to say about the new walks:

‘We encourage that you do look up the websites, pick up leaflets and explore our villages and beautiful surrounding countryside in the company of your friends or in the company of experienced and friendly walkers and remain healthy. We all know that walking is a simple great way to remain active and at minimum cost.”

We recognise that some people may prefer to walk on their own or with a close companion. Walking routes and guides are available in our Library and on the Horsham District Council website.

For more information about the Wellbeing Walks please contact Horsham Wellbeing by calling 01403 215111, emailing info@ horshamdistrictwellbeing.org.uk or visit the website: www.horshamdistrictwellbeing.org.uk. Horsham District Council

Richard Bates, Henfield resident and consultant solicitor at Cognitive Law in Brighton, discusses whether or not you have to appoint solicitors (or other professionals) as executors in your will.

According to research, only about one-third of adults in the UK has a valid will. Not everyone needs a will, as, if you don’t have one, Intestacy Rules set out who is entitled to your estate and who can administer it. For many people, relying on this statutory provision this is perfectly sufficient. However, one can run into problems, particularly if you are an unmarried partner, have extensive assets, a wide, dispersed family or if you have specific concerns about whom should receive your estate, inheritance tax or the cost of long-term care.

As a solicitor, I naturally advocate that you have your will prepared professionally by a regulated firm, i.e. a firm of solicitors. This is because we have a requirement to be properly trained, to act in your best interests, to charge fairly, to advise you ‘in the round’ and, perhaps most importantly, to be properly insured. Many companies that write wills do not offer all of these protections, although some are very good at what they do.

I am often asked if I have to act as a client’s executor. It is certainly the case that solicitors have, traditionally, sought to have themselves appointed as executors. However, unless there’s a particularly good reason for this, such as divisions in the family or concerns about beneficiaries’ trustworthiness, I tend to advise clients that I don’t need to be appointed.

It is becoming easier for non-professionals to administer estates themselves. If a solicitor acts as an executor, they will be charging from the start of the matter, all the way through to the end. I believe it has to be in my clients’ best interests to know that, if they appoint a friend or family member, there’s nothing stopping those executors asking for professional help from a solicitor, rather than actually appointing that solicitor. This is important as it allows costs to be better managed, particularly now that so much can be done by a lay executor. Indeed, the majority of estates I assist with is on the basis that I assist only with inheritance tax returns and the application for the grant of representation. This is done for a very affordable fixed fee. Of course, if the executors want further help, then of course I will step in. However, this approach does allow us to split tasks and so keep costs down.

If you need assistance with your will or probate, please get in touch on 01273 284012 or richard.bates@cognitivelaw.co.uk. You can find out more about me at www.cognitivelaw.co.uk.

On Saturday 24 June Henfield Community Partnership hosted an event to showcase the opportunities offered by our local organisations. The event supported the ‘Big Help Out’ initiative launched at the Coronation to encourage community volunteering. We thank Horsham District Council for their contribution towards the funding of the event.

Over 50 organisations were represented and just under 300 visitors came along. The event provided a great platform to showcase the numerous activities available in Henfield, feedback from exhibitors was overwhelmingly positive. They appreciated the opportunity to network with other organisations as well as recruit members and volunteers and describe the activities of their organisation to those attending. The visitors were impressed by the variety of organisations present and enjoyed the social aspect of meeting new people and the sense of community spirit. The bustling atmosphere reflected the strong interest we all have in supporting our community. The event was made

extra special by the launching of the Electric Car Club by Sussex Community Transport. This event would not have been as successful had it not been for the help of our wonderful community volunteers, individuals and members of local organisations and the media support from BN5 magazine. We cannot thank them enough for their contribution before, during and after the event. We must make a special mention of 1st Henfield Scouts who provided the catering and general assistance. Thank-you to the adults who organised and ran the kitchen and the youngsters who ran the stall and did the running around looking after everyone.

We produced a programme of exhibitors for the event. If you were unable to attend but are interested in having a brief description of those who attended, email henfieldcp.info@gmail. com for us to send you a copy. Most of the organisations can be found on the BN5 website, www.henfieldbn5.co.uk where a dedicated tab ‘Get Involved’ has been created.

Sue Willis & Dawn Butcher, Henfield Community Partnership

We asked Henfield to ‘Get Involved’, and you did!

Photographs © Dawn Butcher except top centre © 1st Henfield Scouts

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St Peter’s School to join Multi-Academy Trust

One of the wonderful things about Henfield is St. Peter’s Church of England Primary School. It’s history goes back to the first school that opened on Henfield Common in 1812, and the school is proud of its history and of the thousands of children it has taught for more than 210 years. The Governors of St. Peter’s of which I am Chair, are always looking for opportunities to prepare all our children for the next stage in their learning and to expand support for their development socially, emotionally and academically. Its part of what a Governing body does.

In March 2022, the government published a white paper which stated all schools were required to join a Multi Academy Trust (MAT) by the end of 2030 and as a result the Governors and the Senior Leadership team began to explore options for our school in conversations with both the Diocese of Chichester and local MATs. While the government has now withdrawn the immediate need to academise, the direction for all schools is towards becoming an academy.

After much research, the Governors felt that being part of a Multi Academy Trust that matches our ethos and the ambition we have for the children of our community is the right way forward. And we believe that joining the right Trust would mean that St Peter’s could provide even more opportunities for everyone. Over the last year , we invited a selection of local trusts to discuss this with us, and over several months we had meetings, presentations, governor board meetings and we visited schools already part of these MAT’s.

Throughout all our meetings the Hurst Education Trust (HET) consistently demonstrated that they would support our ambitions for the school, and

would provide the resources, opportunities and the backing that would not otherwise be possible if we remain as part of the West Sussex Local Authority. Importantly, because HET works in partnership with the Diocese of Chichester, it is a Church of England Trust, and so we believe that they share our vision and values, and will work hard with us to ensure that our children have the best experiences and opportunities for learning, without losing our unique identity and what makes us special. The Governors are now proposing that our school converts to an academy within the Hurst Education Trust. We haven’t taken our final vote as we need to consult our staff and our parents but the conversion will take around 9 months, and in reality it will bring little change to our day-to-day activity in school. The children’s uniforms won’t change, and the head teacher and our staff won’t change either. We will still have a Governing body made up of local people and we will still be a Church of England School.

We will simply be working in partnership with a Trust rather than West Sussex County Council (although they will retain certain statutory functions with regard to admissions and safeguarding for example) We are proud of our school and our focus is always on what will best benefit all our children. We want hem to thrive and our school leadership sees this as an exciting and positive step for the school and we hope the local community will agree too. If you have any questions about what this means for our school then do feel free to contact Darren Carpenter from HET who is working with us on our plans, and he can be contacted at Darren.Carpenter@hppc.co.uk

Revd Paul Doick – as Chair of Governors

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Henfield Theatre Company are excited to announce that their next production is Neil Bartlett’s 2022 stage adaption of Robert Louis Stevenson’s Jekyll and Hyde. This is a modern twist on ‘The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde’, a gothic masterpiece which has been told many times since it was published in 1886. Rather than sticking rigidly to the decidedly male-centric narrative of the book, this adaptation takes a somewhat more female-centric focus. We follow a newly sworn–in Dr Stevenson (aptly named, and played by Emily Norman) as she navigates a male-dominated profession—a maledominated world, in fact.

She plays the role of a detective in a mystery world, unravelling the tale of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde (played by Rebel Atkinson) for us to see in its entirety and, as is fitting of a doctor, dissecting it onstage for us to see. Her presence allows somebody to hold the school of gentlemen

accountable who, as the friends of the highly respected doctor, are beginning to wonder why he goes missing all the time!

Directed by Trevor Hodgson, he stated, “our telling of this story, whilst still set in dark and gloomy Victorian London, hopes to provide an insight into the male dominated world, whilst glimpsing the future roles that women would play in our society. It is an intriguing version of the story and one I hope you will find thrilling and a bit scary!”

Kindly sponsored by Andy Blunden Ceramic Wall & Floor Tilers Ltd, performances are on 12th, 13th and 14th October at 7.30pm at The Henfield Hall. Tickets cost £12 per person for floor seating and £14 per person for raised seating. On sale now via www.henfieldtheatrecompany.com, and at Steven’s Estate Agents in Henfield High Street.

Mandy Ainsworth

Photographs

© Mandy Ainsworth

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THE PEDAL FOR HENFIELD 2023 TEAM ARE:

Tracey Prescott, Sammie Bremner, Adrian Hillman, Bob Beatty, Mark Berrett, Rob Slaughter, Mark Pinder, Gail Way, Richard Woodward, Tanya Woodward, Nigel Spells, Trevor Slaughter, Anthony Scutt, Simon Smart-Foster.

This September, the intrepid 777 team returns for yet another challenge, and this one is certainly no easier than the last! You may remember back in 2018 they cycled from Paris to Henfield? This time they’re sticking a little closer to home, but with a few more hills involved, and to top it all, the entire track is offroad!

On the weekend of the 2nd & 3rd September, 14 intrepid cyclists will be attempting to cycle the entire South Downs Way, 100 miles (that’s 160km in new money) off-road and with the highest peak at Butser Hill standing at 270m. Day 1 starts from Winchester and finishes at Steyning, and day 2 will see the cyclists travelling in the opposite direction, from Eastbourne back to (hopefully) celebrate the finish in Henfield.

All this sweat and energy is in aid of a great cause; one of our crucially important local charities, Henfield Leisure Centre. Many people don’t realise that HLC is entirely self-funded and independent. The Trustees were challenged themselves during Covid and the team fundraise continually to keep this essential Henfield resource open to the public (and offering completely affordable health and fitness for everyone). HLC also offers essential childcare

in the form of after-school and before-school clubs, the very popular Sharky’s and lots of support for rehabilitation and fitness for all ages and abilities. Their contribution to Henfield life is immeasurable.

The good thing is – the Pedal for Henfield team aren’t asking you to cycle anywhere! It’s very easy to help, just go to www.justgiving.com/campaign/ pedalforhenfieldreturns and pledge your support.

If you are feeling energetic and inspired, you can join in with a Spinathon class at HLC, 16 classes will run across the weekend and you can take part in as many as you wish, for just £10 each. You can even ask friends and family to sponsor your efforts!

Pedal for Henfield have some sponsorship opportunities available including classes, fuel for vans and shirts. If you’re a local business looking to help out (and in return your name will appear on the cyclist’s clothing and promotional signs) please contact Tracey Prescott on tracey. prescott@hotmail.co.uk. A huge thank you to existing sponsors Rushfields and Cliff’s Energy Bars.

Thank you for your support!

Emma Cole

Horsham District Council is seeking your views in an all-important Climate Action survey that will help to guide the District towards becoming carbon neutral and climate resilient by 2050.

Your thoughts will help ensure that a Climate Action Strategy for the District includes what matters most to those of us who live in the District.

The draft strategy outlines a 10-year action plan for not just the Council but also key partners and the wider community. It will also encourage everyone working together to reduce carbon emissions and build a resilient future for generations to come, including improving health and wellbeing, uniting communities, and creating innovation potential for businesses.

You are invited to have your say on what climate actions you think are the most important for the District, as well as sharing what you are already doing, or would consider doing, if more support was available.

Horsham District Council cannot tackle climate change on its own. Achieving carbon neutrality will be challenging. We will be working closely with key organisations such as West Sussex County Council, as well as residents, businesses, parish and neighbourhood councils, and local

community groups, to work together to help achieve this.

Both the draft strategy and the survey is available at: www.horsham.gov.uk/ climateactionstrategy. You do not need to have read the draft strategy to complete this survey but you do need to be a resident of the District (a separate survey will be coming soon for businesses and those who work here). The survey should take between 10-15 minutes to complete and it is available until 31 August 2023.

Horsham District Council Cabinet Member for Climate Action and Nature Recovery Cllr Colette Blackburn commented: “A vital component of the draft Strategy is collaboration whilst building on the work that the Council and others are already taking on climate change. Tackling climate change will require action from residents, businesses, community groups and partner organisations. I encourage you all to take this opportunity to share your vision of what climate action within the District should look like by completing the survey, as this feedback will help shape the final Strategy.”

You can find out more about the Council’s climate work at www.horsham.gov.uk/climate-andenvironment, including what climate actions are already taking place across the District, a Climate Action blog, plus local events, campaigns, and advice and tips on actions that everyone might like to take to help tackle climate change. Stay up to date with the climate work by signing up to a monthly climate action newsletter at www.horsham.gov.uk/email-newsletters

Contact: climatechangeaction@horsham.gov.uk

Telephone scams affect two Henfield residents

We are sad to hear of two of our elderly community being hit by serious financial fraud, in both cases the stories are similar and for very large amounts of money. These people were put under severe stress and subjected to multiple calls, all requesting cash be removed from banks. The criminal on the end of the line claims to be an inspector in the Metropolitan Police, but this story can vary a little. The most recent attack saw a lady in her 80s take two large amounts of cash from the Post Office in Shoreham and a bank in Burgess Hill. She was told by the scammers to take a note of every bank note number, put specific amounts in envelopes which she bought for this purpose and then they sent a “courier” round to her house to collect the money. This lady was subjected to this scam for a period of two days, during which she had no sleep, didn’t have time to eat and was continuously told that she had to be quick so that the money was ready for the police to use to catch the fraudsters.

Below is the story of the elderly gentleman from Henfield. We have changed names for the purpose of this article.

Robert’s Story.

“The phone rings. “Do you have a relative named John Jones?” The answer is no. “Mr. Jones, this is Detective Constable White of Hammersmith Fraud Squad. The man is in our custody for using your bank details endeavouring to purchase goods in a London store.” It turns out the man is actually an employee of my bank and he has targeted me to a minimum of £15,000.

DC White holds the line while I dial 999 (the Police Station have a direct link) to check his authenticity. That safely done he is able to explain how the money can be regained within two days. The one proviso is that care must be taken not to jeopardise the forthcoming trial of the man - I should not mention any police involvement.

I’m taken aback by this sudden news. I’m 86. I’ve got precious few savings and can never find replacement for such a sum. My mind reels. I can hardly recall details of my other bank account. When I do, DC White continues to inform me it

too has been attacked. Completely flummoxed I can’t even think of my pin number for him. I look it up. For some ingrained reason I don’t actually say what it is and he agrees - one should never state one’s pin number. Now he explains what I need to do. I have to go to my bank in Brighton, transfer £10,000 to my current account, continue to a Marina money exchange and withdraw £8,000 worth of Euros. He will keep in touch on my mobile phone in case I need further assistance.

The bank transfers £10,000. I go to the Marina. It is past 4pm. The store does not have sufficient Euros. My heart goes down.

DC White calls. I tell him. Fortunately he knows of another exchange shop, by the time I get there it is dark. I find the shop, they can provide £5,000. I’m almost there - just my pin number. The machine rejects me; and again. I’m cold, getting colder and will miss the last bus if I don’t rush. I just catch it and reach home utterly exhausted. The phone rings, DC White again. As I answer it the room begins to spin. I tell him I can do no more until morning. He is very understanding.

When I awake it hits me that my Direct Debit for the gas bill has probably not been paid - I could be cut off; no heating, no cooking, no hot water. I drive to my bank branch in Haywards Heath and explain my situation. The teller claims it is not the police. She listens to my story and refuses to accept any police involvement. She looks up my accounts and tells me the position.“Mr. Jones. You have lost nothing. The £10,000 transfer we can put back now. Everything is safe.”

At last it dawns on me. It’s a SCAM. Hook, line and sinker, I had swallowed the lot.

As I get back to the car my phone rings; “DC White” ready for the new day’s action. After a few choice words, I hang up.

If you are at all concerned about a call, hang up and call Sussex Police on 101 to report. Speak to a relative, call your bank and ask someone for advice. Never give anyone your pin number or login.

Emma Cole

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Alternatives to the four-day working week

Interestingly, the vast majority of companies taking part in the world’s largest trial of a four-day week have opted to continue with the new working pattern, in a result hailed as evidence that it could work across the UK economy.

Of the 61 companies that entered the six-month trial, 56 have extended the four-day week, including 18 who have made it permanent.

However with the four-day working week quickly becoming the most appealing benefit to attract top talent, many employers who are not in a position to implement this new model may be left wondering what else they can do and offer, in a bid to compete with those who are.

Summer Working Hours and alternative working weeks are the best starting points to step away from the traditional 9-5, Monday to Friday working week, which seems to be quickly becoming viewed as an outdated practice and can even be a put off for job seekers looking for new roles.

The alternatives

• Summer Fridays typically allow employees to condense their working weekly hours, by working an additional hour each day from Monday to Thursday, in order to finish early on a Friday, allowing employees to enjoy extra time off during the summer period, making the most of the summer season.

• Summer working hours may allow employees to start up to an hour early every day, to finish an hour earlier each evening, making more of the weather and longer afternoons during the summer period.

• Some employers choose to enhance the number of days employees may work from home over summer, which gives employees more flexibility over their own time and schedules, and this can also help with childcare over the school holidays.

• Flexitime provides the employee with ownership over their working week. Rather than focusing just on an early finish on a Friday, an employee may work any hours throughout the week so long as they meet their contractual working hours. Through this model, some employees may choose to stick to their usual contractual hours, whereas others may (for example) work later one evening in order to start later another day that week. Some

employees may choose to condense their total weekly working hours over the week in order to take off a morning or afternoon from work.

The benefits

Implementing models like these can greatly and automatically improve employee satisfaction, having a direct impact on attraction and retention. They are also believed to increase productivity as employees are encouraged to ‘work smarter, not harder’ in order to work around their own personal schedules. Offering employees more freedom positively impacts their general wellbeing and work life balance.

Areas for consideration

As with any model, employers need to carefully plan in advance of implementation, paying particular attention to:

• Gathering feedback from the workforce directly, and gaining employee buy-in.

• Assess the business considerations and risks, including a review of coverage gaps.

• Set clear rules, terms and conditions for the model.

• Ensuring clear and consistent communication.

• Monitoring team communication does not decrease as a result of the model.

• Eradicating a lack of trust – these models must be built on trust in order for them to be successful, and the model’s terms should be robustly drafted in order to allow the employer flexibility with dealing with any abuse of the model.

• Measuring the model’s success on an ongoing basis.

For further help and guidance, please contact Paul Samrah partner at Moore Kingston Smith 0204 582 1730 or psamrah@mks.co.uk