Bersted in Focus December 2021 - January 2022

BERSTED IN FOCUS

The Independent Local Directory of Businesses north and south BERSTED Delivered FREE to over 5,700 homes December 2021 – January 2022

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FELPHAM IN FOCUS

hello Everyone! This year has been one of constant change with, I expect, more to come. But let’s hope we all get chance to enjoy a freedom-filled December and enjoy the build-up to Christmas we so missed last year.

Don’t forget to shop local for your Christmas goodies – whether it’s a gym membership, stunning jewellery or a piece of art – it all can be found in this magazine. my best Christmas present will be spending Christmas with my mum. It was unbearable that she was on her own last year, although like so many others, she didn’t complain.

Thank you to all our readers and advertisers for your fantastic and continued support in 2021. I have just completed my first year at the helm of In Focus magazines and it has been such a blast. a special thank you must go to andrew Illes who said yes to designing my first magazine and has designed every publication since.

I’m sure you’ll agree he has done a brilliant job. To Emma Bailey from media Circus who has designed so many of our eye-catching adverts. and not forgetting my family who often see me disappear into my office and not return for days!

I am very much looking forward to 2022 and finally getting a chance to meet up with you next year. Thank you to local artist lottie louise art for the resplendent Robin on our front cover – to see more of her Christmas designs visit: www.lottielouiseart.co.uk Wishing you all the best for a very happy, fun-filled Christmas and prosperous New year, kate office@infocusmagazines.co.uk Tel: 07729682245 www.infocusmagazines.co.uk

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Christmas – It’s Cancelled!

by kim leslie

Turkeys don’t vote for Christmas. Neither did the 17th-century Puritans. They abolished it altogether. Nor is it much to the liking of the present-day Society to Curtail Ridiculous, Outrageous and Ostentatious Gift Exchanges – SCROOGE for short. Believing that frivolous presents pander to the greedy, its best-buys are for good practical gifts like smoke alarms and first-aid kits.

The cheerless world of anti-Christmas has been around for centuries. Consider these other ways of spending time as we lift the lid on history to discover some alternatives to the festivities, feasting and fun.

CHRISTMAS DAY BANNED Celebrating Christmas was illegal between 1644 and 1660. Oliver Cromwell’s Puritans were in power. Charles I was executed and the monarchy abolished. The world was turned upside down by religious fanatics. Parliament ordered that December 25th be kept as a day of fasting and that ordinary, everyday life continue as usual. Troops were sent out to enforce the regulations with orders to search kitchens and ovens to carry away any meat they found cooking. Mince pies were banned as idolatrous as the traditional shape was in the form of a crib. It was blasphemous to eat the figure of Jesus.

CHRISTMAS DAY IN THE WORKHOUSE There was no Christmas cheer for the paupers in Westbourne Workhouse, near Chichester, in 1837.

Forbidden to receive gifts from well-meaning local people, there were no concessions over their Christmas fare.

Normal rations were the order of the day: for breakfast, soup and bread; for lunch, cold pork and bread; for supper, bread and butter with cheese.

Dickens’ Oliver Twist would have recognised Christmas Day at Westbourne.

FATHER CHRISTMAS OUTRAGE Christmas 1951 saw a bitter controversy rage over France. Father Christmas was assassinated, the culmination of a clergy-led denunciation of paganism. Profit-making and the ring of the cash tills, symbolised by Father Christmas, was at odds with the true meaning of Christmas. Things came to a head outside Dijon Cathedral when Father Christmas’s effigy was hung from the cathedral railings, his beard set on fire. In front of several hundred sad and mystified children the old man vanished into smoke. No French fun there!

CHRISTMAS BANNED AT COUNTY HALL Banning Christmas was front-page news in the Chichester Observer for 11 December 1964: Office parties at County Hall, Chichester … have been banned … a circular … states ‘In no circumstances are festivities to take place in departments during or after office hours, and the festooning of offices with Christmas decorations is undesirable and should be avoided’.

West Sussex County Council found an ally in the Observer: How sensible it is to clamp down on the pointless, time-wasting, rowdy ritual that the office party has become. There is nothing to be said in favour of them; a lot to be said against, not least the fact that work is disrupted and ratepayers’ money wasted. It is hoped that the County Council’s example will be followed by other councils in the area … .

Happy Christmas!

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Eastergate Westergate

Woodgate

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Shripney

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Bognor Regis

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lOCal hISTORy By SylvIa ENDaCOTT In 1942, together with leslie Jull, Charles and Frank Purley purchased a small engineering workshop in longford Road, Bognor Regis and longford Engineering Company (l.E.C) was born. Through the war years the workshop produced munitions as well as developing a refrigeration system. Charles and Frank also owned a fresh fish shop and found it expensive to use ice to keep their produce cold. In 1946 land was purchased at Shripney Road, for a bigger, modern factory and made their first prototype fridge.

During 1954 the company was renamed lec Refrigeration ltd and established a showroom in Regent Street, london. The company formed a Special Product division in 1956, to start to produce cabinets for hospitals, aircraft and atomic research.

By the mid 1960’s lec was floated on the stock market and expanded to Burnley, Oldham and Northern Ireland. In 1973 following Britain’s entry into the common market, a modern factory was acquired in Calais.

In 1986 Charles Purley, Founder and Chairman of the board of Directors, was presented with an OBE at Buckingham Palace for his services to Engineering. Sadly in October 1991 at the age of 81 Charles Purley gave up the Chairmanship of the board but died that December.

Eventually the area was cleared and today we have Sainsbury’s and other trades on this area.

There are now two memorials to the Company: The Charley Purley public house opened in 2017 and the original lec Gates plus a written history at the entrance to the new premises.

TREE-mENDOUS By kaTE STEWaRT Christmas Tree recycling returns this year and if you plan to go greener you can help your local hospice, by registering your Christmas Tree to be collected and recycled in the new year for St Wilfrid’s hospice. last Christmas, a merry band of hospice volunteers criss-crossed the county collecting trees in return for a donation. The scheme raised over £17,500 for vital care for people with life limiting illnesses and their loved ones. The hospice is keen to offer the scheme again to local communities in Chichester, Bognor Regis and the local surrounding areas.

The hospice have teamed up once again with Chichester District Council and the Woodhorn Group, to ensure that all the Christmas Trees collected are recycled to create composts and top soils.

This year collections will run from Friday 7th January – monday 10th January. volunteers will collect trees that have been registered with the scheme from front gardens and ensure those trees are recycled. all you need to do to is register your tree and make a donation to the hospice of your choice. you can register your interest now and get notified when the scheme opens with the details of which post codes will be served. www.stwh.co.uk/christmas St Wilfrid’s hospice Chief Executive alison moorey said, “We’re so happy to offer so many local residents an opportunity to be green and to benefit the hospice at the same time. all the proceeds raised from donations will go towards delivering expert and compassionate care to families and their loved ones facing terminal illness. last year the amount raised was enough to fund a ward bed for over a month.”

St Wilfrid’s are looking for volunteers to support this year’s collection of Christmas Trees, so if you’d like to get involved please email fundraising@stwh.co.uk.

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Bognor football rocks! By CARL ELDRIDGE Rocks’ fans hope for merry old time and festive win over Worthing The history of football fixtures in and around Christmas is a rich one and there can be no more poignant example of this than the First World War Christmas truce game between British and German troops in 1914. For supporters up and down the country, the Boxing Day matches provide a punctuation mark in the season; an unofficial half-way mark from which to assess your team’s fortunes and look ahead to what may lie ahead.

It’s no different at Bognor Regis Town and what has come to be a derby meeting of the Rocks and local rivals Worthing. The encounter this year falls on December 27 and although not actually a Boxing Day fixture the game carries the same intensity and is just as eagerly anticipated.

Games over the festive period are known to attract bumper gates thanks to the holidays and this will be no different at Nyewood Lane this year when a gate of more than 2,000 can be expected.

Indeed, when the two sides met earlier in this Isthmian Premier League season at Woodside Road, home of the Rebels, the gate was recorded as 2,101.

Bognor, managed by veteran boss Jack Pearce and ably assisted by Robbie Blake, former Premier League hotshot with Burnley, ran out 2-0 winners that day. But Worthing have enjoyed a red-hot run of form and are currently top of the pile and, no doubt, have revenge on their minds.

Before then, of course, Bognor have a full fixture list and are always keen to welcome new fans. General manager Simon Cooks explains: “We are very much a community club and while winning matches is important and great, the bigger goal is to maintain a family club atmosphere and welcome new faces to the ground and, ultimately, turn them into regular attendees.

“We play a style of football that is easy on the eye and most fans would agree that trying to play the game in the right way is very important. What helps that passing game is the playing surface and we are incredibly lucky to have a fantastic pitch that encourages our style of play. Pitch care Other games at Nyewood Lane before the Worthing encounter.

Bognor Regis Town Football Club, Nyewood Lane, Bognor Regis, West Sussex, PO21 2TY Tel: 01243 822325 The Pitching In Isthmian League - Premier SAT, 27 NOVEMBER, 3pm

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requires investment and we are happy to meet this to allow our sides to play in the manner that the manager dictates.

“Jack has been at the club for around 50 years, both as a player and manager, and his ethos has always been the same. So, win, lose or draw supporters rarely feel that they have been short-changed because we really do try to entertain along the way. Our attendances are on the up and we recently had just shy of 1,000 fans for our game against kingstonian – it’s so encouraging to see the Rocks family continue to grow.” you can follow the Rocks’ progress on social media feeds on Facebook and Twitter and catch up with all the latest news and see all the fixtures at https://www.pitchero.com/clubs/ bognorregistownfc/ If you want to watch the Worthing match, with a 3pm kick-off, you can book tickets online at https://therocks.ktckts.com or pay on the gate. Street parking is available close to the ground.

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PROPER lOCal RaDIO RETURNS ON 87.7 Fm By kaTE STEWaRT

v2 Radio has been granted a Restricted Service licence (RSl) to serve the Chichester, Bognor Regis and surrounding areas on 87.7 Fm from 1st - 28th December. v2 Radio is a relatively new station to Sussex which has been broadcasting on all the main digital on-line platforms as well as DaB since it launched back in January, filling the void for Proper local Radio after popular local station Spirit Fm ceased.

The station boasts shows presented by veterans of the broadcasting industry, already well known to listeners in Sussex and has a strong community ethos. v2 Radio gets involved in local events (remember the Felpham beach clean), the arts, and festivals, and you will often see station presenters doing outside broadcasts and supporting local businesses and charities. v2 Radio’s managing Director, alex Berry said: “Not everyone understands the difference between Fm and DaB platforms. We also know that not everyone in our coverage area has a newer DaB radio set within their homes or cars to be able to pick up v2 Radio. So for 28 days in December, we’re delighted to provide access to our station on frequency 87.7Fm and share proper local radio further and wider than before.”

Breakfast presenter milly luxford added: “Broadcasting on Fm for even a short time gives us the opportunity to let the good people of West Sussex know that we are here and ready to serve them.

We are so happy to have this chance and hope that it will encourage people to listen on DaB once the RSl ends. after all, a DaB radio would make a perfect Christmas present for anyone!”

Find out more about v2 Radio at www.v2radio.co.uk

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Felpham calendar girls The Felpham Sea Dippers are a wonderful community of amazing ladies who swim, smile and scream together and they have decided to create a saucy 2022 calendar to raise funds for St Wilfred’s Hospice.

One of their new members recently lost her husband to cancer and the group wanted to do something positive to support her. After much discussion, they decided to take the “Calendar Girls” approach and so they have been braving the cold to get some fantastic photographs for the calendar.

Sea Dipper Debbie said: “It could not have been possible without the generous sponsorship of local ECO-friendly Gorilla Robes who have covered the printing costs and donated some robes as gifts, as well as the brilliant local photographer Jacqueline Rackham, who has so kindly turned up in all weathers to take these amazing photos – so every penny raised will go to St Wilfred’s Hospice.”

TO ORDER YOUR CALENDAR please email: Felphamdippers@yahoo.com with your address and they will respond with payment details. There is a suggested donation of £10 per calendar. Postage can be added or a local drop off/pick up can be arranged (they will also be available at some local Christmas Fairs).

The calendars are selling really fast, so get your orders in quick!

To see all the photos visit: https://www. facebook.com/Sea-swimming-calendar-2022-inaid-of-St-Wilfrids-Hospice-102865232214082/

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PREDaTORS IN ThE FaCE OF WINTER

zOOm mEETING, Thursday 9 December 2021 Pete Cairns, Wildlife and conservation photographer and founding director of The Wild media – ‘Scotland – a Rewilding Journey’ at 7.00 pm. zoom talks are free to all RSPB Chichester local Group members and £4 each to non-members. Places are limited, so please book your place in advance by contacting Rob yarham – email: chichesterbirds@gmail.com tel: 07545 376074 maria Wildman, 12 harbour view Road, Pagham PO21 4RG Tel: 01243 262833 Email: thewildthings2@outlook.com

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matt Wilkinson (rspb-images.com)

December brings a starkness to Pagham harbour and medmerry that, at first glance, feels void of opportunities to spot the reserves wildlife. While the warmer months boast picturesque shades of green, fledglings and butterflies, December offers us insight into wildlife navigating harsh times and even the reserves top predators face hardship in the winter.

The nakedness of the trees in winter strips away the leafy cover that normally hides birds of prey from our view.

Barn Owl. When walking through the medmerry Reserve towards the beach, you could hear the call of a buzzard – a stark and dramatic mew against the winter soundscape. If you can’t see the dark bird circling above you, cast your eyes to the dead and dying poplar trees on the eastern edge of Ruth’s marsh. here, a buzzard will perch on the dead branches, hunched against the cold wind, conserving its energy. at this time of year, barn owls also conserve their energy, perching on fence posts and tree stumps when hunting instead of hovering and gliding above the medmerry marshes and gorse.

If you see the ghostly figure of a perched barn owl, try to study its caramel-colours and concave face through your binoculars.

Whilst its breath-taking to watch a barn owl hunt in the day, this often means the owl is struggling for food and is hunting outside of its nocturnal habits. Barn owls hunting for voles may shift their hunting habits as voles become more active during the day in colder months, keeping warm by making the most of the daytime kestrel. temperatures. kestrels can also be seen along the medmerry and Pagham harbour footpaths, skilfully hovering above the long grasses in hopes for a vole. If you’re lucky enough to get close, you can see through your binoculars that, whilst hovering, the kestrel’s head remains completely still, only moving its tail and wings to keep its height.

If you would like help finding and identifying these majestic birds why not join one of our wildlife walks or watches running throughout winter. For more information and to see our full list of events, go to www.rspb.org.uk/pagham harbour or pop into our Pagham harbour visitor Centre on the on the B2145 just north of Selsey.

John Bridges (rspb-images.com)

By ROy NEWham

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Partying in a Pandemic! By Debbie James I love to throw a party. Every year I’d host a festive bash for our friends. Then last year COVID happened. This year I’ve been looking forwards to throwing my party again but actually the virus is still rife in the community. The kids and staff at my son’s senior school are dropping like flies, and I realised that it simply wouldn’t be sensible to gather 15-20 people I care about in a confined space.

I felt a bit deflated until one of my friends asked, ‘Are you going to do your outdoor thing again? It was so much fun last year.’

I was a little taken aback, then I realised that I’d been so focussed on getting back to ‘normal’ I’d completely forgotten that amid all the darkness last year we’d actually had some great times, and one of them was my Christmas Party in the Yard. Back in 2020 when I’d realised we couldn’t host our friends in the usual way I decided to get creative. “I need to think outside the box,” I’d said to my husband…” In fact, I need to think ‘outside.’” He looked horrified, “You can’t host a Christmas party outside in the UK in December!” he said.

Well, I couldn’t host a conventional party sure, but they were unconventional times. I canvassed my friends, and they were on board. We decided that we would meet up in the afternoon to go for a lovely walk, then come back and hang out on my friend’s allotment because we’d already be dressed for the weather and allotment gatherings of more than three households were actually allowed!

I decided if we were going to do it, it would have to be full on magical. So, we hung outdoor fairy lights all-round the plot for a Winter Wonderland feel. We begged and borrowed outdoor lanterns and placed candles in jars on the table. We made garlands of pinecones, spruce clippings, eucalyptus, and ivy. My husband had the brilliant idea of tying star anise and cinnamon sticks to the garlands to make a really Christmassy smell, and he dragged out the summer gazebo We fired up BBQs, Patio heaters and a firepit and put all the garden chairs in the warmest area.

And we made festive sausages with apple sauce and cranberry sauce instead of ketchup. There were mince pies and popcorn and we even roasted chestnuts and toasted marshmallows.

For drinks we made spiced apple cider, hot chocolate with chocolate liqueur and squirty cream and mulled wine.

And there were blankets, rugs, and fleecy throws. We played music on an old battery operated CD player and laughed and talked until late.

My mistake was to think of this as a poor substitute for my usual Christmas party. My friends on the other hand thought of it as something quite lovely in its own right and were keen for a repeat in 2021, only hopefully in my garden this time, with easy access to posher plumbing when nature calls!

So, this year, we’re not risking an indoor party again yet, we’re going to repeat the outdoor get together, and it will be exactly what we make it, a wonderful celebration of friendship and joy, exactly as Christmas should be.

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hIGh SalvINGTON CIRCUlaR Walk

By SImON BakER IRONS

The featured walk this month takes you into the hills above Findon and Worthing, it is a moderately hilly circular walk of 7km (4.5 miles). The suggested route below has a fairly steep descent with a much gentler climb back up. We parked up in the honeysuckle lane Car Park at the top end of high Salvington which has views across ‘The Sanctuary’ to highdown hill, West Worthing and to the sea. The sanctuary is 60 acres of meadow and woodland that has been granted a special nature conservation status to protect the important plants and wildlife. The area was saved from development in the early 1940s by the actress Nancy Price who led an appeal to raise funds to purchase the land so that it could remain a public open space.

The route starts by heading back downhill along the lane and into Furze Road. Standing just below Furze Road is the prefabricated iron church of St Peters, built in 1928 as a mission church it is a late example of a ‘tin tabernacle’ and the only one to survive in Worthing. To the rear of the church is a beautiful little hidden garden and also a free-standing tower which was never built as part of the church but was originally a water-tower, the cross on the side indicates that it is now seen as part of the church.

Further along the road is high Salvington Windmill. Standing at 98m above sea level it is an excellent example of a working post mill dating from approximately 1776. The mill has been extensively restored and started to grind grain again in 1991. The hurricane of 1987 gave the mill its first taste of renewed life. The great wind turned the single pair of sails for the first time, although the brake was on.

On leaving the mill head north along West hill through the residential area and into the arable downland of No man’s land. at the top of the hill by the mast, the route heads downhill through woodland on the side of West hill to Rogers lane. Just past Nanny Sues egg farm is a path that leads to Findon Place. The path follows a flint wall which borders the estate.

The grade II listed Findon Place is a stunning example of classical Georgian architecture, which has a rich and varied history. There has been a dwelling on the site since 980 aD. The oldest part of the present house are the cellars, which were originally the base of the medieval house. The house has been owned and occupied in the past by royalty, many aristocracies, the British and Canadian armies and even a formula 1 racing driver. The house continues to be a private family home but is now available to hire for parties and weddings. The monarchs way passes right past the manor, and it said that king Charles II stayed here on his escape to France after being defeated at the Battle of Worcester. head uphill to the 11th Century church of St John the Baptist. The church stands on the wooded slope overlooking the village of Findon. The village was more closely linked with the church before the bypass was built, which now separates it from the village. Inside the church behind the altar are some Tiles by morris and Co, depicting 12 angels playing musical instruments, the company only ever produced one other such reredos, and they can be found at St mary the virgin in nearby Clapham. Two small areas have also been cleaned revealing some medieval paintings possibly c.1200 Continue the walk along the monarch’s way, the trail goes around the north side of Church hill in an open access area known as North Park Gate before it meets the road at longfurlong. Be careful of the busy road as you join the track heading up hill. as you ascend further up Church hill fantastic views start to emerge towards Cissbury Ring, the Sea, highdown hill, and Blackpatch hill to the North.

Church hill is the site of some of the earliest flint mining in England, dating from as early as 5000 BC. The area has been the subject of many archaeological investigations in the past, which has discovered evidence that open cast mining was more than likely carried out on this hill over a period of 2,000 years.

Continue along the byway known as honeysuckle lane which leads back to the car park and completes the trek. Please do visit my blog at piertopiertrekking.com

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24 Bersted in Focus 24

Last-minute Christmas Gift Cake Traditionally Christmas cakes are made well in advance but if you haven’t had time try our lastminute version. Because it makes two you can also give one away as a gift, and solve two problems with one recipe!

Makes 2 cakes, each serving 8 Preparation time: 30 minutes Cooking time: 1-1¾ hours depending on oven.

Ingredients 600g good-quality mixed dried fruits 150ml whisky, warmed 150g stem ginger, drained, plus 8 tbsp ginger syrup from the jar 200g butter, softened, plus extra for greasing 300g plain flour 2 tsp baking powder

2 tsp mixed spice 200g soft light brown sugar 4 large free-range eggs 2 tbsp milk Finely grated zest of 2 small oranges and 2 lemons 50g ground almonds 150g whole glacé cherries

Method Put the dried fruits in a bowl and pour over the whisky. Set aside for 30 minutes to allow the fruit to plump up.

Briefly blend the ginger and its syrup in a mini food processor until finely chopped. Preheat the oven to 160°C/fan140°C/gas 3. Grease and line a 20cm square cake tin.

Sift the flour, baking powder and mixed spice into a large bowl and add the rest of the ingredients except the cherries. Beat with a hand-held electric whisk for 2 minutes until pale and fluffy. Fold in the soaked dried fruits and any whisky, the blitzed ginger and the cherries.

Spoon into the baking tin and level off. Bake for 1-1¾ hours (this depends very much on your oven. My fan oven is super-quick whereas my mother’s aga is slower). If you’re unsure I recommend you check after an hour then every fifteen minutes after that, until the cake is firm and golden brown. To check, insert a skewer into the centre of the cake. If it comes out clean the cake is cooked. You can cover it loosely with foil after 1 hour if the centre needs more time. This prevents the surface darkening too much. Leave in the tin for 10 minutes, and then remove to a wire rack to cool.

Remove a thin slice from all sides of the cake and discard. Cut the cake in half to make 2 rectangles.

Top with marzipan and white fondant icing and decorate with a sprig of holly.

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Bersted in Focus

DECEMBER/JANUARY

What’s on at Bersted Jubilee Hall

Subject to change, please call 01243 842221.

Holy Cross Church, Bersted Christmas Tree Trail 5-12 December. Find all the trees.

Mondays: Pilates -Christina 8.45 -10.15am Pilates-Jane 12 - 1pm Arun A Cappella 7 - 10pm Tuesdays: Mother & Toddler Group 10-11.30 Tai Chi (term time only) 12.30 -1.30 U3A History Group—Jan 25 2—4pm Council Committee Meetings 7pm Wednesdays: Aerobics 10-11am Pilates 11-12am Carpet Bowls 2-3.30pm Yoga—Kerry 7.15 - 8.15pm Thursdays: Pilates—Christina 9-9.45 Zumba Gold –Clare (new class) 10.30-11.30 Yoga 12.30—2pm NBWI Dec 16 & Jan 13 2.15- 5pm U3A Camera Club Dec 7 2.30—4.30pm Boogie Bounce 6-7pm Tao Bo Fitness-Ladies 8.15-9.15pm Friday Toddler Group (meeting room) 9.30-11.30 Carpet Bowls 2- 3.30pm Sundays: Open Heart Church Group 10 - 2pm

Are you looking for a local weekday part-time position of 12 hours which offers a progressive role? This is a great opportunity to join the team here at Bersted Parish Council, starting as an Admin Assistant and progressing towards the Clerk role.

Full training will be given.

Applications invited from the new year – see our website for further details.

Bersted Parish Council would like to wish everyone a Happy Christmas and a great New Year, public meetings start at 7pm on a Tuesday.

December Meetings: Planning 7th December Full Council 14th December

Bersted Parish Councillors agreed at their October Council meeting to donate £35 each to support the Christmas fresh food hamper project with 3 local schools –would you like to join them, if so please contact the clerk for details.

January Meetings: Planning 4th January Full Council 11th January Community Resources 18th January Finance 25th January Members of the public are welcome to attend.

It could be you?

Discretionary Grants

Discretionary Grants are available to local charities and organisations. For an application please go to our website or call the Clerk— 01234 842221.Deadline for applications is 17 January 2022.

Hamper Donations

Tea & Coffee Club with choir Friday December 17th - Arun A Cappella Come and Join us 10-12pm

Bersted Parish Council, Jubilee Hall, Chalcraft Lane, Bersted, PO21 5TU, 01243 842221 clerk@bersted-pc.gov.uk www.bersted-pc.gov.uk

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Bersted in Focus 27

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Bersted in Focus

CROSSWORD 7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

13.

15.

17.

20.

21.

23.

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1.

2.

3.

4.

Down Desire, covet (4) Riches (6) abiding, immortal (7) articulate (5)

5.

6.

12.

14.

Across Destitute, lacking (6) allowing movement in a single direction (3-3) False god (4) Towards the back, at the end (8) major road (7) local authority regulation (5) Cow’s mammary gland (5) having taste, genteel (7) Computer ID (8) adorable, charming (4) Tearful (6) Reach, realise (6)

Room to move and grow (6) Bearing, stance (8) Commerce, trade (8) a few, not many (7)

16.

18.

19.

22.

Insect with pincers (6) Encourage, foment (6) assess, quantify (5) Offshoot (4)

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Bersted in Focus 29

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THE TURNING YEAR BY KIM LESLIE The chimes of Big Ben and all the clocks throughout the land will soon turn the old year into the new, triggering some predictably-familiar celebrations: some good cheer and a bit of revelry, a drink almost certainly, maybe some fireworks and the obligatory resolutions.

Traditionally, one old custom was ‘first footings’, the first foot being the first person to enter the household on New Year’s Day bearing gifts which might include a silver coin or lump of coal, symbolising good fortune and the warmth and security of a good fire for the coming year.

In Victorian Sussex these traditional gifts were mysteriously transformed into something much more familiar – mud! It was lucky to bring mud into the house (presumably on one’s shoes). Sussex locals called it ‘January butter’. The more ‘butter’ over the threshold, especially of the more ‘cledgy’ or ‘claggy’ sort (local dialect for sticky), the better the luck.

New Year was time for another ritual – the ritual of ‘wassailing’ to ensure good luck for the coming season’s apple crop, especially important around Petworth for cider-making. This was the ceremony of singing to the trees, beating them to frighten away any evil spirits and sprinkling their roots with ale. At Duncton, gangs would go to each farm in turn asking ‘Do you want your trees wassailed?’. Their reward: refreshments at each farmhouse, sometimes money. In recent years this ancient celebration of blessing the trees has been revived at the community orchard in Slindon.

help the homeless by sarah dakin, middleton on sea resident After being a supporter of Stonepillow for many years I was delighted to start working for the charity just before the first Lockdown in 2020. Like many people, I wanted to help homeless people off the streets and into a warm home and have since learnt that the people we see on the streets rough sleeping are only a small percentage of the homeless community.

Homeless and vulnerably housed people in West Sussex are hidden everywhere. So far this year Stonepillow has supported 251 rough sleepers through our Day centres, 61 people in our Hostels, and 122 people in our Supported accommodation, and these are just the people we know about. Each day our specialised support team work with our clients helping them on their journey towards independent living, and as we approach the festive season, their focus is on making sure that everyone in our services feels at home and has a great Christmas.

Traditionally, shoe boxes with cosmetics and essential items have been kindly bought, wrapped and donated. However, these items are continually replenished throughout the year by the generous donations and not a priority at Christmas. This year we would love your help to give stockings filled with gifts that our clients have put on their Christmas lists. If you would like to help put smiles on the faces of our clients this Christmas, please visit our Christmas Kindness page on the Stonepillow website and find out the many ways you can help. https://stonepillow.org.uk/how-to-help/christmas-kindness/

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Bersted in Focus

BOGNOR REGIS TIDE TaBlE December 2021, Time zone GmT

Tidal information is reproduced by kind permission of the Controller of her majesty’s Stationery Office and the Uk hydrographic Office. Crown Copyright. all Rights reserved.

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IV STR E F

OR

WE

Bersted in Focus

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34 Bersted in Focus

Board Games or Bored Games?

By Sarah Davey

There are two types of families; those that love a game of Monopoly, Trivial Pursuit or Scrabble, and families like mine.

Our little festive hearts sink when guests suggest bringing out the Cluedo. We always thought we were odd until a few years ago when we befriended new neighbours. They invited us round for festive drinks and about halfway through the evening they suggested we play some games.

They must have seen our collective look of horror. Oh no, they laughed, not BORED games ... and with that they whipped out Dobble, Q-Bitz and Genius Square. These were games I had never heard of, although admittedly I hadn’t really researched the subject. What ensued were a couple of fastpaced fun-filled hours, which resulted in us buying the same games and a few more besides.

That evening our neighbours showed us that we didn’t hate board games, we’d just been playing the wrong ones. My family is very kinaesthetic. We like to touch and manipulate things. We have a dozen different Rubik cubes and enjoy solving them. Traditional board games just aren’t engaging enough for us.

Dobble is a ‘spot-it’ style game. There is a deck of circular cards covered in images and each card shares just one image in common with each other card. The idea is to spot the match quicker than your neighbour in a series of lightning rounds. Like snap but far more challenging and entertaining.

Q-Bitz is a match-it game, where you race against other players to reproduce the pattern on a card, using sixteen cubes, which all have different pattern-parts on each face. There are speed and memory variations, and children tend to be better than adults ... at least in our house.

If you love Tetris you’ll probably like Genius Square. The blocks are the same shapes and colours, and by throwing special dice you block out various co-ordinates on your square, then race to fit all the blocks into the remaining spaces. So, if you’re bored with board games try these and see if they convert you.

puzzle solutions

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36 Bersted in Focus

Organising your affairs - The Role of Executor

by Mark Riley, Founder & Managing Partner, MJR Solicitors You have just left the Solicitors after signing your new Will and you’re feeling as though you have accomplished something that you’ve been putting off for years. It wasn’t as bad as visiting the dentist, and you have now joined the 46% of the population who have Wills in place. What’s next?

You’ve made appointments in your Will giving certain people the authority to act as your Executor when you pass away. What does this role entail? An Executor has the power to deal with the Deceased’s property. They may have to obtain a Grant of Representation which is a formal Court document in order to sell or transfer assets. In order to obtain a Grant they must provide the value of all assets and liabilities at the date of death of the Deceased, including tax and pension overpayments, details of large cash gifts made up to seven years before the date of death and whether the Deceased was a beneficiary of Trusts.

They are legally responsible for collecting the assets in, paying liabilities including tax and correctly distributing the estate.

Have you spoken to the people you have appointed to check they are happy to assume this responsibility? Administering someone’s Estate can last months, dependant on the Deceased’s assets. Will they have time, as

this is something that should not be taken lightly.

There are certain steps that Executors can take to protect themselves from any liability in the future. If there are any family fallings out, you can appoint a professional to help with the administration, as a neutral party.

You can help your Executors and family by having a safe place where you store your copy Will, with instructions for the type of Funeral you’d like, listing your assets such as bank accounts, savings, investments and Premium Bonds, as well as any ongoing liabilities.

Preparing a Memorandum of Digital Assets can help, containing details and passwords as well as instructions on how these should be dealt with. This saves your Executors lots of time!

How can we help?

We offer a variety of different will writing packages, so to make sure you get the right one for you, contact us today to make an appointment on 01243 945054 or email info@mjrsolicitors.co.uk.

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Bersted in Focus

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38 Bersted in Focus

a good christmas read

by Kath Bennett

Christmas is a wonderful time to curl up with a book. The shelves are full of this year’s new and shiny celebrity offerings. But Christmas is surely a time for nostalgia. So, pour yourself a glass of eggnog or mulled wine and let’s visit Christmas Past …

For Grown-Ups For a real nostalgia-fest and a lyrical description of times gone by, when ‘December was as white as Lapland though there were no reindeers’? dig out ‘A Child’s Christmas in Wales’ by Dylan Thomas, preferably with Edward Ardizzone’s illustrations. Short, simple, and beautiful, it sums up Christmas with the Uncles, snow on the ground and the myriad delights for a small boy on the best day of the year.

If, however, you are feeling slightly less full of cheer and goodwill, Jilly Cooper might be more to your taste. The Christmas scene in ‘Appassionata’ is one of my favourite depictions of the holiday, and every December I find myself turning first to ‘How to Survive Christmas’ – bleak, witty and sometimes crushingly accurate, it is Cooper’s account of how to get through a typical festive season.

Another excellent book with a brief but memorable Christmas sequence, is ‘Angels and Men’ by Catherine Fox. It is hard to get hold of, but I promise you, Mara’s Christmas with her grandmother is not one you will forget – and the rest of the book is beautifully written, too.

Finally, from the realms of fantasy, why not try Christmas Discworld style in ‘Hogfather’ by Terry Pratchett? Was there ever a writer with a sharper wit? As you might expect, his Santa is quite different – for a start, those are pigs, not reindeer pulling his sleigh. And he seems a little on the bony side. What does Death have to do with Christmas? More than you might think ... .

For Kids For many people, ‘The Snowman’ by Raymond Briggs is their Christmas classic of choice. I actually prefer his ‘Father Christmas.’ Less saccharine and eloquently told with pictures and few words, it follows a curmudgeonly Santa on his journey around the globe, dropping off presents, struggling down chimneys, trudging upstairs, through all kinds of weather ... Merry Bloomin’ Christmas!

Another favourite is ‘Dear Father Christmas’ by Jeanne Willis and Rosie Reeve. This picture book follows Mary as she writes her Christmas letter. Her wishes are different, as she doesn’t need any more toys – but an everlasting hamster and self-tying shoelaces would come in rather handy.

Of course, there is a twist in the tale, but we don’t see it coming, and my kids read it over and over again – even at the height of summer.

If you like the Jolly Postman, then you will love ‘The Jolly Christmas Postman’ by Janet and Allan Ahlberg. As you might expect, there are a range of letters to open, with cards, games and even a jigsaw puzzle for the lucky nursery rhyme characters on his rounds. An absolute delight.

And finally ...

How could we look at Christmas without mentioning the two biggest Christmas classics ever?

I mean of course, ‘A Christmas Carol’ by Charles Dickens and ‘The Night Before Christmas’

by Clement C. Moore. I know you have seen a million and one adaptations of the former (The Muppets do it best!), but the book really is worth a read. Be honest, when else are you going to curl up by the fire with a Dickens novel if not during a long snowy holiday? Try it. As for the former, we read it aloud every Christmas Eve, just before the lights go out. I stole this tradition from a friend, and I am passing it on to you.

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Bersted in Focus Arun Neighbourhood Policing Team –October 2021 you can contact your local team in the following ways: • Call us: on 101 to report a crime or 999 if it’s an emergency • Email us: arun@sussex.pnn.police.uk

We have previously shared crime prevention advice in relation to burglary, however it is important to refresh yourself to help keep yourself and loved ones safe particularly over the Christmas period and into the New year.

Keep burglars out of your property Burglars will use a variety of ways to avoid being noticed.

• They don’t want to be seen or heard by a neighbour or passer-by because they will feel exposed and identifiable.

• Distraction burglars will pretend to be someone they are not, so it’s important you are aware of the common methods they will use to get you to let them into your property.

• here’s some useful advice, firstly on helping to keep burglars out by giving them no hiding place and, secondly, on how to prevent a distraction burglary.

• keep it visible • you’d think that it would be best to make a property less visible from the street, and to keep it hidden from prying eyes behind overgrown bushes, trees, high fences or walls. In reality, all that this serves to do is make it easier for a burglar to get close to a home unnoticed, and provide somewhere to hide while carrying out a burglary or theft from the property.

• lower fences at the front around one-metre high are preferable to high fences as they allow for a clear view over the top and don’t provide cover for anyone wishing to hide.

• at the rear and sides, taller fencing is recommended to prevent easy access.

• Trellis, thorny plants, or a suitable anti-climb topping such as plastic spikes make it difficult for anyone climbing over a fence or gate.

• Planting prickly or barbed shrubbery along boundaries and fence lines acts as an effective natural barrier.

• Gravel driveways and paths will make sure you hear anyone approach.

During the Christmas period it is recommended that you do not keep wrapped presents under the Christmas tree especially if the tree is in view of those walking past your property.

The bitter cold days and evenings will have set in by now, if you have any vulnerable or elderly neighbours who are lonely please check in on them to make sure they are ok. If you have any concerns for your neighbours welfare call 101 or 999 in an emergency. lastly we hope that you all have a great Christmas and a very happy new year! Police officers and PCSOs will be conducting regular patrols around the arun area when time permits, even over the festive period.

If you wish to report crime anonymously you can do so via Crimestoppers-uk.org or via the phone 0800 555 111.

For further crime prevention advice please visit https://www.sussex.police.uk/cp/crime-prevention/ FRONT OFFICE OPENING hOURS: Bognor Regis: london Road, Bognor Regis, P021 1Ba. monday to Friday from 10am until 2pm and from 3pm until 6pm.

Littlehampton: County Buildings, East Street, littlehampton, BN17 6aR. monday to Friday from 10am until 2pm and from 3pm until 6pm.

We work closely with Neighbourhood Watch and you can find out more about your local scheme online or by emailing. visit the arun Neighbourhood Watch website: arunwestnhw.org.uk and for more info email: info@arunwestnhw.org.uk

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Bersted in Focus 41

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Bersted in Focus

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The Parish of ABE presents

Grand Raffle Refreshments

Gift stall

Homemade Cakes

Christmas stall

Toys & Games

Father Christmas

Tombola Children’s Craft & games

And much more

Eastergate Village Hall, Barnham Road Eastergate, PO20 3RP 50p For adults—Children are free

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Bersted in Focus

aN SOS FROm SUSSEX’S BIRDS

The RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch is the largest wildlife survey in the world and takes place across the Uk every January. Those taking part note down the birds visiting their garden, local park or local reserve over one hour. This timeframe may seem minuscule, but with people all over the country simultaneously reaching for their binoculars, the results are vast.

Please join in The next Big Garden Birdwatch from 28-30 January 2022.

The 2021 Big Garden Birdwatch saw the humble house sparrow take the Birdwatch crown for the 18th consecutive year. In West Sussex, the house sparrow was closely followed by the starling and then the blue tit. also nestled in the West Sussex Top Ten was the woodpigeon, blackbird, robin, goldfinch, great tit, magpie and long-tailed tit, the same high-flyers in the Uk’s Top Ten. This may seem like good news for the house sparrow and the rest of Goldfinch.

Sussex’s Top Ten, but even the house sparrows aren’t celebrating their win. house sparrow sightings In West Sussex have decreased by 8.6% since the 2020 Big Garden Birdwatch. In fact, only the blackbird and the robin saw an increase in numbers out of West Sussex’s Top Ten, perhaps a reflection of their inquisitive nature. These dwindling numbers are mirrored in finch numbers, as chaffinches and greenfinches Uk-wide have never been so low since records began. Finches are specialist feeders, relying on seeds for food and now, with less wild spaces, they are floundering. In the last 50 years, 40 million birds have vanished from our gardens, fields and skies as they have fewer places to call home.

On a chirpier note, West Sussex’s gull numbers have, unsurprisingly, soared. The herring gull, black headed gull and common gull all saw an increase in over 20%, proving their remarkable talent to adapt to the manmade world we have created for them. Goldfinch numbers have also increased in the last decade by over 50% and have remained in the Uk’s Top Ten since their Top Ten debut 2008. a recording breaking 1 million people took part in the 2021 Big Garden Birdwatch, spotting over 17 million British birds. With so many people showing an interest in our birds, the actions of individuals could help pave the way for providing food and homes for British birds.

The most obvious way to help our birds is to feed them. your local garden centre will have seed, meal worms, fat balls, bird baths and feeders on sale. To lure finches into your garden, fill a feeder with black niger seed or sunflower hearts.

Better still would be leaving a wild patch in your garden. leaving a flower bed to self-seed or even buying wildflower seeds would provide birds with an all you can eat buffet, as well as a hiding spot. Finches will sit atop a thistle or sunflower as it bends in the wind, eating its seeds, while robins and tits will eat the caterpillars who call the wildflower stems their home. zoom meeting, Thursday 13 January Paul Bellamy, RSPB Senior Conservation Scientist on Woodland Ecology– ‘Understanding Woodland Bird Declines’ at 7.00 pm. zoom talks are free to all RSPB Chichester local Group members and £4 each to non-members. Places are limited, so please book your place in advance by contacting Rob yarham – email: chichesterbirds@gmail.com tel: 07545 376074

ChIChESTER, Thursday 27 January Illustrated Talk by Dr John mallord, RSPB Senior Conservation Scientist, on ‘Studying migratory Birds’, to the Chichester local Group at The Pallant Suite, masonic hall, South Pallant, Chichester, PO19 1Sy at 7.30 pm. Entrance members £2.50/visitors £5, 07545 376074, wheelchair access.

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Ben andrew (rspb-images.com)

By ROy NEWham

Bersted in Focus

ADRIAN FOULKS

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Call ADRIAN FOULKS Phone 01243 261 945 or 07436 563 465 Email adrian@adviceforlaterlife.co.uk This is a lifetime mortgage. To understand the features and risks, please ask for a personalised illustration. Check that this mortgage will meet your needs if you want to move or sell your home or you want your family to inherit it. If you are in any doubt, seek independent advice.

Advice For Later Life is a trading style of TRM Financial Ltd which is an Appointed Representative of The Right Mortgage Ltd, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered in England and Wales No. 09832887.

Registered Office: St Johns Court, 70 St Johns Close, Knowle, Solihull, B93 0NH. A fee may be charged for equity release advice. The exact amount will depend on your circumstances.

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Bersted in Focus

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Bersted in Focus

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48 Bersted in Focus

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