Bersted in Focus October 2021

BERSTED IN FOCUS

The Independent Local Directory of Businesses NORTH AND SOUTH BERSTED (PO22 area) Delivered FREE to over 5,700 homes October 2021

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13 The Square, Barnham, West Sussex PO22 0HB

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Sargeant Carpets SPECIAL OFFER l

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19 Arun Business Park | Shripney Road | Bognor Regis West Sussex | PO22 9SX (opposite Tescos)

01243 868888 (Craig) 01243 823222 (Roy) Please mention BERSTED IN FOCUS when responding to adverts

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WELCOME

Hello everyone! It’s been wonderful to catch up with so many readers and advertisers over the last few months and thank you again for your very kind comments and support for the magazines.

Many of you enjoyed our September feature ‘Don’t Replace It, Repair It’ so much you have asked for the contact details of Pete and his household appliance repair business. Sadly, Pete is not a Sussex local but I have spoken to a number of our advertisers who say there are appliance repair people around although they are hard to come by!

If you do know a good one, please let me know and I will publish their details in the magazine. It’s good to know the ‘repair’ culture is still alive!

On another note, demand for the magazine is growing and so we have decided to introduce a couple of hubs where you can pick one up if your copy is delayed. Bersted in Focus will be available at Durlston Drive Post Office, 4 Durlston Parade. Please do keep your ideas, comments and enthusiasm coming and all good wishes for a lovely October, Kate office@infocusmagazines.co.uk Tel: 07729682245 www.infocusmagazines.co.uk NOVEMBER ISSUE DEADLINE –WEDNESDAY 6 OCTOBER

All advertisements are printed in good faith, however Bersted in Focus cannot take responsibility for the content of the adverts or the services provided by the advertisers. Opinions and views expressed in articles are not necessarily held by In Focus Magazines. No part of the publication may be reproduced or stored without the express permission of the publisher.

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TOP OF THE POST BY KATE STEWART How many times did you drive past a Royal Mail postbox in Felpham over the summer and think – wow! If you didn’t, you need to retrace your steps and go and visit the postboxes at Felpham Village Post Office(1), at the bus stop opposite the South Downs Pub(2), at the bus stop opposite Firs Avenue(3), at Summerley Lane Post Office (4) and at Limmer Lane (5).

Each post box is adorned with an intricately designed and totally fabulous postbox topper knitted by Felpham resident Jan Budd. She made six over the summer but sadly the one she designed with the Minions on got stolen from Snooks Corner (6) in broad daylight only hours after she had attached it to the postbox.

Jan was inspired to make the 3 toppers after seeing them on Facebook in other areas of the UK. She said: “People have been making them across the country but using crochet. I can’t crochet so I decided to try and knit one! I made the first topper for the postbox at Felpham Village Post Office as my daughter was working at the Felpham Post Office Pop Up Shop. It was the Whit Bank Holiday weekend and I thought it would bring a smile to people’s faces.

“I was only going to make one but it was so well received, and I have had such lovely comments, that I decided to make five more. Each topper took between 2-3 weeks and I attach them with ribbon. I have loved doing it and the reaction has been amazing and they have all lasted except the Minion one which I was very upset about.

“All the posties searched high and low to find it – but to this day it has never turned up,” Jan added.

Huge congratulations must to go to Jan for her creativity and generosity which cheered up so many local residents as we came out of lockdown, and still continues to do so. There is a £50 reward for anyone who finds the missing Minion topper – please email office@infocusmagazines.co.uk if you find it or know where it is.

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LOCAL HISTORY BY SYLVIA ENDACOTT JAMES GUTHRIE Some time ago I came across a blue plaque for James Guthrie, who lived from 1874-1952 and died at the age of 78 years. He was born in Scotland, where he trained in murals and stainedglass work and moved to England as a child. He was claimed as a painter, author, poet, printer, and founder of Pear Tree Press.

His renowned Press operated from 1899, when he lived in Pear Tree Cottage in Ingrave, Essex before moving to Shorne, Kent, the Harting, Sussex and prior to settling in Flansham.

Throughout his life, as he operated the Pear Tree Press, he was interested in ‘intaglio’ printing, which was primarily engraving an image onto a hard surface, for James this was primarily wood engraving and book plate design. The first book produced was some poems by Edgar Allan Poe with drawings by Guthrie in 1901 and his last was in 1951 as a contribution to the Festival of Britain. He eventually renounced type and printed from etched plates, including some for William Blake.

His home was known as ‘The White House’, which was situated in Flansham, once part of Felpham and is now within the parish of Yapton. Although the original house was demolished it was eventually replaced. I wonder how todays artistes will be viewed in the future, when their work is retained on the internet and not in a physical form.

Clubs and Classes

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15 Felpham Road, PO22 7DA phone: 01243 866111 - 823086

Taller toilets for comfort & safety

Bring your prices in & we will do our best to match or better the price We are specialists in walk in showers.

We sell everything you need for the bathroom of your dreams.

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Grand Sale on mirrors, cabinets and accessories 1/2 price or less

Selling to both TRADE and the GENERAL PUBLIC. Over 25 years of experience.

Opening Times

Mon, Tues, Thurs & Fri 10am - 4pm, Wed 10am - 1pm, Sat 10.30am - 2.30pm Covid Safety rules in our showroom

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WHY WE LOVE GHOSTS

BY JESS MILLER

It seems our love of the paranormal runs deep and Halloween, this month, is the perfect time to indulge. Recent studies show that between 30-40 per cent of people in the UK believe in ghosts, with those aged between 18 and 34 most likely to believe in paranormal activity. In the US figures are much higher.

Unlikely as it seems, ghosts and hauntings are a mainstream area of belief, and this belief is global, with most cultures around the world having some widely accepted types of ghosts. But why are people so keen to believe when the existence of a ghost as a disembodied soul or spirit of a dead person directly contradicts the laws of science?

In literature ghosts address some basic human needs, including the desire for justice.

Shakespeare’s Hamlet is visited by the ghost of his murdered father seeking revenge on Claudius, his murderer; and in Macbeth the murdered Banquo appears at a banquet both as a reminder of Macbeth’s guilt and to foreshadow more deaths to come.

In Kenya, a murdered person may become a ngoma, a spirit who pursues their murderer, sometimes causing them to give themself up to the police. In Russia the rusalka is the spirit of a dead woman who died by drowning and then lures men to their death.

But ghosts are not always vengeful, they can also be friends and protectors. In Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, Ebenezer Scrooge is helped by three ghosts to mend his cruel and hardhearted ways before it’s too late. In the film Sixth Sense, a ghost helps a young boy to come to terms with his ability to see dead people.

Many people like to believe that death is not the end of existence. They are comforted by thinking that their deceased loved ones are watching over them. It can also help them face the idea of our own mortality. Most of us believe that our physical being is separate from our consciousness which means it’s not a huge leap for us to entertain the idea that our mind could have an existence separate from our body and thus that our mind or consciousness could survive death. Some people even believe that the dead can communicate with the living through mediums and spiritualism.

Perfect Halloween Films Ghost Films The Legend of Hell House Casper The Ghost of Mrs Muir Sixth Sense ParaNorman The Woman in Black

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CURIOSITY CORNER

BY KIM LESLIE

A series of little titbits, a bit of nostalgia, some local history and trivia Sussex Pigs must be part of my background. Boyhood Tuesdays found me at the Haywards Heath weekly cattle market prodding pigs into the auction ring. Obstinate and disgruntled, no doubt realizing their purpose in life, they squealed their displeasure at the proceedings.

Here was a vivid lesson into the truth about the Sussex Pig and its association with what has long been regarded as the unofficial motto of the county: You may push me/You may shuv/But I’m hanged/ if I’ll be druv.

The wording sometimes varies a little, but the message is clear: those from Sussex won’t be ‘druv’ or driven, pushed around and told what to do. The Sussex writer W. Victor Cooke wrote a poem in Sussex dialect in 1914. One verse sums it up: But them as comes to Sussex/They musn’t push and shove/ For Sussex will be Sussex/And Sussex won’t be druv!

Many types of pig and motto have been made over the last two centuries. Typically the pig is shown in a seated position – an apt demonstration of ‘I won’t be druv’ – distinguished with its large forward-pointed ears.

The china model shown here was made about 1910 (known as heraldic souvenir ware, this piece shows – inaccurately – the Chichester coat of arms). The postcard was published about 1920.

But pig and motto go way back into the 19th century. They were first made at Rye where they are still being made today at the local pottery. All the earliest known examples enable the body of the pig to be tilted back on its haunches to form a jug and the head detached to form a cup so one could literally drink a hog’s head!

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OCTOBER 2021

What’s on at Bersted Jubilee Hall Subject to change, please call 01243 842221.

Monday: Pilates—Christina 9—9.45am Pilates—Jane 12 - 1pm Martial Arts 4—6pm Arun A Cappella 7 - 10pm Tuesday: Tuesday Toddlers (term time) 10 –11.30am Tai Chi (term time) 12.30 -1.30pm U3A History Group—26 October 2—4pm Council Committee Meetings 7pm Wednesday: Aerobics - Jane 10-11am Pilate—Jane 11-12pm Carpet Bowls 2-3.30pm Yoga—Kerry 7.15 - 8.15pm Thursday: Pilates—Christina 9—9.45am Yoga - Jackie 12.30—2pm U3A Camera Club—7 Oct 2.30—4.30pm North Bersted WI—14 Oct 2.15—5pm Boogie Bounce 6 -7 pm Tao Bo Fitness—Ladies 8.15– 9.15pm Friday:

Bersted Parish Council Meetings Members of the public are welcome to attend the meetings at Bersted Jubilee Hall.

See website for agendas www.bersted-pc.gov.uk

October –all meetings start at 7pm 5 October— Planning Committee 12 October— Full Council

Xmas Fayre Saturday 4 December 10 –2pm

Bersted PC will be hosting a Christmas Fayre at Bersted Jubilee Hall. If anyone is interested in booking a table for craft/gift/charity sales— cost is £10 per table, please contact : deputy@bersted-pc.gov.uk for a booking form. Tables are limited, so first come first served.

Litter Pick

Thank you to all that took part in the litter picks around Bersted over the summer. If you would like to know when the next event is, follow our Facebook page for future updates. We would really appreciate your support.

Carpet Bowls 2-3.30pm Saturday: Bognor Regis Art Society, 9 Oct 1.30—5pm

and 23 Oct 2—5pm Sunday: Open Heart Church 10 - 2pm For information on the groups/classes email— deputy@bersted-pc.gov.uk

Discretionary Grants

TEA & COFFEE CLUB FRIDAY 22 October at 10am—12pm, at Jubilee Hall, Chalcraft Lane, Bersted.

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 15 November 2021.

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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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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16 Bersted in Focus

ARUNDEL BRIDGE TO HOUGHTON BRIDGE BY SIMON BAKER IRONS

This month’s walk is a 5½ mile linear walk from Arundel Bridge to Houghton Bridge following the river through the Arun Valley. Navigation for this walk is easy as most of the route is following the River Arun.

From Arundel Bridge head into Jubilee Gardens by the ruins of the Blackfriars Dominican Priory, the gardens give a great view of the stone bridge. At the far corner of the gardens the river path can be joined and leaves Arundel through fields where cattle graze on one side and wildfowl swim on the other.

As you walk around this large bend in the river be sure to look back over your shoulder to get some fine views of the castle, the town, and the cathedral on the hill.

As the river continues to meander, the route passes the Arundel Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust, where you may glimpse one of the many resident or migratory birds. A little further on is the Black Rabbit Inn, situated right on the river it is a perfect place for some mid walk refreshments.

The path leaves the inn at the back of the car park and continues along the river towards the hamlet of South Stoke, this medieval village diminished in size when the common land nearby was enclosed to form Arundel Park, depriving villagers of sheep-grazing land. As you approach the hamlet the 11th century parish church of St Leonards can be seen overlooking the river. For much of its history this tiny flint church has served the community preaching to the nearby farm workers and their families.

Cross the river and continue northwards along the path as it enters a wooded glade and follows an old loop of the River Arun. The loop was made redundant by a new cut in 1839 that made navigation of the river by the increasing traffic easier. A suspension bridge crossed this old section from the mid 19th century until it was damaged by a fallen oak tree in 2009. It was restored by the Queens Gurkha Engineers during the summer of that year and is now known as the Gurkha Suspension Bridge.

Head up the hill to the medieval hamlet of North Stoke, it too has diminished over the years possibly due to Black Death in the Middle Ages or by land owners enclosing the land for sheep pasture. However, it does have a lovely Grade I listed Norman and early English Gothic church, St Mary the Virgin’s.

Inside the church and above the chancel arch can be seen some 14th century paintings of leaves and scrolls in a reddish pigment.

The last part of the walk follows Stoke Road to Houghton where the stone Bridge and a 19th century toll house can be seen.

The return to Arundel can be completed by extending the walk back on the other side of the river or a short train ride from Amberley Station.

Please do visit my blog at piertopiertrekking.com

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Expert advice on paying for care Long-term care in your own home or in a residential care home is expensive, but with expert advice from independent financial specialists, Carewise can help you to make informed decisions on choosing and paying for the right care.

The Carewise care fees specialists are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and members of the Society of Later Life Advisers, so you can have peace of mind when discussing your finances. |

carewiseadvice.com

Contact Carewise to find out how you could benefit.

carewise@westsussex.gov.uk

0330 222 7000

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18 Bersted in Focus

RSPB EVENTS FOR OCTOBER 2021 ZOOM MEETING, THURSDAY 14 OCTOBER Bob Blackler, RSPB Wessex Stone Curlew Project Officer – The Stone Curlew Project 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 28 October Illustrated Talk by Sophie Yeomanson, Solent RSPB Community Shorebird Officer on ‘Solent’s Sea and Water 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 SUSSEX WILDLIFE TRUST Events for OCTOBER 2021 No planned Events for the Chichester Area for October Maria Wildman, 12 Harbour View Road, Pagham PO21 4RG Tel: 01243 262833 Email: wildthings2@waitrose.com

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Graham Goodall (rspb-images.com)

Church Norton oozes serenity but in the summer, through your binoculars, you will see a frenzy of comically short legs, chopstick-like beaks and dramatic eye stripes, a frenzy of little terns. This time of year, the chattering little terns have flown to West Africa to escape the wet Sussex winter - who can blame them!

But summers at Church Norton haven’t always been alive with the noisy tern colony. Since 1985 little tern numbers have plummeted nationwide, in part, due to climate change, as rising seas and frequent floods wash away nests. When disturbed, by a dog off the lead or a visitor straying from the path, a little tern leaves its nest, leaving the chicks vulnerable. Lastly, little terns are forced to nest in areas where foxes, badgers, kestrel and crows can catch them, or steal their eggs.

Today, there are only a handful of little tern colonies in the UK. Little Tern adult and two chicks.

But all is not lost for Pagham Harbour’s little terns, thanks to the tenacious staff and volunteers who happily spend time giving the little terns a helping hand. Initially, the Little Tern Project, funded by EU LIFE+ Nature, worked on 16 sites around England and Wales. Here at Pagham, volunteers have maintained a protected haven for the little terns at Church Norton, an island protected from land predators at high tide. Even at low tide the fencing gives the little terns the upper hand.

The hard work has paid off; 2021 was Pagham’s best year for breeding seabirds on record. 46 little tern pairs were documented, the most since 1982! 25 little terns fledged this year – the highest number since records began! This is reassuring news, as terns who successfully rear chicks will almost definitely return the following year, meaning Little Tern Pagham’s colony will likely thrive in years to come.

The terns put on an acrobatics show at high tide, diving like darts into the calm water, emerging with fish in their mustard-coloured beaks against the backdrop of the rolling South Downs and billowing clouds. For the terns’ and other wildlife’s sake, please respect the footpath signs, and keep an eye on your dog as you soak in the reserve’s serenity.

If you want to hear more about volunteering work at Pagham Harbour, contact us at 01243 641508/ pagham.harbour@rspb.org.uk or pop by our Visitor Centre on the B2145 between Chichester and Selsey- we’d love to hear from you!

Kevin Simmonds (rspb-images.com)

BIG NEWS FOR LITTLE TERNS BY ROY NEWHAM

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20 Bersted in Focus

MY NAME IS JOE COYLE …

And I am a 24-year-old from Felpham. My Dad James ‘Jim’ Coyle who is 70 has been a sufferer of the cruel disease Alzheimer’s for the last 12 years.

As a young person, I have had to grow up for most of my life with a loved one having this disease. The last few years have been very difficult for us as a family and I struggled to get through school, college and university and throughout this time I have come to realise that perhaps not enough people, not just my age but in general, truly know how heartbreaking and awful Alzheimer’s is.

I would really like more people to hear not just my story but ask the question if there is anyone else out there similar to me? I was just 13 when my Dad started slowly deteriorating and I can speak from the heart when I say, it is not just the person with the disease who suffers but the whole family.

We have endured the pain of perpetual grief, the raw wound of continual loss, the struggle to preserve dignity and the desire to respect the present and cling on to the past. However, in the middle of all the heartache, I have come to learn that we do hold on to the small glimmer of light that exists and reminds us of the things that Alzheimer’s hasn’t taken away. The warmth of a touch, the importance of smiles, laughter and the knowledge of what it truly means to experience unconditional love and acceptance - something our Dad has taught us all.

So last year I set the challenge of retracing the exact route my Dad took when hitchhiking down from his birthplace in Glasgow to Bognor Regis where he’d meet my Mum and create a family, setting up home for the rest of his life. Although we didn’t quite sleep in the telephone boxes like he did, I can say that on the 16 August 2021 we achieved exactly what we set out to do whilst raising over £5000 for Dad on his 71st birthday and the Alzheimer’s Society.

Considering last September we were told he was ‘end of life’, it was truly amazing to be able to finish the journey and share the experience with him in person.

There were a lot of ups and downs on the way. We lost a pedal and had a couple of punctures. We had some massive hills to climb and cities like Glasgow, Manchester and Birmingham to navigate, but we saw and stayed in some amazing places and met some really kind and generous people who even donated – like the farmer whose field we stopped in for lunch one day!

I do need to give some special thank you’s. To Tim Joseph for being the support vehicle/driver, and lunchtime chef, we really couldn’t have done it without him. To Andre Didon for helping make it all possible booking hotels and being our map man/guide. And finally, to my brother, Andy Coyle, for agreeing to take on the crazy challenge with me in the first place and always being by my side no matter what. What a great team!

I would like to continue to get as many donations as possible and promote our cycle to raise awareness of Alzheimer’s. Here are the links to our JustGiving, Facebook and Instagram pages and a few pictures of our journey and past pictures of Dad. Thanks to you all, Joe. https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/joe-coyle4 https://www.facebook.com/retracingtherouteofJimCoyle/ https://www.instagram.com/retracingtheroute/

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FUN FRIDAY SOCIAL Networking is a very powerful and successful way of growing your business. So, if you’ve ever thought about networking but have been put off in the past, now is the time to have a go! On the last Friday of every month, a new relaxed and informal networking opportunity is starting in Bognor Regis, with the aim of connecting the local business community by making new contacts, promoting local resources, doing more business with each other and having some fun along the way.

The new initiative has been started by a group of local business people, passionate about bringing together the local business community in a relaxed and informal way, with the ultimate aim of doing more business. Co-founder Emma Bailey says: “It’s networking, but without all the scary bits! No presentations, no speakers, no structured meeting, no lockouts ... everyone is welcome, just come and meet your fellow local business people over an informal drink after work on the last Friday of the month. Just bring yourself and your business cards!”

The group has the full backing of the Arun Business Partnership and is sponsored by The Track, which is Bognor’s creative and digital co-working space that helps the business community of Bognor to grow and thrive.

Emma Bailey September and October meetings are free and will take place at The Waverley Pub in Aldwick between 5pm-7pm. After that, venues will change and special events are planned, so be sure to follow on social media for the most up to date meeting info!

Instagram: @FFS_funfridaysocial and Facebook: @FFSfunfridaysocial

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22 Bersted in Focus

SUPPORTING YOU TO LIVE WELL IN WEST SUSSEX The Connect to Support website is for anyone in West Sussex who is looking for additional help or support to maintain their independence, manage day-to-day tasks, and improve their health and wellbeing. If you support a relative, friend or neighbour, the information on this website will be invaluable to help you to find out what support they, and you, are entitled to.

We understand how difficult it can be to get all the information and advice you need to support you so we’ve brought together a wealth of information and resources that you can access with just a few clicks.

The website includes information and advice on: • • • •

improving your health and wellbeing managing specific health conditions and disabilities technology and equipment to support you to live independently at home and Support for family and friend carers

Visit www.westsussexconnecttosupport.org For help using the website, call Adults’ CarePoint on 01243 642121 or email: socialcare@westsussex.gov.uk

SUDOKU

How to Play Sudoku It’s simple! Fill in the grid so that each row, column and 3x3 box, contains the numbers 1 through to 9 with no repetition.

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Looking for extra support with your day to day living?

The Connect to Support website is for anyone in West Sussex who is looking for additional help or support to maintain their independence, manage day-to-day tasks and improve their health and wellbeing.

Visit our website to: • discover tips on improving your health and wellbeing • view equipment to help you stay independent • find support for carers • learn about options for extra care and support.

westsussexconnecttosupport.org Do you need help to use the website?

Email: socialcare@westsussex.gov.uk Phone: 01243 642121

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24 Bersted in Focus

CROSSWORD

Across 1. Cure, restore (4) 3. Despite, notwithstanding (8) 9. Theft, burglary (7) 10. Lizard with sticky feet! (5) 11. Fall heavily (coll.) (4,1,7) 13. Bulging belly (6) 15. Crackpot, oddball (6) 17. Fungal disease of the toes (8,4) 20. Hard outer layer (5) 21. Unblemished (7) 22. Discuss yet again (8) 23. Cut (4)

Down 1. Printout (4,4) 2. Scrapbook particularly for photos (5) 4. Tiers (6) 5. Intense strain or tension (4-8) 6. Hazy (7)

7. An owl’s cry (4) 1 8. Large body of water (5) 8. Does the sums again (12) 19. Defect, disfigurement (4) 12. Pace, stride (8) 14. Lie (7) 16. Necessary, basic (6)

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26 Bersted in Focus

GARDEN VIEW TIDY UP TIME BY RACHEL LEVERTON

By October the garden can look a little tired: perennials collapse, leaves die back, and there’s debris everywhere. It can only mean one thing, clean up time.

Cut Peonies, Leucanthemum, Nepeta, Delphiniums, Hardy Geraniums, and Phlox back to ground level, but leave anything with ornamental seed heads such as poppies, Alliums and grasses. When the first frosts hit, these plants will gain a new lease of life and add some sparkly architectural beauty to the garden.

Leave more delicate perennials such as Penstemons with the top growth in place to provide some winter protection. You can cut them back in the spring just before new growth occurs.

Herbaceous perennials can be divided now and moved around to fill gaps in the border.

Perennials can become congested and tired, and flower less as they age. Dig up the clump and break it up with a sharp spade, selecting the best, newer chunks from the outside to replant. The dying centre of the plant can be composted. Most plants need to be divided every three to five years but some more vigorous varieties like Achillea require it more often and others. The exception is Peonies, which hate any kind of disturbance. Leave them alone.

Once the borders are cleared and plants have been relocated, it’s time to get rid of any weeds, which have flourished in the autumn sunshine. Then you can mulch using compost or leaf mould. Mulching helps to protect the more tender plants while improving the structure of the soil and generally making things look neater. Make a layer around 3-4cms deep but don’t cover the centre crown of any plants.

Types of organic mulch: Compost Bark Grass cuttings Composted manure Newspaper Shredded Leaves Straw

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Bersted in Focus 27

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28 Bersted in Focus

KEEP PETS SAFE ON BONFIRE NIGHT

BY TRACEY ANDERSON My Jack Russell terrier Pippa takes Bonfire Night in her stride, but Tess, my mixed breed rescue, transforms into a quivering wreck, who snaps, snarls and once drew actual blood when I tried to fish her out of the tumble dryer where she had retreated among the yet-to-be sorted bed sheets.

Studies suggest that almost half of dogs show signs of fear when they hear fireworks. Tess is at the extreme end of the scale and action was clearly required.

There are a few simple things we can do to help a pet deal with fireworks. Some basic preparation will make Bonfire night a less stressful experience for everyone.

For dogs, walk them earlier in the day to avoid times when fireworks are likely to be set off. Close windows and curtains at night so loud bangs are muffled, and play music or put the TV on to further mask firework sounds.

Make a doggy den. This is a quiet space where a dog can feel in control.

My dogs are crate-trained but the crate wasn’t cutting it for Tess who wanted a proper bolthole, so the following firework season I cleared out a space among the shoes in the little cupboard under the stairs and added blankets and chew toys. She dived in headfirst, and we didn’t see her till the following morning, when she re-appeared as though nothing was out of the ordinary!

Cats also need hiding places too, though they are pretty good at finding their own! Try to bring cats inside, even if they normally go out at night, because they can become stressed and disorientated if they’re caught outside during a fireworks display.

If you have small animals, covering outside cages and pens with blankets so an area is soundproofed and hidden is a good idea. And provide bedding they can burrow into. If you have a cool room where they can be undisturbed it can be good to move the hutch or cage temporarily inside.

And remember that all pets should be microchipped in case they panic and escape outside.

PUZZLE SOLUTIONS Solution to Mind Benders 1. Safety in numbers.

2. Run for cover.

3. Go up in smoke.

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30 Bersted in Focus

Specialist Will Writing Services

by Mark Riley, Founder & Managing Partner, MJR Solicitors There are many types of Wills and knowing which is best for you can seem confusing and complicated. Our specialist Will writing Solicitors can give you the help and support you need.

What is a Will?

A Will is a legally binding document that allows you to decide how your Estate will be handled and your assets distributed upon your death. It helps ensure that the people you love get what you want them to.

Do I need a Will?

Yes, a Will is basic Estate Planning tool that nearly everyone needs.

What happens if I die without a Will?

This means you have died “intestate.” So, rather than your Estate being handled the way you would have wanted, the Intestacy laws will determine how your property is distributed. This means there is a risk your Estate will not be distributed the way you wanted.

How does a Will work?

Once you have an idea of what all your assets are, you then decide who receives what after your death. Furthermore, you should also use your Will as an opportunity to make your wishes known on other important details, such as appointing a guardian for any minor children you

have. Within your Will, you also appoint one or more individuals to act as your “Executor(s)” and it will be their responsibility to administer your Estate. This document will then be witnessed, generally by two people.

What are an Executor’s responsibilities?

The Executor(s) is/are responsible for making sure that outstanding debts left by the deceased are paid BEFORE any money is paid to beneficiaries mentioned in the Will.

Because of this, it is important that you choose your Executor(s) carefully, ensuring they are somebody you can trust with this responsibility.

What will happen on my death?

Upon death, it is required that your Will is filed with your local Probate Court. This will begin the Probate process.

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.

Tel: 01243 945054 info@mjrsolicitors.co.uk www.mjrsolicitors.co.uk

Recent Client Feedback: “Mark was very friendly and knowledgeable and explained everything simply in order for us to understand”

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Bersted in Focus 31

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Meetings can take place safely in our offices, or remotely if you prefer via Facebook, Skype, Zoom or MS Teams.

Bognor Regis: 4 Bankside | 128 Middleton Road | Bognor Regis | PO22 6DB Littlehampton: Arcade Business Centre | 2 Arcade Rd | Littlehampton | BN17 5AR For more information or to book an appointment at either office, please call 01243 945054 or email info@mjrsolicitors.co.uk or emma@mjrsolicitors.co.uk Trusted, knowledgeable, by your side Find us online: www.mjrsolicitors.co.uk MJR Solicitors is a Limited Company Authorised and Regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority Number 628799. Our Professional Rules may be found at SRA.org.uk

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32 Bersted in Focus

A GOOD OCTOBER READ

BY TASH DONOVAN

Ghost Story by Peter Straub Although Straub had written a couple of novels before this, this was the book that made his name. It was written in the late seventies, and is an epic creeping horror that has influenced many other writers, including Stephen King.

It is set in a small fictional town, where the elderly members of The Chowder Society meet regularly to tell each other spooky stories over a few drinks. The book opens with a seemingly unconnected tale and then the death of one of the group members. Each of the remaining members begins to experience similar, nightmarish, dreams. Contacting the nephew of their dead friend, they find he also has something to contribute to their shared nocturnal visions, forcing them to explore people and events from their collective past—a past they’d much rather forget.

The novel, although good in its own right, is also a tribute to ghost stories in general. Straub obviously set out to pay his respects to the genre and there are nods to Nathaniel Hawthorne and M.R James among others. There’s a main overarching plot that incorporates a few shorter stories.

Straub was clearly having fun, and he includes most of the ingredients for a classic scary story. It’s not fast paced but the tension builds nicely, and a real sense of menace develops as Straub draws all the threads together for the climax.

It’s a must for fans of all things scary. The storytelling is superb and it’s definitely a good read for Halloween.

SHOREHAM WORDFEST: FAST FORWARD

BY ROASLIND TURNER 24 SEPTEMBER – 17 OCTOBER 2021 Shoreham-by-Sea’s Wordfest has a stellar arts programme for Autumn 2021, with the theme of Fast Forward, a celebration of words and ideas. Featured authors include Alexander McCall Smith, crime writers Elly Griffiths and William Shaw, historian David Olusoga, Radio 6 Music’s Cerys Matthews and comic poet Murray Lachlan Young. Wilding author, Isabella Tree of Knepp Estate, launches a day event on environmental issues.

The festival starts with a national broadcast of Radio 4’s Any Questions followed by talks on international affairs and domestic politics with journalists Katie Balls and Stephen Bush. Family events include “Cautionary Tales for Modern Children” and a Detective Game.

The author’s day on Sunday 3 October will also feature local writers including Jeanne Davies, whose anthology of short stories was previously featured in our July/August issue. Another author with local connections is Sally Bayley whose first novel, Girl with Dove was featured as BBC Radio 4’s book of the week.

Sally’s comic and poignant novel is based on her childhood in Lancing and Littlehampton, and how she learned to cope with a troubled childhood through the books she read. She gives a special mention to the support she received from her teachers Littlehampton Community College and Littlehampton Town Library.

Sally is now a lecturer in English and Creative Writing at Oxford University.

For more information of all the 32 events as part of Shoreham Wordfest’s Fast Forward programme please go to: www.shorehamwordfest.com

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34 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 The autumn is setting in which means sunset will be much earlier than the previous month and we anticipate Halloween to be very busy due to the ease of Covid – 19 restrictions.

During the Halloween period, if you do not wish to have any trick or treaters at your door then it may be a good idea to put up a sign stating that you don’t want anyone knocking on your door. Also for any elderly or vulnerable neighbours you may have, it could be useful if you would place a sign in their window or door for them.

We are here to make sure that everyone can still enjoy Halloween by focussing our resources in the right places and working closely with our partners and communities. Sussex Police will not tolerate any anti-social behaviour at any time of the year.

You can also find out more about ASB and the support available at https://asbhelp.co.uk/ Anti-social behaviour can be reported to us online or 999 in an emergency.

Tips for making other people feel safer on the streets: • Keep your distance • When walking behind someone, particularly at night, try to leave a good amount of distance between yourself and the person ahead of you. Remember that the closer you are, the more threatening you might seem.

• Don’t stare • Cross the road • Somebody running up behind you, particularly at night, can be frightening.

• Keep comments to yourself • What you might think of as just a bit of fun, or flattery, can be insulting, upsetting or even scary to someone else. Keep any comments or opinions to yourself.

• Keep your friends in line • Be an active bystander If you notice someone is uncomfortable with another person’s behaviour, show your support by being an active bystander. It can be as simple as standing between a person and their harasser to block their line of sight. Ask that person if they need any help, and back up anyone else who is intervening.

Police officers and PCSOs will be conducting regular patrols around the Arun area when time permits.

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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IV STR E F

OR

WE

Bersted in Focus 35

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36 Bersted in Focus

BOGNOR REGIS TIDE TABLE October 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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Bersted in Focus 37

In the centre of Middleton-on-Sea Hardware - DIY Garden tools & supplies

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38 Bersted in Focus

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40 Bersted in Focus

Making simple changes to create a more useable bathing area

For inspiration & to see various bathing solutions on display visit our showroom.

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24 - 26 Queensway, Bognor Regis Po21 1QT

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