Bersted in Focus September 2021

BERSTED IN FOCUS

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

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WELCOME Hello everyone! I hope you have had chance to have a summer break and enjoy some holiday time with your loved ones. It’s been lovely to see the waves of normality start to wash over our Sussex coast again and I hope the arrival of September signals exciting beginnings for us all especially those starting new school terms, new jobs and those of you going away to study.

I love September. So often it can be warm with glowing skies and gentle breezes that ease us gently into Autumn and a new set of colours and trends. There are still a few games of cricket to be had and all the tennis courts are open, my favourite blackberry and apple crumble hones into view and the sea is often still very warm if you are planning a trip to the beach.

Singing is also back with a vengeance. We can now go to our local theatres and see live music and musicals as well as sing in choirs and nightclubs. So I think September may just have to be about finding our voice and having a good sing-song whether that’s in the shower or to a wider audience.

Thank you to local artist Jason Goldrick whose fabulous painting adorns this month’s front cover. Jason is based in Pagham and you can see his work on his Facebook page @JasonGoldrickwatercolours or email him on jgoldrick@sky.com Very best wishes, Kate office@infocusmagazines.co.uk Tel: 07729682245 www.infocusmagazines.co.uk

FELPHAM IN FOCUS

The Independent Local Directory of Businesses FELPHAM Delivered FREE to over 6,000 homes September 2021

BERSTED IN FOCUS

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

VILLAGES IN FOCUS

The Independent Local Directory of Businesses MIDDLETON, ELMER , YAPTON AND BARNHAM Delivered FREE to over 5,300 homes

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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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September 2021

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IN SEASON

WHY WE HAVE SEASONS BY KATE McCARTHY September 22nd marks the Autumn Equinox. It’s the end of summer and the start of a new season. But what is a season? We all instinctively know the difference between summer and winter but who decides when they start and end? Are there official dates? Well actually yes.

A season is defined as a period of the year distinguished by special climate conditions. The four seasons: spring, summer, autumn, and winter each have their own light, temperature, and weather patterns that repeat yearly.

In the UK the winter solstice generally begins on December 21 or 22.

This is the day of the year with the shortest period of daylight. Summer begins on June 20 or 21, the summer solstice, the day which has the most daylight of any day in the year.

Spring and autumn, begin on days that have equal amounts of daylight and darkness. The vernal, or spring, equinox falls on March 20 or 21, which brings us back to autumn which starts at the end of the month. The seasons of the Northern Hemisphere are the opposite of those in the Southern Hemisphere, which is why in Australia, summer begins in December, winter begins in June and Christmas lunch is served on the beach!

Our seasons occur because Earth is tilted on its axis relative to the orbital plane, the invisible, flat disc where most objects in the solar system orbit the sun. Earth revolves on its axis, which is an invisible line that runs through its centre, from pole to pole.

In June, when our Northern Hemisphere is tilted toward the sun, the sun’s rays hit it for more of the day than in winter, which means we receive more hours of daylight. In December, when the Northern Hemisphere is tilted away from the sun, there are fewer hours of daylight.

But our four-season year is not experienced all over the globe. Four seasons only occur in the mid-latitudes, which are places that are not too near the poles or Equator. The further north (or south) you go within these mid-latitudes, the bigger the differences in the seasons. For example, Helsinki in Finland sees a full 18.5 hours of daylight in the middle of June whereas in mid-December it barely gets 6 hours. Athens in Greece however in the far south of Europe, has a smaller variation, with 14.5 hours of daylight in June and 9.5 hours in December.

Places near the Equator experience little seasonal variation and receive the same amount of daylight and darkness throughout the whole year. These places remain warm year-round and typically have just two seasons, a rainy season, and a dry one.

Polar regions do experience seasonal variation, although they are obviously colder than most other places on the planet. Near the poles, the amount of daylight changes dramatically between summer and winter. In Barrow, Alaska, the northernmost city in the U.S., it stays light all day long between mid-May and early August, while in winter the city is in total darkness.

I love the fact we have four seasons in the UK but just a small change in global temperature could cause the seasons to shift or become more extreme. We can’t take our wonderful seasons for granted.

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LOCAL HISTORY BY SYLVIA ENDACOTT Do you like looking at adverts from the past. I have recently come across a Bognor Regis Observer from October 1959. The Elmer Beach Garage, just one of the numerous garage adverts and was apparently situated ‘on the left past Elmer Hotel.’ They promoted a 10 per cent deposit with 4 years to pay. They sold a wide range of makers. The new Fiat cost £1,488 or for just £745 you could purchase a Ford Consul, De Lux Salon.

Under sales there was a portable typewriter available, (no cost quoted) which was a gift suitable for all occasions. In situations vacant there were many adverts for shorthand typists, but no rate shown. Fine Fare Supermarket was looking for experienced provision hands. Or a male shop clerk was required, an advert you would not see today. Olby’s in the High Street had a few reconditioned Hoover washing machines available for £15. On a more topical subject Van drivers were required for permanent positions with a wage of approximately £9 per week – yes per week. The news that week included approval for the coach park in London Road. at a cost of £7,150 due to the closure of the seafront carpark which was to be incorporated into the new Butlin’ site. There was a ‘Woman’s page,’ but unusually there was the ‘Bognor man’s diary’ How life changes. Sadly, due to the internet in the future you will not be able to view the past adverts, which give a glimpse into a moment in time.

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PAYING FOR LONG-TERM CARE? LET CAREWISE GUIDE YOU Deciding on how to pay for long-term care could turn out to be one of the most significant financial decisions you’ll ever have to make – either for yourself or for a relative.

Getting expert advice could make all the difference. Many residents in West Sussex, like CA from Crawley, have already experienced the benefits of seeking independent financial advice through the Carewise care funding scheme. She discovered the reassurance that talking to experts can bring.

All the Carewise care fees specialists are members of the Society of Later Life Advisers and can advise on the options that are available, based on your individual circumstances.

CA’S EXPERIENCE OF CAREWISE CA first contacted Carewise when she and her family were arranging for her mum to go into a residential care home. She had a property to sell and some savings but was still going to have a shortfall.

CA and her family spoke to a Carewise care fees specialist, who recommended purchasing an ‘immediate needs annuity’ (a guaranteed income to pay the care fees) which provided peace of mind that they would not run out of funds. ‘I just want to say a big thank you for all the help. I couldn’t have managed to sort everything out without your help. You always took the time to explain everything.’ CA, Crawley Contact Carewise today to see how you could benefit. Visit: carewiseadvice.com Email: carewise@westsussex.gov.uk Phone: 0330 222 7000

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SHIFTING SEASONS

THE MULBERRIES Events for SEPTEMBER 2021 PAGHAM, SATURDAY 11 SEPTEMBER The Mulberries present a 60s, 70s, 80s Top of the Pops Show with Smileys Road Show at the Pagham Village Hall, Pagham Road, Pagham PO21 4NJ at 7.30 pm.

Tickets in advance £8-00 on 01243 266849/262833. Bring your own food and drink.

Wheelchair access. Proceeds to local charities

Maria Wildman, 12 Harbour View Road, Pagham PO21 4RG Tel: 01243 262833 Email: wildthings2@waitrose.com

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Chris Gomersall (rspb-images.com)

As the verdant shades of summer fade into the rusty tones of autumn, you’ll notice the sounds, shapes and colours of the bird life changing in the Pagham Harbour and Medmerry reserves.

As September progresses, you’ll see fewer forked tails swoop over your head as the swifts, swallows and house martins fly to Africa for more insects and warmth, weighing no more than four teaspoons of sugar!

Take a moment to listen on the grasslands, you’ll notice less clicking and rattling from the crickets and grasshoppers who, after a summer of performing their songs, have left their eggs behind.

Dark bellied brent geese While we bid farewell to these species, our winter visitors trickle in, softening the blow of losing the summer migrants. The months bridging the gap between summer and autumn host a flawless changing of the guard ceremony of migrating species.

Wildfowl will start to return, and the chatter of terns will slowly turn into the distant honks of Brent geese, as their dark bodies and white rumps return from northern Russia. As we get further into autumn, listen out for hundreds of beating and whistling wings if you’re standing on Pagham North Wall at dusk, as brent geese and wigeon glide over your head – an orchestra of honks and rushing feathers.

Winter waders start to return from their breeding grounds further north, using Pagham and Medmerry as retreats from harsher winters. This time of year is best for seeing sandpiper species sifting Common sandpiper through the mud, using these reserves for pit stops on their flights from northern Europe. Look out for green, wood, common and even pectoral sandpipers at Ferry Pool in Pagham Harbour. This time of year, it is easy to see upwards of 60 bird species a day!

Other brief visitors at this time can include the very rare wryneck, almost invisible on tree trunks with its mottled brown shading. It is also not unheard of to see an osprey who, like the wryneck, is drawn to the safety of Pagham and Medmerry and who stick out like a huge green sore thumb from the urban Osprey development beside them.

Pop into our Visitor Centre on the B2145 between Chichester and Selsey to familiarise yourself with the local reserves, or contact us on 01243 641508 / pagham.harbour@rspb.org.uk, we’d love to hear from you!

Andy Hay (rspb-images.com)

BY MEERABAI KINGS

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CURIOSITY CORNER

BY KIM LESLIE

A series of little titbits, a bit of nostalgia, some local history and trivia The public went mad for the story like hot cakes: ten thousand copies went as fast as they were printed, then it was twenty thousand within the first month. Translations were made for Germany, France, Scandanavia, Italy and Spain. It was a phenomenal success.

And the book? Just a gentle tale of a family holiday by the seaside at Bognor – The Fortnight in September – first published in 1931.

The author, R.C. Sherriff, is more well known for his epic play of the First World War, Journey’s End. Opening in London’s West End in 1929 it was nothing but sensational, earning staggering royalties. Such a prize bought Sherriff a Rolls, a farm in Dorset and a fine new holiday home in Bognor, a green-pantiled residence in King’s Parade called Sandmartin. This was his dream home by the seaside, sadly unloved and in decay today, marked by a blue plaque to his memory.

The idea for the book happened when Sherriff went along the promenade to watch the crowds go by. ‘I began to feel the itch to take one of those families at random and build up an imaginary story of their annual holiday by the sea.’ He took a suburban family, the Stevens, with their day-to-day account of their fortnight’s Bognor holiday. How, every morning, they came out of their shabby, boarding house and went down to the beach; how their father found hope for the future in his brief freedom from his humdrum work as an office clerk; how the children found romance and adventure as an escape from their tedious jobs; and how their mother, scared of the sea, tried to make the others thinks she was enjoying it.

There’s little plot, more an exploration of personal relationships about family values, loyalty and respect. The Stevens’ simple honest values shine through when they get dragged into the vacuous arrogance of the wealthy Mr Montgomery (one of his employer’s clients), manufacturer of the famous Montgomery’s Cover of the 1949 reprint: the Stevens’ dream Butter Nuts. Feeling obliged to accept his holiday of Bognor seafront set against their invitation to visit his brand new home of drab suburban home. bright red brick and dazzling white stucco on Bognor’s Aldwick Road, it was all too vulgar and overbearing. Dick Stevens, the son, saw through it all: His father was just a clerk, struggling proudly and silently on a few pounds a week: this other man had thousands … yet what was it all worth? ... He would not exchange his father for a thousand fat Montgomeries, or the things his father thought and did for a million jars of Butter Nuts …

The book was written some ninety years ago. The Bognor setting and style may be dated, but it’s a fable for our own times. Still in print, The Fortnight in September is worth searching out.

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DON’T REPLACE IT, REPAIR IT!

BY SUSAN TAYLOR Last weekend I prepared a lovely roast dinner. I seasoned the chicken, popped it in the oven and turned it to the usual temperature. Fans and lights all came on so I left it for an hour to cook.

When I returned to check on its progress there was no delicious smell and the chicken still looked a bit anaemic. On closer examination it was completely raw! All the oven dials were set correctly, just no heat.

Now I had to buy a new oven! Or did I? There couldn’t be that much inside an oven to go wrong could there? An oven is basically a heater with a thermostat. Surely there must be someone, who could fix these sorts of things, especially in today’s eco-friendly, let’s not throw things away society. A little research and a Facebook enquiry led me to Pete and his household appliance repair business.

A quick phone call followed I described the problem. He confidently diagnosed a broken heating element. It was going to cost £40 including his callout fees and he’d be over Tuesday. As easy as that.

Tuesday came, as did Pete. Half an hour later the oven was back up and running.

Pete was very happy to chat about the white goods market. Most problems, it transpires, can be fixed quite easily, and at a fraction of the cost of replacing the appliance.

Blocked pipes, burnt-out motors, faulty sensors, and objects jamming mechanisms are all common faults. Sometimes the repair isn’t as simple, but with a bit of knowledge can still be fixed. For example he’d had a customer lose all the heat in their tumble dryer. The heating element was OK, but two capacitors on the circuit board had blown. He was able to replace those (50p each cost price plus his time!!) and his customer was back to having dry clothes again.

Pete explained that most appliances get replaced well before they need to be. It’s very easy to get into the mindset of throwing something out as soon as it stops, especially if you contact the official manufacturer repair service and hear their prices. But as long as the rest of the machine is still in good condition, a small amount spent on some new parts, fitted by a qualified engineer can give you years of extra service.

So the next time your washing machine refuses to empty the water, or your dishwasher fails to clean the crockery, don’t start browsing the web for the best deals, give your local version of ‘Pete the repair man’ a call. He’ll save you money, keep your appliance out of the landfill sites and save you the hassle of having to learn how to use a new device. He will also drink an unusually large amount of tea during a half hour visit. Thanks Pete!

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AROUND THORNEY ISLAND

BY SIMON BAKER IRONS This month’s walk is situated on the western side of Chichester Harbour and goes around the military camp that is Thorney Island. Jutting out into Chichester Harbour Thorney Island is now more of a peninsula, separated from the mainland by a narrow creek called the ‘Great Deep’, whereas 150 years it would have been more of an island, before 72 hectares of tidal mudflats were reclaimed in 1870.

Thorney Island was used as an RAF Station from 1935 until 1976 and the southern part of the island is still MOD property. Pedestrian access is allowed on the perimeter path and access is via security gates, where you will be allowed to enter after giving a few details. The coastal path is easy to navigate and must always be followed, it is clearly marked by a Curlew on the waymarker sign. It is also a good idea to check the tides, as the path on the foreshore may be subject to tidal flooding.

I parked up in the small car park at Prinsted and followed the Sussex Border Path across the fields passing Thornham Farm to Emsworth Marina. At the marina the coastal path is picked up by heading south atop the long straight high bank. After passing through the security gate the path crosses the ‘Great Deep’, which once formed part of the route of the Portsmouth Arundel canal. The path continues to follow the water’s edge and presents some fine views across the harbour towards Hayling Island. Chichester harbour has a resident colony of both Common and Grey seals and a good location to see them is near to the southwest corner of the island. A perfect place to take a break and if you look out to sea at low tide you are very likely to see some of the seals that reside in the harbour.

At the most southerly corner is Longmere Point, a bird hide situated here overlooks the RSPB Local Nature Reserve of Pilsey Sand. As a special area of conservation access is not allowed to this nature reserve, however still a great location for birdwatching where many wildfowl including brent geese, oystercatchers, lapwings, curlews, and shelduck can be seen.

From Longmere Point the route heads northwards back towards the mainland and again has some terrific views across the harbour to Cobnor, Itchenor and the South Downs beyond. As you head back the coast path passes the small village of West Thorney (no facilities or access to village allowed) which is home to the Anglican parish church of St Nicholas, the patron saint of sailors. The original building dates from around 1100 A.D. and the ancient churchyard has some gravestones dating from the 1760’s, along with commonwealth war graves and graves of the German Luftwaffe, perhaps brought ashore by an RAF launch stationed on the jetty.

The walk is completed by following the path along the eastern edge of the island back to Prinsted.

Please do visit my blog at piertopiertrekking.com

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CROSSWORD Across 7. Fakes, falsifies (8) 8. Bar joining two wheels (4) 9. Type of breakfast cereal (6) 10. Picture (5) 11. The round before the final (4) 12. Interloper, stranger (8) 14. Jam-filled bun (8) 18. Greasy film on water (4) 20. Shroud (5) 22. Build again (6) 23. Layer (4) 24. Personal views (8)

Down 1. Excite, entice (6) 2. Hoarding (8) 3. Deep violet blue (6) 4. Help (6) 5. Molten fluid rock (4)

6. Accuse, assert (6) 13. Sleeplessness (8) 15. Rare, intricate flower (6) 16. Of little breadth (6) 17. Root vegetable (6)

19. Cruel (6) 21. Diversify, change (4)

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Bersted in Focus 19

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We offer fixed fees on everything we do, giving you complete peace of mind knowing we are there whenever you need us, and you will not suddenly get a surprise bill.

We deal with a variety of legal issues and can help you with every aspect.

This week we were approached by clients who had sadly lost a member of their family. They needed probate.

Our first meeting is completely free, so we sat down and took instructions.

It was clear our clients needed to obtain the Grant to administer the Estate, but it also appeared a Deed of Variation could help protect their assets for future generations.

We therefore discussed how this could help and before we knew it our clients wanted us to get the Grant of Probate put in place, as well as their Lasting Powers of Attorney, Deed of Variation, new Wills, and the Conveyancing on the subsequent property sale.

Access to your own online portal

For ALL of this we offered a fixed fee from day one. Our clients knew they could contact us at any time, and they were happy with our online Conveyancing update system which gave them their own portal they could view at any time of the day or night, 365 days of the year.

The state-of-the-art portal showed exactly what we were doing on their behalf and what was happening next.

Our clients could not have been happier.

We pride ourselves on communication and believe keeping our clients regularly updated helps us to achieve positive feedback and outstanding results.

For all Wills, Lasting Powers of Attorneys and/or Conveyancing please give us a call to see how we can help.

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

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4 Bankside, 128 Middleton Road, Bognor Regis, W. Sussex PO22 6DB For more information or to book an appointment, please call Mark or Emma on 01243 945054 or email mark@mjrsolicitors.co.uk or emma@mjrsolicitors.co.uk or visit our website at www.mjrsolicitors.co.uk or find us on social media 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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22 Bersted in Focus

GARDEN VIEW PREPARE FOR NEXT SPRING BY RACHEL LEVERTON September is the time to plan your spring bulb purchases. The best selections always sell out quickly and it’s frustrating when the prettiest crocuses and tulips are not available.

If you’re planting bulbs for the first time, or in a new area of the garden it helps to have a colour scheme in mind. In a boy-dominated house (three sons and a husband) I like to give some areas of my garden a more girly theme. Tulips are great for this purpose (and are some of my favourite flowers). Try ‘La Belle Epoque’, which is a frothy peony-flowered tulip with pale coffee petals flushed with pink.

I would contrast the texture of its showier blooms with another more traditional tulip, Pink Diamond’ or ‘Apricot Beauty’.

If you’d prefer less ‘pretty’ and more drama try the almostblack ‘Paul Scherer’, which should flower in late April or early May and makes a good foil to the aforementioned Apricot Beauty, which flowers at the same time.

I garden on quite dry limey soil, and I’ve mentioned before my love affair with Beth Chatto’s planting schemes. Sadly, she died in 2018 but her gardens and trust continue and are well worth a visit. This year on their recommendation I’m trying Ornithogalum pyrenaicum, known poetically as the spiked star of Bethlehem, and more prosaically as Beth asparagus. It has subtle, green flowers and grows to 50-60cm tall. It pairs well with silver-leaved plants like Stachys, which grow like a weed in my garden, and best of all, once established you can harvest it like asparagus.

I like to plant up a few pots this month, for some late autumn and winter colour. I favour Rusttoned heucheras, paired with miniature grasses such as Carex buchananii; Oxblood-coloured ajuga, silver-leaved thymes and small-leaved trailing ivies make great combinations too.

I have sempervivums shoved in crevices all over my garden. They are incredibly hardy and will survive all manner of frost and poor weather. We have a lovely sheltered sunny patio with a small table and chairs which is lovely to sit out on even in the winter. A few years ago, I started planting up shallow terracotta trays and a couple of old tin bowls with differing varieties of house leek. I mix one-part horticultural grit to one part peat-free multipurpose compost for the planting mix, and make sure any container has lots of drainage. Handy tip - top dress with grit or stones if you don’t want the birds to start digging around scattering your planting mix and unearthing your plants! I learned the hard way! These little flat planting bowls make a lovely table display and also make wonderful birthday and … erm … Christmas gifts.

Happy planning.

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HOROSCOPES FOR SEPTEMBER

BY LOCAL ASTROLOGER LETICIA PARMER The key word for this month is balance as we reach the tipping point, Autumn Equinox, the moment of equal hours of day and night, which has a rich history of celebration both in the Neolithic and pre-agricultural ages. The time of Harvest Festival, when we gratefully gathered in and stored supplies for the coming winter months. It is no coincidence that the planets start to enter the sign of balance – Libra this month. So what does that mean for you?

ARIES Though you are thoroughly independent and love to ‘go it alone’, you’re really keen to partner up this September, whether for work or pleasure.

You may be surprised just how much you enjoy being attached.

LIBRA You are a pacifist, preferring harmony and peace to discord – but this September you will fight vehemently against any perceived imbalance or unfairness. Resist the temptation to take things too personally though.

TAURUS The bull likes to make his way across the field, quietly munching and going his own way.

However, this September your equilibrium may be troubled by a challenging someone who insists you revise your perspective.

SCORPIO September may be a month of quiet contemplation for you as you tune in to the changing light . A great time to reflect over the year so far and to prepare, like a squirrel, for the winter months to come.

GEMINI Balancing duty and fun is your challenge this September. You like being the one to provide the laughs and you’ll have great fun playing with the youngsters, but that can mean a lot of tidying up afterwards.

SAGITTARIUS This is a month of outreach, of socialising, friendship and gatherings. You will happily organise or join a group of like-minded folk with similar or charitable interests. The more the merrier is your September motto.

CANCER You are the intuitive nest-builders of the zodiac.

This month you’re more engrossed than usual in setting up your home exactly as you want it.

Perhaps you are tuning in to nature’s prompting to prepare for winter?

CAPRICORN This September you have an authoritative air about you. Combine your natural business acumen with your love of history and tradition by aligning your goals with the energy and meaning of this Autumn Equinox.

LEO You’ll find yourself enjoying more stimulating conversations than you’ve had for many months.

But don’t hog the limelight too much because this September there’s just as much to gain by truly listening.

AQUARIUS You are a natural humanitarian and team player and all of this is enhanced now as sports and games which include people from every culture and tradition, are the great interests for you this September.

VIRGO Virgos are naturally financially shrewd and like to meticulously balance the books. So this Autumn Equinox is the perfect moment to consider all the incomings and outgoings which balance every aspect of your life.

PISCES Always sensitive to mood, you feel the changing season quite deeply in you psyche this September. It is a good month for you to go within, to meditate and to connect profoundly with your personal spiritual support.

For a private appointment with Leticia for an in depth reading of your own astrological chart email: leticiaparmer@yahoo.com

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A PET PROMISE

BY KATE STEWART Our pets give us so much during their lives but outliving them can be a concern so a Sussex charity has launched a new initiative to put people’s minds at rest.

The self-funded charity RSPCA Sussex Chichester and District Branch has set up The Mount Noddy Pet Promise to remove the worry of who will care for your pet when you pass away.

By appointing a Pet Promise Partner in the event of your death, you can sign over ownership of your pet to Mount Noddy Animal Centre. Once you sign up you will receive a credit card sized card with key details on how they can be contacted and make people aware of your wishes.

The new scheme means that owners can enjoy their companions, secure in the knowledge that their future has been safeguarded.

Animal Centre Manager Susan Botherway said: “We have launched The Mount Noddy Pet Promise to provide peace of mind to pet owners. We know how important people’s animals are to them and our dedicated Animal Care Team at the centre love each dog and cat as if it is their own until a new home is found for each pet.”

The charity is urging people to sign up to the service free of charge and their pet will be cared for at the Mount Noddy Animal Centre, near Eartham.

Please email info@rspcamountnoddy.org.uk for an information pack and application form.

BIKE TO SCHOOL WEEK BY LOUISE ADDISON 27TH SEPTEMBER – 1ST OCTOBER Bike to School Week takes place from 27th September to 1st October 2021. It encourage families to cycle and scoot to school.

Cycling is second only to swimming as a low impact activity that offers a full-body workout.

When your child is cycling, almost all of their major muscle group gets into action. Even though riding a bike primarily depends on the muscles on the lower body, the muscles on the upper body are also engaged.

Children who cycle regularly have improved cardiovascular fitness. They have stronger bones, better joint mobility, and tend to be more flexible. Cycling also improves postural balance and co-ordination.

Being outside exposes them to more vitamin D, which is good for the immune system … just make sure they wear sunscreen if the weather is fine.

The combination of exercise and light reduces stress, depression, and anxiety, while improving brain development, mental well-being.

Most importantly, children who are active while growing up, are more likely to become active healthy adults. So, get your kids cycling to school and start a good habit that will last a (healthy) lifetime.

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28 Bersted in Focus Arun Neighbourhood Policing Team – September 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 With the summer months coming to a close we are likely to see higher numbers of vehicles being broken into and items or the vehicles themselves being stolen.

In order prevent theft from your vehicle or to prevent your vehicle being stolen, it is important that you remain vigilant and help protect your vehicle and possessions from criminals.

Lock your vehicle: Locking your vehicle, even when filling up or parked on your drive, greatly reduces the possibility of it being targeted by an opportunist thief. Even if you have locked your vehicle, check you haven’t left any windows or the sunroof open.

Keep the keys safe: Vehicles today are by and large more difficult to steal than ever unless the thief can access your key or fob to clone them. Keep your keys safe, out of view when at home, and away from your front door. It’s not uncommon for car keys to be stolen from inside your home by thieves fishing for them with a stick and hook through the letterbox.

Be aware of carjackers: The fact that you’re in the car isn’t always a deterrent to someone trying to steal it. In traffic, drive with the doors locked and when queuing, leave enough space in front of your vehicle to enable you to get out of a tight spot. If your vehicle is bumped from behind, wait to pull over – somewhere safe and preferably where there are people. After all, you don’t know the person who has collided with you; they could well be hijackers. If you’re at all suspicious, consider calling the police.

Park responsibly: It’s always advisable to avoid parking in dark and secluded areas. It’s worth an extra five or tenminute walk if it means your vehicle is left in a well-lit and busier street.

Double-check electronic locking: Electronic devices can be used to jam the electronic signal from your key fob to lock your vehicle.

Always manually check your vehicle has locked before walking away. If unsure, lock it manually, then scan the immediate area for anyone hanging around. If a potential thief who’s watching feels they’ve been spotted, they’ll probably move off.

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.

Visit the Arun Neighbourhood Watch website: arunwestnhw.org.uk and for more info email: info@arunwestnhw.org.uk

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32 Bersted in Focus

BANANA UPSIDE DOWN CAKE FOR LOVERS OF CARAMEL EVERYWHERE Preparation time: 25 minutes Cooking time: 45 minutes Ingredients For Banana Topping 120 g brown sugar 60 g butter 1.5 tbsp golden syrup 3 bananas sliced For the Cake 2 ripe bananas 2 tbsp yoghurt

90 g butter at room temperature 180 g caster sugar 1 tsp vanilla extract 2 eggs 180 g self-raising flour ½ tsp cinnamon ¼ tsp nutmeg

Method Preheat the oven to 180C. Line a 20 x 20cm square baking tin or a 23cm round tin with baking parchment.

It’s best not to use a loose-bottomed tin but if you do fold the parchment so it goes up the sides of the tin too. Otherwise, the caramel will leak out into the oven!

To make the topping, place the sugar, butter, and golden syrup into a small heavy-bottomed saucepan. Heat until all the sugar and butter have melted. Stir gently and pour into the tin, tilting the tin backwards and forwards so the layer of caramel completely covers the bottom.

Slice the bananas into pieces about 2cm thick. Place them in the caramel.

For the cake, mash the bananas with a fork then mix into the yogurt. Set aside.

Place the butter and sugar into a large mixing bowl. Whisk till pale and fluffy.

Add the vanilla extract and eggs, one at a time, whisking after each one.

Sift the flour and spices together and gradually fold into the mixing bowl. Then fold in the banana and yoghurt mixture.

Spoon the batter into the cake tin on top of the caramel and bananas.

Bake at 180C for about 45 minutes. Test with a skewer to see if it’s cooked. If necessary bake for a little longer.

When ready, remove the cake from the oven and let it stand for a couple of minutes. Then place a plate on top of the tin and turn it over to remove the cake.

Serve warm with cream, custard, or ice cream.

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A GOOD READ

BY WILLOW COBY

Love, Sex, Death and Words – John Sutherland and Stephen Fender Sometimes it can feel like the shelves of the local bookshop are planning your life out for you, with their collections of 1001 Places to Go/Films to See/Things to do Before You Die/Turn 40/Lose the Will to Live ... . Such collections vary in quality too – some are weighty coffee table tomes, beautifully illustrated, which reward random opening and selection, whereas others have a distinct sense of being ‘thrown together’ for a key shopping moment in the crowded calendar.

Well, if you have a book buff among your acquaintances, here is a collection with a difference. Sutherland and Fender have used the days of the year as their format, and each day contains a mini essay concerning a literary event from history. Some are uproariously funny anecdotes, some are well-known tales of foolishness or excessiveness which stand up well to a second/third/tenth telling, and some are serious musings on life and literature – in other words Love, Sex, Death and Words.

So, in a typical month, you might go from Peter Pan to T.S. Eliot, or from Francis Bacon to Harry Potter. The day-by-day format suggests that the authors intended this to be a book ‘dipped in to’ on any given day. However, the quality and variety is such that it can be read all at once should you so wish – I did and passed an enormously entertaining train journey rattling straight through from January to June.

Not just for avid readers, but for anyone interested in life and literature, this is an excellent bedside or holiday companion – funny, entertaining, and educational. Be warned though – one thing leads to another, and you will soon find yourself putting many of the authors who feature here on your wish list.

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BOGNOR REGIS TIDE TABLE September 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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A ROSE CALLED PEACE A MAGNIFICENT ROSE WITH A HISTORY BY JOHN KING As this rose starts to open its buds it displays a rich creamy yellow colour turning lighter as it matures, then, before it takes its farewell bow its waving petals turn to a pure white fringed with pink, a bedazzling sight as it seemingly fluoresces in the glow of the midday sun.

It started life in France during the mid-1930s, created by rose breeder Francis Meilland and referred to as 3-35-40.

1940, with the invasion of France

by Hitler’s Nazi war machine being inevitable, so for safety, Francis Meilland sent plants of this rose to friends in Italy, Turkey and Germany, he also managed to get plants on the last flight out of France to grower friends in the United States of America before the invasion began.

When the war ended ‘VE day’ in 1945 Frances Meilland asked Field Marshal Alan Brooke if he would consider giving his name to the rose, he modestly declined, saying that he had merely been a cog in the war machine and in his opinion a more appropriate name would be ‘Peace’.

CELEBRATING 65 YEARS OF FLOWER ARRANGING WHY NOT COME AND JOIN US!

FELPHAM FLOWER CLUB ONCE UPON A TIME ….

A FLORAL DEMONSTRATION

BY MICHELLE KING

THURSDAY 23 SEPTEMBER 2021 DOORS OPEN 1.30 FOR 2pm

FELPHAM MEMORIAL VILLAGE HALL 17-19 VICARAGE LANE, FELPHAM, PO22 7DZ

RAFFLE

SALES TABLE

REFRESHMENTS

VISITORS WELCOME (£4) ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION £30 FURTHER INFO: SANDRA DEAN TEL 01243 542684 WEBSITE: www.nafas.org.uk (Follow links to Sussex area)

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38 Bersted in Focus

CAN YOU HELP? A VOLUNTARY OPPORTUNITY AT FORD OPEN PRISON BY KEN PORTER The Independent Monitoring Board at HMP Ford plays a crucial role in the independent oversight of the life at HMP Ford and we are looking for new and diverse members to join us from the local community. We currently have people who have worked in probation, healthcare and in the private sector on the board, so all are welcome!

Members of the IMB at HMP Ford are appointed by the Secretary of State for Justice and have unrestricted access to the prison, monitoring that prisoners are treated in a fair and humane manner.

The enthusiastic monitoring board is comprised entirely volunteers from all walks of life who live within 35 miles of the prison. The work is interesting and varied and the members visit the prison around 2-4 times a month. Applicants must be over eighteen, non-judgemental, interested in people and the criminal justice system.

Ford is an open prison situated just south of Arundel, spread over 110 acres, housing men in the last three years of their sentence. The emphasis is on preparing them for release and giving them skills to help them rebuild their lives and reduce their chances of reoffending. Chichester College has recently opened a School of Construction on site where the men are encouraged to learn basic maths, literary and computer skills.

Board members are able to go anywhere in the prison, and to speak to any prisoner or any prison officer. They produce an annual report for the Minister of Justice. The latest one can be found at https://www.imb.org.uk/reports/2020-annual-reports/ Full training will be given and travelling expenses paid. To find out more visit www.imb.org.uk.

CROSSWORD SOLUTION

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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.

24 - 26 Queensway, Bognor Regis Po21 1QT To contact BERSTED IN FOCUS please email: office@infocusmagazines.co.uk