Bersted In Focus

BERSTED IN FOCUS

The Independent Local Directory of Businesses NORTH AND SOUTH BERSTED Delivered FREE to over 5,700 homes April 2022

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Bersted in Focus

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Bersted in Focus

WELCOME

Hello Everyone!

As this magazine goes to press the devastating war in Ukraine continues. The sunflower is the national flower of Ukraine, and has become a worldwide symbol of solidarity for the country and one of resistance for its people.

Like so many others, I have felt very helpless and unable to influence this terrible crisis, but I hope that by sharing sunflowers on the In Focus front covers this month, I can show our support for the Ukraine and its people.

Let’s hope that April brings peace.

If you know anyone who would like a copy of Bersted in Focus, it is available to collect from Durlston Drive Post Office, 4 Durlston Parade, Bognor Regis, PO22 9DJ. Happy Easter and best wishes, Kate

FELPHAM

BERSTED

IN FOCUS

IN FOCUS

The Independent Local Directory of Businesses FELPHAM

The Independent Local Directory of Businesses NORTH AND SOUTH BERSTED

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The Independent Local Directory of Businesses MIDDLETON, ELMER , YAPTON AND BARNHAM

Delivered FREE to over 5,700 homes

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April 2022

April 2022

April 2022

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Bersted in Focus

THE EVACUEES BY KATE STEWART

Last month’s article about Irene Boud’s experience (pictured right) as an evacuee prompted some lovely messages to the magazine and here is one I would like to share with you.

Bersted-based for the last 24 years, former postman and police officer, Charlie Horner is nearing his 87th birthday and he was evacuated. He says: “I too was evacuated in 1943 when we lived in Camberwell, South East London. As a five year-old in 1940, I sat with my mother in our Anderson shelter every night for the 57 nights that the German’s bombed London.

“In 1943 Mum decided that enough was enough so she took advantage of the evacuation process and off I went to Wigan.

About a year ago after watching a documentary about the bombing and the pictures of children armed with gas masks heading off to God knows where I wrote this poem. Due to the present conditions in the Ukraine and being reminded so much of the children being sent away, it brought a lump to my throat. I Charlie Horner at home. hope you will not mind that I have sent it to you.”

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Felpham in Focus

THErE wAS NO TELEv ISION, NO rAdIO, NO bOArd gAMES bUT I AbSOLUTELy LOvEd IT …

Felpham resident, IrENE

bOUd Here, she shares her incredible (née Adams), 90, was evacuated at the start of world war II. and detailed memories of that experience, and how much she enjoyed the adventure of moving from a dundee city flat to a farm in the Scottish countryside.

“I was eight years old and my brother, douglas, was 10 when we were evacuated from Mitchell Street School, dundee to Portlethen, Kincardineshire, on the 1st of September 1939. we were billeted with two middle aged ladies, Ann and Madge douglas, who had a small farm called Mill of Kingcausie, although the mill was no longer in existence.

“Ann douglas, the elder sister, was bent over with arthritis but every morning she went to the byre to milk the cow, so we had warm milk on our porridge (I eventually learnt to do the milking!)

They bred a few heifers (young cows) for market and there lots of hens. we would collect were the eggs from the henhouse but when the hens went each day, ‘broody’ we had to search all over the farm to find where they had laid them. There were two or three cats but they were not allowed in the house, they lived in the barns as their job was to keep the rats out.

“The farmhouse had no gas, no electricity and no running water so there was no inside toilet.

To use that facility, you went the back garden and halfway round to up was a small hut with douglas and Irene boud a bench-like structure. There was a hold in the middle and underneath was a bucket.

“All meals were cooked over the open fire, in a big pot which hung on a hook and were pushed back over the fire. we never had any bread rods which but ate oatcakes which were and cooked on a griddle over the fire. homemade “There was a scullery at the back of the kitchen with a sink and a hand pump to get water.

On the shelves were large bowls. Milk from the cow was poured into them, then later this was put in a churn, and we kept turning the handle until it ‘turned’ into butter.

“A big incubator was kept in the kitchen. There was a shelf which came halfway across it and when fertilised eggs were put in you would hear the chicks breaking their shells. They would come towards the light then drop down from the shelf to dry off and become fluffy.

“In the autumn, when the wheat was ripe, a giant Harvester would come into the area and go round all the farms, cutting the corn and turning the grain into flour.

“The winter of 1939 was a very cold one. we did not have furlined boots but we wore wellies and when we had to go outside to pull up the turnips (what the English call swedes) our feet felt freezing cold.

“Opposite the Mill of Kingcausie Irene boud in Felpham was a blacksmith’s forge the local farmers would where bring their horses to be shod.

Horses were used for ploughing farm work. and other

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THE EVACUEES

In Nineteen hundred and Forty three, London was being trashed, By the Machinations of a mustachioed clown, who continued his quest unabashed, After one more night of death from the skies, it was decided that children should leave, To live safer lives in villages and towns, leaving thousands of parents to grieve, At the age of seven, I was one of those kids, uprooted from family and friends, Then put on a train with gas mask in hand, not knowing where that journey ends, Did I cry? I don’t know but I know I missed Mum, as I picked at a sandwich she’d made, The train rattled on through land green and calm but remember I wished I had stayed, Saw my first herd of cows but after a while, all I wanted to do was to sleep, The carriage was quiet as the train rocked along but then someone started to weep, An older boy took him into his arms, apparently it seemed they were brothers, That started the rest of us off you see, as we pined for our Fathers and Mothers.

Then at last we arrived, tear stained faces galore, stood in a row, young victims of War One by one, sobbing children were all led away, I will never forget that to my dying day After weeks of homesickness and tears every night, Mum was informed of her son’s tearful plight, The journey I took was repeated by Mum whose sole aim in life was to again hold her son, Back in London at last, down the shelter each night, hear the crashing of houses, not once feeling fright, How my mum ever managed while Dad was away, she made me the person that I am today It’s too late I know for shouting it loud, Mum, I want you to know that I am so proud ...

Thank you Charlie for sharing your moving poem with us and for agreeing to be our In Focus poet – we can’t wait to read more.

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Bersted in Focus

LOCAL HISTORY BY SYLVIA ENDACOTT As new estates grow in the area, in the 1930’s a new estate was developed in the area as Newton Town Estate in North Bersted.

The estate was to comprise Central Ave., South Way, Central Drive, Newton Ave. and Greencourt Drive. The original Estate Office is the Fish Bar with the sign of “Royal Parade 1932”. The builders, Neal’s, produced a booklet with detailed information on the area.

The Bognor Regis population was then 13,500. The foreword reports that, “a township has sprung up consisting of houses of which the most fastidious might well be proud, a town which has its own shopping centre.” The booklet stated it will promote “happy days spent lounging in the sunshine or bathing in the clean sparkling surf ”.

Comparing builds, today planners fit a large number of homes into what seems to be a small piece of land. In the 1930’s Neal thought ‘an average of 10 homes to the acre’ would be constructed, each house with a gate into the back garden which was to ‘enable tradesmen and others to reach the back door, without having to go through the front gate.’

Price of course is important, they ranged from £540 to the expensive £675 house. Deposits were £25 with repayments of 15s 6d. per week. (Approx. 75p)? If you paid cash, then a 10% was required and the balance was to be paid on completion of the property. Such different times and styles of selling houses on new estates.

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Bersted in Focus

A HIDDEN HAVEN FOR WILDLIFE BY MEERABAI KINGS

Andy Hay (rspb-images.com).

Ben Andrew (rspb-images.com)

Nestled between Selsey and Bracklesham is a wild and wonderful habitat with soaring birds, panoramic views of the rolling South Downs and, on a clear day, a view the Isle of Wight.

This is RSPB Medmerry, but it hasn’t always been such a haven for West Sussex wildlife. In the past, this land had been used for farming and even, in the Second World War, as a bombing range for practising pilots.

That was until ten years ago when the RSPB and the Environment Agency (with the help of an array of contractors) set out to rearrange this stretch of West Sussex Coast.

Thousands of tonnes of mud were scooped out and used to make embankments, giving a real contrast between the low lying and higher ground across the land. The shingle, sea wall was breached and the sea Cuckoo. flooded in, reclaiming the lower ground, creating intertidal habitat as it did. A new, 7km (or 4 mile) long sea wall was built either side of the breach.

The rearrangement was a huge success, with important infrastructure such as the Selsey main road and the water treatment works no longer at risk from floods. The local community were involved in the scheme, too, even helping with decisions on footpaths and viewpoints throughout the reserve.

And, of course, the wildlife at Medmerry has flourished into a diverse and healthy ecosystem. In the springtime, you will hear skylarks singing all around you, belting out their songs as they balance in the air, furiously beating their wings. Another sound to listen out for as spring arrives is the iconic call of the cuckoo, returning from Africa to lay their eggs in the nests of unsuspecting dunnocks.

As you walk towards the Medmerry beach, take a moment to look Yellowhammer. in the fields and hedges that flank the footpaths. You might see a golden flash as a yellowhammer perches on the willow, or the bold, apricot breast of a male stone chat on the wire fence.

If you want to see the wealthy wildlife at Medmerry for yourself, join us for one of our guided walks through the reserve. For more information on our guided walks and to book tickets, please visit events: rspb.org.uk/paghamharbour.

RSPB EVENTS FOR APRIL 2022 Zoom Meeting, Thursday 14 April Keith Offord, Wildlife Photographer – ‘Sky Dancers – The Hen Harrier’ 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 April Illustrated Talk by Conor Jameson, Feature Writer, Author and Conservationist on ‘The Goshawk’, to the Chichester Local RSPB Group at The Pallant Suite, Masonic Hall, South Pallant, Chichester, PO19 1SY at 7.30 pm. Entrance members £2-50/visitors £5. Tel: 07545 376074. Wheelchair access.

The group also arrange bird watching walks throughout the year. For further information please visit their website: rspb.org.uk/groups/Chichester Maria Wildman, 12 Harbour View Road, Pagham PO21 4RG Tel: 01243 262833 Email: wildthings2@waitrose.com

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Bersted in Focus

MOLE, TOAD AND THE TITANIC BY KIM LESLIE How on earth could Mole and Toad lead to traces of the Titanic – and in West Sussex? My search for traces of artist E.H. Shepard for his blue plaque at Lodsworth, led to his nearby grave. There, exquisitely carved on his hillside headstone is his artist’s palette entwined within the branches of a riverside willow tree, Toad peacefully asleep in his boat, Mole busy fishing, a perfect scene from Shepard’s classic illustrations for the immortal Wind in the Willows. Search completed, there was time to look around the graveyard and there it was, a world away from the comedy of Toad and his friends, a little window into the horrors of that April day one hundred and ten years ago.

Easter had just been celebrated in the fullness of early Spring with all its hope of new life and new beginnings. Yet within days the world was in mourning, families and communities devastated by the news, no more so than in Arundel, Lodsworth and Horsham, united in grief by this great maritime tragedy.

Crashing and creaking its way southwards from Greenland, the fateful iceberg was unstoppable; the world’s largest liner on its maiden voyage, equally unstoppable in its dash to New York. When these two great forces collided in the early hours of 15 April 1912 the up-ended Titanic heaved and jolted into its watery grave with the loss of over fifteen hundred passengers and crew, more than half the number on board. Three of this number have their sad memorials in West Sussex.

Our most local link is in Arundel Cathedral in memory of Cuthbert Bernard Taylor ‘who perished in the wreck of the Titanic’. He was a crew member, a steward, from Bond Street in the town. His shiny brass plate, entreating us to pray for his soul, tells that he was just 22, ending with a word picture in itself, its Latin phrase meaning ‘From the depths I have cried’, just one of many without a lifeboat, shrieking for help in the darkness as they froze to death in the sub-zero waters.

Lodsworth’s memorial is to William Morley ‘who lost his life in the Titanic disaster’, his name lettered underneath those of his parents. A carpenter, aged 34, from Lodsbridge Mill, where his father was a corn miller, he was emigrating to seek his fortune in America. As a third-class passenger William paid £8 for his one-way ticket. His end is tersely recorded in the register of deceased passengers: ‘Supposed drowned’.

Our third West Sussex Titanic victim was of another steward, John James Charman, aged 25, whose name has been added to those of his parents in Horsham’s Denne Road Cemetery.

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Bersted in Focus

HAVE YOURSELF AN EGG-CELLENT EASTER!

BY JAMES STEWART

The countdown to Easter is officially ON and the shops are crammed with an incredible range of Easter eggs to tempt you.

The choice can be overwhelming from budget-friendly buys to decadent, huge, expensive eggs.

Eggs made from blond, milk and dark chocolate plus plant-based ones too. Our Easter taste test panel (Emily Stewart, age 13) is a big fan of chocolate, any chocolate!

Without too much fuss, and with the good readers of In Focus magazines in mind, our young teen spent one of the greatest mornings of her life, testing some of our favourite Easter treats and these are the eggs that impressed her most.

Thorntons Milk Chocolate Unicorn Easter Egg (6/10) Lovely presentation, with a white chocolate unicorn on the front which I am sure the younger readers will love. Lovely, milky chocolate and not too rich.

Galaxy Enchanted Eggs (8/10) I love the basket it comes in and the pack of mini-eggs is a bonus. It’s a small egg but it leaves a luxurious taste in my mouth!

Celebrations Hollow Milk Chocolate Egg (9/10) This large egg tastes smooth and silky with nutty undertones and it’s fun to have an assortment Celebrations chocolates inside!

Possible alternatives to full-sized eggs are Malteser mini-bunnies (9/10) – perfect for Malteser lovers and cute bunny shaped chocolates and just the right size for popping in your mouth! Terry’s Chocolate Orange mini-eggs (10/10) – a nice crispy shell with classic orange notes and Cadbury Creme Egg (7/10) – small and delicious, the filling is gooey and sweet. It’s like biting into heaven!

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Bersted in Focus FELPHAM FLOWER CLUB OPEN MEETING 65th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

A GENTLE PLEA FOR CHAOS A FLORAL DEMONSTRATION

BY NICK GROUNDS SATURDAY 14 MAY 2022 DOORS OPEN 1.30 FOR 2PM

THE WINDMILL THEATRE, LITTLEHAMPTON BN17 5LH TICKETS £12 PLEASE APPLY, ENCLOSING S.A.E TO: MRS R BALL, 6 BROOMCROFT ROAD, BOGNOR REGIS, WEST SUSSEX, PO22 7NJ

Cheques payable to Felpham Flower Club Enquiries: rhondamball@yahoo.co.uk

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Bersted in Focus

What is a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA)?

by Mark Riley, Founder & Managing Partner, MJR Solicitors I get asked this a lot. “I don’t want to lose control, I want to decide…” is how the conversation goes.

A Lasting Power of Attorney is a legal document that lets you (the ‘donor’) appoint one or more people (known as ‘attorneys’) to help you make decisions or make decisions on your behalf. So far so good, you are appointing people to look after you. But wait, does that mean they take control? Well, yes and no. They only take over control if you can no longer make the decisions yourself. i.e you lack capacity.

There are 3 main types of LPA: ‘Property & Financial Affairs’ gives an attorney the power to make decisions about money and property for you, eg, managing bank or building society accounts, paying bills, collecting benefits or a pension, selling your home. It can be used as soon as it’s registered, with your permission.

The attorneys can help make any of the above decisions.

‘Health & Welfare’ gives an attorney the power to make decisions about things like your daily routine, washing, dressing, eating, medical care, care homes or life-sustaining treatment. It can only be used when you’re unable to make your own decisions.

• You have an accident • You have a medical condition that incapacitates you Who will sort ALL of your business requirements?

You can’t assume people will be able to step in, you need to make sure they are legally entitled.

It’s important to prepare your LPA while you are fit, healthy and capable, so don’t delay.

Remember, you are in total control; under the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 your attorneys must follow rules to ensure the Donor can make their own decisions unless it is established that you cannot, by a Doctor and those around you. So unless you lack mental capacity, you will always be in control of what happens to you.

Your attorney first and foremost, must be someone you completely trust, such as a relative, friend, professional or your partner.

You can appoint more than one, and can appoint replacements if at some point they can’t act on your behalf. It’s very important to have an LPA prepared whilst you are fully fit, healthy and capable of making one; so contact us today to make an appointment on 01243 945054 or email info@mjrsolicitors.co.uk.

‘Business Owners’ Do I need one? If you own or are part of a business, then the likely answer is Yes! What would happen to your business if you were unable to make decisions such as when: • You are on holiday and get stuck abroad

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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We will match any quote from any Solicitor within a 10 mile radius.

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Wills & Probate Lasting Power of Attorney Estate Administration Inheritance Tax Planning Crime & Regulatory Call our friendly and helpful team on 01243 945054

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 www.mjrsolicitors.co.uk MJR Solicitors is a Limited Company Authorised and Regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority Number 637131. Our Professional Rules may be found at SRA.org.uk

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Bersted in Focus

ARTS AND CRAFTS IN BERSTED Four Seasons Craft and Gift Events was started by Michele Redford and Steve Hearn to provide a way for local artisans to showcase their quality, unique and handmade creations in a friendly supportive environment. Being crafters themselves and having attended and organised events in the past Steve and Michele feel it is important and understand the need to keep outlay low and footfall high and this will be their aim with resulting happy crafters and customers.

The first event on 9th April is at Jubilee Hall, Chalcraft Lane, PO21 5TU. Michele says: we are fully booked with stalls including semiprecious jewellery, resin items which are wonderfully colourful. There will be two stalls selling decoupaged slipper baths, coasters, slate hearts and lots more to choose from. Decorated battery candles will be inside with a pyrography on display in a gazebo in the garden. Handmade bath bombs and soap are on offer, together with pottery items like fairy doors and plaques. One lady will be selling her beautiful fabric purses, small bags and covered notebooks. We have a couple who are bringing their plants in bowls that would make an unusual and stunning present. Gifted crafters will be displaying their embroidery and cross stitch together with a lady and her miniatures. Hand painted cards will also be on sale. All stallholders will be happy to explain their craft and maybe even exhibit on the day.

To keep up to date please join our Facebook page where you can find details and pictures of crafters joining us in April and at upcoming events. If you would like further information please email: fourseasonscraftevents@yahoo.com

CRAFT & GIFT EVENT SAT 9 APRIL

10am-3pm - Bersted Jubilee Hall, Chalcraft Lane, North Bersted PO21 5TU

CONTACT US AT: fourseasonscraftevents@yahoo.com

07799 671814 or 07976 118051

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Bersted in Focus

SOLID FOUNDATIONS

DOES UNDERWEAR MATTER?

BY LOCAL FASHION GURU VICKY BOOKER Foundations are everything – you wouldn’t build a new house without first setting in a solid base – who wants wonky walls?! Thinking of your bra in the same way helps us understand why this often-emotive item of clothing is so important in our wardrobes.

When you have a great bra, it changes the way your clothes fit and hang. If you have a short body and a fuller bust, you lose space around your torso – a good bra lifts and shapes and can give you a waist you may not realise you had! If you have a small bust, a bra can give you fullness and emphasis. Our busts are different shapes, as well as sizes, and this too makes a difference as to the best bra style to suit us.

Fit is everything. With many different elements it can be hard to know when you’re getting it right. And that’s where a professional fitting comes into its own. I highly recommend Smitten Lingerie to Love in Chichester for a bra fitting. According to Rachel Blackburn, who owns Smitten, over 80% of women are wearing the wrong sized bra. Rachel says: “A good fit creates good posture and good blood circulation, a nice shape and support where your bust needs it most”. And there can be other health issues if the fit isn’t great, Rachel told me. “Wearing a badly fitted bra can cause headaches and neck pain and can actually cause muscle strain as the weight of your bust is pulled downward,” she adds.

For those who are post-surgery and have had breasts removed or reconstructed, there is another great local specialist – Nicola Jane also in Chichester, who’s mission is: ‘to see beauty in every body’.

Melissa Muvuti, the company’s Director of Sales & Customer Experience, says: “We know that comfort, shape and support are of the utmost importance to our customers after breast surgery. As well as being developed with these three factors in mind, our bras are designed to cover scars, hide indentations, and avoid discomfort.”

Smitten recommend a first bra for young women around the age of 11 to 14 but, please note, having a bra fitting isn’t a once in a lifetime activity! Just a slight change in our bodies – whether we’ve put on a little weight, or lost it, or changed shape after giving birth, or perhaps the good old menopause, can all mean our bra size is also likely to have changed.

It’s worth having an update every year or so, and again when you notice any changes. Feeling a bit Hannah pictured here is wearing the Liberty embarrassed about the whole thing? Don’t worry, the Support Bra by Nicola Jane. She is the company’s highly trained teams at independents like Smitten 2022 model who has undergone three rounds of and Nicola Jane make it a positive experience. So breast surgery due to breast cancer. She now wears a breast form due to a mastectomy. please don’t put it off.

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Bersted in Focus

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I’d encourage you to buy the best bra you can afford. Cheaper options don’t have the number of elements that a more quality bra has. You don’t need to spend a fortune, but you do get what you pay for here, and as you’re wearing it every day, the cost-per-wear formula works out!

And finally, if you’ve invested in a decent bra, it’s worth looking after it. Many recommend hand washing, but in the real world, if you’re anything like me and never get round to this, then putting your bras in a lingerie bag and washing them on the delicate or handwash setting of your machine is best. And always wash darks and lights separately to avoid the greying bra!

AND FOR THE MEN …

How much thought do you put into your pants?! Your underwear is there to act as a protective barrier from your outer clothes, soak up sweat (sorry!) and provide support. As with a woman’s bra they are the foundation for your outfit. So, what are the key things to look out for when choosing your undies: Fabric – choosing breathable designs is probably top of the priority list – especially in summer. Pure cotton is an obvious choice, those with a little bit of stretch (elastane or lycra) hold their shape. Other options are modal (or Lenzig or Micromodal), which is made from beech tree and has a super comfy feel.

Fit – things to avoid are waistbands that dig in (maybe go up a size or try a style with a longer rise) and legs that roll up as you move about – a longer leg length and more fitted style could work well. Also consider the amount of support for the obvious areas!

Colour – apart from personality choices here, the colour can be important depending on what you’re wearing on top. Black briefs worn under lightweight white linen is not necessarily a good look!

If you want to treat yourself and support local, I recommend checking out Randies, a Witterings-based business, who put a lot of thought into their designs and who “are on a mission to make the best men’s underwear in the world”!

Marketing Manager, Rosie Broad, said: “Comfort and support are at the forefront of the designs, which feature a non-roll down waistband and a horizontal fly for ease of access.” This may seem controversial, but they promise that “once you’ve tried it, you won’t ever go back!” They also come in two lengths – a longer boxer brief (pictured above left), and a shorter Trunk style.

USEFUL LINKS Smitten Lingerie to Love – smittenl2l.co.uk Nicola Jane – nicolajane.com Randies – Randies.com For advice and guidance to dress with confidence, I’d love to help, so do get in touch! www.vickybooker.com email at Vicky@vickybooker.com

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Bersted in Focus

A FAMILY WALK ALONG CHICHESTER SHIP CANAL BY SIMON BAKER IRONS A fantastic walk that has plenty of things to do for all the family this spring is along the Chichester Ship Canal which once formed part of ‘London’s Lost Route to The Sea’ and provided a vital link into the city of Chichester. In an area of outstanding natural beauty, the canal has some great walking along it’s towpath that stretches for 4 miles from the canal basin in Chichester to the marina near Birdham. A walk along the towpath is gentle and can be started at either end or in the middle at Hunston.

The basin in Chichester seems to be the hub for activities where many people are taking to the water in their canoes or paddleboards, rowing boats can be hired here and boat trips can be taken on either of the two canal boats, Kingfisher and Richmond, which will take you along two miles of the canal to Donnington and back. The basin also has the new heritage centre opened in 2019, sited in a C19th stable block that was built at the same time as the canal. Here you can learn more about the history of the canal from its start to the modern day.

The Canal Café overlooks the basin and a great place to have a coffee and piece of cake before setting out along the towpath.

On leaving the basin and heading south, the canal passes through a mixture of open farmland and as you walk further away from Chichester the tranquillity of this watercourse can be fully appreciated. From the basin, the walk is accessible to all, has many benches to sit on to soak up the natural beauty and observe the abundance of wildlife that makes the canal its home. Along the canal are many information boards helping you learn more, with many remains of historic features such as the fully operational Poyntz Bridge. At Hunston Bridge you can look back along the canal and admire the view with the South Downs and Cathedral in the background which is the very view that was painted by J.M.W. Turner in 1828. If you walk the full length of the ship canal to the marina, then you’ll see the lock where it joins the harbour and maybe grab some more refreshments to refuel for the way back. Regular buses pass the marina on the Birdham Road should you only want to walk one way.

This month’s walking feature fits in perfectly with the history of the canal as this April marks the 200th anniversary of The Chichester Ship Canal. On Saturday 9th April exactly 200 years after its formal opening in 1822 the trust have organised a free celebration with many activities and displays at the Basin in Chichester, which is the start of a season of many events.

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Bersted in Focus

F R E S H LY P R E P A R E D HOME COOKED FOOD LOCAL PRODUCE G R E AT W I N E S & R E A L A L E S BEER GARDEN LARGE CAR PARK Waterloo Road | Felpham | Bognor Regis | PO22 7EH

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Bersted in Focus

CROSSWORD

Across 1. Injured by extreme cold (11) 9. Sprite, little demon (3) 10. Decorate with fine needlework (9) 11. Where the monarch sits in the theatre (5,3) 12. Words of a book (4) 14. Mention, point out (6) 16. Mythical aquatic Scottish creature! (6) 18. Timber post on a sailing ship (4) 19. Stomach medicine, Milk of ________ (8) 22. Pledge, promise (9) 23. Age, generation (3) 24. Heavy duty power tool for masonry (6,5)

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

Down 7. Reflection (6, 5) 20. Take illegally (5) Settle a debt (5) 8. Squander, waste (7, 4) 21. Tropical tree (4) Baby plant (8) Ground-dwelling monkey with a red bottom! (6) 13. Dasher, Dancer and Rudolph (8) 15. Eyelash-enhancing make-up (7) Jog, lope (4) 17. Incident, affair (6) Monotonous, perpetual (7)

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Bersted in Focus

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APRIL

Tea & Coffee Club Friday April 22nd - Hoy Bingo Come and Join us 10am-12pm

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

Mondays: Pilates -Christina 8.45 -10.15am Pilates-Jane 12 - 1pm Arun A Cappella 7 - 10pm Tuesdays: Mother & Toddler Group 0-11.30am Tai Chi (term time only) 12.30 -1.30pm U3A History Group—26th 2—4pm Council Committee Meetings 7pm Wednesdays: Aerobics - Jane 10-11am Pilates—Jane 11-12pm Carpet Bowls 2-3.30pm Yoga—Kerry 7.15 - 8.15pm Thursdays: Pilates—Christina 9—9.45am Yoga 12.30—2pm NBWI 12th 2.15-5pm Boogie Bounce Fitness 6—7pm Friday Happy Heart Toddler Group 9.30-11.30am Carpet Bowls 2 -3.30pm Saturdays: Bognor Regis Art Society 2 - 5pm Sundays: Open Heart Church Group 10—2pm Table top sale 3rd (monthly) – 3—5pm

GRANT APPLICATIONS 2022 Applications for discretionary grants are available for voluntary and charitable organisations local to Bersted Parish.

Please write or email the Clerk, Mrs Debbie Holcombe, requesting an application form and Grant Procedure Policy to: Clerk to Bersted Parish Council, Bersted Jubilee Hall, Chalcraft Lane, North Bersted Bognor Regis PO21 5TU .

Email: clerk@bersted-pc.gov.uk or download from our website www.bersted-pc.gov.uk Applications to be received by 18 April 2022

ONLINE SAFETY—Tips from Sussex Police What is phishing?

Phishing is when online attackers attempt to trick users into doing 'the wrong thing', such as clicking a bad link that will download malware or direct them to an unsafe website.

Phishing can be conducted via a text message, social media, or by phone, but the term 'phishing' is mainly used to describe attacks that arrive by email. Phishing emails can reach millions of users directly and hide amongst the huge number of benign emails that busy users receive.

Attacks can install malware (such as ransomware), sabotage systems, or steal intellectual property an contact alisonbarnham@yahoo.com or call money.

07795162521 for details What do you need to do?

Please ensure that any email you receive is checked for its legitimacy; look for the following: Phishing messages can be difficult to spot but if you think Bersted Parish Council public meetings you have received one then mark it as junk and delete it start at 7pm on a Tuesday. and do not follow links unless you are 100% sure they are genuine.

• Is the email addressed to a generic recipient e.g.

April Meetings: dear valued customer.

Planning 4th April • Does the email ask you to click on a link?

Full Council 11th April • Is there a sense of urgency to respond?

Finance 26th April • Are there spelling mistakes?

• Does the wording used make sense?

• Is the sender address the same as the display name?

You can report Phishing emails to: report@phishing.gov.uk You can report phishing texts to phone providers by forwarding to this number: 7726 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

CELEBRATING 21 YEARS OF OPEN DOORS! THE 2022 CHICHESTER OPEN STUDIOS ART TRAIL sees 159 artists exhibiting a wide range of work across 132 venues in and around the city of Chichester during the first two weekends in May. Chichester Open Studios Art Trail is now a traditional and very popular event attracting a devoted art-loving audience. Our widespread artists are divided into Peninsula, Regis, City, Downs and Harbour Trails. Explore one Trail at a time, or hop around the Venues as you choose. This is the opportunity to enjoy the art and hospitality of our talented local artists for five days.

Venues are open from 10.30am – 5pm each day.

Saturday, Sunday & Bank Holiday Monday, April 30th, May 1st & 2nd Saturday, Sunday, May 7th & 8th What is the Art Trail?

For the visitor, the Art Trail gives the annual occasion to plan days out visiting venues and talking with local artists. It is the chance to see all kinds of art in the making, and to view and purchase original works of art.

For the artist the Art Trail is a well-established framework of organisation and publicity that supports those who live and work in and around Chichester. It is an unparalleled opportunity to present artwork to an enthusiastic and purchasing public.

What is an Open Studio?

Chichester’s Open Studios Trail is an experience in itself. It offers the exciting invitation to see an artist’s work in the context of its creation. With work as varied and individual as each artist who makes it, there is something to suit every taste. There may be demonstrations, a chance to have a go or information about events or courses. “The different styles and media are so interesting.

The friendliness of the artists and the time they gave their visitors is lovely; their enthusiasm and skills amazing!”

Planning your own Trail The Trail Guide, with its maps showing venue locations and a profile of each artist, helps visitors to plan their route. Guides are available from the Oxmarket, the Novium, Chichester Library and other central locations, from early April onwards in addition to the website trail guide.

Visit www.chichesterarttrail.org to do some research! Every artist has a web page with further examples of work and an insight into their background and inspiration.

We hope you will plan your own inspiring days out, and look forward to meeting you on the 2022 Trail. Everyone is welcome! Entry to all venues is free.

chicheSter Open StudiOS

2022

Sat 30th April – Mon 2nd May Sat 7th & Sun 8th May 15 Art 9 iStS Open 10.30am – 5pm 13 ven 2 ueS

#chichesterarttrail

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Bersted in Focus

A GOOD READ

BY TASH DONOVAN Black and British: An Illustrated History, by David Olusoga David Olusoga is a British-Nigerian historian. His book Black and British, A Short Essential History is an excellent introduction to how Black culture has both enriched and forms an integral part of British culture. While not aimed at children it’s accessible enough for fluent readers, and personally I feel it should be a core text for the National Curriculum.

This book though is an illustrated and abridged version aimed specifically at children aged 8-11.

Like the adult text, it charts the often-overlooked histories of Black people in Britain from Roman times (yes there were Roman Africans!) right through to the present day, encompassing the black soldiers who fought for Britain in World War 1 and Windrush, which has once again been in the news.

The full colour illustrations are beautiful and include maps and portraits. This is an informative book for all children (and their parents), no matter what their heritage might be.

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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Bersted in Focus

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Bersted in Focus

GARDEN VIEW BEE NICE TO BEES BY RACHEL LEVERTON Albert Einstein supposedly declared that: “If the bee disappeared off the surface of the globe then man would only have four years of life left.” There is much debate over whether the great man actually did make such an assertion as he was a physicist after all, not an entomologist, but whether he did or not, it’s a scary thought.

There’s no doubt about it, honey bees and bumble bees are of enormous agricultural importance. It is estimated that more than a third of the world’s crop production relies on these bees. Without them we’re in trouble and they are in decline. Pesticides, loss of habitat and disease are all thought to be playing a part.

Bees are fascinating and beautiful creatures and as gardeners we can play our part in their continued survival. It’s simple: bees need flowers for sustenance, flowers need bees for survival and gardeners need flowers to garden!

First it’s important to think ahead and provide flowers for bees throughout their lifecycle, which runs from March to September. Here are some suggestions.

• Spring – Bluebells, bugle, flowering cherry, forget-me-not (Myosotis), hellebore and rosemary are all good spring plants.

• Summer – Aquilegia, sweet peas, fennel, foxgloves, potentilla, roses, stachys, teasel, thyme and verbascum • Late summer / early autumn – Aster, buddleia, dahlia, eryngium, fuchsia, heather, lavender and sedum.

Second, unfortunately not all flowers are created equal. Frilly double flowers, for example, are too elaborate. They have so many petals that the bees struggle to get to the nectar and pollen. This is the reason that single dahlias attract lots of bees, whilst double varieties are generally ignored.

Single flowered rose varieties are also good, such as the rambler Seagull, with its flat open white blooms, large yellow stamens and heady scent. Any similar rambler grown over a fence or wall will do. Some, like the pale pink Little Rambler, will even repeat flower. Ramblers are terrific roses.

They are vigorous, disease resistant and great for covering bare fences, unsightly sheds and walls. Best of all they need next to no pruning!

The main thing is to keep it simple: a few flowers for each part of the bee life cycle and no overly fancy varieties. I’m not saying that you shouldn’t grow double flowered dahlias if that’s what floats your boat, it’s just that Mr Bee would appreciate a few single flowered varieties thrown into the mix. Let’s make this the year we all be nice to bees: our future may depend on it!

Happy Gardening.

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Bersted in Focus

TIME TO BREATHE NEW LIFE INTO YOUR KITCHEN Book your appointment now

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Bersted in Focus

ROTARY CLUB Over the last few months, we have been running a series of CPR and defibrillator sessions with the help of our local Community First Responders. This group is made up of ambulance trained staff who could be the first people to get to you after you have dialled 999 in an emergency.

Currently, a new community first responder is being trained for the Pagham area and will begin working later this year. This group of people are all volunteers who give up their time on a regular basis to support the ambulance service. They get training, a uniform and some equipment but they are not supplied with a defibrillator. When our club heard this story, we decided to help and we have now given the Community First Responder Charity, £1200 to purchase a defibrillator for this new Pagham volunteer.

For the first of several Sunday afternoons during the summer we are teaming up with Bognor Town Council to bring music to Hotham Park. On May 15th between 14.00 and 16.30 you can sit and listen to Kim G, and, following her Stardust Sussex Jazz performing classics from the world of jazz. This music will suit not only jazz fanatics but also the casual listener who just likes music.

Kim G is a well-known face on the club and festival circuits and comes highly recommended as one of the finest vocal talents around.

Stardust Sussex Jazz was formed in 2018 and has been very busy on the West Sussex jazz scene.

This lively 6-8 piece set up performs music for Jazz and Jive to the highest standards reminiscent of early Louis Armstrong as well as more contemporary sounds.

Other dates for later in the year are already being arranged featuring country and 60’s rock and roll music. www.bognorrotaryclub.org

at �he isvillage back!

Our regular concerts are returning to Felpham Village Hall at 8pm on the first Wednesday of every month To book tickets and be notified of future events, please visit our website: www.jazzatthevillage.org.uk and ensure that you have filled in our contact form so that we can add you to our email list. You will then be notified when booking opens for each concert.

Weds 6th April ENRICO TOMASO QUARTET

Weds 4th May JULIAN MARC STRINGLE & DOMINIC ASHWORTH

Admission £13 | Doors open 7pm | Bring your own refreshments

For more information please contact Sue by Tel: 01243 584932 or Mobile: 07812 051585 To contact BERSTED IN FOCUS please email: office@infocusmagazines.co.uk

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Bersted in Focus

SMOKE GETS IN YOUR EYES BY SARAH DAVEY FIREPIT TIPS AND TRICKS Back when all get-togethers had to be outside, my brother bought me a firepit. I imagined evenings spent under the stars with my friends, toasting marshmallows. The reality was a smoky, eye-watering disaster.

I stuffed it in the shed and forgot about it until the owner of my local hardware store asked if I’d considered buying a firepit. I cut him off and related my story. “Oh, you’re probably doing it wrong!” he smiled. I gawped at him; I mean how many ways are there to use a firepit ... come on!? Well dear reader, after a little re-education, I’m now a convert!

Excess fire pit smoke is the most common reason people stop using their firepit. Typically, it results from firewood burning incompletely due to excess moisture in the wood.

The pitch or sap in some woods can also be a factor.

The next cause is an improperly constructed fire which causes fuel to smoulder instead of burn, producing more smoke.

So, what’s the solution? First choose the right kind of wood. This should be both adequately dried and not naturally predisposed to smoking excessively when burned. Wood smoke is generated when certain chemicals within the wood burn inefficiently. In an efficient, well-burning, hot fire, these chemicals are typically burned off quickly before significant smoke forms.

Look for seasoned wood, which has a moisture content of 30% or less, the lower the better.

Seasoned wood has gone through an indoor or outdoor aging process under the right conditions.

You can also buy kiln dried wood, which is more expensive but works incredibly well. Basically, dry wood burns efficiently, and efficient burning means less smoke. On the other hand, fresh cut wood, or older wood which has been allowed to get damp contains more water and burns inefficiently which means smoke.

You can buy properly seasoned wood from your local hardware store, and for most of us who use firepits for a couple of hours at the weekend this is convenient. If you want better value and you have room to store the wood you can buy in bulk from a log merchant. If you want to check moisture levels in wood you’ve cut and dried yourself you can purchase an inexpensive handheld moisture metre. They generally cost between £40 and £100.

Wood with a maximum of 30% moisture is the baseline but 20% or less is best (that’s the standard with most kiln dried firewood) Other things to watch out for are old, potentially damp ash, embers, and other debris that accumulates in firepits. These can impede the ignition process and result resulting in a fire pit that won’t ‘catch’ properly, and smokes. Empty your firepit after use and store upside down so it doesn’t fill up with rain!

It’s best to avoid pine, because it has a super high sap content, which tends to produce more smoke. Softwoods in general tend to be mor ‘sap rich’ and can actually be useful in the initial stages of a fire as they burn ‘hot’ for a brief period, so they are good when trying to get the main wood to burn.

Finally, make sure your fire is stacked correctly. You need good airflow. Make a wigwam structure with your wood or use a log-cabin stack (think Jenga without the middle pieces!) to keep air flowing and provide a gap in the middle for tinder and kindling.

Then sit back and bust out the marshmallows!

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Bersted in Focus

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FELPHAM’S GOT KEYBOARD TALENT

BY SUE SCOTT

For the past 48 years the Regis Organ and Keyboard Club has given its members wonderful, live musical concerts each month played on a wide variety of electronic organs and keyboards.

The club was founded on the premise that its members would enjoy regular, monthly concerts given by professional, national and international players at the Jubilee Hall in Felpham. But, unfortunately, due to unforeseen circumstances and, indeed, the pandemic, numbers have decreased to such an extent that sadly, the club now faces the possibility of closure.

We really don’t want this to happen so we have decided to organise a special Concert on Wednesday, 27th April at 7.15pm in the Jubilee Hall, starring two nationally recognised artists – Tony Stace and Andrew Nix. They will perform a programme of music, solos and duets, interspersed with their own brand of humour, so laughter for all and a great evening of entertainment.

The type of music enjoyed by the club has been varied and ranges from The Eagles to Bach, Pop to Film music and Classics to Jazz – there is something for everyone. In addition to these concerts, we also organise evenings where our members, who own an instrument (or two) and enjoy performing, come along and play music together. These events are very popular and a great opportunity for players and audience alike.

Membership of the Regis Organ and Keyboard Club is open to all but we have found, in general, that its popularity has been appreciated mainly by the more mature gentlefolk!

Please do come along and join us on the 27th April – tickets are £8, include interval refreshments, and are payable on the door. Do come, you are most welcome. Any queries, please contact Sue Scott 01243 824070.

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Bersted in Focus

HOW TO COPE IN AN UNCERTAIN WORLD BY KATE McCARTHY Over the past couple of years, we’ve had to cope with a pandemic, political uprisings and now war in the Ukraine. Life is constantly changing so you’d think we’d be better at dealing with uncertainty. But humans crave stability, and we crave it most when life is unpredictable.

This is where coping strategies come in to play. There are unhealthy coping strategies, like alcohol or junk food and there are also healthy coping strategies.

What is coping? Coping is an active process where you pause, appraise the situation, target the problem, and then choose a set of interventions.

Stay grounded - create a safe space for you and your family. Structure your home so that you and your family feel grounded. Reduce the sadness and stress of uncertainty by keeping news to a minimum. Don’t talk endlessly about sensational stories. Connect with each other and think of your home as a sanctuary from the uncertainty of life.

Make sure there are periods of relaxation like a family walk.

Use routines - keep scheduled mealtimes and bedtimes, and daily chores, including the kids’ homework. Also make sure there are regular periods of relaxation and fun, like a family games night or a walk. Routines provide a steady rhythm and research shows that when your day has an organised framework, you develop a greater tolerance for unpredictability.

Choose information sources carefully - during uncertain times be guardedly curious and try not to accept sensational stories as factual.

Embrace uncertainty - ultimately we have to live with uncertainty. Cultivating hope and possibility during uncertain times is important. Instead of focusing on sadness or anxiety, shift the focus to wonder or curiosity. Confronting what we don’t know can trigger creative thinking and problem solving and help you and your family feel empowered in the face of the unpredictable.

Practice gratitude - make time to notice and reflect on the good and meaningful things and people in your life and encourage your children or grandchildren to do the same. Studies show that gratitude generates feel-good neurochemicals serotonin and dopamine in your brain which help to reduce worry.

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Bersted in Focus

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WHAT’S ON Friday 1st April– 7.30pm Magical Bones - Tickets - £16

Intricate sleight of hand, mesmerizing illusions and jaw dropping break-dance moves from the BGT finalist.

Friday 1st April – 7.30pm 60 Minutes of Classical Music (in studio 1) Tickets - £6.50 / Under 25s £3.50 A monthly 60 minute concert.

Saturday 2nd April – 7.30pm Clive Anderson - Me, Macbeth and I - Tickets - £20.00 A one-man show from the host of ‘Whose Line Is It Anyway’, ‘Loose Ends’ and ‘Talks Back’.

Tuesday 5th April – 2pm 2 O’Clock Club (in studio 1) ‘Have We Got Tunes For You’ Tickets - £6 / £5 cons / Friends £4.50 Songs from the 50’s, 60’s & 70’s

Friday 15th April – 2.30pm I Spy With My Little Eye - Tickets - £11 / Under 16’s £9.50 A terrific treasure hunt, sensational sing-along songs, and lots of fantastic games to play.

Wednesday 20th April – 7.30pm An Evening with John Illsey: The Life & Times of Dire Straights - Tickets - £30.50

Along with Mark Knopfler, John was a founder member of the legendary band Dire Straights. The evening will feature classics from Dire Straits history and include a Q & A with Audio / visual and music from the whole Dire Straights catalogue.

Friday 22nd April – 2pm Happy & Glorious - Tickets - £13.50 / £12.50 cons

The show is filled with a nostalgic look back at the best of British entertainment over the years. Including a rousing selection from ‘The Last Night at the Proms’, ‘Old Time Sing Alongs’, ‘Great British Show Tunes’ and ever popular favourites from the 40’s, 50’s & 60’s.

With sensational costumes, and a spectacular flag waving finale.

Thursday 28th - Saturday 30th April – 7.30pm Bare Tickets - £16 / £14 cons / NUS £8 A coming-of-age rock musical.

www.alexandratheatre.co.uk

Clubs and Classes

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For full show info, please visit our website at:

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Bersted in Focus

POTATO ROSTI WITH POACHED EGG AND BACON For an egg-cellent Easter treat try this brilliant sweet ‘n’ salty brunch.

Preparation time: 15 mins. Cooking Time: 25-30 mins. Serves: 6 INGREDIENTS 500g Maris Piper potatoes (King Edward also work well) 250g parsnips 50g butter

3 tbsp sunflower oil 12 rashers smoked bacon 2 tbsp maple syrup 6 free range eggs

METHOD Peel the potatoes, then coarsely grate them along with the parsnips, and squeeze out all the liquid (really important or you’ll get soggy mush rather than crispy rosti!)

Season well and separate into six portions, then shape each portion into flat pancake shape, These are the rosti.

Heat the butter and oil in a pan and cook the rosti for 6-7 mins on each side until deep golden brown and crispy. Meanwhile, grill or oven cook the bacon for 20-25 minutes, until crisp and golden. Smoked bacon is sublime but unsmoked is good too.

A few minutes before the bacon and rosti are ready, bring a pan of water to a gentle simmer and poach the eggs. Top each rosti with 2 rashers of bacon and 1 poached egg. Serve with maple syrup.

Happy Easter.

PUZZLE SOLUTIONS Solution to Mind Benders 1. An eye for an eye.

2. Pie in the sky.

3. Double cross.

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HOROSCOPES FOR APRIL

BY LOCAL ASTROLOGER LETICIA PARMER Saturn brings our life lessons through restrictions and discipline and gives us plenty of time to get to grips with what we’re meant to be learning, as it stays for two and a half years in each sign.

Now it has one more year to go in Aquarius and this April both Mars (your energy and drive) and Mercury (your thinking and communications) will have some powerful energetic interactions with Saturn, so it is definitely a month to turn perceived problems into wonderful opportunities.

ARIES Friends may be challenging and though you are an honest and direct person there may be something you have been sweeping under the rug, just to keep the peace. This April it is time to speak up, clear the air.

LIBRA You can come up with some brilliant new and ingenious ways of handling any challenging situations around the children. Then, you can stand in your power as you implement these fresh innovative ways.

TAURUS Your dignity and status may have been threatened by the judgement and behaviour of others lately. Rather than hide away with hurt pride, you must hold your head up high and gracefully prove them wrong.

SCORPIO Perhaps your mother has become a heavy burden in some way, or your living accommodation has been less than ideal. This April you say “enough is enough” and will take positive action.

GEMINI Dealings with travel, foreigners or education have been especially frustrating and forced you to surreptitiously break the rules to get anywhere. But this April you gain more by being direct and straightforward.

CANCER It is harder for you than any other sign, to actually let go. After all you are the crab and once those pincers get a hold they can’t be prised apart. But it is better now to be equally tenacious about releasing.

LEO Partnership situations have been frustrating in the extreme over recent months, but rather than bemoaning the shortcomings of your other half, it is time to take positive action to help them be more efficient.

VIRGO Health and work worries, whether about yourself or others, have burdened you of late. So this April would be a great month to open your mind and take a fresh look at alternatives you had never considered before.

SAGITTARIUS Rather than quietly licking your wounds because no-one seems to understand what you are trying to convey, this April grab your loud-hailer and soap box, then shout your message from the rooftops.

CAPRICORN Feeling insecure or being burdened by financial indecision seems to have become a way of life lately. So make the most of this April when you’ll have a much clearer picture and the energy to manifest it.

AQUARIUS It has been quite a journey of late, when others didn’t understand you so you’ve wanted to hide in the shadows. But this April you have the clarity of mind and the energy to show them who you truly are.

PISCES Being dreamy and visionary comes naturally to you, from spontaneous poetry to intuitive insights. But this April you have the power of mind and the energy to harness these two wild horses through discipline.

Leticia has been a lifelong astrologer and healer and has among her clients, politicians, celebrities and royalty. Her mission is to help and heal others. Email to book an appointment for an in-depth counselling session or healing with Leticia: leticiaparmer@yahoo.com Leticia Parmer’s book WHY ON EARTH is available from Amazon.

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Bersted in Focus Arun Neighbourhood Policing Team 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

Here at Sussex Police we are committed to reducing the number of killed and seriously injured (KSI) incidents on the county’s roads and making the road network safer for all road users.

There are five principal causes of KSIs on our county’s roads – known as the Fatal 5: • • • • •

Inappropriate speed Drink and/or drug driving Not wearing a seatbelt Distraction, including use of a mobile phone or device Careless and/or inconsiderate driving or riding

Speeding is understandably a concern for many of our residents and if you follow us on social media, you may have seen that we regularly conduct “Speedwatch” operations and training sessions across Arun and Chichester.

If you are concerned about speeding in your area and would like to work with us to tackle this issue, would you be interested in becoming a Community Speedwatch Volunteer?

Community Speedwatch is a national initiative where in partnership with the police, members of communities use detection devices to monitor local speeds.

These volunteers then report those drivers who were exceeding the speed limit to the police with the aim of educating drivers to slow down.

If the data proves that a driver is ignoring repeated warnings, police can prosecute them.

The aim is to: • • • •

Reduce death and injury on the roads Improve the quality of life for local communities Reduce the speed of vehicles to the speed limit Increase public awareness of inappropriate speed

Last month over 1,000 hours were undertaken by volunteers and over 403 roadside sessions took place across 70 groups. If you are interested in supporting your local Community Speed Watch group, please get in touch with the team: csw@sussex.pnn.police.uk FRONT OFFICE OPENING HOURS: Bognor Regis: London Road, Bognor Regis, P021 1BA Mon – Fri, 10-2pm and 3-5pm. Littlehampton: County Buildings, East Street, Littlehampton, BN17 6AR Mon – Fri, 10-2pm and 3-6pm. We work closely with Neighbourhood Watch. Visit the Arun Neighbourhood Watch website: arunwestnhw.org.uk or email info@arunwestnhw.org.uk for more info.

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St Mary’s Church, Felpham

TABLE TOP SALE Sat 2nd April

Saturday 18th June, 2022

10am-12 noon St Mary’s Centre, Grassmere Close,Felpham For details phone 01243826606

The Bognor Regis RAFA Club with be open to the public for refreshments

Full details of the Programme will be advertised closer to the event

Honouring Britain’s Armed Forces Past, Present and Future

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BOGNOR REGIS TIDE TABLE April 2022, 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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