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VILLAGES IN FOCUS

The Independent Local Directory of Businesses MIDDLETON, ELMER , YAPTON AND BARNHAM Delivered FREE to over 5,600 homes April 2022

Villages 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

For bookings call : 01243 829363 www.thefoxfelpham.com Mon–Sat : Midday–11pm (Food served all day until 8:30pm) Sun : Midday–10pm (Food served all day until 5pm)

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Villages in Focus

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Villages 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 Villages in Focus, it is available to collect from Barleys hardware store in the centre of Middleton village. Happy Easter and best wishes, Kate

VILLAGES

FELPHAM

BERSTED

The Independent Local Directory of Businesses

The Independent Local Directory of Businesses FELPHAM

The Independent Local Directory of Businesses NORTH AND SOUTH BERSTED

IN FOCUS

MIDDLETON, ELMER , YAPTON AND BARNHAM Delivered FREE to over 5,300 homes

IN FOCUS

Delivered FREE to over 6,000 homes

Delivered FREE to over 5,700 homes

April 2022

office@infocusmagazines.co.uk

IN FOCUS

Tel: 07729682245

www.infocusmagazines.co.uk

MAY ISSUE DEADLINE THURSDAY 7 APRIL

New Seasons

Remedial Yoga & Mindfulness Classes Bespoke live, interactive weekly classes on Zoom, tailored for your individual needs.

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Villages in Focus

Local Professional Multi Skilled Tradesman With Over 25 Years Experience • Painting & Decorating

• Property Maintenance

• Home Improvements

• Refurbishments

• Handyman Service

• Pressure Washing

• Carpentry

• Plastering

• Paving & Decking

• Fencing

• Patios

• Exterior Work

• Preparation for Home Sales & Surveys

• Decorative Brickwork

Pat Lawrence | 07887 870532 www.pro-tradesman.co.uk info@pro-tradesman.co.uk

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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Villages in Focus

VINTAGE VINYL IN BARNHAM

BY JAMES STEWART

Adjacent to Barnham Station car park is an attractive, stand-alone building that, many years ago, was where locals came to pay for their coal. Today it houses Barnham Vintage Vinyl, a small, friendly establishment that was established in 2018 by husband and wife team, Chris and Alex Rust. Chris has long since been a lover of popular music – in particular from the 50s to 70s. He was a DJ for many years and then a karaoke DJ at a variety of venues and for many events including weddings, birthdays and regular pub and club gigs, mainly in south west London. Over the years he built up a substantial collection of 50s – 90s music along with knowledge about the artists and their music. He developed links in the Bognor Regis area and following his retirement he finally realised his long-term ambition, with his wife, and opened a record shop in Barnham. Stock was based initially on his own collection of vinyl but it has grown and continues to grow into thousands of vinyl discs. The organisation of singles and LPs is constantly under review as Chris seeks new ways of helping customers to find what they’re looking for, to trigger memories and spark interest in new discoveries. Due to the growing interest, Chris has had to add a section for CDs in the shop, although his passion remains vinyl. Whilst most customers come because of their love of the sound and the ritual of playing vinyl and are of an age to remember it in its heyday, others are collectors, DJs, and increasingly, younger people who are discovering vinyl from their parents, grandparents and friends, or as a result of receiving record players as gifts. Customers are welcomed into the sound of pop, Motown, jazz, and show tunes and many other genres as Chris checks out the condition of records before putting them out for sale. Barnham Vintage Vinyl focuses on original 45 and 12” (single) records and LPs rather than new releases. The younger generation seek out Queen and David Bowie, other popular groups range from Abba to ZZ Top and Northern Soul to Easy Listening. If any Reggae or Punk records come in they are snapped up almost immediately. As people from further afield continue to discover Barnham Vintage Vinyl they and the regulars who visit are like-minded people who enjoy and anticipate the promise of encountering a group, song or album cover that revives memories, and finding familiar and unusual records. They enjoy sharing their memories and knowledge of the vinyl era with enthusiasm. Whilst those who are new to the discovery of, and introduction to the world of vinyl, have an extensive collection of discs and range of genres to browse through and enjoy. For further information: Barnham Vintage Vinyl www.barnhamvintagevinyl.co.uk sells directly from the shop at 37 Barnham Road Barnham, Bognor Regis PO22 0ER Email: info@barnhamvintagevinyl.co.uk Tel No: 01243 555 637 Opening Times: Wednesdays – Fridays from 10am – 4:30pm; Saturdays from 10am – 1pm

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Villages in Focus

N I N E P O NOW YAPTON!

Where experience counts... Nadene Collins returns to run the office she originally started her career in over 30 years ago, having worked as a trainee negotiator for Hobdens in the late 1980s. Nadene and her negotiators, Ellie Culver and Helen Davies, will be offering a dedicated service to the residence of the six villages; Yapton, Barnham, Eastergate, Westergate, Walberton and Aldingbourne. Our experienced team are here to get you moving, please give us a call today on 01243 271281.

Yapton Branch Brow Cottage, Main Road, Yapton, Arundel BN18 0DZ 01243 271281 yapton@glyn-jones.com

Nadene Collins Branch Manager

4.9/5.0 ®

441 Customer Reviews ®

Without doubt the most experienced team in the local property market.

www.glyn-jones.com

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Villages 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.

CRAFT & GIFT EVENT SAT 9 APRIL

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

07799 671814 or 07976 118051

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Villages in Focus

We are open for business! • Samples brought to you • PPE & Safety proceedures

The Raven Flooring Co. THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ORDINARY AND EXTRAORDINARY.....IS THAT LITTLE EXTRA

Luxury Vinyl Tiles (LVT) Specialists The beauty of LVT is the ability to create unique designs and patterns as you would with natural materials. It is possible to mimic real stone, ceramic and wood flooring using tiles, planks and more recently parquet. Today's manufacturing techniques give incredible realistic results almost indistinguishable from the real thing as they are also textured to mimic the real materials, yet it is incredibly hard wearing, designed to withstand the rigours of modern day life. The diversity and practicality of LVT makes it a winner anywhere in the home, office or any other area that needs floor coverings.

Why Use Us? Specialists in LVT Competitive prices Free estimates & advice Samples brought to you Fully insured Full PPE and Safety Local to Felpham Accreditations

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LVT is perfect for your Garden Room or Garden Pub project! Come and talk to the experts!

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Villages 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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Villages in Focus

Welcome to Arundel Clocks 01243 585059 gary@arundelclocks.com I have been restoring, repairing, servicing and selling clocks for the last 25 years. Arundel Clocks is based in the heart of Elmer Sands, West Sussex serving surrounding areas. We are happy to undertake any work from a service to a major strip down and re‐build or restoration. I always give a guaranteed price (with no hidden costs) and an estimated time for completion of the work undertaken, all repairs are backed up with a back to base twelve month guarantee.

10% Discount for OAPs

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Villages 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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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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Villages in Focus

TJ INTERIORS LTD Established for more than 25 years, TJ Interiors Ltd welcomes you to our new showroom on the Bognor to Chichester road. We have a wide range of samples to choose from and with our expert guidance, we can help you realise your interior dreams.

Green Lane (off the Bognor Road) Merston, Chichester West Sussex PO20 1EH

Carpets

Made to measure curtains

Luxury vinyl tiles

Tracks and poles

Sheet vinyl

Roman blinds

Laminate flooring

Shutters

Engineered wood

Perfect fit blinds

Rugs made to measure

Venetian blinds and more

Call us today and let’s transform your home

01243 96 77 39

tjinteriors@hotmail.co.uk www.tjinteriors.org.uk

Consistent scoring of 9.98/10

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Villages 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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Villages in Focus

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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Villages in Focus

Dr Davina Mahoney

Dr John Harker Dr Mauricio Carrillo Dr Sharad Patel

If you have moved to this area, or are looking for a new dentist, we would love for you to come and join our friendly Bognor Regis practice. We pride ourselves on a partnership built on trust and mutual respect to improve your dental health. We aim to work with you to provide optimum dental care with the latest and advanced dental treatments, transparent costs and a friendly experience every time you visit us.

Felpham Dental Implant Clinic `

• • • • •

Free initial consultation Latest implant technology including on-site 3D CBCT scanner No more gaps or dentures Eat, chew and smile with complete confidence We accept referrals from other dental practices for complex single and multiple dental implants

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Villages in Focus

At Felpham Dental we offer a full range of cost-effective treatments for both general and cosmetic dentistry. These include whitening, veneers, crowns, white fillings, dental implants, root canal treatments and facial aesthetics including intradermal wrinkle treatments. We accept referrals for complex root canal treatments with Dr John Harker, and oral surgery referrals including facial pain and migraine, with Dr Mauricio Carrillo. Invisalign Teeth Straightening

• • •

Free initial consultation Almost invisible teeth straightening Faster straightening of teeth

Direct Hygienist Access You can directly access our full team of dental hygienists: Elizabeth Goodchild, Jane Gander and Helen Carter even if you are not a registered patient. Emergency Dental Care Please call 01243 864663 and speak with Chrissie or Tracey. Contact us: Felpham Dental 83 Felpham Road Bognor Regis.PO22 7PF (Opposite Milestones Garage)

Tel: 01243 864663 felphamdental@aol.com www.felphamdental.com

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Villages 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.” 6

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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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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LOST LANDS, LOST SOULS

BY KIM LESLIE

Our coastline has lost huge swathes of land, even drowned whole villages, their graveyards of lost souls now far beneath the waves. Budgen’s map of 1724 (illustrated last month) emphasised its perils, battered by a hungry sea swallowing up acres of rich farmland. Long before Budgen’s time, whole villages along here were swept away. Sea Lane, Pagham and Barrack Lane, Aldwick once met on dry land at a hamlet called Charlton. And between Middleton and Littlehampton a once thriving parish called Cudlow disappeared in the late 16th century. We only have documentary evidence for these two places, but for Middleton it’s more vivid. Engravings and paintings, even a poem, captured the devastation. In the 1630s Middleton was described as ‘much decayed, wasted and consumed with the sea whereof divers houses and lands are eaten away’. The little church defied the waves until a great storm of 1837. The last burial took place this year for a little three-day-old boy, surely a double tragedy for the grieving family with his grave about to go under. At least three gravestones were rescued from the old church and taken to the new churchyard. One to farmer Henry Sparkes dated 1775, cracked and disjointed, lies near the west door telling of his arduous life: ‘With sweat and toil I long hath till’d the ground’. Middleton’s slow relentless destruction brought widespread publicity when its fate was told by The Gentleman’s Magazine in the late 1790s. An engraving shows it on the edge of a low cliff, its days numbered. Charlotte Smith, popular novelist of her day, came to see for herself. Shocked to find broken graves and human bones scattered among the sand and shingle, her sonnet captured the melancholic scene: The wild blast …/ Drives the huge billows from their heaving bed;/ Tears from the grassy tombs the village dead/. She wasn’t the only well-known name to visit. Several artists recorded the last days of the old church. The most famous was John Constable who came in 1835, painting his own vision of the church as it teetered on the brink. Prints of Constable’s painting, illustrated here (top), are offered by the Friends of St Nicholas Church for fundraising to establish the 150 Club. See stnicholasmiddleton.co.uk

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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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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

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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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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

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

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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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MORE THAN JUST GOOD FRIENDS The Avisford Medical Group are the doctors’ surgeries in Yapton and Middleton. Together they look after some 11,000 patients. While the Friends of Avisford Medical Group originally started life as a fundraising group, as a Patient Participation Group (PPG) they now perform the additional roles of representing patients to the surgery partners and health service needs to NHS commissioners. All patients are Friends. The Friends is run by a committee elected at each AGM by the patients. The Friends maintain a website www.avisfordfriends.co.uk and have an email address avisford.friends@gmail.com through which patients can contact us. The website site offers general information, details forthcoming events and fundraising information – the Friends and surgery websites are linked. Engagement with patients is important to us. Feedback and comments provided by patients allows us to contribute to improving services – improving the patient experience is always at the top of our agenda. With the surgery we produce a newsletter two or three times a year. Prior to

the pandemic we used to run talks by senior consultants from St Richard’s Hospital in Chichester on subjects like dementia, diabetes and urology – these have always proved popular and we hope to start them again soon. Working with the surgery management team, our aim is for patients for whom the surgery has an email address to receive the newsletters and notification of events directly. However, we are aware that many patients do not use email. We maintain a list of addresses to which we hand deliver newsletters and notice of the AGM. Drop a note of your name and address into either surgery marked for the Friends attention and we will add you to the list. In recent years, the Friends have provided both surgeries with equipment to help support the care of patients – including cardiac monitors, phlebotomy equipment (pictured above), blood pressure and airflow testing equipment. The closure of the surgeries ended the book sales (due to infection risks) and other fundraising activities. We do run a 50:50 Club with a monthly prize of over £100. This together with donations has allowed us to continue supporting the care of our patients. Please let us know if there is anything you would like us to take up on your behalf. If you would like to be involved in our work, we currently have three vacancies on our friendly committee and we would love to hear from you. Finally, for more information do look at our website www.avisfordfriends.co.uk

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IV STR E F

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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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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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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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Villages in Focus

POWER OF ATTORNEY Have you got one? If not, don’t wait until you need one! A lot of my clients when I ask them if they have a Power of Attorney will reply by saying ‘no’, they don’t need one and that they are too young to think about putting such a document in place at the moment. I will then usually go on to politely explain that they’ve kind of missed the whole point of the document. Age has nothing to do with whether you should protect yourself by putting in place a Lasting Power of Attorney. No matter how old you are, it is important to think about what you would want to happen should you become incapacitated (either temporarily or permanently) due to illness, accident or an impairment. Wouldn’t it be better if you decided (rather than the Court) who you would want to deal with your finances and/or business interests and who you would want to make health and welfare decision on your behalf if you are unable to express a view. A Lasting Power of Attorney has to be given to a third party by you, rather than taken out by them for you. If you have made a Will then that goes some way to getting your affairs in order and making things easier for your loved ones but the Executors appointed in your Will only have the power to deal with things when you have passed away. They don’t have any legal authority whilst you are still alive, but incapacitated. You need Attorneys under a Lasting Power of Attorney document to look after your needs in such circumstances. Call the office for a no obligation appointment to find out more details. Don’t forget I can also help you with: Wills and Trusts – Inheritance Tax – Care Fees Planning Probate – Administration of Estates Helen Gagan Solicitor ……. listening to her clients Felpham Chambers, 60 Felpham Road, Felpham, Bognor Regis, West Sussex, PO22 7NZ Office telephone number: 01243 867330 Mobile: 07584 991081 Email: helen@helengagansolicitor.co.uk www.helengagansolicitor.co.uk Please mention VILLAGES IN FOCUS when responding to adverts

Villages in Focus

TAKE NOTE! IS A DIGITAL NOTEBOOK RIGHT FOR YOU? BY LOUISE ADDISON I love a notebook, to the point that my husband has actually staged an intervention in Paperchase before now! Enter digital notepads. In the past I’ve tried to take notes on an iPad, but the slippery feeling of pen on glass felt wrong. So I decided to look at the current iteration of digital offerings designed specifically to appeal to a hardcore pen and paper note taker, like me. MOLESKINE PEN + ELLIPSE SMART WRITING SET This is a hybrid product — part digital, part analogue — designed for those of us who prefer to take notes the old-fashioned way but still want to save those notes in a searchable format. Searchable notebooks ... words that sing to my scribble-loving soul. This set comes with a paper notebook, digital smart pen, USB recharging cable, one pen-tip ink refill, and a manual. The notepad is a proper notepad except the paper is encoded in a dotted layout which works with the pen to capture each stroke and recognize exactly where it is. The paper thus becomes a ‘tablet’. The Moleskine Notes app transfers the words and drawings from page to screen in real time, so you can digitize text, edit, organize, and share content. The companion app (available for iOS and Android) digitizes your notes and transfers them to your device, allowing you to annotate, share, search, edit, and organize notes. The pen doesn’t even need to be connected to the app, meaning you can jot notes then sync your pen with the app at a later time. If you write a lot of notes you still end up with lots of physical notebooks, but your work is saved on your PC and searchable for future reference. ROCKETBOOK SMART REUSABLE NOTEBOOK Unlike the Moleskine, the Rocketbook saves on trees while still letting you write on ‘paper’. The Rocketbook is a 42-page notebook with seven different page styles allowing notes, sketches and plans etc. The dot-grid and lined pages also act as a paper ‘tablet’ and you use the free Rocketbook app (available for iOS and Android) to save your work to cloud services like Google Drive, Dropbox, Evernote etc. The Rocketbook works with any Pilot Frixion pen, marker, or highlighter. When you’ve finished you wipe clean with a damp cloth to start over. For people who like to use colour in their note-taking the Rocket book works well. For those of us who like to go back and re-annotate our original notes, the wipe-clean approach can seem a bit final. THE ReMARKABLE 2 The ReMarkable 2 bills itself as “the world’s thinnest tablet”. It’s just 4.7mm thick and stylish, especially if you choose the leather cover option. It captures all the best attributes of notetaking on paper including sound, sensation, and the ability to erase with the other end of the pen, yet you can create as many notebooks as you like, revisit them, edit them, copy and paste from them into new notebooks, and save them within the device. This last one is a gamechanger for someone who wishes they could take ALL their notebooks with them everywhere! You can then sync your notes to phone and laptop using the app. You can easily import templates such as a diary, or household budget planner. Its more expensive than the previous two options (starting at around £400), but in my opinion, vastly superior. The only disadvantage is no colour, but that’s a small concession for notebook Nirvana! Happy scribbling.

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Villages in Focus

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

Compost Special Offers C Top quality - Free delivery

Multi-Purpose (all round value)

Calor Gas - Camping Gaz Pet food and supplies Wild bird and fish foods House and home Gifts - Toys

50ltrs - 2 for £14.00

Grow Bag

2 for £6.00 4 for £11.00

Top Soil

25ltrs - 2 for £9.00

Bark Chips

75ltrs - 2 for £17.00 Full range of speciality composts, plant foods, weedkillers, lawn care, pest and disease control chemicals.

Keys cut A & M Barley Ltd 161 Middleton Road Middleton-on-Sea PO22 6DE

60ltrs - 2 for £10.00

Peat-free Compost

Phone: 01243 586213 Email: shop@barleys.biz Web: www.barleys.biz

Free Delivery - Free Parking Open 6 full days 08:45-17:00 (Sat 16:30)

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Villages in Focus

Clubs and Classes

¡ ¡ ¢ £ ¤ ¤ ¥ ¦

PUZZLE SOLUTIONS Solution to Mind Benders 1. An eye for an eye. 2. Pie in the sky. 3. Double cross.

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Villages in Focus

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 Please mention VILLAGES IN FOCUS when responding to adverts

Villages 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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Villages in Focus

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Villages in Focus

BOGNOR REGIS TIDE TABLE April 2022, Time Zone GMT

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Villages in Focus

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

FAMIL Y BUSIN RUN ESS

OUR SHOWROOM IS NOW OPEN FOR EXCLUSIVE APPOINTMENT ONLY VISITS

BEFORE

THE UK’S #1 KITCHEN MAKEOVER EXPERTS 13 The Square, Barnham, West Sussex PO22 0HB

• Trusted reputation • Huge choice of doors, worktops appliances, sinks & taps

Call for a free estimate on:

• Door swaps to full kitchens – tailored to your needs

01243 554732

www.dreamdoors.co.uk

D D

AVERAGE SCORE

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9.9/10

Villages in Focus

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Villages in Focus

INDEX OF ADVERTISERS Aerial Installation Aerial & Satellite Connection 49

Dog Services Barking Mad Pet Care

Art trail Chichester Art Trail

Bathrooms Coastline Everything Bathrooms

64 60

Builders Allbrights Roofing Solutions

13 41

Business Networking Fun Friday Social

Car Repairs/Maintenance NL Autos

Caravan Services T H Caravan Services

Care Centres & Home Care Hollymead House 25 Care Services Angelcare

14, 49

Interior Designers TJ Interiors

Double Glazing/Windows Andy Payne

Kitchens Bedrooms Dream Doors

Electrical Contractor Danny H

Locks/Security Lock Medic

Employment/Jobs Butlins

Music Jazz at the Village

Painting/Decorating J R Decorating The Decorator Man

5 39

Estate Agents Glyn-Jones

Executive Travel Arundel Executive Cars

Financial Services Advice for later Life

Pest Control TempPest

Plumbing & Heating Alan’s Plumbing Priority Heating & Gas

33 54

Footcare Prescription Footwear

Funeral Services Darren Miles

Property Maintenance/DIY Allbrights 13 Pro Tradesman 13

Garage Doors A W Garage Doors

Pub/Restaurant/Bar The Fox

Carpets & Flooring Sargeants Carpets The Raven Flooring Co

21 9

Chiropractor A Cobb

Garden Services Gary Mortley Garden Concepts

23 33

Solicitor Helen Gagan Solicitor MJR

Cleaning Services Conway Cleaning Tom’s Exterior Cleaning

28 45

Hair and Beauty Emma Jade Beauty Karen Hairdressing

37 23

Security GRN Locksmith The Lock Medic

5 39

Curtains, Blinds & Fabrics Hillarys Stock Blinds

Hardware & Calor Gas A & M Barley

Taxis Five Star Taxis

11 41

Health/Wellbeing West Sussex Colonics Fae Howard

23 4

Waste Clearance Ace Waste

Watches & Clocks Arundel Clocks

Dental Care Felpham Dental Surgery

18-19

43 26-27

All advertisements are printed in good faith, however Villages 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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Villages in Focus

Now offering 10 years warranty on Vaillant boilers

£200 BOILER SCRAPPAGE OFFER

£200 for your old boiler with every new boiler installed by us!

T: 01243 820795 M: 07860 213323 priorityheatingandgas@gmail.com | www.priorityheat.co.uk Registered members & installers: INSTALLER

priorityheat

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Villages in Focus

The last Friday of every month Looking to grow your business?

All the benefits of networking... but without the scary bits! A chance to meet your local business community in a relaxed and informal way. Just bring your business cards, and join us for an informal drink!

Next Bognor Meetings: 5pm-7pm

Fri 25th Mar - TAO, High St Fri 29th Apr - The Waverley £5 meeting fee to cover costs. Profits to local Charity.

FFSfunfridaysocial

ACE WASTE House Clearance Waste Removal Home & Garden Domestic & Commercial Cheaper Than A Skip!

07388 346 743

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The New Kitchen & Tile Showroom is NOW OPEN

Book a FREE Design & Quote Service

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