Felpham in Focus May 2021

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What should be valued in education?

By looking at what we should value in education, Martin Barker, Headmaster at Westbourne House School, highlights the benefits of a prep school education.

Almost every speaker from industry that I hear drives home the message that broader skills are required beyond academic success: businesses are looking for people who are resilient and adaptable, are able to work collaboratively and problem solve.

The breadth of opportunity at Westbourne House contributes enormously to shaping these types of skills each and every day. All children ‘have a go’ at everything the school has to offer from cooking to forest school, sports to public speaking, science experiments to design technology. The children discover a great deal about themselves – what do they love to do? What part do they play in the team? Can they persevere when things get tough?

From Year 5 to 8, our pupils have subject specific lessons taught by teachers from a secondary school background, which enriches the children’s

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experience and even our younger pupils benefit from passionate specialist teachers for sports, wellness, art, drama and music. We hire teaching staff who share our ethos of caring for each child as an individual, adapting teaching to their needs and encouraging them to aim high. This supportive environment provides lots of stability, which can be particularly important for pre-teen children, who are already going through significant physical and psychological changes. They benefit hugely from feeling safe and building their sense of identity at Westbourne, free from the influence of older children.

In short, we are establishing attitudes and building skills that set up a child for life, but of course many of these are developmental and not instantly measurable. However, I believe it is far more important that we measure what should be valued, rather than value what we measure.

Find out more at our open morning 22 May 2021

www.westbournehouse.org | 01243 782739

Open Morning 22 May 2021

Register westbournehouse.org/visit

All I am, everything I can be

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WELCOME Hello everyone, I hope you are keeping well and you have been able to enjoy some of the recent sunshine outdoors with your friends and family.

It has been truly wonderful to reunite with loved ones and see some of our local businesses and shops able to re-open and flourish. This month we hope that progress will continue and Step 3 of the roadmap will see the return of indoor seating in pubs and restaurants and indoor entertainment venues like cinemas and theatres, the re-opening of hotels and B&Bs, domestic overnight stays and organised indoor adult sport to name but a few.

This next phase will allow us to support our local business community even more, I hope, so please do head out and spend #local if you can, as every penny counts.

Supporting each other has been more important than ever this last year and I must thank you, the readers, and all our advertisers most sincerely for your kind words and positive feedback since I took over the magazines in December. So many of you have taken the time to send in encouraging messages as well write articles and take photos which is fantastic and highlights our strong community spirit.

On that note I must thank local Felpham resident Judy Hewlett whose stunning front cover image can be seen, for the first time, on all of this month’s In Focus magazines. I hope this stunning image of Hoe Lane makes you feel like I did when I saw it – that we are finally on the road out.

Enjoy the May Bank holidays and very best wishes, Kate

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HRH PRINCE PHILIP 1921-2021

BY FELPHAM RESIDENT KIM LESLIE

The passing of HRH Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh has filled us all with great sadness.

Many of us will have watched his funeral and remembered him, and others dear to us we have lost during this difficult year.

He was well known in our own county of Sussex. His earliest time here was his naval days during the Second World War, stationed at HMS Vernon, the Admiralty’s Torpedo, Mining and Electrical Training Establishment in the requisitioned Roedean School, high on the cliffs above Brighton. It’s not recorded what he thought of the labels by the bell switches in the girls’ dormitories: ‘Press if you need a mistress for any reason during the night’ – his thoughts can only be imagined – but his one abiding memory was his dismay at the long walk down a half-mile corridor for all his meals!

Sussex was to bring him many happy memories. There was leisure time with his private secretary and friend, Lord Rupert Neville at his home, Horsted Place near Uckfield. Lord Neville also had a seaside home at Davenport Road in Felpham where the Queen visited in 1952 after racing at Goodwood.

One of Prince Philip’s favourite sporting passions was polo and he was a regular player at Cowdray Park in Midhurst. In 1969 the Queen presented her husband with the Cowdray Gold Cup when his Windsor Park team beat Pimms, the holders, in the final.

Uncharacteristically the Prince fell from his mount, but uninjured and more characteristically he ‘grinned triumphantly when he received the coveted trophy,’ the local press reported.

Local businesses have always done well out of Cowdray polo. One enterprising blacksmith had a pile of horseshoes outside his forge which he claimed were worn by Prince Philip’s ponies!

Through his friendship with the cricketing duke, Bernard, Duke of Norfolk, Prince Philip flew into the duke’s private cricket ground at Arundel, both as a spectator and occasional captain of his own team.

There was Sussex for his leisure and Sussex for his royal duties either accompanying the Queen or solo on his own account. Some notable visits to West Sussex were with the Queen: inspecting the Royal Military Police headquarters in Chichester, 1978; attending Chichester Cathedral’s Maundy Service in 1986; opening the new North Terminal at Gatwick Airport in 1988; marking the commemoration of Crawley’s 60th anniversary as a New Town in 2006. One of Sussex Prince Philip’s last solo engagements was in Sussex when he opened the British Airways i360 tower in Hove in 2016.

But for many people in West Sussex what is surely Prince Philip’s most enduring achievement and lasting legacy will be the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme (DofE) which he founded in 1956. Thousands of young peoples’ lives across our county have been energized and transformed by the Award’s challenges, and we hope this will continue for decades to come. In our loss we can celebrate his memory and all the goodly virtues of his public service.

To celebrate The Duke’s inspiring impact on generations of young people, The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award is asking anyone who’s been in the DofE across the decades to help them build a powerful collection of DofE stories, and inspire the next generation of young people to begin their DofE journey. To enter your memory visit https://www.dofe.org/memories/ and please do share with us at office@infocusmagazines.co.uk too.

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LOCAL HISTORY BY SYLVIA ENDACOTT The month of May is a time when we enjoy two Bank holidays and hopefully better weather. Do you ever wonder about the origins of these holidays?

May Day was regarded as the celebration of spring, with Maypoles and celebrations. This holiday can be traced back to Roman times, when it was associated with changing times for farmers to graze their cattle in fields and cows could even be milked three times per day! It was formalized as being the 1st Monday of the month from 1978 and providing us with another holiday.

The Whit Monday holiday, came into existence from 1871 with the Bank holiday Act and was celebrated according to Easter and the March equinox, with its name derived from the English word for Pentecost. However, it was replaced by a fixed spring holiday on the last Monday in May from 1971.

In 1914 there was a short report of May Day processions through the town, where ‘large assemblies of spectators witnessed them.’ In May 1918, events were held with collections for the Soldiers Comfort Fund, of which £1 8s. 6d. was raised in Felpham. However in May 1940 it was reported how the area was affected with the cancellation of May day, with shops and facilities being closed because of a lack of visitors. By the August Bank holiday It would appear that nerves had calmed and there were major events in Felpham. For one, May rail day trips to our area were advertised

by British Rail in 1979 costing £4.50. Enjoy your May holidays.

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A STROLL AROUND BERSTED BROOKS

BY SIMON BAKER IRONS This month’s featured walk is a 3 km (2 mile) stroll around Bersted Brooks in North Bersted.

Established as a Local Nature Reserve in 2010, Bersted Brooks covers an area of 19 hectares and with its many habitats is an important site for wildlife. The reserve borders Rowan Way, Shripney Lane and the Aldingbourne Rife and is spread over three separate fields, it has wide areas of meadow, narrow reedbeds, ditches, ponds, and a floodplain woodland of Willow and Elder as these trees can live with their roots in water. The Brooks floods every winter, making it a good place for wetland wildlife.

The brooks can be explored in a variety of ways; however, a good way round is walking the perimeter of each field before moving on to the next. From the car park just off Rowan Way is the first field, a wide-open meadow with a small circle of black Poplar trees that borders three ponds of differing depths, in the winter following heavy rain these ponds tend to overflow and become one. There is a purpose made path which is accessible to all that goes around half of the meadow and I believe is planned to be extended all the way round. The far end of the meadow just beyond the trees is known as ‘Crickets Field’ and on a quiet summers day you can hear a whole chorus of crickets. Follow the Aldingbourne Rife and the narrow reed bed leading to the next meadow.

The second meadow is much more wooded than the others and adds a different perspective, more than 11,000 trees have been planted across the brooks since 2000 mainly Alder, Crack Willow and Grey Willow, this particular meadow has been renamed ‘Friends Field’ in acknowledgement of the contribution the friends make to Bersted Brooks. In this meadow along the rife, scrapes with gently sloping edges have been created to improve access for both birds and water voles.

The third meadow is also a mixture of woodlands and meadows. It contains an area that is fenced off providing a dog free wildlife sanctuary, this allows ground nesting birds such as skylarks to be undisturbed. An intriguing bench is situated by the rife in this meadow and is a great opportunity to take a rest. At the far corner of the field is an exit to Shripney Lane where the walk can be extended if so desired.

The walk back to the car park is along the northern edge of the Brooks that borders farmland. In the northern corner of the first field is an old farm pond, the mature reeds, and trees around makes it a good habitat for voles and other small mammals. The pond itself is home to many dragonflies.

The walk can be done as a stroll just around the Bersted Brooks or part of a longer walk taking in the Bersted Park sculptures the other side of the relief road.

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CURIOSITY CORNER

BY KIM LESLIE

A new series of little titbits, a bit of nostalgia, some local history and trivia The first is a postcard franked 1932 with its view of the old Summerley Barn on Limmer Lane just outside the entrance to the Summerley Estate when it was a café. It was demolished and replaced by the present flats known as Summerley Gate.

Years ago this was all farmland and there were three barns hereabouts, this one and two more, Rudwick’s Barn and Limmer Barn.

Summerley Barn was the last to survive. After its use as a popular café it was turned into an estate agency, the back used as an auction saleroom and stock room for two of the Summerley Corner shops opposite. (Like the barn, all the shops were demolished some years ago.)

The little open-topped car is a French-made Citroën Trefle in English meaning trefoil because of the clover leaf-shaped seating arrangement of two in the front and one in the back. The lady driver wears a typical 1930s cloche bonnet. The car’s registration prefix ‘YM’ indicates that her vehicle was first registered in London sometime between November 1925 and March 1926.

So this ninety-year-old postcard neatly illustrates the changing times: the new fashionable motorised society of the day meeting head on with the last vestiges of old agricultural Felpham.

And this is very much the story of 1920s-30s Summerley; the farmer’s fields and his barns auctioned off as building plots for a new estate ‘strictly reserved for good-class Residential Houses’. Bricks and mortar were about to destroy the ancient rhythms of the Felpham countryside. Summerley Barn was the last local survivor of the old order.

CATHEDRAL FOR THE COMMUNITY

BY CATHY CLARK Over the last year, Chichester Cathedral has faced many challenges and developed new ways of staying connected with the wider community as well as providing support and resources.

When public worship was suspended last March, the Cathedral began live-streaming a weekly Sunday service. As limited public worship returned, additional services continue to be livestreamed and are available on the Cathedral’s website including special services on Remembrance Sunday, Advent and Christmas, Holy Week and more.

The Cathedral has developed resources for worship and prayer at home and run online lectures, concerts, choral music and arts events. It has also continued to support its partners including Chichester District Foodbank, UK Harvest and Stonepillow. Earlier this year the Cathedral teamed up with the Sussex Pub Group and Pallant House Gallery to launch the Friday Lunch Club which offered a free, twocourse lunch to vulnerable or isolated City residents.

As restrictions ease, the Cathedral hopes to welcome back more worshippers and visitors from across our community. Like many other institutions there have been serious financial implications: and one important way of providing regular support is through the Chichester Cathedral Friends. Through project funding the Friends have made considerable contributions to maintain and improve facilities and services while developing the Cathedral’s mission – current projects include new toilet facilities in the North Transept (currently facilities are only available outside), a new IT infrastructure and improved Cathedral lighting.

Regular ‘Friends’ events include talks, day trips, lunches and holidays. To find out more please visit www.chichestercathedral.org.uk and search ‘Cathedral for the Community’.

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LIVE MUSIC RETURNS TO SUSSEX

BY KAREN FLETCHER

After ten years in Oxfordshire the English Music Festival is coming back to St Mary’s Church in Horsham this Spring Bank Holiday weekend (28-31May) The English Music Festival celebrates the brilliance, innovation, beauty and rich musical heritage of Britain with a strong focus on unearthing overlooked or forgotten masterpieces of the latenineteenth to mid-twentieth centuries.

Having hosted several highly successful and well-attended live concerts in Horsham between lockdowns last year, the Festival is bringing its main four-day event, now in its fourteenth year, back to Sussex with concerts and talks throughout the weekend.

The charms of Sussex have long attracted and inspired composers. Amongst those featured at the Festival include Arnold Bax, Eric Coates, Gustav Holst, Cyril Scott, Roger Quilter and John Ireland, who for many years lived in a windmill near Washington.

Among the performers taking part are the Aurora Trio, formed by young, talented soloists Emma Halnan, flute, Jordan Sian, viola, and Worthing-based harpist Heather Wrighton. They will be performing works by, amongst others, Sussex-based film, television and concert composer Paul Lewis, who will also be giving an illuminating talk entitled ‘Memoirs of a Media Composer’. Paul’s concert music is tonal and melodic, often inspired by people and places dear to him, you can find some of his music recordings on the Festival’s record label, EM Records, www.em-records.com.

Pianist and well-known broadcaster, Paul Guinery, will present a selection of light music discoveries, including ‘Sussex Downs’ by Billy Mayerl and, similarly in lighter vein, the New Foxtrot Serenaders (pictured) will perform effervescent works by Ivor Novello, Noel Coward and Flanagan and Allen, in their own engaging style.

On Bank Holiday Monday, internationally renowned soloist, Roderick Williams, one of today’s most in-demand baritones, will be starring at what is likely to be a sell-out concert, when he performs Ivor Gurney’s rarely-heard song-cycle, The Western Playland, which sets words by A.E. Housman.

Festival Director, Em Marshall-Luck, is hugely committed to helping classical musicians perform live in Sussex. She said: “With each event that we host, we increasingly realise how inestimably important live music-making is for some people, and how heavily they rely upon it for their emotional, social, mental and spiritual health and well-being.”

“We have also become very aware of the plight of musicians, especially younger artists, now at a vital stage in their careers, but lacking the performance opportunities they so desperately need.

This has made us ever more determined to put on concerts wherever and whenever we can to support both our wonderful musicians and loyal audiences. We are absolutely delighted to be able to return to the beautiful, spacious and Covid-secure venue at St Mary’s for our main Festival it promises to be a gloriously exciting event,” she added.

To see the full programme and book tickets visit www.englishmusicfestival.org.uk or email em.marshall-luck@englishmusicfestival.org.uk or tel: 07808 473889 to request a booking form. Both Horsham venues St Mary’s Church, Causeway RH12 1HE and The Drill Hall, Denne Road RH12 1JF are in easy walking distance of Horsham train station and two multi-storey public car parks on Blackhorse Way and Denne Road.

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SHIPLEY ARTS FESTIVAL The Shipley Arts Festival is a diverse and inclusive UK music festival with internationally-based musicians returning year on year to perform. Celebrating its 21st Anniversary, the festival opens on Sunday 2 May 2021 with an online concert titled Musical Inspiration Lasting 21 Years.

Inspired by English music, the festival commissions new music written by leading musicians and composers, to continue a tradition of creating and performing music with strong Sussex connections.

Founded by Andrew Bernardi in 2000, the annual Festival brings world class music to Sussex and communities in and around Shipley, a village just off the A272 road approximately six miles (10 km) north east of Storrington.

The festival runs from April – November and performances take place in different locations each year; ranging from local community venues through to stately homes, heritage buildings, schools and churches.

Andrew Bernardi For more information on The Shipley Arts Festival, please visit: www.bernardimusicgroup.com or email andrew@bernardimusicgroup.com

JAZZ AT THE VILLAGE PLANS ARE NOW IN PLACE TO RESUME OUR REGULAR MONTHLY CONCERTS FROM WEDNESDAY 6TH OCTOBER We are taking this opportunity to thank so many of our regular attendees on our internet mailing list for expressing their preference for a cautious approach to a restart date and the suggestion of a slightly reduced total audience for which they will be more than willing to pay a higher admission charge. How encouraging too that so many want us to organise another ‘Picnic in the Park’ concert in early September with the usual high quality musical entertainment and supported by the Felpham Village Conservation Society.

Watch for further announcements on our website www.jazzatthevillage.org.uk, we will also resume regular advertising in this magazine from July. If you would like to add your name to our internet mailing list please send an instruction to:

info@jazzatthevillage.org.uk

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STRANGER THAN … WELL ART?

REVD. JOHN SEARLE, RETIRED METHODIST MINISTER, FELPHAM One of the pleasures of living near the sea, is to walk along the beach observing the amazing variety of flotsam and jetsam thrown up by the tide. I can never resist taking home an interesting pebble, or a piece of driftwood worn smooth by the tides and sculptured into some recognisable object. See my tiny Jenny Wren, carved by a friend, from a piece of driftwood.

Recently, while walking on the beach at Felpham, I noticed a large pebble, moulded by sea and sand to reveal two faces. On one side, the innocent face of a small child; on the opposite side, a somewhat grotesque face of a … man? ‘He’ appeared to glare at me with his two sunken, lopsided eyes; he had wide, flaring nostrils, hair, eyebrows, beard and lips formed by pin-prick holes and scratches. He seemed to dare me to pick him up and add him to my curious pebble collection. Instead, I used him as a doorstop, but first, with felt-tip pens, I tried to make him look less sinister. Of course, that was a mistake. Never try to improve on nature! And I soon regretted my crude artistry and began to scrub the stony face clean. Unfortunately, the bright red lips remained, accusing me of an unforgiveable act of vandalism.

Genuine Art trouve must be “untouched by human hand”.

I expect there are other Focus readers who collect Sea-art like me but a recent addition to my collection is not from the seashore. In fact, I am still baffled as to its origin and the medium in which it is crafted. I discovered it as I was having my tea! To be precise, while eating a buttered crumpet, liberally spread with raspberry jam. As I ate, I noticed something vaguely familiar about the remains of the jam on the side of the plate. Rotating it from a different angle, there in jam, was the unmistakable image of a Koala bear. Seeing is not always believing.

I could not explain it then. I cannot explain it now. I recalled Albert Einstein’s assessment of Quantum Entanglement as “spooky action at a distance” and I felt a chilling sensation of witnessing some kind of quantum ‘apparition’ which was, decidedly, “spooky”.

Later, my imagination started to run riot. Was this a new way of doing Art? I visualised my plate framed, hanging in a prestigious gallery, catalogued as, “An original, possibly unique, work of ‘art naturel’, created in the medium of jam on plastic; artist unknown.” Because it was created entirely without direct human assistance, I cannot claim it honestly, as my handiwork. The most I can do is to apply for copyright.

By studying the photographs you must be the judge of the jammy portrait’s authenticity and merit. Incidentally, I have now received an email from someone in Australia who saw the photo and asked if anyone else had noticed that my Koala appears to be playing a ukulele!

Perhaps a rendition of “Waltzing Matilda”?

What do you think?

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HEART OF FELPHAM – RAILWAY CARRIAGES

BY JOYCE PRITCHARD on behalf of felpham village conservation society For some while now we have been putting together the series entitled Heart of Felpham, which we hope you are enjoying. Felpham has many places of interest so we now move on with another area – the story of the Railway Carriages, which in Felpham is much less recorded. However, the earliest record is that a Mr W.J. Flexman and his son came to the area in 1910. There is a reference in a 1917 Bognor guide to railway carriage bungalows.

The land originally bought from the Duke of Richmond and Gordon was known as Felpham Farm.

Directly in front of the sea and along the west side of Sea Road a group of cheaper houses were put up in the 1910s, standing on stilts to avoid flooding; some incorporated railway carriages, and they had outdoor staircases, decorated verandas, and roof gardens.

The area was separate from the village in the 1910s and 20s and called ‘Felpham by the sea’. Early owners would retain a dinghy under their homes because of the frequency of flooding. A number of visitors came to Felpham and enjoyed their holidays in the carriages.

A National Heritage Railway Magazine feature brings to life even more information about these carriages. Apparently, around 1918, a policy decision was made by the London Brighton and South Coast Railway to replace many of its existing rolling stock to such an extent that Chichester, Bognor Regis and Brighton saw their yards filled with redundant wooden-bodied Victorian carriages.

Today, some of these homes have been transformed. Their carriages have been fully incorporated into bungalows and the only way you can tell they began life as a railway carriage is that you can occasionally snatch a glimpse of a window reminding the owner they are still in a ‘third class’ or ‘non-smoking’ carriage, which is still engraved on the window. There are, of course, new constructions in this area so that in time the railway homes will be long forgotten.

FUTURE EVENTS The Society is now looking forward to recommencing some of the work we have unfortunately had to put on hold during these unusual times: • • • • •

Our Beach Clean Group will be starting their beach cleaning efforts during May Old Rectory Gardens gardening group will be working hard in the gardens Hanging Baskets are on schedule to be put up during May Allotments Group are planning a Plant Sale on Saturday, 15th May Sarah Slater, a Guide at Hampton Court will be giving a Talk on ‘Working with Ghosts at Hampton Court Palace’ virtually via Zoom on Friday, 7th May – details to follow

We continue to work within the social distancing guidelines and our events and new ideas will be back as soon as we can.

For info about the Felpham Village Conservation Society contact via: mail@felphamvillageconservation.co.uk or drop a note marked FVCS into the village Post Office.

See our website – http://www.felphamconservation.co.uk and Facebook pages – ‘Felpham Village Conservation Public Group’. All photos and additional information are always welcome.

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SCREAMING SWIFTS

RSPB ZOOM MEETINGS FOR MAY 2021

6 May

Dr Jennifer Smart, Principal Conservation Scientist, RSPB – Saving Species from Extinction in the UK – the Black Tailed Godwit All meetings start at 7.00 pm

The talks are free to all RSPB Chichester Local Group members and £4 each to non-members.

Places are limited, so please book your place in advance by contacting Rob Yarham – email: chichesterbirds@gmail.com tel: 07545 376074 Maria Wildman – 12 Harbour View Road, Pagham, PO21 4RG tel: 01243 262833 Email: wildthings2@waitrose.com

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Ben Andrew (rspb-images.com)

BY ROY NEWHAM, RSPB VISITOR EXPERIENCE OFFICER

May sees the return of one of our most remarkable birds, the swift. Longer winged than the martins and swallows that arrived in March and April, they look like little black anchors as they zoom across the sky. As a child I remember ‘screaming parties’ of swifts racing between the houses where I lived and nesting under the eaves. On hot summer days I’d watch them hurtling in groups high above and imagined they were WW2 fighter pilots dogfighting.

So, what does make these birds so extraordinary? To start with they are fast. The peregrine is well documented as officially being the fastest bird, but this is only in a steep dive called a stoop.

Our swift holds the record for the fastest proven level flight, recording an impressive top speed of 69.3mph.

They also fly incredibly long distances. On migration they can fly over 500 miles a day. However, probably the most startling fact about swifts is that when they leave their natal nest for the first time, they will not land again for 3 years! They eat, mate and even sleep on the wing by switching one side of their brain off to ‘snooze’, and then swapping over later. They will only land again to build a nest and raise a family when they have matured as adults.

Originally swifts would have nested in holes in large Swift trees and crevices in caves and on cliffs. These days our UK population depends almost entirely on buildings – under the rooves of old houses or ‘swift boxes’ attached to the walls. The nest is made with materials the bird can catch in flight, such as straw, leaves, seeds and feathers, bonded together using their own saliva. The female will lay two or three eggs which both parents will incubate and hatch after about three weeks. Feeding exclusively on insects they hunt over a wide variety of habitats, from meadows and open water to over woods, towns and cities. Amazingly they are able to avoid stinging insects like wasps and bees, whilst still catching non-stinging insects that mimic them such as hoverflies and all at break-neck speed. The parents collect the insects in a special food pouch at the back of the throat, bound by saliva to create a ball or ‘bolus’ which can then be fed to the chicks. These food balls can contain over a thousand insects.

To prepare themselves for their aerial life, swift chicks start to exercise and get in shape, by performing ‘press-ups’ on their wings. By eight weeks they are ready to take to the skies, the ultimate masters of the air.

Unfortunately, our modern buildings lack the small crevices swifts need to make their nests and numbers have been dropping at an alarming rate. You can help these fantastic birds by buying and mounting a ‘swift box’ on your own home. See our online shop for details and let’s keep these fantastic birds flying in our skies.

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As we all hope to begin to return to some sort of ‘normal’ it is more important than ever to get our affairs in order and consider what may happen if we become incapacitated through accident or ill health. If you have not got a Power of Attorney in place and you become unexpectedly ill or incapacitated, then your financial affairs can only be managed with a Court Order.

If you would like the peace of mind of knowing that your affairs can be managed by someone who you wish to act for you by preparing and registering Lasting Power of Attorney documents then, in these uncertain times, Helen is offering her clients a £50 discount on her fee when instructed to prepare both a Will and Lasting Power of Attorney documents at the same time.

Helen is a full member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) the leading worldwide professional body for practitioners in the field of Wills, Estate Planning, Trusts and related issues. Helen will be delighted to help and advise the local community in relation to: Wills and Trusts- Inheritance Tax – Care Fees Planning General and Lasting Powers of Attorney Probate – Administration of Estates Initial meetings are free of charge and at the moment are being carried out via video or telephone call. The office will open to the public for face-to-face meetings on Monday 17th May 2021 in line with the government easing of restrictions.

Fees are fixed and agreed so that everyone knows exactly how much the service to be provided will cost from the outset. Please feel free to telephone Helen’s office if you wish to discuss any of the above matters or to arrange an appointment.

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

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34 Felpham in Focus

AS LUCKY CAN BE? HANNAH MERRY-WADE looks back at the history of the chimney sweep Spring is here, and with it the urge to make everything clean and fresh, including the chimney. If your fireplace is clogged and sooty from use during the cold winter months, now is the time to call a chimney sweep. This skilled high-tech profession has a rich and dark history.

The profession of ‘sweep’ dates back to the 16th century. Originally the service was needed only by the wealthy with grand estates, but gradually the trend of installing chimneys in every home caught on, and the demand for sweeps grew. The houses in city streets were tightly packed and sweeps would work from house to house, sometimes roof to roof, cleaning sooty chimneys.

In the 17th century the government introduced a hearth tax, based partly on the number of chimneys a house possessed. People wanted to avoid the tax, so builders connected flues of new fireplaces with the existing chimney, creating a maze of narrow, pitch black tunnels inside homes.

When people switched fuel from wood to coal, chimneys became coated with sticky soot deposits.

These had to be cleaned frequently; otherwise, the house filled with toxic fumes. So, chimney sweeps became associated with restoring fresh air in homes and thus became symbols of good health.

Unfortunately, the sweeps themselves did not enjoy good health. Tiny children aged between 4 and 11 became the primary ‘tools’ used for cleaning because they were small enough to squeeze through the narrow, maze-like chimneys. It must have been a terrifying job, working without light in suffocating cramped conditions. The children, known as ‘climbing boys’ were either sold by destitute parents or were chosen from orphanages. Their job was to scrape the coal deposits from the flue lining. If a young child was afraid to climb, the master would sometimes light a small fire to ‘motivate’ him to move. It’s actually where the phrase ‘to light a fire under someone’ originated.

The boys’ only official day off was May Day, and in Rochester they still commemorate this with the Sweeps Festival (sadly cancelled this year) involving three days of fun, real ale, music, and dancing across the bank holiday weekend.

These children suffered bone malformation, soot inhalation, and cancers. Some of them became trapped and died of suffocation inside chimneys. Most didn’t make it to middle age.

After many humanitarian appeals to Government, in 1864, the English Parliament finally passed the ‘Act for the Regulation of Chimney Sweepers’ which made it illegal to send a child up a chimney.

Today’s professional chimney sweeps are educated in the science of chimneys and fireplaces as well as in building codes. It is important to employ a qualified professionally trained sweep, from a recognised organisation, so you know they are well-trained and fully insured. Many are also skilled to carry out appliance servicing and fitting chimney cowls.

National Association of Chimney Sweeps: nacs.org.uk Association of Professional Independent Chimney Sweeps: apics.org.uk Guild of Master Sweeps: guildofmasterchimneysweeps.co.uk

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CROSSWORD 1.

4.

8.

9.

10.

11.

13.

15.

17.

20.

21.

23.

24.

25.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

Down Mixing (9) Phenomenon (7) Crow, flaunt (5) Welsh_______, cheese on toast (7) Delicious (5)

Across Rip-off, hoax (4) Twirling (8) Foetus (6) Be angry about (6) Circle (4) Striped feline (5,3) Monty Python’s, ____ __ Brian (4,2) Native American home (6) Another word for aubergine (8) Small round salty cracker (4) Cavern, den (6) Womb (6) Supply, material (8) Seize, grab (4)

7. Female member of religious order (3) 12. Dumbfounded (9) 14. The essence of a food (7) 16. Ardent, impassioned (7)

18. Paved garden area (5) 19. Accord, amnesty (5) 22. Fish eggs (3)

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40 Felpham in Focus

THANK YOU FOR TWENTY-FOUR YEARS THE REVD WILLIAM MARSTON, VICAR OF ST NICHOLAS, MIDDLETON, retires on 23 May 2021. Here he pays tribute to the parish he has served for nearly quarter of a century.

On first driving into Middleton-on-Sea, for an interview in the early months of 1997, I felt strongly that I would like to be the priest here and I have thoroughly enjoyed my time here.

I think that many of us, having arrived, tend to spend a long time. I am delighted that, on a rough calculation, I have been here for over a third of my life.

It has been a privilege to have been your vicar. The Church parish is fascinating, dating back some thousand years and as with any sphere of life, there have been changes, in the life of the Church as well as in village life.

Walking the streets and meeting people, taking services, and offering pastoral care, I have always felt a deep inner satisfaction.

My lungs have enjoyed the fresh sea air. My knees have valued the flat surfaces. I have sensed great good will from all who live here.

I would like to thank everyone for their kindness and good humour.

With my prayers and greetings, Fr William

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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42 Felpham in Focus

GARDEN VIEW RACHEL LEVERTON finds out why purple sprouting broccoli is a beautiful, tasty addition to the dinner table Purple sprouting has a great flavour, a long harvesting season and is nutritionally beneficial. A single portion provides half your daily requirement of carotenoids, plus high levels of folic acid and vitamins A and C. It’s definitely a ‘plan-ahead’ crop though. If you start planting now you will give yourself something to look forward to next January, and as it is a ‘cut and come again’ crop, that long season should keep you going until April or May. Purple-sprouting broccoli is extremely hardy, tolerating temperatures as low as -12°C. You can actually start raising seeds in March, for even earlier crops.

I usually start the new year with good intentions of staggering my planting like this (because it is one of my favourites veg), then forget and end up planting in April or May. One of the reasons I love it is that I garden on fairly alkaline soil, in which it thrives. It prefers a heavier soil than mine ideally but seems to do well enough in my garden. I dig in a fair amount of leaf mould and wellrotted manure to bulk it up. Purple sprouting broccoli doesn’t like exposed sites, because the wind buffets the stems, so if your garden is more open it will need a bit of protection.

Sow seeds into small pots or multi-cell trays, using a good quality multi-purpose seed and cuttings compost.

When the little plants are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out and transplant them into single 9cm pots. Watering them in well.

Once the plants have matured, fork the soil over. Remove large stones and perennial weeds.

Even if your soil is heavier it’s worth digging in some organic matter to improve texture and moisture retention. I don’t need to add lime to my soil but if you garden on neutral or acid soil, you’d be advised to work some in. Transplant when the broccoli plants are 7-9cm tall. Water them well before removing from their pots, and plant them 50-60cm apart, with a similar distance between the rows. Brassicas dislike loose soil, so make sure you firm around the plants lightly with your foot. Water again after planting. Six plants will produce enough broccoli to feed a family of four. I grow more because I love it.

Harvest when the flower shoots are well developed but before the flowers have actually opened. Cut the central spears with a sharp knife first, as this encourages the side shoots to develop quickly. Then crop the side shoots regularly to extend the cropping time.

January seems a long way away right now, but a little planning and preparation will ensure that deliciousness will await when we get there.

Happy gardening.

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FELPHAM PARISH COUNCIL NEWS COMMITTEE AND COUNCIL MEETINGS Annual Parish Council Meeting Main Council Meeting: Planning Licensing and Neighbourhood Plan Finance and Administration: Allotments and Open Spaces: Projects and Resilience:

Tuesday 4 May, 6.15pm Tuesday 4 May, 6.45pm Tuesday 11 May, 6.15pm Tuesday 11 May, 7.15pm Tuesday 18 May, 6.15pm Tuesday 18 May, 7.15pm

PUBLIC SESSION The first 15 minutes of every Parish Council meeting is open for members of the public to raise any issues or concerns.

Following are selected excerpts from recent meetings, please … visit our website for the full meeting minutes.

MAIN COUNCIL COMMITTEE Item MC 166. MATTERS OF URGENT PUBLIC IMPORTANCE: The Chairman advised the meeting of the intent of the Clerk to leave the employ of the Council, giving the required three months’ notice. He also advised that the Clerk had stated that he would be happy to extend this for a further three months. It was agreed that the process of replacing the Clerk and determining how much longer the Council wished to employ him for (i.e. the statutory three months or an extended six month period) would now go to the Finance Committee of the Council to deal with. It was conveyed that we are hugely grateful for the tremendous work that Richard has done over the past years and he will be sorely missed by all and that we wish him a long and happy future.

FINANCE & ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE Item F 123. ROAD TRAFFIC MITIGATION SCHEMES FOR FELPHAM: The Clerk advised that there were the following updates to report under this agenda item: Work had started on the cycle lane at the Downview Road traffic lights. Downlights were to be considered for installing at the new pedestrian crossing at Vicarage Lane/Felpham Road.

Bus timing boards at bus stops at King George V Playing Fields were being looked into and should the Parish Council want these they would come at a cost.

PLANNING & LICENCING ADVISORY COMMITTEE Item PL 134 & 136. PLANNING APPLICATIONS: Felpham Parish Council Decisions/Comments 15 applications received, 14 No Objection, 1 Objection of Overdevelopment of site and not in keeping with the street scene.

ALLOTMENTS & OPEN SPACES COMMITTEE Item A 253. REQUEST FROM THE LOBSTER POT CAFÉ RE-USAGE OF FISHERMAN’S GARDENS FROM APRIL 2021: The representative from the Lobster Pot Café was asked to outline the request that was to be considered by the Council. After this the Chairman of the Committee outlined his thoughts on this and then opened up the meeting to comments from other members of the Committee. That permission be granted for a period of three months only and that this be from 12th April 2021 to 12th July 2021, and that the maximum number of tables to be allowed be 11 (as per the Council’s previous agreement with the Lobster Pot over the summer months of 2020) and that the Council hold the right to review this, at any time, and amend the number of tables, based on government guidance and any other mitigating circumstances that may arise during that three month period. On a vote, the proposal was unanimously agreed.

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MEETING OF THE PROJECTS & RESILIENCE COMMITTEE Item PR 282. RESILIENCE: Sky News had approached Felpham Parish Council to cover a COVID report and how the Resilience Groups had greatly helped towards the Pandemic. This was broadcasted and highlighted the ongoing support.

Councillor D. Smart reported at the meeting that over 6,000 to 8,000 prescriptions had been delivered and the meeting agreed this was indeed a phenomenal achievement. Councillor Mrs G. Moss added that over 500 independent support telephone calls had been made. Councillor Mrs G. Moss stated that FERG continued to provide ongoing support to Residents.

OTHER NEWS ROADMAP FOR LIFTING RESTRICTIONS (when going to print) Stage 3, No earlier than 17 May: • People can meet in groups of up to 30 outdoors • Six people or two households can meet indoors • Up to 30 people can attend weddings or other life events, like christenings • Remaining outdoor entertainment, such as outdoor theatres and cinemas can open • Indoor entertainment such as museums, theatres, cinemas and children’s play areas can open • Performances and large events can restart, but with limits on audience numbers • Hotels, hostels and B&Bs can reopen • International leisure travel may resume • Adult indoor group sports and exercise classes can restart • Pubs, restaurants and other hospitality venues can seat customers indoors • • •

Stage 4 No earlier than 21 June: All legal limits on social contact will be removed No legal limits on the number of people who can attend weddings, funerals and other life events Nightclubs will be allowed to reopen

BOGNOR REGIS HOUSEHOLD WASTE RECYCLING SITE If you are thinking of visiting BRHWRS you will need to have a slot booked before you visit. You can find out more information online: ww.westsussex.gov.uk/BookToRecycle or telephone 01243 827457

COPING COMING OUT OF THE PANDEMIC This is a stressful time and in times of stress we can find ourselves drinking more often or more heavily.

On top of that, many of our routines will have changed, which might make it hard to keep on top of how much we’re drinking. If you think that you are drinking too much, there are lots of options to support you to take back control. Alcohol Wellbeing Advisors are available across West Sussex. They provide one-toone support to help you cut down or stop drinking. Currently this service is being offered by telephone, video calling and text. www.arunwellbeing.org. uk/contact-us or 01903 737862 Felpham Parish Council, Felpham Community Hall, Meaden Way, Felpham, West Sussex, PO22 8FA, Tel:01243 827470, Mon-Fri, 9am-11am. Email: clerk@felphampc.gov.uk NOTE: Our office is currently closed although all e-mails and phone messages will be responded to, also you can access www.felphampc.gov.uk for further information.

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A GOOD READ

BY WILLOW COBY

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens When a young man is found dead on the North Carolina coast the local police – and local residents – start looking for the culprit. It doesn’t take long before they turn their attention to Kya, also known as the Marsh Girl. But is she guilty of anything more than being an outsider?

What follows is actually two stories intertwined. As the hunt for the murderer continues we learn of Kya’s life in the marsh. At the age of six she watched Ma walk away from their shack with a blue case and high-heeled shoes.

Though Kya waited, her mother never returned and over the following months her siblings left as well, leaving her alone with Pa. He was often drunk or absent, so it was up to Kya to survive, until he finally left when she was 10.

To some extent, this is a coming-of-age story. It is an unforgettable novel; a celebration of nature and some of the most engaging parts are the descriptions of the marsh world through which Kya glides effortlessly in her canoe. It becomes a character in its own right.

There is no denying that this novel will stay with you long after you finish it and feel as if you have been along the journey though the marsh with Kya. A Good Day for Climbing Trees by Jaco Jacobs Don’t let anyone tell you that you are too young to take a stand. Sometimes all it takes is one simple, spur of the moment decision, to change your life forever.

Marnus was fed up. No one seemed to notice him.

His older brother acts as if he is in charge, and his younger brother seems to know everything. But a single knock on the door, a petition, and a tree under threat, will ensure that everyone notices him.

This charming novel from one of South Africa’s most popular and prolific children’s authors will hook you in straightaway. It will make you laugh and will make you think about grabbing those opportunities that life gives you.

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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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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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WHY WE LOVE AN ONLINE QUIZ

BY TRACEY ANDERSON

My friend Sally looked up from her phone and chuckled. ‘Look … this is me as a dog!’ She proffered her phone. The pic was of a Chihuahua, wearing Ray-Bans, lying on a sunbed next to a cocktail … actually pretty representative of Sal, with her diminutive stature and love of beach holidays.

Why do we find these online quizzes irresistible? Why do we have the urge to know what we will look like as an old lady, a man, or a biscuit?

Most of us are more than a little self-obsessed. We like to talk about ourselves and we like to learn about ourselves. 40% of the words we utter in life are about us!

Researchers in psychology at Harvard University ran a series of studies comparing how people felt when talking about themselves, compared to how they felt when talking about other people. The researchers found that, no matter how the studies were set up the results indicated that the reward centres in human brains were stimulated most during self-disclosure. We actually get a brain buzz from talking about ourselves!

Online quizzes and surveys tend to ask questions such as, ‘What is your favourite colour from this selection?’ or ‘Would your ideal Saturday evening be spent a) dancing in a nightclub? b) camping in the Cairngorms? c) curled up with a good book in front of a fire?’ etc. The quiz allows self-expression based on personal preferences. We disclose something about ourselves which releases the shot of dopamine which makes us feel good.

But we also like to learn about ourselves. Have you or any of your friends every taken part in an online quiz or survey which starts off by declaring, ‘Every woman has her own Eighties anthem. Which is yours?’ or ‘Which celebrity would play you in the movie of your life?’. You click the link, answer a couple of questions and the song title or photo of the celeb pops up, along with, ‘Tracey is a hardworking woman. She’s been through some tough times but always keeps smiling. She is fiercely loyal and will stand by her friends through thick and thin. If you hurt her, she may not show her feelings outwardly but rest assured, she’ll never forgive you.’ We could all probably be described like that, and even though we know it’s hokum, like horoscopes, we lap it up precisely because these online quiz results are relentlessly positive, and while we love learning things about ourselves, we love learning good things about ourselves even more. We share it with friends because it validates the positive things we feel about who we are.

Learning about ourselves is a national pastime. The self-help industry is a £7.5 billion per year business worldwide. Its entire premise is that understanding yourself is the key to a happier, more fulfilled life. People pay serious money to go on retreats, courses or to see a therapist to learn about themselves, which probably explains why a free quiz claiming to reveal our personality type based on which Avengers character we prefer is so alluring.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Access to your own online portal

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

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

Our clients could not have been happier.

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

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

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

“

Recent Client Feedback: Mark was very easy to talk to, I would not hesitate to use his firm again

”

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PRICE

MATCH GUARANTEE

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

We want to ensure you get the best possible service at the best possible price.

Call: 01243 945054

Wills & Probate Estate Administration Conveyancing Inheritance Tax Planning Lasting Powers of Attorney Online Wills from £39+VAT Fixed Fee Conveyancing service with local Probate from £495+VAT (Equivalent solicitors start from £1,000+VAT) Why use us?

Honest advice

A unique and personal service,delivering the highest quality legal services and advice in a down to earth manner, with the lowest possible fees.

Jargon free Personal 1-2-1 service Dedicated firm Local experienced team Straightforward outlined costs

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

4 Bankside, 128 Middleton Road, Bognor Regis, W. Sussex PO22 6DB For more information or to book an appointment, please call Mark or Emma on 01243 945054 or email mark@mjrsolicitors.co.uk or emma@mjrsolicitors.co.uk or visit our website at www.mjrsolicitors.co.uk or find us on social media MJR Solicitors is a Limited Company Authorised and Regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority Number 628799. Our Professional Rules may be found at SRA.org.uk

Trusted, knowledgeable, by your side.

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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

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

ocus whenTo responding to adverts contact FELPHAM IN FOCUS please email: office@infocusmagazines.co.uk

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56 Felpham in Focus

KIDS AND UNCERTAINTY

BY KATE McCARTHY

Helping young people cope in uncertain times The COVID-19 pandemic turned our lives upside down. As adults we’ve had too many questions and too few answers, and many of us felt overwhelmed in the face of so much uncertainty.

Now imagine what it’s like to be a child or teenager in this environment.

Young people don’t have the cognitive development, life experience, and coping skills to deal with all the uncertainties we face. So even though we may be struggling, it’s up to us as the adults to help them manage these feelings.

It’s not unusual for young people to be anxious about the future, especially as they near the end of school, or transition from one school to another. They might be stressed about the uncertainty surrounding exams, or what might happen about their university place. The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has created more uncertainty than usual. As a parent, it’s hard not to have answers and reassurances.

If your child or teen is anxious it can help give them the sense of some control.

Help them to develop a plan A and a Plan B Plan A – The ideal plan they would have followed in normal times.

Plan B – An alternative if plan A isn’t viable right now.

Plan A may have involved taking a year out to travel overseas.

Plan B may be to complete some online training then volunteer for a charity, with the intention of switching to Plan A several months down the line.

The idea of Plan B is NOT to give up on Plan A, but rather to postpone it, while still moving forward in other areas.

Show your child how to be okay with uncertainty Tolerating uncertainty is a skill that can be learned by practising how to respond in the best way we can to what’s happening in the present. Try doing small things together differently, such as preparing a meal without a recipe using only what’s in the cupboard or picking a random film to watch or podcast to listen to without knowing anything about it.

Validate your child’s feelings and concerns Accept how they feel and resist the urge to ‘fix’ them by minimizing their worries or making promises that are not within your control to keep. Instead encourage them to be kind to themselves and realistic in their thinking. Listen to them and remind them that this is a very unusual situation; it would be more weird if they weren’t anxious!

Talk about the things they value It’s usually possible to find something, even a small thing that they value or appreciate. Help them to refocus on the good things in their life. Share some of the things you are grateful for.

It’s difficult for most of us to remain calm and focused at the moment, and we all have to accept that we can’t predict the future. It helps our kids to see us focus on the things we can control. We can model strategies and show them that whatever happens, we can cope with it together.

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MAY HOROSCOPES

BY LOCAL ASTROLOGER LETICIA PARMER May is a busy month planet wise. First Jupiter your helper planet moves to Pisces, the dreamer.

Then Saturn, which brings boundaries, will start to lighten its load. Finally on the 26th there is a total lunar eclipse, a great moment of reset.

ARIES On the 26th the Lunar eclipse in Sagittarius encourages you to press a reset button by reviewing where your journey has taken you so far this year and where you want to go next, especially when it comes to teaching or learning.

SCORPIO If you’d planned a renovation project or a big catering event, this will go best after the full lunar eclipse on the 26th, when you may well be able to make a fresh and valuable start financially.

TAURUS May 13th to 23rd you may see career and family duties clashing, but things lighten up from the 24th. Then the lunar eclipse on the 26th helps you prune away excess and open a brand new page of potential.

SAGITTARIUS Did it seem in recent months like nobody was really listening? Good news, as on the 26th the moon will be fully eclipsed in your own sign, making the perfect moment to lick your wounds and let them heal.

GEMINI With so many hurdles thrown in your path, travel has not been as carefree as you want.

But you are starting to see the benefit now of staying put and making connections locally.

The 26th eclipse refreshes a partnership.

CAPRICORN You’re naturally good with finances but be sure to put things in writing. By the month’s end you can use both your intuition and imagination to plant your wishes and manifest your wildest dreams.

CANCER You’ve been marvellous lately at letting go of clutter, but from mid-May your old ‘can’t throw it away’ habits might creep back in. May 26th is a great moment to start a new diet or exercise regime.

AQUARIUS After the 23rd the money side of things is looking distinctly rosy. It would be good to gather with friends to celebrate the lunar eclipse on the 26th. Your social scene looks much better from then onwards.

LEO A partner becomes rather busy elsewhere.

Don’t let this hurt your ego, they’ll be back.

Meanwhile you’ll regain esteem by throwing yourself into your creative expression from the 26th, helped by the moon.

PISCES If you have been extra busy of late, with little down time, you can blame Saturn. Now you will experience light relief and a feeling of optimism. Enjoy pressing the reset button family wise on the 26th.

VIRGO If you’ve been wrestling with the stresses of everyday life, you’ll be glad of the break the planets offer you this May, especially after the 23rd. You can carve out space simply to meditate or dream in your garden.

Leticia Parmer has written magazine columns and books including the life guide, Why On Earth (available from Amazon). To make an appointment with Leticia for a personal astro reading, email: leticiaparmer@yahoo.com

LIBRA Children may become a bit more challenging this month when you announce that you will ‘claim some time for yourself ’. Stick to this resolve though, as you could get your writing project kick-started.

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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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Deliveries

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Theatre Trips

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School Runs

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Going to Work

Executive Fleet including 7 Minibuses. 24 Hr Service Family run business based in Felpham village for over 16 years.

No job too big or too small. Call now or send us an email

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Felpham in Focus Update from the Arun Prevention Team – May 2021 You can contact your local team in the following ways: • Call us: on 101 to report a crime or 999 if it’s an emergency • Email us: arun@sussex.pnn.police.uk

WHAT IS ANTISOCIAL BEHAVIOUR? Antisocial behaviour is defined as ‘behaviour by a person which causes, or is likely to cause, harassment, alarm or distress to persons not of the same household as the person’.

WHAT CONSTITUTES ANTISOCIAL BEHAVIOUR? There are three main categories for antisocial behaviour, depending on how many people are affected: • Personal antisocial behaviour is when a person targets a specific individual or group.

• Nuisance antisocial behaviour is when a person causes trouble, annoyance or suffering to a community.

• Environmental antisocial behaviour is when a person’s actions affect the wider environment, such as public spaces or buildings.

Antisocial behaviour can have a lasting impact on neighbourhoods and communities as it often leads to an increase in crime, particularly violence and criminal damage.

If you are experiencing any of the above, we may be able to help. Contact us on 101, online or in an emergency, dial 999.

FRONT OFFICE OPENING HOURS: Bognor Regis: London Road, Bognor Regis, P021 1BA. Monday to Friday from 10am until 2pm and from 3pm until 6pm.

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

PUZZLE SOLUTIONS Solution to Mind Benders 1. A foot in the door.

2. The last leg.

3. Cut a long story short.

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BOGNOR REGIS TIDE TABLE May 2021, Time Zone GMT

Tidal information is reproduced by kind permission of the Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office and the UK Hydrographic Office. Crown Copyright. All Rights reserved.

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GIRLS CRICKET ALERT

At Middleton Cricket Club we are so proud to have almost 20 junior girls cricket players signed up to play and quite a few women – but we would love to have MORE. If you have never lifted a cricket bat but would like to have a go. Or you have played softball cricket and would like to play or try hardball, we would love to hear from you. The cricket season has just started and we are very keen to have a Middleton CC women’s softball team to join our girls’ hardball and softball teams playing this summer. The junior girls are also very welcome to play in the boys teams if they would like to.

We are inviting all junior girls aged 8-15 to come and have a free, beginners training session at Middleton on Friday April 30th from 5pm. No experience or long-term commitment needed, just lots of enthusiasm. For the Over-15s (!) we are asking you to get in touch to express your interest.

Please email Kate Stewart our Girls/Women’s Co-ordinator if you are interested in joining in at: ksastewart@googlemail.com or visit our facebook page @middletoncricketsussex There is also an Allstars programme running at Middleton for girls and boys aged 5-8 starting Friday May 7th as well as regular cricket training for all junior boys every Friday night for more information contact dkellingley@btinternet.com We really look forward to hearing from you and meeting you this summer. Please share this with anyone you think might like to have a go at cricket or a Whatsapp group that might be interested. For girls or boys, cricket is the best game ever and Middleton Sports Club is an incredible place to learn with a lovely bar and outfield for parents to watch.

A BOWLS CLUB AND MORE One of the finest bowls greens in Sussex can be found in the wonderful setting of Middleton Sports Club in Sea Lane.

A warm and friendly welcome is assured to all new members whether experienced or first time bowlers and membership also includes full Social Membership to the Sports club with its renowned bar, restaurant, sporting and social facilities. Interested?

Contact: David Wilkins (Secretary): 01243 585011 or Gary Steventon: 01243 585694

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INDEX OF ADVERTISERS Aerial Installation Aerial & Satellite Connection

29

Bathrooms Coastline 13 Everything Bathrooms 65 Bed & Breakfast White Horse

7

Builders Allbrights 28 Building Essential Services 21 Creative Building & Refurbishment 21 D & M Builders 60 Hurstwood Builders Ltd 8 Caravan Services T H Caravan Services

60

Care Centres & Home Care Hollymead House Oakland Care Platinum Care Summerley Care Home

7 39 15 57

Carpenter Mark Shaddick

51

Carpets & Flooring Sargeants Carpets The Raven Flooring Co

20 61

Chiropractor A Cobb

11

Cleaning Services Building Essential Services 21 Clean Fix Carpets 54 Conway Cleaning 37 Jazzwa 41 KLJ Services 43 Clearance Specialist B&W Services

35

Computer Services Scanstation 72 Council News Felpham Parish Council

44-5

Curtains, Blinds & Fabrics Hillarys 67 Stock Blinds 54 Dental Care Felpham Dental Surgery Doors Dream Doors

48-9 47

Double Glazing / Windows Andy Payne

29

Drainage Contractor Julian Munn

24

Electrical Contractor Andy Milne Electrical Danny H J Humphrey

16 41 11

Estate / Letting Agents Little Oaks Estates Mays Estate Agents

23 2

Farmers Market Felpham Farmers Market

4

Financial Services Advice for later Life 31 BestLife 47 Footcare Felpham Chiropody & Podiatry Surgery 51 Natalie Mcmillan 24 Prescription Footwear 68 Funeral Services Darren Miles Southern Cooperative Funeral Services

72

Painting/Decorating AM Interiors J R Decorating Decorator Man

7 51 43

Pest Control TempPest 67 Plumbing & Heating A.D. Broughton 9 Alan’s Plumbing 57 Enticotts 11 Priority Heating & Gas 55 Regis GPS 35 Well Plumbed 32 Property Maintenance Allbrights 28 Brett Property Services 38 Mick Hancock 62 MJS 60 Professional Handyman 32 Pub / Restaurant / Takeaway The Fox

17

Roofing Barry Bedford Roofing Roofing Solutions TCB Roofing

36 60 70

29

Garage Doors A W Garage Doors Garage Door Services

Schools Westbourne House School

17 59

Garden Services Gary Mortley Local Lawns

Solicitor Helen Gagan Solicitor MJR Solicitors

41 43

Hair and Beauty Emma Jade Beauty Karen’s Hairdressing

Security GRN Locksmith The Lock Medic

29 2

5 71

Shops Barnham Trading Post

25

Hardware & Calor Gas A & M Barley

16

Stairlifts Baronmead 10

Health / Wellbeing / Care Carewise WSCC Connect to Support WSCC Physical Solutions West Sussex Bowen West Sussex Colonics

15 62 71 24 57

Kitchens / Bedrooms Dream Doors 47 Coastline 51 Laundrette Home and Dry

27

3 33 52-3

Taxis Five Star Taxis

63

Tree Surgery C M Tree Care 35 IPS 35 Upholstery S. Roberts Upholsterers

23

Watches & Clocks Arundel Clockworks

54

All advertisements are printed in good faith, however Felpham 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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