AAH All About Horsham - Sept 2011 edition

AAH ALL ABOUT HORSHAM MAGAZINE

The Quiet Life An extraordinary insight into the lives of the only Carthusian Monks in the country

September 2011

Perfect Fusion Wabi mixing up wonderful cocktails from just £4

You may have heard about the stunning contemporary Japanese food that has seen Wabi named amongst the country’s 100 finest restaurants.

But Wabi, in East Street, Horsham, is also causing a stir - or shaking things up, if you prefer - with its cocktails.

Experienced cocktail specialist Ryu Okada has created a number of cocktails that have proved a big hit. You can now sample many of these cocktails for just £4 on Wabi Wednesday and also every Tuesday on Ladies night.

You may even be tempted by some of Ryu’s Super Premium cocktails, such as the Wabi Martini, a blend of Japanese and English styles which complements the concept of the restaurant.

Ryu said: “It was the fusion of Japanese and English styles at Wabi that first appealed to me. In my eyes, rhubarb is very English, and sake is of course very Japanese, so I decided to bring the two together and created the Wabi Martini.”

On the Classics menu, available for £4 on

38 East Street, Horsham, West Sussex, RH12 1HL 01403 788140 www.wabi.co.uk

Tuesday, Wednesday and Happy Hours at 5-7pm on Monday and Thursday, are cocktails such as Peach Bellini, Elderflower Fizz, Sloe Gin Sling, Dark and Spicy, Sunshine Margarita and Lychee Martini.

Recommended special cocktails include Gin and Tea (fresh grated cucumber mixed with Beefeater gin, premium sake with Wabi’s green tea syrup and a touch of apricot), Rob Roy, Mexican Dirty Martini, Japanese Bloody Mary, and Royal Wedding Punch.

All of Wabi’s cocktails are made with fresh fruits, herbs and spices, and experienced bartenders will enjoy mixing any of your favourite cocktails that do not appear on the menu.

Cocktails are served in a variety of glass sizes - Flute, Martini, Short and Tall, and there are four non-alcoholic cocktails for £3.80.

All can be enjoyed in the attractive bar area or the stunning Japanese garden to the rear of the restaurant.

Contents September 2011 12

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The Top 10 We pick out the ten best deals available during the Horsham Food and Drink Festival...

Ashington Festival The village festival remains as popular as ever, with some fantastic floats complementing the great weather...

Music We meet the Stuart James Band, and even manage to avoid using Blues Brothers as a headline!

Me & My Motor Sally Napper shows us around her dream car - a 1972 Triumph Stag, found at a stables in Shermanbury

Events Find out what’s going on with our great events guide. Includes details about a village hot air balloon festival

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Art We feature the fine pencil drawings and paintings of Southwater artist Derek Golledge

Rusper Raceway How a new promoter at the Banger racing track hopes to bring back the fans

Toovey’s After a Chinese plaque sells for £120,000, we take a look at the Horsham district’s leading auctioneers

Camellia review For this month’s meal review, we visit the Camellia at South Lodge Hotel, trying to carve out its own reputation

Mystery of the Monks An extraordinary insight in to St Hugh’s Charterhouse, home to the only Carthusian monks in the UK

Tobyphillipsphotography.com You can now buy many of the photos you have seen in AAH magazine

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Apple wine We couldn’t go to all that effort and not tell you about the marvellous apple wine that the monks produce!

Magog Morris Horsham’s all-female Morris Dancing group tell us about the group’s traditions and how it keeps them fit!

Big Quiz The prizes are better than ever for our Big Quiz this month.

And remember, one person wins all of those goodies!

Sister Act The story of the sisters who gave up city jobs to help their parents run Drusillas Park in Alfriston

* Seeing as we’re nice enough to give you this magazine for free, would you mind giving AAH a little mention when contacting any of our advertisers? Thanks!

Find our advertising rates at www.aahorsham.co.uk Adverts start from just £50 per month. If you want to discuss advertising in AAH, please contact Ben or Kelly on 01403 878026. We’re happy to design adverts and/or write advertorials at no extra cost.

You can view old editions of AAH in a new fancy format on the AAH website at www.aahorsham.co.uk. The website also has now a news section and an events diary, both updated daily. See www.aahorsham.co.uk

Spreading our Wings One way in which newspapers and magazines exploit ‘freedom of the press’ is to proclaim their latest effort as its ‘biggest ever edition’, even though it’s clearly half the size it was in 1988.

Typically, news of this ‘bumper’ edition is so important that it needs to be in capitol letters, or placed within a star shape.

The other favourite of the media is to claim an ‘ever growing circulation’ even though that’s rarely the case.

Well, this is not our biggest ever edition - the first edition back in May had 100 pages - but we are at least expanding our circulation.

Last month, we were able to add 200 homes - in Holders Close in Billingshurst and Earles Meadow in Horsham - to our circulation.

And this month, we’ll be delivering to a section of Hills Farm Lane in Horsham for the first time. We’ll also have 100 copies on board the two Roadmark Travel coaches.

We’ll be tucked away behind the seats, and hopefully we’ll prove to be more more popular with travellers than the safety guide.

This month’s edition is much like all the others have been - full of great

Editor: Ben Morris editor@aahorsham.co.uk 01403 878026 / 01903 892899

features and pretty pictures. Possibly the pick of the bunch is the incredible insight into the lives of the monks at St Hugh’s Charterhouse at Parkminster in Cowfold.

There are wonderful photographs

by Toby and his magic camera, which is so fancy you can actually take bits off it and put other bits on in order to take photos of things you couldn’t take photos of before.

If you wish to buy any of the images he has taken for AAH magazine, they are now available to view on his website (details below).

You can contact me for editorial matters, and if you wish to advertise too. We do make some very nice adverts, and it’s all in the prices, which are about 20 times cheaper than those that were quoted by the candidates of The Apprentice recently!

We’ve seen some pretty poorly patched together adverts elsewhere or late, so if you think you’re getting a poor service, give me a call.

Finally, do give the quiz a try. Just take a look at those prizes - it’ll sort out half your Christmas presents!

Toby Phillips, AAH photographer, and Ben Morris, AAH editor, enjoy tea at South Lodge Hotel 01403 878026. E: editor@aahorsham.co.uk

Extra copies of the September edition of AAH are available for £3 each (this includes postage) Please send a cheque (payable to AA Publishing Ltd) of £3 for each copy to AA Publishing Ltd, 2 Viney Close, Ashington, West Sussex, RH20 3PT.

Ben

info@tobyphillipsphotography.co.uk 07968 795625

Advertising Manager: Kelly Morris advertising@aahorsham.co.uk 01403 878026 / 01903 892899

Contributors Chris Connors (Coco’s Foundation) Thank you Jeremy Knight of Horsham Museum (assistance with Parkminster article)

Photography: Toby Phillips tobyphillipsphotography.co.uk

Website www.aahorsham.co.uk

Cover Image A monk at St Hugh’s Charterhouse in Parkminster looks out across The Great Cloister, a courtyard which includes an orchard and the monastery cemetery.

Toby want ed to us the dramatic effect of the archways to capture an image of the monks that reflected their search for peace and solitude.

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Record

For the second successive year, cricket fans in Horsham were treated to a record-breaking display by Sussex.

During the 2010 Horsham Festival of Cricket, Sussex hit 576 for 3 declared against Derbyshire in a

king brfuen a at festival

County Championship Division Two match. Chris Nash, Ed Joyce, Ben Brown and Murray Goodwin all hit centuries, as the their top four batsmen all reached three figures for the first time in Sussex’s history.

The Crown Inn at Dial Post will be serving up nine courses during a special evening to celebrate local produce and culinary arts on 29th September at 7.30pm.

Tickets £35 from 01403 710902

This year, the County Championship Division One match against Worcestershire didn’t produce anything too dramatic.

Worcestershire edged a tight contest, winning by 34 runs, although Murray Goodwin had

given the home fans hope when he hit 122.

But on Sunday at Cricketfield Road, an awesome batting display in the one day, 40 over match earned Sussex Sharks an eighth consecutive win in the Clydes-

The Mary How Trust Film Society present Fair Game (12A), on Tuesday, 27th September at West Chiltington Village Hall. Screenings at 3pm and 7.30pm. Tickets cost £5 from 01798 877641

dale Bank 40. The victory over Worcestershire kept Sussex on course for a place in the semifinals.

Joe Gatting and Ed Joyce both made centuries in a stand of 210, and Sussex went on to set a record 40-over score of 399 for 4.

Sussex wasted no time in their pursuit of a large runs total Joyce brought up his 50 off 43 balls and his second 50 off just 24 balls. He even managed to launch a Daryl Mitchell delivery into the tennis courts!

Gatting also hit a century as the openers broke the record of 195 for the first wicket for Sussex in 40-over cricket.

Joyce finally fell for 120, having hit 10 fours and five sixes, when

Joyce even managed to launch a Daryl Mitchell delivery into the tennis courts!

No Jacket Required return to the Capitol on 16th September and as always, you can expect the full Phil Collins live experience. Tickets £18.50 from 01403 750220

he was caught off the bowling of Jack Shantry. Gatting hit 122 before hooking a short ball from Gareth Andrew to deep square leg.

Lou Vincent and Murray Goodwin kept the run rate flowing with Vincent smashing 71 from 43 balls.

Sussex scored 179 from the last 13 overs to beat the previous highest 40-over score by any county -386 by Surrey against Glamorgan. They just failed to become the first side to break 400 when they could only take nine off the final over.

Incredibly, Worcestershire briefly threatened to make a real game

of it.

Having got off to a bad start when Vikram Solanki was bowled by Naved Arif in the first over, the visitors were ahead of Sussex’s run rate as Moeen Ali smashed a career-best 158 off 92 balls.

But he did not get the necessary support and after his dismissal the wickets fell quickly and Worcestershire fell 80 runs short.

It all ended when Monty Panesar caught Ben Scott for 15, off the bowling of Chris Liddle.

It was a successful end to The Horsham Festival of Cricket, presented by The Best Phone Company.

Horsham Folk Club starts its autumn season starting on September 11th with Landermason, a folk duo with a jazz style. For details visit horshamfolkclub.co.uk

The Crabtree in Lower Beeding has now opened its doors once again. The pub serves local,seasonal food, organic wines and real ales. crabtreesussex.co.uk

Hepworth and Company, multiple award winners of fine ales, is celebrating its tenth anniversary with a special edition ale.

There are 3652 bottles of individually numbered ‘10’, and they can be bought from the brewery in Horsham and The Beer Essentials in East Street, Horsham.

Andy said: “It’s fantastic for us to be able to do this; we’ve created a splendid business and the skills and knowledge that all our team have contributed deserve recognition.”

Children’s TV favourites Steve Backshall and Naomi Wilkinson will be at Horsham Park on Sunday 11th September.

It’s a ticketed event - see CBBC website for details.

Contact AAH: 01403 878026/editor@aahorsham.co.uk

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Image: Chris Woolgar

Gary Holder and Herbie Flowers have formed the Coolham Choir. The idea for a choir came about when Herbie performed at Coolham Village Hall with his most recent show 'Music Box'.

Gary (above) has now set up a dedicated page to the choir at www.bassistgaryholder.com Two purpose-built Bradbury Eco Lodges have been opened at Lodge Hill Educational & Activity Centre, Pulborough.

The Eco Lodges will offer cost effective accommodation and disabled facilities for an additional 24 young people.

Visit www.lodgehill.org.uk West Grinstead Ploughing Match will be held at Westons Farm, Fulfords Road, Itchingfield

(RH13 0NR) on Saturday 17th September, from 9.30am.

Organised by West Grinstead and District Ploughing & Agricultural Society, highlights include tractor ploughing, including vintage horse ploughing, steam ploughing, Shire horse and farriery displays, gundog competitive training, terrier racing, and more. Food is available and there will also be a licensed bar. Adults £5 each, Under-14's free.

Over four hundred jobs have been saved after Monaghan Mushrooms,the UK’s biggest mushroom grower, agreed to buy Sussex Mushrooms in Thakeham. In April, Horsham District Council agreed to housing development at the site, with

money from the sale being used by Sussex Mushrooms to secure its future. And four months later they sell up...

Oxfordshire Theatre Company present The Jungle Book on 21st October at Southwater Village Hall. The play, an adaptation of the Rudyard Kipling classic, is being staged with the assistance of WSCC’s Making Tracks rural touring scheme. Tickets from Wheelwright House , Worthing Road, Southwater or on 730263 (£6 adults, £5.50 OAP, £3.50 children).

Horsham Library will be closed from Friday, 9th September at 7pm to Monday, 3rd October at 9am, to make way for improvements, including

a dedicated computer area and a more spacious children’s library.

For opening hours of other libraries call 01243 642111 or visit westsussex.gov.uk/libraries Residents are being given a chance to have their say about Horsham District Council’s services by answering a residents’ satisfaction survey at http://www.horsham.gov.uk/su rveys/ResidentsSurvey/residentssurvey.htm Repair works have been made to the Children’s play area at Southwater Country Park and the area is now open.

Horsham District Council has carried out a large amount of repair works to the play area, following April’s arson attack.

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To advertise in AAH call Ben on 01403 878026

11

Great War Memories It was the birth of big government, of proto feminist flying pickets turning to jam making, of a Horsham artist becoming a spy in Norway, of revealing pillow talk, of female train guards, and of O.B.E.s.

It was the first time that Horsham could have been bombed from the air.

It was the First World War. Now the rich, fascinating and multi faceted account of how Horsham town survived and fought the war on the Home Front has been told in volume 4 of the major history of the town, by the Museum Curator.

Some of the extracts were featured in the July and August editions of AAH magazine.

Taking longer to research and write than the war itself, the new account of the First World War has been published 90 years after World War One officially ended, 31st August 2011.

To many the war lasted from 1914 to 1918 and this new detailed history that uses the Parish Magazine, the archive copies of the local paper, the

museums poster collection and Council minutes, covers those four years in some depth.

Whilst the National Archives recognises World War One ending on 31st August 1921, this account is aimed at the general public rather than academic, so finishes at Armistice Day, 11th November.

The stories revealed put the image of Horsham in a new light showing how the town’s children in the weeks before the war went down to Bognor for a day out, and we are not talking of 30 or 40 children but 650.

Three months later 7,500 soldiers invaded the town and the pubs were forced to close early.

Amongst the extensive accounts of fund raising, of jam making, and egg collecting there is also the revealing account of protests, when the women who billeted the soldiers demanded the maximum amount from the government, instead of 15 shillings they wanted 23 shillings, in order to profit from the war - in the end they accepted 17 shillings.

As the war progressed strange tongues were heard around the

town from Portuguese soldiers housed in the old brewery to Canadian’s who played Baseball at the football pitch as well as Londoners who camped at Roffey.

It was also a time when notable people died, not of conflict but through old age, The Duke of Norfolk, Henry Padwick Jnr, Cyril Eversfield, all of whom played a major role in Pre War Horsham; their positions were changed out of all recognition as lowly clerks suddenly became organisers of coal distribution, ration books, tea and margarine.

The new book also deals with the fascinating tale of Horsham’s War memorial. With many photographs, posters and contemporary accounts of local events it provides a genuine insight into Home Front Horsham.

Like the previous volumes the book has been researched and written outside museum work with all profits from the sale of the book go to Museum funds.

Copies of the book are available only from Horsham Museum at a cost of £10.

Donate your unwanted clothes to CoCo’s Last month, AAH featured the story of the Coco’s Foundation. We’ll keep you up to date with the work of Chris Connors and his team with regular news on their visits to Africa and fundraising efforts.

Chris Connors, Group Director

By the time you read this I will be making the 30 hour journey with the clothes you have donated.

Clothes4Clothes has been set up by the CoCo’s foundation, because of a need to help to clothe 20 children in the Ubombo orphanage, like Syabonga and his two brothers, who were found walking along a road naked and without a mum or dad to care for them.

That was until Dawn Irons, the beautiful lady that owns the Ubombo orphanage, took them in and cared for them. Sadly it is a huge task for her to clothe the young girls and boys that she looks after every year so we have

come up with this idea.

It’s simple...

Bring your unwanted clothes and shoes to any CoCo’s Style salon near

you (we’re in Billingshurst, Southwater and Maidenbower).

The clothes are sorted and the best clothes go directly to the children.

The rest of the clothes you give us will be turned into cash, which we will then take out to the orphanage.

We take the orphans on a 2 hour car journey and buy new clothes for them all. This has two great benefits, firstly, we are helping the local African industries by buying the clothes locally and secondly, the orphans get a day out!

So please donate your unwanted clothes. Make a difference and help us help the orphans.

Top 10: Best deals during food and drink festival

Food for thought The Horsham District is a pretty decent place to eat out these days. Gone are the days when going out as a family meant a choice between Happy Eater or Pop’s Choice!

We have superb hotel restaurants, such as South Lodge, Random Hall, and Mill House, great pubs such as The Fountain at Ashurst and Chequers at Rowhook, and fine restaurants such as Wabi and Tristan’s. Many of these are offering discounts or special offers during Horsham Food and Drink Festival, which kicked off on September 3rd with The Big Nibble.

AAH has gone through the festival programme (which you’ll need by the way, if you want to secure most of the discounts featured here) and in all honesty, many of the offers feel like a token effort. A free drink here, 5% off there, one free meal - when a million of you pay full price...

So we’ve tried to select those deals which might be worth your while!

There are a few good ones we’ve not had room for, such as The Acorn Centre, part of the Aldingbourne Trust, which offers a buy one meal, get one free during the festival and 20% off for a table of 4 adults at the Frankland Arms in Washington - demonstrating that the programme is worth further exploration!

The programme is available in libraries or by calling (01403) 215264

The Pass, South Lodge Hotel

“Yeah, how obvious putting occasional advertiser South Lodge at Number One!” I hear you cry. But it’s warranted, as The Pass has no need to put on a decent offer as it’s been doing very well of late. The Pass - one of two restaurants at the Hotel in Lower Beeding - is offering four for the price of three. You can choose between three and six course menus available at a

set price, with th e lowest price menu free. Available at lunch time from Wednesday to Saturday for the duration of the Festival. So if you’re ever going to go there, it might as well be now as you could knock a good chunk off your bill! Call 01403 891711 to book.

Also, see our Events guide for details of the hotel’s wine tasting evening.

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Only mildly food related really, but a good deal nonetheless! Camelia Botnar Homes & Gardensin Littleworth Lane, Cowfold, is offering a 20% discount on fruit trees and bushes during the festival.

The Camelia Botnar Bistro will also be serving up a Sussex Special on the board each day of the festival.

For more on the bistro and the centre visit cameliabotnar.com

Wine tours and tastings

Dial Post boasts one of the district’s best pubs in The Crown, building up a solid reputation thanks to head chef James Middleton-Burn’s superb menu.

This cosy traditional country inn, which prides itself on sourcing excellent local produce, offers a 20% discount on food (Monday to Thursday, lunch or dinner) and a 25% off voucher for your next visit. This offer is valid for the whole festival period. crowninndialpost.com

Camelia Botnar, Cowfold

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Crown Inn, Dial Post

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Wine lovers will be interested in tastings at two local vineyards. Bookers Vineyard at Foxhole Lane, Bolney best known for its red wines has free tastings and 15% discount on purchases You can also sample the crisp, dry fruity wines at Nutbourne Vineyard in Gay Street, Pulborough, during half price guided tours. This will include a talk and tastings. Normal price is £8 – Festival special offer is £4.

Call 01798 815197

is offering 25% off all meals, Monday to Thursday, for the Festival period. Booking essential on 01403 891272. For more info visit the website at theblackhorseinn.com

The Royal Oak in Warnham is on the list for three reasons.

Firstly, they’ve gone to the trouble of creating a festival menu. Secondly, they’ve organised a food and drinks quiz on local cheeses on Sunday, 2nd October (at 7.30pm. £2.50 per person in aid of Sussex Air Ambulance.)

And Thirdly - and best of all there is a 10% discount on all food orders (not drinks) at the16th century pub for the Festival period. thesussexoak.co.uk

The White Horse Hotel in Storrington was recently listed in The Sunday Times ‘Top 20 Restaurants with Rooms’. For the festival, the 400 year old hotel offers a free bottle of

house wine when you buy a two course meal for two people. There’s similar offers from the excellent Countryman Inn in Shipley (above) and Chequer Inn, Steyning.

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It’s hard to convince those with busy lives to go to Warnham just for a roll, but on Saturday 17th September, A & R Baileys in Church Street, Warnham, will be serving up its own very own Hog Roast Special. The delicious pork and apple in a roll costs just £1.50 with all proceeds go to charity.

You might as well pick up some of the butcher’s award winning meat! www.aandrbaileys.co.uk

Cocoa Loco, West Grinstead

The Royal Oak, Warnham

The Black Horse Inn in Nuthurst is a beautiful pub dating from the 1650's with a roaring inglenook fireplace, and its ever changing menu uses the best local produce. The pub

Andrew Bennett/Tall Oaks Photography

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A&R Baileys, Warnham

The Black Horse

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Brewery Open Days

Free bottle of wine

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for details.

On the same day, at 11am to 2pm, WJ King brewery on Foundry Lane opens its doors. It’s a smaller brewery than Hepworth’s but the traditional methods used makes for an interesting tour, and there’s a brewery tour and a real ale tasting tutorial too!

Call 01403 272102/ email sales@kingbeer.co.uk for tickets.

You ca also admire the humourous and quirky labels of Welton’s on a brewery Open Evening on Friday, 30th September, at 7-9pm.

You might think that if you’ve seen one brewery, you’ve seen them all.

But that’s not the case.

We’re blessed with five in the district and three of those are hosting Open Days during the festival.

Hepworth’s, based at the Beer Station, Railway Yard, Horsham, opens its doors on Saturday, 10th September, at 11am-3pm.

Among the beers you could try is “10” a limited edition brew to celebrate the brewery’s tenth year.

Call 01403 269696 or email ahepworth@ hepworthbrewery.co.uk

AAH popped along to Cocoa Loco for a feature back in May, so we know that the chocolate they produce is excellent!

Cocoa Loco are offering a fantastic 20% off all orders placed online during the festival (enter HORSHAM into the ‘coupon’ field when ordering). Cocoa Loco will also be holding two open days at its West Grinstead base on Friday 9th & Saturday 10th September at 12-5pm. cocoaloco.co.uk

ESPA - Lash Perfect - Jessica Nails - St Tropez Upstairs at Slinfold Golf and Country Club, women work up a real sweat in Body Combat and Body Attack classes.

Others are ‘studio cycling’ to music and lights, whilst others are preparing for a Zumba workout!

But if that all sounds a bit too much like hard work, there is an alternative downstairs. If your husband’s round of golf has lasted a little longer than the “three hours” he ‘d promised, why not treat yourself to a luxurious massage or a little pampering?

The Retreat is Slinfold’s Golf and Country Club’s spa - and it is simply divine. Stylish fittings, rural surroundings and soothing sounds, balance the mind, body and soul.

Every treatment is a totally caring, personalised experience, drawing on ancient rituals and modern day touches to restore the body’s essential energies.

The Retreat’s product range of choice is ESPA – a 5star range bringing together the most effective

techniques from around the world.

The Retreat offers a range of therapeutic treatments including hot stones, envelopments, advanced facials and exceptional ayurvedic inspired treatments.

The treatments are sensuous, relaxing yet intensive, releasing tension and inducing a deeper level of inner peace to rebalance and revive.

considered the world's leading authority on natural nail care.

Experience Jessica Geleration, a new professional product that serves as both a long lasting nail varnish, and a gel nail.

Jessica Cosmetics and the Jessica Nails range is known around the world, with movie stars and VIPs among the regulars at the renowned Jessica Clinic on Sunset Boulevard.

Jessica Nails

Lash Perfect

The Retreat also offers a comprehensive nails service, using products and techniques from Jessica Nails,

New to the Retreat is Lash Perfect, the leading supplier of Professional semi-permanent eyelash extensions, the

fastest growing new service in the UK beauty industry. The extensions are semi-permanent, lasting up to 12 weeks with regular maintenance, and provide thickness and length to natural eyelashes thus enhancing the charm and appeal of your eyes.

When professionally applied, they do not damage the natural eyelash which can be the case with traditional self applied products.

The Retreat is currently offering special introductory rates for Last Perfect products (see the website for more details) Other treatments at The Retreat include St Tropez, a range of Self Tanning and Skin Finishing products.

This is the perfect choice to build a tan that is right for you, and enjoy lasting results with smooth, bronzed and radiant skin.

For more details on all of the treatments available at The Retreat for both women and men, visit the website and download the Treatment Menu.

Tel: 01403 887525 Web: ccgslinfold.com/retreat-spa

Remember the good old days

of community

SPIRIT?

Images: Toby Phillips

Not too long ago, The Independent carried a news story about the death of village communities.

According to a report, wrote the national newspaper, one third of people are predicting the death of their communities, as ‘towns and villages across the country adapt to fast changing populations that have little in common other than happening to live near one another’.

The Telegraph has written about how village fairs are falling by the wayside due to red tape.

‘The fun of the coconut shy is being eclipsed by the rustle of paperwork and the shuffle of the inspector's footsteps’, apparently.

If such news reached Ashington, nobody took much notice of it, for once again, the village festival attracted an impressive number of floats and thousands of people filled both sides of London Road as the procession made its way through the village.

It seems long ago that Horsham Town lost its annual town carnival.

The Sparks in the Park event may

have its own charm, let’s not pretend it commands the same affection among the townsfolk as the good old carnival used to. in Horsham, those days are gone, but not in Ashington, where still, year after year, the bunting goes up and the schools and businesses do all they can to create a colourful carnival and keep alive the wonderful community spirit in the village.

No doubt it requires a huge effort by the organisers, and the continued support of sponsors,

as it costs in the region of £11,000 to hold the event, but let’s hope it has many years left to run yet.

The weather was kind to this year’s festival on Saturday, 20th August, ensuring that the event attracted more than just the residents of Ashington.

The parade was led by Roman Centurions carrying the festival banner, followed by a Highland band and the Ashington Carnival Continued on Page 16...

Buy photos from tobyphillipsphotography.co.uk

Continued from Page 15...

Princess, Holly Neller, 10, and her two attendants Danielle Cork, 10, and Georgia Lund, 8. The two pageboys were Freddie Harvey, 5, and Nathan Baker, 8. All five are pupils of Ashington C of E School.

Behind them came the Wonder Girls Pom Pom troupe, Ashington Tiny Tots, David Wilson Homes, the Ashington Players and an excellent afternoon tea float by Church Lane Cafe .

Next came the prize winning Old MacDonald theme by Chanctonbury Playschool, followed by the Silk Road Restaurant Belly Dancers, Ashington Short Mat Bowls Club, and a Harry Potter-themed float created by Ashington Beavers featuring the Hogwarts Express.

Behind them came Bill and Ben, the Flower Pot Men, The Hillbillies (riding on the back of a wonderful old Chevrolet), the good humoured Ashington Olympic

‘It has been one of the most enjoyable days I can remember’ Team (where Curling took on a hair-styling twist) then Kazzies Kids and a marching band.

The parade eventually ended up on the recreation ground where Harris’s Fun Fair had set up camp.

Chanctonbury Playgroup won

£100 for thte best float, while the Best Walking Group prize was Alfie’s Formula One Racing Team. The winner of the Fancy Dress was Annie Francis as Cruella de Vil. A number of shows and demonstrations could be seen in the arena, including mountain biking displays, and the car boot sale and a number of stalls attracted a great deal of attention. Among the more popular was the Birdline Parrot Rescue stand.

There was a good turnout too in the classic car show which had a distinctly American theme with hot rods, a Pontiac Trans-Am and a Ford Mustang among the star attractions.

As is tradition, the villagers enjoyed live music in the evening Continued on Page 18...

16

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September at

Horsham Museum Art Gallery

Continued from Page 16...

&

Horsham Photographic Society From 8 September 2010 has been a busy year for members of the Horsham Photographic Society. This display showcases some of the best of a varied collection of members’ work.

The Copnalls

From 13 September Edward White Copnall and his son Edward Bainbridge Copnall were talented photographers and sculptors at the forefront of the arts scene.

Edward Bainbridge Copnall spent most of his life living in Horsham, and this exhibition explores the lives and work of the Copnalls.

Vegetarians’ Paradise From 20 September

Botanical art with a difference graces the Art Gallery this autumn with an intriguing display by this talented artist.

Menear Pottery From 20 September Comtemporary and individual hand made stoneware and raku pottery make for a unique display. Pieces from this exhibition are available to buy.

from Champagne Supernova, before the festival ended with an impressive fireworks display.

Margaret Alford, chairwoman of the Festival Committee and one of the original founders 14 years ago said “It has been one of the most enjoyable days I can remember with everyone

18

really having lots of fun.

“We had great weather, superb attractions, a brilliant community spirit and a truly amazing carnival procession.

“We are very grateful to everyone who came along, from the helpers to the participants, the sponsors to the volunteers, Continued on Page 19...

Buy photos from tobyphillipsphotography.co.uk

Continued from Page 18...

Charles Muddle Ltd, Fowlers Estate Agents, Winner Plant Hire and David Wilson Homes.Another 60 local companies contributed to the success of the day.

“Particular thanks go to Charles Muddle who sponsored the fireworks and Fowlers Estate Agents who sponsored the main arena where M.A.D., the mountain bike aerial display team provide some of the thrills (and a spill) of the afternoon.”

and the judges to the members of the public who all came together to make such a memorable day.

“I can’t wait for next year!”

Chris Clarke, sponsorship organiser, said “I would really like to say thank you to everyone that helped on the day or sponsored our village fair – without them there would be no festival!

“Major sponsors this year were

THE MILL HOUSE HOTEL & RESTAURANT Mill Lane, ashington, west sussex, rh20 3bx

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19

funk. soul. brothers.

The Stuart James Band mix things up

Who’s this, scaring anyone who dares to cross the bridge?

This is Stuart James, the singer, writer and guitarist in the Stuart James Band, and his brother and bassist Simon.

Just another couple of wannabes from Horsham?

You won’t see these two on The X Factor (we’re not sure if the brothers' straight talking would suit Mr Cowell!). Stuart, in particular, finds the whole famechasing process ridiculous. Instead, they are going about things the way it used to be, writing records, playing live

and hoping there are enough people who like it to make a bit of money out of it.

So what kind of music do they play?

Stuart is renowned as one of the very best guitarists around, and he adapts his style to suit the songs he writes.

Stuart said: “I’ve always been known as a blues player, but I’m a rocker really.”

Rock guitar eh? Maybe Stuart and I can jam a bit - I can sort of play the start of Wild Thing you know...

You might be shown up a bit. Stuart

started playing when he was 12 but within a year he shocked his dad by playing excerpts from the Deep Purple album ‘Made in Japan - Live’ note for note. By the time he was 14 he was playing in his dad’s rock band. The singing came later, during his days playing live when living in London.

Is Stuart’s own material of that ilk?

Primarily Old School rock, yes. Stuart and Simon were raised on their dad’s Deep Purple, Nazareth, Rory Gallagher Continued on Page 22...

Regular news updates at www.aahorsham.co.uk

21

AAH Advertising: Designing service at no extra cost

22

and Led Zeppelin records, but Stuart also writes funk songs and the occasional ballad too.

Not a one trick pony then?

Far from it. As Stuart says: “A lot of the stuff I’ve done and will continue to do, whether it makes any money or not - is so diverse.” There’s a broad spectrum - there’s acoustic, funk, hard rock and there’s even a five minute ballad on there which Stuart says is a bit ‘lovey dovey’ for him.

Maybe it’s a bit too diverse’?

Stuart reckons that a more secular sound could be more beneficial to commercial success. One might be tempted to assume his experiences of the music industry haven’t been too inspiring when Stuart says things like: “We aspire to be successful but it’s an industry full of nonsense and the higher up the food chain you go, the more idiotic they become.”

Wow! Yeah, and don’t get him started on Coldplay!

Has the Stuart James Band has been around a while then?

They are on the verge of releasing their third record - Changing Lanes - which heralds a new sound for the band. They started with Introducing in 2006, and followed that up with Porno Kitsch and Morals, which you can download for free off the band’s website.

Could it be the breakthrough?

At AAH, we’ve only heard three of the tracks, and what comes across more than anything is firstly Stuart’s skills as a guitarist, and secondly, the polished studio production.

When you hear Simon and Stuart talking about the recording process, you can understand why.

“I’ll get a song down in the studio at my house, and it’ll get to a certain point” Stuart said. “Then I’ll call Junior (a name for Simon) and he always brings something to the table.” Simon added: “We’re pretty in tune with what each other is doing. But you can get studio ear. If you spend six hours doing something, you can go back into the studio the next day and want to scratch it all! It’s never perfect.”

Do Stuart and Simon have big expectations?

‘We aspire to be successful but it’s an industry full of nonsense’ They’re not expecting the phone to be ringing through the night with offers from record companies. They admit themselves that they may have the “right sound at the wrong time”.

Changing Lanes called Take This Love has “the most commercial legs of anything I’ve done”. He added: “What I would like is to have a decent distribution deal and slogging my guts out touring. That would be perfect.”

Meaning?

The charts are hardly flooded with blues rock guitarists at the moment!

What does the band see as their strengths?

Stuart said: “I think our strength is the live performance, the full package of the band: guitar playing, singing, song-writing and the showmanship.”

What are they hoping for then?

Stuart says that one song on

Junior James

Can I see them live soon then?

The band helped organise and played at the Horsham Festival of Sound’ on 4th September.

Stuart says there is a lot of talent in the Horsham area, but a lack of decent venues. He said: “I would dearly love to open a live music venue in Horsham, but it’s just finding somewhere where no-one is going to complain about noise.”

But I’ve missed that, so how about a local pub gig?

You’ll be lucky. Stuart said: “We’ve made an effort to stop playing pubs. You can’t be seen here in Horsham for free one week when the next we’re asking our followers to pay £15 to see us. For example, (in August we opened for) Hamilton Loomis (a young blues singer and guitarist from Texas). Yes, you’re going to see a great band after us, but if we then play The Boars Head for free, they’re never going to come and see us elsewhere.”

So I have to pay to see this lot eh?

AAH: 01403 878026 That’s the way they like it, because they feel they then demand attention. Stuart said: “If you’re paying even a nominal fee you feel like you’ve invested in what you’re doing for the evening, so you pay attention.

It makes all the difference.”

There might not be too many local gigs as Stuart and Simon are now back on the festival circuit, play with bigger acts and improving their own live show.

Why do they want to play with bigger bands?

Stuart said: “I’m quite a taskmaster really. I want it to be right, I want it to be perfect, and it’s pretty far from perfect at the moment. People would say if they lined us up against X, Y and Z band, ‘that’s pretty spot on’ but I’d be going home and writing up why it wasn’t.

They want to see high quality original material with perfect execution really and that’s what we’re striving for. Some other acts are so tight and in control it spurs you on to do better with your song writing and playing.”

Stuart comes across as being a bit of a perfectionist...

He is guilty of getting wholly engrossed in the music, he admits.

“If you don’t immerse yourself in it you get something out in the end where you think ‘that could’ve been a lot better’. I’d say the last album was about 60-70% there. With this record, Changing Lanes, I don’t want that to happen.”

Sound like a man who’s never going to be satisfied!

Simon smirks knowingly when Stuart says: “It’s very difficult being a musician who does take it very seriously. It takes over your entire life.”

Let’s hope Stuart finally gets a break then...

He has certainly put a shift in so deserves something, for the effort and his obvious talent with the guitar.

So should I check it out?

If you like the music of Stuart and Simon’s influences particularly Deep Purple -

check it out. Stuart may talk about the wide range of funk, ballads and blues rock, but we’re talking about 80% Zeppelin, 19.5% George Clinton and 0.5% Michael Bolton.

Where can I hear more?

You can find out all you need to know at stuartjamesband.com or visit the Facebook page www.facebook.com/pages/Stu art-James-Band/196954853215 to listen to the new songs.

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O VER T HE R AINBOW OVER THE RAINBOW T HE EEVA VA C ASSIDY S TORY THE CASSIDY STORY Wednesday 21 September 7.30pm A compelling award-winning musical, following the life of Eva Cassidy. Sarah Jane Buckley (Kathy Barnes in C4’s +ROO\RDNV VWDUV DV (YD &DVVLG\ ZLWK + ROO\RDNV VWDUV DV (YD &DVVLG\ ZLWK Maureen Nolan as Barbara (Eva’s Mother) and Brian Fortuna (Strictly &RPH 'DQFLQJ DV 'DQQ\ &DVVLG\ &RPH 'DQFLQJ DV 'DQQ\ &DVVLG\ (Eva’s brother).

B BUDDY UDDY G GRECO RECO Friday 23 September 7.30pm One of the most talented entertainers of the last 60 decades, Buddy Greco is the original swingin’ hipster. With his big hit The Lady is A Tramp and others such as Around The World and Girl Talk, Buddy is the star you should not only listen to, but should also watch perform to get the whole story.

T TONY ONY H HAWKS AWKS - R RANDOM ANDOM FFUN UN Sunday 25 September 7.30pm Tony Hawks, comedian and best selling author of ‘Round Ireland with a Fridge’, looks back on the strangest and funniest moments in his career.

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D DEATH EATH B BY Y FFATAL ATAL M MURDER URDER Thursday 29 September Saturday 1 October 7.30pm Ian Dickens Productions present Peter Gordon’s sequel to Murdered to Death.

Starring EastEnders’ ‘Dirty Den’ Leslie Grantham, Richard Gibson (‘Allo, ‘Allo), Michelle Hardwick (The Royal) and Katy Manning (Dr Who).

T THOSE HOSE KINGS KINGS O OFF S SWING WING Thursday 6 October 7.30pm Hear the triumphant seventeen piece Big Band playing the original Benny Goodman and Ted Heath orchestrations from New York‘s Carnegie Hall. With Kenny Martyn and Jazz legends from the famous Ted Heath Orchestra.

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Beating back pain Simple tips to prevent back pain from Cranfold Physical Therapy In our clinics we see a wide range of patients with all manner of pain and injury – however a large part of our work is centred on dealing with low back pain.

Here are some simple tips on overcoming and preventing back pain to help keep you pain free:

If you don’t use it you lose it We were built for movement – it stimulates joint lubrication, blood flow, improved metabolism and healthy tissues. We suggest that every day you do a short series of mobility exercises that move your back through a full range e.g: lie on your back and pull your knees to your chest 10 times, then with your knees bent

and feet on the floor, roll your knees side to side for 10 reps, and finally roll onto your tummy and rest on your elbows for 30 seconds – these simple movements help keep your back moving– if there is any pain when doing these movements make sure you check with your Physio before continuing.

Don’t rest too much with a back injury This is a difficult one because many people feel that if they have hurt their back they need to stop moving totally and lie in bed for days on end until the pain settles. The overwhelming majority of research supports getting moving as soon as possible

post injury – be this via swimming, gently walking, or a range of Physio designed exercises.

Stay Fit One of the best ways to improve back pain and prevent it in the first place is to keep physically fit – the greater your aerobic fitness the better oxygen delivery to your muscles, the less sensitive you are to pain responses in your back and the better you feel generally – so try and move at least 20-30 mins every other day, cycling, running or walking in the Sussex countryside! – you will feel great and help your back at the same time.

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position for more than 30 minutes If you spend most of your day sitting in an office chair or driving a car then you are at great risk of getting a stiff and painful back – as we said before the joints in your back love to move and the more they move the healthier they are. Get up and stretch, take a walk or at least move your body position every 30 mins.

If you have a back issue and would like to know what is going on, or if you would like to go over some simple back exercises to keep your back loose and pain free, we’d be happy to help you in Courtyard Surgery, Horsham, The Village Surgery, Southwater, or any of our Surrey locations.

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27

Teenage dream finally ends in Triumph

Not much from the early seventies has stood the test of time.

Donny Osmond records, platform shoes, Chopper bikes, Tony Blackburn, Space Hoppers, The Wombles, Pan’s People, It Ain’t Half Hot Mum, glam rock...

But many cars of that time have steadily built up a cult status, and not just early supercars such as the Lamborghini Miura or the De Tomaso Pantera, but some British motors too.

Cars such as the Ford Cortina and Capri, the Reliant Scimitar, The Hillman Avenger, were affordable, yet cool. Some were boosted by appearances in popular TV shows such as The Sweeney and The Professionals.

But in the eyes of Sally Napper, the best car of all was the

Triumph Stag. It was the only car she wanted, but the opportunity never came about.

That was until 2008, when Sally, from Partridge Green, came across an immaculately preserved 1972 mark I model at a stables in Shermanbury.

Sally said: “As a young girl, I always loved Triumph Stags. I think they’re gorgeous. I love the sound of the V8 engine and for me it was just the dream car.

“They were quite popular in detective programmes in the 70s. I first saw one in Hazell.

James Hazell drove a bottle green one, and I was most upset when I saw the episode where they put a garden fork through the bonnet!

“My daughter has a horse and

at the livery yard I looked through the window of one of the outbuildings and saw a car covered up. I asked one of the other ladies with a horse at the yard what the car was and she said thought it was a Triumph Stag.

“My eyes lit up! I had a sneaky look under the cover and saw the back end of a Stag and thought ‘Oh wow, this looks special.’”

Sally’s husband Steve asked the owner of the livery if he had ever considered selling the car, and it transpired he was quite keen to cash in.

Sally finally had her dream car!

The Stag was in pretty good condition, and just needed a clean and polish. It had been

stored well though, and started first time. Sally said: “That was it, I fell in love with it there and then. It was the first time I’d ever actually driven one.”

Sally’s Stag has clocked up Continued on Page 28...

“I was most upset when I saw an episode of Hazell where they put a garden fork through the bonnet!”

Continued from Page 27..

104,000 miles on its original three litre V8 engine, but they only take it out during the summer months. The car - christened Stella - is a regular at meetings

of both the West Sussex Stag Owners Club meetings (there are about 16 members) and national meetings too.

The Triumph Stag, styled by the Italian designer Giovanni Michelotti, was sold between

1970 and 1978. The car was launched one year late in 1970, to a warm welcome, but like many British cars at that time, the Stags were hit by engine troubles. That meant that production rates were lower than

Triumph had hoped - only 25,877 cars were produced between 1970 and 1977. It is thought around a healthy amount of about 9,000 Stag survive in the UK, and the car has - nearly four decades on -

View old editions of AAH at aahorsham.co.uk - been elevated to Classic status.

Sally’s car has suffered few reliability

troubles, and the V8 still packs a punch, and is able to hit speeds in excess of 100mph, but Sally likes to take it easy and enjoy the ride.

She said: “It’s a completely different way of driving compared to modern cars. You have to anticipate a lot more because the braking is different and the cornering is different.

“It has got power steering, it has got electric windows so for its age, it was well ahead of its time.

“It makes me feel really special. The first time we took her out, we ended up in a pub near Cuckmere Haven (East Sussex) and it was heaving. We drove in the car park and the chap there said ‘you can park here right outside the pub, that’s a proper car!

“I enjoy going out on a hot summer’s day, stopping for a pub lunch, cruising and getting the odd admiring glances.

“We like going through the tunnel in Lewes or through Petworth with the high walls on either side, as you can hear the sound of the engine.

“People turn their heads and look and wherever you go, people want to talk to you. The only complaints are from Sophie in the back and she says it’s too cold!”

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The Sweeney mostly used Fords - Cortinas, Consuls,Granadas - but there were a few Stags used in various editions of the show (below).

The Professionals also featured the Stag on occasion, while the Capri was of course the star, and Stags also featured

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Event updates at aahorsham.co.uk Picture by Chris Woolgar

EVENTS

DON’T MISS IT! Wisborough Green Hot Air Balloon Festival

9th-11th September

The three day balloon festival at Wisborough Green has become a highlight on the events calendar.

About 30 balloons take off at five different occasions int he three days, with all proceeds going to CHASE children’s hospice. Flights are available for a donation of £90. Flights are made on Friday 9th September at 6pm, Saturday 10th September at 6am and

6pm, and Sunday 11th September at 6am and 6pm.

These times are approximate and weather dependent. Flights are available for a donation to CHASE for just £90.

Places are limited, so interested parties should book early.

For bookings or information, contact Brian Smith on 01403 700346/ briansmithair@btinternet.com

Over the Rainbow

Jean Jackman

Walking Festival

Wednesday, 21st September

From 20th September

7th-9th October

Theatre Productions Limited is proud to announce the seventh sensational UK tour of Over The Rainbow: The Eva Cassidy Story.

This is the poignant and moving story of Washington-born singer Eva Cassidy. By the time of her death, she was unknown outside Washington but within four years Terry Wogan discovered and promoted her haunting interpretation of ‘Somewhere Over the Rainbow’ to the top of the chart.

Sarah Jane Buckley (Hollyoaks) stars as Eva Cassidy, whilst Maureen Nolan (Blood Brothers, The Nolans) takes on the role of Barbara Cassidy, Eva’s mother, and Brian Fortuna (Strictly Come Dancing) makes his eagerly anticipated acting debut as Danny Cassidy, Eva’s brother. The show comes to Horsham's Capitol Theatre for one night only.

Jean Jackman ©

‘Vegetarians’ Paradise: A Fruit and Vegetable Medley’ is a major exhibition

by Bignor artist Jean Jackman at Horsham Museum. Her watercolours are fantastic studies of the root crops and fruit that will fill many a harvest table. Yet while exhibiting the scientific exactness of the botanical artist, her brush, pallet and craft give a sense of the freedom that plants reveal in the wild. The exhibition runs till 5th November 2011. Entry to the exhibition is free.

The West Sussex Walking Festival, organised by Per Rambulations and Footprints of Sussex, is held over three days.

Organisers have extended the programme of walks to five a day to offer a wider choice of distance and terrain and have also added special interest walks each day.

The walks taking place on Friday and Saturday will be a mixture of circular walks of between 6 and 11 miles and will take place across the breadth of the county. On Sunday all walks will start and finish at Abingworth Hall, Thakeham, where an end of festival barbecue will be held in the beautiful gardens of the house. Book your barbecue in advance for just £4.95 when registering for the Festival walks.

For details on all the walks visit www.sussexwalkingfestival.co.uk

Mannings Heath Golf Club professional Carl Watts is holding a Stupini Kids Charity Day. Teams of 2, 4 ball on waterfall course, auction includes Rory McIlroy signed US Open flag. £130. Call Carl on 07930 365866

17-18th September

2nd October

Disabled youngsters in Sussex aged 8-18 are invited to extend their sporting limits at the Sussex Reaching Higher Games at Christ’s Hospital School. Contact Ian on 07764 146338. or ian.ford@horsham.gov.uk

Horsham Beer Festival is held at Drill Hall, Denne Road, Horsham. There are 3 sessions, 12-4pm and 6-10pm Saturday and 12-4pm Sunday.

Tickets are £6 (price includes a glass) Ticketsfrom The Beer Essentials.

24th September

Enjoy lunch with music at Christ’s Hospital School from 12.15pm.

This lunchtime concert features the school’s musical talent, with lunch provided by onsite chefs.Tickets £12.50 from 247434

South Lodge Hotel hosts an evening of Sussex wine tasting in The Cellar at 6.30-8pm. Sommelier Dominic Roberts will host a tutored tasting of local wines Places must be booked in advance. £25 from 01403 891711

31

Pulborough Harvest Fair is held at East Glebe Field, Pulborough, at 11am-5pm. The free fair celebrates the best of local foods, with country crafts, arena displays, animals and more. visitpulborough.com

9th October

21-22nd September

The New Horizons Appeal host an Autumn Gift Fair in aid of St Catherine’s Hospice at Knepp Castle, Shipley, over two days.

Preview night on 21st Sept at 6.30-9pm. Fair Day is 22nd Sept at 9.30am-4pm.

17th September

20th September

Pop along to the Holy Innocents Church, Church Lane, Southwater at 7.15pm for a talk on Aloe Vera hosted by Sue Altimas. The event will raise funds for repairs to the boiler and heating system. www.suesaloeshop.com

Horsham Football Club will have already played a number of league games by the time they play at hom e against Lingfield or Fisher in the early stages of the FA Cup. Maybe they could ‘do a Crawley’

22nd September

16-18th September

The finest collection of racing Jaguar E-types ever assembled will race at Goodwood Revival.

Drivers include Gerhard Berger, Jochen Mass and Adrian Newey.

For Revival tickets call 01243 755055.

4th October

11-20th September

The Seawhite Studio at the Dark Star Estate in Partridge Green hosts an exhibition of 13 contemporary painters over six days, with a closing party on the Sunday at 11am2pm. More details at emilyballatseawhite.co.uk

27th September

Updated events guide at aahorsham.co.uk

Horsham-based Jedris Football Team will play a Tottenham Hotspur veterans team at Horsham YMCA Football Club (Gorings Mead) at 2pm.

The likes of Mark Falco and Andy Sinton could feature. Tickets on door.

Please send event details for consideration to

editor@aahorsham.co.uk

enables it to turn 360 degrees within its own space.

Nursing Hygiene also stock the Go Go Elite Traveller, a fun and simple scooter which has a removable battery pack.

Paul Andrews of Nursing Hygiene said: “The Go Go Elite Traveller break downs into several components, so you can put the scooter into the back of a car.

“The battery is removable and you can charge it at home. You don’t have to run a cable through the kitchen window to the scooter to charge it.

You can leave the scooter in the car and just take the battery out and charge it.

“It is a great scooter for those who want to maintain an active life. It’s a very reliable scooter but we have all the back up here to put it right should any-

thing go wrong.”

Nursing Hygiene is home to one of the largest showrooms of specialist care products, equipment and furniture. All are welcome to drop in and browse the latest range of specialist beds, chairs, wheelchairs, motorised scooters and rehabilitation equipment.

Another leading new product is the TGA Wheelchair Powerpack.

The Powerpack (pictured above) the most technically advanced, easiest to fit and simplest to use power pack ever made. The

Powerpack acts as an extra wheel and can be attached to any manual wheelchair in literally seconds.

Once fitted you will never need to push the chair again.

The Powerpack is available for only £540 at Nursing Hygiene, whilst the Go Go Scooters are also currently on offer.

Visit the showroom at Charwood house, Oakhurst Business Park, Southwater, RH13 9RT Call Nursing Hygiene on 01403 825875 or visit www.nursinghygiene.com

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Nursing Hygiene is based in a large unit at Oakhurst Business Park in Southwater and has one of the largest selections of scooters and powerchairs in the district.

They have an incredible range of new and innovative products, such as the TGA Powerpack, which can be fitted to most wheelchairs, and the Roma Sena chair which has a two motor midwheel drive system that

Andrew Vince feature in June’s AAH at www.aahorsham.co.uk

33

‘I see something that I like and have an

immediate

urge to go back home to the

studio and draw it”

Derek Golledge Pencil artist and painter from Horsham

Updated events guide at aahorsham.co.uk

There is a well-worn book sitting on top of an old carpenter’s worktop, now used as a studio

by Horsham artist Derek Golledge.

The book - called The Art of Drawing in Lead Pencil - had been given to Derek shortly after the war by a senior draughtsman he was working with.

Even as a young boy, Derek had always enjoyed drawing, but had been discouraged from pursuing a career as an artist. But this book presented Derek with new styles and techniques that would ensure a life-long passion for drawing and painting.

Some fifty five years on, Derek is in his studio on the outskirts of Horsham, with about eight paintings presently on the go. He is showing no signs of slowing down - he was involved in the Association of Sussex Artists exhibition in Horsham in August and still paints every day.

Derek said: “As a young boy I was always drawing. I wanted to become an artist and went to technical college, but my mother married my step father after the war, and he was very Victorian in his ways.

“There was no way he was going to have an artist in the house! In those days they had long hair and were hippies and he wasn’t

going to have that, so I became a draughtsman instead.

“One of the elder draughtsmen appreciated the work I was doing and gave me this book, and it was a huge inspiration.

“It helped me to develop my skills as an artist.”

Whilst Derek never did become an artist by trade, during his working life he was always able to find the time for his art. He worked for a large Swiss/American firm and would paint in hotel rooms whilst on trips abroad.

“I would be in the hotel room painting or drawing in the mornings or the evenings,” he said. “I find creativity a very demanding thing - I have to do it!”

Derek has never limited himself to one style or subject. He uses primarily lead pencil and acrylic, but paints anything that captures his imagination. Among the most common themes in his art work are the people of Africa and the Middle East, wildlife and boats.

Others though are not so easy to categorise. One painting, Hurricane Lamp - features a lamp in front of a brick wall. It was selected for The Royal Institute of Oil Painters’ 2006 exhibition at Mall Galleries and in 2010 was the runner -up in the Still Life section of the Artist of the Year

competition, run by the International Artists and Illustrators magazine.

I paint wildlife, seascapes, anything I fall in love with really, be it a face, or a subject,” said Derek.

34

“I was in the Navy for five years and I used to do drawings of colleagues’ wives and loved ones to make money.

“I went to Muscat (Oman) Bahrain, and places like that, and

Lindsay Wright feature in August’s AAH at www.aahorsham.co.uk

loved the rugged landscapes but also the people, so when I came out of the Navy I started painting people from Africa and the Middle East and they sold very well.

“The people from those regions are beautiful. I think it’s the attractive clothes and the decorative items they wear, and they have an innocence about them.

“My son works for an international company and one of his colleagues covers Africa. He is also a photographer and he sends me images, so all of the people in my paintings are actually living today.”

Derek collects masses of photographic and reference material to use for his paintings and drawings, but often uses parts of several images to create his own composition.

He is also not adverse to changing paintings. One painting of a fox

showing its teeth didn’t generate much interest, so Derek is creating a new image with the fox’s mouth closed.

“For a lot of paintings I use oils and fine art pencils, which I specialise in”, said Derek.

“But oils have a lot of setbacks.

It’s not just the smell, but the drying time. It can take days before it dries enough to put another glaze on, so it takes months to finish a painting.

“Then I discovered acrylics, which are absolutely marvellous as you can adopt a watercolour

35

technique with thin washes or you can lay it on thick or you can use it just like oils. The big advantage, or disadvantage, is that it dries almost immediately!

“Unlike watercolours, if I make a mistake or want to change an image, you can paint over it in white, wait for it to dry and go over it. With acrylics, I can amend paintings or change them c ompletely, as I’ve done with this fox painting.

“There are over 50 washes in the background of one bird painting.

It was originally done in solid colour and then I put thin washes over it, waiting for it to dry each time before repeating the process until I achieved the desired effect of knocking the background right back.”

As well as the recent exhibition with the Association of Sussex Artists, Derek’s work was seen in

For more about Derek, or to enquire about his art tuition, visit his website at www.derekgolledge.co.uk

The March Hare I do this a lot - introducing a small amount of colour to a black and white pencil image, to bring out a certain aspect of the image.

This is a pencil drawing of a hare and just the eyes are painted.

The hare’s eyes are so dramatic they’re able to sit there absolutely motionless and see through 360 degrees.

Hares don’t go underground they make a nest on the grass, and are always watching.

I wanted to highlight the eyes.

With this technique, sometimes I use a lot of colour and other

times I use just a small amount.

This was an image that I had seen, but I put different ears on the hare. I do that a lot, using my reference material to find parts of different images to eventually make my own composition.

I put as much as I can into each painting, as it is my belief that nobody is going to throw these images away. This image will last maybe forever. That animal is going to live on.

That’s the concept I have for commissions and all of my paintings and drawings.”

To advertise in AAH call 01403 878026 Horsham Museum this summer and he has been invited back to exhibit there later in the year.

He is also chairman of Southwater Art Club, a popular group which does much to encourage young people to take up painting and drawing.

“When I first moved here just over ten years ago I met another artist in Southwater, Les White, a brilliant artist, and Barbara Mumford, and together we set up Southwater Art Club and it’s just gone from strength to strength ever since.

“We have 70 members now, with two exhibitions each year, and we host workshops too. Our motto is ‘there is no one that isn’t good enough’.

“It’s a very rewarding experience to encourage people who sometimes haven’t painted for a very long time or even not painted at all.

“Back in 1949, I entered a poster competition when I was about 14 and I was awarded first prize. I used that sort of idea to promote a competition for the three local schools in Southwater, with

prizes, and a certificate for everyone who enters.

“There is a real need to encourage kids to get involved in art. A lot of them are really talented, but it sometimes gets knocked out of them at art school as they are told they can’t do this and have to do that. So we try to encourage children, at least in Southwater. “ Like many artists, sales are difficult to come by for Derek. The Horsham exhibition yielded just one sale for Derek, although that was more than some other very capable local artists. He also sells prints of his work, enhancing each of them so that every print becomes, in a way, an original piece of art.

Derek said: “I think it’s the economic climate that is affecting the market a lot. But you never know - the right person could walk in at any time and fall in love with your painting.”

Not that it’s all about sales for Derek, or many other artists for that matter. It is just something that he enjoys doing and always has done.

“I see something I like and have

36 an immediate urge to go back and draw it. I’m very lucky that I

“There is a real need to encourage kids to get involved in art.” have this studio - I can work here and then just leave it all and pick it up at a later time.

“A lot of people can’t do that, and have to pack up each time, and it serves as a dis-incentive if you have to go through all the effort of setting up.

“This was a workshop, as the chap who lived here before was a carpenter. The floor is covered in oil and there is a still a vice attached to the worktop, but it’s perfect. I still paint every day in here, and still find art very rewarding. It’s far better than watching television!”

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Regular news updates at aahorsham.co.uk Inspirations

Jasper Salwey

by Derek Golledge

Wilfred Thesiger When I was in Africa and Arabia in the Navy, I picked up a book called Desert Marsh and Mountain: The World of a Nomad, by Wilfred Thesiger. From this book I gathered a lot of inspiration for my Arabian drawings. He is like Lawrence of Arabia, as he lived with the Marsh Arabs. This book has amazing photography of the people and places of that region.

37

I was given this book, The Art of Drawing in Lead Pencil, by Jasper Salwey, in 1946, and from that I really got the inspiration to draw.

It features lots of accomplished pencil artists. Without colour, you rely so much on tone, and light and shade. You have to introduce a concept of light and colour. You can create a summer’s day and make other scenes look bleak and dark. I was knocked out by this book!

Montague Dawson

Terence Lambert

He is the master. His sea paintings are just incredible - the way he captured the sea really set the benchmark for that sort of painting. His work was very much admired and is very collectable.

I love birds, so Lambert’s work was a big inspiration. This is just what I do it’s exactly like my work.

Lambert’s Birds of Shore and Estuary just shows that he is a fantastic wildlife artist. He has produced other books but this one focuses on shore birds.

Koen Bouckaert is one of the South East’s leading Personal Fitness Trainers.

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To advertise in AAH call Ben on 01403 878026

38

The Caravan Club You think Jeremy Clarkson and the Top Gear team have contempt for caravans? You haven’t seen the guys at Rusper Raceway!

One ‘race’ during a two day meeting over the August Bank Holiday Weekend involved an annihilation of three caravans that had the crowd cheering and whooping on the banks of the track!

Within a few laps, an old Vauxhall Astra had been driven right through the middle of one caravan, while another had been forcefully driven into the banking!

This is banger racing, or stock car racing for the prim and proper.

You might have thought it had died a death, but you’d be wrong. You may not see it on the television as much as you did

during stock car racing’s heyday in the Seventies and Eighties, but there’s still plenty of enthusiasm for the sport.

But these are challenging times.

Racing organisers must meet certain restrictions these days and Old School rules are (some might say sadly) consigned to history.

Bits and pieces have been flying off old bangers at Rusper Raceway for nine years, but now a new promoter has taken on the lease of the land and has big ambitions.

Trojan International already runs successful race tracks, the most notable being Ringwood. Now they are hoping to modernise facilities at Rusper and eventually attract national standard drivers to the track.

Craig Robinson, proprietor of Trojan International, told AAH: “We came here in the middle of last year and tried to help the last promoter in improving health and safety aspects at Rusper.

“Then we took on a new lease of two years and our plan is to upgrade the race track and bring

Read past AAH editions at aahorsham.co.uk

Pictures: plenty of race day action, and below middle - Craig Robinson, proprietor of Trojan International, which now runs events at Rusper Raceway.

the facilities into the 21st Century.

You can’t just throw it all together and go and race like we all used to, as there is a lot of red tape and health and safety requirements.You’ve got make sure your drivers, the spectators and the marshalls are safe, so we have to improve all of this.

“You can’t just strip them out and turn up at the race track like you used to. It takes three or four days to prepare the cars now as you need a roll cage. Twenty years ago it was a matter of kicking the windows out and away you go. “ I’m an Old School driver and we all love grass roots racing, but times change and things move on. We have to as well if we want to carry on racing.

“What we have done at Ringwood, we are trying to mirror here.”

The racing has only just started back up at Rusper - three events have so far been held - but Craig is hoping that more cars will be at Rusper once the regular seasons finish at other tracks.

One problem is that there is a lack of drivers

39

out there - with Rusper and other raceways such as Angmering trying to attract a diminishing number of cars and drivers.

The problem is not that people don’t enjoy smashing up cars any more, but the high price of scrap metal.

Some drivers do bring cars from scrap yards they may own or work at, but most are obtained through knocking on doors - literally drivers asking to take away your old car.

Back in the day when you had to pay to get your car towed away, this offer was normally snapped up, but there’s big money in old junk these days.

Craig said: “ The cars are out there but they cost too much now because scrap is so high. Ten years ago they would give you £20 to take the car away, but now people know that they can take any old wreck up to the weigh bridge and pick up £150 for the scrap metal.

Continued on Page 40...

Buy images at tobyphillipsphotography.co.uk

Continued from Page 39...

“It’s a shame, because ten years ago we were getting treble the amount of cars.”

On a more positive note, banger racing could be about to enjoy a resurgence. For people wanting to enjoy a form of racing, it remains the most affordable way (if you have a car then the race day licence is only £20) and the

‘kids go free’ days at other tracks are proving to be a big hit. Some of the children end up cheering drivers their own age, as in banger racing they start young.

The junior rods - limited to 1000 cc cars, is for children aged 10 16, and Rusper has recently had an 11-year-old behind the wheel of a car!

Also, media interest in the sport is increasing again, so maybe

the good old days will return.

Craig said: “Speedway died out for a while but has picked up again. Stock car racing took a dive through the 70s and 80s but is picking up too.

“With the upgrades we’re intending to do here we can now move it all on to the next level. I hope that one day we will be seeing 30 cars in races up here, rather than the handful

40

you’ve seen today.

“For now, we’re going to run with rookies rather than the national bangers until we reach the right level, but we do intend to bring the national bangers to Rusper Raceway.”

For more details visit trojaninternational.co.uk

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“We journey alongside people and their things tell the story of their lives.”

Rupert Toovey, founder of Toovey’s

How Toovey’s auctioneers are adapting to the challenges of the modern world

There is one day left until three days of auctions begin, and Toovey’s auctioneers in Washington is a hive of activity.

Browsers make their way around dozens of paintings, with an oil painting by Arthur James Burgess of H.M.S Volage on passage to Barbados catching the eye of one potential buyer.

In the centre of the room, someone tickles the ivories of an early 20th Century baby grand piano and the sound reverberates around the large purpose built warehouse, while an early 18th Century walnut chest is attracting some interest.

But it appears that it is the Chinese ornaments at the far end that are attracting the most interest. One item, sitting rather innocuously on the second shelf, is a small Chinese jade table screen. To the untrained eye, it doesn’t look like much, but it caused quite a stir when Tom Rowsell - the oriental expert at Toovey’s - first saw it.

He hopes that it will generate interest amongst an ever increasing number of affluent Chinese buyers.

Wherever you cast your eye, there is a story. But some stories are bigger and more important than others. That is why, 24 hours later, the piano will sell for £110, whilst bidding for the Chinese jade table screen will eventually stop at £120,000.

This sort of thing happens regularly at Toovey’s. It is a place where the employees, for all their years of experience, are clueless as to what each new day will bring.

Another recent example was a Chinese inscribed blue and white porcelain brush pot. Its owner had failed to sell it at several local car boot sales for a few pounds,

and no wonder - it doesn’t look like much. She was therefore rather shocked to see it sell at a Toovey’s auction for £32,000!

But there’s a rather nice story behind Toovey’s itself. For while Rupert Toovey, director of the Washington-based auctioneers, credits the cafe’s lemon cake for the company’s success, there’s a great deal more to it than that.

Since forming in 1995, Toovey’s has come a long way, and now has some of the most eagerly

anticipated auctions in the South East and world renowned experts among its consultants.

Lars Tharp from the Antiques Roadshow is among its oriental consultants, Adam Langlands is the rare book consultant, and Gordon Gardiner is the toy expert.

Yet at its heart, Toovey’s remains a family firm.

The company started when Rupert, his uncle Edward and Rupert’s father Alan, combined Tom Rowsell is the in-house oriental expert

their individual experience of auctions, marketing and accounting to launch Toovey’s at the Star Trading Estate in Partridge Green.

Over the next eight years, the company flourished to the extent that a larger unit was needed.

The perfect site was found just off the A24 at Washington, where the Toovey’s sign is now seen by 127,000 passing cars every week.

Since then, the family has extended. Rupert’s brother Nicholas is the art expert, while

“We find that this generation are saving up before they buy, a shift away from the ‘borrow and buy-now’ culture.” his brother-in-law Tom Rowsell is the in-house oriental expert, and Tom’s younger brother William has trained as a furniture specialist.

Another member of the team, Chris Gale, has been with the company since it was founded.

Rupert Toovey has been involved with auctioneering for 27 years, but still retains an almost childContinued on Page 44...

Something for everyone AAH

September 2011

ALL ABOUT HORSHAM MAGAZINE

The Quiet Life An extraordinary insight into the lives of the only Carthusian Monks in the country

All About AAH You’ve made it to Page 43, and hopefully you’re enjoying the read so far.

Perhaps you’re still wondering why there’s a cow on the cricket pitch? You’ll find out in the Big Quiz...

Plenty more good stuff to read in the back half of the magazine, including a feature on St Hugh’s Charterhouse at Parkminster, which is - in my opinion - the best thing that we’ve done yet.

But I just wanted to break up the read with a bit of information about AAH, as we get a lot of people asking who we are, where we go to, what we cover etc.

What is AAH? AAH stands for All About Horsham.

I briefly considered All About Sussex, but it didn’t abbreviated so well.

It’s an independent project, with no affiliation to anything else.

AAH is a two man team - Ben and Toby - and we both work at our desks within our own home.

I’m a Horsham boy, but I now live in Ashington. That’s me with the gun.

Having worked for a few newspapers in West Sussex, I thought I’d have a crack at a magazine. Although the town is well served by newspapers, the magazines were a bit lame and always seem to have stories about llamas, so I thought there was a gap for a decent one.

I’d met Toby at the Horsham Market on several occasions. he takes the photographs for many of the big town events, and I’ve always been impressed by his shots, and I knew I wanted the magazine to

The magazines are delivered door to door by Geoff Valentine, Conor Paterson, Jamie Towes, Laura Harding, Rachel Wadey, Cydney Magnus, Karen Parnell, Will Smith, Lily Besson, Anna Laker and Sarah Guile. And me and my wife in our white van!

As we grow, so will the circulation.

be visually appealing.

So Toby (that’s him with the big pig) now takes photographs for AAH on a freelance basis. You can book him up too for weddings, business shoots etc, but don’t take up too much of his time please.

What we cover?

Can I advertise?

We cover anything that goes on in the Horsham District that we think people might want to read about.

We wanted to create a magazine that had ‘something for everyone’.

That’s what our initial flyer (above -that’s my grandma’s head, my sister in the tutu, my cousin in the jeans and me pretending to fix a car) had stated, so we’re sticking by it. That’s why you get articles about Banger Racing immediately followed by a feature on a leading auctioneers.

Who gets AAH? Quite a lot of people - 10,000 copies go through doors, and many more read it online. We have some fancy format where you can read editions on the internet as though it’s a real mag!

We deliver to many neighbourhoods in Horsham - pretty much all of the Holbrook area (2,500 homes), all the Comptons Lane area (Heron Way, Pollards Drive, Depot Road etc) and many other parts of town too. Over half of Southwater gets the magazine, as does a large chunk of Billingshurst (the new Morris Drive estate, Silver Lane area, Holders Close etc). We also deliver extensively in Partridge

Green, Ashington, Mannings Heath, Warnham and Slinfold.

Some of the small villages see us too - Dial Post, Itchingfield, Barns Green, Monks Gate, Nuthurst, Maplehurst - and we’ve also started delivering to parts of Storrington.

If you watched The Apprentice, you’ll have seen them quoting prices of £5000 for a page advert in their proposed new magazine.

That’s a little way off - that’ll give you a double page advert in every edition of AAH for a year!

Because we’re a two-man team, based at home, we can offer some pretty unbeatable rates.

It costs just £100 for a quarter page advert and £300 for a full page. There are discounts if you wish to advertise for more than one edition, and we’ll design you an advert too at no extra cost.

We don’t have a salesman out there on the prowl, so if you’re expecting a slick salesman with a briefcase to drop in and chat about a ‘great new opportunity’ you may be waiting a while.

We hate cold calling as much as the next man so we try to avoid it.

So if you do want to advertise just drop me a line on 01403 878026 or email editor@aahorsham.co.uk

Anything else?

Just that photos in AAH can now be bought from Toby. For details see his website at tobyphillipsphotography.co.uk

AAH: on 01403 878026/editor@aahorsham.co.uk

Continued from Page 42... like enthusiasm for the business.

He wears a trademark bow tie and an almost constant smile, like a kid in a candy shop, or perhaps a more fitting description would be a toy collector who finds a box full of 1931 Dinky toy cars…all in their original boxes.

He said: “We journey alongside people and their things tell the story of their lives. We find that, however grand or modest people’s collections are, they fall into three categories of importance.

“Firstly, those items that prompt fond memories of their lives, and they’re beyond price. Then there are things they consider to be truly beautiful. It is part of our purpose in life, I think, to create

Art expert Nicholas Toovey

beautiful things. And then finally, there are those things that we acquire by accident.

“It’s our job to enable people to dispose of the bits of the collection which are now surplus to their requirements, for whatever reason.

“You have to understand that human quality. At Toovey’s we have family firm values, as well as the ability to provide international expertise and marketing, and that is why we’ve built and maintained the reputation we have.”

Without witnessing Rupert’s flamboyant characteristics first hand, it would be easy to dismiss many of his comments about auctions as the words of an experienced businessman with his marketing head on.

But in Rupert’s case, the enthusiasm is genuine. It’s as though he wakes up each morning excited by what could be lurking in the next loft or basement that the Toovey’s team are called to.

There are, however, many more cogs in the Toovey’s machine.

Unlike other auctioneers which can feel like they belong to a bygone age, Toovey’s is attracting the next generation of buyers and sellers. Whilst the family ethos has not changed, the auction world has, and the auctioneers continually need to adapt to stay ahead of the game.

Rupert said: “There have been enormous changes to the industry over the past two decades, and part of that is because, increasingly, our lives have become busier and busier.

“We realised quickly that we would need more specialists and more direct marketing. Toovey’s is one of the few auction houses in the country that does direct marketing to people with specific requirements, whether they are specialist collectors from all over the world or just looking for a dining table that’s the right size and colour for their dining room.”

Another obvious area of marketing that Toovey’s has had to grasp is the growth of the internet, and

44

“About 95% of our lots are catalogued and illustrated online. You can ‘watch’ items and place bids online.” it’s an opportunity they’ve fully exploited.

Nicholas Toovey said: “About 95% of our lots are catalogued and illustrated online. You can ‘watch’ items and place bids online.

There is even an archive section so people can do their own research.”

Also central to the modern outlook is the contemporary art auctions, which have come about through Nicholas’ experience in the local art scene.

Continued on Page 45..

Continued from Page 44...

Local artists are able to submit work and sell it at auction.

Toovey’s has been doing this for several years now and has gained a reputation for contemporary exhibitions that reaches far beyond Sussex.

Nicholas said: “The fact that these contemporary artists are sold successfully at Toovey’s means they establish an auction reputation, which gives people the confidence to buy their works.

“We advertise which galleries they sell through, where they can be found, their websites, and so we’re genuinely trying to invest in what’s to come in the next generation.

“The really exciting thing is people who buy contemporary art are used to going to galleries, not auction, so it has introduced a whole new group of people to the auction world. It has also allowed people who would have collected quite traditionally to buy contemporary pieces, so is helping to break down barriers.”

There are, however, some things that never change. Still, much of the business of the modern auctioneer is the same as it has always been. The buyers may be sat at a computer on the other side of the world, but the sale is still not confirmed until the auctioneer has looked around the room and banged down his gavel.

And despite TV programmes such as Flog It making us more aware than ever of the worth of

William Rowsell has been trained as a furniture valuer by Toovey’s

We had to be careful photographing this - it sold for £120,000! various old items, every day at Toovey’s brings a new treasure, unearthed in an attic.

One such item mentioned earlier was a brush pot, with a beautiful poem in Chinese script all around it. Tom Rowsell, the oriental specialist, and consultant expert Lars Tharp, both gave a sharp intake of breath when they first saw it.

The lady owner had never liked it and used it to pot-up her geraniums. She had taken it to two or three car boot sales and

Toovey’s is based at a large purpose-built unit in Washington

not been able to sell it, before it picked up its huge sale price at auction.

As Nicholas points out, these items - the ones that are of some worth and yet don’t necessarily hold much sentimental value for the owner - can make for a satisfying result for all the parties involved.

“People forget that their stuff could be a prized possession to some generation - a prompt to wonderful memories - and if it sells for £30,000 it makes a

difference to your life too.”

So what does the future hold for Toovey’s? More of the same, and something a little bit different.

The way people buy is changing and new markets are emerging particularly in the Far East.

There’s also the excitement of the developing contemporary markets, and the renewed interest in traditional antiques.

Rupert said “It’s lovely to be very traditional in one sense but also to have this cutting edge at the other.

“It’s brought in what I call our ‘post-IKEA’ generation who see the disposable commodities pushed into landfill sites every time people move house.

“We find this generation are saving up before they buy, which is a shift away from the ‘borrow and buy-now’ culture that we are coming out of economically as a nation.

“And we are finding that people are seeing the quality of older items. It’s almost a trend in fashion now with the ‘Vintage tea parties’ booming, having a unique cup and saucer for every visitor. It doesn’t have to match, and it’s how this generation’s grandparents did things.”

But for Rupert, the secret to the success of Toovey’s has little to do with customer care, the way they train young valuers, or how it promotes contemporary art.

“The café on the sale week is the heart of the place”, he said. “Our lemon cake is our secret marketing weapon – it’s the best in the county and that’s what keeps them coming back!” www.tooveys.com

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The Quiet One REVIEW: Can the Camellia, South Lodge Hotel’s ‘house’ restaurant, match The Pass?

The Review: Camellia at South Lodge For many of us, South Lodge Hotel represents an unobtainable lifestyle, albeit one sat right on our doorstep.

A woman drives alongside the large perimeter wall and wonders if her husband will ever treat her to a romantic stay there.

A man drives by and wonders why his wife is suddenly daydreaming, before he ponders exactly where along the road that speed camera is!

We all know South Lodge as being a high class establishment.

High profile guests in its recent history, such as the visit of the world’s financial leaders at a G20 summit in 2009, can serve to give a perception that a stay at the hotel is beyond most of us, especially when the Daily Mail runs stories about ‘£530 a night suites’ with a picture of a Ferrari F40 at the hotel!

It all sounds a little intimidating, and while South Lodge may of course be targeting the high end of the market, it can make it difficult for the hotel to attract the masses to some of the very good and well-priced events they regularly stage on the grounds.

The same can be said for its restaurants.

South Lodge has two restaurants, The Pass and Camellia. The Pass was awarded 3 Rosettes by the prestigious AA Restaurant Guide just three months after opening

in 2008. Since then, led by talented head chef Matt Gillan, it has gone from strength to strength.

Increasingly, The Pass is attracting new people to South Lodge, with many remarking on the inventive food and stylish open kitchen design.

But The Camellia restaurant has been somewhat forgotten. The Camellia also had three rosettes under Matt Gillan before he went to The Pass, but since then the

Above: The steak with a few side orders, and right, pastry chef Peter Howes prepares the strawberry assiette

style has changed. Whilst The Pass can produce a new and exciting menu, attracting many non-guests to eat there, the Camellia is the hotel restaurant and therefore the menu needs to be more conservative.

So you’ll see Scottish Salmon, Corn Fed Breast of Chicken, Fillet of Pork, Rusper Lamb and Stilton Stuffed Courgette among the mains. It’s not the place you go for an exotic culinary experience.

Steven Edwards, sous chef at Camellia, is planning to introduce changes, but gradual rather than sweeping.

Steven started as a chef de-partie and, then became Matt Gillan’s sous chef for nearly two years. He was named Sussex Young Chef of the Year for 2011.

Steven said: “We’re just starting off here, but I’d like to move the menu forward instead of coming

49

out all guns blazing and then falling back.

“The Camellia produces much safer food than The Pass, which has the ‘wow’ factor as a special occasion, destination restaurant.

“At Camellia we’re still out to impress, but most diners are guests of the hotel. This is the ‘house’ restaurant, so we can’t close as The Pass does for two nights a week and we have to consider the menu carefully.

“I’d love to recreate what Matt did when at The Camellia, but I have to be careful, having come from The Pass restaurant, that I don’t start to do The Pass food.

“There should be no similarities between the two restaurants. We look to provide five star service and food, and cater for everyone’s needs, whereas Matt runs a Continued on Page 50...

Read our review of The Green Man in June’s edition at www.aahorsham.co.uk

Continued from Page 49... restaurant in a hotel so he’s let off the reins a little bit.”

Whatever the Camellia chefs have in store for the future, one thing that is unlikely to change is the commitment to local produce.

The beef is locally reared and supplied by Hutching’s Butchers in Partridge Green, many cheeses

are sourced from Sussex High Weald Dairy in East Sussex, and the chocolate fondant uses organic chocolate from Cocoa Loco, a few miles down the road in West Grinstead.

Steven said: “It’s important in this day and age, especially being out in the countryside. It would be irresponsible to source everything from London or France. We

have to be working with our community.”

In contrast to The Pass, with its open kitchen and contemporary style, the Camellia is styled very much in keeping with the rest of the hotel.

Antique plates sit on beautiful decorative displays made of oak, with classically embroidered oak chairs placed around small tables (this isn’t a place for wild hen night parties!) with the light from the chandeliers bouncing off the burgundy walls. It is the very definition of traditional English class.

As you would expect, the food is not cheap. But neither is it as dear as you might imagine. One course costs £20, two courses cost £30, and three courses cost £35. Meals within this price range could include smoked salmon, south coast gurnard, and orange and lemon pavlova, or perhaps home smoked breast of duck, fillet of pork, and blueberry creme brulee.

However, the bill begins to add up when you start ordering sides dishes, which are all £4 (it’s easier to defend the South Lodge chips than it is the peas, broad beans and broccoli or the honey and thyme roasted carrots) and some of the dishes come with a supplement charge too. These range from £2 for selected desserts, to £3 for starters such as seared Sussex beef, to the 8oz fillet steak, which comes with a £12

supplement.

For starters, Toby ordered the home smoked breast of duck, whilst I went for the prawn ravioli at the recommendation of our waiter, who was sincere and attentive throughout.

The blend of prawn and pasta, with coconut, pak choi and

‘It would be irresponsible to source everything from London’ lemongrass, is one of the more unusual dishes on the menu. It was light, immaculately presented and the well-known blend of Thai dish flavours with a nice little pasta twist went down well.

Toby’s home smoked breast of duck, with apple compote, beetroot and watercress, also neatly balanced the variety in flavours.

We had also ordered a Chilean Merlot, from the extensive wine list at Camellia. Both restaurants benefit from the expertise of hotel head sommelier Dominic Roberts, who keeps the newly re-opened Cellar at the hotel well stocked. At The Cellar, you can sample various wines before settling on the wine

The Review: Camellia at South Lodge you’d like with your meal. So finding a drink you like is unlikely to be a problem.

Having discussed whether Toby should have worn jeans or not (the arrival of a hotel guest wearing jeans and a leather jacket soon put him at ease), we ordered main courses.

I ordered the saddle of Rusper lamb with red pepper, basil pesto, potato fondant (£5 supplement) and I also ordered the carrots as a side dish.

Toby went for the 8oz sirloin, served with mushroom, vine tomatoes, watercress, peppercorn sauce (there is a choice of three sauces) and a side dish of chips (the order comes with one side order per person).

The lamb was exquisitely cooked, soft and tender and so good you were left pining for a fourth slice that would never come! Many people may, quite understandably, laugh at the thought of spending £4 on a side dish of carrots, but they sure were tasty!

The Sirloin steak, supplied by Hutching’s, was cooked perfectly and whilst it comes at a price

Toby’s taste buds seemed more than satisfied with the deal.

Once again, the meal was nicely presented and served in good time too. Looking around the room on a reasonably busy weekday evening, nobody had to wait long for any dish.

The Camellia has a pastry kitchen, and the desserts menu was put together by pastry chef Peter Howes. Notable desserts include blueberry creme brulee, using fruit from a local farm, and he also makes superb ice cream

in the kitchen.

The head chef recommended the cheese board after dinner, with six cheeses served for £12.

Choices include Duddleswell, Olde Sussex, Sharpham, Golden Cross, Camembert with Pommeau, Couronne Lochoise and Sable du Wissant.

However, we went for two sweets - the orange and melon pavlova, presented like a Bonsai style wedding cake, with cantaloupe melon sorbet, and the strawberry assiette (mousse, shortbread,

DINE OUT IN STYLE… Named after the beautiful camellia planted before the family manor house was built in the 19th Century, The Camellia is an elegant restaurant full of country house charm.

Enjoy our mouth-watering daily menu for lunch, Monday to Saturday for just £16.50 for two-courses and £21.50 for three-courses.

Quote “All About Horsham” when booking and we’ll greet each of you with a complimentary glass of house wine. Offer valid to the end of October 2011.

TO BOOK A TABLE, CALL US ON

+44 (0) 1403 891711

OR EMAIL ENQUIRIES@SOUTHLODGEHOTEL.CO.UK

www.southlodgehotel.co.uk South Lodge Hotel, Brighton Road, Nr. Horsham, West Sussex, RH13 6PS

51 sorbet and vanilla and strawberry pannacotta). This dessert had a £2 supplement).

For a man that usually buys supermarket brand ice cream, the sorbets and ice cream reminded me why the phrase ‘you get what you pay for’ was coined in the first place. Both desserts were excellent.

All in all it was a stunning meal, and it’s important to remember that you don’t have to be a guest to enjoy the Camellia.

If you’re going to treat your partner or family to a top meal, why not go to a place where you can sit in the luxurious setting of a 19th century hotel and look out of the window and see open countryside?

If you’re thinking of spending £80- £100, isn’t it worth spending a little more – maybe £20-30 - for a truly special evening?

Maybe, maybe not.

But maybe the next time your wife drives by South Lodge, she allows herself a little smile at the memory of that one special meal.

And how much would that be worth?

The Review: Camellia at South Lodge

52

On the Menu Steven Edwards, sous chef at The Camellia at South Lodge Hotel, makes some recommendations...

Starters

Main Course

Dessert

Drinks

“I really like the Sussex seared beef. I like the way it looks and tastes. It’s quite a manly dish.

We source the beef from Hutching’s butchers in Partridge Green. It comes with sliced radish, cashew nuts, tomato, spring onion and coriander cress. I try to keep it light and fresh.”

“I would say the South coast gurnard (with broccoli, saffron potatoes and almonds). It’s different and unusual and I haven’t seen this fish on many menus. It has to be sold to the table, and some people may not even know what it is.

Until I wrote this menu, I hadn’t really used gurnard before, but it was recommended by a supplier from Brighton. We change the menu every three months with the seasons to keep it seasonal and local.

There are enough fish out there to do that.”

“I really like the cheese board, so I would go for that, but as a dessert I’d choose the Blueberry crème brulee for the flavour, and again because it is a little bit unusual. However, I think the strawberry assiette is the best looking of the dessert dishes. We have a pastry kitchen, and it’s something I’m just stepping into. Peter’ arranges the dessert menu at the moment.”

“We have Dominic Roberts, the head sommelier to recommend the wine. The Cellar is working well. A lot of people are tasting at about 5 o’clock and then having a leisurely evening before coming up for their evening meal. Looking at a wine book is not the same as seeing all the wines down in The Cellar and it’s great to have a chat with Dominic about them, before choosing for dinner. My favourite is an Italian white, Gavi de Gavi, but Dominic thinks I should be more adventurous with wine!”

Pictured: The prawn ravioli starter, the Rusper lamb main course, the blueberry creme brulee, and a tiny fraction of the wine offered!

Something Special Putting the magic back into your garden There is very little that Sean O’Connell doesn’t know about gardens.

With over 20 years of experience as a green keeper, lawn specialist and business owner and with qualifications and licences in turf management horticulture, spraying, bricklaying and operating a chainsaw, it’s rare that Sean needs to consult anyone else on gardening matters.

The only time he does defer to superior knowledge is when his partner, Zoe Bruce, who is RHS qualified, offers advice on plants, planting schemes and all aspects of fruit maintenance.

Sean and Zoe have wide ranging knowledge of all aspects of day to day gardening and maintenance as well as design and build capabilities. Working alongside them is Tom Lloyd, a young apprentice who has shown a great desire to learn and develop his skills.

Having first established the Garden Specialist brand in Spain, Sean has now built up an impressive portfolio in the UK, working on properties of all sizes.

Sean said: “My father was an estate manager and a very clever arborist and I learnt a lot from him. I’ve added to that the technical knowledge from green

keeping, so I’m a very good lawn specialist.

“There are a lot of individual specialists dealing solely in lawns or driveways, for example, but much like a Master Builder can build a whole house and can plumb and do the electrics, I can do anything that needs doing outside of the house.”

The Garden Specialists can offer a full design and build service from conception to the completed garden and also has extensive experience in planting.

Other areas of gardening that they specialise in include lawn and turf care, fruit and vegetable growing, designing and maintaining ponds, planting and cutting hedges and trees, and maintaining swimming pools.

Sean said: “People love to have their garden looking nice but many just don’t have the time to look after it in the way they would like.

“They call on us because we have the expertise in all areas. A lot of it is about knowing what to plant and when to plant it.

“Every day brings something new and it’s always a challenge, but we’ve yet to come across something that we cannot do to a very high level.” www.thegardenspecialists.com

The Garden Specialists Partridge Green, West Sussex Tel: 01403 713744 Web: www.thegardenspecialists.com Email: info@thegardenspecialists.com

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Special Messenger Local company called in to clean-up after ‘cowboy builder’ Jus last month, Mark Antony Windows was celebrating after being awarded official status by FENSA - a government approved scheme to maintain high standard in the double glazing industry.

And now the locally based company has made its television debut, in Channel 5 show Cowboy Builders.

Thankfully, they are not the cowboys!

Instead, Mark Antony Windows were called in to help presenters Melinda Messenger and Dominic Littlewood clean up the work of a ‘cowboy builder’.

The show, screened on 18th August, told the story of Southwater couple Neil and Davina, who needed an extension to their two-bedroom semi. But the builder they contracted to do the job frequently failed to show up.

Seven months later, with £25,000 invested, the extension was still half-finished and building control found 15 faults with the work. That was when Mark Antony Windows were called in...

Mark Edwards said: “ We were

Antony Deakin and Mark Edwards with Melinda Messenger, and (below), the Mark Antony Windows team with Dominic Littlewood

contacted by the show’s producers, asking if we would donate two doors and a window for this couple who had lost a lot of money, and we were happy to help.

“The only problem was that they needed the doors and windows in four days and this is unheard of in our industry!

“But we spoke to John Fredericks Plastics, our main supplier, and they said they could do it for us as a special one off and would even pay half the cost of materials, which we were extremely grateful for.

“We fitted the job and met the presenters, Melinda and Dominic (see the pictures, left) on site and found them to be very nice people.”

Business partner Antony Deakin added: “It was pleasing to get the job done properly with such time constraints. Plus, we had a great day and it was good to help someone who’d been let down by poor service elsewhere.”

Mark Antony Windows are approved

by FENSA and Checkatrade. Visit www.markantonywindows.co.uk

Mark Antony Windows www.markantonywindows.co.uk

Windows

Doors

Conservatories

Soffits

Fasica

Repairs

Our windows are manufactured using the WHS Halo Profile. Using a unique technology of a five chamber thermal system to give extra protection against the outside elements.

They undergo extensive testing to ensure maximum insulation.

With over 30 years of combined experience, Mark Edwards and Antony Deakin have joined forces to become Mark Antony Windows.

Our aim is to provide the best service supplying and installing PVC-U and aluminium products in the South East, and all at competitive prices.

We cater to all needs with every aspect covered, from complete conservatories, including design, project oversight, planning regulation, etc, to minor repairs, locks and condensated units.

Call 01403 732800 or email markantonywindows@fsmail.net

It is important to be environmentally friendly, therefore all of our frames are calcium organic and are recycled.

All products come with our 10 year guarantee, supported by our supplier, and are covered by a 10 year insurance backed guarantee.

Opening Up The monks who devote their lives to prayer...and a little bit of apple wine!

Pictures: Toby Phillips Words: Ben Morris

Special feature on St Hugh’s Charterhouse

T

his is St Hugh’s Charterhouse, where 27 brothers live in almost total isolation from the rest of the world.

The brothers, who come from 19 different countries from all over the world, have chosen to devote their lives to God. Each one of them wakes at midnight every night to pray for three hours - one of three prayer times they commit to every day.

They eat alone, except on a Sunday, and have no need for television, radio, newspapers, or material possessions.

But there are occasions when they all come together and enjoy each other’s company.

One of these instances is at autumn when it comes to making the apple wine.

So much wine is produced by the monks at St Hugh’s Charterhouse in Parkminster, in the parish of Cowfold, that some of the excess wine is sold at the Union Jack Farm Shop, just half a mile away.

AAH Magazine requested a special invitation to speak to the monks at St Hugh’s Charterhouse, the only Carthusian monastery in the United Kingdom, about their apple wine and the lives they lead.

We were not expecting for quite such an insight into this most astonishing building, and the lives of the devoted few who reside there.

This is the story of our visit to Parkminster...

58

the A281, every day and yet be completely unaware of its presence.

Even driving up to the front entrance, it’s hard to envisage what is hiding behind those giant oak doors, with a statue of the Virgin Mary above, and Saint Hugh of Lincoln and Saint Bruno (founder of the Carthusian Order) on either side.

It is said that the only way to appreciate the full scale of Parkminster (it is a 240 acre site) is by taking to the air. Unfortunately both AAH helicopters are currently grounded, whilst the company jet is being refitted, so we had to make do with our view from the ground.

That was quite enough of a spectacle.

Meeting a Monk

In the Distance St Hugh’s Charterhouse is one of the most majestic buildings in all of Sussex. Yet it’s highly unlikely that you’ve ever seen it, certainly up close.

If you look south whilst travelling

on the A272 between Cowfold and West Grinstead on a clear day, you can see in the distance a magnificent 203 foot spire in striking contrast to the otherwise untouched countryside. But you could drive right by the entrance to St Hugh’s Charterhouse, between Cowfold and Partridge Green off

The monks do not need Toby and I to be there, neither do they specifically want us to be there.

Silence is greatly desired by the brothers at Parkminster, but propaganda is not. Later on, a Parkminster brother will tell us that the location is not ideal as it is not isolated enough. Most monks would prefer the solitude still available in parts of rural Wales or Ireland.

Parkminster may not be visible to passers-by, but you can still hear motorbikes as they speed along the A281. A magazine editor could knock on the door at any time with a feature idea! For

The monastery graveyard. The most recent burial was held in April

View past editions of AAH at aahorsham.co.uk

59

A Parkminster brother in the dining room, where all the monks eat together each Sunday

people that have given up all worldly goods, these are distractions they could certainly live without.

But despite there being really nothing that AAH could offer the monks, other than perhaps a little publicity for an apple wine sold at one small farm shop for £3.80 a bottle, the Parkminster brother who we met was kind and answered all of our questions. He took us to his home, allowed us to sit and observe Saturday vespers (an evening prayer service that is seldom seen by people from outside the monastery) and even talked about the issues that a priest must confront during his early years as a monk, before he must decide if he will devote his entire life to prayer and to God. The Parkminster brother, who

was originally from Holland but has been at the monastery for 30 years and - like all the other monks - speaks English, had simple answers to our simple questions.

“Why are you wearing that ring?” said the brother, after I

asked why he had become a monk. “You chose your wife because you love her, and that is the same for me.

“I am here because I love my Lord, and for that I am married, or vowed, to God for life, as you have committed to your wife

for life.”

He had become a monk aged 42, a fairly typical age. The Parkminster brother said: “Many years ago I was a missionary in South Africa for 13 years, and all those years, deep down there was a hunger for a life of prayer, more silence.

“During prayer time it became clear to me that I should leave South Africa and join the Carthusians, so I came here in 1980. I had a probation period of two months then I said ‘all right, I will try it out’. There is a seven year period before you make your final commitment. I found what I had been searching for in this place and I made my final vow in 1985.

“The best years to become a brother are when you are aged between 30 and 40 as you have experience of life and are more Continued on Page 60...

“You chose your wife because you love her, and that is the same for me. I am here because I love my Lord.”

Special feature on St Hugh’s Charterhouse

60

A new orchard grows within the dramatic Gothic Revival corridors of St Hugh’s Charterhouse

Continued from Page 59.. mature. That is important as you have to stay within these four walls and you have to be prepared and ready for that.”

The Only One

A magnificent Chapter house at the monastery features paintings by a French artist of the murder of 18 monks in the 16th Century.

The Carthusian Martyrs were a group of monks, mainly of the London Charterhouse, who were put to death by Henry VIII for high treason from June 19, 1535 to September 20, 1537. They were hanged, disembowelled in public (while still alive) and then quartered.

The group also included two monks who were brought to that house from the Charterhouses of Beauvale and Axholme and similarly dealt with.

All of the monks have been formally recognized by the Catholic Church as true martyrs.

King Henry was angry at not receiving support from the Pope or from the monks at London Charterhouse as he bid to divorce Catherine of Aragon and marry Anne Boleyn.

The executions began with three leading English Carthusians, John Houghton, Robert Lawrence and Augustine Webster, along with a Bridgettine monk, Richard Reynolds of Syon Abbey, in 1935. Three more groups followed, and all those who refused to give in to the demands of the King were killed.

The St Hugh’s chapter house is where the monks come together for sermons with the prior. It also has paintings depicting the Saints of the Carthusian order.

The monastery was founded in 1873, when the property was bought to accommodate two houses of continental Carthusians in exile.

It took some 600 workers six years to build, to designs by a French architect, Norman Clovis.

The stone was quarried locally at Slinfold.

Rooms include a library with a collection of rare books and manuscripts, and also a kitchen, pantry, tailor shop, laundry, infirmary, bindery, carpenter’s shop, and forge. As far as possible the monks work alone, each in his own obedience.

Aside from the chapel, perhaps the most visually impressive room at St Hugh’s is the Chapter house, decorated with images of the martyrdom of the monks' predecessors (see left).

The Great Cloister (the square courtyard with a covered

walkway around the outside seen above) is more than a kilometre long. It is one of the largest in the world, and many of the monks have bicycles simply to move around it.

The cloister includes four acres of orchard, the monastery burial ground, and it connects to the 34 hermitages (religious retreats) as well as the church.

Whilst there are 36 cells for the brothers and about 100 other rooms, only 27 monks currently reside at Parkminster. The number was as high as 70 in 1928, but had dropped to 22 in 1984. The brothers come from all over the world, and currently there are monks from India, Vietnam, Japan, Australia, America, Spain, Hungary, Italy, France, Ireland, Holland, Poland, England and other countries in Europe and further afield.

A Parkminster brother said: “At the beginning of last century there were about 90 monks.

You must not forget this house was built as a house of refuge, housing monks from different countries in war time.

“They had to leave France, Germany, Italy or Spain and this house was full. So the house was built to be big. We

“We would prefer a more isolated location, where there is no intereference.That is the place where our monastery should be.”

Send your news to editor@aahorsham.co.uk

61

A Parkminster brother cuts his own wood in his cell.

Each brother has two robes and wears white robes during prayer times

will get some (more brothers) but I think if it goes over 40 it will be too much, because we require solitude.

“We would prefer a more isolated location, where there is no interference. Every new monastery is built in the mountains in the most silent surroundings. There are places in Wales and Ireland where this could happen and that is what we would love.

“We had been thinking to sell the whole property at one time, but then who will buy this property? It’s a big problem.

And all the dead monks in the graveyard, what must we do with them?

“But after the renovation, we decided we should stay here.”

Renovation Back in 1990, the English Heritage supported the monks in a costly renovation of St Hugh’s Charterhouse.

Having considered selling the Charterhouse to buy a village in the West of Ireland, the monks decided to refurbish St Hugh's having received several new vocations.

An architect, Mr J Warren of Horsham, presented the monks’ case to English Heritage and they provided 33% of the budget.

As the monastery is listed, the monks are obliged to keep the whole building wind and waterproof so that was a priority. The cells (the name given to a monk’s home) were then refurbished to make them liveable for modern men.

English Heritage does not help with windows or underground works but they do contribute to most other major rebuilding costs. There were seven phases lasting about ten years involving five or six tradesmen.

They didn’t need to call in an interior designer though. One Parkminster brother said: “The Order has no scheme for colours but is simply opposed to any form of luxury in our buildings.”

Continued on Page 64..

“We get one weekly newspaper from the Vatican, then we have the Catholic Herald in England, and The Tablet.”

Fa m o u s wine made by Monks If you thought that monks survived on bread and water alone, you’re a little off the mark.

Monks have a long and illustrious history of producing wine and cider. The Benedictine monks were once one of the largest producers of wine in Europe, and even today the two types of Chartreuse, a French liqueur made by the Carthusian Monks in France, continues to sell well.

At Parkminster, the Carthusian Monks have been producing

apple wine for almost a century.

Every autumn, the monks work together to pick the apples from the vast orchards at Parkminster, loading them on to a tractor-pulled trailer and transferring them to a basement where they are used to make apple wine.

For decades the wine was only consumed by the monks, and some of the 27 brothers now at St Hugh’s Charterhouse continue to drink the wine regularly.

But the monks produce a huge

amount of wine - between 500800 gallons each year. Needless to say, that’s far more than 27 monks would ever need.

Rather than throwing away the excess, the wine is bottled and sold at the Union Jack Farm Shop, half a mile away from Parkminster, along the A281 towards Cowfold.

The farm shop, which has a chalk board outside promoting the ‘monastery wine’, is the only place where the apple wine can be bought. It costs £1.90 for a

small bottle and £3.80 for a large bottle of the 12% wine A Parkminster brother in charge of the apple wine production said: “We had too much apple wine and we did not want to waste it. If you keep it too long it becomes vinegar. So we spoke to Lindy at the farm shop and they now sell it.

“Everybody helps picking apples from the orchard, and it is an enjoyable time, when we talk and we are all together.”

A tractor is driven by one of the

Apple wine is produced at Parkminster and sold at the Union Jack Farm Shop in Cowfold

monks (they do not wear their robes while driving!) to the courtyard, where the apples are dropped through a hole in the wall. They then roll down a slope and placed into a machine which mixes up the apples and produces a sort of apple puree.

This is then placed between boards (up to 10 layers at a time) and crushed with a machine applying 3000psi of pressure.

With the wine yeast added, the juice is squeezed out through a hole and into a 60 gallon drum. The monks then add a pound of sugar per gallon and mix it. It is then pumped into the 120 gallon barrels.

“We can make 120 gallons a day – two of these containers”, said the Parkminster brother.

“We spend about a week, two weeks at most, every autumn

and make about 500 – 800 gallons of apple wine during this period.

“We pump it out using hosepipes and it goes through to the next room where the blending is done, and the wine and fermenting takes place.

“The wine is at its best after two or three years. After four years it starts to pass its best.

We keep the year of production on top of the barrels.”

Like many of the monks, the brother in charge of wine production will still enjoy a glass of wine on most evenings, 25 years after he started helping with its production. The brother who was doing it before him only died earlier this year.

It’s well worth trying, so do pick up a bottle next time you pass by the Union Jack Farm Shop.

“The wine is at its best after two or three years.

After four years it starts to pass its best.”

Special feature on St Hugh’s Charterhouse

64

The main living quarters of the monks

Continued from Page 61..

A day in the life This lack of luxury is best demonstrated with a tour of the cells. On the previous page, in the picture of the orchard, you’ll see 14 of these cells, each attaching to the corridor of The Grand Cloister.

They are every bit as big as they look, but a monk’s home is a simple affair. We enter through a small lobby area, where there is little of note, before heading on to what might be your lounge. Here though, it is a wood cutting room. There are no pictures on the walls, no carpet (only stone floors here). Just wood and an axe, as each monk must chop his own wood for the stove.

The next room, which might make a lovely kitchen, is a home for the monk’s gardening tools. Each cell has its own garden, and many choose to grow vegetables here, although the monastery does have its own allotments and a large nursery too. One of the monks is a highly qualified gardener from Australia (there are many skills among the monks - one brother from Spain is a renowned artist and has created many paintings of Parkminster) Upstairs there is a prayer room, with little else other than a prayer kneeler and a statue of

the Virgin Mary. The main living area is upstairs and incorporates a bed, a stove, a table for study, a small eating area where a monk eats by himself three times a day, a bookshelf with a handful of religious readings (the bible being one, naturally)

and since the renovation each monk has a toilet, shower and basin. Previously, the monks had always needed to carry the water inside. This main room does at least have wooden flooring.

A Parkminster brother said:

“The stove keeps the room nice and warm and it the only place in the house with heating.

“All that you need is here. The most important book is the bible. If you’re inspired during a service then you look up in the bible where it is written and then you read it again or meditate about it.

“We get one weekly newspaper from the Vatican, the Catholic Herald in England, and also The Tablet (an International Catholic magazine). It gives us an overall picture of what is going on in the church and in politics.”

Fine Dining Contrary to what you may have heard, the monks do not only eat bread and water.

The monks at Parkminster eat fish three times a week, eggs twice a week, enjoy dairy products and just once a week there is a fast of just bread and water. During the great monastic fast, which lasts from 14th September to Ash Wednesday, except for Sundays and feast days, dinner is an hour later, and supper consists of a glass of wine and a crust of bread.

Meat is never allowed on any account, though, in a case of life and death, the monk may, if not solemnly professed, be dispensed.

So many apples, pears, plums and other fruit are grown that much is given away to family and friends and visitors to the The 203 foot spire of St Hugh’s Charterhouse

A burial is a special event. The brother has reached his end and we are hopeful we will meet him one day in heaven. “

To advertise in AAH call Ben on 01403 878026

outside chapel.

Once a year, a monk can invite his family to stay outside of the monastery at St Hugh’s. The Carthusian Monks can speak to men and women, although women are not allowed into the monastery.

Prayer time “Prayer is our main task”, says the Parkminster brother. “You get up at about midnight every day, and at 12.30am we go to church until about 3.30am. We

pray for the world, as that is our task.

“That is the reason why we live here together, brothers from all over the world. It is the essence of our life and if you are not here for that purpose you will not last.

“There are testing times along the way. That’s why it takes seven years before you decide if you are ready. Only about one in forty, I would say, makes the final promise.”

Once admitted, a candidate becomes a Postulant for a period

of up to a year, before he decides to become a Novice and full member of the community.

After two years he takes vows of obedience and conversion of his ways for three years. This Profession or Donation is then renewed for a period of two more years.

At the end of this period, if all concerned are satisfied that he is able to live the Carthusian life and is genuinely called to it, he makes his final and solemn Profession or Perpetual Donation.

This includes disposing of all his

Carthusian history There were 12Carthusian monasteries (called Charterhouses, an anglicised version of “Chartreuse” the mother house in France) in the UK before the Reformation, the first at Witham, dating from 1181.

Saint Hugh of Lincoln was its first prior.

These houses were destroyed and the communities disbanded, some monks being martyred, under Henry VIII. The monastery of St. Hugh’s realised the return of the Order to England in 1873 at the request of the catholic hierarchy.

There are 25 living Charterhouses around the world, five of which

are for nuns; altogether, there are around 370 monks and 75 nuns.

They can be found in Argentina, Brazil, France (6), Germany, Italy (4), Portugal, Slovenia, South Korea (2), Spain (5), Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the USA. Funding comes from donations and the production of Chartreuse, a French liqueur made by the Carthusian Monks since the 1740s. It is composed of distilled alcohol aged with 130 herbal extracts. The liqueur is named after the Monks' Grande Chartreuse monastery, located in the Chartreuse Mountains in the general region of Grenoble in France and is produced in a village nearby.

65

worldly possessions, inside or outside the monastery.

Many monks go on to live to a ripe old age. Once they have died they are buried in a graveyard in the monastery.

A Parkminster brother said: “A burial is a special event. The brother has reached his end and we are hopeful we will meet him one day in heaven. It is not sadness but a celebration.”

The monks normally go to bed at about 7.30pm, and go back Continued on Page 66..

Special feature on St Hugh’s Charterhouse

66

Continued from Page 65... to bed after their early morning prayer. They all come together for further prayer after breakfast - with monks keeping abreast of the time through the bells of course - and in the afternoon, when hymns are sung or ‘chanted’, in English and Latin during vespers.

A CD of hymns was produced by the Carthusian monks at Parkminster and CDs from other Charterhouses from all over the world are available on the Parkminster website.

The Website

connect with us

Yes, the Carthusian Monks at Parkminster have a website - and a very good one too. Monks are not allowed their own computers, but there are ‘computers of the house’ which some of the younger monks use for homework and writing letters.

You might also be surprised to know that the monks even leave the grounds of Parkminster.

A Parkminster brother said: “We

go outside of the walls, even outside of the Parkminster land, one afternoon a week, for a walk.

It is usually on a Monday.

“There are monks who hardly speak during the day as they are mostly in the cell, so on Monday they come together and talk. We walk in pairs and exchange walking partners occasionally. All of the monks are happy to talk.”

Toby and I said goodbye to the brother who had been so kind with his time and information, and left in our cars, with a bottle of apple wine in the side of the door. Later that evening, I enjoyed a glass with my wife after putting the children to bed, and we spoke about the monks and how a person can come to make such a commitment.

And I was left to ponder the words of the Parkminster brother I had spoken to in the day. “It can be very difficult for others to understand and accept, but every one of us has a vocation in life, and we are all free to choose.”

The monks leave Parkminster for a walk once a week, but are not a common sight in Cowfold these days.

(Photo courtesy of HDC/Horsham Museum)

Well stocked library This library contains about 35,000 books and is kept up to date. There are also some manuscripts, a few of them dating from the 12th century.

Many of the French and Latin books were brought with the monks but Parkminster has continuously bought books to keep abreast of religious thought especially for the priestly studies.

Each monk borrows what he needs for his personal study but Parkminster does not have a personal library. Many books that were not religious were sold to help pay for the refurbishing of the buildings.

Kings Church Horsham Sundays, 10.30 am Tanbridge House School

www.kch.org.uk The Library at St Hugh’s (Photo courtesy of HDC/Horsham Museum)

67

Group Discussion

More

EXHAUSTING

Zumba!

Magog Morris

than

You might have heard of the Broadwood Morris Dancers, the all male troupe that organises the popular Day of Dance in Horsham town centre every year.

But in 1974 - just two years after the Broadwood group was formed, the Magog Morris dancing group was born.

The all female group dances from May until September in a variety of traditions including Cotswold, Stave, North West Clog, Garland, as well as dances in the Horsham tradition.

In addition to the presence at town festivals and village fetes, the Magog host their own events and are often invited to dance with other Morris groups. For the rest of the year the Magog meet at Mannings Heath village

hall on Tuesday evenings, to go over familiar dances and to learn some new ones.

Marjorie Holdsworth was among the original founders of Magog Morris. She said: “ We have about 18-20 people but typically there are about a dozen of us at each dance.

“We have the Magog musicians too.

Most of them are husbands of one of the dancers, which helps make it all the more enjoyable for everybody. It’s such fun and I really would recommend Morris dancing to people of all ages.

“We ask for donations at each event we dance at, and we’re currently collecting for QE2 School in Horsham, as they need to raise money to provide seating for their new performing arts

centre. Last year we raised about £360 and I think it might be a bit more this year.”

The Magog dance with other Morris sides and travel all over the country and even abroad on occasions,to perform at folk festivals and to join in Morris weekends of dance.

AAH met the Magog ladies at the Queens Head in West Chiltington, where they were dancing at the invitation of Thakeham Morris, formed in 1991 and in good health for a village team.

Before being roped in for a jolly - if somewhat disorganised - Morris dancing free-for-all at the evening’s end, we asked what it is that members of the Magog enjoy so much...

Buy photos at tobyphillipsphotography.co.uk

68

Marjorie Holdsworth I love the camaraderie; we’re friends and it’s just fun. We go to festivals, we dance at weddings, fetes and we have club dances too.

Each club stages events in different locations, and we have someone who fixes our programme. They basically go around to local pubs and ask if we can come and dance and then we invite other groups.

Morris dancing is fairly easy to pick up. Our dances are all different as we have many traditions running through

“

our club. But it is not intimidating and you can have the whole of winter to learn.

Our biggest event is Maypoles to Mistletoe at the Hawth and The Electric Theatre in Guildford, as it comprises dance, maypole dance, songs, poems, jokes, a bit of everything. We practice hard for those events.

In Horsham we get invited to the Broadwood Day of Dance, various fetes and events at Parham House and Petworth House.

“

Sarah Bennett

“

I started dancing when I was six years old. My mother joined Magog a couple of years before that and you’re just kind of born into it.

All Morris dancers look after each other. It’s a special group of people here. There were normally other children around too, so I wasn’t the only one.

I love it, and my love for it never wavered, even when I was a teenager. I love the music and the dancing. I’d recommend it to young people but I think

a lot of children watch too many video games these days!

It’s good to get out, socialise, and because we dance with a lot of other sides we meet a lot of people too.

“There’s also the chance to go to other countries - I’ve been to Denmark, others to Germany and France, and also to Jersey and the Isle of Wight.

My niece, who is nine, has recently got her own Morris kit and is also coming along.

We need a few more young girls though!

“

Group Discussion

69 Ian Prior (musician) I started off playing the drum then progressed onto the whistle. I wanted to play something a bit more challenging, but my hands were too big for the concertina and so picked up the melodeon and have been learning how to play it ever since. Mine came from one of the Broadwood Men, Malcolm.

You can buy them from shops or the Internet but often people pass them on when theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve finished playing.

In a Morris group youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll often

â&#x20AC;&#x153;

have a melodeon, and some groups will have piano accordions, fiddles, flutes, and some will have a bit of brass, like a saxophone. For the North West dances with clogs youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll always have a drum.

I love the social aspect of Morris dancing and it keeps me playing. My wife is a member of the Magog too, and we are both members of another group, so it can get very busy. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d be out all year if we took up all the invitations we receive!

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Advertise in AAH from just £50 a month

70

Kay King I love the company and the socialising as much as anything. We’ve made lots of friends, and sometimes we go abroad and we make friends there as well.

I’ve been doing it 26 years. I never get it right, but as long as you keep dancing and smiling, no one notices, and it does keep you fit.

We do a lot of clog dancing, in the North West tradition. Traditions pass down from side to side. We have our own traditions, such as the Rusper Round, which is a 6-man garland dance, and Jenny’s Joy, which was created by our former foreman.

We have quite a good repertoire of dances but we try and concentrate on about a dozen so we can perfect them over the season.

“

“

Carrie Gosden It’s my third season dancing but others have been here for many years and dance with other groups too.

I wasn’t looking for a Morris dancing group - I just happened upon them in my local pub in Steyning three years ago and it looked like they were having a good time. They weren’t making sure they did everything absolutely right; things went wrong, but they had a laugh and I thought it

“

looked like something I could get into.

With the dresses, we make them ourselves, although people who leave often donate their kit and so new people coming in can take them on.

We have a set pattern to our kit, so we’re all the same apart from the colour, which you can choose.

It is really fun and keeps you fit. It’s much more exhausting than Zumba!

“ Barbara Prior

“

This is my 8th year. My husband Ian, who plays the melodeon, got me into it and I joined when we got together. He also dances for Broadwood Morris in Horsham.

We both belong to another Morris side as well, Sompting Village Morris, which is a joint side with men and women, and there are not many of those around.

I like the Magog as it’s very friendly - we class ourselves as a big family really. We like going out and about to dance in different parts of the country.

It’s a very good social side.

We make our outfits ourselves. The garland takes quite a long time, but that’s all part of the fun and people do help each other out, so it’s okay if you’re not much of a seamstress.

“

BIG QUIZ It’s the already-famous AAH quiz. One winner will scoop ALL of these superb prizes. Have a go if you think you’re smart enough!

If your business would like to contribute a prize, please call 01403 878026 or email editor@aahorsham.co.uk

Retreat Spa Day at Slinfold Golf Club Slinfold Golf Club has put up a fantastic prize - a Spa Day at The Retreat, which involves a treatment of choice along with use of the facilities for the day and lunch for two. The Retreat offers a range of luxurious treatments using the ESPA range, as well as nail treatments, and St Tropez tanning. ccgslinfolg.com/retreat-spa

Cocoa Loco chocs!

Cocoa Loco is a West Grinstead based company that makes the scrummiest, yummiest organic chocolate you’ve ever had! They’ve donated a gift box to our clever winner! cocoaloco.co.uk

Cut and Blow Dry Undercutting is a fun and trendy but relaxed unisex salon at 41 Brighton Road, Horsham that offers pampering without the ponce! They’ve put up a cut and blow dry as a prize! undercutting.co.uk

Italian Olive Oils gift hamper

Dark Star Brewery The Partridge Green based brewery is best known for its hoppy beers, but they’ve also got a great range of Dark Star clothing! You’ll receive a bit of both if you win our comp! darkstarbrewing.com

Adopt a Dolphin Care for the Wild is an animal charity based in the Horsham area, protecting hundreds of species around the world. Our winner will have officially adopted a dolphin in need of support. careforthewild.com

Simply Olive Oils, located within the Sussex Kitchen Designs showroom at Brighton Road, Horsham, has donated a £25 gift set to our winner, with basil, chilli and lemon flavours included! simplyoliveoils.com

Classic Bags Classic Bags is Horsham's leading stockist for handbags and luggage. The store recently relocated to Piries Place and has kindly donated a Healthy Back Bag to our comp! classic-bags.co.uk

The Nutcracker The Capitol has donated two tickets to The Nutcracker, the classic ballet for the whole family. It will be performed by The State Ballet Academy of Minsk, on Friday 4th November. thecapitolhorsham.com

THE BIG QUIZ

round 1

Cars with animal spirits

72 Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve featured Sally Napper and her 1972 Triumph Stag in our Motoring feature this month. Can you name these 12 CARS that have also been named after an animal? Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll warn you, one is a mythical creature (probably!)

THE BIG QUIZ

round 2

Are you paying attention?

73 It’s the round that makes sure you’re not just looking at the pretty pictures. It’s an old fashioned Q&A

Sussex Sharks took on Worcestershire during a 40 over, one day match at the Horsham Cricket Festival. Openers Ed Joyce and Joe Gatting shared a record breaking opening stand of how many runs?

Sally Nappy and her 1972 Triumph Stag are the subject of our motoring feature this month. The Stag was Sally’s dream car in her youth, so when she finally got behind the wheel of one she had to name it! But what?

The Ashington Festival was held in glorious sunshine in August and there was a good turnout for the procession. Annie Francis won the ‘best fancy dress’ prize as a character from which book and animated movie?

The Stuart James Band will soon be releasing a new EP, called Changing Lanes. Stuart was taught guitar by his dad from the age of 12.

Within a year, he could play excerpts from a live album by which famous rock band?

This month’s meal review comes from the Camellia, one of two restaurants at South Lodge Hotel in Lower Beeding. We rather enjoyed it, especially the desserts. What is the name of the pastry chef at Camellia?

We’ve featured the art of Derek Golledge, who is chairman of Southwater Art Club.

Which of Derek’s paintings was selected for The Royal Institute of Oil Painters’ 2006 exhibition at Mall Galleries?

Magog Morris are an all-female Morris dancing group from Horsham. The group was founded just a couple of years after which men’s Morris group, which organises the annual Horsham Day of Dance?

Toovey’s in Washington has grown from humble beginnings to one of the largest auction firms in the South East. They have a number of in-house experts, but what is the name of the rare books consultant?

The monks at Parkminster, near Cowfold, have given us a tour of their apple wine making facilities. The wine is only for sale at one place outside of the monastery. Can you tell us where?

THE BIG QUIZ

round 3

Drawing board...

74 This edition of AAH gives details of a Roadmark Travel organised trip to New Zealand. Its stunning landscapes attract top film directors.

Can you name these six films shot on location in New Zealand?

August’s answers...

Michael Bolton: Now makes a great Jack Sparrow...

1: Billy Ray Cyrus 2: Guns ‘n’ Roses 3: Kriss Kross 4: Boyz II Men 5: Charles and Eddie 6: Nirvana 7: TLC 8: Shakespeares Sister 9: Right said Fred 10: Michael Bolton 11: Tasmin Archer 12: Whitney Houston13: A Number More Than Nothing At All 14: Volkswagen Beetle 15: Wimpy 16: £35.16s.4d 17: Young Chef of the Year 18: FThe Sun Goes Down19: 30 Lanes 20: 1979 21: Scott Hallsworth 22: Four Poofs and a Piano 23: Clare Teal 24: Paul Zerdin 25: Simon Callow 26: Sarah Jane Honeywell 27: Chris Packham 28: Hillers 29: Shoots 30: Newbridge Nurseries 31: Old Barn Nurseries 32: Big Plant Nursery 33, 34 & 35: Pages 11 (with Lindsay Wright), page 22 (at Tanners Arms) page 26 (with Rolling Stones); 36: People logged on to www.aahorsham.co.uk for 3 minutes 36 seconds

The ones that most stumbled up on

Charles and Eddie (not Milli Vanilli), Billy Ray Cyrus (not Paul Young) and Tasmin Archer (not Michelle Gayle)

The winner: One of five entries with 35 questions correct , with the closes educated guess of 50 seconds is ...

Emma Wolski of Coltsfoot Drive, Horsham

THE BIG QUIZ

75

round 4

Another name As it’s Horsham Food and Drink Festival, we’ve given five restaurants in the district a cryptic, alternative name.

Can you work out which ones?

round 5

Bull’s eye The AAH bull is hiding on three other pages in this edition. Can you tell us what pages?

33, 34, 35

28

29 30

round 6

Educated guess

31

32

AAH photographer Toby Phillips was quite excited during his visit to St Hugh’s Charterhouse. Even though there were certain tiimes during our two and a half hour visit when he could not takes pictures, he took a fair few. Can you guess how many?

THE BIG QUIZ

76 !

Answers...

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Rules, terms and conditions One point awarded for each correct answer The entry with the most correct answer wins all the prizes In the event of a tie break, the closest guess to Q36 will decide the winner Entries must be received by Sunday 25th September 2011 The winner will be revealed in the following monthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s edition along with answers Details of entrants will NOT be passed on to any third party The editorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s decision is final Any businesses wishing to get involved in the All About Horsham competition can contact the Editor

Drusillas Park

Most people know that Drusillas Park is one of the best family days out in the South of England.

The winner of countless accolades - including the Large Visitor Attraction of the Year at the 201011 Tourism South East Awards Drusillas has an ever growing number of attractions to keep its thousands of weekly visitors entertained.

But did you know that Drusillas is owned and run not by a large theme park corporation, but by a couple and their two daughters?

Many children dream of growing up surrounded by animals but for Cassandra and Caroline Smith, this fantasy became a reality when in 1997 their parents acquired Drusillas Park in Alfriston, East Sussex. Today, aged 28 and 26 respectively, Drusillas is truly a family run business with both girls working alongside their mother and father to run the award-winning zoo.

Cassie and Caroline grew up just outside Tunbridge Wells in the

Kent countryside with their brother, Oliver. In addition to

running a successful recruitment business in London, the Smiths began a small holding at this time.

Starting off with chickens and ducks, their passion for keeping animals grew and before long they had four pygmy goats, five sheep, three pigs, two ponies and a donkey, not forgetting the fish and three dogs in the house.

The girls spent mornings, evenings and weekends helping out with the farm duties.

Cassie said: “Mucking out the animals on our days off school was a real chore! We loved having the animals but were not so keen on shovelling the wet smelly straw and getting up early!

“Looking back, I think it was wonderful for Caroline and I to

77

have the responsibilities we did, even if we didn’t realise it always at the time.

“It gave us a fantastic grounding for working at Drusillas today and if I have children, I would love for them to have a similar experience…and yes I would make them do the mucking out!”

By 1997 the Smiths had sold their recruitment business and taken over Drusillas Park, after a direct approach to the owners.

The following year the family moved to Tunbridge Wells as it was also closer to Alfriston and Kent College Girls School, where Cassie and Caroline were students.

Caroline recalls: “Cassie and I were both so excited about our parents owning a zoo and our friends at school were really

impressed too. We had been to Drusillas as a family many times when we were children and even had pictures of us all at the Park – it’s great to look back at them now.

“We spent time during the holidays helping out at the zoo and assisting with the face painting.

We both love animals so it really was a dream come true.”

After leaving school and working in Tunbridge Wells for three years, Cassie joined Drusillas in 2005. At first she worked in a number of departments to gain a good understanding of the Park, before taking a role in education. Here she remained for the next three years teaching Continued on Page 78...

To advertise in AAH call 01403 878026

Continued from Page 77... school children at the zoo, before moving to marketing in 2009.

“I don’t have as much contact with the animals as I did but I really enjoy promoting the Park and being more involved with the business,” she said.

In 2010, Caroline also decided she wanted to be involved with the family business and joined Drusillas after working in London for nearly three years in Media Recruitment and PR. She moved to Brighton and quickly adapted to life at the zoo.

Following in her sister’s footsteps Caroline worked in a variety of departments before she finally settled in the Visitor Services Office dealing with enquires, membership and supervising training.

Caroline commented: “It’s been a huge learning curve for me but I have loved every minute of it. It was strange at first going from

78

they hope that brother Oliver can join them at Drusillas too. He is currently studying for a Business Degree at Newcastle.

Cassie added: “Caroline and I love working as part of the family business and enjoy working closely together.

“We are both looking forward to the future and the development, hard work and challenges that are yet to come.”

Cassie, Caroline and Oliver visited the park as children London life to zoo life, hearing the call of the gibbons rather than the sirens and traffic of London, but it’s been fantastic!

“One of the things I enjoy most about Drusillas is there is always something new. In May we opened a walk-through aviary,

where visitors can feed nectar to a group of rainbow lorikeets.

“It was great to see the plans come together, from development through to the launch.”

As for the future, both girls see themselves staying at the zoo for a very long time to come and

Cassie: If I had to pick a favourite animal at Drusillas I would have to go for the Fennec Foxes Caroline: It’s a difficult one, but for me it would be our Lar Gibbons

Wanted

dog lovers seeking: Exercise, companionship and so much more

Its great fun being a host for Barking Mad All of the benefits of dog ownership without the emotional or financial commitment Visiting dogs are carefully matched to your home environment

NEW ABSOLUTE BEGINNER CLASS STARTS Date: Tuesday, 4th October 2011 Time: 6:45 to 7:45pm.

Tanbridge House School, Farthings Hill, Guildford Rd, Horsham, RH12 1SR R

To find out how to become a Host please contact Christine Low

Tel: 01243 863050 christine.low@barkingmad.uk.com A franchise owned and operated under licence by Christine Low

Nuline teaches choreographed routines danced to a wide variety of music including latin, pop, waltz, jazz, funk, country and celtic, etc.

No partner required * Good way to keep both the body and mind fit * Low impact form of dance for all ages * Two left feet - no problem? * Good sense of humour essential! * BWDA Qualified Instructor

Call LISA on 07729 992520 or email: lisab@nulinedance.com

www.barkingmad.uk.com

Website: www.flyinghighdancers.com

Unit 15 Gerston Business Park, Greyfriars Lane, Storrington, Pulborough RH20 4HE Email: coaches@roadmarktravel.co.uk www.roadmarktravel.co.uk

01903 741233 Queenstown

Escorted

by Tony Pragnell

Exploring New Zealand with Collette Worldwide Holidays featuring North and South Islands 13th January 2012 for 23 Days £4195 twin/double • £4995 single 29 Meals - 19 Breakfasts, 2 lunches, 8 dinners Our long-term partner Collette Worldwide Holidays has already filled one coach for this holiday-of-a-lifetime to New Zealand but it is still not too late to book your place on this fabulous tour that features a journey of discovery through New Zealand’s North and South Islands and a two-night stay in vibrant and fascinating Hong Kong.

The holiday includes door-to-door transfers from your home* to Heathrow Airport and flights with Air New Zealand. Why not forsake the English winter to visit this beautiful country named “The Land of the Long White Cloud” by the Maori people,

Highlights include

and where January is one of the warmest months with high temperatures and abundant sunshine?

Subject to a minimum of twenty passengers the tour will by accompanied by Tony Pragnell.

An accomplished Tour Manager, well known to many of our regular clients, Tony will enhance your enjoyment of the holiday with his extensive knowledge, infectious enthusiasm, charm and charisma. You will also enjoy the services of a Collette Tour Manager whilst in New Zealand.

A colour brochure providing full details of this exciting New Zealand tour is ng Ko Hong available on request.

Mount Cook National Park

• Two nights stay in Hong Kong with guided tour • Auckland, ‘City of Sails’ • The Bay of Islands Door• Waitangi National to-door Trust & Treaty House transfers • Rotorua included • Wellington • Winery Tour • The Tranz Alpine Train • Franz Josef Glacier Region • Queenstown • A cruise on Milford Sound • Lake Te Anau • Overnight stay in Mount Cook National Park

Wellington * Door-to-door service is included providing that the pick-up address is within fifteen miles of Storrington or Horsham Station. We may be able to arrange taxis for those living outside this area at additional cost. Please enquire for details.

This holiday is operated by Collette Worldwide Holidays.

ATOL protected - ATOL number 4832. Please see our booking conditions for more information

EXCELLENCE IN DESIGN

Creative product innovations for the ultimate bathroom solutions from Bauhaus, Crosswater and Simpsons

Choose from fabulous furniture and elegant ceramics at the stunning two storey showroom at Bathstore in Horsham

Huge price reductions on leading brands all summer

www.bathstore.com 58 East Street, Horsham horsham@bathstore.com 01403 243274