Ah, May—a fine month indeed! With beautiful weather and the promise of long summer evenings ahead, it’s wonderful to see colour bursting back into our cherished natural surroundings.
As you’ve probably noticed, I’ve updated my image (many thanks to Russ Iden for that). It feels more true to me now, as I’ve left the shorter hair behind. Though I must say, the sidelong glance does give me a slightly shifty look!
This month’s issue is another great read, thanks to our brilliant bunch of contributors. I’ve managed to avoid writing anything myself again this month, but what I really love is providing a platform for our community and local businesses. It’s been amazing to see the difference INSIDE makes. And to everyone who shares kind words— it’s truly appreciated.
Booking deadline for advertising is the 5th of the month prior to the month of print.
To secure your spot in our upcoming issue or to discuss tailored advertising solutions, reach out to our dedicated team.
For any distribution enquiries or feedback distribution@insidepublications.ltd
Founder & Editor - Liana Naylor
Designer - Andy Beavis
Illustrator - Russ Iden
CONTRIBUTORS
Bryan Turner MRPharmS | Caroline Osella | Simon Rigler | Chris Hare | Henry Parish | Matilda Cutting | Beth Sarah | Arty Mikey Matt Marchant | Tanwen Morgan | Frankie Hernandez-Kay
Delivered free to your homes. Copyright Inside Magazines 2025. Inside Magazines cannot be held responsible for the claims and accuracy of adverts or editorial content, or the effects of those claims. All dates and details are believed to be correct at time of going to press. No responsibility can be taken for subsequent changes.
Tree Festival 2025: bigger, greener and ready to inspire!
After a fantastic launch in Brighton & Hove last year, Tree Festival 2025 is back - bigger, better and reaching further than ever before. Originally, just three volunteers, inspired by London’s 2023 Urban Tree Festival, which brought city dwellers closer to nature through walks, talks and storytelling, the festival here, in Sussex, has now grown to celebrate trees across the entire Living Coast UNESCO Biosphere
This expansion means more events, more communities involved and even more opportunities to connect with the trees that shape our landscapes, clean our air and support biodiversity.
A FESTIVAL WITH A PURPOSE
Nature is under immense pressure - from habitat loss to climate change - and trees are a vital part of the solution. They store carbon, prevent flooding, cool our towns and cities and provide homes for wildlife. The Tree Festival is not just about admiring trees; it’s about understanding their importance, taking action to protect them and joining a growing movement to restore and nurture the natural world. Across Sussex, local groups, volunteers, and organisations are coming together to share their love for trees through a packed programme of
events running from late April through summer, with two main festival weekends on June 14-15 and June 21-22. Whether you love woodland walks, storytelling, art, music, hands-on conservation, or thought-provoking talks, there’s something for everyone.
FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS
The festival kicks off with the Branch Out Conference in Shoreham on June 14, featuring Susan Raikes, Director of Wakehurst and an exciting panel of experts. This inspiring event will bring together nature lovers, professionals and community members to explore how we can all plant, protect and care for trees across Sussex. It will set the tone for the weeks ahead, encouraging people to get involved in tree planting, conservation and local green initiatives.
Throughout the festival, guided tree trails will lead visitors through some of Sussex’s most beautiful green spaces, while family-friendly activities will inspire children to discover the magic of trees.
The “I love this tree because…” photography competition invites people to share personal stories about trees that hold special meaning to them, creating a collective celebration of the trees that shape our lives.
EXPLORING THE LIVING COAST
The expansion into The Living Coast UNESCO Biosphere makes this year’s festival extra special. Stretching from the South Downs to the sea, this internationally recognised area is home to ancient woodlands, chalk grasslands, and vital marine habitats. It’s a place where people and nature come together, making it the perfect setting to reflect on how trees connect us all.
WHY TREES MATTER MORE THAN EVER
The biodiversity crisis is one of the biggest challenges of our time, with wildlife disappearing at alarming rates and climate change disrupting ecosystems. But trees offer hope. They provide essential habitats, reduce air pollution, and help combat rising temperatures. Protecting and planting trees is a simple yet powerful way to make a difference.
Tree Festival 2025 is more than just a celebration—it’s a call to action. With the support of CPRE Sussex, Connick Tree Care and Rampion Offshore Wind, the festival encourages everyone to reconnect with nature, learn how to protect local trees and take steps toward a greener future. Let’s celebrate, learn and take action - because when we look after trees, we look after the future.
For the full programme and to get involved, visit cpresussex.org.uk/tree-festival
Worthing Gold Course Support Local Charity – Turning Tides
When Caroline Peat and Jez Coates stepped into their roles as Ladies’ and Men’s Captains of Worthing Golf Course, they knew that they needed to choose a charity to support for the year. Inspired by the knowledge that people were sleeping rough in the wooded areas around the golf course, local charity Turning Tides was the obvious choice.
Turning Tides is a charity based in Worthing and dedicated to ending homelessness in the local community. Founded in 1991, it has grown to become one of the largest providers of services for single homeless individuals in the area. The charity offers a wide range of support, including outreach programs, residential projects, mental health services, and “move-on” housing to help people transition to independent living.
Turning Tides emphasises compassion and collaboration, working closely with local organisations and individuals to transform lives and change perceptions of homelessness. Their approach is person-centered, empowering clients to rebuild their confidence and create brighter futures.
Caroline and Jez visited the Hub in Worthing just as they came into their Captaincy year.
They were shown around and met some of the clients who were taking part in the regular art sessions and doing some glass art. They learnt how much Turning Tides do; providing clothing, breakfast and advice to help people to get back on their feet again. Caroline says, “I think the other thing that struck me was that, at the time, they could only keep the Hub open for a few hours each day. And, as we know, we had some shocking weather with rain and wind for most of early last year.” In March this year, the Captains proudly handed over a cheque for £28,105.00. The images show two of the year’s events. Captains’ Day in September saw lady golfers from over 50 clubs, some from as far away as Troon and Saffron Walden, raise £2,000 through a raffle. A fashion show with ladies modelling the latest summer golfing attire raised £300 in just an hour. Community Fundraiser Sue Harris said, “We can’t thank Caroline and Jez enough for choosing Turning Tides as their charity. Their generous support and commitment to helping those in need truly show the power of community and compassion. The incredible amount they’ve raised will make a real difference - and quite honestly, it will save lives. We couldn’t do this without them.”
The Windsor Clinic
AUnderstanding Thermography: A Non-Invasive Diagnostic Tool
TThe Heart of Home Care: A Person-Centred Approach at Guild Care
Registered Doctor of Chiropractic and founder of The Windsor Clinic where we offer an integrated approach to your health in a relaxing and professional environment.
t Home Care by Guild Care, the focus is not just on providing support but on ensuring each person feels valued, respected, and genuinely cared for.
taking out the recycling which became difficult.
• Chiropractic
• NEW NovoTHOR®
The experiences of Brenda, who receives support, and Sarah, one of the dedicated Home Care assistants, show how the service goes beyond practical help to provide warmth, companionship, and a real sense of connection.
• Digital Infrared Thermal Imaging
“It helps me keep on top of things,” she explains. “I look forward to their visits because I can feel more human again, getting washed and dressed, which is important - and they make you feel you are important, which is important too.”
• Photobiomodulation by THOR Laser
• Bemer PEMF Therapy
Brenda turned to Home Care after a fall left her struggling with daily tasks. “My children wanted the best for me, so one of them did some research and liked the fact that Guild Care was a charity,” she recalls. “Since then, I’ve heard we made a wise choice.”
• Gymna Shockwave Therapy
The care she has received has made a real difference to Brenda’s life. “I’ve been very, very happy,” she adds. “They’re all like Sarah, they’re all so lovely. It’s so personal.”
1 2 3
The swift response from Guild Care ensured Brenda had the support she needed within two days. The support she receives includes help with getting dressed and undressed, bathing, and everyday household tasks such as washing up and
Sarah, a Home Care assistant, has a longstanding connection with Guild Care. Having first joined 24 years ago, she returned two years ago attracted back by the organisation’s values and its support for staff as well as clients. Guild Care
18-19 Station Parade, Tarring Road, West Worthing, BN11 4SS Phone: 01903 234490 Mobile: 07867 797363 www.thewindsorclinic.co.uk • info@thewindsorclinic.co.uk
hermography or Digital Infrared Thermal Imaging (DITI) is a non-invaisive, diagnostic imaging procedure involving the detection and recording of cutaneous thermal patterns which can indicate underlying pathophysiological states of activity that may represent underlying conditions such as inflammation, vascular disorders, neurological/neurovascular. Whether it is a localised activity pattern or a reflexegenic pattern, DITI is used to ascertain an evaluation of many conditions. When used appropriately, DITI can contribute objective clinically significant data to a practitioner, allowing greater level of confidence in diagnosis and a higher level of justification when considering more invasive tests or procedures. The images on the left show some results of DITI.
The Windsor Clinic
1. Good thermal symmetry with no suspicious findings.
2. 37 year old lady, no family history of cancer. Vascular patterns in the upper left breast at the 11 o’clock position was suspicious and subsequent clinical investigation indicated a palpable mas that was biopsied to reveal a 2 cm DCIS (ductal cell carcinoma in situ).
provides regular training on everything from safeguarding to nutrition to ensure Sarah and her colleagues can carry out their work safely with thoughtful, personalised care.
“I enjoy seeing people in their own properties, surrounded by their own things, their memories,” says Sarah. “It’s something to chat about together and sometimes it feels like visiting a friend.”
3. Thermal patterns in the right chest wall were indicative of breast cancer in a male patient with associated hypothermic pattern over the heart region indicating cardiovascular dysfunction due to an oral infection creating the hyperthermic pattern in the mouth region.
Brenda encourages anyone considering Home Care to get in touch with Guild Care. “I would suggest they phone Guild Care and ask them to come and see them,” she says. “You can discuss what you think you need and find out what’s right for you.”
You can book your own DITI using the contact details below.
For more information about Home Care, call the team on 01903 528637, visit their showroom in Portland Road, Worthing, or find out more online at Home Care service in Worthing.
18-19 Station Parade, Tarring Road, West Worthing, BN11 4SS Phone: 01903 234490 | Mobile: 07867 797363 www.thewindsorclinic.co.uk | info@thewindsorclinic.co.uk
Person-centred care and support in your own
“It’s weird that men are so naked in swimming”
Sun’s out - beach time!
“You gonna do some sea swims again this year?”
“Not sure. Remember how I got bronchitis last year?”
“Oof, yeah, that was horrible - went on for ages, didn’t it?”
“Mmmm. Messed up the whole of July. I can absolutely track when I started to feel grotty: it was that day when I went for a sea swim and then stayed on the beach for an hour in a wet top. I could feel the cold and damp on my chest, it was so uncomfortable”.
“Yeah, those ‘quick dry’ fabrics really aren’t so quick, are they?”
“Na. I remember getting a towel and shoving it under my swim top, drying myself - but then, of course, I put the top back down and just got my chest wet and cold again. Horrible feeling. I’m not getting ill again - can’t afford a month out with chest trouble”.
Hmm.
Isn’t all this a myth? Hasn’t it been dinned into us all that viruses and bacteria cause chest infectionsyou can’t actually catch a cold from damp and cold, can you?
A quick dig into medical research literature tells me that - maybe you can.
“Cooling of the body surface and cold stress, induced by lowering the core body temperature,
cause pathophysiological responses such as vasoconstriction in the respiratory tract mucosa and suppression of immune responses, which are responsible for increased susceptibility to infections”. *
Blimey.
And,
“Getting ‘chilled’ after sitting around in wet clothes … seems to worsen pulmonary immune defenses (probably related to ciliary clearance or anti-adhesin activity.)**
Top-free bathing was common in the 70s, but seems to have rolled back; you have to be pretty brave these days to do it. (Unless you’re a man, of course).
I go to talk to an expert - lifelong daily swimmer, channel swimmer and open water coach.
She tells me,
“I personally don’t like swimming without a top - I have never skinny-dipped even in my own pool! But you’re right, keeping wet clothing on increases the risk of hypothermia dramatically. As a sea swimming coach, I recommend my swimmers take off their wet costumes as soon as possible and get into dry clothes. In cold weather or on exiting cold water, they should then put on layers of warm clothing. It’s better to be naked under a coat or dry robe, than to put a robe on over a wet costume”.
Dry Robes aren’t simply a fashion fad, then; and the beach sauna is both pleasure and healthy. I ask coach about bronchitis - any research? She tells me -
* Dr E. G. Mourtzoukou peer-reviewed article, ‘Exposure to cold and respiratory tract infections’. https://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/iuatld/ijtld/2007/00000011/00000009/art00002
Caroline Osella
“Regarding respiratory tract infection, Dr Mark Harper, author of Chill, has started some clinical research. He has some evidence that moderate exposure to cold water reduces the incidence of respiratory infections, but once swimmers go beyond 15 mins in cold water, they increase their risk. You get all the benefits with fewer risks if you keep your dips short. Being in the water in a top doesn’t matter too much, it’s wearing a wet top afterwards that’s the problem”.
Right. So a quick dip is ok - but we need to warm up and dry off fast afterwards.
Reporting back to the group, discussions continue.
“No sunbathing after a swim, then, unless you’re topless”.
“Don’t say ‘topless’ - that sexualises it”.
“Yeah, I mean men’s chests and nipples are outand a lot of them have bigger boobs than I do!”
“And chest hair! Why isn’t that seen as sexual and supposed to be kept covered up?”
“We really need to stop seeing breasts as always sexual. They’re just body parts, like buttocks or bellies”.
“Free the nipple!”
“For trans and enby people, social expectations about chests? Extra layer of anxiety! It would all be easier if we were grown-up about it and just accepted all chests and all nipples”.
“This is why I drive all the way to Shoreham or Brighton, to one of the naturist beaches. This insistence on a scrap of cloth that makes you cold and damp - maybe even ill - is ridiculous”.
I’m giving the last word to the swim coach: -
“It is weird that men are so naked in swimming and women aren’t! I’d rather the men covered up!”
** Edna Pytlak, MD, writing about bronchitis. https://www.contemporarypediatrics.com/view/home-remedies-bronchitis-maybe-your-mother-was-right
Niepoort Uncorked: The Maverick Behind Portugal’s Wine Renaissance
When it comes to Portuguese wine, few names carry as much weight—or spark as much curiosity—as Niepoort. This familyrun winery has been around for over 180 years, but thanks to the rebellious spirit of Dirk Niepoort, it’s gone from a traditional Port house to one of the most exciting and forward-thinking names in European wine.
The Niepoort story begins in 1842 when Franciscus Marius Niepoort, a Dutchman, started importing Port to northern Europe. Over time, the family shifted from selling wine to making it, building a reputation for high-quality Port wines stored in historic cellars in Vila Nova de Gaia, across the river from Porto.
But the real shake-up came in the 1980s, when Dirk Niepoort—fifth generation and a bit of a rule-breaker—took the reins. Rather than sticking strictly to the Port trade, Dirk started exploring Portugal’s incredible range of native grape varieties and diverse landscapes. His mission? To prove that Portuguese wine wasn’t just good—it could be world-class.
A WINE REBEL WITH A CAUSE
Dirk Niepoort has never been afraid to challenge the status quo. While many winemakers at the time were chasing international trends, planting popular grapes like Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay, Dirk went in the opposite direction. He championed local grapes that had grown in Portugal for centuries—grapes most people outside the country had never heard of. He also focused on farming his vineyards more naturally. That means no chemical fertilisers, no pesticides, and letting nature do most of the work. His team even follows biodynamic farming principles, working with the rhythms of the moon and stars. It might sound a bit out-there, but the results speak for themselves: pure, expressive wines that taste like the place they come from.
THREE WINES THAT TELL THE STORY
Today, Niepoort makes a wide range of wines across Portugal, and three bottles in particular help tell his story—each one from a different region, and each one with a different personality.
First up is Rótulo Tinto, a red wine from the Dão region, in the heart of Portugal. The area is cooler and greener than the hot Douro Valley, and this wine reflects that—it’s fresh and light, with red berry flavours and a gentle earthiness. It’s made from a blend of local grapes with names like Jaen and Alfrocheiro, and it’s a perfect match for roast chicken or a casual Friday night in.
Next is Drink Me Branco, a white wine from the famous Douro Valley. The label is playful, and so is the wine—it’s bright, zesty, and just a little bit wild. Made from a mix of native white grapes, it’s got a citrusy kick with a slightly savoury edge. It’s brilliant with seafood, salads, or a sunny afternoon.
And then there’s Tiara, also from the Douro, but more refined. This white is all about elegance—think white flowers, delicate fruit, and a clean, mineral finish. It comes from old vines grown high up in the hills, and it’s made with a gentle hand—no oak, no frills, just beautifully balanced wine. Tiara is proof that Portugal can make white wines as fine and sophisticated as any in Europe.
PUTTING PORTUGAL ON THE WORLD MAP
Dirk Niepoort’s influence has gone far beyond his own vineyards. He’s inspired a new generation of Portuguese winemakers to believe in the value of their own traditions, grapes, and land. Today, Portugal is one of the most exciting wine-producing countries in the world—and Niepoort is a big reason why. Whether you’re a wine newbie or a seasoned sipper, a bottle from Niepoort is always an adventure. It’s not just about what’s in the glass—it’s about a story that stretches back generations, and a future that’s only getting brighter.
10% discount for first order QUOTE WORTHING 10 free delivery for orders over £75
The Tiara £45 The Dao £15.95
Drink Me Branco
Get Moving!
It is widely reported that one of the biggest systemic problems in the NHS is bed-blocking, meaning clinically well patients are staying in hospital well beyond the time that they need to. Better social care is the intractable answer to that, but what is less widely understood is that the extended stay in hospital is very often bad for that patient. Any extended stay in hospital will take a toll on anyone, but the older you are the worse that gets. Medics work on the maxim that if an 80 year old spends ten days in a hospital bed, then they will physically age by ten years! That patient is almost certainly frailer and weaker than they were before they went into hospital, and less likely to be able to look after themselves. This can become a huge burden for families and the social care services.
This is known as de-conditioning, and it can affect anyone but it is most pronounced and troublesome from middle age onwards. We all start to loose muscle mass from about the age of 40 and this accelerates as we age. Rehabilitation is the NHS answer to this, but some forward thinking medics are now recommending that patients who have a planned stay in hospital coming up prepare themselves physically with exercise to speed recovery afterwards.
They are calling this “pre-hab”. If you are stuck on a long waiting list, perhaps for a knee or hip op, why not use that time wisely to ensure that you are in the best possible shape before you are admitted? The theory is that you can reduce deconditioning and speed up recovery.
Of course, patients who are physically ill and/or experiencing mobility problems will be limited in what they can do. But the good news is that good progress can be made with simple exercises that you can do at home, you don’t need a gym! Not all exercises are for everyone when there are health limitations, but everything helps if you can do it.
Firstly, you just need to get moving. If you have been avoiding walking, then try to do this every day. Twenty minutes is a good amount to aim for, and this could just involve walking to the shops or park, or walking the dog.
Exercises that work the thigh and buttock muscles are great if you are waiting for an op on your knee or hip. Squats are well known to gym goers, but don’t let this put you off. There are easy variants you can do at home. All you need to do is sit on a chair, and stand up without using your hands. Repeat 10 times, and take a rest then do it again. If you are able, try it without a chair. Stand
up with your feet shoulder width apart. Bend your knees as far as is comfortable, and then stand back up. Do repeats of 10 if you can. If you feel unbalanced, hold onto a counter top to steady yourself. Don’t push yourself too far if you experience pain or balance problems.
Counter tops are also a good place to get going with easy press ups. Stand slightly away from the top, place both hands on the top and lean in then push away. This is good for upper body strength. As you get stronger, you can move your feet further back and lean in more, but always be careful of your balance.
Good nutrition is also important for recovery. So, eating well in the weeks before an operation is beneficial. A varied diet of fresh foods will boost your recovery time, avoid ultra-processed foods, and cut back on alcohol. If you are one of the minority who smoke, you should try to reduce or stop, even though this is a time of worry.
Getting ready for a stay in hospital by doing this kind of pre-hab will get you back out and home again, quicker and healthier and also, hopefully, without the need to rely on the stretched social care services.
Bryan Turner MRPharmS
PLENTY of volunteers turned out to help in the annual big Tarring Park clean up.
Organised by the Friends of Tarring Park, the “troops” picked up litter, scrubbed benches and even washed down litter and dog waste bins. One litter picker reported finding a razor blade.
An organiser commented; “What a fantastic, sunny and perfectly wonderful day to spend a bit of time cleaning up.
“Brilliant efforts at the park today from
everyone involved. It all looks a lot better. Thank you all.”
One area in Church House Gardens that could not be tackled was an outbreak of graffiti on a garden wall. Normally the council are out within 24 hours to remove graffiti from public areas but this particular act was on a privately owned wall and the council were unable to take action with their usual speed.
www.tarringfloodactiongroup.org
Hugh Rowlings
Benches, litter bins and dog waste bins get the treatment
The clean up team were also issued with Good Deeds Day T shirts.
May is the month when swifts arrive back in numbers in the UK. Many of us welcome these little birds as one of the most evocative sights of high summer, wheeling through blue skies high above, and making their “squee! squee!” screaming calls.
Sadly, this evocative experience is becoming rarer and rarer in the UK, as the swift population declines at an alarming pace. Numbers have halved since 1995. Happily, though, there steps we can all take to do something about it, with a little knowledge, appreciation and care. Now swift lovers have set up a Worthing group to do exactly that, to try to preserve these birds in our town.
With their scythe-shaped wings and fantastic flying skills, swifts are astonishing birds in so many ways – they have one of the longest migrations, from southern Africa, the shortest stay in the UK, here only three or four months of the year, and they almost never land. When a fledgling leaves its nest, that’s the last time it touches anything solid for four years. Their tiny feet are unable to perch. They feed, sleep and even mate on the wing.
Worthing and Adur Swift Group
There is another amazing and underappreciated fact about swifts. They rely on humans, and specifically our buildings, for their nest sites. For millennia swifts have almost exclusively chosen to live alongside us, often unnoticed, in crevices in walls or under the eaves of our homes. Unlike swallows or house martins which build mud nests and tend to stay in the countryside, swifts are truly urban birds.
But building methods have changed in the last half century or so, and modern buildings are less welcoming, with fewer openings. Even on older buildings roofline renovations can unwittingly deny swifts access to nest sites they have used for generations. It’s thought this change in construction is one of the primary drivers of population decline, along with climate disruption and the collapse in flying insect numbers.
The Worthing and Adur Swift Group has been set up to try to arrest this trend. We aim to find out as much as possible about swifts we know nest in the town, to preserve them and to extend these colonies with swift boxes and bricks. We want to share the love for swifts and
spread awareness about their modest needs – somewhere to nest and flying insects to eat.
The first step is to survey as much of Worthing as we can to document existing swift colonies. You may see us this spring and summer, out and about in pairs to note what we find. And you can help, by reporting the tell-tale signs of nesting swifts. The first are the so-called “screaming parties” when swifts fly low at roof-height, calling out. The other is the “bangers” when young swifts fly into roof tiles, seemingly hitting their heads. Believe it or not, they are searching for unoccupied nest sites to use on their return next spring.
We would love to hear what you see. join our Facebook group and tell us about it there, or log it on the national site Swiftmapper.org.uk where we will pick it up. Maybe you would like to volunteer to help with our survey?
Worthing is a big town, and we are looking for more helpers to cover the ground. Together, let’s save the swifts to lift the summer spirits of generations to come.
Further Upgrade
LAST month we reported that a bus stop in Tarring had been upgraded electronically informing no. 16 Compass bus users from the stop in Rectory Road what time the next bus was due.
Now the upgraded stop has been upgraded yet again and the no.7 Stagecoach bus has been added to the info board much to passengers’ delight.
In addition to the written info there is a button which, if pushed, tells passengers audibly when the next bus is coming.
Bowls Big Weekend
THIS year Tarring Priory Bowls Club will be running their Bowls Big Weekend in May over the Bank Holiday weekend of Friday 6:00pm to 8:00pm, Saturday 10:00am to 4:00pm and Sunday 10:00am to 12:00pm. There is no cost to try and Bowls will be provided so all you need are flat shoes/trainers.
There will be a BBQ on the Saturday and refreshments from the bar and kitchen will be available on all three days.
This is a fun weekend and a great way to try bowls and see if you like it with the opportunity to join the club and progress further should you wish. However, if you just want social bowls then this is held on a Friday evening from 6:00pm to 7/7:30pm for £6 aged 18+, £3 for under 18 and free under 12. Details at hand at the Bowls Big Weekend Event. Any questions or queries then please contact the event organiser, Stuart Logan, via email at stulogan316@hotmail.com
TARRING FLOOD GROUP FORMED 9 YEARS AGO
WHEN flood waters invaded Tarring High Street in June, 2016, few people mopping up would have thought that the village would end up nine years later overseeing extensive drainage improvement work costing £76,000 on behalf of the council council.
Fear of a repetition of that event, which saw bins floating down the street as water invaded homes and businesses, inspired several villagers to form themselves into what became the Tarring Flood Action Group (TFaG), creating a series of measures to head off excessive rainwater and culminating in improving gullies and drains at eight vulnerable flood junctions off South Street and Rectory Road.
Such was the co-operation between the Borough Council and County Council with TFaG that, along with other similar groups in the county, it was treated as an agency of the county’s Operation Watershed and entrusted with £76,000 to commission drainage improvement work which started at the end of March and finished at the end of April.
DRAINS at the junction of Parkfield Road and South Street are the first to be upgraded in the latest round of improvement work by TFaG. Seven other junctions followed.
It has been a long journey providing evidence to the local authorities of the necessary work but such has been the dedication of those involved that the county regards TFaG as a trusted partner in commissioning contractors to get the work done.
TFaG was formed in April 2017 to oversee the use
of grants from the county council to pay for soil and drain surveys, funding landscaping and introduction of water gardens at Fairoak Triangle to absorb excess water from storms.
BRIEF HISTORY.
#June 2016. Floods hit High Street. Residents discuss forming action group.
# April 2017. Tarring Flood Action Group (TFaG) formed to liaise with county and borough councils and Southern Water and carry out research.
# June 2018. Public meetings held.
# August 2018. Resilience plan arranged and recognised by county council.
# June 2020. Licence to plant in Fairoak Triangle. Rainwater gardens and raised beds.
# August 2020. £91,000 grant from Operation Watershed for flood prevention measures.
# February 2021. TFaG represented on WCC tying in with county council and Friends of Tarring Park.
# October 2021. TFaG new website.
# December 2022. Queens Green Canopy of trees at Fairoak Triabgle to mark HM Platinum Jubilee.
# October 2023. Major drain survey (in heavy rain) to demonstrate flood issues to authorities.
# May 2024. Community Gardening grant for tools and planting.
# August 2024. Shortlist of problem drains identified at junctions along South Street and Rectory Road in readiness for upgrades in April 2025.
PPG AWARENESS WEEK: MAY 6-9 at the Strand Medical Centre, 1b The Causeway, BN12 6FA
All Strand Medical Centre patients welcome PPG event open times: Tuesday 6 and Thursday 8 from 10:00am to Midday Wednesday 7 and Friday 9 from 2:00pm to 4:00pm
Activities include:
• Getting familiar with Klinik and how to access the NHS APP and online Patients Know Best.
• Opportunity to give valuable feedback to the surgery through the Annual GP Patient Survey (available at the event)
• Meet members of the Patient Voice (PPG) Committee.
• In addition, there will be 2 CPR demonstrations on Wednesday, May 7: 18:30 to 19:30: introduction to Adults CPR 19:45 to 21:00: baby and child CPR
Places are limited to 15 people per session, and only available to patients of Strand Medical. Please see booking details on surgery web site.
1
Wound; gash (10)
Last year, we completed the “Walk for Billy”, a 24 mile walk, that was a resounding success in terms of awareness and important funds for Billy & Beyond CIC. It was reflecting on the success of the walk that made a couple of us decided that in 2025 we should make it bigger and better! This
Beyond CIC
culminated in the idea that we should do a crazy challenge like John O’Groats to Lands End, but landing in Worthing instead - as Billy’s home town. Somehow, the idea grew traction, and before we knew it, it was out in the public arena and we were doing it!
We’ve already gained some great sponsorship from amazing local companies, and we are grateful for their contributions. We have been training hard so far, and feel like we are going to absolutely smash this, all the while keeping Billy at the forefront of our minds. 860+ miles?? Bring it on!!!
Founder and director of Billy and Beyond, Nicci Parish, said: “I cannot believe that Sam, Katie and Bailey are doing such a tough and incredible challenge for Billy and Beyond. We are hoping to get loads of people involved as we match them mile-for-mile on spin bikes at Worthing Leisure Centre and Splash Point. Please drop us an email at billyandbeyondcic@gmail.com if you wish to get involved or support us.
We are also announcing that all money raised will go towards the commissioning of a play written by award-winning local playwright Brendan Murray. This play will centre on love, loss and grief, and will be vital in our mission to ensure young people and parents are educated on the risks recreational drugs pose.
‘Paws for Wellbeing’ with Miss May
As
a Pets As Therapy
Visiting PAT Dog, Miss May is a real superhero! For May, we look at how dogs can help us find our inner HERO to support our wellbeing. We also meet PERMAH Pup of the Month, Meg - thanks to Amanda.
You probably already know that your dog makes you happy - but did you know they also help you build inner strength, to develop the mindset and skills to handle life’s ups and downs, embracing opportunities the world has to offer? One of the strongest “superpowers” we can draw on to
support our wellbeing and performance at school, work and life is called “Psychological Capital”. It is made up of 4 key elements that together spell the acronym HERO. These are Hope, Efficacy; Resilience and Optimism.
1. Hope – Our dogs remind us that tomorrow is a new day. Whether it’s looking forward to a morning walk or a wagging tail at the door, they keep us hopeful about what’s ahead. Dogs help us to stay positive and goal-focused and persist when obstacles get in the way.
2. Efficacy – This is about our confidence and self-belief. Successful bonding and training with a dog, reinforces a belief in our ability to influence outcomes, giving us a sense of purpose. When you train them, keep them healthy or just understand their needs, you prove to yourself that you’re capable,
responsible and able to achieve your goals.
3. Resilience – Life can be tough. But our dogs are always there, offering comfort after a bad day. Dogs help us to manage stress and bounce back from adversity. Their affectionate nature and routine provide stability, which can help us regulate emotions and recover from setbacks and help us cope with stress.
4. Optimism – Ever noticed how your dog lives in the moment? Dogs encourage a focus on the present and simple joys, which can shift our perspectives toward a more positive outlook on life even in difficult times.
4 Pawsitive Pointers to Strengthen Your Inner HERO with your furry friend
1. Set goals together (Hope)
Try learning a new trick with your dog or improving their recall or behaviour on walks. Or train together for a Canicross event, like Amanda and Meg! Every little success reinforces the idea that progress is possible, keeping you motivated in other areas of life too.
2. Take on responsibility with confidence (Efficacy)
If your dog is well-behaved, consider joining Pets as Therapy or other charities that support human-canine interactions. Helping other people with your dog can give you both a deeper sense of purpose and reinforce a belief in your ability to make a positive difference in the world.
3. Let your dog help you bounce back (Resilience)
If you’re having a tough day, spend intentional time with your dog. Their unconditional love, routine and simple presence can help you recover from stress and refocus on what matters. Sitting quietly, noticing their natural calmness can be a powerful reminder to slow down and reset button when life feels overwhelming.
4. Have an adventure day (Optimism)
Break the routine and go somewhere completely new together – a beach, the woods or dog-friendly café. See how a change of environment sparks excitement, curiosity and joy and brings a new way of looking at the world.
Remember your dog is your best friend AND Super Hero - keeping you strong, confident, and hopeful!
Miss May Instagram @may_redgoldengirl #bemoremissmay #permahpup PAT details more information on volunteering t. +44 (0)1865 590 308 w. https://petsastherapy.org
University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust Voluntary Services Tel: 01903 205111 Ext: 85615 or Email: uhsussex.volunteers-wash@nhs.net
PERMAH PUP OF THE MONTH –MEET MEG!
Meg will be eight in May. We had intended on getting two dogs, but she was the only one available. I’d never had a puppy of my own before and didn’t quite appreciate the immediate unconditional love I’d feel as soon it was agreed she was going to be ours.
Meg is a Sprocker, a cross between a working cocker spaniel and springer spaniel, which automatically means her favourite things to do are, eat everything, sniff everything and run everywhere. Oh, and zoomies – running as fast as she can around the house with her back legs over taking her front. She certainly has enough energy for more than one dog, lucky we didn’t get two!
Running and being outside in the countryside are the things I do to clear my head and de-stress, and Meg is my perfect running companion. We take part in Park Runs, and more competitive Canicross events, which is an exciting sport where a dog and human run together as a team cross-country. Meg has lots of her own medals and even came first in one event!
But at the end of all the excitement and energy that goes along with sharing life with a Sprocker, it’s the unconditional love she gives back and the snuggles on the sofa that make me go ahh, and relax.
Amanda De Ridder from Durrington
For more information about Miss May meet and greets or workshops please contact: Email: coach@cliveleach.com Insta: cliveleachcoach LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cliveleachconsultancy/ Turning Tides: https://www.turning-tides.org.uk/ StreetVet: https://www.streetvet.co.uk/ Canicross: https://www.canicross.org.uk
Miss May the Super Hero!
Medal Winning Meg!
“Adolescence” and the crisis facing young women
FA:ST
Welcome to FA:ST (Future Adults: Shaping Tomorrow), a section of INSIDE that responds to requests from young people to write and have their say. If you are a young person with something to say, email liana@insidepublications.ltd.
When “Adolescence” premiered on Netflix, it wasn’t just another coming-of-age drama.
It was a gut-wrenching, unfiltered portrayal of what it means to grow up as a teenage girl in a world where misogyny is normalised, where social media fuels dangerous ideologies, and where gender-based violence is still not considered a hate crime. The show doesn’t sugarcoat reality - it forces audiences to confront it.
As a 16-year-old high school girl, watching ‘Adolescence’ felt like someone had finally put our unspoken fears, frustrations, and everyday battles on screen. It’s a harsh reminder that no matter how much progress society claims to have made, being a girl still comes with an inherent risk. Walking home at night, going to school, even existing onlinethere’s always a chance that someone will treat you as less than human, just because you’re female. And the worst part? If something happens, the law still doesn’t recognize it for what it is: hate.
Matilda Cutting age 16
Right now, gender-based violence and misogyny are not legally classified as hate crimes in most places, including the UK. That means when a woman is attacked, harassed, or even murdered because she is a woman, it’s not seen in the same way as a racially or religiously motivated crime. That should infuriate everyone. It certainly infuriates me.
Women are targeted for their gender all the time - on the streets, in schools, at home, online. Yet, when we demand legal recognition of this, we’re met with excuses, debates, and outright dismissal. Why? Because acknowledging misogyny as a hate crime would mean admitting how deeply embedded it is in our society. It would mean facing the uncomfortable truth that for centuries, violence against women has not been appropriately addressed and accepted as part of life.
One of the most striking things about ‘Adolescence’ is how it exposes the toxic influence of social media. The show highlights how platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube allow misogynistic figures to spread harmful messages to millions of young people. It’s no secret that influencers like Andrew Tate have built entire empires by preaching male dominance and female submission, all while insisting it’s just “motivational content” or “free speech.”
The reality is far more sinister. These platforms push misogynistic content to young boys through algorithms designed to maximize engagement, regardless of the consequences. Boys as young as 12 are being fed videos that tell them
women are inferior, that feminism is a joke, and that they are entitled to control and disrespect us. Meanwhile, girls are left to navigate a digital world where harassment, body shaming, and unrealistic beauty standards are the norm.
One of the biggest failures of social media companies is their complete inability - or refusal - to properly enforce age restrictions. Most platforms claim they are for users 13 and up, yet it’s laughably easy for much younger kids to sign up. Even for those over 13, there is no real protection against being exposed to extreme, harmful content.
If social media companies truly cared about young people’s wellbeing, they would do many things better. Including enforcing strict and verifiable age restrictions, improving content moderation to remove harmful, misogynistic rhetoric and changing algorithms so they don’t push toxic content to impressionable young minds. But the reality is, these companies profit from engagement, and outrage-driven content - especially content that fuels division and hatred - keeps people scrolling.
“Adolescence” isn’t just a drama. It’s a reflection of the world we live in. It forces us to ask hard questions: Why do we still accept misogyny as “just the way things are”? Why is it so easy for hate to spread unchecked? And why are young people being left to deal with the consequences of a system that refuses to protect them?
The show is a wake-up call. Now, the question is—will society listen?
Learning a better way: a practical guide
by Frankie Hernandez-Kay
Over the years at my school, I’ve come across many ways to relate activities to the curriculum, ranging from worksheets to entire school trips tens of kilometres away from the school - some were experiences that I’ll never forget, while others were quickly forgotten. But in every case, for good or bad, those who did stick with me always had something practical. These tasks involved simple questions and answers and full multistep problem-solving and in-depth explorations of the subject at hand through a real-world application of the lesson. I’ve always found these activities a much better way to connect with the lesson over the seemingly never-ending stream of worksheets that have dominated teaching for many years. Sadly, the practical approach has been mainly sidelined to only a few lessons for a while now, only rarely popping up in other lessons just when the stars align perfectly.
Recently, my school’s business department decided to do something different. Instead of the joyless worksheet, they set up a competition between the classes and students to devise, plan and execute the best pizza business plan (including the pizza). This would be carried out over roughly a month or two in the normal lessons where we learnt about all the skills and techniques used by entrepreneurs and business owners to create and run their own businesses. Firstly, we created our initial idea which included selecting our target market and how our pizza van would operate. Then, we started to work on our business plan. We thought about how to advertise and how we would target specific segments of the market we had chosen. Even though this involved the dreaded worksheets, it felt different as there was a tangible reason. For example, when we calculated the cost of each pizza, there was a certain enjoyment in trying to find the best value product of mozzarella. It was nice to have an end goal to work towards that wasn’t just getting to the end of a unit. Relating what we were learning to filling out the sheet helped show how planning can help.
After completing our business plans, we planned out which pizza we would make for the competition and how we would present our work. We were judged on a couple of criteria by one teacher from our school, Walter, the owner of a local pizza restaurant, Justin, an entrepreneur and co-owner of BlueBillboard and the owner of Inside, Liana Naylor. The criteria being the quality of the business plan and the pizza itself. Having the experience and knowledge of people who have gone through this process of successfully planning and executing a business idea allowed us to gain some valuable insight into how this would work at a larger scale.
Overall, this experience has been hugely beneficial to my understanding of what skills are needed to be an entrepreneur and how to use these skills to create a successful business. I believe that this method of teaching, in combination with traditional ways of getting across the essential base knowledge, is a far superior way of communicating and explaining complex topics such as business planning. Hopefully, we will see this method be used effectively in other subjects soon.
COLONNADE HOUSE
Two Art Exhibitions One Venue May 2025
EXHIBITION 1
Worthing and Washington Parkinson’s UK Group proudly present an Art Exhibition in Gallery 1 at Colonnade House from May 20-24, 10:00am5:00pm daily. The exhibition is called “Shaky Hands” with artists from the Worthing and Washington Parkinson’s UK Art Group, together with a local guest artist who has kindly donated a piece of their artwork. The aim is to help gain an insight into the creative minds of those living with Parkinson’s Disease and promote the benefits of art to those affected by the condition, along with raising awareness and vital funds for research to help find a cure.
EXHIBITION 2
Along side Exhibition 1, Nicolette Amos (a member of Worthing and Washington Parkinson’s Branch) will be holding a solo exhibition called “Rainbow Bloom” featuring her artwork based on Jellyfish and the sea.
You can visit the Colonnade House website, link as follows: https://colonnadehouse.co.uk/event/shaky-hands/
A council-backed initiative uses hip-hop to help families reconnect with numbers.
Anew rap track and video created by a group of parents, children, and musicians in Worthing is helping families build confidence in maths through rhyme, rhythm, and real-life stories, and it is about to go viral.
The song is part of Dads, Sums & Drums, a community project developed by social enterprise, Dad La Soul, with funding from West Sussex County Council through the government’s Multiply programme.
Designed to support adults who struggle with numeracy, the project takes a creative approach to a longstanding national issue — turning everyday fears about numbers into lyrics and beats.
Produced in collaboration with youth music charity AudioActive, filmmaker Kristian Coburn of Darza Productions, and a team of rappers, singers and producers, the project explores how music can help families engage with
From government grants to basslines: How a dad-led project turned Worthing into a maths music revolution.
mathematical ideas in a way that feels collaborative, joyful and relevant.
Dan Flanagan, founder of awardwinning social enterprise Dad La Soul, whose brainwave the project was says;
“Within our community, we have many experienced, creative folks that we can bring together. They include nursery and primary schools and local business leaders. They are parents who also happen to be amazing filmmakers, battle rappers, acclaimed music producers, child-led learning experts and storytellers who are thrilled to lend their skills and talent to the cause -
We have developed a Dad La Soul Creative Agency, which helps fund our lifesaving work, suicide prevention and the escalation in social isolation in dads. This level of innovation gives us a real edge when tackling challenging social issues”.
The project is showcased by a fantastic video that features more than seventy Worthing locals aged between 3 and 76 years, including the Town Crier, a definite first for any rap video.
A NATIONAL CRISIS IN NUMBERS — AND CONFIDENCE
Nearly half of working-age adults in the UK have numeracy skills no better than those expected of an 11-year-old. According to government figures, poor maths ability costs the UK economy an estimated £20 billion annually.
But the challenge is not only economic, it’s emotional — and generational.
A 2023 study by Cambridge University found that 36% of children in the UK feel anxious about maths. Research shows that if a parent struggles with numeracy, their child is three times more likely to feel the same.
“We hear it all the time,” says Flanagan. “Parents who feel guilty, embarrassed, or just shut down when their kids ask for help with homework. It’s not about laziness — it’s about shame”.
The Multiply programme was launched by the UK government to tackle adult numeracy in communities across the country. With a £560 million investment, it supports projects that help people gain confidence with numbers in everyday
life — from budgeting to supporting children’s learning.
The goal of Multiply is not just to boost workplace numeracy, but to help parents feel confident supporting their children.
In Worthing, that support took a different form — a garage beat, a rap verse, and a microphone.
Richard Bromfield, Programme Officer for Multiply Skills for Life, praised the project as a bold and innovative way to tackle numeracy anxiety in families.
“Dad La Soul’s innovative approach to learning has been a game-changer. Their work with families in Worthing is a brilliant example of how creativity can tackle barriers to education and engagement. Math anxiety a ects not just children but whole families - and by bringing parents into the learning process in a fun and engaging way, this project is making a real impact.”
DADS, SUMS AND DRUMS INSIDE ⚪ ⚪ ⚪
parents — many of whom had never felt confident with numbers.
“As a teacher and maths lead, I see this all the time,” says Coburn.
“We often have parents and carers who want to help their children but don’t understand the strategies we use in class. By involving them directly and by listening to how children feel about maths, we can break things down in a really accessible way.”
From there, the artists stepped in. Rappers with roots in the UK battle scene, soulful vocalists, scratch DJs and experienced producers worked closely with the community to turn real feelings into lyrics.
What might have been a novelty project became something more substantial: a track described as a “grooving garage rap with anthemic soulful house chorus” — designed not to go viral but to create connection.
FROM SCRIBBLES TO THE STUDIO: TURNING FEELINGS INTO FLOW
Before any lyrics were written or beats composed, the team behind Dads, Sums & Drums began by listening.
Through informal conversations, techled data gathering, play sessions and community meetups, run by Dad La Soul, families were invited to share their honest maths experiences — as children, parents, and learners.
“We didn’t need more surveys— we needed honesty,” says Flanagan. “That’s where the real insight lives.”
Many parents described feeling overwhelmed, anxious or ashamed when trying to help their children with homework. Others admitted avoiding maths altogether.
Working with Hannah Coburn, a primary school teacher and maths specialist, the team translated those insights into creative prompts reflecting how young children learn: rhythm, repetition and movement. The aim was to connect with pupils and
LEARNING THROUGH LYRICS: FAMILIES FIND A NEW RHYTHM WITH MATHS
The impact was immediate for Paul Tyldesley, a father who had participated in the project.
“This project has really helped me and my son have fun with maths,” he says. “We make up raps about sums and numbers in the car together. Before, I would really struggle to get him interested in anything mathematical.”
Children involved in the sessions responded enthusiastically - not just to the music but to the shift in tone around learning.
“Maths is about learning di erent tricks that will help you in real life,” says Leo, aged six. “Doing raps about it helps me remember.”
“That sense of joy - and shared e ort - is a core part of the project’s success”, according to Hannah Coburn, who helped guide the curriculum alignment.
“As a primary school teacher and a maths specialist, projects like ‘Dads, Sums
& Drums’ are absolutely invaluable. We often have parents and carers struggling to help their children with their maths homework, not really understanding the strategies we use to break down numbers in our lessons.
By engaging adults in this way and by listening to children’s voices when it comes to maths, we can break down the learning in a really fun and accessible way, giving parents and carers confidence around maths when talking to their children - it’s absolutely incredible. I really hope that the project is picked up not just locally but nationally.”
Local councillors have also welcomed the initiative as an example of how creative partnerships can address serious educational barriers.
“This is another great example of partnership working,” says Cllr Jacquie Russell, Cabinet Member for Children, Young People, Learning and Skills at West Sussex County Council.
“We’re pleased to support innovative projects like this — ones that help parents, carers and children across the county build skills and confidence in line with our council priorities.”
FROM WORTHING TO NATIONWIDE? A NEW MODEL FOR COMMUNITY LEARNING
Although Dads, Sums & Drums was developed in one corner of West Sussex, those behind the project believe it could offer a blueprint for broader social change.
“If we can turn 70 families into raploving mathematicians and bring local nurseries, schools and businesses together to tackle what might be quite a dull subject, imagine what we could do nationwide,” says Dan Flanagan.
While many education interventions focus on classroom settings, this project takes a different approach - meeting families where they are and making learning feel communal, creative, and non-judgemental.
“It sounds ridiculous at first,” he says. “But when you see a kid and his parents who hated maths, now understanding and rapping about quadratic equations, you realise - it’s not just working, it’s transforming how families engage with learning.”
“We’re not trying to go viral. We’re trying to change how families feel about learning. And if this track helps just one more dad to sit down, laugh, and work through homework with their kid - then we’ve done our job.”
Matt Marchant
Part Two: Home coffee making –the perfect method revealed
If you’re always seeking that perfect brew, I might just have some brew news for you!
Hello again and last time I left you in a state of suspense as we were about to unveil the results of our coffee experiment. For those of you wondering what I’m on about, I’ll recap.
In a world where it seems that everyone has an opinion on the perfect cup, Part One introduced the idea of debunking and demystifying coffee making and laid the foundations for this - Part Two. I worked with time-served local coffee expert, Paul Ramsey of Domluca, to test various ways of making coffee. With Paul, I gathered a selection of machines considered to be “amazing” and with Paul’s advice, made a about 10 cups of coffee to see which one was the best. Spoiler alert; it didn’t quite work out as neatly as I’d intended, but a few top-tips emerged, which I hope will help readers to make the perfect highstreet-like brew, at home.
LESSON 1; IT’S ALL ABOUT THE GRIND Grind size is really important, as it determines how long the water interacts with coffee grounds. I like to call this the “coffee dwell time” or CDT – an acronym I’ve just made up. Get the CDT
right and the flavours and coffee oils will mix beautifully with the water, creating a satisfying drink. Get it wrong and you will probably end up with expensive dish water. For the tests in this article, we used a professional coffee grinder, as you might find in a high street shop. Whilst a machine like this is the best for coffee grinding, most people at home won’t need one, since coffee grinds of all varieties are available at the supermarket. Unless you’re a serious connoisseur with deep pockets, supermarket fresh coffee is fine as long as you match the grind to the brewing method and appliance. There are also local independent coffee suppliers who can match the perfect grind to your machine.
LESSON 2; HARDNESS ISN’T IDEAL
Worthing water is full of The Downsno bad thing in the main, but over time any water heating appliance will form limescale. “What is limescale Matthew?”, I hear a person say. Well, this rock-like deposit is formed at about 60⁰C when water, with dissolved calcium bicarbonate turns to calcium carbonate. It clings to moving parts, heating elements and pipes and can render a machine with pipes useless very quickly. When this happens, assuming that no damage has been done during the process, the only real course of action is to use descaler for really bad cases. However, regular use of white vinegar or concentrate pure lemon juice (both acidic to break down the alkaline material) will also work. Whatever you clean your kettle or machine with, rinse it through for several cycles, before drinking water or coffee from it!
Calcium carbonate also affects the taste of our drinks, and it’s something we’re all used to. If it bothers you, and I’m in this camp, then I recommend buying a jug water filter and using the filtered water to fill your kettle with. Try it for a month and you’ll really notice a reduction in the limescale build-up. You’ll also taste better tea and coffee.
So now that we’ve covered the basics, it’s time to wake-up and smell the coffee. While this isn’t an academic piece, I’ve tried to monitor the same variables for each coffee making method; those being; time-to-make, energy used, cleanup time and above all, the taste. Pod machines were not tested here because they almost need their own article due to complexity.
ORCHESTRALE NOTA
What a beast of a machine. Reassuringly heavy (Paul and I lifted it into the house on a trolley) this machine would work just as well in a small coffee shop as it would at home and its price reflects the hand-built, industrial quality. At around £3,000, only serious coffee lovers need apply. We used a fine ground, high quality blend to make our coffee, and with it’s 9 Bar pressure, consistent temperature (around 119 degrees Celsius). It does not compromise. It seems that you get what you pay for and the Nota and others in this price bracket are in a class of their own. With a 3-litre tank and pressure regulation that even I could operate, this machine made a drink that tasted rich and delicious, with a fine crema. Two shots and semi-skimmed milk was used. Electricity use was fairly high at around 7p per brew. Amazing kit, (fully repairable) if a little pricey for the home user, still 9/10.
GAGGIA CUBIKA
I have owned this machine, second-hand for over 15 years. My model isn’t available now, but Gaggia make a similar model for around £400. Similar in operation to the Nota, it has one group head and similar controls. On the day, it couldn’t match the pressure of the Nota and, therefore, the taste was flatter and weaker. Not a bad brew, but out classed by the more expensive machine, despite using the same coffee grind. Two shots and skimmed milk used. Being totally honest, I think the seals needed replacing – typical workshop owner’s machine! Around 2p of electricity to make a cup. Good looking machine in the kitchen and easy to use, but when you’ve used a professional machine only 6/10.
A quirky looking machine by modern standards, this design has not really changed in form or function for over 60 years. Made for the serious home coffee lover, and at over £600 new, these machines show a world of promise. This machine came into the workshop as a repair, and in the end, it was a full restoration. Not quite a ‘Trigger’s Broom’ job, many parts had to be replaced including seals, sensors and connections. It was also full of limescale, highlighting the need for regular cleaning. We were impressed with the taste. Energy use was about the same as a kettle (just over 1p) in our test and the ease of use, clean up and resulting taste were very close to the Nota, giving it a result of 8/10.
BODUM CAFETIERE
Let’s try something simple and usually effective. At around £20 or less, a cafetiere is perfect for making coffee for many. Put the desired amount of coffee in, pour in hot water, wait and plunge. The critical thing here is the coffee. Since there is no pump or controlled pressured environment to extract the coffee oils, coffee grind surface area is important. So, we used 4 scoops of a larger grind coffee and waited around 6 minutes before plunging. An electric kettle used about 2p to heat the water. It gave a very pleasant tasting coffee which was quick and easy to clean up. We gave this 6/10.
60S
PERCOLATOR
Often bought as anniversary and wedding presents back in the day these, often
British made, metal or porcelain jugs with electric heating elements within, set out to combine the best of a stove coffee pot, cafetiere and kettle in one appliance. 60 years on, this machine is often found hidden away in lofts and is still relevant today. We used 4 scoops of a medium grind coffee, filled the machine about ¾ and waited about 10 minutes for the Perc to cycle the water. Serving around 3-4 people, we loved the rich coffee smells created and it provided great flavour too. Easy to clean-up with only about 3p of electricity consumed. We awarded 7/10.
V60 CUP, AEROPRESS AND WACACO
One of the great things about researching these articles is that I get to talk to lots of people. Anyone who knows me, knows I love to talk! Before writing this, I’d never heard about V60 cup, Aeropress and Wacaco portable espresso makers and as a gadget lover, I felt as if I’d missed out. The Wacaco is plain gorgeous design, I love the simplicity of the V60 cup and the Aeropress (kindly donated – thanks Thomas) provides every day robustness. The great thing about these machines is that they provide that “coffee hit” for one, on the go. If you buy a cup of coffee every day from a shop, it can work out expensive and these machines, aimed at the office and camping market, aims to save you money in the long run. These machines require a fine grind to give the oils a chance to interact when either the hand operated plunger is applied or gravity does its thing. Owners of these devices rave about them, but I couldn’t get on with them. While the flavour was OK, there just wasn’t the heat in the resulting drink, Maybe it was the coffee grind I used, but the flavours produced were a little bit flat. Having said all that, they look good and are easy to clean and at generally 1p (or less) of electricity to use, cost per cup is low. 5/10 awarded.
STOVE COFFEE POT
Available in many sizes, usually starting from around £15, these devices have been around for years. Mine is over 20 years old and I think I bought it when I moved out,
maybe it was a present. It has been used, rinsed and dried and used again to make a decent brew more times than I care to remember. Using around three scoops of medium ground coffee, the resulting brew was rich and creamy and while not as intense or flavoursome as the Nota, the taste and texture wasn’t too bad from a machine costing much less. I tend to boil the kettle, 2-3p of electricity and then pour into the pot’s base. After assembly and a brief spell on the gas hob (another penny or so) the coffee was ready. Clear up usually means a wait before disassembly due to heat, but overall, 7/10 awarded.
IN CONCLUSION
I’ve never drunk so much coffee in one sitting, I had to wait a week for the caffeine buzz to wear off. My hands have only just stopped shaking. So, what have we proved with this experiment? It turns out that if you buy a coffee shop machine, you’ll get a cup of coffee as good as one made in a shop. Who knew?! Modern machines and portables are convenient and may save money, if you can’t live without the stuff on a daily basis. For me though, the traditional stove pot and to some extent the percolator, were the best all-rounders considering convenience, cost and taste. On the subject of taste, it really is personal preference, and as long as you’re mindful of hardness, it’s all about the grind. On that note, I thank you very much. Until the next time…
GIVEAWAY!
The first three readers to contact the Editor by email stating what their favourite coffee making method is and what they thought of the article (good or bad) will be given a bag of lovely Domluca coffee. Your feedback will be printed in the next edition of INSIDE
LA PAVONI EUROPICCOLA
This month we feature two topics high on the CREW agenda, transport and energy
By Tanwen Morgan
TRANSPORT
To begin on transport, we recently joined up with Transition Town Transport group bringing a wealth of experience to the group.
A new 20mph speed limit has been proposed for some of the streets around Goring. A question was put to the Full Council meeting in December, by one of our members, based around a workshop looking at the possibility of reducing speed limits in some of the residential streets in Goring. The workshop, which was organised by Worthing Borough Council (WBC) in conjunction with Aberystwyth University, was well attended and well run. It considered how slower speeds can create safer streets, encourage more walking and cycling, improve air quality and enhance the overall sense of wellbeing for everyone.
The majority of those who attended were in favour of proceeding with a pilot project in the area around West Park primary, Goring primary and Oscar Romero schools. The Council was asked what will happen next and when we might see the start of the pilot project. Unfortunately, nothing is planned
to happen in the near future, although 20mph schemes are in operation in other parts of West Sussex.
We have started a campaign on Pavement Parking - A question was asked at a WBC meeting if they could pass a by-law to stop people parking on the pavement. We then wrote to council officers regarding the legality of pavement parking. We feel that a pilot scheme should be set-up, with the agreement of a local community group to obtain their views. Pavement parking causes problems for vulnerable and disabled people including young families with buggies. There’s already a ban in Greater London and parts of Scotland. Some Councils are now calling for a ban across England
Cycling - We continue to lobby the council to extend the shared use path from George V Avenue to Sea Lane, this would make Goring seafront more accessible to all.
We are contacting Network Rail about installing a bike ramp on the railway bridge at Elm Grove. The ramp that would run up the side of the bridge without disrupting pedestrians and reduce damage to bike frames and springs.
Buses - The group recently had a very productive meeting with the Business Development Manager of Stagecoach South. We asked many questions, ranging from changes to the local routes and timetables, fare rises, disabled travellers, electric buses and many more. He answered in an honest forthright way that gave hope for the future. We have agreed to continue working with him on local issues related to bus travel and will meet with him at regular intervals Peoples Assembly - In the summer, we are arranging a People’s Assembly on active travel and public transport. A people’s assembly is a grassroots form of deliberative and direct democracy, a way for a group of people to collectively make decisions and discuss issues in which everyone’s voice is heard and valued.
The aim of the assembly is to send a plan to WBC and West Sussex County Council from local residents to assist them to become carbon neutral by 2030 or before. We need a greener, more effective and affordable means of travel around Worthing from walking to cycling to catching the bus or train.
We’re building the Assembly around the following issues that will be addressed by members of the public who will be invited along;
• Rights of Pedestrians
• Cycle paths
• Better connected Public transport
The three questions will include access and assistance for disabled. To run the Assembly in a professional way, we will appoint a facilitator and expert speakers for each of the above issues. Members of the public present will then come up with specific points to put to the council for action.
ENERGY
CREW are extremely conscious of the need for growth in alternative energy. With the UK aiming to reach net zero by 2050, using electricity that comes from renewable sources is essential to help reduce our carbon emissions. That’s why it’s important to phase out fossil fuels as soon as possible. Here are some examples of things taking place in our local area. Worthing’s new Heat Network is being constructed by Hemiko who develop and operate heat networks across the UK. The heat network will collect waste heat from around the town and distribute to the community through underground pipes. Heat networks are low cost and low carbon. Hemiko is expected to offer a connection to every building in town by 2050, with the first buildings to be connected by summer 2025.
Rampion 2 Wind Farm is being developed as an extension to the existing Rampion offshore wind farm, off the Sussex coast. If consented, the project could move into construction in the next two years, the wind farm would then be fully operational before the end of the decade. Rampion 2 will be able to power the equivalent of over 1 million homes.
West Sussex Solar Project Expansion
More schools and other buildings across West Sussex will soon be able to generate and use their own renewable energy thanks to the expansion of a county council solar project. The County Council will be growing its Solar Photovoltaic (PV) and Battery Storage programme and is planning to install new renewable energy systems at 60 further sites across the
county, including libraries, fire stations and schools.
CREW have teamed up with Community Energy Pathways to deliver free energy advice and to help reduce energy outgoings for domestic housing. We are arranging presentations that are being delivered by a trained Energy Champion to provide impartial advice on topics from free and cheap changes to help with household bills, to low carbon technologies. Grant support, energy efficiency advice, behavioural change, scam awareness, debt advice and smart meter advice will be included in the presentations. This free service is offered to residents.
If you would like to connect with CREW, volunteer, be a trustee, deliver an event or join our mailing list, get in touch info@worthingcrew.co.uk
We are asking for your help to ensure our climate centre has a sense of security and stability, enabling our community to become more resilient, prepared and able to adapt to the changes occurring now and in the coming years. Please consider making a donation no matter how small. Thank you.
The nature of witchcraft
Chris Hare
During May, Chris Hare will give two talks at the Sidney Walter Centre: one about the naturalist Richard Jefferies, who died in Goring in 1887, and another on the history of witchcraft in Sussex. To his surprise, Chris discovered significant crossover between the two topics.
Ideas of witchcraft and witches have changed radically over the centuries. From the Witch of Endor raising Samuel from the land of the dead three thousand years ago to the witches of the New Age today, there is infinite variety. Some people like to believe that there is an unbroken Wicca religion that can be traced back to the time before the Romans.
One hundred years ago, folklorist Margaret Murray claimed to have proven that such a cult or religion had really existed. She examined the confessions of witches across Europe in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries and found remarkable similarities in the beliefs they confessed to. How, she argued, could a confession in Sicily be almost word-forword the same as one given in Scotland? The only explanation, she suggested, was that these women were part of an international occult belief system.. However, others, looking at the same evidence, drew very different conclusions: most of these women had been tortured until they made confessions, and their torturers, no matter what country they were in, were looking for the same admissions of ungodly and Devilish practices. In other words, the ‘evidence’ was wrought from the rack and the tumbscrew. These are not confessions that would stand up in any court today.
Attitudes towards witches and witchcraft have shifted hugely over time. At one moment the witch is a necromancer, at another a caster of spells, and then again, a healer and mystic. It was during the great religious and political upheavals that engulfed Europe during the Reformation that witchcraft persecution became endemic, leading to trials and executions.
In Germany, the deaths ran into thousands, with Spain not far behind. Although witches were burned to death in many European countries, including Scotland, in England witches were hanged. Heretics were burned to death in England, with 36 suffering this appalling death in Sussex alone between the years 1556 and 1558. While most condemned witches were women, most condemned heretics were men.
As I have mentioned before in this column, we are very fortunate that one of the founders of modern folklore studies, Charlotte Latham, was born in West Sussex, and worked in Worthing as a governess when she was a young woman. The Witchcraft Act had only been repealed for 66 years when Latham was born in 1801; yet even be the time of her death in 1883,
Mother and daughter
the old superstitious fear of witches and the “evil eye” still persisted
Writing in 1868, Latham observed: “Numbers of our people believe in ‘might of the magic spell’ and in the power of witches and wizards to work them ill, and to reveal to them the future events of their lives, and imagine that they have acquired this power and knowledge be selling themselves to the Evil One.”
There is an interesting paradox here: for although the fear persisted, the county of Sussex stands out in the whole of England for its leniency in dealing with acts of supposed witchcraft in the years when witchcraft was still a crime. Indeed only four people had ever been convicted of witchcraft in Sussex and only one person, Margaret Cooper of Kirdford, had ever been executed and that was back in 1575. Not all counties were so lenient, and hundreds were hanged in other counties, such as Essex and Huntingdonshire. No county in England was less inclined to prosecute witches than Sussex.
Although the concept of “black” and “white” witches is not to be found in Sussex, the “good witch” is generally referred to as a “cunning woman” or “cunning man”. Today, “cunning” has a very negative connotation: it was very different in Latham’s time. Sussex people would travel long distances to consult what Latham called the “village doctoress’”.She even gives an example of local people travelling great distances to consult one of these rustic practitioners“A man living in the neighbourhood of Chichester, whose children and grandchildren are much afflicted, has twice made a journey of upwards of a hundred miles, with different members of his family, to visit a cunning man in Doresetshire, who professes to be in possession of charms. The month of May is the only month when they will work, and the sufferers, to derive any benefit therefrom, must have their eyes fixed on the new moon at the time when
they are presented with a box of ointment made from herbs gathered when the moon was full.”
The charms used by cunning folk invariably ended by invoking Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost. For “unlettered” country people, the lore of the land and the word of the Bible were entirely compatible. Yet, others witches were deeply feared and believed to be in league with the Devil. Latham gives many examples, this is just one of them -
“There lived, till very lately, in a village near Chichester, a woman of indifferent character, who was never spoken of by the villagers by any other name than that of “The Witch”. All appeared to dread her power, and every sudden misfortune that befell them was ascribed to her; but, instead of saying that they were bewitched, they used the very singular expression of being “sin-struck” by the witch. The groom of a gentleman residing in the parish assured his master that there was no resisting her power, and added, “If she willed that I should sit across the roof of this stable from morning to night, she’d have me up there in an instant, and nothing could bring me down till she gave me leave to come down.”
In my witchcraft talk, I will also discuss many instances of good and evil magic, as well as the near universal belief, found all across Europe at one time, that witches could turn into hares. There were also many elaborate and (to us) strange rites and rituals people engaged in to defeat the power of witchcraft.
Let me turn, finally, to Richard Jefferies, a man deeply steeped in the life and ways of rural England in the nineteenth century. His wisdom and insights are startling, and
often, deeply moving. I have just completed writing a Worthing Heritage pamphlet devoted to the man and his writings, which will be published by the time you read this article.
Jefferies identified the tangible relationship between all living things and in one of his Sussex essays hinted at his belief in “sympathetic magic”, and the plants and trees most closely in tune with the human life cycle. He doubted that the evergreen could ever be an ally of man, but other trees most certainly were –
“The lost leaves measure our years; they are gone as the days are gone, and the bare branches silently speak of a new year, slowly advancing to its buds, its foliage, and fruit. Deciduous trees associate with human life as the yew never can. Clothed in its yellow-greenish needles, its tarnished green, it knows no hope or sorrow; it is indifferent to winter, and does not look forward to summer. With their annual loss of leaves, and renewal, oak and elm and ash and beach seem to stand by us and share our thoughts.”
Jefferies also observed how some people were more in tune with nature than others, and that women predominated among them. In his novels, strong independent women, at one with the countryside around them, are always to the fore: there is Felise Goring in The Dewy Morn, and Amaryllis Iden, in his last novel, published the year of his death in 1887, Amaryllis at the Fair –
“She loved beauty for its own sake – she loved the sunlight, the grass and the trees, the gleaming water, the colours of the fields and the sky. To listen to the running water was to her a dear delight, to the wind in the high firs, or caught in the wind-stretching arms of the oak; she rested among these things, they were to her mind as sleep to the body.”
Arguably, the greatest ever writer of the English countryside, Thomas Hardy, explored similar themes. Tess in Tess of the D’Urbervilles, is invested with an elemental power, steeped in the landscape around her: “Women whose chief companions are the forms and forces of outdoor Nature retain in their souls far more of the Pagan fantasy of their remote forefathers than of the systematized religion taught their race at later date.”
Studying the history of witchcraft in the context of the evolving English countryside may reap more rewards than ghoulish explorations into Satanic Sabbats and gory executions.
Chris’ illustrated talks on Richard Jefferies (May 3) and the history of Witchcraft in Sussex (May 24th) can be booked by following this link, www.tickettailor.com/ events/historypeople
Richard Jefferies
LIVE MUSIC REVIEWS
Hello, and welcome to NEW MUSIC REVIEWS!
by Beth Sarah, blueskymusic.fun
This month I had the pleasure of catching some live events, including Lade Nade at Beer No Evil. Although Lady Nade is not a Worthing local, the venue has been regularly showcasing out-of-town artists who are well worth watching, so keep an eye out for their Hear No Evil sessions. Tom Speight has also been a guest with them this year and his new single came out recently.
LADY NADE LIVE AT BEER NO EVIL
Heading out to Beer no Evil this evening I had no idea that I was going to have such a life-affirming experience. Lady Nade is a staple on the UK folk scene; a singer-songwriter rooted in the music of artists such as Nina Simone, Joni Mitchell and Joan Armatrading; advocate for women, advocate for the Black Lives Matter movement and general all-round lovely person.
I’ve been to these intimate gigs before, so I knew how cosy it would be. Room for perhaps 20 to 25 at a push, and usually sold out, So, we squeezed in on the wooden benches. The close proximity gaves us all a sense of community that only comes from hearing live music and storytelling in such a confined space. That you’re just all in this experience together. It’s unique, and it’s beautiful.
Lady Nade started the evening by singing a song about a conversation, setting the tone for the theme of the night. With absolute rawness and vulnerability, she sings and plays acoustic guitar unamplified, interspersed with stories of her experiences that are honest and at times, a little painful to talk about. The result is a tangible feeling of awe at her ability to drop her defences so far as to let us in on such a personal journey of mental health ebbs and flows, a childhood littered with issues, therapy sessions, her propensity to choose men who are likely to abandon her and the definite need for good friends.
Her song “Willing” explains her passion for community and upholding each other. This certainly comes through in the way she speaks. She encourages us to speak to each other, to be kind, to have conversations about how we feel and not bottle up big emotions because it can
have dramatic consequences for our bodies. She openly explains that she’s recorded a song in the wrong key after placing her capo on the wrong fret for a song; we all laugh and she continuesgracefully, confidently, without hesitation.
You can tell that Lady Nade’s creativity comes hand in hand with her feelings, and the hearton-sleeve lyrics delve into emotional territory that cleverly twist her tales of life’s joys and woes. “Grandaddy was a grand man, Daddy,” she sings to her father about his father, who she spent most of her childhood living with. “I’m glad you gave me to him”. Families are such complex things and for Lady Nade, despite all the hardships she has faced, the ability to put her emotions into song appears to have given her a positive way of moving forward from negativity - although the voice inside her head is always there bringing her down (but that’s something she’s working on).
Well, I for one, appreciate the music, the stories and the vulnerability that shows us all that we are only human, and no-one is perfect. It’s in embracing our imperfections that we shine the most. Lady Nade, you gave me so much this evening in your openness and honesty. Thank you. Thank you too, to Beer no Evil for providing such a beautiful, safe space for live music that really gets right into hearts and minds. It’s a lovely thing that you’re cultivating and I am grateful.
HARRY PETER MILES –LATE NIGHT SUNRISE
One of the most important pieces of advice I have been given as an artist is to never release music without fanfare. Writing new music is a big deal - recording and mixing it, especially independently, is also a big deal; releasing it is the culmination of all that creativity, time and effort. This deserves to be recognised and celebrated. Sometimes new music slips right under the radar for lack of fanfare, and this album is one such case. Released back in November 2024 by Harry Peter Miles, affectionately known on the Open Mic scene as Harry PM (I always
wondered what the PM stood for!), Late Night Sunrise is a shining example of what can be achieved by one person when they have a passion for documenting their creativity. I was going to review just one song but I believe the entire album needs to get into more people’s ears. On first listen, these songs are exciting. It makes me think of the likes of Radiohead, Muse, Arctic Monkeys and a bit of the Beatles underpinning the song structures and melodies. Miles’ voice winds its way around the melodies in a post-Britpop slurry tone that seems to be a universally popular style, making him sound familiar from the off. He has an almost Bowieesque depth to his vocal at times, accompanied by cleverly arranged instrumentation that takes each song in a slightly different direction. Miles has certainly not fallen into the trap of making an album where all the songs sound the same (let’s face it, we’ve all been there!). For a debut, I’m incredibly impressed and I’m really looking forward to seeing how he develops as an artist.
TOM SPEIGHT – HIGHER
Well this is a feel-good tune if ever I heard one! With a title like Higher, I suppose you’d expect some sort of uplifting vibe, but on this occasion Tom exceeds my expectations. It’s the middle of the night and I should be going to sleep, but I suddenly remembered I was going to listen to this track and decide whether I wanted to write some words about it or not. Turns out, I feel compelled to explain that by listening to this song, your life will be enriched. Opening with some fun doodoo-doo vocables, it’s instantly hooky and gets me tapping my feet. It reminds me of an oldschool RnB song littered with sporadic brass lines and overlapping vocals, all complementing each other so well. I can just imagine the feeling of excitement in the air after this songwriting team got together and came up with this corker. Song of the summer for 2025? It may well be.
LIVE LISTINGS INSIDE ⚪ ⚪
To get your music event listed email events@insidepublications.ltd by March 5 for April
Pavilion Theatre, Worthing 7:00pm, Tuesday, June 3, 2025 (launching Worthing Festival Fringe)
The very best bands, singers and MCs from Worthing/Sussex schools and colleges meet on the Pavilion Theatre stage, (where Jimi Hendrix played in 1967) to play their best song in front of a huge audience. S’koolFest has been running since 2010, and is considered by many to be the most uplifting gig of the year as we see the talent of the future music scene making their first steps before our eyes.
Worthing Antique Arts and Collectors’ Club
Est. 1968, we are a small friendly club that meets on the first Tuesday of the month at Field Place, Durrington, BN13 1NP.
Our meeting in May will be on Tuesday 6, and our speaker will be John Griffiths-Colby, public speaker with the subject will be “How far can Retro go?” All are welcome to attend, non members £7.50pp or annual membership £35pp, start time 7:30pm-9:00pm. It was lovely to see so many new faces at the last two meetings, and many new members as well.
To find out more about the club please visit www.worthingantiqueclub. org.uk where you will find a list of the speakers for 2025, including John Benjamin from the BBC’s Antique Roadshow. Or call Andy on 07984 403890
Worthing Film Club
TITLE: The End
DIRECTOR: Joshua Oppenheimer
ORIGINAL LANGUAGE: English
FILM YEAR: 2024
FILM BLURB:
A post-apocalyptic story about a rich family living in a salt mine converted into a luxurious home. The earth around them has apparently been destroyed, but their son has never seen the outside world. As a young girl appears at the entrance of the bunker, the balance of the family is threatened.
VENUE: The Connaught Studio
DATE: May 19
TICKET: WFC members go free, non members please use website wtm.uk Want more info on joining? Email: worthingfilmclub.gmail.com
BeanyIllustration by Arty Mikey
Gabriel MorenoIllustration by Arty Mikey
Sussex Gruffs Male Voice Choir
COME AND SING WITH US!
Due to the choir’s continuing expansion – we now have over 40 members – we have moved our rehearsal venue to a larger space. We now rehearse in the Shaftesbury Room at Worthing Leisure Centre, Shaftesbury Avenue, Goring-by-Sea, BN12 4ET. We rehearse every Tuesday from 7:00pm to 9:00pm.
Sussex Gruffs Male Voice Choir is a community choir, who perform regularly, both to entertain and to raise money for local charities and other worthy causes. We are always happy to welcome new members to our thriving group. We don’t hold auditions, and you don’t need to be able to read music. In addition to singing, we also organize social events for our members and their family and friends to enjoy.
Potential new members can come along to one of our rehearsals on the first Tuesday of every month. If you would like to know more, why not visit our website at: www.sussexgruffsmvc.co.uk
YOU Group
This friendly Community Outreach Group welcomes our speaker, Gary Mobsby, on Tuesday, May 20 at 2:30pm, with talk, “ITCHY FEET”, an overland journey from Convent Garden to Columbo. It will be a fascinating insight into the very different lives of others, as seen through the eyes of a young and naive adventurer.
Venue: Main Hall in St Symphorians Parish Centre, BN13 3HU.
Cost: £3.50 pp to include refreshments. Please arrive by 2:15pm
Further details available from the Parish Office 01903 268109 or Email: theoffice@stsymphorians.co.uk
Broadwater and Worthing Cemetery
Military Memories Tour
Saturday, May 3 at 11:00am
May 8, 2025, will be the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day (VE Day). To mark that occasion, Broadwater Cemetery’s May tour has been entitled Military Memories. It will include stories about as many as twelve individuals buried in the cemetery who saw service before the Great War right through to World War II.
Our free tour will start promptly at 11:00am by the chapels of Broadwater and Worthing Cemetery in South Farm Road. Refreshments are available for a small donation. (Please bring your own cup with you when ordering a tea or coffee from our refreshment stand. Thank you.)
Worthing Twinning Association
Worthing Twinning Association will show the 1953 classic French film “Les Vacances de Monsieur Hulot” with English subtitles on Thursday, May 8 at 7:00pm. A charming and funny film featuring the experiences of a confirmed and accident prone bachelor. Cost £5 includes a glass of wine/juice and doughnut.
Non-members welcome, Full details of this and other social events can be found on www. worthingtwinningassociation.org
Durrington Theatrical Society
presents the comedy play “Agatha Crusty and the Health Spa Murders”.
Barn Theatre, Field Place, The Boulevard, Worthing, BN13 1NP 7:30pm
Wednesday, April 30-Friday, May 2.
Unreserved seating, £14pp - www.ticketsource.co.uk/dts Free parking and licensed bar.
Henry Parish
PThunder’s Elijah Maynard:
After high school, I was planning typical adult stuff – not being a pro player!
athways into professional sport quickly become beaten tracks. Basketball is no exception. Players, especially those who end up in Britain from America, can expect to go to high school, earn scholarships to play at college, then, when dreams of being drafted into the NBA slip over the horizon, hunt out opportunities abroad.
Elijah Maynard’s route was anything but conventional. By his own admission, he “didn’t play that well in (Quince Orchard) high school”: he didn’t make the team during his first season; “played alright” as a sophomore and had a “typical high school career” during his junior and senior years.
Maynard was surrounded by basketball growing up. Brought up in Maryland, on America’s east coast, he “instantly gravitated” to the sport with his “dad, cousins and uncles” all playing.
He has come both literally and metaphorically a long way since then. He sits top of England’s highest level of basketball in average points scoring (at time of writing) for Worthing Thunder. All this follows last season where his Reading Rockets came agonisingly close to winning both the league playoffs and National Cup (his shot, that would’ve sent the playoff final to overtime, rattled in and out the basket; he can afford himself just the slightest chuckle about it now).
What set him down that path to the pinnacle of English basketball? A coach at LA Fitness in America. For readers who are fans of football, imagine a player being recruited into an academy before having a professional career after being spotted playing in the park with his mates. Maynard had no plans to play university basketball, despite a strong desire, even considering “giving up on basketball” altogether. “I was already planning to go to a junior college, get classes then go to work and, honestly, just do typical adult stuff.” Then came the intervention of Washington Adventist University’s assistant coach.
“One of the assistant coaches was there and saw me playing. He told me, ‘You should come to our school for a workout and see if you like it.’ It was a unique moment in my basketball career because after high school I wanted to play university basketball but didn’t feel I was going to get that opportunity.”
His intention, after a successful university career, was to play basketball professionally. That
road ran through the University of East London – associated, Maynard explains, with Barking Abbey basketball club – to study for a master’s degree in sports psychology, not that studying was his priority. “I didn’t finish the degree. That’s something I need to finish,” Maynard told me.
It was at this point conversation turned to this season. The reason for his move last summer from Reading was the opportunity of leading a team. Maynard was second in average scoring last season – albeit only averaging just over half what he has this campaign. “Zaire (Taylor) told me he wanted to put me in a position to excel individually. Obviously, from a team aspect, it hasn’t happened, but I wanted to be able to showcase the skills I know I have. Credit to Reading, they run a great team and a system. I just felt I was boxed in over there.”
Collectively, the season for Thunder has been tough, facing relegation from division one (at time of writing). I ask Maynard what he has made of the season. “It’s buying in and not getting too down on the runs of basketball. There’s going to be times you’re not scoring; you have to stay level-headed. You can’t give up. I feel like we sometimes gave up which is why our record shows what it does. I feel like if we buckled down and grinded out those last couple of minutes, things could have been different.”
I ask Maynard whether Thunder’s position is at least the cause of circumstance, and whether this term been more competitive than those which he has seen before? “Yes and no. Thinking about the games we’ve played, and the positions we were in, there’s not one game I felt we should have lost. We’d play a good first or second but never complete a full game.”
So, given everything which has happened both individually and collectively this season, does Maynard know what his plans are for next season? “I am not sure yet.”
One of the assistant coaches was there and saw me playing. He told me, ‘You should come to our school for a workout and see if you like it.
After watching Michael Schumacher be snapped up by Benetton, Mclaren F1 team principal Ron Dennis famously told the late Eddie Jordan: “Welcome to the piranha club.” Thunder will certainly hope allowing Maynard a season to realise what he’s capable of individually will be enough to tie him down for another season. One thing is certain, though: many clubs up and down the land will be hunting the American’s signature.
St Lawrence Doctors Surgery 79 St Lawrence Avenue, Worthing, West Sussex BN14 7JL Tel: 01903 222900 email: cwsccg.stlawrencesurgery@nhs.net
Tarring Community Forum and Neighbourhood Watch Secretary Iona Hart harteiona@gmail.com
Tarring Flood Action Group tarringfloodgroup@outlook.com
Liana Naylor
Feedback
Letters to the Editor
INSIDE
Unit 1, Wayside, Commerce Way, Lancing, BN15 8SW liana@insidepublications.ltd
Dear Liana
I have been following the debate between Chris Gould and others on transport, carbon and energy.
Mr. Gould asserts things as “facts” which are not true. For instance he says the fire at Luton airport “was actually a hybrid diesel electric vehicle”.
Please correct this error. The full report is available on the Bedfordshire Fire Service website (https://loom.ly/9frxI_c). The report is over 100 pages long and confirms that “It is clear from the Fire Investigation report that a standard diesel vehicle was the origin of the fire. There is no evidence to demonstrate that the presence of electric vehicles parked in the car park had a detrimental impact on the outcome of the fire.”.
This fire was similar to another devasting fire in Liverpool which was caused by a petrol car and one in a multistorey carpark in Norway which was also confirmed to have been started by a faulty ICE engine.
Best wishes to everyone involved in this great publication.
Regards
Andrew Ball
Inspirational National Garden Scheme
West Sussex Gardens opening in May
As May approaches, the weather begins to warm up and the days become longer, the sight of colourful Spring plants and lush greenery can fill you with anticipation and joy. May is a time of hope when everything feels new and full of energy. Whilst there’s still lots to do in the garden this month, make sure to take a step back and admire all you have achieved so far this year. Don’t forget to spend some time visiting some National Garden Scheme gardens. There are plenty of lovely gardens on offer, providing inspirational ideas for planting, friendly advice and of course our now famous home-made tea and cake (many gardens).
New for 2025: Swallow Lodge, St Leonard’s Park and Pigeon Mead House, Earnley
HIGHDOWN GARDENS, GORING-BY-SEA
Thursday, May 1, 10:00am-8:00pm admission by donation.
THE OLD VICARAGE, WASHINGTON
Every Thursday, 10:00am-4:00pm admission £8 pre-booking essential. Monday, May 26, 10:00am-5:00pm, admission £8.
PEELERS RETREAT, ARUNDEL
Saturday 3, Tuesday 13, Saturday 17, Tuesday 27 and Saturday 31 May, 2:00pm-5:00pm, admission £5.
STANLEY FARM, LIPHOOK
Sunday, May 4, 12:00pm-5:00pm, admission £5.
TERWICK HOUSE, ROGATE
Sunday 4 and Monday 5 May 2:00pm-5:00pm admission, £6.
FITTLEWORTH HOUSE, FITTLEWORTH
Wednesdays, May 7 and 14, 2:00pm-5:00pm, admission, £5.
COOKSCROFT, EARNLEY
Saturday, May 10, 11:00am-4:00pm, admission £5.
HAMMERWOOD HOUSE, IPING
Sunday, May 11, 1:00pm-5:00pm, admission £6.
CHAMPS HILL, COLDWALTHAM
Sunday, May 11, 11:00am-5:00pm, admission £5.
BIGNOR PARK, PULBOROUGH
Tuesday, May 13, 2:00pm-5:00pm, admission £5.
WARNHAM PARK, HORSHAM
Thursday, May 15, 11:00am-5:00pm, admission £6.
THE COTTAGE, PULBOROUGH
Friday 16 and Saturday 17 May, 11:00am-5:00pm, admission £6, pre-booking essential.
PIGEON MEAD HOUSE, EARNLEY (OPENING FOR THE FIRST TIME)
Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 May, 11:00am4:00pm, admission £6, pre-booking essential.
54 ELMLEIGH, MIDHURST
Saturday 24, Sunday 25 and Monday 26 May 11:00am-5:00pm, admission £5.
GROVELANDS, WINEHAM
Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 May, 10:00am4:30pm, admission £7.
BUMBLE FARM, LOXWOOD
Sunday 25 and Monday 26 May, 2:00pm-5:00pm, admission £6.
9 PUTTOCK WAY, BILLINGSHURST
Sunday 25 and Monday 26 May, 11:00am4:00pm, admission £5
SWALLOW LODGE, ST LEONARD’S PARK (OPENING FOR THE FIRST TIME)
Saturday, May 31, 12:00pm-5:30pm, admission £5, pre-booking essential.
THE OLD RECTORY, BARNHAM
Saturday, May 31, 10:00am-4:00pm, £6 combined admission with The Shrubbery.
THE SHRUBBERY, BARNHAM
Saturday, May 31, 10:00am-4:00pm, £6 combined admission with The Old Rectory.
May is the month when The National Garden Scheme raises awareness of the physical and mental health benefits of gardens and gardening for everyone and of the importance of healthy gardens to wider biodiversity, through its dedicated Gardens and Heath Week, 3 to 11 May.
For more information on the National Garden Scheme and information on the benefits of gardening for health and wellbeing visit the National Garden Scheme website https://ngs.org. uk. and download a free copy of the The Little Yellow Book of Gardens and Health 2025. Online readers can click on this link to look at the interactive National Garden Scheme 2025 Sussex Booklet
