“I really couldn’t exist without the help of Guild Care. This is truly a lifeline service for me.” Home Care client
Person-centred care and support in your own home
Guild Care is Worthing’s leading social care charity. Our Home Care service enables older people and vulnerable adults in Worthing and the surrounding areas to lead better quality lives, whilst remaining safe and comfortable in their own homes.
We offer support with:
Household duties
Companionship and wellbeing checks
Respite
Get in touch with our friendly team for more details
01903 528637
homecare@guildcare.org
Medication and personal care
Escorting to appointments Shopping
New offices now open! 30-36 Portland Road Worthing
A new home for Home Care
Demand for home care services has risen in recent years according to Worthing’s leading social care charity, Guild Care, which provides professional care for older people who want to remain safe and comfortable in their own homes. As a result, Guild Care’s Home Care team is expanding and moving to a new home. From 24th June, the Home Care team will be based at 30-36 Portland Road, Worthing, alongside the charity’s latest retail outlet specialising in children’s items.
Lacey Thomas, Head of Home Care services at Guild Care, said, “Helping older people to live well in their own homes is a very rewarding role, making a real difference for local people looking for that extra support. Our ‘Good’ rating from the Care Quality Commission reflects the high standards of our services. Home Care is very much tailored to individual circumstances and can evolve over time to suit changing needs. We’re looking forward to welcoming new enquiries at our new home in Portland Road. Our Home Care team can talk through any questions you may have about having care at home in a friendly and welcoming environment.
care or wellbeing checks to shopping and meal preparation, all with a cheerful chat.
Jane, a user of Guild Care’s Home Care service, highlighted the impact of their support, saying, “Over the last three years, carers from Home Care have been helping me with things like washing and dressing in the morning and evening. I also have someone to do the shopping and cleaning once a fortnight. It all helps me keep on top of things.”
David, a long-term client of Guild Care’s Home Care, expressed his gratitude, “Guild Care’s carers are remarkable. They find so many good people to look after us. To know someone’s not just a visitor but a friend was tremendously helpful. I look forward to seeing them, especially Tina, who looked after my late wife, Audrey. It’s lovely to share our memories.” Guild Care’s Home Care team provides reliable, friendly, and professional care for both Jane and David, allowing them to maintain their independence and quality of life.
www.guildcare.org/homecare
Guild Care’s well-trained Home Care team visit homes across the area, providing support and services ranging from personal
To find out more, call the friendly team on 01903 528637 or email them directly at homecare@guildcare. org for guidance or an assessment. Alternatively, visit their new offices at 30-36 Portland Road, Worthing.
Welcome
Summer may be winding down, but at least we’re finally getting some hot weather. After all those long months of cloud and rain, we’ve earned it!
It’s a good thing the sun has finally perked up, too, as there is plenty to see and do across Worthing this month. Last issue, we introduced INSIDE’s new “Live Listings” feature, covering the many live music, stand-up comedy and spoken word events across our beautiful town. Since it was such a hit, this time we have expanded the section to cover multiple pages.
Elsewhere in this issue, we have some fantastic variety going on in the articles, with topics on nature, biodiversity, coping with loneliness and more. As always, I’d love to hear your thoughts on all of these and any requests you may have for new content.
Booking deadline for advertising is the 10th 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
CONTRIBUTORS
Bryan Turner MRPharmS | Caroline Osella | Simon Rigler
Chris Hare | Henry Parish | Clive Leach | Matilda Cutting
Russ Iden (cover image) | Kathy Kohl | Jane Reid
Jez Himsworth | Carl Walker | Liz Nicholson
Delivered free to your homes. Copyright Inside Magazines 2024. 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.
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Please recycle this Newspaper when you have finished with it.
Get ahead of the curve
The emissions reduction train is coming inexorably down the track. Business advisers stress the benefits of climbing on board early.
Only 3% of small UK firms (SMEs) have started their carbon reduction journey, according to a recent seminar, helping businesses to go green, held on Worthing Pier.
The reasons for this are usually a matter of scale or time. Nearly 70% of businesses surveyed by SME Climate Hub cited a lack of resources (financial, training or just too few staff) as the main obstacle to measuring and tackling their emissions.
Individually, small firms may regard their carbon footprint as insignificant, but collectively they contribute to half of the UK’s business emissions.
Listed PLCs and the UK’s public sector are already obliged by national and international legislation to map out Carbon Reduction Plans, aimed at progressively reducing their carbon emissions by over 50% by 2030.
This was one of the outcomes of the 2023 COP Climate Change conference to which the UK and many other countries signed up. The COP target is for the world to become carbon-neutral by 2050.
At the same time, public bodies and PLCs are under pressure to require their up/downstream supply chains to agree contractually to similar reduction plans. That may well have an impact on the operations of SMEs, because very few businesses are so small that they do not form part of someone else’s supply chain.
If you are a firm seeking new business, it’s in your interest to start measuring and reducing your operational emissions, increasing your potential for success.
The priority for the UK government towards Net Zero has been to regulate the biggest, most polluting companies, meaning that SMEs have not been expected to decarbonise or declare emissions.
However, they form the backbone of the British industrial supply chain, accounting for 60% in employment terms. “Carbon emission measurements will become increasingly important for small businesses to divulge as part of the Environmental Social Governance (ESG) declarations that big listed companies submit. That’s why it’s important to get ahead of the curve now, reducing the need for drastic and expensive reduction measures as 2050 gets closer,“ explained Dougal Fleming of Clean Growth UK, co-host of the seminar.
The session’s key aim was to help local firms articulate a strategy that identifies low-hanging fruit to prioritise immediate benefits in carbon reduction.
Local pioneer Nordell increased efficiency by installing solar panels, fitting timers and sensors to LED lighting and machinery and replacing some old hydraulic moulding machines with servo and electric machines.
“We’re able to train people up fairly quickly to do injection moulding, but general environmental education for staff takes more time, for example understanding the link between productivity and waste,” Nordell GM Emma Hall told me.
Further down the line there will be gains arising from energy investment and new technology. “Current and future investment in renewables will mean that carbon reduction as expressed in your
WHAT NEXT?
energy bills will occur automatically,” said seminar co-host Simon Batchelar.
This prospect has received a further boost from the UK government’s announcement in July of a new publicly owned green power company, GB Energy. The aspiration is that public investment in renewable energy will result in: lower energy bills for all, more stable energy security to avoid price shocks and creating more jobs in the renewables industry.
“Other savings will come from new technology that is in the pipeline but may not be ready for another decade or so,” added Batchelar.
Working towards a cleaner, greener future, research areas include: wave and tidal energy, carbon capture and storage, commercial use of hydrogen as energy, new construction materials (decarbonised concrete) and advances in the storage of energy from intermittent sources such as wind and sun.
With economies of scale, current technologies such as vehicle batteries and heat pumps will, in future, cost less and be more efficient.
Taking action now has business benefits, too. A firm with a clear climate action plan has a key advantage in attracting and retaining new staff. A recent survey of Gen Zs - the generation currently seeking their first jobs - suggests that over half would be willing to work for less if a business reflects their values - in which anxieties about their and the planet’s future play a major role. At the same time, a third would turn down jobs at firms with poor ESG ratings, according to the survey commissioned by Bupa.
Consumers are also increasingly concerned about climate change, with many keen to align with companies who want to help create a sustainable economic future.
According to one PowerPoint slide at the seminar: “People don’t expect brands to become perfect stewards overnight, but they want to know what you’re doing now to improve sustainability.”
small99.co.uk/measure/ This allows small businesses to quickly calculate their carbon footprint and identify energy hotspots. clean-growth.uk/events/ Use this link to find the next green business seminar in West Sussex. The website also has a more sophisticated carbon calculator. www.letsgonetzero.net/ - Lets Go! Net Zero website has a selection of green business champions who are local business owners. Project funding may also available. www.adur-worthing.gov.uk/businesses/support-and-funding/business-supportprogramme/ Assisting local businesses within the areas of innovation, sustainability, leadership and management.
www.ttworthing.org/resources/ Transition Town Worthing is a local group whose aim is to make our town and surrounding area more sustainable and work towards a carbon-neutral future. Of particular interest to local firms is the Sustainable Worthing Map which links together a huge variety of local companies who have already embarked on their carbon reduction journey.
50 things to do in Worthing
A town-wide project to support young people in Worthing
What do you remember as good experiences when you were at Junior School?
It is likely to not be everyday learning, but moments that stood out as different. Maybe it was a school trip, a play or activity you took part in. Perhaps it was about being part of a sports team or a music or drama activity. Maybe it was a simple thing like going to the beach or park with family, or playing with your friends on the Downssomething that excited you and made you feel part of something good.
Unfortunately, talking to schools in Worthing, we heard that some children are not experiencing these moments. Some of our junior-aged children have never been to the beach or Downs. The stresses of the cost-of-living crisis means that some families are more limited with what they can do and are focused on keeping their heads above water. Parents may use coping mechanisms that can leave children without the nurturing and experiences that they need to develop into resilient young adults.
Following the pandemic, there has been a large increase in the number of children and young people experiencing mental health difficulties. Research shows that children from low-income families are four times more likely than those from the wealthiest households to have a serious mental health difficulty by the time they leave primary school.
Research shows that it is incredibly important that children and young people feel that they matter. A large proportion of children struggle to develop a sense that they matter to anyone. This can have devastating consequences and can lead to violent acts against themselves and others. There are strong links established between young people’s sense of not mattering and self-harm, including suicide.
Many children living with disadvantages find they don’t know how to take up opportunities that are offered to them. We know that if they have not had trust, respect and the norms of social behaviour modelled and demonstrated in their wider lives, they struggle to access and take part in activities. There can be a real and lasting impact when adults build highly positive relationships and provide wider opportunities that young people might have missed. Without rich experiences, closing the disadvantage gap will be an
by Jez Himsworth, Carl Walker and Liz Nicholson
even greater uphill battle.
We believe that we need adults, agencies, services, institutions and authorities to provide an environment in which young people can develop a healthy sense of their significance in the world. Indeed, conversations with local Worthing schools suggest that there is a big difference of opportunity and experiences between those most and least disadvantaged young people in the town. To address this, we need to understand and remove barriers to participation that act to reinforce disadvantage over time. Those children and young people who experience less opportunity come to have a reduced sense of what is possible for their futures.
For this reason, Chesswood School in Worthing has started to develop a list of local activities and opportunities that they think all children in their school, regardless of disadvantage, should have the opportunity to do. Most of these are free or very low cost and consist of giving disadvantaged children the opportunity to accumulate local experiences that they wouldn’t otherwise. This can have a profound impact on their growth and development. Experiences can include the simplest life skills, that some won’t have a chance to learn. Things like working with others in music or sport, or playing in the woods or on the Downs, removing barriers like cost, travel and kit.
We recently invited a number of different groups to an event to discuss launching this project in Worthing. We had a really good mix of over 30 local schools, young
people’s organisations, West Sussex and Worthing Council representatives and a number of culture, leisure, environment and Young People’s activity providers.
We are developing a Worthing-wide scheme in partnership with these organisations to support the life skills, local experiences and opportunities for all children in Worthing, including the most disadvantaged. It will be a scheme that focuses on life skills, local experiences and opportunities. The scheme will be aimed at a 5-11 age group and will focus on supporting all children to have the skills, opportunities and experiences that many Worthing children already have. We are calling it “50 things to do in Worthing,” and the list will develop as we work through the project.
The next stage of the project is to build a database of local businesses, residents, arts, culture and leisure providers and community groups. We are inviting them to be a part of the project, to find out how they can work with local schools to make sure that all Worthing children have access to local childhood opportunities to make our town a vibrant place for children and young people. The activities should support their mental and physical health, helping them to develop resilience and aspirations for their futures.
This project will take a lot of organisation and will need a lot of people to enable our most disadvantaged young people to access the activities. We will need drivers, mentors and administrators, and people and groups to lead and run activities.
If you would like to find out more about this project or to possibly be involved, lend your time or your talents then please do contact Carl Walker on carlwalker1000@gmail.com
T26th Arun & Adur Worthing Beer Festival
he Arun & Adur branch of CAMRA are pleased to announce that the 26th Worthing Beer Festival will be held on 25th and 26th of October at the same venue as the past two festivals which is Rooms, Worthing, BN11 1LZ.
Rooms is accessed by going up the stairs in the middle of the Guildbourne Centre, which is a short walk from Worthing railway station and both seafront and town centre bus stops.
We will have 40+ cask ales, 10+ craft keg beers and 10+ ciders. Drinks will be sourced from both local and countrywide producers, but we plan to showcase brewers from the Reading area.
Local brewer Hand Brew Co are the festival sponsor. The festival
charity will be Care For Veterans.
This year’s caterer is Piglets Pantry of Worthing, offering a range of food including vegetarian/vegan options.
There will be three sessions: Friday lunchtime 11am to 4pm, Friday evening 5pm to 11pm and Saturday 11am to 9:30pm.
Tickets are £8 for Friday lunchtime session, £10 for Friday evening, £8 for all-day Saturday with late entry Saturday (after 5pm) for just £3.
Drinks will be at or below pub prices. Glasses will be provided FOC for use during the festival.
CAMRA members who show their membership card will get a generous £5 of free beer tokens.
For further details and to buy tickets see www.aaa.camra.org.uk
Love photography?
Whether you’re a beginner or more experienced photographer, Worthing Camera Club is the perfect place to practice your skills and share your passion.
You don’t need an expensive camera to join. We have members who are smartphone camera users, through to DSLR/mirrorless users with their own studios. “The single most important component of a camera is the 12 inches behind it.” (Ansel Adams).
At Worthing Camera Club, we offer:
• Workshops: Learn from experienced photographers.
• Photo walks: Explore local locations in a relaxed, social atmosphere.
• Competitions: Showcase your images and gain valuable feedback.
• Guest speakers: Gain insights and inspiration from creatives across a wide variety of photographic genres.
• Friendly community: Connect with like-minded individuals and make lasting friendships.
We meet every Tuesday evening during the season (September - April), and monthly throughout the year on our photo walks. We also offer members the opportunity to join our in-person meetings via Zoom (should you be unable or uncomfortable joining us in a hall).
Don’t miss out! Enhance your photography journey with Worthing Camera Club. Visit our website at www.worthingcameraclub.org.uk to see our programme and learn more. Alternatively, why not join us on our Facebook page (you don’t have to be a member to join), or follow us on Instagram (@worthingcameraclub). We do hope you decide to join us and look forward to meeting you soon.
Wadars animal rescue appeals for volunteers to foster older dogs until they can be found their forever homes
Ferring-based Wadars animal rescue is appealing for people to come forward and volunteer to care for older dogs in their homes until the pet can be adopted. Wadars rescues and rehomes hundreds of companion animals each year including dogs, cats, rabbits and guinea pigs, but because the Charity doesn’t currently have its own kennels, dogs looking for new homes are cared for in commercial kennels.
Senior animal rescue officer, Billy Elliott said: “Whilst the kennels that we use do a great job with our dogs and look after them very well, for some older dogs a kennel environment isn’t necessarily always the best idea, and in those cases having them
in a foster home is far better for them”.
Billy continued: “What we are looking for in fosterers for older
Wdogs is an adult-only home where the foster dog would be the only pet living on the premises. Wadars will provide the food, bedding, bowls, and any medical treatment required, and will also support the fosterer with advice until the dog is rehomed. In return the fosterer will be able to enjoy the company of the dog and know that they are helping the animal on its journey to a new home.”
Anyone coming forward to foster would need to be at least 18 years of age; have previous experience of caring for dogs; have their own garden or access to secure outside space and be at home for most of the day. They would also need to be able to take the dog along to their local vet when needed for routine check-ups.
WORTHING COMMUNITY CONCERT BAND
orthing Community Concert Band began life in 1999 at Northbrook College as an evening class. It was the idea of Chris Terry, who still plays with the band and under the conductorship of Norman Warnes. Eventually, the band moved its rehearsals away from the college but retained the name up until 2023 when the decision was made to drop the Northbrook name as it was confusing. Members of the public thought we were the college band and potential members thought we were still rehearsing at the college. We are still very proud of our Northbrook roots but felt that we needed to better represent who we were and the community we come from.
The band has had five conductors since it started, most recently we have had Curtis Vetter, who was with us for this past year. We still work in academic years and follow school dates, despite no longer being at the college. Curtis followed Ruth Summers who had conducted
the band for twenty years. We used to play on a Sunday afternoon at the Lido every year, prior to it becoming unsafe to do so. This summer we played in Worthing town centre. The band had never done anything like this before. It was also Worthing Pride, so once the parade had passed on the prom, we started playing at the old bandstand. It was rather windy, but we enjoyed the opportunity to play and many members of the public seemed to enjoy our presence. The band are keen to do it again, so hopefully we will be back next summer.
As a community band, supporting our community is part of who we are, this year we have given financial support to Papyrus Suicide Prevention charity. We have had two ex-band members who have committed suicide in recent years, so it is a charity very close to our hearts.
We rehearse in St Peter, the Holy Apostle, Church
Hall, Bowness Avenue, Sompting on a Tuesday evening during term time 7pm to 9pm. We are always on the lookout for new players who need to be grade 2 or 3 level and able to read music. We are also seeking new opportunities to share our music with people. We have a concert booked for Sunday December 1 at St Michael and All Angels Church, South Street, Lancing at 3pm and would be interested in playing at a Christmas Fayre or other Christmas event late in November or early December.
Our rehearsals recommence on September 17 with our new conductor Laura Kjaergaard, and we are looking forward to an exciting new year ahead. We have a Facebook page – Worthing Community Concert Band, we are also on Instagram - @ worthingcommunitycocertband and we have a new website in the pipeline.
We can be contacted by email – worthinhccb@gmail.com
Chris Terry Founder of WCCB
Curtis Vetter Conductor 2023-2024
Laura Kjaergaard New conductor from September 2024
Heather Joy Current Chairperson for WCCB
The Adur Adaptation Project:
Improving flood resilience and biodiversity in the River Adur Catchment
The Ouse & Adur Rivers Trust (OART) is delighted to announce the launch of the Adur Adaptation Project (AAP), a 10-year innovative initiative aimed at enhancing flood resilience and biodiversity within the River Adur Catchment. This is a collaborative effort between OART and the Environment Agency, building on three years of extensive data analysis alongside work with landowners, farmers, and local communities to identify and address flooding and “wet-spots” across the area.
PROJECT GOALS AND APPROACH
The AAP seeks to mitigate flood risks to vulnerable properties through Natural Flood Management (NFM) techniques, leveraging natural processes to slow and store water more effectively. These techniques reduce the impact of flooding and also bring numerous environmental benefits, including improved biodiversity, water quality, carbon capture and floodplain connectivity, and reduced pollution.
NATURAL FLOOD MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUES
• Construction of leaky, woody dams: Structures designed to slow water flow and create in-channel habitats, contributing to natural flood control and ecological diversity.
• Restoration and creation of wetlands, ponds, and scrapes: Enhancing floodplain water storage and critical resilience against floods and drought.
• River restoration and realignment: Efforts to restore natural hydrology include reconfiguring river channels to their natural courses, improving overall river health and functionality.
• Planting floodplain woodland and hedgerows: Increasing landscape permeability, slowing water flows, and restoring natural features, contributing to overall stability of the ecosystem.
• Soil structure improvement: By enhancing soil structure and rebuilding organic matter across the river catchment, the project aims to further increase landscape permeability and water retention.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND MONITORING
A large part of adapting river catchments to improve future resilience is reliant on community involvement throughout
the development, design and delivery of schemes. The project is seeking to work alongside a wide range of stakeholders and partners to ensure the techniques used are based on community knowledge, parish councils, local action groups, landowners and community members are all being invited to get involved, whether through imparting knowledge, altering land use or management, or volunteering to help deliver interventions.
The first phase of the project will see the launch of a long-term monitoring programme to assess current river flows and how these respond to rainfall events. This will enable the project team to focus efforts where they are most needed, but also assess the level impact the project is having.
Tara Dawson, Adur Catchment Officer at OART, said: “We are incredibly excited about the AAP and the positive impact it could bring to the River Adur Catchment. There has been a fantastic response from the landowning community so far in supporting our aims and we have a number of projects lined up over the next 12 months. We will continue to expand our engagement with the local river communities as we begin to build a strategic approach to restoration of the River Adur.”
LOOKING AHEAD
The Adur Adaptation Project represents a significant step forward in the quest for sustainable flood management and environmental enhancement in the River Adur Catchment. By working closely with natural processes and local stakeholders, OART and its partners aim to create a more resilient and biodiverse landscape that benefits everyone in the community.
Peter King, director of the Ouse & Adur Rivers Trust, said: “It’s becoming increasingly important to build resilience and reduce vulnerability across the landscape to address the future health of the environment and the impacts of climate change. It’s fantastic that there is currently significant focus on the River Adur, with numerous projects aligning to achieve the necessary scale of impact for the future.”
For more information about the Adur Adaptation Project and how you can get involved, please contact Tara.Dawson@oart.org.uk
It’s that blue butterfly here again!
Are you still on that Sussex butterflies page?
I grin sheepishly. Although I grew up in Kent, in the years before the UK lost so many, to me they’re all still the brown one, the blue one - or a cabbage white. Occasionally, a red admiral will appear - a variety I do recognise from childhood. I’m slowly educating myself about the 46 different butterflies that can be found in our area.
I say, can be found - not necessarily will be. Butterflies are struggling.
Dr Dan Hoare of the UK Butterfly Conservation charity tells us:
“The lack of butterflies this year is a warning sign to us all … Nature is sounding the alarm and we must listen. Butterflies are a key indicator species. When they are in trouble, we know the wider environment is in trouble too.”
I go for a chat with Jessie. Years ago, she was a busy, working, single mum with no time to do a weekly mow and no desire to use weedkiller poisons.
I got complaints. It went on for years. Neighbours ganged up on me. I got comments and even got o cial letters.
The lack of butterflies this year is a warning sign to us all… Nature is sounding the alarm and we must listen.
They said stu like: “Put your sunglasses or a blindfold on when you get home from work, so you can’t see the mess of your front garden.”
I wince. A passer-by recently told me, while I was out front:
Good luck with sorting that mess out!
I just smiled politely.
Nowadays, Jessie is in more supportive company.
A seed-bomb given out at Changing Futures (a national government-sponsored conference about securing a future for us all) showed Jessie that her decision to prioritise wildlife had always been right.
So, she kept on rewilding - planted seedbombs.
I’m seeing bees, plants I’ve not seen since my childhood - butterflies are coming. I’m getting my confidence back.
Her mental health is flourishing: I walk down my path: I see bees and butterflies. I stop, notice, smile. It builds in a pause.
I nod:
I know just what you mean!
Since we rewilded our front garden eight years ago, we’ve seen many varieties of butterflies come into it.
Jessie is right: There’s something magical and nourishing about watching long swaying grass, local naturally occurring wildflowers and those flying pollinators, as they weave their magic together. It’s like a mini slice of the Downs - right in our own garden! Very beautiful.
Butterflies and other pollinators do all this for the benefit of themselves, of Sussex and also of us humans who’ve been settling here (in different waves of inmigration) for millennia.
First, homo antecessors arrived from Spain about 700,000 years ago; later, homo neanderthals migrated in from mainland Europe around 400,000 years ago; with homo sapiens migrating in much later (from Morocco, North Africa) and finally settling here.
How many butterflies did those earliest migrants see as they arrived, walking on the Sussex Downs? We’ll probably never see the like again; but can take joy in those we have left, and do our best for them.
Caroline Osella writes @ Rewilded Anthropologist - https://carolineosella.substack.com/ and as Worthing By Accident @ https://worthingethnographic.com/
Caroline Osella
A glamourous way to treat and combat loneliness
If loneliness is an epidemic, then how do we treat it?
Loneliness
not only crushes the soul, but researchers find it does far more damage than that.
Loneliness is detrimental to both mental and physical health, as well as emotional wellbeing. It is as deadly as smoking 15 cigarettes a day, and more lethal than consuming six alcoholic drinks a day. Loneliness is more dangerous for health than obesity.
Millions of people across Britain report experiencing loneliness. Among many things, it is reported that people lack companionship and feel left out.
There are many approaches and solutions to building connections that bind us together in our communities.
If the research is correct, it means that social isolation and loneliness cause many preventable deaths. It costs the economy billions, but it is the human cost that is catastrophic.
Looking back at Britain during the 1940s, it didn’t have today’s depths of despair, partly because community connections were deeper and groups stepped up in times of distress. Those community institutions have frayed; we’re more on our own, and perhaps that’s why so many are also dying alone.
It’s not easy to rebuild communities, but humans are a social species. We can easily feel melancholic and, if lonely, we are slow to reach out for help.
As a countermeasure to this, Janice Moth set up pioneering vintage and themed events, through The Glamour Club, to combat loneliness and social isolation in 2018.
“I found out that you don’t have to be high-tech or expensive to end loneliness. It’s about getting all people in our communities together on a regular basis, allowing them to build deeper connections, empowering them to help end their own loneliness and gain a greater understanding of each other. We are all about empowering our communities to help themselves.”
We have built our events together with our community, who know that we leave our stereotypical judgmental ideas of each other outside, and enjoy the value of every person, which breaks down all divisions.
“We’re on a mission to establish Glamour Club events in every village, town and city in the UK,” said Janice Moth, its founder. They hold bi-monthly
events at their “flagship” in Worthing and are dementia friends, intergenerational, disability confident and eco-friendly. Initially the demographics they looked at were for those 50+ because the United Nations tell us that loneliness is more prevalent when we become an older person.
Events are psychologically and physically safe and welcoming, aiming to ensure everyone feels thoroughly spoilt, empowered, included and valued.
Janice thought of the idea sitting at Kuala Lumpur Airport in 2017, returning from a 10-month trip around SE Asia, reflecting on her fantastic trip, but recognising how chronically lonely she had felt. Janice decided to do something to help end loneliness when she got back to the UK. She began her mission by purchasing It Socks to be Lonely Sometimes Limited which is a companion service for everyone. The name came from a story her son Jannick, a contemporary dancer, told her about a piece of art on a wall in Brooklyn.
Janice said “Someone had stuck one lonely, colourful sock on the wall, and people in the local community heard about it, they added their own lost and lonely colourful socks, so the wall became a spectacular piece of colourful and meaningful art.”
Jannick was inspired by the wall and performed a dance with one sock in a converted biscuit factory in London, famous for inventing the bourbon, garibaldi and digestive biscuits. The piece was called “It Socks to be Lonely Sometimes.”
The Glamour Club events were born out of this. Janice wanted it to be fully
inclusive, affordable, quintessentially British, high quality, easily accessible by public transport and in a beautiful venue. She said: “I saw this as a prescription to cure loneliness. It’s a ‘Great Night Out During the Day’ with sophisticated live entertainment, beautifully laid tables, porcelain China crockery, traditional sandwiches and cakes, exemplary customer service and dressing to each theme. We have held 28 events, served 1,700 guests with 400 volunteers who have all helped to shape the events into what they needed and wanted.”
Janice is involved in much more. As the managing director of It Socks to be Lonely Sometimes, she connects with changemakers in the business community seeking to make a positive social health impact. She is regularly asked into local, regional and national organisations, including NHS mental health trusts, as a guest speaker to talk about loneliness how it impacts organisational culture, well-being and engagement. She is also involved in several projects across the county with a focus on improving mental, social, physical and emotional health. She has invested in her own development, gaining a post-graduate degree in Social Health Innovation and Change Initiatives – Positive Power Influence from Harvard Business School and is a member of the Institute of Leadership.
Janice said: “Extending our horizons and collaborating with other organisations is vital, as together we are stronger and can have a massive, far-reaching impact.”
They are now trademarked so other organisations can purchase a licence or use their “mix and match” approach to purchase parts of the concept and project management services.
One highlight was when Janice dressed in Victoriana, complete with a crinoline underskirt, to co-host the Pier2Peer event on Brighton Palace Pier. A CEO and her senior leadership team came to two events in Worthing, then commissioned parts of the concept for the Grand Finale of Loneliness Awareness Week, where 160 guests were treated to the Glamour Club events experience.
Their concept has been commissioned twice for Worthing Mental Health Awareness Week. The wonderful Glamour Club journey continues, and they are here to stay.
Worried about paying for long-term care?
With average costs of residential care in England, in 2023, of almost £50,000 a year, and over £65,000 when nursing care is included*, it’s important for people to consider how they will fund their long-term care costs in a sustainable way.
So, what steps can you take, if you or someone in your family is likely to be self-funding their long-term care costs?
PLANNING AHEAD
Firstly, it’s important to start thinking about: the type of care (residential/nursing care home or care in your own home) that you would prefer;
• how to best manage and pay for your care fees;
• arranging Power of Attorney for someone to act on your behalf if necessary.
Secondly, you may find it helpful to discuss and share your wishes with your family or friends. This
will help to reduce pressure on them, should they need to take future decisions on your behalf.
This may all seem quite daunting but there is help available.
GET SPECIALIST INDEPENDENT FINANCIAL ADVICE FROM CAREWISE
The Carewise care funding scheme, with its team of independent financial advisers specialising in later life finances, offers impartial support and information to guide you in your decisions. The scheme was set up by West Sussex County Council in partnership with Age UK West Sussex, Brighton and Hove, the Society of Later Life Advisers and West Sussex Partners in Care to support local residents to make informed decisions on long-term care funding.
By seeking specialist financial advice, you can find out all your available options and have peace of mind that you’ve chosen the cost-effective way for you to pay your long-term care fees.
As well as care funding, the advisers are also qualified to advise on inheritance tax, pensions, and lasting power of attorney.
Taking the first step towards understanding your options costs nothing as the initial consultation with a Carewise care fees adviser is free.
Furthermore, in addition to their professional qualifications, each of the care fees advisers is also DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) checked, trained in adult safeguarding and approved via the Trading Standards ‘Buy with Confidence’ scheme. So, you can have peace of mind that you are speaking to trustworthy and reliable experts.
For more details, visit www.carewiseadvice.com, email carewise@westsussex.gov.uk , or call 0330 222 7000. * https://www.payingforcare.org/how-much-does-care-cost/
Worried about paying for care?
Long-term care in your own home or in a residential care home is expensive, but with expert advice from independent financial specialists, Carewise can help you to make informed decisions on choosing and paying for the right care.
The Carewise care fees specialists are all members of the Society of Later Life Advisers, and can give you peace of mind that you’ve explored all your options. Contact Carewise to find out how you could benefit.
carewiseadvice.com
carewise@westsussex.gov.uk
0330 222 7000
Can we learn from history?
Chris Hare
What is the point of history? Why bother with it?
After all, it’s “all in the past” and it is far better to “look towards the future,” surely? This month, I make the case for history and why it matters and that, actually, a people who don’t know their history are little different to a person who has a failing memory – they become lost and bewildered.
In writing my articles and my books, I try to be has factual as possible (and I am always willing to share my sources), but essentially, I am telling a story every time I write; a fable, if you like, something from the past to illuminate the present. We don’t have the benefit of being able to know the future, and the present is so fleeting, we hardly have time to comprehend it. This only leaves the past as an experience on which we can reflect and from which we can hopefully draw insight. From a distance, we can often see more clearly: the landscape, its contours and declivities appear very different when seen as a whole than they did to the people at the time, who did not have the benefit of hindsight of perspective. We view through a very different lens.
When I did my first degree in history (I graduated in 1985), nearly all my lecturers were Marxist. Therefore, most of the history that I was taught reached me through the prism of the class struggle. Early on, it occurred to me that there might be another side to the argument, and that kings and queens, capitalists and colonialists, might have a case to make in their own defence. Having said that, the Marxist historians were thorough, intellectual and persistent and their legacy is huge; no one should underestimate the brilliance of, say, E. P. Thompson or Christopher Hill.
Marxist history was a reaction to the so-called “Whig history” of the 19th century, personified by Thomas Babington Macaulay, which celebrated the exceptional and ever-progressing history of the British people and state. This view of the past highlighted the Reformation as a vital break with medieval superstition, and the Glorious Revolution of 1688 with its defining institutions of Parliament, the Bank of England, and the Stock Exchange as the stout pillars on which the country’s future greatness rested.
The point is, of course, that both schools of history were mobilising the past to make sense of the present, and through their interpretation, hoping to shape the future. Taking politics out of history makes as much sense as trying to imagine the sea without the water.
By the time I did my second (Masters) degree in 1999-2001, there was a shift towards what became known as “identity politics,” with gender and race being given more emphasis than class. As I write this article, I have in front of me the latest edition of the “The English Historical Review,” including a paper focused on 17th century “emotional history.” When historians write, they tell us as much about their own times and their own preoccupations as they do about the events and people of the past whose lives and beliefs they are describing and interpreting.
Let me return now to local history (my “remit”) and suggest how past events might help us understand our world today. I have written at length about the “Skeleton Army” riots that threw this town into turmoil in the 1880s and resulted in the reading of the Riot Act and mounted soldiers with drawn cutlasses clearing the mob off the streets. These riots were not confined to Worthing, but swept across the south and west of England, being particularly tumultuous in small but growing towns, like Worthing. Today, we have riots in our large towns and cities, mainly in the north of England. Can 1884 give us any lessons to learn in 2024? What are the similarities and what are the differences?
First, the similarities: The rioters in both instances were young, working-class men. Both were, and are, living in a time of great social change. In the 1880s, huge numbers of people were leaving the land due to the decline in agriculture, and seeking work in the growing, but nearby, towns. Today, anyone visiting many of our once-great towns and cities of the north will see the decay and hopelessness that 40 years of decline has wrought.
The fury of the Skeleton Army in the 1880s was levelled against the Salvation Army, indeed the former title was chosen in mockery of the latter. What was it about the Salvation Army that provoked such a reaction? Their insistence on bringing their evangelical crusade into towns, uninvited, was a major factor. They preached temperance, they abhorred “irrational” and “pagan” practices, such as the annual Bonfire Night processions. They gave equal status to women. Many Salvation Army “captains,” including the one at Worthing, were women. This was 20 years before the emergence of the Suffragettes, and scandalised conservative opinion. A section of working-class culture, particularly young men, felt very alienated from these societal changes; their response was both physical and violent.
Those protesting, sometimes violently today, are not in harmony with the great social changes we have seen, such as
LOCAL HISTORY INSIDE ⚪ ⚪ ⚪
Skeleton Army and “Bonfire Boy” rioters in Victorian Sussex had a strong local and county identity. They may have sung “Rule Britannia” at the top of their voices, but their allegiances and loyalties were really far closer to home than the empire. I noticed that rioters in Rotherham this month were chanting, “Yorkshire! Yorkshire!” Times change, people don’t?
migration or LGBTQ rights. They do not live in leafy suburbs, they do not identify with any political parties, and looking for a leader or a hero, they have found one in Tommy Robinson, who, unlike most of our politicians, comes from a background similar to their own.
Now, there is the fear of “the other,” be they Muslims or asylum seekers; back in 1884 there was a fear of the “other” too, especially in the rural south - fear of Londoners, and the Salvation Army was born in the streets of the East End. As G. K. Chesterton pointed out, the poor have nowhere else to go; whereas the rich can relocate to destinations of their choosing, even to another country. When you are rooted, you become more fearful of change than if you are free to move where you will.
Both today’s rioters and the ones of 1884 saw the police as the enemy, who were “soft” on their opponents but “hard” on them. Both then and now, police stations and religious buildings (Salvation Army citadels/mosques) were attacked. Both then and now, some of those in positions of authority were accused of encouraging and justifying the violence for their own political ends.
Skeleton Army and “Bonfire Boy” rioters in Victorian Sussex had a strong local and county identity. They may have sung “Rule Britannia” at the top of their voices, but their allegiances and loyalties were really far closer to home than the empire. I noticed that rioters in Rotherham this month were chanting, “Yorkshire! Yorkshire!” Times change, people don’t?
What are the differences? In 1884, the mobs knew their targets. Even when the police had retreated from the streets, the rioters did not loot shops or attack property, other than that of the Salvation Army or the police. Today’s rioters have looted shops, demolished private property, and set cars on fire. The mob in 1884 was more cohesive; it would not have occurred to them to trash the shops or houses of their fellow citizens.
The 1884 Worthing rioters were egged
on by George French, the editor of the Worthing Gazette, whose inflammatory editorials not only encouraged the mob but also fed their self-belief in what they were doing. In 2024, we have social media fulfilling the same role. The technology has changed, but the dissemination of information, or “misinformation” (depending on your view), remains constant.
In 1884, the riots did not have a racial component, although minorities living in Britain at that time, including Jews and Irish, did face prejudice and discrimination. Yet members of both groups also rose to positions of influence and wealth in late Victorian England; just as migrants today assume positions of authority and influence, as well as experiencing prejudice and hostility.
After the riots of the 1880s, wages and living standards rose. The police became better equipped and their role within society more accepted, even within poorer communities. Magistrates closed pubs. During the First World War, hours of drinking were limited. Today, hours of drinking are unrestricted and living standards for many are still falling. The police, and indeed many public institutions, are held in lower regard than they were even a generation ago.
History suggests that prosperity and security are the greatest cure for social ills. How many riots do you get in middle-class suburbs?
England has always experienced migration, which has frequently led to conflict before mutual assimilation has taken place; but never in our history have we seen migration at today’s levels. This alone would be a thorny issue for any government, but add the socio-economic and cultural changes we see, and the extent of the challenge becomes apparent. Eventually, the hated Salvation Army became respected, even loved by Worthing folk – will such coalescence take place across the religious and cultural divide in our country in the years ahead? Historians of the future will have to decide the answer to that question, and you can be sure they will disagree on their conclusions as much as we who live through these events disagree today. Hopefully though, I have persuaded you - whatever your opinions - how history gives us a bigger, clearer picture of ourselves and our country and where we might be heading.
Chris Hare’s book on the Worthing riots, “Worthing in the Bad Old Days, Riot, Beer, and the Word of God,” is available from local independent bookshops, as well as Worthing Museum and Denyer News in Goring Road. Copies are also available directly from Chris, sussexhistory.hare@gmail.com
Less REtail, more REthinking, REfusing, REvamping, REpairing, REdistributing, REcreating, REcycling ... from CREW’s RE group
by Kathy Kohl and Jane Reid
When did retail therapy become a thing?
Probably when everyone had enough stuff and marketeers needed us to keep buying “for the economy”. The result is an environmental disaster with hundreds of tonnes of clothing sent to landfill or exported and dumped in faraway places such as Chile’s Atacama Desert. This mountain of clothes can now be seen from space. Even more shocking is the fact that many of these garments have never even been sold and will take hundreds of years to biodegrade (not to mention the water and fuel needed to make them).
Trigger warning: A few more shocking stats:
• The fashion industry causes 8-10% of global greenhouse gas emissions - more than flying and shipping combined.
• Synthetic materials like polyester use millions of barrels of oil every year and processes such as dyeing use millions of tonnes of chemicals a year.
• UK shoppers buy more clothes than any others in the EU, yet the average Briton has 57 unworn items in their overflowing wardrobes, according to Oxfam.
• Over 40% of 16-24-year-olds buy clothes online at least once a week, compared to 13% on average for other age groups.
SO, WHAT ARE CREW’S RE GROUP DOING?
The RE group helps people move away from linear “take-make-waste” practices where we buy things, use them and chuck them out, and instead adopt a more circular system where products and materials are kept in use and waste is
minimised. Everything we do encourages people to: REthink their choices, REfuse single use, REduce consumption, REuse nearly everything, REfurbish old stuff, REpurpose (be creative and reinvent) and REcycle as a last option.
STITCH IT, DON’T DITCH IT!
Last year, Sally and Kathy set up “Stitch it, Don’t Ditch it!”, a twice-monthly sewing session for people to do those jobs that many of us have in a “to do” pile and sew together, repairing and revamping clothes. These cooperative and inspiring sessions now take place on the 1st and 3rd Saturdays of the month at Worthing Soup Kitchen Cafe in Tarring Road. We have a sewing machine and plenty of threads, buttons, needles and other haberdashery. Apart from repairing, our stitchers share skills and personal stories making these sessions a welcoming place to fight fast fashion in a productive and uniquely creative way. Book your place on crew.eventbrite.co.uk
RELOVED WORTHING STYLE CHALLENGE
Stitchit has received Arts Council support from Colonnade House to further encourage local anti-fast-fashion creativity. We challenge Worthing people to revamp old or second-hand clothes and submit a before-and-after picture to us by the end of the year. The pictures will be displayed in January 2025 with sustainability pledges for the new year. Look out for posters in participating charity shops and get creating!
Please send your before-and-after photos to Kathy on info@worthingcrew. co.uk by 31 December.
MINDFUL COLLAGE
One of the aims of the RE Group was to use recycled/scrap materials for other purposes such as art. To this end, Jane and Kathy have been running Monthly Mindful Collage sessions. These sessions are completely free and open to anyone to join. They give us a chance to pause and talk about issues around climate change and relating to the RE Group whilst enjoying being creative in a relaxing and mindful way. Collage is a wonderful medium, as it is open to everyone with every level of ability. It can be simple or complicated and can utilise all manner of discarded materials. We have gathered a wide range of magazines, from film to science to gardening, and participants are very welcome to bring their own materials. It is only the beginning however as we are keen to widen our sessions into areas such as junk modelling, repurposing jewellery, papier-mâché, etc. If anyone has particular ideas, skills to share with us or workshops they could run, we would be delighted to hear from them! Currently, our sessions are taking place in the lovely Lounge at the Sidney Walter Centre on the first Wednesday of each month at 1-3pm, starting from 4 September. Please book your free place via Eventbrite as numbers are limited by available space. (crew.eventbrite.co.uk)
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
It has been devastating to recently witness the horrific attack in Southport and the violent attacks on innocent people seeking sanctuary and safety within the UK. We must unite and condemn all acts of racism and violence. We stand with each of the communities who are being targeted with hatred and violence and condemn any acts of racism and aggression towards them. Let us tackle aggression with compassion, positivity, kindness and strength.
Please check in with your neighbours and community members who may be refugees, asylum seekers or from the Muslim or ethnic minority community and offer support where you can.
Are you on LinkedIn? If you follow our page we regularly post articles about local and global ways to tackle climate change together!
If you would like to connect with CREW or join our mailing list get in touch info@ worthingcrew.co.uk
Matilda Cutting
FA:ST
Welcome to FA:ST (Future Adults: Shaping Tomorrow), a new section for 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.
Should the voting age be lowered to 16?
DKendo Classes
uring this year’s general election, a topic that sparked considerable debate was the proposal by some political parties to lower the voting age to 16. As a teenager, I found this idea immediately appealing. However, when I discussed it with adults, the majority thought it was a bad idea. This difference in opinions prompted me to think about the arguments for and against this idea.
The most compelling argument for lowering the voting age is the direct impact of political decisions on young people’s lives. Take climate change, for example. My generation will endure the worst consequences of global warming, yet we are currently excluded from having a say in the policies designed to combat it. Decisions made today will shape our future, so it seems only fair that we have a voice in those decisions.
Furthermore, many 16-year-olds are actively engaged in learning about government, politics and civic responsibilities in school. This education provides a strong foundation for informed voting. Allowing us to vote would not only make our education more relevant, but also encourage a lifelong habit of civic engagement. Research shows that early involvement in the voting process can lead to higher voter turnout and more consistent participation in democracy over a
lifetime. This, over time, can create a more resilient and robust democratic society.
Critics often argue that 16-yearolds lack the maturity to make informed voting decisions. However, maturity varies among individuals of all ages. If we trust 16-year-olds with responsibilities like working and criminal responsibility, we should also trust them to vote. Studies indicate that young people have the cognitive ability to understand and make reasoned decisions about voting.
One concern is that young voters may be more susceptible to external influences, such as peer pressure or social media. However, it is essential to recognize that all voters, regardless of age, can be influenced by external factors. If teenagers were taught about these external factors in school, it would help equip young voters with critical-thinking skills and media literacy, ensuring they make informed choices.
Lowering the voting age to 16 is not without its challenges, but the potential benefits far outweigh the concerns. Young people deserve a voice in the decisions that will shape their futures. By including them in the electoral process, we can create a more inclusive, representative and vibrant democracy. It is time to recognise the capabilities and perspectives of our youth, and give them the opportunity to contribute to the political landscape.
Worthing’s Young Artist of the Year Contest 2024
Entries should be A4 or A3 in any orientation. Entrants must reside in the BN11 to BN15 postcodes
Can be any medium, including graphic art.
Closing date 10th October 2024.
Digital entries via email to info@worthingwestendgallery.co.uk.
Paper entries can be dropped into the gallery at 87 Rowlands Road BN11 3JX.
Full details, terms & conditions available at www.worthingwestendgallery.co.uk
Entry fee £5 from https://worthingwestendgallery.co.uk
Worthing Artists Open Houses, the annual art trail around Worthing, is back! Two autumn weekends’ worth of local art and craft!
There are over 40 venues throughout the Worthing area, inviting you to visit all shapes and sizes of houses, flats, studios, galleries, cafes and a primary school - our youngest artists yet!
rt is a powerful thing – it’s both a journey of self-expression and a window into the soul. It’s a gift that we want to keep seeing shared across our wonderful town, which is why we want to encourage Worthing’s youth to step up to the easel and share their vision.
To do just that, West End Gallery is excited to announce Worthing’s Young Artist of the Year Contest 2024! As well as a chance to win a fantastic prize, it will serve as a platform for young talents to express themselves and gain recognition for their creativity.
A winner will be selected from two age categories (under 14s and 15-18s) and each will receive a giclée-framed print of their piece. We will also display an enlarged copy of their work on the side of the West End Gallery building for a year for all to see.
The entry fee is £5 and entrants must reside within the BN11 to BN15 postcodes. Entries can be any medium of art but must be submitted as an A4 or A3 (in any orientation) image. They can be submitted via post (to “West End Gallery, 87 Rowlands Road, Worthing, BN11 3JX”) or digitally (info@ worthingwestendgallery.co.uk). The closing date is 10 October.
For full details, terms and conditions, please visit www.worthingwestendgallery.co.uk.
The West End Gallery is Worthing’s only not-for-profit gallery, run by artists for artists. If you’d like to visit, there is an hour of free parking directly outside and we can be found via the number eight bus route.
Best of luck to all our applicants!
INSIDE ⚪ ⚪ ⚪ ⚪ 1
Worthing Artists Open Houses
Come and visit the venues near you. Explore the interiors and gardens of your neighbourhood. Be amazed at the range of art produced by Worthing’s talented residents.
There are well over 200 artists showing their work this year. There are some familiar names, and an impressive number of first-timers.
So much to see! Much of the work is available to buy, at prices to suit every budget. It’s a great opportunity to acquire unique art for your home, to choose a special gift, or buy some attractive and unusual greetings cards.
Use the map to find venues in your area, or plan a visit to another part of the borough.
Maps of the trail will be available from Worthing Museum & Library, Colonnade House, West End Gallery, Montague Gallery, Gigglewick Gallery and East Beach Studios.
You can also follow our social media updates at Worthing Artists Open Houses on Instagram and Facebook. Alternatively, you can visit our website at worthingartistsopenhouses.com
Alzheimer’s disease and dementia
Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) are conditions that some of us are having to deal with right now, whether as a carer or a sufferer, but they are not new problems. There are some references in Ancient Greek writings of something akin to dementia, and rather more from Roman times, suggesting an increase. Perhaps Roman heavy use of lead in plumbing and cosmetics was to blame, an early indicator that Public Health measures are to be respected?
Dementia is a broad term for a set of symptoms that over time lead to memory loss, problems with behaviour and language and reduced ability to solve problems. AD is the most common type of dementia.
Data from West Sussex County Council Public Health reveals that just under 1,900 Worthing residents are currently suffering from some form of dementia, and this is expected to grow to 4,000 by 2043. Planning to care for this surge presents a clear challenge to our health trusts and the local authority.
However, there is some hope on the horizon. The rate of increase in cases in high-income countries (including the UK) is less than that in low- and middleincome countries. The reason for this is that public health measures in the UK and similar countries are having an effect and are now thought to be delaying and/or preventing new cases. The most obvious piece of evidence is that smoking rates
Bryan Turner MRPharmS
• Don’t smoke: As mentioned, smoking rates are increasing in the Global South countries, and dementia rates are going up in tandem. If you smoke, your dementia risk increases by 60%.
• Take more exercise: Physical activity increases blood flow and metabolism. Sedentary lifestyles increase risk by 40%.
• Type 2 diabetes: A western lifestyle disease closely connected to obesity. Risk increased by 50%.
are falling in the UK, but rising in lowand middle-income countries. Smoking is already known to be a risk factor for dementia, but there are others.
A major piece of work has just been presented at a major conference in Philadelphia. The work was done by The Lancet Commission on Dementia and sets out how 14 different lifestyle factors and behaviours can influence the risk of anyone developing dementia. They said that nearly half of all cases are caused by these modifiable factors. The story they want to tell is that dementia is not inevitable, and there are things that you can do throughout your life to reduce that risk and allow you to have many more healthy years.
So, what are they recommending we do to help us delay or avoid dementia?
The steps you can take are:
• Know your blood pressure (BP): Take steps to get it down. If your systolic pressure (the top number) is regularly above 140, your dementia risk increases by 60%. You should either buy a home BP monitoring device, or ask if your local Pharmacist can measure it for you.
• Alcohol: Drinking more than nine pints of beer or 15 small (125ml) glasses of wine each week will increase your risk by 20%.
• Look after your weight: If your BMI is over 30, your risk increases by 60%. A BMI of less than 25 is generally considered as healthy.
• Poor access to education: Reduces “cognitive reserve” and puts risk up by 60%. Take as many opportunities in education as you can, and keep your brain active.
• Hearing loss: Has long been known to increase the risk of dementia by as much as 90%. Get your hearing checked and wear an aid if necessary.
• Untreated vision loss: This is now thought to be a new risk, and may be related to diabetes.
• High LDL Cholesterol: The risk is thought to grow the higher the LDL is.
• Traumatic brain injury: Increases the risk of dementia by 80%. Health and safety is a public health issue whether at home or at work, and also in sport. Stay safe!
• Loneliness: Increases the risk by up to 60%. This is probably due to less interactions leading to less cognitive activity. It has been seen that lifelong singletons have a 40% higher risk, and those who are widowed in later life have a 20% higher risk.
• Depression: Presents a 90% higher risk, and it is thought that antidepressants don’t help. Other therapies are needed.
• Air pollution: Living next to a source of air pollution can increase the risk by 10%.
As a nation, an awful lot of our effort and resources are put into dealing with the end stages of dementia. Taking preventative measures, when you are able, is surely a better way to go.
‘Paws for Wellbeing’ with Miss May
As we all know, Miss May is great at helping people to Paws for Wellbeing, particularly in her work as a Pets
As Therapy visiting PAT dog at Worthing Hospital. But what you might not know is that Miss May is also a PERMAH Pup!
PERMAH is a scientifically validated wellbeing framework for both adults and young people. It focuses on six key elements that have been proven to help buffer against ill health, bolster the resilience needed to navigate through challenging times and build capacity to flourish and embrace the opportunities in life.
P = Positive Emotions: Positive emotions are feelings like joy, happiness, and excitement. They help us feel good and improve our overall wellbeing.
E = Engagement: Engagement means being fully involved and focused on activities we enjoy. When we are engaged, time flies, and we feel a sense of achievement.
R = Relationships: Relationships are connections we have with family, friends, colleagues and our community. They provide us with love, support and a sense of belonging.
M = Meaning: Meaning refers to having a sense of purpose and feeling that our lives matter. It could be doing things that are important to us, helping others or making a positive difference in the world.
A = Accomplishment: Accomplishment is about setting goals and striving towards them. Accomplishments boost our confidence and give us a sense of pride.
H = Health: Health refers to taking care of our physical and mental wellbeing. When we prioritise our health, we feel better and have more energy.
Over the next few months using the PERMAH model, Miss May will share what the latest research suggests we can do to enhance our own wellbeing and that of others too. This month we are going to focus briefly on POSITIVE EMOTIONS
Miss May is certainly a happy dog, displayed through her wagging tail! But positive emotions are so much more than being happy. She shows affection and love by nuzzling her dad Clive. She shows excitement and anticipation when she knows something enjoyable is about to happen, like going for a walk, playing a game, or seeing people arrive at the house. Miss May shows huge curiosity and interest in her surroundings, particularly when she goes into the hospital, encountering new patients, objects, smells or sounds. After accomplishing a visit to the hospital or receiving praise, she certainly feels proud and pleased with herself! She then shows her playfulness, which is a significant positive emotion
for dogs, as she goes off to chase the squirrels in Homefield park as her post-visit treat! Of course, she has an underlying sense of trust and security, by feeling safe and protected by her family.
Miss May can have her off-times too, of course. But, from both an animal and human perspective, it is important to be clear that a sign of strong mental health is that we experience a full range of emotions It is completely normal that, on occasions, we should experience “negative” emotions such as anger, fear, worry, guilt or resentment. In fact, far from being negative, these emotions can actually be lifesavers, and spur us on to take action to protect ourselves or those around us, or acknowledge or learn from our mistakes. When it comes to us humans, though, the trouble is that in the world we live in today there is so much negativity around, particularly in the news and on social media. It can be relentless and become overwhelming. Also, because negative emotions are stronger than positive ones, it can be hard to break out of the constant cycle of worry, doom and gloom which can then result in chronic ongoing anxiety and stress. This can potentially lead to depressive symptoms and physical ill health.
Dogs are much better than us at not focusing on the negative. So, what the research tells us is that we need to prioritise positivity and be much more intentional about creating positive emotions. This is because they broaden our capacity to think, learn, be creative, find solutions to our problems, join the dots, see the bigger picture and what’s possible in, and good about, the world. Positive emotions also “undo” the impact of negativity and build our resources to better survive and thrive in life. Our immune systems get a boost, so we are physically stronger, and we are socially more resilient and more likely to both ask for and receive help when we need it, enjoying our relationships along the way.
There are many positive emotions that we can experience, but those subject to the most research are joy, pride, gratitude, inspiration, curiosity, hope, amusement, serenity, awe and love.
Over the next few months, Clive and Miss May will be sharing with you some useful “Pawsitive Pointers” to help you generate more positive emotions and PERMAH, so you can reap the rewards for improved mental, physical and emotional health and wellbeing.
Watch this space!
Miss May Instagram @may_redgoldengirl 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
For more information about Miss May meet and greets or workshops please contact:
Why those who run clubs (like Worthing Sailing Club) are
the best of us
A club with 209 memberships and ample social events requires volunteers to look beyond their own families to facilitate others’ enjoyment of the water.
If tragedy is, as Robert Kennedy once put it, “a tool for the living to gain wisdom,” then Kenny Smith’s perspective on the tragic passing of the nine souls aboard Kobe Bryant’s helicopter gave me an insight into amateur sports I’ve only recently perceived.
“Every (parent) can understand that relationship,” a sorrowful Smith said. “That’s the routine every soccer mum and soccer dad does: You drive and carpool to these tournaments.”
He then said something which floored me. “You’re not doing it in the hope they make it to the NBA (or any other professional sports league). You’re doing it in the hope you have memories with your kids.”
One of the greatest things about growing up is grasping the lengths those who support us go to, to see us happy.
But I would propose, from the clubs I’ve had the pleasure of visiting, there is an equally remarkable group, aside from dedicated parents and carers, who devote copious amounts of time to running clubs despite their own family bearing little to no additional benefit. They’re motivated not exclusively by love for their own, but by their ability to find it for others too.
The desire for family memories and care for others neatly parallels the tale of Worthing Sailing Club Commodore, Sarah Rose, and Vice Commodore, Fi Goegebeur.
“People don’t turn off,” Sarah says of the time she devotes to maintaining the club. “You just go with the flow. Come nine or ten at night, I don’t tend to be answering things about the sailing club; my husband gets cross.”
Sarah’s involvement with the club began eight
years ago, when she realised the time spent supporting her husband and daughter could benefit the club. She first joined the committee as a membership secretary and became commodore 18 months ago. “They told me, ‘It’s just a figurehead,’” Sarah ironically recalls.
Volunteering’s burden is something fewer have been willing to shoulder since Covid. In their Active Lives Children and Young People Survey 202223, Sport England noted volunteer numbers are recovering, but still fall 2.1 million short of 2017 levels.
Your admiration for those volunteering only burgeons upon understanding how highly organised this club is. September alone sees nine training sessions, five club race days and two club socials, with an open day for good measure. They joined in D-Day 80 commemorations in June with members on the water and former RAF trainer aircraft in the sky.
Honing the “art of delegation” has been a skill of necessity for Sarah during these past 18 months, something easier with a great community around you. “We’ve got people who aren’t and don’t want to be on the committee, but they’ll do what they can.” Their most glowing community endorsement, despite claiming Yachts and Yachting’s “Club of the Year” in 2016, has been children progressing to become dinghy instructors. “The kids are the ones running the sessions,” Sarah proudly asserts.
Fi, who will become commodore soon, added: “They are being taught to replace us in the future.”
The Belgian’s club participation commenced in 2016 after moving with husband, Rob, whom she met in France at the sailing World Championships.
“I wear the trousers at home, but he’s the better sailor,” said Fi.
Fi and her husband collected bronze in the 2023 Dart 18 World Championships in Bridlington. This was instrumental in securing a fleet of Dutch sailors for their Dart 18 Open, the event prior to that boat’s World Championships in Tarquinia, Italy, on September 6-13.
Such coaching prowess has drawn members from as far afield as Croydon. You can hardly blame them. A family annual membership (with two sailing adults and children living at the same address, which includes all training and the beginning of racing) costs £326, a monthly rate of £27.
But surely, such a level of sacrifice in time has some payoff? “My friendship group has expanded so much in the eight years. It’s lovely. There are loads of friends here,” said Sarah.
Fi continued, saying: “You always meet someone down here you know. My husband broke down along the seafront and two people from the club stopped (to help).”
She proclaims the feeling of harmony between human, boat and water as “amazing.” “I don’t have to do any meditation; I just go out there.”
As I left the Sailing Club and began the walk home, I couldn’t help but reflect on Fi, Sarah and the countless others across our town who sacrifice time and effort, weather tricky customers and ensure events run smoothly so we have clubs to promote healthy, active young people and the morals which turn them into greater adults.
The mere thought of their effort and strife for others, often for no financial reward, is something which should truly humble us all.
“I hope our work will show” - Thunder begin Kitking Trophy chase
Worthing Thunder will aim to start their 25th anniversary season with success in the group stage of the Kitking Trophy.
Thunder have announced the additions of three players ahead of their first competitive outing on September 14 at Worthing Leisure Centre against Barking Abbey. Josh Palmer and Luke Moore return for their second campaigns and former Thunder junior, Lewis Gleason, makes his senior debut.
Palmer joined in November 2023 and made his debut against Barking Abbey. He averaged 18 minutes and 5.5 points per game.
After a summer where he got “back in the gym and… took each day at a time,” he says “it’s an honour to come back,” adding: “I’m looking forward to playing next season, meeting up with old teammates and new ones. I can’t wait to be around the Worthing family again; the atmosphere is one of one.”
Moore averaged four points per game in his rookie season and took just three games before he breached double digits for the first time in Thunder’s 86-74 victory against London Elite. Moore was joint top scorer with Daniel JohnsonThompson and John Fairbairn that evening.
“I’m hoping the work everyone has put in this summer will show from the jump and we can get straight to winning,” said Moore.
Head Coach Brian Deacon added: “He came through the basketball ranks, played at college locally, and I was lucky enough to have worked with him at Bears.
“Luke made great inroads last year with Thunder through hard work and commitment. (He) developed to be an integral part of the team.
“I look forward to working with him again and developing his basketball acumen, so he continues to grow as a player.”
Gleason arrives after winning the English Academy Basketball League last season with Charnwood. The former Thunder U12 came off the bench to score 14 points.
“I can’t wait to get started playing for the Thunder franchise again,
SPORTS/LIVE LISTINGS INSIDE ⚪ ⚪
Sussex Cricket League: Chippingdale in commanding D4 West lead
What once looked like a three-way fight for first, now appears as a three-pronged duel for the second promotion berth as Chippingdale stretched their advantage to 71 points at the summit of Division Four West.
The league leaders’ faultless July and early August, while rivals stuttered, allowed their lead to increase by 43 points since the last update.
It takes the sting out what was a growing Grove Lodge Roundabout rivalry. Broadwater saw off Slinfold and Chichester Priory Park, but fell to Burgess Hill and Horsham, as well as tying with Barns Green.
Ansty have been chief beneficiaries of Broadwater’s undulating form by seizing third place, thus firmly asserting themselves as primary challenger for the promotion places.
Ansty sat 29 points behind promotion in the last update but closed it with a near-perfect month beside a 20-run defeat to Southwater. They’ll certainly have Horsham 2nd XI quivering in their pads during the season’s final throws with a solitary point separating them.
Victories against Southwater, West Wittering and Broadwater brightened Horsham’s month following defeat to Chippingdale and a match abandonment against Chichester Priory Park.
September 7 sees the campaign curtain closer, which could be thrilling should current gaps sustain. Chippingdale lead on 401 points, Horsham sit second with 330, Ansty are only one point behind Horsham and Broadwater preside over a collection of 322.
Horsham and Ansty enjoy the final day from home comforts against Burgess Hill and Barns Green respectively. Champions elect, Chippingdale, visit West Wittering and Broadwater travel to Southwater.
WORTHING LIVE LISTINGS
To get your live event listed, email: events@insidepublications.ltd
SUNDAY 1
James Pacy
The Beach House 4:00pm 01903 367313 beachhouseworthing.co.uk
Kim Bonsor
The George & Dragon 4:00pm-7:00pm 01903 202497, george-n-dragon.co.uk
Roast Dinner and Jazz
The Smugglers Return 12:00pm-5:00pm 01903 233146
www.craftunionpubs.com/smugglersreturn-worthing
Tom Walker
The Egremont 7:30pm 01903 530180 www.theegremont.co.uk
TUESDAY 3
Karaoke with Beany The Smugglers Return 8:00pm 01903 233146 www.craftunionpubs.com/smugglersreturn-worthing
Open Mic Night with Reilly Scandolaera Corner House 7:30pm 01903 216463 www.cornerhouseworthing.co.uk
THURSDAY 5
Fleetwood Mac’s “Rumours”
The Factory Live 7:00pm-11:00pm 01903 367707 www.thefactorylive.co.uk
The Pogue Traders The Factory Live 7:00pm-11:00pm 01903 367707 www.thefactorylive.co.uk
FRIDAY 6
Apache Rose O’Connor’s on Warwick Street 9:00pm 01903 206088, www.facebook.com/ OConnorsOnWarwickStreet
DJ Rob Savage (and special guests) The Beach House 8:00pm 01903 367313 beachhouseworthing.co.uk
Hot Damn
The Egremont 7:30pm 01903 530180 www.theegremont.co.uk
JivePlay Friday Freestyle Davison High School for Girls 7:45pm-11:00pm 01903 233835 www.davison.w-sussex.sch.uk
Kim Bonsor The Smugglers Return 8:30pm 01903 233146 www.craftunionpubs.com/smugglersreturn-worthing
SATURDAY 7
Ask the Girl The Egremont 7:30pm 01903 530180, www.theegremont.co.uk
Carter & Chums Corner House 6:30pm 01903 216463 www.cornerhouseworthing.co.uk
Family Silent Disco AudioActive Worthing 9:30am-11:30am 01903 681273 audioactive.org.uk/audioactiveworthing
Ministry of Anthems Worthing Rugby Club 4:00pm-9:00pm 01903 784706 worthingrfc.co.uk
Rollin’ Dynamite Cellar Arts Club 19:30 www.cellarartsclub.com
Shakatak The Factory Live 7:00pm-11:00pm 01903 367707 www.thefactorylive.co.uk
SUNDAY 8
Acoustic Requests The Beach House 4:00pm-6:00pm 01903 367313 beachhouseworthing.co.uk
Remarkable Women: Audrey Hepburn Worthing Museum and Art Gallery 2:00pm-4:00pm 01903 206206 wtm.uk
SATURDAY 21
An Evening with Richard Carpenter Worthing Assembly Hall 7:00pm-9:00pm 01903 206206 wtm.uk
THURSDAY 26
The Defining Ten with Simon Raymonde Cellar Arts Club
7:30pm http://www.cellarartsclub.com/
COLONNADE HOUSE
As the summer holidays are now behind us, September brings a new start, and we have just the thing to get you back into the swing of things. Our Professional Development Week is back, offering workshops, artists talks and more designed to help you connect with local creatives, share skills and learn something new.
Gary Thomas joins us in the gallery with his multiscreen installation that shares his experience of being a carer to his mother. Rikki Tarascas and Graham Allum will be delving into the absurd with their exhibition of paintings and performance. Wendy Palmer is joining us for her first solo exhibition ‘Hinterland: here and there’. Bringing the month to a close we have Melissa Graham sharing her creative process in her exhibition ‘Moments in Clay’.
LOST MEMORIES
03 - 08 September
‘Lost Memories’ is making its way to Colonnade House. A multi-screen installation by screenwriter Gary Thomas. Combining documentary footage and dramatised scenes, Gary will be sharing his experience of being a carer to his mother who had Alzehimer’s Disease.
THE BRUSH-MEN PRESENT: 100 YEARS OF ATTITUDE & THE STAINS OF TIME 10 - 22 September
Long time collaborators Rikki Tarascas and Graham Allum are coming together once again for their joint exhibition in the gallery. Drawing on experiences from their past and present, they’re delving deep into absurd and fantastic worlds with their paintings and performance art.
MELISSA GRAHAM: MOMENTS IN CLAY
24 - 29 September
Moments in Clay shares Melissa Graham’s relationship between throwing and sculpting, which is a crucial part of her creative process as well as a crucial part in making her dynamic forms.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WEEK
02 - 08 September
For our September 2024 Professional Development Week we’re shining a light on local creatives and the projects that received a grant from this year’s round of Creative Commissions. We’ll be hosting a whole week of workshops, artist talks and more designed to inspire and share skills.
WENDY PALMER: HINTERLAND: HERE AND THERE 24 - 29 September
The memory of a place and the mark of a moment is what Wendy Palmer will be exploring in her first solo exhibition. Hinterland is a celebration of bold images, colour and mark making with different materials, using sight and sound to take you to another place.
About Colonnade House
Colonnade House is the home of local art in Worthing, showcasing work by painters, printmakers, sculptors, photographers and more. On the ground floor there are two gallery spaces, and on the upper three floors are ten studios available to rent to people working in the creative industries. Find out more at colonnadehouse.co.uk/about
Images. 1. Wendy Palmer: Hinterland: here and there 2. Professional Development Week 3. Gary Thomas: Lost Memories 4. The Brush-men present: 100 Years of Attitude & the Stains of Time 5. Wendy Palmer: HinterlandL here and there 6. Melissa Graham: Moments in Clay
The 8Th AnnuAl
Field Place Manor House & Barns
Sunday 29th September
10:30 to 16:00
Bringing together a wide variety of local community and social enterprise groups, small scale local food producers and greenspace initiatives from both Adur and Worthing.
With great transport links ...why not leave the car at home..?
CROSSWORD
September 2024
ACROSS
1 Passionate; enthusiastic (7)
5 Apathetic; inactive (7)
9 Springy; rubbery (7)
10 Spectacular (7)
11 Common type of musician (9)
12 Buying and selling (5)
DOWN
1 Freight (7)
2 Become aware of; comprehend (7)
3 A minor actor in crowd scenes (5)
4 Strategist; planner (9)
5 Hairdo formed by braiding or twisting the hair (5)
6 Protected from danger or bad weather (9)
13 Current movement in fashion, style, taste etc. (5)
15 Wrong (9)
17 Vessel for a physical object (9)
19 Fourth letter of the Greek alphabet (5)
22 Game; contest (5)
23 Medicated solution, often gargled, to aid oral hygiene (9)
25 Broad-minded (7)
26 A professional performer whose job is thought to involve creativity (7)
27 Having a greater gradient (7)
28 Improve (7)
7 Archaeological time period that followed the Bronze era (4,3)
8 Earth’s highest mountain (7)
14 Any structure which is unsafe and likely to cause serious or fatal accidents (9)
16 Distribute (9)
17 Globular cloud type (7)
18 Well-known; renowned (7)
20 Person who acts as a go-between (7)
21 Accomplish (7)
BUSINESS INSIDE
23 Any of the large back teeth in humans and mammals, used for grinding (5)
24 A box in which small animals, such as rabbits, are kept (5)
Between the Blue & Green
EXPLORE, CREATE, AND UNITE: BETWEEN THE BLUE AND GREEN RETURNS
The Between the Blue and Green Film Festival returns for its second year in September, inviting the town to engage in a week-long celebration of sustainability and wellbeing. From the 7th to 14th, the festival will be a hub of creativity, environmental awareness, and community spirit.
ROOTED IN WORTHING’S UNIQUE LANDSCAPE
A poetic nod to Worthing’s distinctive location, nestled between the rolling South Downs and the English Channel, the name reminds us of our collective responsibility to protect both land and sea. “’Between the Blue and Green’ was born from a desire to share my passion for film festivals with my hometown of Worthing,” says Nicola, the festival’s founder. “My family’s commitment to sustainability and wellbeing is at the heart of the festival’s mission. The festival is for all ages, featuring thought-provoking screenings, valuable networking opportunities, and immersive activities that extend and deepen the local community.”
FILM SCREENINGS, EVENTS AND MORE
There’s something for everyone on the Between the Blue and Green schedule. All events take place at AudioActive or the Connaught Theatre.
HERE’S THE 2024 PROGRAMME:
7th Sept - Family silent disco, with South Downs Leisure Enhance your mood, reduce stress, and promote physical fitness - all while having fun with family and friends at our silent disco. Age 7+
8th Sept - Screen printing, in partnership with Hello DODO Unleash your inner artist at our screen printing workshop. Bring an old t-shirt or jumper and we’ll supply the templates and paint. Age 4+
13th Sept - Documentary Film Screening
Join us for an engaging evening of reflection and discovery as talented filmmakers explore vital connections between health, community, and the environment. Film submission deadline 8th August. See website for details on how to enter.
14th Sept - Smartphone Competition Screening, with EYE Project Join us for an inspiring evening showcasing the creativity of young filmmakers aged 14 - 19 years old. These talented individuals have crafted remarkable 3 minute films using smartphones.
14th Sept - Short Film Screening
An array of short films from local, national and international filmmakers, each bringing their unique perspective on sustainability and wellbeing. In collaboration with Worthing Theatres and Museum. Visit www.betweentheblueandgreen.co.uk to book your tickets.
WITH SPECIAL THANKS
The Between the Blue and Green Film Festival wouldn’t be possible without the generous support of our community partners. We are truly grateful to Raygun Design, Hello DODO, South Downs Leisure, AudioActive, Worthing Theatres & Museum, Inside Publications, and Community Works. Their support demonstrates the collaborative spirit that makes Worthing such a special place for cultural events like this. The involvement of these local organisations not only strengthens our festival but also reinforces the community bonds that make Worthing thrive between the blue and green.
If your organisation would like to support Between the Blue and Green, there is a limited number of corporate sponsorship packages available. Please email sustainability@ betweentheblueandgreen.co.uk to find out more.
In recent years we have completely refurbished the Club. As well as having been totally refurbished we offer a warm welcome to new members who would benefit from; bar prices that are cheaper than most pubs, Sky Sports TV, £500 jackpot fruit machines, pool table, darts, regular entertainment, weekly meat raffle, weekly lucky numbers draw etc..
We also have available for hire our upper floor function room which includes a fully stocked bar and can be used for parties or other functions, please call us to discuss your requirements.
We would like to invite you to visit our Club to see what we have to offer.
There is no requirement to have served in the RAF or any of the other services, membership is available and is open to all.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU SOON
The Royal Air Force Association (RAFA) Club is a small, friendly social club which is welcoming new members.
You are accordingly invited to come and visit a great club where a friendly welcome is guaranteed.
Have a glass of your favourite tipple, enjoy a comfortable and friendly club and make new friends.
The Royal Air Forces Association (RAFA) Club is located at 74 Ashacre Lane, Worthing, BN13 2DE.
We offer a great, family-friendly atmosphere with very competitive bar prices, Sky TV, meat raffle every Sunday lunchtime, pool table for only 50p per game, darts, regular entertainment and lots more.
Although we are a RAFA Club, membership is open to all, with no requirement to have served in the RAF or indeed any of the other armed forces. Of course, current and ex-armed forces personnel are most welcome.
Annual membership is just £14; this gives a full 12-month membership from the date of joining.
We also have a great function room, which is available to hire for parties, meetings, etc.
Over the coming months, we have some great entertainment to look forward to from Funk Soul Nation, Halo, Liz Angioni, Blue Dakota and more.
What are you waiting for? Come and see us and become part of a great club with even greater members.
Tel: 01903 263804
Email: rafaclubworthingbranch@gmail.com
their
Featuring songs from a variety of genres, including Popular, Musicals, Ballads, and other favourites from the choir’s repertoire
Sunday 6th October at 3.00pm
Emmanuel United Reformed Church St.Michael’s Road, Worthing with guest singer Moina Sandon and guest violinist Heather Jeffery
Tickets £10.00 Reserve yours on www.sussexgruffsmvc.co.uk/contactus or by phoning Paul on 07758-368039
RAILWAY EXHIBITION
DURRINGTON HIGH SCHOOL, THE BOULEVARD, WORTHING WEST SUSSEX, BN13 1LA
FEATURING
WORKING LAYOUTS TRADERS REFRESHMENTS
Just off A2032 Littlehampton Road Nearest Station Durrington-on-Sea
DATE
SATURDAY 28TH SEPT 10AM TO 5PM
SUNDAY 29TH SEPT 10AM TO 4PM worthingmrc.co.uk
MODEL
Liana Naylor
Hi Liana,
Feedback Letters to the Editor
I just had to respond to the reader’s letter from the last issue, you know, the one that seemed almost to demand an apology for Chris Hare’s article having been printed.
What’s more worrying to me (other than whether or not somebody agreed with Covid policies) is how some people can be so assured that their position or point of view of a topic is the only morally or factually correct one.
I’ve known Chris Hare as one of my neighbours for around 15 years. I can tell you that he is most certainly not an ‘anti-vax’ or ‘conspiracy theorist’ however meaningless and inflammatory those terms have become.
As I recall he did take the vaccine out of concern for his elderly mother, whom he wanted to support throughout the confusing and sometimes conflicting information surrounding the pandemic early on. So, anti-vaccine? No. Willing to research the FULL picture from various sources other than the mainstream and ask difficult questions? YES.
That’s why Chris didn’t stand back in horror when I told him that myself and my wife (a nurse who did her stint on the Covid wards) decided that we didn’t need the vaccine. I was in my late forties, fit,
Dear Editor
worked outside and had no underlying health condition. I was also willing to shield, wear a mask and isolate. So why should I take a jab? My wife was more than willing to take every other precaution in order to work and help people suffering in the hospital but nearly lost her job through the narrow minded views of many NHS managers.
Since then, plenty of official evidence around the other potential effects of the vaccine has come to light. It doesn’t get very much coverage in the mainstream.
There’s a reason for that.
I’m not anti-vaccines either. Neither did I criticise anybody who took it.
Your reader who wrote in commented on the need for independent media. It doesn’t sound like he has really read much of it, or indeed wants to hear something that might conflict with his position.
Please continue to print opposing viewpoints.
It’s the only way to avoid totalitarian leadership taking hold in an ever increasingly chaotic media landscape.
Yours, Christian Parsons
Matilda Gittings asked – “why do ‘kids’ needs fairy stories?”
Yes, it’s really remarkably simple. To entertain, educate and inform (Lord Reith, BBC). In her article, your writer cites 3 Disneyfied Fairie tales, however, the source material by Grimm, Anderson is such that no child friendly cinema certificate would be permitted. Fairie is a perilous realm for the unwary and dungeons for the overbold (Tolkein – “Tree and Leaf”). Whilst the Oxford English Dictionary (supplement 1750) defined a “Fairie tale” as being about fairies, unreal, incredible stories and a falsehood.
Fairie tales prepare “kids” for life, to ask “is that true?” and cope with lies (Terry Pratchett, “Hogfather”). So, what then are the stories suitable for children? Do we embrace the rationale of Mr Gradgrind (Sickens “Hard Times”) maybe, embrace the strictures of real life arbiters of “Good taste”? But it’s 8pm, your children don’t settle to sleep, who are we going to call, Kafka or Cinderella?
Best Wishes
John K. Williams
INSIDE
The Sphere Business Centre, Northbrook College Broadwater Road BN14 8HJ
liana@insidepublications.ltd
Dear Liana, David Clarke, Letters August edition, seems to have missed the point of Chris Hare’s July article. If there was any doubt of the danger posed by global giants, then you have only to look at Elon Musk’s remarks. Does he really think that Britain is on the brink of civil war or is this an attempt to get more posts on his unregulated social media platform ‘X’?
Norman Allcorn.
I was surprised that Matilda Cutting felt fairy tales influenced girls. I always enjoyed seeing the wronged females win out in the end. I don’t recall them wearing make-up.
If anything is making girls feel insecure it’s reality shows like Love Island, Essex and Chelsea (where all the girls look the same), TV ads and computer games. All these show young women pouting, wearing minimal clothing and covering themselves in fake tan, or, worse still, tattoos. Social media is also to blame with bullying rife in schools in a way it never was in my schooldays or when I was teaching. Fairy tales are just fantasy - something to take you away from the real world for a short while.
Best wishes Wendy Greene, Worthing
Hi Liana
This is really good that you are pulling this together (events listings)! Much appreciated thank you!!!
Alex
Dear Inside
Thank you for printing Chris Hare's article "Who to vote for?" in July 2024 Inside magazine. We need more articles like this to break the spell that was cast over us all during 2020, when the freedom to debate and discuss was removed, replaced by a media hellbent on presenting only one narrative. Unfortunately, judging from the response your article provoked, printed in August 2024 Inside Broadwater, there will be some who continue to believe the propaganda that was relentlessly pumped out in 2020, most of which has been since proved to have been untrue. We now have a global excess death rate of 14% which commenced not in 2020 with Covid; but in 2021, when we had the Covid injections; and this statistic is as high as 25% in young people. Why is no government looking into this, even if to reassure that it was not the Covid injection - a dereliction of duty? We absolutely need critical thinkers like Chris Hare to expose the elephant in the room and get us discussing these issues, not blindly accepting the spin generated by the legacy media and complaint governments, who made billions for Big Pharma by terrifying us all.
Thank you for raising awareness on important issues.
NATIONAL GARDEN SCHEME INSIDE
LATE OPENERS
As the summer draws to a close, there’s still some opportunities to get out and explore beautiful National Garden Scheme gardens.
Gardens opening in September and October…
Tuesday, September 3, 2pm-5pm BIGNOR PARK, PULBOROUGH
Eleven acres of peaceful garden to explore with magnificent views of the South Downs. Interesting trees, shrubs, wildflower areas with swathes of Daffodils in spring. Temple, Greek loggia, Zen pond and unusual sculptures. Homemade teas: Admission £5, children free: Book online at ngs.org.uk or pay on the day.
Tuesday, September 3 and Saturday, September 7 and 21, and Saturday, October 5, 2:30pm-5:30pm PEELERS RETREAT, ARUNDEL
Interlocking beds packed with year-round colour and scent, shaded by specimen trees, inventive water feature including a rill, raised fish pond, working Victorian fireplace and woodland sculptures. Homemade teas: Admission £5, children free: Book online ngs.org.uk or pay on the day.
Every Thursday until October 10, 10am-5pm THE OLD VICARAGE, WASHINGTON
Gardens of 3½ acres set around 1832 Regency house (not open). The front is formally laid out with topiary, wide lawn, mixed border and contemporary water sculpture. The rear features new and mature trees from C19, herbaceous borders, water garden and stunning uninterrupted views of the North Downs. Admission £7, children free: pre-booking essential.
Friday, September 6, 10:30am-3:30pm. JUDY’S COTTAGE GARDEN, WORTHING
Beautiful medium-sized cottage garden with something of interest all year-round. Several mature trees, creating a feeling of seclusion. Informal beds contain a mixture of shrubs, perennials and cottage garden plants. Little hidden areas to enjoy, small fish pond and water features. Homemade teas: Admission £5, children free: Book online at ngs.org.uk or pay on the day.
Saturday, September 7. Time slots 10am, 12pm, 2pm, 4pm.
THE COTTAGE, PULBOROUGH
A quintessential English cottage garden, packed with mix of perennials and bulbs on a challenging multi-layered site. Four distinct rooms; a small roof terrace, top terrace sitting above the house garden and vegetable garden built in what was a small swimming pool. Not a huge garden, however every square inch has been used! Homemade teas: Admission £6, children free: Pre-booking essential, visit ngs.org.uk
Sunday, September 8, 2pm-6pm. PARSONAGE FARM, BILLINGSHURST
Major garden in beautiful setting developed over 30 years with fruit theme and many unusual plants. Formally laid out on grand scale with long vistas. C18 walled garden with borders in apricot, orange, scarlet and crimson. Topiary walk, pleached Lime allée, Tulip tree avenue, Rose borders and vegetable garden with trained fruit. Homemade teas: Admission £8, children free: Pay on the day.
Sunday, September 8, 1pm-5pm. SUSSEX PRAIRIES, HENFIELD
Prairie garden of approx. eight acres, planted in naturalistic style using 60,000 plants and over 1,600 different varieties. Colourful garden featuring huge variety of unusual ornamental grasses. Layers of colour, texture and architectural splendour. Surrounded by mature Oak trees with views of Chanctonbury Ring and Devil’s Dyke. Homemade teas: Admission £12 adults, £6 child: Pay on the day.
Wednesday, September 11 and 18, 10am-11:30pm.
ASHLING PARK ESTATE, CHICHESTER
Fascinating vineyard tour with wine tasting. Starts promptly at 10am. Created in the C19, Ashling Park was cited on the Tithe map and had a new lease of life when a vineyard was planted in 2017. Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunièr, Chardonnay and Bacchus grape varieties, chef’s kitchen garden and beehives. Light refreshments: Admission £8: Pre-booking essential, visit ngs.org.uk
Sunday, September 15, 2pm-5pm. RYMANS, APULDRAM
Walled and other gardens surrounding C15 stone house (not open). In late summer the garden is filled with Dahlias, Sedums, late Roses, Sages and Japanese Anemones. Homemade teas: Admission £6, children free: Book online at ngs.org.uk or pay on the day.
Tuesday, September 17, 10:30am-2pm. THE PIG IN THE SOUTH DOWNS, ARUNDEL
THE PIG’s Group Head Kitchen Gardener, Ollie Hutson, will be sharing his extensive knowledge on all things homegrown. Starting at 10:30am with tea, coffee, pastries and a tour of the Kitchen Garden, then head over to THE PIG-in the South Downs Garden Room, overlooking the first PIG vineyard. Tuck into a light lunch and drinks inspired by what you have seen growing in THE PIG’s Kitchen Garden. Admission £50: Pre-booking essential, visit ngs.org.uk
Saturday, September 21 and Sunday 22, 2pm-5pm.
SANDHILL FARM HOUSE, PETERSFIELD
Front and rear gardens broken up into garden rooms including small kitchen garden. Front garden with small woodland area, planted with early spring flowering shrubs, ferns and bulbs. White and green garden, large leaf border and terraced area. Rear garden has Rose borders, small decorative vegetable garden, red border and grasses border. Homemade teas: Admission £5, children free: Pay on the day.
Sunday, October 7, 11am-6pm.
DENMANS GARDEN, FONTWELL
Created by Joyce Robinson; pioneer in gravel gardening and former home of influential landscape designer, John Brookes MBE. Grade II registered post-war garden renowned for its curvilinear layout and complex plantings. Year-round colour, unusual plants, structure and fragrance in the gravel gardens, faux riverbeds, intimate walled garden, ponds and conservatory. Light refreshments: Admission £9, children £6: Pre-booking essential, visit ngs.org.uk
The National Garden Scheme gives visitors unique access to over 3,500 exceptional private gardens, and raises impressive amounts of money for some of the UK’s best-loved nursing and health charities through admissions, teas and cake.
Through the generosity of garden owners, volunteers and visitors, we have donated over £70 million to our beneficiary charities. In 2023, this was over £3.4 million. Founded in 1927 to support district nurses. Our beneficiaries include Macmillan Cancer Support, Marie Curie, Hospice UK and The Queen’s Nursing Institute. We fund projects that promote gardens and gardening as therapy. In 2017, we launched our annual Gardens and Health Week to raise awareness. We also support training of gardeners and offer respite to horticultural workers who have fallen on difficult times.
To learn more about the National Garden Scheme, discover your perfect garden or find out how to open your own garden, visit ngs.org.uk
Direct links to West Sussex NGS gardens ngs.org.uk/west-sussex-gardens-late-openers/
FOR THE PAST
Our family have been looking after local families since 1901, with Ian and Sam following in the footsteps of Joe Pratley and his son Gordon Pratley (pictured).
FOR THE PRESENT
Our team of dedicated staff are available 24 hours a day, to provide the highest level of care possible which stands us out from the rest.
FOR THE FUTURE
With our fleet of hybrid funeral cars and choice of natural wicker coffins, we are making steps to a greener future for generations to come.
