A South Downs Alphabet

A SUSSEX GUIDE-A Southdowns Alphabet PLC $_Layout 1 13/12/2016 13:12 Page 1

A S U S S E X

A SOUTH DOWNS ALPHABET

school children and more mature wordsmiths from across the South Downs National Park celebrate this rich heritage in their own alphabet of verse. This A to Z of creativity will inspire you to cherish and appreciate the beauties on your own doorstep.

A SUSSEX GUIDE

Writers, artists, musicians and poets have all drawn their muse from the South Downs. Twenty-six

G U I D E

A

SOUTH DOWNS ALPHABET

SOUTH DOWNS ALPHABET

Illustration by Melvyn Evans

LYNNE TRUSS

BOOKS ABOUT SUSSEX FOR THE ENTHUSIAST

SNAKE RIVER PRESS www.snakeriverpress.co.uk

£8.99

WORDSMITHS

‘We soar above the ancient landscape with the birds, then swoop down to watch a dragonfly on the Cuckmere.We hear “the fading sound of warring planes, and thundering hooves on grass”. And sometimes we just step back and say that “I” is for Incredible!’

SUSSEX WORDSMITHS INTRODUCED BY

JUNE GOODFIELD

SNAKE RIVER PRESS

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A SUSSEX GUIDE - A Sussex Alphabet_Layout 1 21/11/2016 11:42 Page II

A

SOUTH DOWNS ALPHABET SUSSEX WORDSMITHS INTRODUCED BY

JUNE GOODFIELD

a

Illustrated TYPOGRAPHICALLY

SNAKE RIVER PRESS

SNAKE RIVER PRESS Book No 22 Books about Sussex for the enthusiast Published in 2017 by SNAKE RIVER PRESS South Downs Way, Alfriston, Sussex BN26 5XW www.snakeriverpress.co.uk

ISBN 978-1-906022-21-1 This book was designed & produced by SNAKE RIVER PRESS Copyright Š Snake River Press Limited 2017 Text Copyright Š Individual Poets as credited All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher.

The publishers and authors have done their best to ensure the accuracy and currency of all information at the date of preparation.

Readers who intend to rely on the information to undertake any activity should check the current accuracy. The publishers and authors accept no responsibility for any loss, injury or inconvenience sustained by the reader as a result of information or advice contained in this book.

Art Director & Publisher Peter Bridgewater Page makeup Richard Constable Consultant Lorraine Harrison Editor Jane Roe This book is typeset in Perpetua & Gill Sans, two fonts designed by Eric Gill & illustrated with 26 other characterful letterforms Printed and bound in China

DEDICATION

To all who love the South Downs and cherish our new National Park

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Mari Wallace Alice Holland

NIGHTJAR

. . . . . . . . . . 14

OPEN AIR MUSEUM Pat Bryant . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

Mia Huggett & Ella West . 40

CHANCTONBURY NOCTURNE Michael Scammell . . . . . . . 16 DRAGONFLIES

Sammy Bolton . . . . . . . . . . 18 EARLY MORNING ON MIDHURST COMMON Di Ponting . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 FIELD CRICKET

Hannah Causer, Edward Grant, Mia Huggett, Noah Lovelace, Elliot Morgan, Ella West & William Ralfe . . . . . . . . . . 22 GLORIOUS . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

HOME

Jo Wilsdon

. . . . . . . . . . 38

. . . . . . . . . . 12

BRIDGEWICK PIT

Ishita Ali

MIDHURST

Adam Proctor

AMBERLEY

. . . . . . . . . . . . 26

INCREDIBLE

Jasmine George

. . . . . . . . . 28

J IS FOR JOHN

Bertie Bextor & Maisie Bextor . . . . . . . . . . 30 KITE

Hannah Causer, Edward Grant, Mia Huggett, Noah Lovelace, Elliot Morgan & Ella West . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 LANDSCAPE HELEN MARTIN . . . . . . . . . 36

PYECOMBE

David Squire . . . . . . . . . . . 44 QUIDDITCH

Carol Brinson

. . . . . . . . . . 46

COWDRAY RUINS Ruth Howes . . . . . . . . . . . 48 SEABIRDS DON’T SING Paul Reed . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 THE TRUNDLE

Rosemary Flexman

. . . . . . 52

UPPARK

Meg Gardner . . . . . . . . . . . 54 VAST VIEW

Joseph Hodgkins

. . . . . . . . 56

WOLSTONBURY HILL Valerie Winter . . . . . . . . . 58 XYLOPHONE

Olivia Heaven

. . . . . . . . . 60

Y IS FOR YELLOW POPPIES Seth Longcroft . . . . . . . . . 62 ZYGAENA FILIPENDULAE Carol Brinson . . . . . . . . . . 64 APPENDIX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS . . . . .68 NOTES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .70

a A

S O U T H

D O W N S

[ 12 ]

A L P H A B E T

A M B E R L E Y

Amberley MAR I WALLACE

Petersfield U3A

An amble round Amberley is what I suggest.

It has so much to offer, so much that’s the best.

A castle so old with its stonework and towers In summer bedecked with a riot of flowers.

The Wildbrooks when flooded – a glorious sight Abounding with birdlife, on land and in flight.

Charming thatched cottages – yes, there’s much to admire.

And the church down the lane – it is sure to inspire.

Climb up high on the Downs to relish the view Then descend to the tea room and refresh with a brew.

Your visit I’m sure will give you much pleasure.

Amberley Village – a real South Downs treasure.

[ 13 ]

g A

S O U T H

D O W N S

[ 24 ]

A L P H A B E T

G L O R I O U S

Glorious ISHITA ALI

West Blatchington Primary School

The wonderful view noticed by everyone, Luxurious, jade carpet throughout the adventure.

Fingers crawling out of the twisted, brown bark, The Downs are glorious.

Unique and beautiful lit up by daylight, Red campion fills my nose.

When you arrive you’ll see nothing like you had imagined, The South Downs are glorious.

Mystical, misty distance, close, but, Follow the peaceful breeze of our Downs You will receive a feeling of joy, Because the Downs are glorious…

[ 25 ]

L A

S O U T H

D O W N S

[ 36 ]

A L P H A B E T

L

L A N D S C A P E

Landscape

HELEN MART IN

West Blatchington Primary School

The damp, grey mist from the sea started to roll in to the Downs Luscious green trees sway in the whirling breeze Valleys down below coated with transparent, glittery rain water the landscape Silver stars like majestic horses Echoing footsteps banging against the winding pathway Hard rocks dusted as the sun rose The landscape with the calling of skylarks in the far away distance.

[ 37 ]

A

S O U T H

D O W N S

A L P H A B E T

Q [ 46 ]

Q

Q U I D D I T C H

Quidditch CAROL BRIN SO N

Midhurst U3A

Made by countrymen in the great outdoors, Besom brooms have swept hundreds of floors.

For witches, it’s said, they are transport, But Harry Potter found a new sport, Quidditch it’s called, where the brooms are ridden, I’m sure he would play over the South Downs if so bidden.

[ 47 ]

A

S O U T H

D O W N S

A L P H A B E T

Wolstonbury Hill VALERIE WINT ER

Burgess Hill U3A

Take a walk up past the house called Warren And on up Wolstonbury Hill; My dogs and I walked many times Around that chalk escarpment And many years ago we scattered My in-laws’ ashes on the very top So that they could see the Sussex Downs And help the plants to grow.

I did some of my courting there.

The memory lingers still – The beech trees with Marsh Orchids standing down below The Snowdrops by the footpath where the bridal path does go And now I’m in my eighties I wonder if I can still walk the steep path Up past the lambs a-skittering in the sunshine To the top of Wolstonbury Hill.

[ 58 ]

w

w W O L S T O N B U R Y

[ 59 ]

H I L L

A

S O U T H

D O W N S

A L P H A B E T

Zygaena Filipendulae CAROL BRINSO N

Midhurst U3A

A resident species in decline This moth wears colours oh so fine.

Blue and red, it sports on the Downs and near the coast, Like the jockeys at Goodwood and Fontwell, Brighton and Plumpton, who speed past the post.

Six-Spot Burnet is its name in English, But the Latin Zygaena filipendulae, starting with a Z, allows this Alphabet to finish.

[ 64 ]

z Z Y G A E N A

F I L I P E N D U L A E

[ 65 ]

A SUSSEX GUIDE-A Southdowns Alphabet PLC $_Layout 1 13/12/2016 13:12 Page 1

A S U S S E X

A SOUTH DOWNS ALPHABET

school children and more mature wordsmiths from across the South Downs National Park celebrate this rich heritage in their own alphabet of verse. This A to Z of creativity will inspire you to cherish and appreciate the beauties on your own doorstep.

A SUSSEX GUIDE

Writers, artists, musicians and poets have all drawn their muse from the South Downs. Twenty-six

G U I D E

A

SOUTH DOWNS ALPHABET

SOUTH DOWNS ALPHABET

Illustration by Melvyn Evans

LYNNE TRUSS

BOOKS ABOUT SUSSEX FOR THE ENTHUSIAST

SNAKE RIVER PRESS www.snakeriverpress.co.uk

£8.99

WORDSMITHS

‘We soar above the ancient landscape with the birds, then swoop down to watch a dragonfly on the Cuckmere.We hear “the fading sound of warring planes, and thundering hooves on grass”. And sometimes we just step back and say that “I” is for Incredible!’

SUSSEX WORDSMITHS INTRODUCED BY

JUNE GOODFIELD

SNAKE RIVER PRESS