Parish News December 18 to January 19

TURNERS HILL PARISH NEWS DECEMBER 2018/ JANUARY 2019 PUBLISHED BY ST LEONARD’S CHURCH Edition Number 382

MERRY CHRISTMAS &HAPPY NEW YEAR There’s no doubt that it’s been a year of significant change as new development got seriously underway and is now taking prominent shape. What has not changed, though, is the village’s cherished spirit of friendship and togetherness. Like Santa Claus, this community stays true to tradition, keeps calm and carries on in its jolly ‘Ho, Ho, Ho!’ sort of way.

As usual, therefore, the festive season opens with the traditional CHRISTMAS TREE FESTIVAL at St Leonard’s over the weekend of December 8/ 9. It coincides with the MID SUSSEX DISTRICT COUNCIL CIVIC SERVICE on the Sunday evening.

Then it’s the Advent countdown to Christmas itself with many seasonal celebrations on the agenda, including the ‘DICKENSIAN CHRISTMAS FAYRE’ at Turners Hill School and CHARITY CAROL SINGING around the village.

ST LEONARD’S has a full festive schedule of community Christmas worship in place as, of course, do TURNERS HILL FREE CHURCH and WORTH ABBEY. On Boxing Day, the traditional BOXING DAY RUN & WALK takes place..

Appropriately for St Stephen’s Day, Michael Horan uncovers local links to the popular carol ‘Good King Wenceslas’ in his ‘SUSSEX NOTEBOOK.’ Then, it will be time to bid farewell to 2018 and welcome the New Year.

Details of all Christmas events and services plus many other festive activities inside… _________________________________________________________________________

THANKS TO VILLAGE FETE COMMITTEE The Parish News team extends grateful thanks to the Village Fete Committee for its generous donation. Your support is very much appreciated. The 2019 Fete is scheduled for Sunday July 21.

As usual, it takes place alongside the WHS Summer Show.

Get the date in those New Year diaries! _________________________________________________________________________

THE PARISH CHURCH, ST LEONARD’S, TURNERS HILL SERVICES & EVENTS FOR DECEMBER 2018 & JANUARY 2019 Prayer requests may be written in the book next to the Lady Chapel and will be included in Church prayers.

Enquiries about baptisms, marriages and funerals to Canon David Tickner.

Sunday December 2 (Advent 1)

08.00 Holy Communion (BCP) 10.30 Parish Communion (CW)

Friday December 7 – Sunday December 9

Christmas Tree Festival

Sunday December 9 (Advent 2)

08.00 Holy Communion (BCP) 10.30 Parish Communion (CW) 17.30 Fair Game Draw (at Red Lion) 18.00 Civic Service with Carols

Sunday December 16 (Advent 3)

08.00 Holy Communion (BCP) 10.30 Parish Communion (CW)

Tuesday December 18

18.00 Christingle Service

Sunday December 23 (Advent 4)

08.00 Holy Communion (BCP) 10.30 Parish Communion (CW)

Monday December 24 (Christmas Eve)

16.00 Children’s Crib Service 23.30 Midnight Communion with Carols (BCP)

Tuesday December 25 (Christmas Day)

10.00 Family Communion with Carols (CW)

Wednesday December 26

Boxing Day Run (details soon on Twitter)

Sunday December 30 (Christmas 1)

08.00 Holy Communion (BCP) 10.30 Parish Communion (CW)

Sunday January 6 (Epiphany)

08.00 Holy Communion (BCP) 10.30 Parish Communion (CW)

Sunday January 13 (Baptism of Christ)

08.00 Holy Communion (BCP) 10.30 Parish Communion (CW)

January 18 – 25

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

Sunday January 20 (Epiphany 3)

08.00 Holy Communion (BCP) 10.30 Parish Communion (CW)

Sunday 27 January (Epiphany 4)

08.00 Holy Communion (BCP) 10.30 Parish Communion (CW)

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FROM THE VICARAGE Church Road, Turners Hill, RH10 4PB ARMISTICE COMMEMORATION I write just after the commemoration and thanksgiving for the end of the World War I in 1918. My thanks go to all those who supported our services and in particular the Bell Ringers who marked the moment at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month.

CHRISTMAS CELEBRATIONS We will be hosting the Christmas Tree Festival in St Leonard's again this year. The church will be full of Christmas Trees kindly donated by Paddockhurst and Tulleys and decorated by village organisations and individuals. There will be carols and refreshments. It is always a lovely atmosphere.

Civic Service this year will be a Carol Service with seasonal readings and musical performances from Crawley Down All Saints Hand Chimes, Crawley Down Ladies Choir, Heidi Acraman and Turners Hill School.

Christmas is special for children and we look forward to enjoying time with them at the Christingle Service, the Crib Service and the Christmas Day Family Service. For those who love the dignity of the Book of Common Prayer we have the Midnight Service with carols.

Even though the hall is still not repaired, we are planning the Boxing Day Run once again.

WEEK OF PRAYER Arrangements for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity have not yet been completed. I will post them on Twitter as soon as we know.

NEW YEAR, NEW ERA……

New Year promises to be a momentous one for the country. Leaving the European Union takes us into a new era in which we will all experience many changes. Change can be exciting, but often it can be a time of anxiety too. The Christmas story is full of change for Joseph and Mary, for the shepherds, for the wise men and ultimately for all the world. As the new era dawned people had to make many adjustments. As individuals the natural instinct was to resist change, but as a community Christ's invitation was exciting. ‘Better Together’ is a popular slogan employed by campaigners but it is also a song by Jack Johnson. The song recognises all the difficulties that can surround us and how love is nearly always the best answer. In the Christian story love comes down at Christmas and it brings with it the power to bind us together as brothers and sisters in Christ.

O God, who wonderfully created, and yet more wonderfully restored, the dignity of human nature: Grant that we may share the divine life of him who humbled himself to share our humanity, your Son Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

TURNERS HILL PARISH COUNCIL THE ARK, MOUNT LANE, TURNERS HILL, WEST SUSSEX, RH10 4RA

TEL: 01342 712226 E-mail: turnershillpc@btconnect.com Web: www.turnershillcouncil.co.uk

Our Parish Council Office is open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday between 09.00 and 12.30, but a message can be left anytime or an e-mail sent to the above e-mail address. Council meetings are held on the first Tuesday of each month starting at 19.30, with 15 minutes for public participation. You are very welcome to join us for part or all of any meeting. The agenda is displayed in advance on the village notice board. Next meetings are on Tuesday December 4 and Tuesday January 8.

CHRISTMAS/NEW YEAR PARISH OFFICE CLOSURE The Parish Office will be closed from Friday December 21 and re-opens on Wednesday January 2.

CANON DAVID TICKNER WINS CIVIC AWARD This year the Civic Award goes to Canon David Tickner MBE in recognition of his hard work, caring nature and everything that he gives to all who live in the village. It is noted that Canon David’s motto is ‘Service’ and that he and Janet both live up to this with all the support they give to the community. David spent many years as an Army Chaplain which included tours of Northern Ireland at the height of the troubles. He has ridden Olympic-standard horses but his favoured mode of transport will always be his motor bike. Please come and show your support for Canon David when the award is presented at the Council meeting on January 8 at 19.30.

PARISH COUNCILLOR VACANCY Turners Hill Parish Council has a casual vacancy for a councillor to be filled by co-option.

Any person wishing to serve as a councillor should write to the Parish Council at the address or e-mail above

by December 28 giving some details and information about themselves, their background and why they wish to become a Parish Councillor.

To qualify, candidates must be British subjects, over 18 years old and electors, must reside within Turners Hill Village, or within three miles of it, or occupy as owner or tenant any land or premises therein, or have their principal or only place of work there, and must not be disqualified from holding office as a councillor.

The vacancy will be filled at the Parish Council Meeting on January 8, when candidates will be interviewed by councillors during the public participation section of the meeting.

OUTREACH POST OFFICE SERVICES AT THE ARK Please remember that the Post Office has an outreach service at The Ark on Tuesdays 10.00 to 12.00; and Thursdays 13.00 to 15.00. The Post Office at The Ark provides many of the services you will find in a full post office. Remember use it or lose it!

DIAL 105 TO REPORT POWER CUTS Should you experience a power cut please call 105 for UK Power Networks, the company who maintains the electricity cables in our area. If you need extra support during a power cut they recommend that you add your details to their Priority Services Register. This does not mean you will get power back any quicker, but they can offer additional support and help. Call them free on 0800 316 3105 or sign up on-line at www.ukpowernetworks.co.uk/priority.

WASTE FREIGHTER DATE Date for the next visit of the household refuse and garden waste freighter is Sunday February 3. As usual, the freighter will be behind The Ark from 10.0 to 11.00; and then at Turners Hill Park between 11.10 and 12.00. Help and directions will be on hand. It is important to use these special services to ensure they continue. Please remember that the following items cannot be accepted: Electrical items; tyres; rubble and hardcore; baths, shower trays, toilets, sinks; gas canisters; paint pots with any contents. Please take these items to a Household Waste and Recycling Site. Full details can be found at http://www.recycleforwestsusex.org/recyling-sites

OVERHANGING HEDGES/TREES/PLANTS At this time of year footpaths can become very wet and slippery and this can be impacted by overgrowing vegetation from gardens. Can we ask, therefore, that all homeowners/tenants check their boundaries to ensure that the footpaths are cleared.

DON’T LET FIRE TAKE CHARGE West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service offers important fire safety advice in respect of domestic appliances and electronic gadgets: Chargers - Don’t charge your phone overnight or for long periods of time unsupervised. Do not leave it under your pillow. Unplug your charger when you’re not using it. Always use a charger from a reputable supplier.

Cables/leads - Check for fraying and other damage and never run cables or leads under carpets.

Plugs, sockets and wiring - Check for hot plugs or sockets, scorch marks, fuses that often blow, or flickering lights. Unplug all appliances and chargers when you’re not using them. Do have your electrics checked at least every ten years by a registered electrician.

Adaptors - Make sure sockets are not overloaded. Overheating and fires will occur when several adaptors or too many high power appliances are used.

Fuses - You must use the correct fuse for the appliance.

• For appliances up to 700w use a 3amp fuse • For appliances between 700 and 1,000w use a 5amp fuse • For appliances more than 1,000w use a 13amp fuse Kitchen appliances - Over half of all house fires start in the kitchen. Keep anything that can catch fire away from your stovetop, always unplug countertop appliances when not in use and never leave the kitchen while cooking.

Smoke Alarm - Make sure you have a working smoking alarm: ‘toast proof’ ones and those with a silence button are useful for preventing false alarms.

Electrical equipment should never be thrown away in your bin as it contains hazardous substances. Unwanted appliances should be taken to your local Household Waste Recycling Site.

Remember! If there is a fire – get out, stay out and call 999. Never go back inside a burning

building.

PENSIONABLE AGE BUS PASSES / SENIOR RAILCARD REMINDER Contact the Parish Clerk regarding issue and renewal of reduced-rate Senior Railcards and Bus Passes. Advice and guidance will be provided on current procedures. Call or e-mail as shown above.

MOBILE LIBRARY West Sussex Mobile Library Service welcomes new members and can be contacted during regular visits to Turners Hill Park. For dates/times of visits, check the Notice Board at The Ark, Turners Hill Park and The Millennium Notice Board or at www.westsussex.gov/libraries or call 01403 224353.

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The Ark – A Superb Venue for any occasion Please see the Council website (details at the top of our page) for information and contact details for local clubs meeting at The Ark. The website also has all the information needed to hire The Ark for your own family occasion.

For all other bookings, including booking the court or football pitch, contact Mrs Chris Marsh, Parish Clerk - details at the top of the page.

Osteopath treatments (call Jo Barber on 01342 712266) and Comfort Foot Care Clinics (call Victoria Vaughn on 07593 630 863) are available.

Post Office in Deck Room on Tuesday 10.00–12.00 & Thursday 13.00-15.00. _______________________________________________________________________________

VILLAGE NEWS LAST CHANCE FOR FAIR GAME DRAW

John Roberts

Final reminder folks to stop JR and buy one when you see the Fair Game Draw boards coming round in aid of St Leonard’s Church upkeep. There is not long left to buy a square with the draw set for 17.30 on Sunday December 9 at the Red Lion. Squares are £2 each or three for a fiver.

Prizes consist plenty of fine fayre – venison, pheasant, partridge, duck, home-made game pie, a meal for two at the Lion, plus wines and spirits, a day’s shooting, etc. Also anything else anybody cares to donate. All contributions hugely welcome.

Do your best to support it - and see you at the draw if not before.

ARTS SOCIETY TURNERS HILL

Nigel Emery

The Age of Jazz presented by Sandy Burnett MA: Our Christmas meeting on the December 11 gives Sandy Burnett the opportunity to present images and music of the jazz age, which burst upon the British entertainment scene in the second decade of the 20th century. Why not come along to The Ark and find out what so excited the British public.

A group of American musicians docked in London 100 years ago, bringing with them for the very first time one of the 20th century’s most important musical genres: jazz a fascinating blend of rigorous structure, free-wheeling creativity, close-knit ensemble work and improvisation.

The lecture covers the early years of jazz from its beginnings through to the start of the Second World War. Drawing on his practical experience both as musicologist and gigging musician, Sandy is able to shed light on jazz from the inside. His illustrations range from early pre-impressions by Maurice Ravel and others, and the very earliest jazz recordings, through to classics by Louis Armstrong’s Hot Five, the Duke Ellington Orchestra and the dawn of the Swing Era. Pots and Frocks – The World of Grayson Perry presented by Ian Swankie: On January 22 we have an excellent speaker for our first meeting of the new year. It is not often that the subject at the heart of one of our talks is living, let alone as young as Grayson Perry. Perry is a rare talent and one who has captured the imagination beyond the usual artistic mainstream.

From Essex Punk Potter to Superstar National Treasure, Grayson Perry RA is widely known for his appearances dressed as his feminine alter ego, Claire, and is now a core part of the art establishment.

He is a Turner Prize winner and one of Britain’s best known contemporary artists. He gave the brilliant BBC Reith Lecture about the art market in 2013. His works of ceramics, textiles, tapestries and prints are highly sought after.

Often controversial, he is able to tackle difficult subjects in a poignant yet witty way. This talk will examine Grayson Perry’s work, his exciting and thought-provoking exhibitions - and we’ll look at the character inside the flamboyant frocks.

Do join us. Doors open at 10.15 for free tea and coffee. The talk will begin at 11.00am and lasts an hour. Visitors are welcome at a nominal charge of £5.

Please call Nigel Emery on 01293 414655 or email nigel.emery@gmail.com to book your place.

PS: STUDY DAYS AT THE ARK - ANYONE FOR HELPING WITH COFFEE? On Monday January 28, March 11 and March 25, Angela Magness will be running study days for the Sussex branch of The Arts Society at The Ark. As the usual paid coffee helper has now found fulltime employment, they seek a replacement.

The task is basically to buy instant coffee, tea bags, sugar, milk, biscuits then serve it at 10.00 on each day and clear away afterwards. It will be necessary to be at The Ark by 09.30.

Payment is £30 plus, of course, the cost of the items listed. Anyone interested should contact Angela via email at angelafaymagness@hotmail.com

COME CAROLLING FOR CHARITY

Meg Browning

Come and join us. We are singing Christmas Carols in and around the Parish on Friday December 21.

We meet in The Crown at 18.45pm and hope to raise much needed funds for The Alzheimers Society and Winston’s Wish, a charity for bereaved children.

Any queries, or if you would like us to sing to you, call me, Meg, on 07912 299428.

LION DARTS TEAM CRUMBLES AT HOME

John Roberts

Another in the occasional darts contests between the Red Lion and the Jolly Tanners, Staplefield, saw the Lion crumble on their home board last month. After an exciting start the singles score stood at 3-3 on the halfway mark, but then the Lion fell apart losing all their doubles matches. As the cliché goes: you can’t win ’em all. And so they don’t!

THANKS FOR FAMILY SUPPORT

Margaret Penn

Once again, thank you for the generous gifts of groceries brought to St Leonard’s Church on the first Sunday of each month for Family Support Work. On Sunday December 2, Christmas treats would be very welcome.

SCOUT GROUP CELEBRATES 70TH BIRTHDAY Bob Atkins A special New Year is in store for the local Scout Group which celebrates its 70th birthday in 2019. The group was first registered as 1st Turners Hill when its membership application was signed at Scout Imperial Headquarters on December 1, 1949. Meetings were held at the original Ark building located in the school grounds. Crawley Down was added to the title in 1974 to reflect growing membership from the village.

Currently, the Scout Group comprises two Beaver Colonies (age group six to eight); two Cub Scout Packs (eight to 10½); one Scout Troop (10½ to 14); one Explorer Scout Unit (14 to 18); and the small, but dedicated group of Leaders/Helpers who would always welcome new members. All sections now meet at the Group’s Crawley Down HQ. Plans for the 70th birthday celebrations include a launch party in February; the annual Family Walk in May; an Activity Day for all in June; and the Barn Dance Birthday Party on December 1. Other activities are expected to be added.

Contact details for 1st Turners Hill & Crawley Down Scout Group are: Group Secretary, Bob Atkins – rha23haw@btinternet.com and Group Scout Leader John Marsh – john.marsh@egscouts.org.uk

HILLTOP WI

Mary Deacon

We are looking forward to our December speaker Gilly Halcrow talking to us about Christmas Traditions. Festive jumpers have become very popular in the shops so I am expecting an excellent turn out at this meeting.

In January, we have a group of Flamenco dancers coming to entertain us on our Spanish themed evening – there could be a lot of ‘stamping and fan fluttering’ when they invite us to join in.

The coming year is important as the West Sussex Federation is celebrating its 100th anniversary and many various events are planned to celebrate the centenary. They include the planting of 100 oak trees on the National Trust Estate at Slindon in March.

Hilltop WI will be 60 years old in December next year, so plans are afoot to mark this too. Photos and forthcoming events can be seen on our website www.turnershillwi.co.uk.

We would like to wish all the Turners Hill Parish Magazine readers a very happy Christmas and peaceful New Year.

TURNERS HILL TWINNING ASSOCIATION

Thelma Mason

Our 'Posh Frock' Christmas Dinner will be on Friday December 14, when members will dress in their finest, enjoying the festive spirit at The Crown. New Year will bring our 'Cuddles Round The Fire’ gathering, also at The Crown, on Friday January 11.

We wish all readers of the Parish News a Bon Noël.

WORTH HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY

Martyn Mason

Annual General Meeting of the Society was held at The Ark last month - and those who braved the dismal weather enjoyed a complimentary glass of wine, some nibbles, were able to buy bulbs and plants, take part in the quiz and possibly win a prize in the 100-space draw.

In the formal part of the AGM society officers re-elected were: Martyn Mason, Chairman; Ann Luxford, Vice Chairman; Jennie Forbes, Secretary; Brenda Bedford, Treasurer; Shirley Donaldson, Membership Secretary; and the Committee of Jo Pamplin, Linda Furzer, Pat Cockle and Sandra Gould. Eric Dawes remains our President with John Donaldson Vice President.

The meeting discussed ‘2019 Dates for your Diary’ which are: Spring Show and Table Top Sale Sunday March 24 at the Haven; Plant & Garden Jumble Sale - Saturday May 11 at Crawley Down Allotments; 121st Summer Show, which runs alongside the Turners Hill Village Fete, on Sunday July 21 in the Dunlop Hall at The Ark; Coach Visit to RHS Garden Hyde Hall - date to be arranged, usually in September; and finally next year’s AGM - on Friday November 15 at The Ark. We have not included the Crawley Down Village Fete as no date was fixed at the time of going to print, but we will obviously have a stall if possible.

In December we will be formulating the Society Schedule for our forthcoming Spring and Summer Shows to decide which classes would encourage the most exhibitors to enter our prestigious events.

To receive a Schedule please contact Martyn Mason (Chairman) on 01342 714858, or to become a member of this historic Society, Shirley Donaldson (Membership Secretary) on 01342 713423.

Membership is just £5 per person.

Finally, Worth Horticultural Society would like to wish everyone a Very Happy Christmas and New Year.

STAY SAFE WHEN SHOPPING ONLINE With busy Christmas shopping well underway, Action Fraud, the National Fraud & Cyber Crime Reporting Centre, is advising how to shop safely online.

Software updates: Make sure you’ve installed the latest software & app updates. Criminals use weaknesses in software to attack your devices and steal information, such as your payment details.

Email accounts: Use a strong, separate password for your email account. Criminals can use your email to access other online accounts, such as those you use for online shopping.

Phishing: Don’t click on a link in an unexpected email or text. The volume of online shopping related phishing emails increases significantly during the holiday period. Remember, if a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is.

Payment methods: Don’t pay for goods or services by bank transfer unless you know and trust the person. Payments via bank transfer offer you no protection if you become a victim of fraud.

For more information on how to stay secure online, visit www.cyberaware.gov.uk.

M23 ROAD CLOSURES ALERT Local communities are alerted by Sussex Neighbourhood Watch to forthcoming road closures related to major works on the M23.

On Saturday December 1 there will be a full closure of the Gatwick Spur road eastbound from the North Terminal to junction 9 (Gatwick) of the M23, this will include the northbound entry slip at junction 9. There will be a fully signed diversion route in place via the A23 London Road, A2011, Crawley Avenue and re-join at junction 10 of the M23.

A full overnight weekend closure takes place on December 7, 8 and 9 between 21.00 and 06.00 (05.00 Mon Dec 10). This is to remove the existing gantries on the M23. There is a full diversion route in place from junction 6 (Godstone) of the M25 via the A22, A264 to junction 10 (Crawley) of the M23 and from junction 10 (Crawley) via the A2011, London Road, Airport Way into Gatwick Airport.

To contact Sussex Neighbourhood Watch please email to enquiries@sussexnwfed.org.uk or visit www.sussexnwfed.org.uk.

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ST LEONARD’S CHURCH, TURNERS HILL

BOXING DAY RUN/WALK WEDNESDAY, 26TH DECEMBER AT 11.00 a.m.

We hope as many people as possible will join in this annual fun run and walk on Boxing Day. As there is no church hall available for our use this year, we are keeping things simple with a registration form for name address/contact details and category only. There will be no timed finishing or published results. There will be two categories for winning cups donated by Harbour Holdings. Senior Male/Female and Junior (u16) Boy/Girl. The entry fee will remain the same as previous years, £5 per senior runner, £3 per junior runner and £5 for all members of one family walking.

All money raised will go to St Leonard’s Church.

A big thank you to COPTHORNE PREPARATORY SCHOOL for sponsoring the finishers’ medals, advertising posters and refreshments in the church after the event. We have a lot of ‘behind the scenes’ help, so a big thank you to them and to everyone who marshals and takes part on the day.

If you require a registration form or need any further information, please email:- turnershillrun@gmail.com or telephone Barbara on 07775697033.

To The Letters Editor

VIEW FROM THE HILL Many with loved ones resting in the churchyard will be interested in this plea….

My father Eric Dawes was among volunteers who worked regularly in St Leonard’s churchyard for many years and was responsible for designing and building the small Garden of Remembrance. It was used to bury cremated remains of village people who had passed away, if their families wished to make use of it.

Sadly, upkeep and care of the Garden was neglected for several years and a ‘make-over’ needed to save it becoming wild. I have restored the area and enjoyed support and help of many who have given bulbs and plants. I am especially grateful to the Jupps who provided much-needed top soil and the Open Gardens organisation which donated funds for basic purchases. I thank all those kind people on behalf of the church for their generosity.

I hope what I have done is appreciated by regular church members and indeed by the whole village. I understand that the area is dedicated and special to those with family members or friends remembered there and assure them that great care and respect was given during the work.

While I intend looking in on the Garden for general planning and care, I would be very grateful if a village person would volunteer to keep the area looking refreshed. Please talk to the Vicar or Churchwardens if you can spare some time now and then to keep an eye on the Garden, as I do not live in the village. It would be a pleasure for me to know that the Garden will continue to be cared for.

My love to all at St Leonard’s and Turners Hill.

- Sarah, Eric’s daughter.

Glad to pass on this request Sarah. Any green-fingered soul ready for action?

Correspondence for publication should be emailed to editor.parishnews@thparish.co.uk.

As always, the Letters Editor reserves the right to change any letter for space and editorial reasons.

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PARK PAGE Turners Hill Park Residents Association

By Sheila Caldwell UNFORTUNATELY, DUE TO UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCES, THERE WILL BE NO PARK PAGE THIS MONTH. HOWEVER, WE WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY OF WISHING ALL OUR READERS A VERY HAPPY CHRISTMAS AND A HEALTHY, PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR.

VILLAGE COMMEMORATES Extra-special significance of this year’s Remembrance was duly commemorated in the village with services to mark the centenary of Armistice which brought the First World War to an end on November 11, 1918.

Turners Hill School held its Remembrance Service on November 9. Armistice bells were rung at St Leonard’s at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. The Royal British Legion service, led jointly by Canon David Tickner and Pastor Geoff Chapman took place in the afternoon of November 11.

Along with paying tribute to those of the First World War, services honoured all who served and gave their lives in the Second World War and all other conflicts over the past 100 years.

Some 33 Turners Hill men were killed in WWI; and 12 lost their lives in WWII. All are commemorated on St Leonard’s War Memorial Roll of Honour, where wreaths were laid.

Wreaths were also laid at the graves of three of those village men buried and one commemorated in the church graveyard.

•The Royal British Legion Standard leads the way.

•Pictured after the Remembrance Service are, from left: Roger Webb, Treasurer and Standard Bearer of the British Legion Crawley Down & Turners Hill Branch; Canon David Tickner; Eric Dawes, British Legion Branch President; Geoff Chapman, Pastor at Turners Hill Free Church and Roy Cakebread, British Legion Branch committee member.

Paying tribute alongside them were Bruce Forbes, Chairman Mid Sussex District Council; Thelma Mason, Chairperson Turners Hill Parish Council; and representatives of West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service, the Scouts and Brownies. They were supported by a large congregation of village residents, their friends and families.

WW1 ARMISTICE CENTENARY CHURCHYARD WREATHS Following the main Remembrance Day Service, wreaths were placed on the graves of local men who died in the two World Wars and are buried at St Leonard’s.From WWI was Arthur Beck who died aged 20 in February 7, 2015.

Those who lost lives in WW2 are Hunter Aitken who died on March 2, 1945 aged 20; and William Easy, killed on January 28, 1945 aged 31. Both men served in the Royal Air Force.

A further fatal casualty from WWI was villager George Baker whose body was never recovered. He is nevertheless commemorated on a family gravestone in the churchyard. George, whose home was at Mantlemas Cottages, Lion Lane, died on August 24 1918, shortly before Armistice was declared.

•Pictured are family relatives David and Charlie Baker paying personal tribute.

SCHOOL REMEMBRANCE SERVICE

Jo Wigmore, School Secretary Children at Turners Hill School paid a moving tribute at St Leonard’s church to all of those who we remember and honour. On this, the 100th anniversary of the WWI Armistice, it was especially poignant that we remembered those who did not return from the wars- the children successfully focused our minds on this subject during the service through some moving poems, prayers and song.

Prayer written by Clark Watts (Birch Class)

Dear Lord Thank you for the people who have sacrificed themselves for us. Thank you for new life.

Help us to enjoy peace and not fight. Please help us to remember to help people who are affected. Thank you for the poppies that grew in the battlefields.

Amen

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JOHN ROBERTS INTERVIEWS……

Although a newcomer to Turners Hill one rural figure is already well known in the village and for miles around. John Lewis is not just a gamekeeper, but a legend in the shooting world. From a teenager, he was a keeper and soon head-keeper at 3,500-acre Balcombe Estate for more than 50 years. After that came six years head-keepering at Birch Grove Estate.

Now, at 73, he has retired here, but still keeps busy as unpaid adviser to grateful local shoots.

John Roberts dropped by his cottage to share a yarn or two….

In a huge hurry to become a gamekeeper, John Lewis took the extraordinary step of going along at the age of 14 to see his headmaster at Cuckfield secondary school and told him he wanted to leave.

Even more remarkably the head beak agreed to this upstart request.

John recalls: “I was starting work at 6am feeding pheasant on a beat helping my dad who was head keeper at Balcombe and I loved it. One day I saw the headmaster and told him I wanted to leave school for an underkeeper’s job. I told him I wanted to be a keeper because I couldn’t be shut indoors. I had to be outside and it was a way of life.”

Showing great understanding the head considered all that and told John: “You are still not quite 15 yet, but you can leave if you come here and report to me once a month and we’ll see how you get on.”

With a hearty laugh John remembers: “Well, I went to see him twice and never went again.”

He was on his way.

John was born in 1945 at Tillinghurst Farm, Ardingly, and two years later the family moved to Balcombe. He and his brother Peter grew up as children helping their father breeding pheasant ‘open range’ and locking up broody hens at night. He said: “We used to walk miles looking for broodies.”

“It was brilliant working for dad. He was tough, but I respected him and his knowledge of keepering. I used to go up to my beat on a pushbike with the pheasant grub somehow slung over the crossbar in bags and by my side. My brother Peter was the other keeper.”

Parents split up However their parents split up in the early 1960’s and Peter moved to a head keeper post at Cowfold: “That messed me up. Like many at 17 years old I thought I knew everything, but we were left to fend for ourselves and dad could only boil a kettle. I lived more or less on molasses – black treacle – from the farm and the odd lump of cheese. It was quite tough for a while.

“And with now just the two of us on the shoot it was hard, but then when I was 17 I passed the driving test and that made a hell of a difference. I’d been saving up and I bought my first car.

“I went along to Mr.Fenn at Balcombe Garage, which was opposite the station, and asked if he could find me something. He found a second-hand Morris Oxford for £75 and I paid him with my savings. He couldn’t believe it. Everybody bought on tick and he said ‘You’re the first to ever pay cash,’ but I never wanted to owe anything to anybody.”

John’s car opened up life away from the shoot too and at just the right time. For by now the Sixties were beginning to swing, or at least in a local kind of way around here! He said: “I was off dancing and fighting at Crawley and the Whitehall at East Grinstead and enjoying myself. I never caused a fight, but the Whitehall bouncers used to get me to help with trouble-makers. Down they went and didn’t come back. “ Between fights I loved dancing though. I won all sorts of contests at Crawley, at jiving, the Twist and the rest. I won a place to the finals of a big competition in Birmingham. First prize was £500, but my dad told me, ‘Always remember you’re a gamekeeper, not a dancer. You’re not going!’”

As life improved on the shoot two Land Rovers were bought: “I’ve still got one, it’s a 1953 model. We used to go out in them shooting rabbits. We got two shillings and sixpence each for them (ten-and-a half pence today). You could fill up the tank with petrol off that.”

It certainly helped towards heading off to the Isle of Wight pop festival. John said: “I’d been combining and damaged the harvester when I hit a bough hidden in the corn, so I thought oh well, let’s go to the Isle of Wight. We had a hell of a time.”

……LOCAL LEGEND, JOHN LEWIS When a dishevelled John got home to Balcombe he headed straight off to the village fete. By this time Richard Greenwood owned the Balcombe Estate and John recalled “Mrs Greenwood was opening the fete and she told me ‘Go home and have a bath and a shave. You smell!’”

Suitably scrubbed John returned to the village beanfeast and that hasty clean-up set him on the path to marrying future wife Joyce: “I’d known Joyce all my life. We were at school together and aged nine she said ‘I’m going to marry that John Lewis.’

“We met up back at the village fete and I took her out that night. She proposed to me in 1971. I told her, work must come before you and she said ‘I’ll help you.’ I was 27 and she 21 and we married the next year. Derek Earl was best man and Bill Halford (late landlord of the Half Moon, Balcombe) pushed me to the wedding in a wheelbarrow! The church was full and even more at the wedding party.”

The estate found them a cottage to live in and John set to work recruiting at the pub. He said: “I got some beer in and friends came down and painted and did odd repairs, got stuck into the beer and the place was ready for us when we moved in.”

Poachers were a frequent problem for the keepers and John would be out early and late looking for them. He said: “Joyce would ask some nights what time I would be back and I’d say I’d be back for breakfast. She was never cross unless I was late for Sunday lunch.”

John Lewis has always been a big man and had little trouble seeing off most interlopers, but remembers: “There was one big bugger from Crawley. He would drive across the estate shooting rabbits out of the window on his way to work.”

• John and his dog at home in Turners Hill At one stage John got him half into his own car and was dragging him along until he could finally sort him out enough to turn him into the police.

“He sent a message after that experience saying he would never come back! These days you don’t get too much poaching, apart from blokes with lurchers occasionally after deer.”

In all, John worked for the Greenwood family at Balcombe for 52 years and said: “ Richard Greenwood was brilliant. We never fell out once. He was the best boss anybody could have. Mrs. Greenwood too. She would walk all over the estate. You’d be in a wood doing something, look round and there she was.”

Gradually John’s expertise spread his fame among visiting shooting parties and to other estates across the country. He was at the top of his game (keeping!), but acknowledges that along the way: “I had some bloomin’ good under-keepers. I told them – you stay with me ten years and I’ll find you good jobs when you leave.”

When John was 66, though, tragedy struck and not for the last time. He says Richard Greenwood told him he too should move on “and then he burst into tears and walked off.”

John explained: “He was in so much pain from cancer that shortly afterwards he shot himself. I was the first person the family rang with the news. It broke my heart.”

At the invitation of Jim Hay, racehorse owner and scientific entrepreneur, who owns Birch Grove Estate near Horsted Keynes John moved there to become head keeper.

Continued on next page……

John Roberts Interview continued……

The estate, once owned by late Prime Minister Harold MacMillan was famed for its shoot, but it had been let go when an ex-vice president of China bought it, but he was more interested in golf before being called home in disgrace.

John arrived in the February and Hay wanted to be able to hold shoots by October. It was a massive ask, but John set to with ‘Forest’ a Balcombe under-keeper ( and grandson of late Paddockhurst keeper John Millum) who, true to John’s word about finding loyal keepers a new job, he took along as his No.2. “ I was in charge of opening up the shoot again; clearing and making rides and roads, doing forestry, clearing streams and lakes – the lot. That first year I was up at 3.30am every morning making sure everything was ready for when people came to start work at 7am. And we did it. The shoot was ready on time and the first day was massive.”

Over five years John made sure the shoot kept improving, but then another terrible tragedy struck. While he stayed in the house one Sunday his wife Joyce, daughter Jo and Jim Hay went for a ride around the estate in a buggy. It hit a hidden bump and overturned trapping Joyce beneath.

John recalls the dreadful moment the telephone rang: “It was a neighbour close by the scene who said ‘Come quick. There’s been an accident.’ I rushed down there and frantically heaved the buggy off her, but it was too late. Joyce was dead. I had 45 wonderful years and three kids with Joyce and now I just have to remember that.”

After another year at Birch Grove trying to recover John and Jim agreed he should retire: “It was an accident and Jim was heartbroken too. He’ll never get over it either.

“He was and is a best friend. When we went horse racing he never introduced me to his friend as his gamekeeper. It was always ‘this is my friend John.’ And he still invites me racing and shooting as well to some wonderful places in Devon and Cornwall.”

Now John is settled in his Turners Hill cottage with shooting friends rallying around. He said: “I’ve always liked Turners Hill from when I used to come over in the days of Les Saward at The Crown and Bill PritchardGordon’s shoot and, of course to see Peter Bauldry. He was a person you could never fall out with even if you tried. He’d only laugh.

“Although I’m retired now, I still enjoy helping out with advising local shoots. Like I said before – gamekeeping is not a job. It’s a way of life.”

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MANY CONGRATULATIONS TO MICK & TARA

•Village Cricket Club stalwart Mick Litchfield and Tara Ransome were married last month. Here they are pictured during their wedding reception with family and friends at The Crown. Tara is a care home nurse in East Grinstead. Both are marrying for the second time and will live in Turners Hill.

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cPastor: Geoff Chapman The Manse, North Street, Turners Hill, Crawley, West Sussex. RH10 4NS 01342 714546, geoff@thfchurch.org www.turnershillfreechurch.org.uk

.

Christmas Community Lunch: December 14, 12.30 Christmas Day Service: 10.30 Little Angels Parent, Baby & Toddler Group: Tuesdays at 10.00 – 11.30, term time only. No charge.

Call Abby Chapman on 01342 714546 for more details

WORTH ABBEY NEWS TURNERS HILL COMMUNITY EVENTS & SERVICES FOR ADVENT & CHRISTMAS Sunday December 2: Handel’s Messiah in the Abbey – 19.30.

Sunday December 16: Organ concert with D’Arcy Trinkwon – 19.30.

Monday December 17: Parish Reconciliation Service in the Abbey – 19.45.

Sunday December 23: Carol Service – In the Abbey for our Parish, friends, families and neighbours – 16.00.

Monday December 24: Midnight Mass – Starts at 22.30 with Carols.

Mass starts at 23.00 with refreshments in the Narthex after.

Christmas Day: Mass at Worth Abbey – 10.00.

REGULAR MASS TIMES (All at the Abbey unless otherwise stated) Weekday Mass:

08.00 in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel and 17.30 for the Concelebrated Mass.

Saturday Morning Mass:

09.00.

Sunday Masses:

Saturday at 17.00; Sunday at 09.30, concelebrated; and 11.30 at St Dunstan’s, West Hoathly.

Holidays of Obligation:

08.00 and 17.30. On the day before, at 19.30 (Vigil Mass).

WORTH ABBEY CONTACT POINTS Parish Priest – Fr Paul Fleetwood Parish Secretary – Maria Stribbling 01342 710313/parish@worth.org.uk Worth Abbey on the web – www.worthabbeyparish.co.uk

A Sussex Notebook….

by Michael Horan WHEN A POOR MAN CAME IN SIGHT……

H

ere is a seasonal question for you: Who wrote ‘Good King Wenceslas’? Was it (a) Lewis Carroll, (b) Anon, (c) Charles Dickens, or (d) John Mason Neale ? You get nul points if you answered a, b, or c. You can have an extra mince pie if you chose d.

Rev John Mason Neale (1818–1866) was a clergyman in the Church of England. Ordained in 1842, he was for a very short time vicar of Crawley’s tiny parish (there were then only 400 inhabitants). Serious ill health meant he had to retire, however, and he lived in Madeira for a while. He returned to England in 1846, and became warden of the Sackville College almshouses in East Grinstead. He remained there for the rest of his short life.

Neale composed more than 400 hymns, many of them translations of Greek and medieval Latin originals. John Betjeman considered him the ‘prince’ of the Anglo-Catholic hymn writers. Some 58 Neale hymns were included in Hymns Ancient and Modern, published in 1875 – only a few of his total, of course, but they still far outnumbered those in the book written by any of his contemporaries. One hundred and fifty years later, John Mason Neale’s hymns remain popular. For example, the hymn book used at St Leonard’s (Hymns Old and New, published in 1996) contains 22 of his hymns. Only Charles Wesley, the greatest hymn writer of all – he composed 6,000 – has more hymns in this book.

Interestingly, even today, in spite of changing fashions in church worship, there are as many of Neale’s Victorian hymns in Hymns Old and New as there are by each of two currently popular modern song writers, Michael Forster (b.1946) and Graham Kendrick (b.1950). Most of the 300 or 400 other authors making up the rest of the collection have only their ones or their twos.

Though wary of Neale’s High Churchmanship, evangelical Nonconformists have also long been singing his hymns. Even in a new, mid-20th century edition of one denominational hymnal, the number of Neale’s hymns came third behind Charles Wesley’s and those of Isaac Watts, another of the Dissenters’ favourites.

Neale wrote ‘Good King Wenceslas’ in 1853, translating a Czech legend, perhaps from a German or a Latin text. The carol was then set to the tune of a 13th century spring carol. Believing the legend to have continuing relevance, Neale ended his carol with the moral with which we are familiar: ‘Therefore, Christian men, be sure, / Wealth or rank possessing,/ Ye who now will bless the poor / Shall yourselves find blessing’.

Neale’s other Christmas carols included ‘O come, O come, Emmanuel’ (more strictly an Advent hymn), ‘Good Christian men, rejoice!’ and ‘Jesus, good above all other’. When sung slowly and without accompaniment, ‘O come, O come, Emmanuel’ has the rhythm and sound of Gregorian chant, which was indeed its 15th century origin, and much to Neale’s taste.

By contrast, it is easy to hear in our imagination Neale’s lilting ‘Good Christian men, rejoice!’ being sung as a lively roundelay by the rustic choir in the west-gallery of Hardy’s Mellstock church, accompanying themselves on their stringed instruments.

Neale was a scholarly man: he is said to have known 20 languages. He was the author of many theological and historical books, notably the multi-volume A History of the Holy Eastern Church. In 1854 he was co-founder of a sisterhood established in East Grinstead, known as The Society of St Margaret.

Working with the sick and the poor, the society was typical of sisterhoods being formed at that time.

John Mason Neale can be visualised in the quiet of his study at Sackville College, attempting to improve a tongue-twisting line he has just written, ‘Through the rude wind’s wild lament’. Or perhaps putting the finishing touches to one of his unequalled majestic hymns: ‘Come, ye faithful, raise the anthem, / Cleave the skies with shouts of praise; / Sing to Him who found the ransom, / Ancient of eternal days, / God of God, the Word incarnate, / Whom the heaven of heaven obeys’.

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If you would like to place an advertisement in the Turners Hill Parish News, which reaches 900 homes, please contact: Martyn at advertising.parishnews@thparish.co.uk.

VILLAGE CLUBS & ORGANISATIONS Arts Society Turners Hill Badminton Bellringing Bridge British Legion Brownies Circle Club Cricket Horticulture (WHS) Karate Little Angels Meditation Morris Dancing Pilates Socatots Tai Chi Twinkle Tots Twinning Village Fete Walking WI (Hilltop) Yoga

Contact Nigel Emery on 01293 414655 or nigel.emery@gmail.com Contact Ian Hacke on 01342 717309 Contact Jo Barnes – Jopbarnes@btinternet.com Contact Helen Kent on 01342 719779/ Betty LeckyThompson on 01293 547030 Contact Kay Webb on 01342 719029 Contact Tina Shea on 01342 715322 Contact Heather Eves – heather.eves@virgin.net Contact Mick Litchfield on 01342 713801 Contact Martyn Mason on 01342 714858 Contact Julia Turley on 01444 454827 or jtrenshinkan@btinternet.com Contact Free Church on 01342 714546 Contact Snesha Malde on 07941 708874 or snesha.malde@gmail.com Contact Sarah Hamilton on 01342 712240 Contact Laura Donoghue on 07821 391798 or ldonoghue1@btinternet.com Contact Marianne on 01444 440234 or info@socatots-sussex.co.uk Contact Peter or Rosemary Parsons on 01293 882990 or retep.p@talktalk.net Contact twinkletotsmusic@gmail.com Contact Thelma Mason on 01342 714858 Contact turnershillvillagefete@gmail.com Contact Barbara Podbury on 01342 714899 Contact Barbara Cowley on 01342 715709 Contact Snesha Malde on 07941 708874 or snesha.malde@gmail.com

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PARISH NEWS NEXT EDITION Copy deadline for the FEBRUARY 2019 edition is FRIDAY JANUARY 18 Editorial contributions, including letters for publication to: editor.parishnews@thparish.co.uk Advertising enquiries to: advertising.parishnews@thparish.co.uk Postal address: Turners Hill Parish News, The Vicarage, St Leonard’s Church, Church Road, Turners Hill RH10 4PB PARISH NEWS ONLINE: The Parish News is also available online Go to www.thparish.co.uk and click on ‘Parish News’ at ‘QUICK LINKS’ _________________________________________________________________________

VILLAGE DIARY DECEMBER 2018/JANUARY 2019 Sunday December 2

Church Services Handel’s Messiah, Worth Abbey

Tuesday December 4

Parish Council Meeting, The Ark

Saturday December 8-9

Christmas Tree Festival, St Leonard’s

Sunday December 9

Christmas Tree Festival, St Leonard’s Fair Game Draw, Red Lion Civic Service with Carols, St Leonard’s

Tuesday December 11

Arts Society Meeting, The Ark

Wednesday December 12

Hilltop WI Meeting, The Ark

Friday December 14

Christmas Community Lunch, Free Church Twinning Christmas Dinner, The Crown

Saturday December 15

Dickensian Christmas Fayre, TH School

Sunday December 16

Church Services Organ Concert, Worth Abbey

Tuesday December 18

Christingle Service, St Leonard’s

Friday December 21

Village Carol Singing

Sunday December 23

Church Services Carol Service, Worth Abbey Candlelight Carols, Free Church

Monday December 24

Children’s Crib Service, St Leonard’s Midnight Communion, St Leonard’s

Tuesday December 25

CHRISTMAS DAY CHURCH SERVICES

Wednesday December 26

Boxing Day Run & Walk, St Leonard’s

Sunday December 30

Church Services

Tuesday January 1

NEW YEAR’S DAY

Sunday January 6

Church Services

Tuesday January 8

Parish Council Meeting, The Ark (Civic Award)

Friday January 11

Twinning Meeting, The Crown

Sunday January 13

Church Services

Sunday January 20

Church Services

Tuesday January 22

Art Society Meeting, The Ark

Sunday January 27

Church Services

_________________________________________________________________________ DETAILS OF NEXT PARISH NEWS EDITION ON INSIDE BACK PAGE__________