Parish News February 2019

TURNERS HILL PARISH NEWS FEBRUARY 2019 PUBLISHED BY ST LEONARD’S CHURCH Edition Number 383

CIVIC AWARD GOES TO CANON DAVID TICKNER Winner of the Parish Council’s Civic Award for 2018 is St Leonard’s Vicar, Canon David Tickner. Chosen unanimously by councillors, David – accompanied by his wife, Janet - received the award at January’s Council meeting in recognition of outstanding service to the community.

Presenting the silver trophy and special citation, Council Chairperson, Thelma Mason, stated: “David not only serves his congregation at St Leonard’s, but our whole community benefits from his warmth, kindness and love. He and his dog Rover are part of our village scene with their daily walks.”

She recalled that Bishop Dunford had consecrated St Leonard’s in 1895 aged 92 and hoped David would follow suit and remain “ for a very long time.”

•Picture by Alan Goldsmith

INSIDE THIS EDITION……

With the festive season long gone and Springtime some way ahead, February can be a rather quiet, even dreary, month for many. Nevertheless, there is plenty of news and information in this first edition of 2019. Village activities include the annual Matt Bailey Memorial Darts Match at the Red Lion which this year is in aid of military charity, the Danny Gallivan Trust. Turners Hill Twinning Association will be holding its AGM at The Ark and preparing for this year’s French Dinner in March. Clubs and organisations are active with February events – and, of course, love is in the air on St Valentine’s Day. This month’s centre-page interview features well-known village personality, David ‘Hank’ Manktelow; and Sussex Notebook goes bird-watching. See inside…… _________________________________________________________________________

THANKS TO TURNERS HILL FREE CHURCH The Parish News team extends very grateful thanks to members of Turners Hill Free Church for their generous donation. It is much appreciated. _______________________________________________________________

THE PARISH CHURCH, ST LEONARD’S, TURNERS HILL SERVICES & EVENTS FOR FEBRUARY 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 February 3 (5 b. Lent)

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

Sunday February 10 (4 b. Lent)

10.30 Parish Communion (CW)

Sunday February 17 (3 b. Lent)

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

Sunday February 24 (2 b. Lent)

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

Monday February 25

19.00 Parochial Church Council

Tuesday February 26

19.30 Deanery Synod

_____________________________________________________________________________

ST LEONARD’S CONTACT DETAILS Vicar:

Canon David Tickner 01342 715278

stleonardth@gmail.com

Churchwardens: Ann Andrews Dominic Hawken

01342 321584 07831 440819

annandrews62@hotmail.com dominic@del.co.uk

Treasurer:

Denise Bauldry

01342 715400

dlbauldry@gmail.com

PCC Secretary:

Jackie Scott

01293 883314

jackiscott@aol.com

Friends:

Anwyn Daniels

01342 715344

nickanwyn@supanet.com

Bells:

Jo Barnes

Hall:

Chris Jarvis

jopbarnes@btinternet.com 01342 714831

Web: www.thparish.co.uk _______________________________________________________________________________

FROM THE VICARAGE Church Road, Turners Hill, RH10 4PB CHURCH HALL NEARS COMPLETION….. AFTER MORE VANDALISM I hope that by the time this is published our Church Hall will be finished. Once again we have had some vandalism with three windows smashed and some other damage around the Church car park. The Police have been very supportive and CCTV will be installed to collect evidence and hopefully deter the trouble makers. It would be very helpful to know if you see any suspicious behaviour. There will be a lot of tidying up to do when we get the Hall back, plus the refitting of furnishings like curtains and blinds.

In fact, there’ll be pretty much all those jobs we have to do when moving home.

NEW PARISH ELECTORAL ROLL UNDERWAY The Church electoral roll is the foundation of church government structure. Among other things it contains names and addresses of everyone who can vote at the Annual Parochial Church Meeting. It can affect rights to be married or to be buried in a particular parish. Every six years each parish is required to prepare a new electoral roll. This we have to do in 2019 and everyone who wishes to be on the new roll must complete an application.

To be on the electoral roll a person needs to have been baptised, be at least 16 years old and either: • Living in the parish and a member of the Church of England or a Church in communion with the CofE. • Not resident in the parish, but a member of the Church of England (or a Church with which the CofE is in communion) and has regularly attended worship in the parish during the prior six months.

• A member in good standing of a Church which subscribes to the doctrine of the Holy Trinity and prepared to declare themselves a member of the Church of England, having regularly attended worship during the six months prior to enrolment.

Application forms are available at church and via download (Twitter and the Parish Website).

‘EXPLORATION DAY’ AT CRAWLEY DOWN MONASTERY This year the Diocese of Chichester is exploring Vocation and there is to be an Exploration Day - 'Called to Prayer' - from 10.00–15.00 on February 9 at the Monastery of the Holy Trinity, Crawley Down.

The day is aimed at people seeking a deeper life of prayer in the context of exploring a calling to ordained ministry in the Diocese. Any form of Christian ministry needs to be founded upon a life of prayer, but how do we do this in practice – and what are the pitfalls? Led by Diocesan Vocations Officer, Rev Dr Paul Redparth, with input from Fr Colin CSWG, this workshop hopes to answer these important questions. Available space limits the event to 20 people. To book places, go to: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/year-of-vocation-exploration-day-1-called-to-prayer-tickets53680357394

O God, who knowest us to be set in the midst of so many and great dangers, that by reason of the frailty of our nature we cannot always stand upright; Grant to us such strength and protection, as may support us in all dangers, and carry us through all temptations; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

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 meeting is on Tuesday February 5.

CHRISTMAS TREE THANK YOU Our Council would like to thank Paddockhurst Estate for once again donating a beautiful Christmas Tree to the village; and would also like to thank those who gave their time to putting the tree up and then taking it down.

OUTREACH POST OFFICE AT THE ARK Outreach Post Office at The Ark has been open on Tuesday mornings and Thursday afternoons.

With effect from February 1, the Thursday afternoon session will move to Friday mornings from 10.00 to 12.00. Tuesdays will remain as before – 10.00 to 12.00.

BE WINTER READY Southeast Water is asking “are you winter ready by protecting your water pipes and outside tap from freezing temperatures?” Look at southeastwater.co.uk/winter for hints and tips.

To be a savvy water saver go to southeastwater.co.uk/savewater

SOUTHERN WATER SUPPORTING VULNERABLE CUSTOMERS Southern Water has advised that protecting people in vulnerable circumstances is particularly important during the winter months when they know people could become more concerned about household bills.

Energy bills are often the focus of worry, but it is important to be aware of support Southern Water can offer.

The company provides a range of tariffs and services specifically designed to help vulnerable customers and also maintain its Priority Services Register to ensure customers with particular needs can always access water services. To view the full document go to the “NEWS” page of the Parish Council website.

STREET LIGHTS Please continue to report any problems to the Clerk giving the exact location of the street light, for example: ‘opposite Tarana’s, Selsfield Road.’

DIAL 105 TO REPORT POWER CUTS Should you experience a power cut please call 105 for UK Power Networks, the company which maintains electricity cables in our area. If you need extra support during a power cut they recommend 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 free on 0800 316 3105 or sign up on-line at www.ukpowernetworks.co.uk/priority.

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.

TAKE FIVE – TO STOP FRAUD ‘Take Five’ is a national campaign that offers straightforward and impartial advice to help everyone protect themselves from preventable financial fraud. This includes email deception and phone-based scams as well as online fraud – particularly where criminals impersonate trusted organisations.

Led by Financial Fraud Action UK (part of UK Finance) and backed by HM Government, it is being delivered with and through a range of partners in the UK payments industry, financial services firms, law enforcement agencies, telecommunications providers, commercial public and third sector organisations.

Full details of the national campaign, including vital fraud/scam prevention advice is available at https://takefive-stopfraud.org.uk

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 10.00 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

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.

TURNERS HILL PARISH COUNCIL

VACANCY FOR A CARETAKER/STEWARD TO THE ARK The Council is looking to appoint one person to share the role of Steward to The Ark. The post calls for commitment to working 25 hours over seven days on a week on week off basis. Applicants will need to be able to work flexible hours, which will involve some evening/late night working.

You will be dealing with members of the public, meeting and greeting them and will therefore be an Ambassador for The Ark. The work involves moving furniture, setting up and clearing rooms, cleaning and maintenance work. Flexibility, commitment, good communication skills and the ability to organise your workload in an efficient and timely manner are essential.

The application form and job specification are available on our website www.turnershillcouncil.co.uk by email turnershillpc@btconnect.com, telephone 01342 712226 or in person from the Parish Council Office, The Ark, Mount Lane, Turners Hill, West Sussex, RH10 4RA.

VILLAGE NEWS ARTS SOCIETY TURNERS HILL Nigel Emery The Antiques Roadshow – Behind the scenes and the Great Discoveries Our speaker on February 26 will be Marc Allum who will bring us the ‘Antiques Roadshow – Behind the scenes and the Great Discoveries’. Marc joined the Roadshow team 20 years ago and features regularly on our television screens. He is also a freelance art and antiques journalist and writer. Marc will take a look at 40 years of the BBC’s flagship antiques programme with a fascinating tour behind the scenes, peppered with tales of the best finds, the most moving stories and first- hand experience of what it’s like to work on such a well regarded show.

Do join us. Doors open at 10.15 for free tea and coffee. The presentation will begin at 11.00 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.

HUNDREDS TAKE PART IN BOXING DAY RUN

Barbara Podbury

A dry and mild Boxing Day brought 255 runners to Turners Hill to take part in the annual off- road run. St Leonard’s Church would like to thank the sponsors, Copthorne Preparatory School, for organising this, the 14th Run, along with providing finishers’ medals; and Harbour Holdings for the winners’ trophies. Also thanks to Tulleys Farm for use of their car parking and permission to run the race across their land as in previous years. Huge thanks also to Mike Brice for organising the course and marshals, plus everyone who helped behind the scenes and on the day. Your time and friendly encouragement was much appreciated by all who took part. We had many comments on the friendly nature of the event. Prize-giving with trophies presented by Canon David Tickner took place in the church where hot drinks and mince pies were served up. A total of £1,369.69 was raised for Church funds.

This year’s winners were: First Female – Ellie Newton; First Male – Ben Short; First Junior Female – Amelia Cox; First Junior Male – Tom James.

Full results and positions are available on the church website: www.thparish.co.uk

‘SPLENDID’ RESULT FOR FAIR GAME DRAW

John Roberts

Thanks to everybody who bought squares in the Fair Game Draw which raised the splendid sum of £1,327 to help St.Leonard’s Church upkeep.

Thanks too for those who gave prizes, especially Philip Hench who donated a shooting day with his roving syndicate. This boosted the total when non-shooter Mike Lichfield won the prize and put it up for auction, so well done him.

Well done as well to others who donated prizes including Balcombe Estate Shoot, Rowfant Shoot, Grange Farm, Carl Cooper, Shirley Brackpool, Phil at The Crown and Graham at the Red Lion, Roger Brackpool, Mick Rutter, Flanagan’s Butchers, Head Turners, Beryl Crowhurst and Barbara Hobbs who also helped massively with the draw and even brought along two riotous assistants. Finally, apologies to anybody left off this list.

THANKS FOR CHRISTMAS TREE FESTIVAL SUCCESS

Beryl Crowhurst

Another glitteringly successful St Leonard’s Christmas Tree Festival raised a wonderful £1,395.03 for the church. Grateful thanks are extended to Paddockhurst Estate and Tulleys Farm who provided the trees; to the organisations and businesses which sponsored them; to raffle-prize donors; and to all who supported our village’s traditional festive season event. Extra-special thanks go to Bridget Woodward for the excellent spread of delicious home-made cakes and bakes she generously laid on. *Once again, the festival provided a colourful, yuletide atmosphere for the MSDC Civic Service – see letter of thanks from Councillor Bruce Forbes in View From The Hill.

CUBS & SCOUTS ENJOY CHRISTMAS CAMP

Jenny Lavender

On December 7, a group of 16 Cubs, nine Scouts, two Explorers, two parents and five Leaders headed for a weekend in the Scout Activity Centre at Downe. A Christmas tree and decorations were put up in the main hall and after a noisy first night a cooked breakfast and plenty of cups of tea were most welcome. The young people then enjoyed grass sledging, aerial runway, tomahawk throwing, a Jacob’s ladder and climbing, together with other indoor activities. On the Saturday evening we had a full, traditional Christmas dinner for the 34 of us. We then settled down to watch a film, eat more cake and wash it all down with hot chocolate before bed.

A big ‘thank you’ to the parent helpers and Leaders for a great weekend - and well done to all of the young people who also added to their nights-away and challenge badges. For more information on 1st Turners Hill and Crawley Down Scouts please contact John Marsh on 01342 714243 or gsl@thcdscouts

HILLTOP WI - A ROUSING NEW YEAR START

Mary Deacon

New Year certainly started with a rousing meeting. Josefa and Violetta from Alegria Spanish Dance School entertained us with a demonstration of Flamenco after a short informative history of this flamboyant style of dance. Having given us brief instruction, we were able to join in and follow Josefa’s moves, but as they became faster, I think the majority were actually inventing their own version of the Flamenco! It was great fun and enjoyed by everyone.

Our February meeting is all about ‘Ducks.’ Tim McGregor is coming along to tell us about his work at Arundel Wetland Centre. In March we have a talk on ‘Modern Day Slavery’ and a collection of donations to help people who have been rescued from this situation. I think this highlights the diversity of our meetings. Any ladies who would like to come along for a free ‘taster’ evening would be very welcome.

Six Resolutions were discussed this year and Hilltop’s majority voted to put forward ‘A Call Against the Decline in Local Bus Services’ - a subject very close to some of our members’ hearts.

Photos and details of forthcoming events are on our website www.turnershillwi.co.uk.

Editor’s Note: See bus service letter in View From The Hill.

BLUE PLAQUE UNVEILED AT ROWFANT

Roger Webb

Crawley Down Memorial Association (CDMA) was formed in 2013 by two members of the Crawley Down & Turners Hill Royal British Legion Branch, to reuse a roll of honour that had been displaced for many years after its home in a Methodist Chapel was deconsecrated and sold. Terms of its Royal Charter prevented the British Legion from undertaking responsibility itself.

Since then, CDMA has been raising money to install blue plaques on the former homes of the fallen listed on the Crawley Down Roll of Honour.

Seven plaques have been installed so far with a further six to take place in the near future. Further plaques are planned for later in the year. On Saturday January 12, the latest plaque was installed and unveiled on Brickyard Cottage, Rowfant, the former home of Stanley Terry who died on November 12, 1916. The unveiling was performed by Thelma Mason, Turners Hill Parish Council Chairperson.

Canon David Tickner of St Leonard’s Church led the assembly in prayers.

Those attending the event included Richard Scott; Phillip Coote, CDMA Chairman; Jeremy Quin MP; Roger Webb, CDMA President; Kay Webb CDMA Secretary; Linda Furzer; and Nicholas and Timothy Rice, current residents of Brickyard Cottage.

SCREEN COMES DOWN ON CINEMA AT THE ARK

Thelma Mason

It is with regret that the monthly film shows will no longer take place at The Ark, as none of the three Curzon Country Cinema film shows reached the minimum target of 30 viewers.

Therefore, the gentleman presenting the films lost money and could not continue.

PLANT SALE IN AID OF ST. CATHERINE'S HOSPICE Just a reminder to save any plants that you might be splitting or re-potting for our sale on April 27 at The Ark raising funds for St Catherine’s Hospice.

TURNERS HILL TWINNING ASSOCIATION

Thelma Mason

Some 40 of us enjoyed our ‘huddles by the fire’ at The Crown, with nibbles provided by Phil, on Friday January 11. Our Annual General Meeting takes place at 19.30 on Friday February 15 at The Ark. Come along to meet us over a complimentary glass of wine and nibbles. New members would be most welcome.

March brings our main fundraiser of the year with a French Dinner at The Ark, on Saturday 16th. Our theme this year is 'French Bistro'. The four-course dinner will be served by local waitresses and prepared by Phil of The Crown. Cost of £25 per person will include wine on the table. Chosen charity for the raffle this year, is the Air Ambulance for Kent, Sussex and Surrey. For tables of eight, or individual places, contact Thelma Mason 01342714858 or via www.turnershilltwinning.org.uk *See poster below.

To The Letters Editor

VIEW FROM THE HILL Let’s start with civic praise……

THANKS FOR CIVIC SERVICE SUCCESS Mid Sussex District Council (MSDC) Civic Service in December was again an outstanding success and many thanks go to Canon David Tickner for organising the event. Thanks go also to those who took part in the service: Crawley Down Hand Bells, Crawley Down Ladies Choir, Heidi Acraman and children from Turners Hill School. Many compliments have been received from those who attended, who have also complimented on the Christmas Tree Festival, which again was organised successfully by Beryl Crowhurst.

Thanks also to all those villagers who attended the service and made it such a special occasion. Last, but by no means least, many thanks to Phil at The Crown for his wonderful buffet following the service.

Bruce Forbes Chairman, MSDC District Councillor, Crawley Down & Turners Hill And then let’s turn to life on the buses……

WI CALL FOR BUS SERVICE IMPROVEMENT One of the W I resolutions this year is 'Improvements to Rural Bus Services.' It was well received at Hilltop W I and I believe it has a good chance of being adopted. This would ensure that rural bus services are dramatically improved, but in the meantime it is necessary for our West Sussex Councillors to be aware that any proposed cut to rural bus services is unacceptable.

Carole Steggles Quite so, Carole. Let everybody get lobbying!

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.

_________________________________________________________________________________ ON-CALL FIRE CREWS STILL NEEDED URGENTLY

Watch Cmdr Lee Aggett

Turners Hill remains one of nine West Sussex Fire Service stations which urgently need more on-call firefighters for emergency response across the county.

Along with most West Sussex stations, our village unit is crewed solely by an on-call workforce. Crew members may have another job, but they can be called out when emergencies arise.

No previous experience is required. Minimum age is 18 and applicants must live or work within close proximity of the station. To apply, go to www.westsussex.gov.uk/fire and click ‘Fire & Rescue Recruitment.’ Alternatively, call 01243 642134 or email FRSjobs@westsussex.gov.uk

PARK PAGE Turners Hill Park Residents Association

By SHEILA CALDWELL WEATHER WATCH Well, here we are in 2019 and – at the time of writing - little sign of the dreaded snow. Perhaps we will have it in the Summer.

TIME OF CHANGE There seems to be plenty of movement on the Park at the moment. Sadly, we have lost several residents during 2018 and they will be very much missed. As a result, there are quite a few homes for sale and new residents coming to live on the Park. Two newly-sited homes have been bought and there are four empty plots waiting for new homes. This, of course, means a considerable amount of work for the park staff.

CHRISTMAS TREE FESTIVAL Again this year the Park participated in the Christmas Tree Festival at St. Leonard’s Church and we would like to thank Gwen Dobson and Rita Hewett for decorating the tree so beautifully on behalf of the Park.

COFFEE MORNING Our Coffee Morning on November 26 was an absolutely resounding success and I don’t think anyone went away without having learned something about Christmas and where and how it all started. It certainly gave me food for thought. Everyone gave praise to our guest speaker and commented on how good his presentation was. Thank you to everyone who attended.

PARKING AT PARK ENTRANCE Following a meeting between our Managers and Alexander House hotel management, parking at the entrance has improved considerably. New ‘No Parking’ signs have been erected and part of the area has been yellow hatched. Let’s hope this situation continues. Thanks go to Chris and Trudy for taking this matter on board.

NEW YEAR WISHES As there was no Parish Magazine published in January, the Residents Association would like to wish all readers a very happy and healthy New Year. ___________________________________________________________________________

WORTH ABBEY – TURNERS HILL COMMUNITY There are no special events scheduled at Worth Abbey this month. Regular Mass times (all at the Abbey unless otherwise stated) are as follows: 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).

For further information/enquiries, contact Parish Secretary on 01342 710313 or via parish@worth.org.uk

________________________________________________________________________________

A Sussex Notebook….

by Michael Horan

THE RAVENS RETURN

S

ome birds that used to appear in Sussex are rarely seen these days. On the other hand, there have been some welcome newcomers (returners, really) in the past few years, buzzards and red kites being high on that list. Both are now regularly seen locally.

Now we have another returner, the raven. I saw a raven recently flying over our local fields, being given a hard time by some jackdaws. The all-black raven is the biggest bird in the crow family, bigger than a buzzard. Like other crows, though, its ‘black’ plumage has a purple sheen. If you walk on the Cornish cliffs you will almost certainly see ravens tumbling about in the sky. They are great aerobats. Now you may be fortunate enough to see them on Ashdown Forest or even in our parish.

Listen for their deep ‘cronk! cronk!’.

Another Cornish crow which haunts the cliffs, but is a rare bird, is the chough (pronounced chuff). It is a black bird with curved red beak and red legs. Two hundred years ago, though, choughs nested in Sussex. The late 18th century naturalist Gilbert White noted, ‘the Cornish chough builds, I know, all along the chalky cliffs of the Sussex shore’. Not anymore, Gilbert!

Next in line are the carrion crow and the rook. An old countryman once told me that if you see three or more carrion crows together they are rooks, and if you see just two rooks together they are carrion crows. His point was that rooks are seen in flocks, whereas carrion crows are usually seen in pairs or even singly. In the Scottish Highlands and in Ireland the carrion crow’s place is taken by the hooded crow, a striking bird with black head, wings, and tail, a grey body and a black bib.

Then comes the cheeky strutting jackdaw, another black crow but with a grey head and pale eyes (are they blue?). There are a lot of jackdaws around the village, of course, scavenging for food. The noisy, thieving magpie is very handsome in its black and white livery, with a touch of blue on its wings – seldom seen singly, more often in pairs or in groups: One for sorrow, two for joy, three for a girl, four for a boy, five for silver, six for gold, seven for a secret that’s never been told.

Last but not least, the jay. Suddenly we are talking about colourful crows! The jay is more likely to be heard than seen. If when you are out walking you think you hear a bed sheet being torn into shreds, it’s probably a jay. Rather secretive, the jay is never far from trees. Its plumage is quite unlike any other crow’s. It has a pinkish body, a black ‘moustache’ and a white streaked crest, which it raises when excited. On its wings it has a white patch and a brilliant blue patch barred with black.

It has a black tail, and when seen flying, shows a white rump. Not a bit like your average crow!

WHERE DO SWALLOWS GO IN THE WINTER?

I mentioned Gilbert White just now. He lived from 1720 until 1793. He was the life-long curate in the Hampshire parish of Selborne, just over the border from the West Sussex parishes of Trotton and Rogate. He was a meticulous and pioneering recorder of nature. His book, The Natural History of Selborne, published in 1789, has never been out of print.

Gilbert White was preoccupied with the question whether swallows, house martins and swifts migrated in the autumn or hibernated through the winter. A commonly-held view was that they hibernated, even sleeping at the bottom of ponds! White was inclined to the view that the birds did in fact migrate, but he seemed never to resolve the question for himself.

My copy of The Natural History of Selborne was originally a Sunday school prize awarded in 1908 to a boy named Clifford Bennett. Clifford attended the church of St Mary the Virgin in Tottenham. I wonder what a boy in Edwardian north London made of an 18th century rural clergyman’s nature writings?

______________________________

JOHN ROBERTS INTERVIEWS……

After battling and still slowly recovering from a devastating stroke, David ‘Hank’ Manktelow moves to East Grinstead this month to be nearer medical facilities and shops. As a result Turners Hill loses one of its most endearing characters, a stalwart of the football club and darts teams and renowned pub orator. John Roberts popped round to his home in the Medway to reflect on Hank’s more than 60 years here and to say farewell……

It’s always amazing how long you can know somebody and still learn something you had never realised. It came as a surprise to me at any rate when Dave ‘Hank’ Manktelow began our chat by announcing: “I never knew my parents. I was born in a children’s home at Shoreham. It was a quite a Dickensian situation.

My natural mother was ‘busy.’ I think I have two half-sisters, but I don’t really know.”

Hank was fostered out twice until finally Jack and Jenny Manktelow at Turners Hill took over.

“That was in the late Fifties,” recalls Hank “and they were living right here in this house at 12, Medway. When I was five I went to Turners Hill School when Mr. Eastwood was Head and then along came Eric Dawes and very good he was too.

“I think I wasn’t a bad pupil, fairly diligent, and I loved sports especially football. I picked up my first pair of boots from a jumble sale. They had leather studs with pins through. You had to put cardboard inside to stop the nails coming through, but I loved the thrill of having them. “ I met Joe Loftus on my first day at school when I was five and we have been best of friends ever since, from five until now, which is pretty amazing.

Outside school we did what normal village boys did, but in those days rationing from the war was only just ending. In a way, the Second World War was still all around us, being talked about all the time.”

When Hank was ten Jack and Jenny Manktelow officially adopted him as their son.

“I had to go with them to the court at East Grinstead and answer a few questions. I was prepped beforehand. “ ‘Are you happy to be adopted in this family?’ “ ‘ Yes sir.’ “ Of course, really I just wanted to get home again and get outside to play! We used to go scrumping in the garden at Hill House (now Hill House Close).

Bill Pritchard-Gordon who lived there then pretended to be annoyed, but really he didn’t care at all.

“We played in the woods and we used to go down the back and dam up the Medway. We scavenged the dump up the road and if you could find an old bike frame you were made!”

Aged 11 Hank went off to what was then Imberhorne secondary modern school.

He said: “I comprehensively failed my 11-Plus with flying colours. Imberhorne could be a tough place.

St.George’s Approved School was just up the road. Boys from there were marched down to us each day and caused merry hell. If you couldn’t fight, you’d lose your dinner and didn’t get fed.

“I wanted to play football at that school, but my year kept winning the county cup and I couldn’t get in the team so I took up rugby instead. I reckoned it was much easier than dribbling a ball in soccer to pick it up and run with it and for two years I played for the school team. However when I was 15 all my mates filled out much more and I didn’t. I was getting whacked to bits and at was the end of rugby for me.”

……DAVID ‘HANK’ MANKTELOW Fortunately soccer beckoned again. Turners Hill second X1 were short one day and Hank, then 14, filled in for an away game at Waldren. Something must have gone right as Hank was asked to play centre forward regularly. “ I scored 30 goals each season for two years and we won the Mid Sussex Div. III title in 1974. I progressed to the first team and was being kicked to bits again, so I dropped back. As a West Ham fan, my hero was Trevor Brooking, but now I was more like Billy Bonds, distributing the ball to people who could play!”

When he was 22 Hank was asked three years running to join West Hoathly who had won the league five times, but he refused point blank each time: “I was a Turners Hill boy. There was no way I would play for West Hoathly.”

Eventually it was West Hoathly that did for his playing career. Hank had become fed up with the Turners Hill team “being picked by committee” and joined Dave Bridges who was player-manager at Felbridge and stayed with them for five years.

“One rainy day at West Hoathly I got tackled from behind and did my cartilage and ligaments. Eventually I came back with Turners Hill again, but they were playing at a lower level by then so I could get away with being slower and we progressed up the divisions from six to Division I. “I stopped playing at 29 because my injury had never really gone away. I tried managing, dismally, and work selling for Prudential got in the way so that was that.”

Before the Pru Hank had started out working for Louis G.Ford at East Grinstead.

“At 20 I was their youngest rep, selling building materials and ironmongery. I’d been working in the yard and saw reps arriving in company cars with nice suits, but when I chatted in the canteen I found many were just thick.

“I thought, if they can do it so can I. So I took all the exams and soon I was a rep with a suit and company car and that was good indeed for the ladies!”

•Those were the days - Turners Hill Football Club 1975/76. Back row, left to right: Nelson Turner, Vic Mitchell, Dave Clifton, Mick Cliffe, Bob Wickham, Dave Manktelow, Alec Lugg. Front row, l-r: Joe Loftus, Bob Kendall, Malcolm Monet, Dane Billings, Dave Payne, Pete Bauldry.

Continued on next page……..

John Roberts Interview continued……

Hank was soon on the up repping for an Eastbourne firm all over Sussex and then a Cross-in-Hand timber merchants. Along the way he met his future wife Sheila: “We met in 1980. She was working behind the bar at the then Turners Hill Club (where the Ark is now). It was St.Valentine’s Day and there was a disco. Joe and Sue Loftus were going onto a club at Felbridge and asked me to join them, but I needed a partner. Well, there she was, right in front of me!”

In 1986 they married and a year later their daughter Hannah arrived. They also have a son Sam. At just the right time financially Hank was head-hunted by Travis Perkins: “They demanded results, but paid £2,000 more than I was getting. I learned a lot from them. My margins were high. I made sure I found a lot of small customers that relied on me. I was one of the first to get a car ’phone so I could drive around chatting away to them. We all worked hard in those days, it had been drummed into us by our parents’ generation.”

Hank liked to play hard too and at the pub found an outlet in darts: “I started playing at the Lion with Jack Pike and Don Waddington.I realise that if you won your opponent was expected to buy you a beer. After that I only lost one game all season!

“I played for Turners Hill Social Club where Alan Gould was the driving force with people like Trevor Botting.

We were pretty successful and won the Observer Cup in 1978 and the Courier Cup. I was invited to join the Crawley Super League for three seasons and then helped found the East Grinstead Super League team. We went on to win the Sussex Super League and had two England players in our team.

“Also I played a couple of games for the county. One time I played Keith Deller who’d won the World Darts Challenge against Eric Bristow. I went 2-0 down, but came back and beat him. My five minutes of darts fame!”

Football or darts?

Meanwhile Hank, still unable to resist playing football, was turning out for Sunday League side Old Haywardians.

So which was more important to him, football or darts?

“I always enjoyed football more, although Dave Bridges once said to me ‘If only you could play football like you play darts!’ I was greatly saddened by the demise of Turners Hill Football Club after more than 100 years. It’s endemic. So many local teams are packing up. Kids don’t have the time now for more than occasional five-a-side games whereas our lives revolved around it.”

Before his stroke Hank was still going to West Ham home games: “I first saw them on black-and-white telly, when I was eight, winning the FA Cup. At 14, I told my parents I was going to see the film of My Fair Lady in Crawley. Instead I went off to Upton Park to see them play Wolves. My first thought was ‘It’s in colour’ and when I saw Bobby Moore right in front of me I nearly fell down.”

At work Hank moved steadily onwards, to sales manager for Parker Building Supplies before working for EDF selling storage heaters. On the side he started up Vintage Driveways with Alan Hobbs: “It wasn’t great profits, but it provided an income.” Then along came the Poles whose cheaper competition decided them to sell up.

After four years Hank left EDF too: “I got fed up. The French seem to prefer meetings to work.”

He started up his own storage heating and installation firm and qualified as a Domestic Energy Assessor providing energy performance certificates for homes.

“It was going well till my stroke in November 2017. After five months I got my head sorted out only to find that as I’d not been able to file any accounts HMRC had liquidated the company.

“Anyhow, one year and three months after the stroke and after being near death everything is slowed up. I get tired and need to sit down comfortably and my prospects are still grim.

“Here the house and garden are too big for me. Sheila wanted to move into town and I need to be near doctors and the shops. Denise Bauldry is buying the place which is wonderful. It’s good it’s going to someone who will love it. Still, it’s going to be a struggle leaving Turners Hill. It’ll be a tug.”

____________________________________________________________________________________ MATT BAILEY MEMORIAL DARTS MATCH – FEBRUARY 9 ‘Hank’ Manktelow has always been a stalwart supporter of the village’s annual Matt Bailey Memorial Darts Match. Now in its 12th year, the 2019 event takes place at the Red Lion on Saturday February 9. Chosen charity is the Danny Gallivan Trust (www.dgtrust.org.uk) which supports homeless veterans of all generations Full details of the fund-raising darts match in honour of the late Matt Bailey are on display at the Lion.

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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

Our weekly services are on Sundays at 10.30am

Chaos & Peace by Geoff Chapman Apparently, there’s a mystery about how life is possible on Earth: How did Carbon, Sulphur and Nitrogen come to exist in our planet’s crust? I read in a newspaper article entitled, Heavenly collision was genesis of life on Earth, that some scientists recently proposed an answer: a planet the size of Mars collided with the Earth billions of years ago, creating the Moon and scattering these elements from the core in a cataclysmic explosion. There is no inherent conflict between the Christian understanding of creation and scientific theories such as these, but one line in the article did catch my eye, “the work showed that right from the beginning violence and life went hand in hand.” The way you read that cuts right to the heart of the Christian experience.

When the Jewish people first began to write down their account of creation (which you can read in the Bible, in the book of Genesis) they were in exile among the pagans of Babylon, around 600BC. They chose to explain the creation in such a way as to distinguish themselves from the surrounding culture. According to the Babylonian creation myth, the physical world was the consequence of violent conflict between the gods Tiamat and Marduk. The lives that humans led reflected that beginning, marked as they were by suffering, violence and slavery to cosmic forces; salvation was to be found in the soul being released from this arbitrary physical world.

However, according to the Jewish understanding, God chose freely to create the world, he made it “good”, in perfect peace; a world full of harmony and potential, fertile and waiting to be cultivated. Humans were not the slaves of the gods, but a physical and spiritual being, made in God’s image, to bring goodness, beauty and truth into the world through living in harmony with one another, harmony the world and harmony with God himself. Conflict only came later, as they used their freedom to reject that calling.

In recent years the Christian idea that the world was peaceful and good in the beginning has been challenged by scientific theories about the origins of the universe. Theories like the one in the article I read, and the “Big Bang” suggest that maelstrom was there from the start. Likewise, the theory of evolution suggests that nature was always “red in tooth and claw.” Taken at face value, these can have the same effect as those old pagan creation myths, they paint a picture of the world as arbitrary and meaningless; to be enslaved by, dominated or released from.

However, for Christians the crucifixion of Jesus shows that peace and life are not at odds with the apparent brutality around us, that violence and life can indeed go “hand in hand”. God used our supreme act violence, the killing of his Son, to bring about a supreme good: forgiveness for sin, the healing of our broken lives, the transformation of the world and the gift of eternal life. This changes our perspective - the Cross enables us to look at all violence, suffering and pain, and believe that it is not arbitrary. The world in all its complexity, is still a gift from God to be received humbly and responded to in a particular way. There is a way to live, in harmony with the world, that leads to freedom, beauty and life. Wonderfully, that truth doesn’t just stay in the realm of ideas, the Christian life enables us to experience it tangibly: as we put our faith in Jesus and live his way the peace of Eden is restored to us, and we are filled with hope as we see the perfect love of God sustaining and guiding all things.

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Little Angels Parent, Babies and Toddler Group: Tuesdays at 10.00 – 11.30, term time only. No charge.

Call Abby Chapman on 01342 714546 for more details Community Lunch, Friday February 22, 12.30 in the church hall. All Welcome.

RAY FOSTER Garden & Forest Machinery Sales and Service  Quality Garden & Forest Machinery at Competitive Prices  Garden Tools  Safety Clothing and Boots  Oils and Sundries`  Apache Quad Bikes  Berg Karts (Pedal)  Bocarts (Petrol)  Repairs Please visit us at: Burleigh Quarry, East Street, Turners Hill 01342 714774 At the Ark

*Painting *Decorating *Interior *Exterior *Domestic *Handy Man *Commercial Property Maintenance 2 Thornhill Cottages, Selsfield Road, Turners Hill RH10 4PP

Aching joints or muscles?

Osteopath Jo Barber may be able to help you.

Jo helps people of all ages with a wide range of ailments to reduce pain, increase mobility and get a better night’s sleep.

AXA PPP and BUPA recognised.

Tel 01342 712266 The Ark, Mount Lane, Turners Hill, RH10 4RA

The Crown at Turners Hill Traditional Sussex Pub and Restaurant Real Ale Pub, always serving Good food Telephone 01342 715218 Fax 01342 717056 East Street, Turners Hill, West Sussex RH10 4PT

Lineage Advert

Local, Reliable Cleaning and Ironing Service. References available. I also offer a dog walking / sitting service. For details please call Amy Hiller 07704802276.

Dorte Hass IRONING 4 U

Ironing, Laundry, Dry Cleaning & Alterations We also clean your Duvets, Bedspreads, Pillows & other Household items Service washes and wash & finish available We sell Luxury Clothes Rails, Suit Covers, Dress Covers, Lint-removers & refills, Clothes Brushes Photocopying and Fax Service Also available

OPENING HOURS Tuesday 7.30am - 6pm, Wednesday,Thursday & Friday Friday 9am – 5pm Closed for Lunch 1pm -2pm Closed Saturdays, Sundays, Mondays & Bank Holidays

Parmeria Place, Lion Lane, Turners Hill TEL/FAX01342 717788

The Red Lion

Lion Lane Turners Hill RH10 4NU 01342 715416 Graham and Lorna welcome you to the Red Lion

www.redlionturnershill.com Free WI FI Harvey’s Ales, Home Cooked Food Seven Days a Week, Lunches Only A Warm Welcome to All Customers – Old and New

Linage Advert

Milborrow & Son Chimney Sweeps. Stove Installs, Liners, Blockages and Problems Solved.

01342 717900. Email flueologist@btinternet.com wwwmilborrowchimmeysweeps.co.uk

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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The Ark – A Superb Venue for any occasion Please see the Parish Council website (www.turnershillcouncil.co.uk) for information/ 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 on Council pages.

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 & Friday 10.00-12.00. _____________________________________________________________________________

VILLAGE DIARY FEBRUARY 2019 (Church service details on relevant church pages)

Sunday February 3

Church Services Waste Freighter Visit

Tuesday February 5

Parish Council Meeting, The Ark

Saturday February 9

Matt Bailey Memorial Darts Match, Red Lion.

Sunday February 10

Church Services

Friday February 15

Twinning Association AGM, The Ark

Sunday February 17

Church Services

Wednesday February 20

Hilltop WI Meeting, The Ark

Friday February 22

Community Lunch, Free Church

Sunday February 24

Church Services

Monday February 25

Parochial Church Council, St Leonard’s

Tuesday, February 26

Arts Society Meeting, The Ark Deanery Synod, St Leonard’s

PARISH NEWS NEXT EDITION Copy deadline for the MARCH edition is

MONDAY FEBRUARY 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’