Parish News March 2019

TURNERS HILL PARISH NEWS MARCH 2019 PUBLISHED BY ST LEONARD’S CHURCH Edition Number 384

CRUMBLING CROSSROADS TO BE SORTED SOON Late good news this month is that the village’s crumbling crossroads are to be recovered and re-surfaced in the run up to Easter. Following a meeting with West Sussex County Council towards the end of February, our Parish Council confirms that the road works are planned to take place from April 6 – 18, weather permitting. WSCC will be sending letters to advise all homeowners. Information will also be available on the website https://roadworks.org/

COMING IN LIKE A LAMB Turning that old seasonal adage well and truly on its head, the month of March this year has certainly been coming in like a lamb. Let’s hope it stays that way and doesn’t roar out like the proverbial lion. As it is, the early spring sunshine has clearly put a smile on the village face after a rather damp and dismal winter.

Although we are in the reflective season of Lent, there is plenty of activity on the village agenda. Very importantly with elections coming up in May, the Parish Council is looking for new councillors and inviting nominations. Details can be found on the Parish Council pages. Candidate nominations open on March 19.

On a lighter note, Saturday March 16 promises an evening of fun and fine food when the annual Twinning Association French Dinner takes place at The Ark. Then, the evening of Tuesday March 26 sees the first leg of the Great Annual Village Darts Match between The Crown and Red Lion.

The new season will be given its traditional bright welcome by Worth Horticultural Society’s Spring Show & Table Top Sale at the Haven Centre on Sunday March 24.

Otherwise, village clubs and organisations are as active as ever.

A special silver anniversary is marked in the centre-page interview which features our popular village Head Turners ladies, Mary and Sharon, who celebrate 25 stylish years in Turners Hill. All this and more inside…..

CLOCKS GO FORWARD THIS MONTH Most importantly, don’t forget that that the clocks go forward one hour overnight March 30/31 when British Summer Time begins (Oh – and there’s that ‘will we-won’t we?’ Brexit question on the calendar for March 29.) _______________________________

THE PARISH CHURCH, ST LEONARD’S, TURNERS HILL SERVICES & EVENTS FOR MARCH 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 March 3 (Sunday b. Lent)

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

Wednesday March 6 (Ash Wednesday)

19.00 Holy Communion

Sunday March 10 (Lent 1)

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

Sunday March 17 (Lent 2)

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

Sunday March 24 (Lent 3)

08.00 Holy Communion (BCP) 10.30 Parish Communion (CW) 11.30 Annual Parochial Church Meeting

Sunday March 31 (Lent 4)

Mothering Sunday/British Summer Time begins 08.00 Holy Communion (BCP) 10.30 Parish Communion (CW)

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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 WEATHER DELAYS CHURCH HALL COMPLETION As I write the Church Hall has still to be finished. A date was fixed for the handover, but a period of snow and ice prevented the completion.

ANNUAL MEETING SCHEDULED THIS MONTH This month we have our Annual Parochial Church Meeting. Key agenda items are elections of Church Wardens, our Deanery Synod Representatives and Parochial Church Council members. This is an important event in the Church Year because it will affect all the future decisions concerning St Leonard's and Turners Hill. We would love to hear if you feel you could help with any of these positions. This year we have to make up a brand new Church Electoral Roll. Only those people who have completed a new Application Form this year will go onto the new Roll. Application forms are available at Church and via download (Twitter and the Parish Website).

‘BREXIT’ – SOME BIBLICAL GUIDANCE On March 29 a major event is due in the life of our nation. One of the features of the Old Testament is a preoccupation with major events in the life of the country. Some events seemed like disasters. Some events seemed full of promise. Isaiah speaks of ‘A voice crying in the wilderness’. Later in the Gospels, John the Baptist is described as that voice. Prophets of old might seem gloomy at first, but a little deeper reading shows that they are conditional optimists. The prophets argue that with the right frame of mind disasters can be turned into opportunities and promising situations can flourish. Isaiah faces down the King for pandering to popularity which so often proves fickle and short-lived. Rather, the prophet directs the wise to what is good, what is true and what is compassionate. Those who walk the ways of God find a unity of purpose which is the foundation of success whether that be for an individual or a nation. Many commentators have pointed out how divided people have become. Perhaps we need ‘A voice crying in the wilderness’ for our own time reminding us of what is good, what is true and what is compassionate and drawing us to God and His unity of purpose.

MOTHERING SUNDAY At the end of the month we have Mothering Sunday. The School Service will be during the preceding week. At both services we will have a gift of flowers for the children to give to their mothers.

A Prayer for Mothering Sunday from 1109 by St Anselm: Jesus, like a mother you gather your people to you; you are gentle with us as a mother with her children. Despair turns to hope through your sweet goodness; through your gentleness we find comfort in fear.Your warmth gives life to the dead,your touch makes sinners righteous.

Lord Jesus, in your mercy heal us; in your love and tenderness remake us.

In your compassion bring grace and forgiveness, for the beauty of heaven may your love prepare us.

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 March 5.

ANNUAL PARISH ASSEMBLY - TUESDAY MAY 21 AT 19.30 Our Parish Council have set the date for the Annual Parish Meeting and various topics for a presentation were discussed at the recent monthly meeting. Once a speaker has been arranged, details will be on the Parish Council website and advised through the Parish News.

Please remember, this is also your opportunity to discuss anything with your Parish Councillors, find out what they do and ask any questions you would like answered.

MAKE A CHANGE: BECOME A LOCAL COUNCILLOR We need residents who are passionate about their community to stand in local elections taking place this May. Turners Hill Parish Council consists of eight Councillors who each stand for a four-year period. Those elected in May 2019 will therefore serve until further elections in May 2023.

As the third tier of regional government, it is the most local level. The Council works within the duties and responsibilities given by law. It is also responsible for raising funds in order to carry out work within the parish. Known as the Precept, this revenue is collected via Council Tax. Parish Councillors elect a Chairman and Vice-Chairman annually at the May meeting. They are also responsible for appointing staff as required – a Parish Clerk (the Proper Officer of the Council); Responsible Financial Officer; and Stewards for The Ark. The Annual Meeting is held in May with Council meetings taking place on the first Tuesday of every month, starting at 19.30 and normally lasting for an hour-and-a-half to two hours.

In addition, the Parish Council is required to convene a separate annual meeting for residents and this is called Annual Parish Meeting.

The Council has four Standing Committees: Finance; Ark Community Executive (ACE); Staffing; Neighbourhood Plan Committee. The first two meet every three months and last two as required. Councillors are expected to join one of these committees if possible.

There are also some ‘outside’ committees to which we send at least one representative – West Sussex Council Local Committee meetings, various Mid Sussex District Council meetings, Mid Sussex Association of Local Council meetings and the local Cluster of Parish Councils meetings.

Training on various aspects of being a Councillor and the laws under which we must work are provided by the Sussex Association of Local Councils. It may sound somewhat daunting, but all these things are shared between the eight Parish Councillors and they are spread throughout the year!

With the above commitments and time for preparation for each meeting you will be looking to commit around six hours a month – more if you have the time to give! Why not look at the Minutes on the website to get a feel for what is involved: https://www.turnershillcouncil.co.uk All Councillors must agree to abide by the Code of Conduct and act in a positive and honest manner.

Day- to-day items which the Parish Council is responsible for are:  The Village Pond  The allotment site  Street lighting in all areas other than Hill House Close, Mount Lane, Noahs Court, Clock Field and new lights at Withypitts roundabout.  Grants to village organisations  Grass cutting of the village greens and around The Bank

        

Litter, grit and dog bins and some seating around the village Mobile Refuse Freighters Village bus shelter and flag pole The Ark – letting, managing and maintaining Letting of the court and football pitch is carried out by the PC on behalf of MSDC (for which a percentage of income is received) Maintaining an Emergency Plan Maintaining Finger signs and Village Notice board Updating the Action Plan and keeping all required policies up to date Producing a Winter Plan

PARISH AND TOWN COUNCILS 2019 ELECTIONS District, Town and Parish Council elections occur on Thursday May 2. Notice of the Election will be published Monday March 18.

Candidate Nominations open Tuesday March 19 and close at 16.00 on Wednesday April 3 - BUT please do not submit nominations close to the deadline as any errors on your completed form can make them invalid with no time for issues to be resolved.

Nominations must be delivered in hard copy by hand to MSDC and must be checked by electoral services whilst the deliverer remains present. Nominations may be delivered on any working day from Tuesday March 19 to Wednesday April 3 between 09:00 and 17:00. (16:00 on April 3).

Please call 01444 477222 to secure an appointment to submit completed nomination forms.

Nomination Packs are now available to download via the MSDC website. It is pack No. 4 that is required for parish councils: https://www.midsussex.gov.uk/elections-voting/upcoming-elections/

INFORMATION FOR VOTERS Electoral Registration Deadline: Friday April 12.

Postal Vote Application Deadline: 17:00 on Monday April 15.

Proxy Vote Application Deadline: 17:00 on Wednesday April 24.

VOTER ID Everyone voting at Mid Sussex polling stations at the local elections on Thursday May 2 2019 will need a form of ID. You will have to show your unique security coded poll card or photo ID when you come to vote at the polling stations on Thursday May 2 2019. This pilot is looking at the best way to tackle possible election fraud, following Electoral Commission reports that there has been a steady rise in voter impersonation since 2014.

You should receive your poll card on or soon after March 21 2019. You will not receive it before then.

On polling day, if you do not have your poll card, you will be able to vote only if you have one of the following with you:  UK or EU photo-card driving licence (full or provisional)  Valid United Kingdom, European or Commonwealth passport  Valid photo travel card issued by HM Government or an Oyster 60+ pass  PASS scheme card (national proof of age standards scheme)  Photo card parking permit issued as part of the Blue Badge scheme  Biometric immigration document issued in the United Kingdom  Photo Identity Card issued in the European Economic Area  Northern Ireland Electoral Identity Card  Ministry of Defence Identity Card Nothing else will change – just remember to bring your poll card with you when you come to vote. There will be no change to the way you vote if you have a postal vote.

PLANNED CHANGE TO 84 BUS SERVICE West Sussex County Council are planning to remove the 18.10 last service on the 84 Metrobus route due to poor passenger numbers.

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.

Continued on next page......

Turners Hill Parish Council continued......

WEST SUSSEX LOCAL ACCESS FORUM RECRUITMENT Do you feel passionately about public rights of way and access to the countryside? Would you like to be involved in working to achieve opportunities for all? If the answer to these questions is ‘yes,’ then the West Sussex Local Access Forum would like to hear from you.

The Forum is an independent body which aims to protect and improve access to the countryside by providing advice and getting involved with important access projects. The group is currently recruiting new volunteer members and would welcome hearing from anyone with an interest in access to the countryside, including land owners and managers.

Chairman of the Forum, Horsham resident Graham Elvey, said: "I have personally always found it incredibly rewarding to be given the opportunity, through membership of the Forum, of being involved in improving countryside access. Whether this is by working with other volunteers, using our influence to guide local authorities and other organisations, or involvement with works on the ground, the Forum positively represents all who use, care for, and enjoy the countryside. If you would like to help with this work, and take an active part in securing better access for future generations - please join us!”

The Forum holds four meetings a year and members also undertake site visits. Full training is provided and any travel expenses are paid. The Forum covers the area of West Sussex outside the South Downs, which has its own Local Access Forum.

You can find more information by visiting www.wslaf.org or emailing wslaf@westsussex.gov.uk.

ST CATHERINE’S HOSPICE LAUNCHES TWO CHARITY TREKS St Catherine's Hospice is to launch two brand new fund-raising treks this year. If you are an adventure lover who enjoys breath-taking landscapes, then St Catherine’s Hospice 5 Peaks Challenge is for you. Running from Friday June 21 to Sunday June 23, trekkers will tackle five of the Lake District’s most demanding mountain peaks, including the highest - Scafell Pike.

Otherwise, if you are an intrepid explorer looking for the adventure of a lifetime, join St Catherine’s as they hike across the Sahara desert. You'll spend three days trekking through the Moroccan Sahara across ancient dried up river beds, sand dunes and vast sun-baked plains. This dazzling trip runs from March 26 - 31 2020.

To find out more or to sign up, please contact Michaela Clements on 01293 583063 or email: events@stch.org.uk With your support, St Catherine’s will be able to care for more local people and their families, so no one has to face death and loss alone.

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 We are still in negotiations with Mid Sussex District Council regarding the dates that will be available for the waste freighter at Turners Hill, but as soon as they are finalised they will be added to our page in the Parish News.

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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VILLAGE NEWS ARTS SOCIETY TURNERS HILL

Nigel Emery

Double Dutch: Symbols, Emblems and ‘Double Entendre’ in Dutch Genre Painting On March 26, Lynne Gibson BEd MA will be taking us to the Golden Age of Dutch painting.

If you look at many of the paintings of this age, many of us will take the painting before us at face value, not looking for hidden messages. Lynne will explain how the merchants of seventeenth century Holland filled their town houses with paintings. A favourite subject was scenes of everyday life: depicting behaviour both good … and bad. But these upright Calvinist citizens rejected Catholic Baroque melodrama. They wanted nothing to alarm the in-laws, offend the guests or corrupt the children. Instead, innocent objects hint at adult themes: lap dogs and plucked chickens, lutes and virginals, oysters and artichokes, foot warmers and bed warmers. This is a world of subtle hints and double-entendre, spoken through a language of symbols, emblems and motifs.

Come and join us - and Lynne - at The Ark to explore the hidden meanings in everyday scenes and become a fluent reader of ‘Double Dutch’. 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.

HILLTOP WI

Mary Deacon

Three members accepted an invitation from Lindfield Afternoon WI to attend their meeting to hear a very special speaker. She was Dr Liz Thomas, daughter of one of their members.

She is a Palaeoclimatologist and Group Head of the British Antarctic Survey on Ice Cores. Liz spoke about her work, explaining how much information can be gained from these cores, including seeing the major volcano eruptions and when we stopped using leaded petrol.

She brought along a huge bag of her kit which allowed her to withstand temperatures as low as minus 30 degrees inside a canvas tent.

Our March speaker is from Their Voice charity and we will be collecting basic toiletries for men, women and babies rescued from modern slavery. If anyone from the village would like to add to our donations, please leave them at the Ark for my attention before March 20.

You can find Their Voice’s website on ours for a list of items needed.

Details of all our events are on the website www.turnershillwi.co.uk.

TOLLEYMEN IN WORLD MARBLES TRAINING

John Roberts

Although Easter is late this year, halfway through April, our fine village marbles team Turners Hill Tollymen start vital training over the last weekend in March.

Loosening up for the World Championships at the Greyhound, Tinsley Green, starts at 17.30 on Friday March 29 and then on Sunday March 31 at 1300 on the rings behind the Red Lion. After that, it’s the same times each Friday and Sunday before the big day.

“That gives us three weeks to train up,” said Tollymen skipper Will Aitcheson “and after flops in recent years we need all the training we can get. So we call on all our players to make as many sessions as they can and especially we will welcome any newcomers who fancy having a go.”

TURNERS HILL TWINNING ASSOCIATION

Thelma Mason

February’s AGM saw two new committee members elected. It now comprises: Thelma Mason (Chairperson), Gillian Wilton (Hon. Secretary), Brenda Bedford (Hon. Treasurer), Paddy Collison, Helen Wykes, Dave Hook and Stephanie Maynard.

This month we will be holding our French Dinner at The Ark on March 16 for a 19.30 start. Cost is £25 per head for a four-course dinner, to include wine on the table.

Chosen charity for our raffle is Air Ambulance, Kent, Sussex and Surrey.

We look forward to our visit to St. Leger on Thursday May 30 to Sunday June 2.

For information visit our website www.turnershilltwinning.org.uk or call 01342 714858.

ALL SET FOR GREAT VILLAGE DARTS MATCH

John Roberts

Out with the diaries (‘phones, if you must). Dates are now set in stone for the great annual darts match between The Crown and The Red Lion in aid of St Leonard’s Church.

First leg is at the Lion on Tuesday March 26 at 20.00 sharp. The Crown, holders of the Shield, host the second leg a week later on Tuesday April 2, also at 2000 on the dot.

After last year’s fairly successful experiment holding the contest at weekends it has been decided to revert to Tuesdays this year, mainly to make pub life easier for landlords Phil and Graham.

Otherwise the format is the same as last time, 401 straight in, double out with the option to finish nearest the bull if two players are stuck on double-one forever and a day. Once again match subs are held at £2 per player each leg.

Anybody may play. Give your name to Phil at The Crown if you want to turn out for them or for the Lion add (or delete) your name on the list in the bar. As always, donations of raffle prizes are not only most welcome, but essential to help make the evenings their usual fantastic social success. So hone those the ‘arrers and see you there. ●Meanwhile one important darts match has been held already this year when the annual Matt Bailey Memorial knockout contest was played at the Lion last month. Twenty-four players took to the board and Andrew ‘Bim’ Elsdon-Evans eventually won the Final 2-1 against Will Hart. Impressively nearly £800 was raised for charity at time of writing.

VOLUNTARY ACTION SUPPORT FOR COMMUNITY GROUPS Support for local community groups and charities is being offered by the Mid Sussex Voluntary Action (MSVA) organisation.

Based in Burgess Hill, MSVA is a registered charity set up to provide help and support to not-forprofit groups in the Mid Sussex area.

In a message to residents, MSVA Volunteering & Publicity Administrator Edita Moore states: “Maybe you’re running a community group that would benefit from extra funding and volunteers – or maybe you are thinking of setting one up. Perhaps you are looking to volunteer somewhere.”

She explained that MSVA helped by providing information on available funding, requirements for policies and procedures, charity law, subsidised training courses, opportunities to network with other local organisations and help with volunteer management, including role promotion.

In addition, the organisation offered help to find a suitable role for aspiring volunteers.

“Whether you have a cause you wish to support, want to get involved in local community, improve your career prospects, build up skills and confidence or you are looking for something that will provide social interaction – there is a volunteering role waiting for you, whatever your age, ability, race or religion might be,” said Edita.

MSVA also offers a fully-equipped Community Room to rent in central Burgess Hill.

For more information, go to www.msva.org.uk or call 01444 258102.

HAVEN HOSTS WHS SPRING SHOW Once again, Crawley Down’s Haven Centre plays host to Worth Horticultural Society’s annual Spring Show & Table Top Sale taking place on Sunday March 24. Open from 14.00-16.30, show admission is free and refreshments are available.

Advertisement Visitors can expect to enjoy displays of spring flowers, vegetables and many other colourful exhibits. See WHS poster elsewhere in this edition for details.

RAILWAY WORK CONTINUES Recent major engineering work on the Brighton Main Line is expected to continue over several weekends this month, affecting some services to and from Three Bridges.

Check at www.BrightonMainline.co.uk

IF YOU WENT DOWN TO THEWOODS………

Walkers and their dogs going down to Butchers Wood recently were certainly sure of a big surprise when confronted by this bizarre scene.

Some thought it might be a Civil War re-enactment, a political demonstration or maybe a pole-vaulting exercise.

Turns out it was Canon David Tickner (centre) with Worth School’s ‘Worth in the Community’ team collecting spare poles and planks donated by Lesley Gibson from her newbuild home off Lion Lane, to be used in the refurbished St Leonard’s Church Hall.

Led by Canon David, the Worth boys, poles aloft, marched along footpaths to the church after posing for this picture taken by dog-walker Tracy Mugridge. ______________________________-

NEW TECHNOLOGY FOR METROBUS CUSTOMERS Concerns about the “dirty state” of village bus stops were raised last month by the Parish Council at a meeting with Metrobus. At the same time, the bus operator’s business development manager briefed councillors on the introduction of its mobile ‘app’ and new ticket machines. Says Metrobus:  “We introduced a new mobile app.  “Not only can you purchase tickets, but it now allows you to track your bus and discover bus stops across our network.  “The user’s valid ticket will show as a QR code for the user to scan on the ticket machine, making ticket duplication or ticket fraud more difficult.  “We also introduced new ticket machines shortly after.  “Developed by Ticketer, these are already used by many Go-Ahead and independent bus operators.  “Quick and easy to use, it is well-appreciated by drivers and passengers too.  “Ticketer allows passengers with contactless, but cash is also still welcome on all of our services.  “Later this year, we will be introducing a pay-as-you-go system, making it cheaper and easier to travel by bus.”

POLICE, BANKS KEEP FRAUDSTERS AT BAY Rapid response scheme operated by banks and local police prevented 353 potential victims in Sussex being defrauded out of £2 million last year.

Releasing the new figures for 2018, Sussex Police reported that the scheme, known as Banking Protocol, trains bank staff to spot when someone is about to fall victim to a scam and try to stop them withdrawing cash to give to a fraudster – after which they can request immediate police response to the branch. A total of 19 arrests were made by Sussex Police last year through the initiative.

The 353 calls to Sussex Police in 2018 from banks and other financial institutions under the Banking Protocol related to potential victims with an average age of 75. In each case, police responded and succeeded in ensuring that the person did not hand over any money.

Banking Protocol was rolled out by Sussex Police in June 2017. By March last year, the scheme had been implemented by all 45 UK police forces. More details and fraud prevention advice is available via www.sussex.police.uk and from banks and Post Offices.

TENANCY DEPOSIT SCAM WARNING ISSUED Warnings about Tenancy Deposit Scheme scams have been issued by Action Fraud, the National Fraud & Cyber Crime Reporting Centre.

Several reports have been received where fraudsters claim to be landlords of properties offered for rent online. Prior to a viewing, suspects ask individuals to pay a deposit and sometimes a month’s rent upfront, claiming the money will be placed in the Tenancy Deposit scheme and therefore protected under government legislation. After money is paid, bogus emails are sent purporting to be receipts from the Tenancy Deposit Scheme

SHARON FIELDWICK RIP We regret to report the death of well-known village resident, Sharon Fieldwick, who passed away on February 25 in St Catherine’s Hospice aged 62. She is survived by husband Peter, daughters Crystal and Hayley, son Tom and three grand-children. At the time of going to print, funeral arrangements had not been finalised. The Parish News team sends condolences to the family.

SCHOOL REPORT by Jo Wigmore LEARNING ABOUT DEMOCRACY (WITH HELP FROM CHICKENS) Children have been learning and understanding democracy this term. They received their right to vote on chicken names. We invited the children into the school hall and gave them a voting slip. They voted on their favourite chicken names and put their slip in the ballot box. All the votes were counted and the chicken names are Fluffy, Coco, Ginger and Chicken-Licken.

A VICTORIAN EXPERIENCE The topic for the key stage 2 children this term is Victorians. They have had the opportunity to experience what it would have been like for them as Victorian children by taking part in a workshop. Miley and Hazel wrote a report on the workshop: “We all came to school dressed in Victorian clothes and straight away we went to being Victorian children. It was hard being a Victorian child; they had to work 16 hour days in the factories. Working in a factory was dangerous and could disfigure the children for life. The school days were difficult, strict and boring. If you made a mistake at school you would be caned for it. Thinking about how the Victorian children were treated made us feel very sorry for them. The miners and the chimney sweeps could easily die doing their jobs due to the smoke and enclosed spaces.

Beggars lived on the streets and pick-pocketed for money so they could survive.

We will remember that day forever and always feel sorry for the Victorian children.”

•Pupils getting down to the hardships of Victorian life. ______________________________

PARK PAGE Turners Hill Park Residents Association

By SHEILA CALDWELL WEATHER WATCH Well, was that it – a dusting of snow? However, it has to be said that Chris was out in the gritter at 10.15pm on the first night it snowed – now I would say that was above and beyond the call of duty. I think the flora and fauna are completely confused – first it’s mild, then it’s frosty and snowy and then back to mild again. Best advice: if you look out and don’t like what you see, just hold back for half-an-hour or so and when you look again, it will be completely different.

AGM Our Annual General Meeting has been set for Monday April 15 at 19.30 in The Ark. Everyone on the Park will be invited to come along and have their say. As you can imagine, the Committee is hard at work getting all the paperwork copied and ready. We are making a real effort this year to get more residents to come on to the Committee as we are really struggling with only five at the moment.

HIGH WINDS As mentioned earlier, we survived the snow - and many thanks to Chris for his gritting.

However, the recent high winds caused two trees to come down, but these were quickly cleared by the Park team with help from a willing resident. Also, a lot of debris fell from the trees, but park staff have now cleared this from the roads and footpaths. Again, we would like to thank them for their hard work.

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OLDEST HOME ON THE PARK Some considerable time ago, the oldest home of the park sustained massive fire damage and had to be removed. Where the home is situated creates a problem in getting a new home on to the plot so it would appear that they are almost building it on site – something along the lines of ‘flat-pack’. Apparently they make it at the factory then dismantle and bring it to the site. A one-off for this park – very interesting to see.

Until next time, stay warm and well.

JOHN ROBERTS INTERVIEWS……

What a bargain interview this month! It’s that old two-for-one. Yes folks, we are proud to present Sharon Maywood and Mary Jeffrey, the double act that is Head Turners, our village hairdressers - and we do it for good reason. Last month the girls celebrated 25 years since setting up shop in the village. John Roberts picked his way through the curlers and hair-dryers for a quick heads-up…

It was 25 years ago on February 5, 1994, that Sharon and Mary flung open the door and welcomed in their first clients at brand-new Head Turners. It was not difficult finding them.

They had all been their customers when the pair worked down the road in a salon at the Effingham Park Hotel.

Mary recalled: “Only a month earlier we had been made redundant when the hotel decided they needed the salon for something else. Three weeks before Christmas we were told we would be redundant on New Year’s Eve.” Seasonal festivities were put on hold and the girls went off to drown their sorrows with a drink at the Red Lion. It proved their salvation.

Sharon takes up the tale: “Peter Bauldry was running the pub and he told us ‘Don’t worry.

There’s an empty shop up the road you could use.”

That was it. The girls went into overdrive. In a month they had taken over the empty shell of the shop, decorated it and kitted it out with everything needed for a salon. Said Mary: “We took all the fixtures and fittings from the Effingham which as they didn’t need them any more they sold to us.”

Meanwhile they still had to bring in some money and Sharon said: “We went mobile hairdressing around our clients for a month, visiting them in their homes, located from around here to Godstone and Dormans Park. Sometimes we even did several at once in one person’s house.”

A catchy name There was no need for a grand opening of the new venture. Their loyal clientele stayed with them and Mary said: “We were busy from the moment we opened the door on the first day and 25 years later we must still have well over a dozen of our original clients.”

Head Turners was settled on as a catchy name for the business, but Sharon admits: “ I’d like to say I thought of it, but that idea came from a friend.”

Born at Andover, Hants, Mary spent her first five years moving around Somerset where her father was an agricultural manager before the family pitched up at East Grinstead where after a term at Chequer Mead School she went to Sackville till she was 16 then became an apprentice hairdresser, studying at Crawley College before setting her skills to work for the House of Angela at East Grinstead where she had started at the age of 13 as a ‘Saturday girl.’

Before long Mary had also gained qualifications to teach hairdressing to would-be scissors wielders aged 16 and upwards.

Meanwhile Sharon, although born at the old Cuckfield Hospital, had lived her early life at East Grinstead and she too went to Sackville and then, surprise surprise, went on to work at the House of Angela where she and Mary really grew to know each other.

Back in 1973 Sharon moved to Crawley Down and after her marriage, which produced twin sons Chris and Graham came to an end, eventually she moved to Turners Hill with current partner Simon Davenport.

Mary by this time was already living in the village with husband Neil and chimed in: “I had been here five years living in Shamrock Villas where I had our children Matthew and Jenny, but strangely almost as Sharon moved in, we moved out to - East Grinstead again.”

……HEAD TURNERS MARY & SHARON Both Neil and Simon were devotees of East Grinstead Rugby Club and Sharon said: “I first met Simon there, but we were properly introduced at The Sportsman pub in the town 27 years ago - and that was it.”

The couple moved into Lion Lane 13 years ago right opposite the Red Lion, a dream spot for some chaps.

“Simon hasn’t looked back,” quipped Sharon, “but it is lovely. The only trouble is people parking and blocking my drive to use the pub. I’ve tried putting out cones, but they drive straight over them. Still many of my clients are in there anyway and it’s not Graham’s fault I get blocked in.”

Lion landlord Graham Martyn is sympathetic, doing his best to help and said: “The other day a car was parked opposite her drive and Sharon was in a hurry to get to Brighton. The driver wasn’t a pub customer or anywhere in sight so I backed out Sharon’s car for her. It was such a tight squeeze I had to do a tenpoint turn!”

•Turning heads – Mary (left) and Sharon at their Lion Lane salon.

Off-duty Sharon eases herself from such stresses by doing pilates. In contrast Mary is a keen cyclist, did the London-Brighton ride last year and is following up that with a jaunt between Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle this summer.

After working together so long the girls do live their own lives away from the shop, but Mary says: “We do socialise occasionally, visiting each other’s houses.”

And they do share memories, not least of their time at the Effingham.

“Do you remember when it opened? They had the actress Pat Coombes to do it. “ recalls Mary. “ Her agent asked me if I’d like her autograph. I didn’t realise who she was and said no. So she said, ‘Can I have yours then!’”

Just as they simply got on with it and opened the shop without fanfare 25 years ago, so the 25th anniversary passed by last month with only a quick make-over and, as they say in the trade, a general brush up, marking the occasion.

Mary mused: “The village hasn’t changed that much in 25 years, but hairdressing has. It’s all blow dry and the casual look now and these days we do nails and eye lashes too.”

As for the future, Sharon is determined. She says: “ We’d like to go on as long as we can. We go on courses in London regularly to keep on top of everything. It’s surprising what you can do with hair.”

As, indeed, my own elegant coiffeur testifies.

______________________________

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 10.30

Fearless Faith by Geoff Chapman Standing on the middle of the Mathur Aqueduct, Tamil Nadu, India, my legs felt like the proverbial jelly. We were 100 feet above the valley floor, on a narrow, sunlit walkway next to a fast-flowing, man-made water course. Far away, through 33-degree midday haze, mountains of the Western Ghats appeared ghost-like on the horizon. Below, the Parhali river and its huge yellow boulders formed a chain of gold and silver through palm-thick forest; locals washed their clothes and beat them on the rocks, children played and swam in the shallows. It wasn’t the height, or the beautiful scene that made me feel weak-kneed; our driver for the day, ‘Sam’, had vaulted the handrail (not at my request!) and now stood on the other side of the water trough, his back to the great drop, hands on hips, posing fearlessly for a photo. We took the snap, all smiles, and then begged him to come back to the right side of the railings.

I should not have been surprised by Sam’s courage, he had been telling me about how he became a Christian. Three months before we met him, he had heard the pastor of a local church preaching in his village and had responded by giving his life to Jesus Christ and getting baptised.

From a relatively wealthy family, his parents had threatened to disown him if he continued in his new faith. He told me in broken English how they had locked him in a room for 30 days with no food. “No problem,” he pointed to his heart, “Holy Spirit, very strong.” When he refused to change his mind, they kicked him out of the house, disinherited him and threatened to kill him if they ever saw him again. He was now living with another pastor’s family 100 miles away from his home. Penniless, homeless and fearless. He was so full of joy and peace, you could not have guessed what had happened to him.

Christianity is not an idea that we find ourselves agreeing with, nor a set of religious practices. It is an encounter with a person, Jesus Christ. Only such a personal encounter can explain its radical power to changes lives the way he had changed Sam’s. Jesus frees you from guilt and shame for the past, he fills you with peace, he takes away fear, he sets your life in the right direction and plants in you the certain promise of eternal life. He pours the love of God into your heart and makes you realise that there is nothing else worth having if you cannot have Jesus.

The vibrancy of India is an annual recharge in the middle of winter for me, the sunshine, the heat, the humidity, the cooking(!), the people and their profound faith – it is as though someone has turned the colour up on the whole world. The contrast and the precarious situation of so many Christians there also reminds me of the power of meeting Jesus, and I remember that here in the UK - greyer, colder and richer - people need to meet him just as much.

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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 March 29, 12.30 in the church hall. All Welcome.

A Sussex Notebook….

by Michael Horan

MIGRATE OR HIBERNATE?

I

n last month’s Sussex Notebook I mentioned Rev Gilbert White. I wonder whether it might be of interest to say a little more about him?

Gilbert White (1720–1793) was born, lived and died at Selborne, a Hampshire parish just over the border from the West Sussex parishes of Rogate and Trotton. He was life-long curate there, and for many years wandered about his parish, meticulously observing and recording everything that he saw and heard.

One question that occupied him throughout his life was, did swallows, house martins and swifts migrate in the autumn or did they hibernate throughout the winter? Although inclined towards migration as the answer, he seemed never to resolve the question.

Gilbert White’s letters to two eminent naturalists recorded his detailed observations. They were published in 1789 as The Natural History of Selborne. Said to be the most-published book after the Bible, Shakespeare, and The Pilgrim’s Progress, it has never been out of print. Gilbert White’s two-fold purpose in publishing Selborne was to contribute toward scientific knowledge, and to encourage his readers to pay more attention to the wonders of Creation.

While most of White’s letters were written from Selborne, two were sent from Ringmer, near Lewes.

White usually went there each autumn, so that he could record the movements of migrating birds along the Sussex coast. In one Ringmer letter he wrote: ‘Though I have now travelled the Sussex Downs upwards of thirty years, yet I still investigate that chain of majestic mountains with fresh admiration year by year; and I think I see new beauties every time I traverse it’.

While in Sussex, White commented on birds seen here, but not in Selborne: ‘The Cornish chough builds all along the chalky cliffs of the Sussex shore,’ he wrote. Other topics in his Ringmer letters range from his question about migrating or hibernating swallows, to Sussex sheep. ‘One thing is very remarkable as to the sheep: from the westward till you get to the river Adur all the flocks have horns, and smooth white faces ... but as soon as you pass that river eastward, and mount Beeding Hill, all the flocks at once become hornless .. and have, moreover, black faces.’

Gilbert White heard about a moose that had been sent to Goodwood by the Governor General of Canada. He just had to see it. ‘I managed to get a sight of the female moose belonging to the Duke of Richmond, at Goodwood, but was greatly disappointed when I arrived at the spot to find that it died ... on the morning before’. Ever the enquiring naturalist, however, White ‘proceeded to examine this rare quadruped’.

One continuing theme in Gilbert White’s letters is this question about swallows, martins and swifts: did they migrate or hibernate? White quoted many instances of the birds being found in a torpid state during the winter months. Walking near Newhaven in November 1771, he saw swallows over the Ouse.

‘From this incident, and from repeated accounts which I meet with, I am more and more induced to believe that many of the swallow kind do not depart from this island, but lay themselves up in holes and caverns.’

He commented on the fact that these birds are first seen in the spring near lakes and ponds, but disappear if the weather turns cold again – probably returning, he thought, to their place of hibernation ‘just at hand’. Lending credence to a popular belief that swallows hibernated in ponds, he added, ‘A circumstance this much more in favour of hiding than migration’. In the cold and backward spring of 1780, he wrote that the summer birds were unusually late: ‘I have seen but one swallow yet. This conformity with the weather convinces me more and more that they sleep in the winter’.

Gilbert White’s innovative work contributed significantly to the 18th century scientific world, which was making many discoveries, and met his purpose of lending ‘a helping hand towards the enlargement of the boundaries of historical and topographical knowledge’.

The swallows, however, seem to have left him baffled.

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WORTH ABBEY NEWS TURNERS HILL COMMUNITY EVENTS & SERVICES FOR MARCH Friday March 1: Piano Showcase Concert, Colburt Room – 19.30.

Saturday March 2: Children’s Mass in the Abbey – 17.00.

Ash Wednesday March 6: Mass with distribution of ashes – 19.30 Sunday March 10: D’Arcy Trinkwon Organ Recital in the Abbey – 19.30 Friday March 15: Stations of the Cross Start - 20.00 – and will take place each Friday until April 12.

Sunday March 17: Choral Society & Orchestra Concert in the Abbey – 19.30 Sunday March 24: Sequence of music and readings for Lent in the Abbey – 19.30 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

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 MARCH 2019 (Church service details on relevant church pages) Sunday March 3

Church Services

Tuesday March 5

Shrove Tuesday Parish Council Meeting, The Ark

Wednesday March 6

Ash Wednesday – Church Services

Sunday March 10

Church Services Organ Recital, Worth Abbey

Saturday March 16

Twinning French Dinner, The Ark

Sunday March 17

Church Services Choral & Orchestra Concert, Worth Abbey

Wednesday March 20

Hilltop WI Meeting, The Ark

Sunday March 24

Church Services Annual Church Meeting, St Leonard’s WHS Spring Show, Haven Centre

Tuesday March 26

Arts Society Meeting, The Ark Village Darts Match, Red Lion

Friday March 29

Brexit???

Marbles Training, Red Lion

Sunday March 31

Church Services -Mothering Sunday British Summer Time begins

PARISH NEWS NEXT EDITION Copy deadline for the APRIL edition is

MONDAY MARCH 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’