Chichester Local Magazine December 2016

December 2016

CHICHESTER LOCAL and events to 7,000 5,900 homes homes in in this this area area every every month month through the door LocalLocal newsnews and events to over through the door

MISSION PEAKE

With the opening of the Tim Peake exhibition in Chichester we speak to Tim’s father Nigel

GARDENING

Designing with layers

PLUS

WIN!

New Katie Melua CD

NEW PUZZLES

For younger readers

MOTORING

Winter Preparations

Local Walks, Recipe, Prize Crossword, Local Groups, Property, Local area & charity news, Local Business Directory

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CHICHESTER LOCAL

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December 2016

Cover Photo Nigel Peake at the press launch of the Tim Peake Exhibition Novium Museum, Chichester

Welcome... to the last month of 2016, I can’t believe another year is nearly over. It has certainly been a year of change culminating in the astonishing presidential election result in the US. Change is not always good, “better the devil you know” as the saying goes.

It’s also been a full year since astronaut Tim Peake blasted off from Kazakhstan and orbited the earth for six months. On the anniversary of the mission launch, the Novium Museum, in Tim’s home city of Chichester, opens it’s major new exhibition 'Tim Peake: An Extraordinary Journey'. We speak to Tim’s father Nigel Peake for an exclusive interview. See page 24 .

Also this month you can win Katie Melua’s new CD ’In Winter’ (page 17). There are puzzles for younger readers on page 16 and a simple recipe for elegant smoked salmon canapés on page 19.

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...........................................................................What’s On .................................................................Prize Crossword ............................................Young Readers’ Puzzle Page ...............................Win! New Katie Melua CD ‘In Winter’ ........................................................................Local Walks .............................................................................Motoring ................................................................................Recipe ..............................................Charity & Community News ...................................Mission Peake by Veronica Cowan ...................................................................In Your Garden ..............................................................Business Directory ...........................................................Index of Advertisers

January Booking Deadline 1st Dec

SUSSEX & CHICHESTER LOCAL 01903 868 474 info@sussexlocal.net www.sussexlocal.net Kay Publishing Ltd PO Box 2237, Pulborough RH20 9AH Sussex Local & Chichester Local magazines are published monthly and delivered free of charge to over 30,800 homes and businesses in West Sussex. There are five editions and display advertising starts at just £23 a month per edition.

A country walk is the perfect antidote to all the festive treats on offer this month. Why not join one of the free guided walks and start your new year fitness push early! P18.

Much gardening work can be done indoors this month (with a mince-pie and a cuppa?) by planning your garden for next year.

Andrew has plenty of ideas see page 27.

Finally we wish you good health, happiness and all you wish for yourself this Christmas.

Seasons greetings,

Kris & Jeff

Words of Wit & Wisdom “A lovely thing about Christmas is that it's compulsory, like a thunderstorm, and we all go through it together.”

- GARRISON KEILLOR Disclaimer - Whilst advertisements are printed in good faith, Sussex Local (Kay Publishing Ltd) is an independent company and does not endorse products or services that appear in this magazine. Sussex Local cannot be held responsible for errors or omissions or claims made by contributors.

The views and opinions of contributors are not necessarily those of the publisher.

Arundel edition - Arundel, Barnham, Burpham, Climping, Fontwell, Ford, Slindon, Walberton & Yapton Total homes - 7,000 Chichester edition - Chichester suburbs Total homes - 7,000 Findon edition - Findon Valley, Findon Village, Nepcote, High Salvington, Clapham & Patching plus Salvington/Selden (south of A27) Total homes - 6,000 Pulborough edition - Pulborough, Bury, Coldwaltham, Fittleworth, Marehill, Nutbourne, Stopham, West Chiltington village and Common.

Total homes - 4,800 Storrington edition - Storrington, Amberley, Ashington, Cootham Thakeham, Sullington & Washington. Total homes - 6,000 The combined circulation of all five editions is over 30,800 homes.

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CHICHESTER LOCAL

Crossword

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Prize Crossword

Win a £10 Marks and Spencer voucher

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Chichester December 2016 October 2016 solution shown below.

Across: 7 Entertainment, 8 Assuming 9 Laws, 10 Cottage, 12 Usual, 14 Italy, 16 Schools, 19 Fist, 20 Acrobats, 22 Determination.

Down: 1 Ants, 2 Result, 3 Strings, 4 Kings, 5 Smells, 6 Snowball, 11 Outlines, 13 Scoring, 15 Latter, 17 Orbits, 18 Farms, 21 Tool Winner: Alice Chichester

Broadribb

from

Congratulations and thank you to all who entered.

Entries to: Sussex Local Crossword, PO Box 2237 Pulborough, RH20 9AH or scan and email the page to crosswords@sussexlocal.net

Across

Down

1 - One more than four (4) 3 - Sudden release of emotion (8) 9 - Captain's record (7) 10 - ___ Midler: American comedienne (5) 11 - Cuts (5) 12 - Less quiet (7) 13 - Flipped a coin (6) 15 - Struck by overwhelming shock (6) 17 - Larval frog (7) 18 - Savoury jelly (5) 20 - Killer whales (5) 21 - Type of alcohol (7) 22 - Showering with liquid (8) 23 - A large number of (4)

1 - Congratulations (13) 2 - ___ Mortensen: actor (5) 4 - Mean (6) 5 - List of books referred to (12) 6 - Greek white wine (7) 7 - Conceptually (13) 8 - In a carefree manner (12) 14 - Motorcycle attachment (7) 16 - Within this context (6) 19 - Bamboo-eating animal (5)

Name: ...............................................................................................................

Full address: .................................................................................................... ..........................................................................................................................

Postcode:..........................................................................................................

Email:................................................................................................................

Phone:...............................................................................................................

Mobile: .............................................................................................................

Closing date: 31st 2016 Good luck!

December

£10 Win a £10 M&S voucher

voucher provided by

CHICHESTER LOCAL magazine

Sponsor this Crossword - call 01903 868474 for details.

Chichester Local magazine may wish to keep in touch with occasional information and offers. We will never share your details with third parties. Please tick here if you consent to receive such information.

CHICHESTER LOCAL

16 Puzzles

Young Reader's Puzzle Page Wordsearch

Anagram

Find the listed words in the grid. Words may be hidden horizontally, vertically or diagonally and in either a forwards or backwards direction.

Trace the lines connecting the circles to find out what the second word is.

ANTELOPE GIRAFFE BUFFALO LION ELEPHANT WARTHOG

BABOON CHEETAH GAZELLE

HYENA VULTURE ZEBRA

Sudoku

Mouse Maze

Place the numbers 1 – 6 once in each row, column and 3x2 bold-lined box

Help the mouse reach the cheese

Answers can be found on our website after 1st December www.sussexlocal.net

To sponsor this feature please contact us on 01903 868474 or email info@sussexlocal.net Sponsor for just £25 per month plus a monthly prize

Competition

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Win a copy of Katie Melua's CD 'In Winter' Katie Melua releases Ukrainian carol ‘The Little Swallow’ from her critically acclaimed album ‘In Winter’ ‘In Winter’ is a unique collection of songs centred round the theme of winter. Ranging from original works inspired by Katie’s childhood in Georgia, to new interpretations of traditional carols, choral works and folk songs, and performed in English, Russian, Romanian, Ukrainian and Georgian, the album features the arrangements of world-renowned choral arranger Bob Chilcott.

Performed in Ukrainian, a language that Katie Melua and the members of Gori Women’s Choir had to learn, ‘The Little Swallow’ - or ‘Shchedryk’ - is a Ukrainian carol originally arranged by Mykola Leontovych in 1916 and later adapted as ‘Carol Of The Bells’.

The video sees Katie and the choir, conducted by Teona Tsiramua, performing the song in the recently restored Georgian National Opera Theatre in the country’s capital Tbilisi. Described by TheArtsDesk as “stunningly beautiful” ‘The Little Swallow’ is the opening track on Katie’s critically acclaimed new album ‘In Winter’. The album was co-produced by Katie, recorded in Gori, Georgia and features the distinctive 24 piece Gori Women’s Choir who will tour with Katie this winter.

Speaking about ‘The Little Swallow’ Katie said: “It felt

right to sing the piece in its original language, plus Ukrainian belongs to the eastern Slavic languages and is close to Russian which is widely spoken throughout Georgia.

Win a copy of Katie Melua's CD 'In Winter' Q: What language is 'The Little Swallow' perfomed in? a) Ulkranian

b) French

c) German

Send your answer and full contact details including daytime telephone number to: ‘In Winter’ Competition, PO Box 2237, Pulborough RH20 9AH or email competitions@sussexlocal.net Winner will be first entry drawn after the closing date 31st December 2016. Please indicate if you wish to remain on our mailing list.

CHICHESTER LOCAL

18 Walks

Local Walks - December These walks are supported by Chichester District Council, are led by volunteers and are designed to cater for all ages and abilities. No booking is required but please arrive 10 mins before the walk is due to start. Dogs are welcome unless otherwise stated but must be kept on the lead. If the weather is poor the walk may be cancelled, if unsure please check. 01243 534589 health@chichester.gov.uk www.chichesterwellbeing.org.uk. L = Walk Leader Thurs 1st

10.30am

Dell Quay

L: Bruce

2 hours.

4 miles

2 hrs

4 miles

Flat. Dell Quay Sailing Club. SU835028 (Nearest postcode PO20 7EE) Fri 2nd

10.30am

Pagham

L: Jane

A flat walk taking in parts of Pagham Harbour Nature Reserve and Seashore. Car park at the junction of Sea Lane and The Parade Mon 5th

10:30am

Christmas Lunch & West Dean

L: Anne

1 hour 30 mins

3 miles

Shorter Walk West Dean-Binderton 11:00am. West Dean. SU857124 ( Nearest postcode PO18 0RJ ) Lunch Booking Essential. Sam Miles 01243 534817 or smiles@chichester.gov.uk for menu & booking form Tues 6th

10.30am

Lavant

L: Andrew

1 hour 30 mins

3 miles

30mins

1 mile

2 hrs

4 miles

Along Centurion Way to Binderton. Sheepwash Lane, East Lavant Weds 7th

10.30am

Chichester Westgate

L: Helen

Entrance to Westgate Leisure Centre, PO19 1RJ. Helen 07921 278 860 Thurs 8th

10.30am

Nutbourne to Prinsted

L: Jane

Walk through woodland to the harbour shoreline and back through farmland and fields. Meet at the entrance to Maybush Copse, which is about 200yds down Cot Lane on the right hand side Sun 11th

10.30am

Burpham

L: Dominic

5 hours 45 mins

5.75 miles

Burpham Racham Banks South Downs Way to Amberley, back to Burpham via Stoke Lane.

All day walk - bring lunch, hilly. Burpham Village Hall Car Park Mon 12th

10.30am

Kingley Vale to West Stoke

L: Peter B

1 hour 30 mins

3 miles

Chichester Oaklands

L: Helen

30mins

1 mile

West Stoke car park Tues 13th

10.30am

A gentle paced walk suitable for beginners. Entrance to Chichester Festival Theatre, PO19 6AP Helen 07921 278 860 Weds 14th

10.30am

Canal Walk

L: Janet

1 hour 30 mins

3.5 miles

Return by bus. Suitable for beginners.Chichester Canal, Basin Road, Chichester PO19 8DT Thurs 15th

10.30am

Springshead Hill

L: Peter Br

2 hrs

4.5 miles

Hilly downland walk with stunning views all around. Car Park at Springhead Hill Map ref TQ069124 Mon 19th

10.30am

Rowlands Castle

L: Anne A

1 hr 30 mins

4 miles

Hilly, some stiles. Not suitable for beginners. Recreation Ground off Links Lane Mon 19th

10.30am

Chichester Westgate

L: Helen

30 mins

1 mile

Entrance to Westgate Leisure Centre, PO19 1RJ Helen on 07921 278 860 Tues 20th

10.30am

Chilgrove

L: Andrew

1 hours 30 mins

3.5 miles

Bognor to Felpahm

L: Jane

1 hour 15 minutes

2.5 miles

L: Dominic

2 hours

5/3 miles

White Horse inn, Chilgrove Thurs 22nd

10.30am

Bognor Regis pier on the seafront Tues 27th

10.30am

Black Rabbit

Easy, flat riverside walk, no stiles .Mill Road car park by river in town centre (charge)

Motoring / Recipe

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Winter Motoring See and be Seen by Rex Lloyd ‘See and be seen’ should be the motto of every safety -conscious motorist. So many drivers tend to overlook the necessity of using headlights during daytime driving in bad weather conditions.

The first priority of every motorist should be to ensure all the car’s lights are operating at their most efficient.

This means clean lenses. It means clean, uncorroded reflectors. It also means changing bulbs as they become dimmed, since at the stage they do not produce the best of light and they are about to ‘go’ anyway.

Inspect your lights, at least once a week, more often if you motor daily. Get a friend to help you check rear, brake, reversing and indicator lights. These are extremely important because they warn other drivers of your moves.

Light lenses should be cleaned rather more often than the car itself is cleaned. They can so quickly become obscured or dimmed by road dirt. In winter, frost and snow can reduce headlight beams to almost nil. Some cars however do have lamp wipers. And make sure your lights are correctly directed. It is of no use whatsoever, dipping the beam, if the dipped lights are still directed to dazzle, or if the lights are

directed beyond the kerbside.

Lights will help you see ahead but it is also important to ensure you can see through the windscreen in the first place. Keep you screen wash topped up, and not with just plain water. Always use a screen wash, it not only cleans better but acts as an anti-freeze in winter.

Wipers must be in good repair to work efficiently.

They are too often neglected till they split and fall away, just when you need them most. Always replace them as soon as they start to show missed areas when they are in use.

Don’t forget to clean your screen on the inside; It is often forgotten how quickly dust and greasy deposits arrive here. If you or your passenger is a smoker, the screen will become dirty even quicker, so keep a cloth and cleaner handy in the car and wipe that screen over at least every other day.

Smoked Salmon Blinis Whether you are two or dozens on Christmas Day a bite of smoked salmon and glass of champagne is the perfect treat!

Ingredients. Makes 12:       

1 small packet (12-16) prepared mini blinis 75g pkt sliced smoked salmon or trout Lemon juice Black pepper 150g tub crème frâiche 25g can salmon eggs or lumpfish roe Fresh dill

3 Arrange the blinis on warmed platters. Put a small spoonful of crème fraiche on each one, top with a grating of black pepper, a piece of salmon, a few salmon eggs and a sprig of dill.

Method: 1. 1 Place the blinis on a baking tray and warm through briefly.

2 Cut the salmon into 12-16 pieces and sprinkle with lemon juice and black pepper, divide the dill into small sprigs.

Cookery Courses for all Why not give a Voucher for the perfect Christmas gift?

Contact Alex 01243 532240 www.cookwithalex.co.uk

20 Charity & Community

Sussex Snippets One-year-on since it was opened, Tangmere Solar Farm has generated enough clean electricity to power 1,500 homes for an entire year - almost 5,000 MWh (megawatt hour) of clean electricity from 18,000 solar panels - and is one of the country’s first councilowned solar farms and built on 29 acres of land owned by West Sussex County Council on part of the site of the former Tangmere Airfield. Louise Goldsmith, Leader of West Sussex County Council, said: “This is the first part of a very exciting on-going project to produce clean, efficient energy harnessing nature’s resource.” www.westsussex.gov.uk/energystrategy.

It is estimated that there are 120,000 unemployed military veterans, and up to 20,000 are leaving the services each year - many will be forced to leave early through physical or mental trauma and are unsure what to do with their futures. Building Heroes was formed two years ago to offer free construction skills training to service leavers and support them into a career in the building trades. Building Heroes is entirely reliant on fundraising, sponsorship and donations, and is holding a Christmas Market on 17th December, at the Brinsbury Campus, near Pulborough, as well as a Santa Run. For more details see: www.buildingheroes.org.uk

CHICHESTER LOCAL First Steps Childcare operates three full-day care nurseries in West Sussex in Brinsbury (near Pulborough), Chichester and Bersted, and the nurseries have committed to supporting The Big Build Kenya, in partnership with Chichester College, to construct a new primary school in Nakuru, Kenya.

This year, the nurseries have raised £4,738, through bake sales, sponsored safari hunts and Africaninspired fun weeks, and hope to raise a further £3,000 next year, and are currently running a sponsored bike ride from Chichester to Nakuru on an exercise bike in the nursery reception, with children and staff following the route, kilometre by kilometre and celebrating each new country destination as they reach it. Contact: First Steps Nursery – Lucy Oldham 07971 436329 www.firststepschildcare.co.uk lucy.oldham@chichester.ac.uk The Big Build Kenya – Rachel Northover - 023 8178 0957 africanadventures.co.uk rachel@african-adventures.co.uk Sussex Wildlife Trust, the largest nature conservation charity in the county, has published its first printed calendar following requests from members and other supporters. It features twelve stunning full colour photographs showcasing some of the most beautiful examples of wildlife found in Sussex, as well as fun facts about the featured species and reminders of key UK dates.

The calendars are priced at £8.99 and Christmas cards supporting the work of the Trust are also available - money raised from sales will be used to support conservation work throughout the county.

Contact: www.sussexwildlifetrust.org.uk/shop, or call 01273 497532. Postage and packing applies.

A new model of support for children and families is beginning to take shape with a vision to create an environment where a number of the County Council’s Children’s Services work together more closely to enable better help for families at the earliest opportunity. This hub model encompasses a whole range of services and the current staff and stakeholder engagement will feed into the proposed structure and plans which will go back to the Select Committee for further discussions on 8th December.

More than 100 volunteers were celebrated at a recent, special West Sussex event to mark the Diamond Anniversary of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE). Volunteers came from 26 of the county’s DofE centres to share memories from the past six decades and were awarded a special commemorative certificate by Mark Spofforth OBE, The High Sheriff of West Sussex. Contact: d.of.e.award.youth@westsussex.gov.uk

Notices to info@sussexlocal.net

Charity & Community

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Hospice Calls for Volunteers St Wilfrid’s Hospice is calling for vo lun t e ers to fill a variety of roles at its Chichester premises and throughout the local area. Volunteers are essential to ensure the smooth day to day running of the Hospice, and Volunteers’ Service Leader Emma Lemm encourages local people to consider making a valuable contribution to the local community: “We have a wide variety of roles available, especially those directly helping with patients,” she says. “In both the ward and the Orchard Day Centre this typically involves welcoming visitors, chatting to patients, and helping to serve refreshments and lunches to patients. In the Orchard Centre there is more interaction with patients, and anyone with arts and crafts skills willing to run small creative groups would be particularly welcome.”

St Wilfrid’s offers continuous training and emotional support for its volunteers. Hours are flexible and can vary from a couple of hours a week to a full day.

The Hospice is also looking for volunteers for its shops throughout the area, especially in Midhurst, Bognor Regis Queensway and Emsworth.

Contact Emma Lemm - 01243 755815, or email: volunteers.office@stwh.co.uk

Author’s Visit Inspires Youngsters

Any writer who writes about Football is sure to be a hit, but add to that a mysterious fortune teller, a school bully and a knockout storyline and the imaginations of young readers are set to soar.

The children at Eastergate C E Primary School were inspired in just such a way when Sussex Author, David Fuller visited recently to share his Alfie Jones series of books. Excited pupils, aged between 7 and 11, were treated to an insight into David’s inspiration and development process, along with a spine-tingling extract from David’s new book, Alfie Jones and the Big Decision.

David, who is also an FA qualified youth football coach, began writing following discussions with children about the books they liked and was dismayed by the number of reluctant readers he encountered especially, amongst boys. It was from here that the character Alfie Jones was born and David now in-

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spires hundreds of children during his interactive school visits and workshops.

The visit was organised by Sarah Holden, Eastergate’s English Leader as part of the KS2 Book Week activities.

Pet of the Month This month, the Cat & Rabbit Rescue Centre’s would like you to meet Spira. She is two years old and arrived at the Centre in January this year, along with her three sons who have now all found homes. At the time, Spira couldn’t be homed as she was pregnant - she has since given birth to six kittens - but is now looking for a new home with a male rabbit with which she can bond. Spira suffers from sore eyes at times and she is on the Centre’s foster care scheme, which means the Centre’s vet will look after her eyes without cost to her new owners.

There is no viewing day in December, the next viewing day will be on Sat 28th January 12-2pm. Viewing days are non-appointment days. Otherwise the Centre rehomes seven days a week by appointment only.

The Cat & Rabbit Rescue Centre, Holborow Lodge, Chalder Lane, Sidlesham, PO20 7RJ Tel: 01243 641409, email: info@crrc.co.uk www.crrc.co.uk

Do you run a local Club, Charity or Community Organisation?

We have compiled a comprehensive database of local clubs, societies, charities and services on our website. Please check your organisation is listed and that your entry is correct. If we have missed you out please add your details for free today. Please browse to: www.sussexlocal.net/community.htm

01903 868 474

info@sussexlocal.net Community

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22 Charity & Community / Finance

Care Agency recognised for best practice Inter-County Nursing & Care Services is a small domiciliary care agency providing services to people in Chichester and Rustington. Earlier this year InterCounty was invited to take part in the 2016 Care Edition of the Parliamentary Review. They were chosen alongside a small number of outstanding organisations to be celebrated as an example of best practice, the articles in the review act as a blueprint for success and a template for reform. Launch of the publication was marked by a Gala event at the House of Commons in September. The document is distributed to thousands of leading policy makers and executives within the care sector and is considered to be a key fixture in the political calendar.

Director of The Parliamentary Review, Daniel Yossman, said: “It’s been an utter privilege to work with a range of organisations from across the country in this year’s Review. Without their input, our aims of spreading expert knowledge and raising standards simply would not be achievable. They’ll be a hard act to follow and next year’s organisations will have to be on the top of their game to meet the challenge.”

Managing Director of Inter-County Nursing & Care Services, Caroline Hempstead, said: “We are extremely proud to have been included in such a prestigious publication and enormously thankful to

The Inter-County management team

our staff who through their dedication and hard work have helped Inter-County to stand out amongst the best of the best". www.inter-county.co.uk

Arundel by Candlelight 3rd Dec

This year’s Arundel by Candlelight will take place on Saturday 3rd December – the perfect start to the Christmas season. The event will open at 12noon, with a procession led by three churches, local choirs and The Chichester Young Farmers, who will recreate a ‘Live Nativity’ scene, and will be followed at 12.15pm by the Church led Carol service. . The Lantern Procession will take place at 4.30 pm with judging by the Mayor and the Town Crier; lantern workshops for children held from 12.30-3.30 pm in the Norfolk Arms Hotel. The Christmas tree lighting ceremony will take place at 4.45pm with the Rt Hon Nick Herbert CBE, MP for Arundel & South Downs.

Christmas presents that last a lifetime!

By Richard Cohen JP FPFS ACII MCSI Chartered Financial Planner Parents and grandparents are increasingly giving children money instead of buying them gifts for Christmas and birthdays. The future for our young is paved with the need for bigger deposits to buy a home, higher education costs and of course inflation.

Whilst some may criticise for showing a lack of imagination, in the long run it can bring more long term happiness than this year’s long forgotten top toy.

Savings accounts and premium bonds are familiar ideas but two less considered options are pensions andISAs. Pensions Children are allowed to have up to £3,600 paid into a pension each tax year, despite the fact they are unlikely to be earning. Realistically it will be relatives paying on their behalf. However, the child still receives the tax relief, with contributions grossed up by 20%.

Therefore for the maximum £3,600 to be paid in you only pay £2,880. If you were to pay a more typical £100 into a pension £125 would actually be invested.

It may seem extreme to consider pensions for a child but money paid in early can really make a difference. If

you paid £100, left it invested for 50 years, assumed a 5%growth rate after charges it would be worth £1,146.

Currently you cannot access your pension until you are at least 55 – often considered a disadvantage. However, you may be pleased that they cannot access this money at 18 when they may not spend it appropriately.

Junior ISAs As with their adult equivalents you have both a savings account version and an investment version of a junior ISA. Which is most appropriate depends on attitudes to risk and the child’s age. Generally speaking the younger the child the more likely it is that the investment option will be appropriate. The maximum that can be paid in is £4,080 each year, but you do not get tax relief, so a £4,080 contribution costs you just that. The money grows tax free and the account is theirs to do with as they wish when they are 18.

So this year consider a gift that gives your children and grandchildren more than just a Happy Christmas! www.nsurefinancial.co.uk or to arrange a free review please call Sarah Gray on 01903 821010

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A very Merry Christmas from all at Nsure

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24 Local People

CHICHESTER LOCAL

Mission Peake

By Veronica Cowan. With the opening of the Tim Peake exhibition in Chichester this month we speak to Tim’s father Nigel Peake

If you met someone at a party who said their son was an astronaut who had orbited the earth, you would think they were off their rocket and dash for the nearest exit. But Nigel Peake seemed well-grounded when I spoke to him about his astronaut son, Tim’s momentous mission, which ended on 18 June 2016, so it must be true. West Sussex born Tim blasted off from Kazakhstan on December 15 last year, bound for the International Space Station, and orbited the earth for six months. The trigger for my space-talk with Nigel was the Novium Museum’s major new exhibition 'Tim Peake: An Extraordinary Journey' - opening in his home city of Chichester on 15 December, the anniversary of the mission launch.

Visitors will be able to follow Tim’s astronomical adventure, from growing up in Chichester to becoming the first British European Space Agency astronaut.

The UK Space Agency has given a £12,500 grant for the exhibition, which will also celebrate the work of Helen Sharman, the very first British astronaut and first woman in space. It is hoped Tim will visit the exhibition in person. His father, seventy-three-year-old Nigel, is very much part of the project group pulling the exhibition together, but we weren’t about to let him get away with just telling us about that: finding out about Tim is our mission, so how is he doing and is he still suffering from any of the after effects of being in space? “Bone density and muscles can be affected, but the only thing not back is bone density.”

Nigel reports. Was that aspect worrying for him and his wife, Angela, I wondered: “No, because everyone had warned about that, so you don’t worry. The worst part only lasted a few hours after the landing.” The British astronaut has himself described this as the “world’s worst hangover”.

As to whether it is tricky being the father of a national hero, Nigel doesn't sound at all spaced out by the media attention he and his wife have been on the receiving end of and gave a down-to-earth response: “We are very proud but it makes us laugh that we are now introduced to people as Tim’s parents.” He adds that 44-year-old Tim was delighted and has said it is the pinnacle of his career. Nigel noted that Tim had had 18 years in the Army, and that training for the space mission was so thorough, adding: “They have to cover every eventuality, even the docking and when another astronaut got water in his helmet outside the space station, they just switched into training mode.”

How have they coped with Tim’s fame and the excitement and worry of having a son who is an astronaut, and did they have any nightmares about space whilst Tim was up there? “No, I can honestly say not,” said Nigel, continuing: “It was wonderful to watch the space walk and we were reassured by the training and kept informed. It was fantastic back up.

It gave Tim a new perspective on the earth and space” adding: “He was probably safer up there away from all the traffic!”

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CHICHESTER LOCAL

26 Local People Nigel Peake at the exhibition press launch

wrong number? Nigel recalls: “He rang us but we were out, and he got our Ansaphone, but he also called someone - a pensioner - and she put the ‘phone down.” Well, it’s not every day that one picks up the telephone to be asked: “Hello, is this planet Earth?”

The mission was Russian so is Tim now a fluent Russian speaker? Not fluent, said Nigel, but he has a good command of the language. Tim’s sister, who studied Russian at university, helped by having conversations with him in Russian.

Tim must be exceptionally resilient, both physically and mentally, I observed, so does he get that from you, I asked Nigel. “He has always had a positive attitude, and Tim has said he had a very stable family life”, Nigel said. Tim was selected from more than 8,000 candidates, who had applied online to become an astronaut, following a selection process that took a year, followed by five years of training. Was there anything about his childhood that gave any insight into the fact that he would want to go into space as an adult?

“He was always interested in flying helicopters, and his main career path was flying helicopters” said Nigel, who recalls that most of the testing Novium Museum was psychological, to test for tenacity and irritability: “With six people in the space ship that is very important. They want to know how you interact with people.”

Chichester High School, of which Tim is a former pupil, must be on Cloud 9 with all the positive publicity, but can it take much of the credit? Nigel gave an emphatic “Yes!”, in response, adding that Tim has paid tribute to the teacher in charge of the cadet force, which focussed his mind and he knew then that he wanted to join the army.

His physics teacher, Mike Gouldstone, was also very supportive of Tim, he added. On finishing school, Tim went to the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst, and started in the army air corps after that.

Is it true that Tim rang you from the International Space Station but got the

Since his return to Earth, Tim has been visiting major cities and speaking at events about what it's like to live and work in space, joined by his flight crew member Tim Kopra, NASA and former commander of the International Space Station. But he has a more local engagement ahead of him: Tim has said he would be honoured to take part in a parade through Chichester, after eight-year-old Rufus Knight, a pupil at Oakwood School, asked him to take part in a tickertape parade through his home city. Has the parade occurred yet? “He is still trying to find a date.” Reports Nigel. It gives a whole new meaning to the phrase: “I will look for a window in my diary.”

Gardening

through the door

27

In Your Garden Monthly gardening ideas and tasks by Andrew Staib of Glorious Gardens Trees Choose your trees carefully. Often I arrive at a client’s garden and there is either one massive tree that dominates the rest of the garden space or there is a lack of trees. People sometimes assume that planting trees will create too much shade but if your garden is small/medium, well positioned trees with a delicate and spacious leaf and branch character can create a canopy that will give your garden a sense of height, enclosure and intimacy. Some trees for the smaller gardens are Amelenchier lamarki, Weeping Birch, Malus, Sorbus, Viburnum Tinus, Albezia and Rhus. All of these trees will give your garden a lovely sense of breadth without a tree surgeon being called in every year.

Taller Shrubs

Designing your Garden using Layers Are you bored with your garden?

Has it felt two dimensional this summer with long periods where nothing much is happening?

If you take a walk in nature you will realise that plant life tries to occupy all the different layers of space.

From tall trees to a canopy of small trees underneath, to shrubs then ground cover, bulbs and climbers.

Different plants survive on different levels depending on their light requirements with other factors such as wind, soil stability and ability to grow next to other different species.

The result is powerful and achieves a complexity that most gardens lack.

Of course in many ways gardens are simplifications of nature, bringing out the essential elements whilst allowing for more functional human spaces as well as ease of maintenance.

Yet it is possible to bring some of that rich wovenness into the smallest of gardens and the results will give you a deeper satisfaction and a more three dimensional beauty.

So if there are gaps in your beds or just one or two layers going on compared with the eight I have mentioned below, you can notice what is missing and plan to enrich your layering for next year!

Underneath this layer one can plant a layer which I call Tall Shrubs. These plants can contribute lots of height when needed but can also be pruned severely each year depending on the plan you have for the shapes in your garden.

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28 Gardening Some are Sambucus ‘Sutherland’s Gold’ and Sambucus ‘Black Lace’, Philadelphus, Forsythia, some of the taller Cornus, Ceanothus, Fatsia, most of the the Pittisporums and the different types of Laurel.

Smaller Shrubs Smaller shrubs can then be chosen that will tend to give longer periods of colour and fit snuggly under the ‘umbrellas’ of the taller trees. Some interesting shrubs that come to mind are: Rosa rugosa, Teucrium fruticans, Japanese Quince, most of the Hebes, Hydrangeas, Cistis, Pittisporum ‘Tom Thumb’ and the Choysia range.

Ground Cover Ground cover can be used as the ‘glue’ that holds all the different layers together. Not only can you plant these in large ribbons and drifts to give your border a sense of flow and unity but they solve the practical job of suppressing the weeds whilst the trees are establishing themselves.

Some tried and tested ground covers that I like are the Geraniums, Sedums, Chaerophyllum ‘Roseum’, White Bay Willow Herb and Persicaria.

Smaller Ground Cover The smaller ground covers tend

to be at the front of borders where they won’t be swamped by the bigger plants. Some nice examples are: Pachysandra, Ajuga, Brunnera, Galium odoratum, Epimedium, Bergenias, Lilly of the Valley and Periwinkle.

Climbers It is surprising how many gardens I visit and see unsightly spaces that a week chosen climber could easily transform.

Climbers hide fences, can shoot up trees like rambling roses or drop languidly gown from shed grooves or pergodas. They are a first choice for many unsightly wall or tool shed and with their exuberant need to spread out can give your garden a new dimension of space.

More unusual climbers are Akebia, Campsis, Berberidopsis coralline and Solanum Bulbs The bulb range is enormous.

Some come out before the trees have come into leaf to grab the early sunlight when they can, others push through other plant life tenaciously. As I have written in previous articles, plan your bulbs with the months of the year in mind and you can have

through the door bright splashes of colour almost all year. (The bright blue of Gentians at Wakefield were intense to look at this weekend).

I would like to include another dimension to designing your garden with layers and that is what is called ‘Window Plants’. These are plants that even though some are quite tall they can be planted in the middle or even the front of a bed and you can see through their spacious foliage to other plants. Examples of theseand please look them up as they have a great ethereal feeling - are; Sanguisorba ‘Pink Elephant’, Dierama, Qaura, Molinia Tranparent and Molinia ‘Karl Foestar’, Allium Sphaerocephalon and the more commonly known Verbena Bonsariensis and Stips gigantia.

What to do in December Obviously it is the time of Christmas Fairs - Horsham Sunday Christmas market, plus the Ukfield Festival of Christmas, Arundel by Candlelight on Dec 3rd and ice skating at the Pavillion in Brighton are just a few things to do! Happy Xmas Everyone and give your back a well earned rest.

Gardening

29

What to do in December  It’s the right time to plant trees and hedges taken straight from the field. They are normally called ‘bareroot’ as opposed to ‘container grown’. They are half the price and settle in nicely into the cool moist earth.  If you have any tomatoes left in the green house harvest them all even if they are green. In a bowl in the sun indoors they will still ripen.  It is still ok to order and plant bulbs. The soil is still very warm even if the air isn’t.  Prune heavily sapping trees like Birches now and Grape vines before the winter sets in.  Harvest the rest of your root crops and lift and store your Dahlia bulbs.  Don’t worry if your garden looks messy. The more mess the better for wildlife that needs a place to hide during the winter. You will have plenty of time to clean your beds in Spring. Just think, laziness now is creating a 5 star hotel for wildlife!  However where needs must, continue to rake up leaves and store them separately from the summer’s grass clippings as they need a different process to break down quickly.

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